… a lot of people have been asking me about extra tickets to next Thursday’s (2/11) Big Phony SOLD OUT! (which I still can’t believe) Album Release show at Hotel Cafe. For those of you that weren’t able to secure tickets and are free the evening before (2/10), we’ve added an extra show. Same place at The Hotel Cafe. If you happen to be attending Thursday’s show and feel like coming out Wednesday as well please do make it out. Hang out with us if you can. I’ll be changing up the sets for each night.
So the new Big Phony album “Kicking Punching Bags” has officially dropped today (1/26/10). Not by any official standard really. It’s just a date I came up with. The album is now available on iTunes and on other safe and popular downloading sites. iTunes has these cool options where you can share the album on your Facebook and Twitter, or even “gift a friend” (wink wink). You can also purchase a physical copy (first 100 signed by Big Phony) of the album off the site here.
Download at sites like:
or at: .com
Before I go any further, let me just say… if you are reading this message and happen to be related to me or we are friends, you are absolutely obligated to purchase this album and tell people about it. If I find out that you haven’t, then there will be words. Ha ha, just kidding… kind of.
Thank you so much to those that got a hold of the album during the pre-sale last week! There were just a handful of people that took advantage of that but in case you missed out we’ve decided to make the pre-sale bundle deals available for another week. You can check those out at the Big Phony Store here. Get a Big Phony tote bag, or what I like to call “Kicking Punching Tote Bags!” I’ll stop.
“Kicking Punching Bags” was produced by Jason Hiller at Walden Recordings in Beverly Hills, CA. We started recording back in December of 2008 and it took us just a few months to track the album, so we’ve been waiting quite some time to get this out there. I’d say it’s a pretty nice and laid back piece of work. For all of the songs we only laid down a few takes and used no click tracks. Personally I think it made the album sound more natural and less cookie cutter or contrived. Downside is, it makes it harder to add techno beats for Big Phony dance remixes. Oh well, hope you guys enjoy it! You can preview a few of the tracks in its entirety on the Big Phony MySpace page.
Please spread the Big Phony word! If you do happen to like the new Big Phony album in any capacity at all please do tell your friends. Even if just to say “it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.” That would be helpful. Feel free to burn it for your friends that can’t afford to purchase it or that just don’t want to purchase one. Thanks guys.
What next? Not entirely sure what I’m doing next. Not really promoting this album to be honest because I don’t really know how to do that kind of stuff. I am writing more these days so hopefully I’ll get started on the next project really soon. By the way, thank you to everyone that got a hold of tickets for the Album Release Show at The Hotel Cafe (2/11). My first Sold-Out show there, with 3 weeks still left till the big day. Unreal.
As many of you know. My new album “Kicking Punching Bags” will finally be dropping next Tuesday (1/26). Well, we’ve decided to have a pre-sale and make the album available even sooner for those interested! Here are some of the benefits of purchasing the album today.
Buy between now and January 26th and you’ll receive:
- Full digital download of the album
- Physical copy of album signed by Big Phony, shipped before 1/26
- Free, previously unreleased home recording: “You Make Me Smile (demo)”
- Good and happy feelings for supporting an Indie (broke) musician, woohoo!
Along with these benefits other items will be available for purchase in sale bundles. Add a Big Phony Tee or a brand spanking new Big Phony Tote Bag (pictured below) at a discounted price!
About the bonus track. “You Make Me Smile” was a song I wrote for an auction winner who graciously bid on me at a benefit show in San Francisco, May of 2009. Originally the bid was for “a meal with Big Phony” but because of the distance the winning bidder asked me to write them a song for their spouse. This track will only be available with Pre-Sale purchases. Hope you guys like it!
Because of an overwhelming response to our Facebook Event Invite we’ve had to set up a online ticket pre-sale so those attending can ensure their spot to get in to Hotel Cafe for the Big Phony Album Release Show (2/11/10).
I hope you all had a great Holiday and New Year. Hopefully y’all spent it surrounded by the people you love and care deeply for.
Thank you so much for your support and patience with me in 2009. I’m looking forward to a great 2010 and what better way to kick it off for this Big Phony, than to release a new album and have a party for it.
Please mark your calendars and join us at The Hotel Cafe on February 11, 2010 if you’ll be in the LA area. We’re having an Album Release Show for the new Big Phony album “Kicking Punching Bags” which drops on 1/26/10!
