Michael:

OK Everyone!!! Time is up for making ticket requests!!! Since we have to mail them out, any later and they won't get to you in time!!! So if your comming from out of town and didn't make a request you must make a stop at the Threadless store before you arrive at the show.

Note: You don't have to make two trips to Chicago to get tix!!!!! You can go to the store 10 minutes before you come to the show if you want...there seems to be some confusion about that. Just make sure you arrive as early as possible to ensure that you get in before it fills up!!
posted by Michael at 8:45 PM *** 3 comments

Michael:

Really Really big announcement!!!

The Hey Mercedes show in Milwaukee on 9/13 has been MOVED!! The show is now going to be at MAD PLANET located at 533 E. Center St. Milwaukee, WI 53212 (414)263-4555. Their website is www.mad-planet.net. This was just arranged so please don’t bombard the folks over at Mad Planet with phone calls and e-mails just yet. Don’t go to the Cactus Club we won’t be there.

Hey Mercedes
September 13, 2007
Milwaukee, WI @ MAD PLANET
posted by Michael at 6:06 PM *** 0 comments

Michael:

Hey Mercedes - Chicago Metro 9/14/2007

Hi everyone!! We’ve worked out a deal to help accommodate fans who might be planning to travel a fair distance to the 9/14 show in Chicago. Due to the nature of this being a FREE show held in conjunction with THREADLESS, fans will have to first visit the new Threadless retail store in Chicago to pick up their free ticket. We realize that this can be a hassle to anyone who isn’t from Chicago or surrounding areas, so we’ve set up a system where out of town fans can avoid going to the store. Here is the deal:

THE RULES:

You MUST LIVE AT LEAST 200 MILES AWAY FROM CHICAGO to qualify. That’s about a 3 hour, easy drive. No, Gary Indiana does not count. Come on! Chicago rush hour traffic doesn’t count either.

Max is 4 tickets per e-mail request.

Please request ONLY the amount of tickets that you will actually use!! If you are really bringing more than 3 friends, then we have to have another e-mail from one of them, but don’t request all 4 if your really only going to bring 1.

Please don’t make ticket requests just for fun, or as a joke. Because that would be dumb.

**IMPORTANT**: Your ticket DOES NOT guarantee admission - the show could still sell out before you get there if you’re late!!! YOU STILL HAVE TO GET TO THE SHOW BEFORE IT SELLS OUT!!!!!! The ticket simply alleviates you from having to visit the Threadless store before the show. We realize this isn’t ideal, but it’s the best we can do in this particular situation. We feel that as long as you arrive a little bit before doors open you should be fine. The Metro is a pretty big venue and we are not that big of a band….seriously.

HERE’S HOW:

You must send an e-mail to:

heymercedestickets@gmail.com.

Make sure to include your full name, address, e-mail address and number of tickets. We will most likely be mailing these to you so if you don’t give us a current address then you will not get your tickets. You will get a reply e-mail within a few days. Please don’t e-mail us again if you don’t receive a reply an hour later. We are doing this ourselves so it may take some time. We’ll do our best to get you a reply as soon as possible.

Show Details:

Friday, September 14th @ The Metro, Chicago, IL

Hey Mercedes
Anathallo
Freer

Doors @ 6pm

See you there!!!!

PS: …and don’t forget about our show in Milwaukee @ The Cactus Club on the 13th!!
posted by Michael at 5:10 PM *** 2 comments

TBELL:

iTunes: Seam: In The Sun

Rumor confirmed!

HEY MERCEDES will be playing two shows in September.

SEPTEMBER 13th (thurs) in Milwaukee, WI.
SEPTEMBER 14th (fri) in Chicago IL.

Details will be announced right here on our weblog "are you wearing a wire?" and via myspace this week. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL US. We will get information out as soon as we can. You can comment on this post and we will try to answer all of your questions. This 'early' post is so people who are planning to travel can set aside time and make plans. We would love to see everyone out. New friends and old. This will be good times.

Details to follow, hopefully by weeks end!!

posted by TBELL at 10:02 AM *** 12 comments

TBELL:

iTunes: Patton Oswalt: Liquor Everywhere

Boy. My last post seems a little depressing. I'm really not on here that much so I thought I'd break the mood with a new post to headline this page. Clear the air, so to speak. Things are good. The weather has been nice. Summer is on the way and it really is a good time to be home in Milwaukee. It is amazing living near the water. People are always out when it is nice doing fun things. It is beautiful and I love this city this at this time of year. Also, I've found a new job. I start training in June, which will allow me to go visit my Mom and friends in Champaign for a week at the end of the month before I start, which is exciting. Also, I'm seeing Planes Mistaken For Stars tonight. I've been friends with Gared for years. We used to penpal and see each other all the time at the skatepark (circa 1996) when he lived in Peoria, IL before his entire band relocated to Colorado. In other show news, I'm seeing my good pals Minus The Bear next week and Dinosaur Jr. at the end of May. Good shows, good times. I'm looking forward to all of them.

