Americans Still Prefer YouPorn to Your Band, Studies Say: New EP Trailer

A friend/acquaintance of mine named Ezra Furman once explained to me the brutality of touring in America. Coining it as the "gauntlet", the US is a place where entertainment options are infinite and listener attention spans are at record lows. BUT it's the best time to be a music fan, a free-for-all rock buffet where Spotify is responsible for even more girth than General Tao's Chicken. For artists, it's us vs YouTube. Us vs the bar. Us vs Netflix. These are all seemingly undefeatable enemies, BUT if we hit the garage hard enough and practice, the live experience is irreplaceable. So cheers to you show-goers out there. When the rest of America stayed home and watched YouPorn, YOU came out to experience something REAL that cannot be replaced by any turbo 7G internet system. On behalf of touring bands everywhere, we are honored, humbled and thankful to you for keeping live music alive.

Hi-Fi D.I.Y. comes out Feb 19 in the US. We haven't toured the USA in over a year & are amped to see you guys. Much respect, Brett & Danimal

Crusty Adventures #12 - Brett gets his shoe signed by Chuck Ragan

Brett and the Danimal venture up to the Italian Alps and re-enact one of the most classic Hollywood scenes ever. Oscar-bound...

Hi-Fi DIY Tour Marches into Australia

After 56 shows on European soil, we are posting-up in Sri Lanka for the holidays to write songs and new episodes of Crusty Adventures. Meanwhile, the countdown to the OZ leg of the tour is quickly approaching. This mission includes 12 tour dates in the land down under, including MONA FOMA FEST in Tasmania, curated by fellow Milwaukean and Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie.

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HI-FI DIY WORLD TOUR: AUSTRALIA & TASMANIA

Thu, 7 Jan - Yarra Hotel | Melbourne Fri, 8 Jan - Soundbar | Rye Sat, 9 Jan - Saints & Sailors | Port Arlington Wed, 13 Jan - Ararat Live | Ararat Thu, 14 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Fri, 15 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Sat, 16 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Sun, 17 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Fri, 29 Jan - Mr Falcon's | Sydney Sat, 30 Jan - Mr Falcon's | Sydney

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Time is standing still here on the southern shore of Sri Lanka. We're staying next to the equator for three weeks with our pals at DriveThru Surfcamp (even though we suck at surfing). Three days ago a local dude got eaten by a crocodile, so I think I'll just to hang out in the swimming pool. Last night was our first Sri Lankan show with the surfcampers and local beach chum, followed by prompt party execution from our gracious hosts. Before shipping out for OZ, we play here one last time at the Surfcamp's New Years Eve Super Party. Time to regroup and unwind in paradise after the big haul through Europe. Looking forward to a few weeks off and our debut appearance in Australia.

Much respect, Brett & Danimal

Crusty Adventures #7 - Brett Fights Terrorism

Vibes have gotten pretty weird over in Europe the past few weeks. After the Paris attacks, it was found that several of the terrorists had been living in Brussels, so the entire city was on high alert as we strolled into town for a Wednesday night tour stop.

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A Personal Note

We're approaching the end of the Hi-Fi D.I.Y. European Tour. Thursday we return to Rorschach, Switzerland on our way to Italy to wrap up two and a half months here. This has been one of the craziest tours to date with epic highlights and amazing allies to some of the scariest, soul-crushing moments we've ever crawled out of.

If you enjoy Crusty Adventures as much as we enjoy making them, please share them with your friends & family and send us any ideas for future Crusties.

much respect,

Brett & The Danimal

Crusty Adventures #6 - Brett Goes Back to Work at McDonald's

At the age of 13, I began employment at my local McDonalds, flipping burgers and greasing the fry-o-later after school. My mission was to take my $5.15/hour and buy an electric guitar. Working at McDonalds was a really fun gig, and in this episode of "Crusties", I go back to my roots to experience if that fast-food still tastes like the gold of old. Nostalgia plays tricks on you...

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A Personal Note

The blackmail situation is finally behind us. A massive wave of support from friends across the globe helped us recoup the losses within two days. It's that caliber of camaraderie that digs us out of the soul-crushing lows that inevitably surface when touring. Thank you for keeping the tour alive, we'd be well fucked without you.

Much respect, Brett & Danimal

Crusty Adventures #5 - Brett Gets Blackmailed

This is the scariest shit that has ever happened to us on tour. Witness the fear instilled upon Danimal and I as we weave thru the German legal system to maintain ownership of Chuck Ragan The Car and avoid the "slammer". The entire tour inches away from coming to a screeching halt.

