Thousands of One

NEWS

4/19/2008 - Chapter House

Set 1:

Heaven ->
One More Hand->
Cane Underground
Vita Vita
Race is Over
SoulForce

Set 2:

Hidden Treasure (with Jsan)
Pharaoh ->
Pharaoh In Dub
I Believe
No Separation
Bra

Encore: Revolution at Hand

4/6/2008 - RELEASE!!!

Thanks so much to everyone who attended the release party, packing Castaways like we have never seen. Let's carry the energy over to April 19 at the Chapter House!

and if you picked up a copy of SoulForce... THANK YOU! Your support is so very helpful these days. Spread the word.

3/3/2008 - Returning home

Countdown to the cd release party! 26 days! We have come home to a plethora of work to get the record ready for printing this coming Wednesday. Joel and Nate have been mixing like mad scientists every morning at 6am with coffee and inspiration flowing like mountain water in spring. The band is absorbing the mixes and feeding back wants, needs and desires in order to reach that place of truth that is art. The closer the sounds get to the experience of this music in its natural element on stage, the more chills are felt - a true indication that we hit it and its time to call it final. After one more day of this, we are taking the tracks from Nate at Rep Studios over to Alex Perialas at Pyramid Sound for a detailed mastering session - and then... SHINE! This cd is making us very happy and we feel good that it will do the same for all of you who have been waiting 2 years for it! Ryan Curtis is readying the cover art with his organic funk meditation inspired textures. He made the poster for the show as well, its great to have him on board - thanks Ryan! Elizabeth Field is gearing up for the national radio and media push that will, with your help (call your local radio stations and cd stores and request TOO!), result in weekly rotations of SoulForce tracks. Thank Liz!

The remainder of the tour went extremely well - playing tunes for our friends in Denver at Quixote's for what turned out to be an intimate night on Valentines Day. We then went deep into the southwestern corner of Colorado to Dolores and had a great night rocking the funk vibes for a very eager crowd at the Dolores Brewing Company - a sleepy town that awoke as night fell. The following night turned out to be a highlight for us all as we played the famous Fly Me to the Moon Saloon in infamous Telluride. Scotty showed us around town, sampled goods from the free box, and made us feel at home as the crew at the Moon locked in great sound and a huge crowd. It was what great music and great people are all about.

Our next stops took us through Chicago, where an opening band called Zing! blew our domepieces, up to Madison, WI, then down to Cleveland for a soulful night at Wilberts - then we zoomed home in the night to arrive at our doorsteps at 9am. Thank God for a safe return!

2/14/2008 - Tour Log 2

The road has been good to us! It has come with some surprises and many familiarities – new friends, generous spirits, group dynamics, awesome scenery, hard work all this while doing what we love - making music by any means necessary. It rings especially true when we consider the physical distance between Ithaca, NY and Ocean Beach, CA. Here is the long and the short of the tour so far:

Crested Butte had 10 feet of snow and we rocked out at The Eldo to a few dozen enthusiastic downhillers. There was a storm warning in the forecast for that night so we hit the road directly after the gig. On our way through Las Vegas we decided to stop in at a friend of Brent’s who is a drummer for a reggae group called Bonefide. We ended up connecting instead Junior Rootz instead who is the singer for the band. He played us some tracks and we played him some tracks and decided to do a spontaneous collaboration. Jhakeem recorded some vocals and Mark hit some horn lines on what could be a very hot track, more details to come.

We landed in Ocean Beach for a few days of sun and surf, soccer and super good vibes. OB is reportedly the last southern California surf town that also features a very conscious mindset, much like our hometown. We were super psyched to chill with the Vegetation band – Jamie the percussionist graciously set us up with their rehearsal room so we could tighten up after the long drive. We jammed a bit and collaborated on some rhythms that we could eventually bring out live. They were recorded and we look forward to finding some material within this session. Look out for Vegetation playing east coast dates in June with a stop in at Castaway’s on June 27. We had an awesome turnout at Winston’s to punctuate our stay in this lovely town.

The next morning we headed up to LA for the big night at The Roxy, and it was… a big night for Thousands of One. Mike Judah landed this gig for us which was an awesome feat. It was a 30 minute set with a sold out ticket, opening for SOJA. We knew just what to do. We took a huge communal deep breath and blew as much soulforce into that room as we could. It was felt for sure as we were invited back whenever we want to come back. It was both inspiring and intimidating to walk in and see framed photos all over the walls of Rage Against the Machine, Bob Marley, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers – all of whom made music there. Liz had given us a live recording of Bob Marley at The Roxy, before we departed, which we listen to with awe. Give thanks to Jah almighty!

San Francisco was up next which turned out to be a fun night with some great dancers. SF is always a warm experience. We then headed up hill to Lake Tahoe for a somewhat private party with a couple dozen old friends of Joel’s who happened to be vacationing there at the same time. The Tahoe Underground is a great little venue and the people were very cool. Thanks to Wes and Sut and all the rest for making it an unforgettable night.

We have been in Steamboat Springs for a few days now having played two shows, last night at the Old Town Pub was an awesome party with some of the most enthusiastic fans one could imagine. Some of us had a chance to climb around the mountains in snow shoes and then soak in Strawberry Park Hot Springs – which may be the high point of this tour – a small valley steaming with water from the depths of the earth, to heal and realign our souls, bodies and minds. We will surely be back here soon. Til next time… Jah bless.

1/31/2008 - Tour Log 1

Keep checking on our tour dates, we are still adding dates. This Saturday is looking like a night at The Eldo in Crested Butte. We are tentatively playing in Telluride, Colorado on February 16, more details to come. As well we have confirmed February 10 at Tahoe Underground in Stateline, Nevada.