But the most current news in the Bell household? We have acquired a new resident. Her name is Coco. She is 10 weeks old and crazy.

Violet is dealing with it. She has been forced to compromise and is putting up with it as much as her feline tolerance can handle. She is slowly growing to like her. How could you not? Look at that face! The hissing and swatting is at an all-time minimum. They're almost friends. That means I'm officially outnumbered again at the household 3 to 1.

My hardrive is full. I'm in the process of backing up everything I own musically into iTunes and I'm not quite done and my computer is full. I have an external harddrive but it's out in Seattle somewhere sitting on a shelf belonging to Chris Common while he galavants around the country on tour with These Arms Are Snakes. I originally bought it to back up The City On Film album we recorded in 2005 and just never got it back from him. He is a busy dude. I've been trying to get it back from him for over a year. I need it badly. But, he is never home. I'm probably just better off buying a new one. Any suggestions?

Along with the nice weather comes activity and motivation, so I have started spring cleaning again. Check my eBay auctions and buy stuff from me so I can make some room around here. Seriously. Alrighty, time to get some stuff done, but first and most importantly, it is time for some more delicious coffee. Mmmm.
posted by TBELL at 10:17 AM *** 2 comments

TBELL:

iTunes: Tiger Lou: All In Good Time

Dack was my first pet outside of my parents house. He was mine. Your first pet out on your own is different. It means responsibility, dedication, and a lot of work. He was adopted from the Urbana humane society in December of 1994. He was sick and looked awful at the time, that is why I chose him over all of the other healthy kittens. I felt that I needed to make him better. He got better fast too, mostly by chasing string in circles until he would start panting. I named him subtly after a small character in the original Star Wars movies (I was a big fan of the movies since a child, but I did not want it to be obvious). He was then taken home to the "Ranch". It was my first house out on my own with straight-edge Paul (of Enclave Records, who originally released the 1st Braid 7"), Mike Cepek, and Crazy Jim. He then moved with me two years later to the Braid house; he was the only pet to ever live there. He was our mascot who liked to eat bugs. Bob would continually chase him out of his room.

Dack shared floor and couch space with many a touring band (The Promise Ring, June of 44, Karate, Bluetip, Kerosene 454, Minus The Bear, and Centaur to name a few). He withstood many parties and constant touring by his Dad. He lived in two states and 10 different houses in less than 13 years. He had a very interesting life, with lots of good times. He loved catnip, doing back flips (with assistance), and enjoyed playing hide and seek. He has spent the last few years mostly hanging out in the sun or seeking out the most uncomfortable things in the house to lay on. He was a wonderful pet with a distinct personality.

We used to imagine him walking on his hind legs, wearing a scarf, repeating the only words he knew; why hello. If he actually were to talk, he would most definitely have a British accent. He was sassy. He was unique.

Three months ago he was diagnosed with chronic renal (kidney) failure. It is very common in older cats. It can be slowed down with certain treatments but is incurable. He went downhill fast, despite being given IV fluid every day since his diagnosis. He tragically past yesterday at home. He will be missed by many people, especially by me, Katie, and his roommate Violet.

Dack Bell 1994-2007.

Rest In peace my dear friend.

posted by TBELL at 5:37 PM *** 3 comments

TBELL:

iTunes: Hayden: Street Car

So, I was flipping channels the other night killing time and came across one of my favorite old scary movies on AMC, Children of The Corn. I had to finish watching the whole thing. So good, though a bit outdated. Linda Hamilton truly is amazing though. She has the perfect career, never thrust too far into the spotlight, yet continually working in the business and staying busy despite some of her choices for work. Not to mention her resume includes Children of The Corn, The Terminator series, and she has got to host SNL. After doing further IMDB searching it also shows COTC leader Isaac (John Franklin) going on to bigger and better things also. If you count being cast as Cousin Itt in both Addams Family movies that is.

It's finally happened. The first Braid album Frankie Welfare Boy Age 5 is now available for digital download. Funny thing is we never planned on pressing more than 500 CDs ever of that album, let alone being a band for 6 years and doing the amount of recording and touring we did. And finally now it is 2007 and this 1995 concept album is being released in digital form. It is a bit weird. Still, it is a good deal right? 26 songs for 9.99? Oh yeah, some are really short. I'd suggest not buying them individually for 99 cents each. What a rip.

Lastly, there has been an abundance of Prince sightings on TV lately. I think he's a terrific musician, good performer, and a little weird. But man, that guy can play a guitar (no matter how phallically shaped). If you missed his appearence from SNL last year, I dug it up. The audio is crappy but it still slays. Check it out.
posted by TBELL at 12:39 PM *** 0 comments