Support of any kind is greatly appreciated. Even if you're in a tough spot like us, sharing this story with others goes a long way. We can't thank you enough for all your help from far and wide.

Much respect,

Brett & Danimal

Garage Sale

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My 11 Musical Heroes in Life So Far

Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music)

Upon beginning my 2015 Euro tour, I acquired a 2002 Skoda and named it "Chuck Ragan the Car" in honor of Chuck Ragan the man. Chuck's ethos is raw, hard-working & brutally honest and I've always reveled in that. Chuck is also one of the few acts I'd seen in 2015 that didn't use backing tracks live. The man sings it like it is. May Chuck Ragan the car be as immortal as Chuck Ragan the man. Chuck and I met at our Ramones Museum show in Berlin. I traded him an LP for a future sabertooth muskie fishing lesson (and future 1st round draft choice). Chuck, I'd like to invite you to open for me on my next DIY living room tour ;) Have your people call my people.

Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit)

Matt Vasquez once asked me if I had any weed. While I could not be of any assistance on that fateful evening in Madison, I'd like to take this time to punt Matt's work and let you know what a human genius this dude is. A fearless performer who provides swift rock n' roll justice by staring down jabronies who text in the front row of a Delta Spirit show, Matt has just released his first solo EP into the cold harsh universe for everyone's listening enjoyment. Try not to pirate this one, okay?

Frank Turner

Frank is a dude who gives hope that road-rugged songwriters can indeed take over the world town by town. The road is fucking hard and discouraging, and Frank Turner is the trailblazer who has weathered the beatings of DIY ethic and proved it's possible. His band has also been fighting the good fight against robots taking over the music industry. While 90% of festival acts struggle to perform their albums without loops, backing tracks, or Mac Books on stage, Frank's band does it all live, displaying iron ballsack in a world of empty ball bags and sackless wonders.

Hutch Harris (The Thermals)

5 years ago, my roommates and I were sipping PBR’s in our college shit-hole, listening to garage rock on the stereo. I plugged in my bands first EP. My punk-savvy roommate told me I sounded exactly like the dude from ‘The Thermals (Saddle Creek Records).’ I said “who is this dude and who are The Thermals?’. Turns out he is Hutch Harris, who has been sounding like me longer than I have been sounding like me. Hutch and I have kept in touch a little bit over the years, swapping a few garage rock tracks here and there. In addition to the occupation of rock n' roll, he is doing standup comedy around Portland. Follow Hutch on the internet. There is no Twitter page that builds Sleater-Kinney shrines & 90's pop culture jokes better.

Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies)

BNL was the first band I ever loved. They are the reason I started working at McDonalds at age 14 so I could buy a guitar. After six months on the fry-o-later, I bought a ghetto 6-string and immediately learned 9 Barenaked Ladies songs. BNL just finished an amphitheater tour with the legendary Violent Femmes. Listening to BNL still reminds me of working at McDonalds and smuggling chocolate milk shakes out of the restaurant via my pants.

Steve Poltz

My friend Sue Schrader once told me "Newski, you're a young Steve Poltz". Immediately I had to find out who Poltz was. Turns out Poltz is the most famous guy no one's ever heard of. Poltz is 55. Poltz is still crushing the road. Poltz is perhaps more insane than I am. Poltz is now my god damn hero. Poltz 4 life. Listen to Poltz.

Ted Leo

Teddy is the godfather of indie rock in my opinion. He's not afraid to be a power-hack on the guitar or scream out-of-key to make a song more genuine. A dude who has always stuck to his guns, he's never let the availability of technology crowd his stage setup with 9 MacBook Pros like neighboring Pitchforkers. Ted has been flying under the radar for the past few years, but look for a fresh TL punk rock onslaught in the near future. Respect.

Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)

Not many dudes champion young bands better than Duritz. He's a man for others & shares his wisdom to the full effect. When I was 8, my dad and I signed up to one of those mail-in record clubs where we obtained "August and Everything After". It's a mighty timeless LP and most baby boomers own at least two copies. In addition to primo pop songwriting, Duritz just looks fucking sweet, rocking a 70's ABA afro that makes Julius Erving look like a semi-pro.

Sean Bonnette (Andrew Jackson Jihad)

Sean is the bravest songwriter I know. The guy will sing about anything, from making fun of his own depression to contracting an STD. AJJ is a fearless band and the most medicinal of all music. They deserve massive success no matter how much they try to avoid it. Sean and I have run into each other a few times on tour and he is a kind sweet dude for putting up with all my annoying power hugs. Check out their latest album Christmas Island via Side One Dummy Records.