In typical Thousands of One fashion things got off to a bit of a late start. After an inspiring prayer with Pastor Benson of the Baptized Church of Jesus Christ (location of Peoples Garden Project), we got the van packed tight and headed out for Boulder, Colorado. 3 and a half hours of good traveling passed until the van took a turn for the worse. 14m east of Jamestown we lost power and the engine that was heating up fast. Brent diagnosed the problem before the car was at rest on the side of the road - a beached whale. A snapped serpentine belt. Mikey Judah spent the next 2 hours on the phone with what seemed like hundreds of different towing companies, eventually finding the right people. Everyone packed into a taxi, appreciating the heat on the ride to our hotel. Once we got settled in, we relaxed for the rest of the night munching on Joel’s organic greens and vegetables. We’ll need sleep tonight, tomorrow will start bright and early at 8am.

12/18/2007 - Chapter House to Brooklyn

Thanks to all who came out in the blizzard to be a part of the show. It was a memorable evening. Thanks to Ryan Curtis for painting live. Ryan's recent artworks are being used for the cover of our next album - dropping March 29 at Castaways.

You can see the Chapter House show on the latest Homemade Jam on channel 13.

If you live in Philly or NYC please tell your friends and family to come out for the shows this weekend!

11/16/2007 - Fall news

Greetings, one love to all.

Thousands crew has played few shows this season in order to best fulfill the necessity to express our love of this music in the recorded format. This weekend we are keeping warm at the Music Tank in Trumansburg, putting a few more tracks together for the upcoming release. We are blessed to be working with a great crew for this record. Chad Crumm , owner of the awesome Music Tank, is a great engineer with a passion for keeping the original spirit of a song alive through the recording process, we feel he has helped us in this way immensely. Elliot Martin is crafting subtle atmospheric soundscapes from these soul outpourings, being sure that the stereo medium is used to its fullest potential to bring on new states of consciousness. At the mixing board of Rep Studio is our good friend Nate Richardson, who is a true rootsman at heart, in a sense, tethering the sound to the ground so we can't lose our way on the journey. If all goes as planned look for the album to be out January 26. YES!!!!

10/12/2007 - Stand strong for UNITY!

Whenever and wherever we hear that one or more individuals has fallen harm under the various expressions of racism in our society, whether it be by lack of privilege, profiling, low expectations or outright verbal abuse, we must, no matter who we are, stand up and point it out. It is our hope and plea that this be the final hurdle in creating a peaceful society. All wars stem from a fundamental belief in superiority and privilege. Here in America a war is raging, burning, though some of us have no idea it is happening. Look around and take notice of some basic statistics, we should all be appalled, shocked. You do the research...cross study the ethnic make up of the general American population with that of the following criteria: American prisons, death due to gun violence, average wages, high school drop out rates, ivy league graduates. Than ask why, and don't stop by blaming the government, or history. Take a look at yourself and ask what you can do to improve this situation. It is in the best interest of your children and their children and theirs. “Racism exists but race is an illusion.” Peace

7/23/2007 - NPR and G-Roots

Thousands of One was featured as an interlude on NPR's All Things Considered today. That's great news!

Grassroots was amazing. From Arrested Development to the new JBB material, we were so happy to be a part of it once again.

Looking forward to seeing you all at Castaways on August 3rd and 4th. We will be performing with many special guests. It is also Jocelyn's graduation party! Holla!

7/12/2007 - Front page news!

"Block party echoes with sweet sounds of community" - Ithaca Journal 7/9/07. A very special thanks going out to all who gave generously to make the First Annual Summertime Block Party a wild success, or really, a sense of great relief. It was one of the most positive and diverse crowds seen in Ithaca in recent times. Thanks to all the youth who came out, to the Race Liberation Alliance for organizing the event, to Sound on Sound for providing the very best in audio and staging, to Mbusi, Michelle Berry, the Ithaca Afro Project, the Youth Poets, to Greenstar for donating hundreds of organic chickens, veggies and beans, to the Multi-Cultural Resource Center, to STAMP/Green Guerrillas, to sponsors AFCU, Green Clean and Snug Planet, and to the intended keynote speaker Shakoor Aljuwani who was not able to make the event due to being pulled over in South Carolina for speeding 5 miles over the limit, held in jail overnight with suspicion because his car was registered to an Episcopalian Church in New Orleans, who had let him borrow the car. He was in the process of making a long journey to be a part of the Summertime Block Party, deeply regrets missing it and promised to make it up some day soon to the people of Ithaca. We look forward to hearing what he has to say about his experiences and knowledge about the relationship between racial prejudice and urban housing.

5/12/2007

Thanks to the Boston crew for putting a great vibe together last night. You can download and listen to the first set of the show at Matt Murphy's Pub by clicking here. The soul rebel force was in effect, many heads in Boston know the meaning of One Love. The sound of we.

4/29/2007

Upstate New York treated Thousands of One well this weekend. What a blast in both Oswego and Geneva. Real long sets make everyone happy. One sound giving way to blazing solos all around, hands in the air, bodies moving like wind is blowing altering directions to and fro. And of course, the burning speaker, yes we set our PA on fire, sorry for the stench.

Thanks again to The Eclectic Collective for bringing us before your enormous hometown crowd at Harper's Ferry. It was a truly momentous show these fellas put together. Looking forward to this Friday to do the same, I-Town style! Don't miss it - Castaways - E.C. and T.O.O - show starts at 9:30.

4/11/2007 - California->Colorado

Now having left the California vortex, we decided it was time to write another update. What are we listening to? Fela Kuti, Talib Kweli and Madlib’s new album, Paul Simon, Burning Spear, Derek Trucks Band, Bob Marley, The Meters, Jimi Hendricks, Prefuse 73. DVD’s watched? P-Funk, Youssou N’Dour, Dave Mathews, The Last Waltz.

