Splurge

Just for the record, on day two of recording at Sing Sing on Sunday 27 April, Splurge recorded these songs:

Sing For You

Hare On Na

Just For Fun

My Blues

I'll Be Dead When You're Sorry

Through My Hands

More Splurge Unheard - New Bonus Track Added The download of Splurge Unheard, a selection of rarities spanning 1997-2007, released to celebrate our 15th anniversary, now includes the home demo of Song of Love. The selection includes new mixes of three never-before-heard tracks - one from each Splurge album - plus and six other unreleased and rare recordings. Buy now for $8 and get immediate download of the 10-track album in the high-quality format of your choice, plus unlimited mobile access using the free Bandcamp listening app. Package includes booklets, inserts and cover art for each Splurge album, as well as the bonus track.

Splurge's crowdfunding project was in the news! But, alas, it's too late now to pledge. Simply, the numbers just didn't add up.

349 - the number of visitors to our project

596 - the number of page views of our project

7 - the number of project supporters

Thanks, folks, for looking, but I'm reliably informed that to build momentum you need to get more people onto the dancefloor early to make everyone else feel less awkward. Story of my life.

But Jeff Jenkins' Howzat column on the subject of crowdfunding in last week's edition of the music magzine formerly known as Inpress still makes a very good read... http://www.livinginthelandofoz.com/howzat.html

"I hope that Greg's campaign works, but if he wants $7500 and he can only raise 200 bucks, surely this sends a message that there is no demand for a new Splurge album. This is actually a good thing - it's better than Greg spending his own money and being left with 500 CDs under his bed."

Well, we raised 500 bucks. But, this quote from an un-named industry figure can't go unanswered.

Granted, it is hard to sell something that people don't know they want yet. But this is what the record industry has done ever since Decca passed on The Beatles with the immortal words "Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr Epstein".

I am not ready to leave it up to the court social media to determine which records get made and which ones don't. By this logic, lots of great music would never have been recorded.

It's a good thing if someone can make a buck out of it, even me, and excuse me for shouting but...

THIS IS ART NOT COMMERCE. I HAVE BEEN MAKING THE RECORDS I WANT TO ALL MY LIFE WITH MY OWN MONEY AND I AM NOT GOING TO STOP NOW.

Thanks, I feel better now.

Crowdfunding is a lot like any other relationship. You know how these things go... it all starts with a rush and you can't wait to tell them everything about you and share all your hopes and dreams.

Then there's the bit in the middle when you're running out of new things to say and wondering if this really is working for both of you.

Well that's where we are up to. Past the half way mark and going into the bit where you find out if this will go the distance.

We've been doing lots of things together, trying to make it work, but then you look at the cold hard facts: 3% of Target, 5 Supporters. That's $205 Pledged ($41 average) of $7,500 Target with 16 Days to go to Deadline 30th November 2013 at 12:00 pm EST.

And you realise that to get this over the line we need a lot more love: 195 more supporters for $30-$40 rewards...

Maybe relationships should have deadlines too. Then at least you'd know when it was over.

EAR CANDY SPLURGE FOR CROWDFUNDING

There's only 16 days to go in our crowdfunding campaign to record and mix our new album - http://www.pozible.com/splurgewaitforthesun How about some ear candy? This Life is the first of our demos to be previewed here - http://splurge.bandcamp.com/album/wait-for-the-sun-demos-2 - with more to come... Here's some eye candy too if that makes it any easier... http://vimeo.com/79089017

The only way to get Splurge's Unheard selection of rarities is to support our crowdfunding campaign to record and mix our new album: http://www.pozible.com.au/splurgewaitforthesun

NEW ALBUM + DOWNLOAD $12

UNHEARD + NEW ALBUM + DOWNLOAD $20

ALBUM CREDIT + UNEARD + SIGNED NEW ALBUM + DOWNLOAD $45

We record and you reap the rewards.

Nothing beats playing a song with a band that is rocking. Splurge has now rehearsed twice since our tequila-fuelled Cabin bender back in September and we are now itching to get these songs recorded.

We Can't Do This Without You! is the name of our crowdfunding project - http://www.pozible.com/splurgewaitforthesun - and we mean it! Please consider supporting the recording and mixing of the album.

We've done all the hard work over the past year and now it's time for the rewards! Rewards for you, that is... let's make a record, write a song, or have Splurge play at your place!

At rehearsal #1 two weeks back, there was a moment playing Birthday when we were just smiling at each other. That kind of rehearsal. We sounded like a band. All the hard work up at The Cabin paid off as we played the six songs (side one) in order. It wasn't necessary to take pictures or reference recordings. We were already there.

Splurge has today launched Unheard - a selection of rarities - exclusively via the band's new Pozible project to record and mix our new album.

The Melbourne band is marking its 15th anniversary by releasing the fans-only rarities selection - and recording its fourth album, Wait For The Sun, due in 2014.

Splurge Unheard, which includes new mixes of three never-before-heard tracks, is available only through the Pozible project. Watch the video and hear our story: http://www.pozible.com/splurgewaitforthesun

Supporter rewards include CD and Download packs, acoustic videos by request, songwriting workshops, a record production deal, a preview listening party, as well as private acoustic and full band shows.

Splurge Unheard includes the three unearthed tracks - one from each Splurge album - and six other unreleased and rare recordings. Something About Love (Splurge), Under Your Thumb (Heavy Weather) and Kiss Me (The Cure For The Cure) have been mixed by Melbourne gear maestro David Sullivan and mastered by in Nashville by Jim DeMain, Yes Master.

Splurge Unheard #6 - When I'm Down. This track was recorded and mixed for The Cure For The Cure but it was swapped at the last minute with Get Up And Watch TV in the final track selection (what were we thinking?). Released as a B-side to the limited-edition single She’s Not The One, the track also appeared on Popboomerang’s "Electric & Eclectic: Rarities Volume One", attracting attention from Beat in May 2011:

Four men, two days, one cabin. Sounds like a recipe for a whole lotta hard rockin' and a hard drinkin'.

But, truth be told, much more of the former than the latter as Splurge knuckled down on the weekend of 13-14 September at The Cabin in Hall's Gap to 'cabin test' the songs for our fourth record.

Everyone came to play, and the unmistakable sound of a loud rock band bounced off the wooden walls and down into the valley. This was the last chance for these blokes to bond over beer before getting down to business in the studio.

Owen took charge of the Saturday barbecue and Sunday fry-up, Nev led the Friday night campfire strum-a-thon, Adrian found out just how much music was too much, and Greg got everyone out in the porch sunshine for a home movie.

A year ago when we went back to The Cabin as a band for the first time in a long time, we had only a fuzzy idea of what sort of a record this was going to be.

Now we know - what we have to do is play it! Blog #12 finds us armed with the demos of 12 songs, and fired up to break them in.

"Throw my suitcase in the car, with my vox and my guitars, it's a trip to take with care, if you're not really ready" (Hey Children)