Blog WTF Archive

We’ve been a band 12 some-odd years now. Well, actually, 12 all-odd years. Over that time we’ve played hundreds (if not thousands) (or millions) of shows, yet we’ve never owned an official Sinch Tour Van ™. For a long time we used a minivan that I inherited from my parents but I wouldn’t exactly call it a “tour” van. As far as I know, rock and roll tour vans are prohibited from having wood paneling on the side (unless its a conversion van, in which case the presence of a TV and PS2 overrides any such rules). We’ve also rented, borrowed and otherwise acquired transportation to shows and for longer tours. For whatever reason, we’ve just never made the leap of faith into band van ownership.

Well, I think the time has come. Up for auction at this very moment is a one-of-a-kind van that I don’t think we can afford to pass up:

From the auction desctiption:

1986 SPY GHOST HUNTING SURVEILLANCE PARAPSYCHOLOGY VAN

One of a Kind. Originally used on Miami Vice and Nash Bridges TV shows. Purchased by the American Institute of Parapsychology for investigations of allegedly haunted locations! I purchased it a few years ago and have only driven it a few hundred miles. Diesel Van has less than 60K miles. Comes with working pan/tilt mounted on roof (camera removed), deep cycle battery bank-(all hold full charge), a 250gig 4 channel DVR which also records 4 channel audio and acts as a quad.You could record audio and video remotely for a month. Huge power inverter to run everything you need on 120v AC. Like new Samsung 17″ Flat Screen monitor. 2 smaller swivel LCD Monitors. Pan Tilt Controller, dash mount flip out LCD monitor and rear mount infrared camera for backing up easily. I also have the 20 watt low frequency tx/rx set which is like new,used with the van and already mounted antenna. You can recieve and record clear audio and video for many miles with this setup. Integrated sound system in the back along with a video effects board. All equipment works very well. Four swing out chairs and a practical work area in the back. Even has a huge xray flourescent light table viewer mounted to wall. Windows are mirror tinted. Has a very solid tow bar section for towing another vehicle(see pic). Van has been in everything from childrens books on ghosts to above mentioned tv shows.

Now, I don’t know how much ghost hunting we’d be doing, but it would be nice to have the option. Regardless, this thing is just begging to turned into the Ocular Noise Machine ON WHEELS. Roof mounted camera! Read-mounted infrared camera! Integrated sound system with video effects board! 250GB DVR! Sold tow bar (for our trailer)!

Just add a couple laptops, some more cameras, maybe an external video screen (so we can have video running on the outside of the van 24/7, and a viditar or two and we’d be off to the goddamn races. I guess they’d be some kind of video van races (which might not exist yet), but races nonetheless would be gone off to… by us.

The bidding currently stands at $3,000, but the reserve hasn’t been met yet so who knows what they actually want for this thing. We’ll gladly accept any donations, and in return everyone who donates will have their name and likeness featured on the outboard video screen at least once a day for all to see, for the rest of time (which might not actually be that long, but I think it’s still worth it.
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Continued here: Part 2, Part 3

I used to think Mr. Show was the greatest thing that was ever on TV. This just might be a new level of greatness that I honestly didn’t even know existed.

Today is the first day of TV Turnoff Week 2001.

In 1994, Adbusters launched TV Turnoff Week as a seven-day break from the dreamworld of the tube. It’s an explosive idea - this year, millions of people in over 25 countries around the world will take a break from televised culture. Some will host rallies, parties, or TV smash-ins to let the world know that TV Turnoff is a turn-on to reality. Most, though, will quietly celebrate. They’ll have friends over for dinner; play with their kids; go bowling, hiking or swimming; start a journal. Above all else, they will have time to think - and that makes them the most dangerous kind of citizen.

If you don’t think the TV Turnoff is for you (or you don’t think you can make it), try the Zen TV Experiment. It might give you a different perspective on what actually happens when you’re watching TV.

As you may have noticed, the blurry thing on the front page now looks a lot like the Roadrunner Records logo. That is because we just signed a record deal with them this past Monday.

Obviously, this is good news.

Thanks to Paul Conroy and Scott Marceron for helping to make this happen. Also thanks to all the people who have ever believed in us, supported us, or helped us out in any way.

At this point, all we know is that we’ll most likely be writing and rehearsing and then we’ll be going into the studio to start work on the album. If everything goes well, we should have a new CD out on Roadrunner later this year.
About the Street Team:

We do not have our own “street team” at this time. Roadrunner Records has something called the Road Crew that is a street team for the whole label. We may organize our own group in the future, but for now this is the only thing available.

Go here for more information. You probably won’t find anything on the site about us yet, but I’m sure they’d love to hear from you. Just click on “Join the Road Crew” to sign up.
ALSO

We have a show booked on Saturday, February 10 at Belles’ in Frederick, MD. The other bands performing that night are Phase One and Mad Faction. We go on at 10:00pm.