As always, Thousands of One does not just go on tour. We make pilgrimage. In this case the initiation ceremonies were commented upon in the previous entry, several hard knocks and the door opens. Where we last left off we were entering California on our way to Ocean Beach, which we were hard pressed to make on time. We did so and threw our equipment on stage in time for our friends Vegetation to start playing for their fans, who came out in large numbers for a Tuesday night. They finished a roots reggae session moving some deeply felt vibes and graciously handed the mic over to Thousands of One. We have learned to expect little from a show booked on a Tuesday night, but this particular night was a dream come true. Not only did we put on a half way decent performance for having driven 20 hours (two of us had driven 36 hours, remember: van recovery mission), but the Vegetation crew and their people were so warm and welcoming, dancing, listening, giving up big love for this growing revolution. Thanks to two sisters – Lindsay and Jen for letting us stay in your backyard and couches. Lindsay’s destruction of a pallet with a cinder block to make fire wood was the big lesson of this day – use what you have to get things done.

In the morning after some food, jogging, swimming in the ocean, we headed up to LA. Traffic gave way to a soundcheck, which gave way to waiting for gig time. We watched as the opening acts played straight Hiphop to a small crowd, who left after each act finished. Our people were far and few between, though those in the house were giving super strong support (Weston) – it was one of those experiences in which we saw that the seemingly most important event of the tour ended up being the least significant. “So much for expectations” said the painted Buddha head between every song, quietly and yet with great force, staring at me from over my shoulder. At the end of the show with a bit of a snicker of trickery it said “come back next time!” huh?

The next morning we headed up to San Francisco. We had lost expectations due to the whispering Buddha head, but still knew by instinct that we would have a good time that night, which proved correct. But first!, We blew a tire on the trailer in Oakland, got off the highway, loaded all of our gear and our squeezed bodies into the van and left the trailer to fate on the roadside, in order to get to the gig on time. In this close company we divulged hilarious stories of our first encounters with the opposite sex: nervous energy over an extremely tight schedule reveals all. Of course, we made it on time and were embarrassed that these “dire” circumstances had forced us to come forward with things you might only say if perhaps it was the end of days, but oh well. At the Canvas Gallery, The Makepeace Brothers opened with beautiful new songs, reminiscent of Ithaca/Grassroots sounds and forced the crowd into a dancing frenzy. We followed up with more frenzy and grace, thankful that we could get through so many things just to play music for people.

We took a day off in San Francisco. Joel, Jhakeem and Jali made it a mission to repair the tire and get Tiffany’s oil changed and then played a soccer match in Golden Gate park that left us gasping for air. The others wandered amongst Haight St. looking for good deals on vintage clothing, new music, tea. We found sleep after watching Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, funny movie, and headed up to Humboldt County in the morning.

Big Trees. BIG TREES! Clean rivers. CLEAN RIVERS!!! And awesome people. We met up with the opening band Anslinger at their house high on a mountain over Arcata. They had a barbecue ready and we had a blast catching up with these dudes. We all headed down to the venue and began the night right with political comedy in reggae punk music from Anslinger. We love them. The crowd grew and assembled for an awesome dance party, which gave Thousands of One a chance to explore some jams and new songs. We will surely be coming back through the area soon.

The Pilgrimage. If you have been to the redwoods than you know why I call it that. We had a couple days off and drove an hour north of Arcata to the Smith River for some camping, hiking and jaw-dropping. In the morning time, before we were to leave on the current drive, this writer was standing on the shore of the river, looking up and down giant stands of primeval trees. An osprey floated down stream looking into a river so clear it was invisible, a raven followed behind him. This little patch of wilderness left to its own life by men who passed laws to protect it from themselves, spoke loud and clear, yet without words in the immediate, which were revealed in retrospect as the truest purpose we can declare in this precious life – that of being beautiful and standing up as high as possible.

Our intentions on that day were to get an early start on the road back to Colorado for a couple more shows to finish the tour. However, here we experience the vortex that is indicative of a holy place. Blissed out and milling around forever, first in the woods, later in Arcata, we found our departure time slip from 9am to 4pm. Thankfully, our schedule allowed for this as we had 36 hours to make a 24 hour drive. We are currently an hour from Steamboat Springs moving through desolate land. Beyond the occasional mumble about wanting to play some music, there is very little thinking going on amongst the seven of us.

See you next time

Buddha Bezat

4/3/2007 - Colorado -> California

Descending into Las Vegas in our beloved 1989 Chevy tour van dubbed “Tiffany” by Jocelyn for it’s characteristically ‘80’s pink velour interior, I thought I’d take a moment to bring you up to date on what I am fondly calling our “Third Knock Tour” (I’ll explain that later…).

Where we left your heroes last, they were sitting on the patio of a little café in Denver soaking up the crisp Colorado Air on a beautiful sunny day. They were feeling flush about the miracle of simply making the gig the night before, but the challenges were not yet over…

Lesson 1: last one out is responsible for knowing where the key is before locking the door. Or, if you don’t learn this lesson, make sure someone in the band knows how to jimmy a door open with a credit card – miracle 2.

Lesson 2: everyone is responsible for their own gear after the gig, or designates someone who is. We were all again grateful when Jhakeem was able to get into the venue to retrieve the 2 Djembes. Miracle 3.

So, then we were off to Winter Park and right on time. The mountain pass on the way over, at 11,300 ft., was a little harrowing in the freshly falling snow. We had to push the van out when we got stuck on the icy pull-out at the top, and then we were again on our way. Every thing went smoothly when we arrived in Winter park. We loaded in to the club, set up all our gear, found a nice little hotel (the Viking Lodge), and tried to rest up for the gig. This, however, was a little tricky, as the parking lot outside was FILLED with high school band kids having a band contest ceremony. Party! I don’t think they were really that familiar with songs like “She thinks my tractor’s Sexy” or “Baby got Back”, but they were jumping and screaming as one, and partying like it was 1999 (in the stream of booming 80’s and 90’s songs, that was one that I didn’t actually hear). So, forget the rest – it was way too loud. We just got some food, and went back to On the Rocks. When we got there, the whole building was dark – the power had gone out! Was this another test?? What was going on here?