I’m really excited for this show. There hasn’t been an official Big Phony show in Los Angeles in nearly a year now. It should be a fun time. Please invite your music loving friends.
This will be a full band show!
Big Phony @ The Hotel Cafe
“Kicking Punching Bags” Album Release
Thursday, February 11 at 9:30PM
$10, 21+
The Hotel Cafe
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
I hope everyone is with loved ones this holiday season. Eat good food, enjoy good company, laugh, cry… repeat.
Last night (Christmas Eve) I had dinner with Charles from The Mighty Fifty at In & Out Burger and then after we went to “Candy Cane Lane” in Torrance, CA. Where every year this one particular stretch of houses deck their homes with Christmas lights galore. It was pretty darn cool. I even brought my guitar and sang a tune I wrote about Christmas time.
I’m happy to announce that I’ll be hanging out with my fellow Korean American buddy, the very talented Priscilla Ahn this coming Monday (10.14.09) at 7PM (PST) on KoreAm Live for a live online performance and web chat. Please stop by if you can to chat and hang out with us. I promise not to act too stupid (see below pic).
Last month we hung out with Justin Chon of the Twilight series on KoreAm Live. You can check out an archive of that show at KoreAm Live w/ Justin Chon. I’m not really that mean to him in real life. Sorry Justin. Fun times!
Speaking of stupid ideas… Recently I got a $174 jaywalking ticket in Los Angeles’ Koreatown at 2AM in the morning. The police cruiser had the lighs and sirens going, sped down the street and then up onto the sidewalk and had the spotlight bright in my face. At first I was like, “whoa, something bad is going down.” To my surprise they were after me.
I told the officer that I felt unsafe and was trying to get to my car as quickly as possible and since there were no cars around, I crossed. I told him how my friend once had a gun pulled out on him just a block away. He told me that actually it was a safe neighborhood whilst writing the ticket. He said I could have died crossing that street. He’s right though, a meteor could have come out of nowhere and knocked me out.
I’m not mad though, the officers were just doing their job. I just wish they didn’t have to make me feel so belittled. They really didn’t need to lecture me like I was 12 years old (even though I might look it). I guess I’m just mad at myself really. I’m usually a good citizen. I don’t even speed! Oh, back to stupid ideas… I framed the ticket.
That’s that I guess. Remember people, don’t jaywalk. Unless of course you’re in New York City. Go Yanks!
I wrote a one minute diddy for a Christmas tree company commercial and they ended up using it! It was for a company called “Balsam Hill” that makes realistic artificial Christmas trees. Real Big Phony trees!! The commercial is titled “The Wait Is Over,” directed by Justin Fong of The Mighty Fifty. The song has no title. Any suggestions?
Check it out! I love the expressions they caught of the actors.
Here’s a quick behind the scenes look The Mighty Fifty put together. I can’t help but notice I’m smiling with my teeth showing. If you know me you know I hardly do that. I hate my smile.
If you or anyone you know might be looking for a jingle or diddy let me know and I’ll try my best to put one together. I also had this idea of picking 10 brands (that are cool & hip like “Spam”) and making a Big Phony jingle album. Any suggestions? Stupid idea, I know.
Back from NY. The show at Joe’s Pub was great! I couldn’t hear myself very well on stage but overall I think it went well. Big ups to Susie Suh for inviting me to join her for this show. She’s so great, and so talented! I got to see so many familiar faces. Thanks to those of you that made it out. It was a fun night.
Last night I had the distinct pleasure of being the first guest to be invited on KoreAm Journal’s new web effort and show KoreAm Live. Thanks everyone who were able to stop by and chat. I hope it was entertaining. Thanks KoreAm for having me! I believe you can still check out a recorded archive of the show on their site.
I had bacon for lunch, along with some other stuff.
Well, I guess it looks like I’ll be taking a bit of a break for a couple of months before the new album “Kicking Punching Bags” is realeased in January. Gonna look for some part time work and hopefully finish up some more songs for the next album. I’ll try to blog often as I can about random things for you 2 or 3 people that actually read this blog. Take care for now.
Big Phony's music/lifestyle in one way or another has been influenced by the likes of singer-songwriters such as Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann, Nick Drake, and of bands like The Beatles, Radiohead, and Milli Vanilli.