Ezra Furman

I've always been a huge fan of "singers who can't sing". Ezra's raw and wobbly voice is just that. He wouldn't make it past the security guard on American Idol, but his songs are undeniable and his voice cuts thru you like no polished pop Idol chump ever could. His first record "Banging down the Doors" changed my life. He wrote that shit when he was 17. (High respect to Matt Gerding at the Majestic in Madison for letting me steal his copy of it.) Check out Ezra's latest LP, "Perpetual Motion People" via Bella Union.

Tom Petty

Tom Petty may or may not be Jesus.

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Dirt from the road: Brett Newski's Crusty Adventures Youtube Series

To our Friends and Allies across the world, Hello from Bergen, Norway. Many folks have been asking for more video footage from the Hi-Fi D.I.Y. World Tour, so we've decided to launch Crusty Adventures, a Youtube series that gets you inside our tour car, revealing the true dirt from the road and the bizarro places we sleep as a small but rugged, independent band.

We recently acquired our "new" tourmobile, coined Chuck Ragan for its resilience in the face of danger. Entering Scandinavia, we were hit with €130 ferry crossing fee, €50 euro tolls and ol' Chuck was even strip-searched at the Norwegian border. Morale plummeted fast, but all was not lost, we captured episode #1 of Crusty Adventures....

Subscribe to Crusty Adventures on YouTube to keep up with me and the Danimal on the road.

TOUR UPDATE #1: Getting Weird In Prague

Hello from a kindergarten nap room in Prague, CZ, the most bizarrely neat sleeping arrangement to date. Slumber farty!... jingle bells, Dan-O smells. But for real, major supreme shout out to Czech friends Tereza and Lucie for putting us up while we're here. It's been a crusty adventure since we crossed the border to the Czech Republic and it's only gotten weirder. Allow me to explain with this video...

Preorders are still available for Hi-Fi D.I.Y.–and the 7" Split, Cigaretiquette. Your support helps us survive the road to Berlin! [featured_products columns="3"]

See you buddies Thursday for the Hi-Fi D.I.Y. MiniAlbum release party at the Ramones Museum in Berlin.

Much respect,

Brett

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Keep Brett on the road Grab an album Sport a shirt Boost Morale

Highly-anticipated car naming election has heated finale.

The votes are in. You went to the polls, braved the lines, and showed strength in the face of rock n' roll adversity for naming one man's tourmobile purchased from a Craigslist used car listing in Berlin. The road is long and lonesome, and this beast will take us thru the heart of danger, sword n' sky against the demons (pot holes), trolls (traffic jams), gargoyles (road tolls), and fire-breathing dragons (meter-maids) that encroach our path. The new car is now officially named "Chuck Ragan". WaBam! Chuck Ragan is one of our musical heroes and also the nickname of our friend "Ellie's dog. We would like to note that the car is named after Chuck Ragan the man, not the dog.

It was a close race all the way to the end between Chuck Ragan and "Yokeswagon," but ol' Chuck emerged victorious in the late innings. Honorable mentions "Carl," "Kyle" and "Pippen" had a fine run, but went home with gut-rot like a rowly-powly 4th grader named Cody on Halloween. Thanks for voting. You can see where we'll be taking Chuck in the coming weeks–or rather, where Chuck will be taking us...

IMPENDING TOUR DATES:

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FULL TOUR

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Keep Brett on the road Grab an album Sport a shirt Boost Morale

VOTE! Help us name our "new" EU car

The Danimal (Manager/Hype Man/Band Psychologist) has arrived in Berlin to meet me for ground zero of the Hi-Fi D.I.Y. tour. This tour takes us all over the world for the next 5 months, from EU to Sri Lanka and Oceania. Hi-Fi D.I.Y. gets underway this week, but the big release show takes place on 15 Oct at the Ramones Museum, Berlin, where we'll be releasing the new Hi-Fi D.I.Y. MiniAlbum and Cigaretiquette 7" Split. These new releases are available on preorder right now, helping us raise funds for the tour and the exorbitant costs of printing and shipping everything. Pick your poison below...

Hi-Fi D.I.Y. Mini-Album

Cigaretiquette 7" Split

Back to current events:

After a hectic runaround on Tuesday, we are now vehicular in Europe. The hoops an American citizen must jump through to register a car in Germany is like a revolving door with no exit, so we broke through the glass. Our trusty, crusty, Russian mechanic has given us the green light and now we're ready to peel pavement, but first we need your help; Our new tour car needs a name. We have a few ideas already, but feel free to send us your suggestions as well, we'll add them to the list. Pick your favorite three names

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