We found the electrician, and he said he should have the power back up around the time we were supposed to start playing, so we just went to a bar across the street and waited. We were all committed to playing, no matter what – and this was a great time to practice the power of intention. Later, Joel told me that he and Jhakeem were praying about the situation, and right as they said “amen” the lights burst back on. Miracle 4! So, armed with that news, we got in touch with the club owners and went on over. We ended up starting around 11 instead of 10, playing to just a few people, but by the end the place was packed, and we were all as giddy as those high-school students we’d left at the hotel. That was a great gig. We all felt it would be, and it was a beautiful to witness the way people eventually became one listening and musicking body.

For the time being, the challenges seem to abate. We left from Winter Park, and enjoyed the rugged mountain scape on the way to Steamboat Springs. We arrived right on time again, and loaded in. The gig was in the restaurant at the base of the ski slopes, so we got to see the skiers coming down as we played. At first, I wasn’t sure what the gig would be like. Most of the people seemed to be hanging out outside on the deck where we would have played had the weather been a bit warmer. Those that did come in were beat from a day of skiing, so weren’t really in the mood to dance. Getting ready for the gig, Jhakeem realized that his voice was almost totally gone. It had grown a little worse from a chest cold over the last couple of days and he felt like he wasn’t going to be able to sing. So, we had a band powwow, and Dani, our wonderful ‘backup’ singer stepped in to take the lead. Through the gig, she and Jhakeem worked together, with Dani covering many of the vocals he usually sings. She was declared “MVP” on that gig!

This was the kind of show that took a little while to harness the energy and open to the flow, but by the end we were bumping, having a great time, as was the audience. Again, as always, we met some great people, and made some wonderful connections. A couple from Chicago said they would have us play a multicultural street festival this summer.

At the same time, playing at a resort provided a clear example of the shackles of society that we have committed to facing. It was a snapshot of an unhealed and separated America. The illusion of race rears its ugly head. Before the gig, we loaded in from the loading dock, and brought all of our equipment in through the bowels of the building, to the stage. In this place, we noticed something that you can notice in many parts of America, and indeed the world. There was a definite disparity between the numbers of darker skinned people in the kitchen, and out among the public, and indeed even waiters and waitresses in the restaurant. The shackles are so deep and hidden that many times we, as people and a society, don’t even notice them. Our goal is to lift everyone up at the same time. Bring anyone who hears our message and our music to a place of unity and beauty, and therefore bring awareness to where this does not happen in the world. Jhakeem and Joel’s words rang in my head – “Race is an illusion, but racism definitely exists.” The other part – the kicker – is that we’re all a little racist just by being raised in this society. I used to argue with that – “I’m not racist!!!!!!!!”, but sometimes I look at people through the hazy glass of generalizations and stereotypes, and that is a subtle form of racism. Guilty - and now I will do my damnedest to love everyone (including myself).

So, back to the tour. After Steamboat, we drove back through the mountains to Denver, where we got a hotel. At this point, we were still driving the rental van we had picked up in Lincoln, NE, and it was time to make the trip back to retrieve our beloved pleasure princess (van). We slept for a few hours, and at 4:30 AM, Brent and I jumped in the van, and bolted across the plains, back to Lincoln, leaving the trailer and the rest of the band behind to wait for our return. I’ve got to tell you, that drive gets boring!!!! We arrived in Seward, NE early enough to get lunch at a nice little café, and check out the local thrift stores before going to Midwest Automotive, where the van was a couple hours away from being finished. The mechanics were genuine, and again, we were witness to the wonderful kindness of our Midwestern brothers and sisters. So a couple hours and two grand later, Brent and I were back on the road for our third, and penultimate trip across Nebraska. This time it was a little more exciting. The weather report was calling for flash floods and severe thunderstorms, and they were right. About halfway across the state, the sky began to darken, and it wasn’t that late yet. Soon, a massive band of clouds moved across the highway. It was divided into 3 layers, with a tiny bit of sunlight piercing eerily between them, periodically punctuated by flashes of internal lighting. Then came the rain. And the wind. And the hail. All of the sudden we were certain there must be a tornado really close. The tumbleweeds were flying across the road, the hail was hitting us hard, and the van was being blown around the road like a sail in a hurricane. Our reactions went from “Wow, this is cool! To “Whoa, we’ve got to get out of here!” The light show was amazing, and being right in the middle of it was a thrill, but we were glad to get through it, and drive on back to Denver.

While Brent and I were taking a hit for the band and doing the recovery mission, Joel and Jhakeem got winded climbing Mt. Sanitas near Boulder, Dani climbed up to the red rocks outcropping, Jali searched in vain for his cousin from Senegal, and Safak was writing a proposal on Ocean Internal Waves (OIC). I was definitely sad to miss the hiking!

We hooked up the trailer at midnight, and headed west over the mountains with Jhakeem at the helm and Joel in the Navigator’s Seat (that’s how we always do it – one driver and one navigator who is responsible for getting us where we need to go.) So that brings us to the present. We’re now near the California-Nevada state line, having traversed some of the most striking and beautiful landscapes in this country over the last 14 hours and the van with it’s shiny new transmission is driving like a charm. I love it so much out here, and I get chills and waves of ecstatic joy every time I get to see and smell the desert southwest, so I am extremely grateful for these moments! In a few hours we will arrive in San Diego and play a gig with our friends, Vegetation, beginning the California wing of our tour. As I am writing this, we are waiting at the California border while the trailer is checked for fruits, vegetables, and exotic animals.

Well, I think I’ve written enough, but I want to say one more thing about what happens in the intervening 20 hours in between gigs. Well, maybe some of it is sleep and most of it is driving (freestyle sessions over dope beats, and spontaneous chants over guitar chops often commence during long drives), some is soccer and a lot is either deep discussion or nonsense banter. However, as you can well imagine, being cooped up with six other people nearly 24 hours a day for three weeks… It’s like a seven-way marriage. It’s the best way I can think of to get over your stuff and really learn to accept your brothers and sisters. In case you’re wondering, yes, we do argue, but each time we come through it. Somehow, every time it feels like communication is breaking down, we just stick with it and the energy comes full circle. We end up loving each other more than before we started and being doubly committed to each other and to the mission that is Thousands of One. This is the beauty of the tour. Loving connection with each other and with those that come to hear us and share the music with us. A teacher of mine once said that if one wants to join a monastery, he (in this case) must knock three times. The first two times he comes to the door, he is ignored, and only if he has the commitment and strength of purpose to come back a third time is he admitted. This is our third tour to California, our third knock at the door to the Monastery of Music. May we bring you all in with us.

Blessings,

Mark "Obi Wan" Wienand

Legalize it.

3/31/2007 - Nebraska->Colorado

Ah, the friendly people of Nebraska. We had a great time playing in Omaha, at the GoofyFoot Lodge as the first stop on the tour. Good people from the Adam Monaco Band, outta Philly, helped bring out some friends and a dance party ensued.

The next morning we headed west in our pink interior chevy conversion van, across the broad land of Nebraska. Mark opened a bag of sesame sticks that seemed to smell really strong. We all passed them around, smelled them and thought that it was weird, but commenced to eat a few. Soon the smell became an uproar as Safak yelled out "smoking!" A plume of smoke was streaming from the back of the van. We pulled over at the next stop, called a mechanic who would come soon and determine that we melted the transmission. It was old anyway.

Joel and Jhakeem noticed a Pawnee earth lodge across the street that was built by some relatives of the Pawnee for people to see roots living on the plains. There we met Dick Vaughn who taught us about a most beautiful and functional living space for an extended family. It is sunk three feet in the earth and 20 feet across, Dick lit some hay and sage on fire to show how smoke hung in the air overhead and a stream of sunlight poured through it from a hole in the center.

So, at this point we have to find a ride 30 miles to Lincoln, Dick says, "Don't waste a minute, you have a show tonight, get in my truck" and off we went to rent a new van, get the old one fixed and then we blazed across the plains to Denver, Mark setting a personal record for both speed and distance - 3 hours at 100mph, arriving with about 20 minutes to spare before soundcheck. We made it and played our hearts out for 50 minutes, the release of music was awesome after all. We were opening for the legendary Melvin Seals, John Molo, Bobby Vega, Ray White and Barry Sless. They played one of the most heart wrenching gospel versions of Dear Prudence this music lover has every laid ears on. Chill factor 8.

Denver with about 20 minutes to soundcheck. This elder Mr. Dick Vaughn was so generous it reminded us all of the old goodness that we sometimes forget still exists. We made it to Denver and had a short but really fine set, opening for the legendary Melvin Seals, John Molo, Bobby Vega and Barry Sless. They played one of the most heart wrenching gospel versions of Dear Prudence this music lover has every laid ears on. Chill factor 8.

Tonight we play up in the mountains at Winter Park and on Sunday at Steamboat Springs. We get our van back on Monday to head to San Diego. Till next time!

3/1/2007 - I-Town Invasion Tour 2007

Announcing the I-Town Invasion Tour 2007 - Thousands of One is road worthy and ready to move mountains, following up on Kevin Kinsella + Jsan and the Analogue Sons west coast excursion, and followed up by The Sim Redmond Band on spring west coast tour - Thousands of One is kicking this leg of the tour off March 29 at the Goofyfoot Lodge in Omaha, Nebraska and moving right into the Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, forward to California for a return visit to the Temple Bar in Santa Monica and the Canvas Gallery in San Francisco. Then we head north and back east through Montana. Please keep checking back with us as more shows are being added everyday.

Under the auspices of the full moon this past weekend, we dove head first into the Music Tank in Trumansburg to record a dozen new songs made ready in the past few months for a new album. Chad Crumm as engineer captured very live sounds and added his taste for inner world explorations by coaxing the band in some very creative and spontaneously impromptu moments of music. Elliot Martin will be on production detail for the next couple months and we plan on releasing the album this summer. Look forward with bright eyes and an open door to your soul.

1/16/2007

This Saturday the 20th, come to the Perry City Quaker Meeting Hall in support of the Trumansburg Learning Center. There will be music, dance and food. The event begins at 5pm and all proceeds benefit the initial phases of development of the Trumansburg Learning Center. Click here to learn more!

12/18/2006 - Move!

Are you ready to move mountains? We can do this, but only together. To unify vision, we must see that we are already unified, even though illusions present us with a false image of separation. Babylon, we say, is this false illusion. Zion, we say, is living with an understanding of unity amongst all people, religions, living beings and otherwise. These are the words we use because they are common amongst our culture and history - however you may have different words to symbolize these states of being. When moving a mountain we must first climb it. There are many paths to the summit, and yet only one summit. After this, we know what the mountain is, we can then move it.

12/17/2006

Happy holidays. Thanks for an unforgettable night at the Chapter House, and an unforgettable year of music with you all. See you in 2007.

11/17/2006 - Hot glass and 2 Pow-wows

That was what they call "hot glass". We had the honour of playing, while Josh Simpson blew glass worlds within worlds. Good times at 2300 degrees! Thanks all! Next up, a pre-Thanksgiving Pow-wow to celebrate the Nonviolent Movement, this next Wednesday November 22nd, at Castaways in Ithaca, with special guest Emerson B. The day after Thanksgiving, the celebration continues revolutionary style (the revolution is that we should all get to know each other a lot better A.K.A The Nonviolent Movement), at The Amp in Elmira on November 24th, with special guests Pushdawn and Minor Prophet. Thanksgiving is a time to honour the gift that native people gave - survival in a sustainable manner. That is to create no waste - nature shows us this - in every vital ecosystem there is no waste. Next Thursday, when you sit down with your family or whomever you are eating with, give thanks for this free wisdom. Think about this: The age of industrialism is over - the planet can't handle anymore of our reckless business. To restore our home to previous healthy living conditions, we are all responsible for changing the way we handle our resources. Making money for the singular purpose of being insanely wealthy has absolutely no meaning. None. Other than to collect things that distract us from the simple and beautiful things in life. Have you ever been to a wedding that cost 50,000 dollars and then asked yourself "Why can't I feel the love?". Today, we are on the edge of a cliff that is steadily eroding under our feet. It is a waste of precious time and resources for even one of us to be so absent minded as to think we deserve more than our neighbor. No matter what kind of education, skin tone, family name, nationality, orientation, political party - GIVE UP THESE ILLUSIONS OF SEPARATION and FEAR and BEGIN TO SEE that everything WE CHOOSE TO CREATE is CREATED. LET US CREATE a SOCIETY THAT is finally ETHICAL, SUSTAINABLE and LOVING and the planet EARTH WILL HEAL. Let it begin this Thursday (or right now).

10/8/2006 - Autumn update

Enjoying the change of seasons is a rare moment passing, blink and it surely has moved on. Greetings to any new peeps to this community, checking in for the first time. We have had many eager requests for a second album. The new material is coming through and then we are putting it on tracks. It has been a beautiful endeavour thus far and we can't wait to bring this music into fruition. It will be worth the wait. Look forward to the new album at some point in late winter. Be sure to check out the debut album "Thousands of One", if you have not already. We have a beautiful t-shirt available known as "Love Evolve", please don't even think twice about it, check it out... We are grateful to be out there meeting you, sharing music and speaking together. As we all connect on more meaningful levels, these seeds of relations become deeply embedded in the soil of this next generation, such that they can never be eradicated, soon to give birth to great trees of communities, never standing in each others shade, yet respecting everyone's need for sunlight. Love Evolve

8/31/2006 - "When some are oppressed, no one is free."

Thanks going out to all the west coast family who came out in loving support, and who brought some new people. You made it a worthwhile experience. We had a great time at the Temple Bar in LA - with the face of a giant Buddha painted on the wall behind us, staring calmly at the dancers, holding groove. In San Francisco, we were blessed to have Finian Makepeace open the show at the Canvas Gallery, a sweet surprise, great tunes! By the end of the night, the energy in the venue was awesome to behold, it was a challenge to end the show. But it continued nevertheless in the same fashion up in Ashland, Oregon. Uniqueness and beauty in a quite dusty desert town, comes alive in spirit to move to the pulse of strangers' rhythms. On our last day,we made a trek up a mountain that stood next to Crater Lake, for some high-in-the-sky Tai Chi, then down into a distant valley where we soaked in very hot hot springs, only to cross the river and plunge into a fresh cold spring, then off to sleep with the bushy-tailed cat and ufo's.

7/27/2006 - roots make trees that make seeds that make trees that need roots

Grassroots !! Thanks for dancing and shining. You know who you are. We will see you again at MuseFest for another episode of multi-dimensional community and consciousness expansion.

7/17/2006 - Hector nectar / T-burg reverb

Need we say what an excellent time we had on Saturday at the Stonecat Cafe. It was a true block party (or should we say rural route party?) As well, in Providence, RI, thanks to all who came out once again, you make it a great visit each time. Thousands of One also made its maiden voyage to the verdant mountains of Vermont to some very warm welcoming peeps, many misquitoes and possibly the finest granola on the face of the earth -Nutty Steph's Vermont Granola. Thanks Steph! This week is a very special week for many thousands of people. Grassroots is once again upon us and we come together to celebrate its unique purpose of bringing people from all corners of the earth to one place - just to prove that it can be peaceful. Thousands of One was born in Trumansburg. That year we played all night in the Cabaret Hall at Grassroots. It was a night to remember. This year it is one hour on Thursday at 8pm in the Dance Tent. As well, we are very excited to be the instrumental back up band for the Brooklyn Hiphop group, Little Egypt - on Saturday at 1:30pm on the Infield Stage. See you there!

6/21/2006 - The Longest Day of the Year

This Friday night is only 5 bucks or 5 books to gain entry to the BOOKS THRU BARS BENEFIT at Castaway's, beginning at 9pm with Johnny Dowd. We will be joined by a great diversity of talent, all performing in support of funding postage to mail these books to incarcerated brothers and sisters.

This Saturday, June 24th, at 4:30pm we are performing for the third year in a row at the Southside Community Center Juneteenth Celebration! JUNETEENTH IS THE OLDEST KNOWN CELEBRATION OF THE ENDING OF SLAVERY, DATING BACK TO GALVESTON, TEXAS IN 1865. COME JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION. PLEASE HELP US MAKE THIS EVENT MEMORABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HOW CAN YOU HELP?

We are very excited to announce that our good friends, Five2 are releasing their debut full-length recording, Sweet End, on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at Olivia Restaurant + Bar. Produced by Kevin Kinsella, it features performances by a slew of stellar Ithaca-area musicians, including Jhakeem Haltom on Conga. See you there!

6/4/2006

Wow! what a weekend! Proof positive that community is worth more than money or the pursuit thereof. People have been shackled by the desire for wealth, prioritized over compassion for fellow humans. All these thoughts inspired by another great Ithaca Festival weekend, despite the weather - Ithaculture can not be stopped by a little rain! Thanks to Vicki and Marie, you are the miracle workers behind the festival.

Eat at the Stonecat Cafe. Possibly the best restaurant in three counties. Featuring regional organic cuisine. We had a blast on Saturday night, a funk-nasty dance party Seneca lake style - "Hector got the nectar!"

See you all soon, looking forward a summer of festivals - Grassroots, Musefest, The Gathering

5/15/2006

This coming Friday, May 19th, Little Egypt returns to Ithaca for another night of collaboration and remix. We hope to see all of you who can make it out for what should be a very special event. In order for Hiphoppas to maintain consciousness in this age of slaveship mentality on the radio waves, it requires vast courage and determination. Little Egypt remains true to the mission and we look forward to the furthering the truth sessions.

Thousands of One is a good time, its hard to contain the energy. The Biodiesal Benefit yesterday was a great success - they turned The Huant into a school for adults and a playground for the children - raising 1500 for a local processor. Afterwards, we hit WICB for an in-studio performance and discussion with Joe Prusch and Brian Kwoba on their show Pleading the First. Alternative fuels and fabrics and the fight for legalization in Mexico and the conditions of American urban centers. Then we brought it home at the end of the hour with some free-jazz-spoken-word explorations as Mark tore through voicings and Joe Prusch played his violin, on top of a wild swing pattern and the dissident raving of a man possessed by the holy spirit.

4/10/2006 - Recording <> I-Town Showcase <> Burning Spear

Thousands of One ascended route 81 today to Jocko Randalls' recording studio in Syracuse, to a lay a few new tracks. Very exciting. Elliot Martin will once again be on production detail, a.k.a. Samurai 808. Presenting sounds and prayers inspired by the era between 4000 and 5000 BCE.

Catch it: The I-TOWN RECORDS SHOWCASE is Friday April 28, at Castaway's. This is Ithaca music. The party of the year! Thousands of One joins Jsan and the Analogue Sons, IY, Crow Greenspun, Sim Redmond, Trevor Mcdonald and Kevin Kinsella in celebrating the release of I-Town Records Compilation Volume 4.

For last Thursday... what more can be said but Thank you - to Nate Richardson for joining us on wurlitzer, to Matt Saccucci-Morano for the mix and the dub, to all of you who were there in support, and to Burning Spear for bringing some of the deepest devotional music the modern world has known.

4/4/2006 - Burning Spear

It is with great honor that we are able to play music before the legendary Burning Spear takes the stage this Thursday nightat the Haunt, April 6th at 8pm. As well, good friend, Nate Richardson will be joining us on keys for this night. And look for Topp Rank Soundsystem spinning CLAAASIC roots/soul/dub and UNNDAGROUNN hiphop. Thats right! Remember this is an early show at 8pm. Blessings

3/14/2006 - Mahalo Hawaii

Back in New York, it seems a dream to recollect the warm ocean breeze gently floating through the air, breathing, at times gusting with the force of thousands of miles of blue sea. The jungles and deserts, volcanic scenes of Mars, indigenous magic, flowers in winter, Teo Acetos' ukulele and tales of Hawaiian history. All together, this trip was beyond words, yet in this attempt, what comes forth is gratitude. Mahalo to all of you who went out of your way to welcome us into the fold. Chris "Bassie" Bibbler, Edgar, Makka and Rastabot of Isouljahs - Give Thanks! It was all made possible. Reaching new places in the music through the exposure to new ears - Adrian and Nikki, Sophia, Sean and Brian - thank you for having us. Thousands of One saw the great power of intention and putting forth positive energy in the face of aversion, through mysterious manifestations of goodness, when all seemed to be distantly bizarre. Up high in a porch overlooking acres of coffee and the ocean below the city of Kona, in the early morning hours, a shaman of sorts, related these secrets to us in hushed and yet urgent tones that while we are blessed with freewill, we must surrender to the goal that has been set before us, not just us, but the human race. The first step being to understand what this goal is for each of us individually and then as a collective. "E Piko Kakou - We are all connected." - Kamaile

3/5/2006 - Aloha!

Before we tell you about Maui, we have to mention that back in California we had one of those "before and after" moments. You know the kind when things are going along just normal and then this moment passes and everything changes - the strange thing being that you can't really put your finger on the exact reason or occurrence. In this case it took place in a quaint Mexican restaurant in Fort Bragg, on Route 1, called Mi Casa. We quickly befriended the waitress named Ana, who turned out to be the owner as well. We commented on how good the salsa was and she said "just wait till you taste the meal". Sure enough, it qualified as some of the most authentic and delicious Mexican food we have ever had. She told us several stories as we shared our story with her, gave her a cd and then she provided the meal for us free of charge! In our attempt to refuse this incredible offering she said it would be a blessing if we accepted, plus we might need that money down the road. If you are ever on your way up Route 1, go to Mi Casa and say hello.

That being said... she was right. It was a blessing as we have found ourselves in the middle of the pacific, making many new friends and introducing our music and our mission to this community. The people are very gracious and accepting of us and have provided incredible support. We give thanks for the smiles, the dancers and the love. Thanks to Alicia and Bob for putting us up on the mountain for a few days, we were more than happy to fulfill your wish for the presence of musicians in your life. We were very fortunate after our first show to be welcomed by a woman named Kamalai, to a traditional sweat lodge the following morning, which we did so graciously. Four rounds of lava stones with plunges into the ocean in between and a visit by some whales mating in the bay. We instantly became very close with these people and have made lasting friends in a such a short time. This island is heart medicine we have all been affected in some way by this mysterious place. Learning of its history and indigenous conditions, we are moved to see how strong the Hawaiian people remain in the face of a corporate industrial takeover. The movement for an independent Hawaii is strong and stands in response to the elitism and racism that comes with colonialism. It's a worldwide process that we must all face as time moves forward - to find ways to reconnect with the past and provide retribution for those who have been mrginalized by the system. It's on!

We have a few days off for some quality exploration and relaxation, and then it's off to the big island for another round of shows. Aloha!

3/2/2006

We arrived on Maui today to find possibly the kindest people on Earth, greet us at every turn who have guided us to a spot on the beach to camp for the evening. We begin our string of shows here tomorrow and are very excited about this. Our week in California found us weaving amongst a variety of serendipitious adventures from the bizarre to profound, and profane to sacred. A woman who worked on the sound last night at The Mint in LA said "Everything is possible", not just anything, but everything. Truth be told, it is. We had a great show and those in attendance were treated to the special addition of DJ Cocheze scratching throughout the set. This guy is talented! He must be, to be working with the teacha KRS-ONE. Look forward to further collaborations. Up in Arcata, we stumbled across one of those rare nights you never stop talking about, at least we haven't as of yet. There was this band known as Anslinger, who we were invited to open for at this house party high up in the redwood hills. I hope that some day, you get to see these guys. Let's just say Frank Zappa meets Zach De La Rocha meets Dave Chappelle meets Wierd AL. They had us in stitches. Thanks for having us fellas. Shout out! We also were blessed to a gracious audience and venue in San Diego at the Turqiouse Cafe. More to come...

2/22/2006 - with Godspeed

We fly out tonight, across the continent, to meet the people of the west coast. We ask you to listen in as we play live on the air on Radio Free Humboldt which will be streamed live on the internet - on the East coast it will be aired this Thursday night at midnite. Click here to listen. Thank you all so much who made last Saturday night at Castaway's an incredible event! Look forward to further adventures with the Little Egypt crew. From the Prisoner Express Benefit to the finale jam, it shaped up to be a highlight of the winter, for sure. That was Walter from Parlor on keys and Embassy The Visionary on the mic.

2/11/2006 - "Put Your L's Up"

We are very excited to be spending the evening this coming Saturday 2/18 with Little Egypt - conscious Hiphop from Brooklyn and 4 year veteran performers at the Grassroots Festival. It begins with the benefit and concludes with a party at Castaways! Please join us through the night. The Thousands of One fledgling tour to the middle of the Pacific Ocean begins in less then two weeks! We look forward to collaborations with DJ Cocheze who is the DJ for KRS-ONE in LA at The Mint(Temple of Hiphop event), several other DJ's and Hawaiian local musicians to be announced. also check out www.jaynash.com - he is a good friend and a great musician! His new album is a roots music masterpiece.

1/6/2006 - HAWAII TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

More dates to be added soon in both Hawaii and California. Let your people know we are going west.
Jah bless!

1/3/2006 - WHAT'S YOUR RESOLUTION?

Isn't it a worthy tradition that each year we can choose one thing to give resolution to? What if a couple billion people decided to make peace as a new years resolution? Just the thought of it... even for one night.

Our friend Erik Spangler a.k.a. DJ Dubble8, a composer and electronic music producer, has done a bang up remix with our song ONE MORE HAND. To hear it go to www.myspace.com/djdubble8 - ready your ears, it gets deep in there!

Kris Capulet rocks! Listen to his radio show, HOMEBREW, on 91.7fm WICB Tuesdays at 9pm for the best local music. We had a great time at his birthday party last week. Thanks for inviting us, Kris!

On Monday, January 16th at 8pm, we will be the house band for a benefit at the ABC Cafe, to provide energy and finances for Viva Los Artistas, a local group committed to providing a space for and promoting revolutionary artwork. Join us!

1/1/2006 - "When some are oppressed, no one is free"

1/1/2006 - Autumn update

Enjoying the change of seasons is a rare moment passing, blink and it surely has moved on. Greetings to any new peeps to this community, checking in for the first time. We have had many eager requests for album 2 lately. The new material is coming through and then we are putting it on tracks which takes time, however, we want to make it worth the wait. Be sure to check out the debut album "Thousands of One", if you have not already. We have a beautiful t-shirt available known as "Love Evolve", please don't even think twice about it, check it out... We are grateful to be out there meeting you, sharing music and speaking together. As we all connect on more meaningful levels, these seeds of relations become deeply embedded in the soil of this next generation, such that they can never be eradicated, soon to give birth to great trees of communities, never standing in each others shade, yet respecting everyone's need for sunlight.

12/21/2005

Thank you people for the other night at the Chapter House, that was a HOUSED party! for sure! Big ups to Rare Faction - these cats are real smooth, jazz-laced downtempo hiphop grooves graced with good words for your mind. check 'em out, if you missed it!

JUST ANNOUNCED - We are playing at Kris Capulet's birthday bash at Castaways on Thursday December 28th. This is a FREE show! No Cover! Free. Our favorite WICB DJ, coolest cat on the hill and biggest supporter of local I-Town music ever (heck yeah) celebrates his birthday in style - WITH US!!! featuring : Thousands of One, Dirac, Sim Redmond Acoustic, IY Acoustic and Freehand

12/1/2005 - THAT WAS THE VERSION!

Many thanks going out to all the people who joined us in Elmira for a special Thanksgiving show. Of course, that day is a time to both celebrate and mourn our American history. Thanks to JSAN and the ANALOGUE SONS for a great show at Castaways. Many thanks to Matt Dixon, sitting in on Sax for the two shows. Check out his band at www.myspace.com/triose. Last Thursday at the Lost Dog Lounge was a special treat, thanks to ROOTS OF CREATION, that is some sick musicianship, great vibes! lets do it again.

Recently we have been blessed to have Gordon Mcoy sit in on the keys, adding his r+b/gospel texture. Jhakeem and Gordy have grown up in the church playing together, so the combination with Thousands of One has been a treat to us all. Thanks Gordy!

Upcoming... don't miss Jordan Aceto of the Sim Redmond Band sitting in on guitar for the next couple of shows in both Boston and Cleveland. as well, plan on seeing Gordon Mcoy again.

TOUR

Stonecat

6/7/2008
Hector, NY

Castaways with special guests Vegitation

6/26/2008
Ithaca, NY

Dubland Underground with Vegitation

6/28/2008
Rochester, NY

Summertime Block Party

At the corner of Court St. and Albany St., Thousands of One is shutting down the street and performing with The Breaks Kru, Alex Schien, Kevin Kinsella's Food, Clothes Shelter, Mbusi and more to be announced. Organic barbecue, family fun and knowledge tables.
7/5/2008
Ithaca, NY

Taughannock Summer Concert Series

7/12/2008
Trumansburg, NY

more ...

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