Dear long-neglected Minnesota friends, I’m finally making it over again…

SUNDAY, FEB 12!
The Jackson Street Polecats return to the…
30th ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE JUG BANDS!!!!
@ the Cabooze in Minneapolis
set times soon…

TUESDAY, FEB 21!
I’ll be playing with the one and only CHARLIE PARR
at the Turf Club in St. Paul

In other news, I’ve been busy recording a full-length album with Conrad Plymouth, drone-doom with ROTBOX, and I’ll be starting in on recording a new solo record THIS MONTH. As always, thank you all for your support.
all the best, Jeff

Just a quick update.

I’ll playing this thursday the 15th with my rock and roll comrades, Conrad Plymouth, at the Cactus Club here in Milwaukee.

We just got done recording a full-length record at April Base studios up in Fall Creek, WI. The mighty Beau Sorenson ( beaunoise.com ) engineered the session and I drank more coffee than I should have. I’ll keep you all posted with any release dates, sneak peeks, etc. as they are available. All the best to all of you and thank you for your support.

much love, JM

Hope you’re all enjoying the tail end of summer. I am.

I case you thought I’ve just been sitting around on my tuchus, eating bon-bons, I have not.

There has been much activity as of late and my accomplishments are legion, but first, let me say this. A hearty cheer for evil webmaster Faust and his beautiful wife Tanya who officially have a bun in the oven. Huzzah!

On the musical front…

THIS WEEKEND IN MILWAUKEE
Sat. Sept 3 / 4pm
ILOVEFUZZFEST / @ the Borg Ward, Milwaukee, WI
I’ll be playing at this celebration of the humble fuzz pedal with my musical droning allies, ROTBOX, which consists of Matt Haapala))) (The Heart Pills) on drums and doodads, Ben Hinz (The Ronald Raygun, Dwarfcraft Devices) playing the guitar through very loud amplifiers, and my bad self (self) on baritone guitar, Moog Taurus II, and electronic obnoxiousness. If you enjoy very loud, drony, nasty sounds, played at length, this is the performance for you.
Bands include…
The Abominable Showmen
The Bohemian Spaceship
Rot Box
The Otto Modest
Canyons of Static
Ronald Raygun
Northless

BOATS AND BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL http://www.boatsandbluegrass.com/Home.html
SEPT. 22-24
I’ll be playing a solo set on Thursday the 22nd. You really should come to this. Charlie Parr is headlining Thursday night. Friday is Sandman the Rappin’ Cowboy. This festival has so many musicians I love. Dead Man Winter, Pert Near Sandstone, The Roe Family Singers, Too Many Banjos, Michelle Lynn, and on and on. Just come. (please)

Watch for Jackson Street Polecats to play soon!

Also, Conrad Plymouth will be headed in the studio soon to record a full-length!

Ok. That’s enough! What do you think, I sit around and type emails all day?

much love, Jeff

Sorry it’s been a bit since last we spoke. Anyway, you look fit.

So there are several things coming up. First off…

TONIGHT June 17
Icarus Himself
Sat. Nite Duets
Conrad Plymouth @Linneman’s (Milwaukee) 9pm

TOMORROW June 18
Jackson Street Polecats / Dr. Kickbutt double header
the Fairie Festival, Bonduel,WI
fest starts at 10am

June 21
Jackson Street Polecats
Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI 2pm

June 29
Conrad Plymouth
Project Lodge, Madison, WI

June 30
Conrad Plymouth
Pheonix Park Concert Series, Eau Claire, WI 7pm
AND!
Mousetrap, Eau Claire, WI later that night…

July 1
Beer tasting and solo show
ArtHaus, Decorah, IA 8pm

In other news, things have been very busy for me, hence all the cruddy communication (or lack thereof) including non-updated schedules etc. The good news is, there’s a lot going on. Played a preschool yesterday with Baer from the Polecats and had a tremendous time. I’m looking forward to doing more work with kids. Look for a couple of recording projects to happen this summer. I’ll soon be recording a drone record with Eau Claire’s one and only Ben Hinz (aka your old pal Aen) of Dwarfcraft Devices and the Ronald Raygun. Dwarfcraft make some amazing fuzz pedals, analog synths, etc. and have recently launched Dwarfcraft Global Media. Look for that recording session plus a live concert featuring me and my hero Mr. Steven McCabe (Attack Octopus, the Willis, Congratulations on your Decision to Become a Pilot, etc.). Also in the works for this summer will be a new Conrad Plymouth album that I’m honored to be involved in. If you get the chance, you should really check out the band. It’s been a ton of fun becoming a member. As always, there’s a new Jeff Mitchell album brewing in my mind. My goal is to begin recording in the fall. Wish me luck!

love to all, Jeff

p.s. I made myself a new washtub bass the other day. I remembered how much I love playing that thing!

Two jug band shows coming up this weekend….

Fri. May 20
Hell’s Kitchen, Minneapolis, MN
Jackson St. Polecats, Como Ave. Jug Band, Roe Family Singers
10pm, $5, Polecats go on second.

Sat. May 21
The Lone Wolf, Marquette, IA
Jackson ST. Polecats!
7-11pm, FREE!

Come on out and get your jug on!
much love, J

Happy Spring to you. I am ready for it. And with the first blush of spring comes a suite of unusual and compelling smells from the Miller brewery right in our backyard. Ahhh…

And with those smells, come a rash of new shows…

FRI. APRIL 1
Jeff Mitchell, Haunted Heads, Self-Evident, Dirty Rotten So and So’s
10pm SHARP
Reptile Palace, Oshkosh, WI
I’ll be opening up the show with a short solo set. Then these rock and roll people will rock you for sure.

FRI. APRIL 8
Jackson Street Polecats!
8PM
New Moon Cafe, Oshkosh, WI
The Jackson Street Polecats jug band in full force and ready to wreak havoc in your ukulele zone.

This next one here is kind of special in that it will be my first show as a member of Milwaukee’s own Conrad Plymouth. I’m honored and excited to be invited into this band.
SAT. APRIL 16
9pm
Roadside Graves, Conrad Plymouth, Jeremy Benson solo set
Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI

That’s it so far for April. Keep your eyes peeled in May for more Polecats action. We’ll be splitting a show with the Bare Hand Jug Band at Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall on May 13th right here in Milwaukee, WI. Watch for a Minneapolis show and more. Thanks to all of you.

much love, Jeff

I hope things are very good in your respective worlds.

I’ll be headed to Winona, MN this weekend for a show at Ed’s No Name Bar on Saturday. Shows at Ed’s generally start at 9:30. Winona’s own Breakaway (formerly known as Froseph) will be opening up the show. He’s also got an art show up on the walls of the bar, so check that out! I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while.

For any of you in Milwaukee, I’ll be playing a featured set for the open mic at Linneman’s on Wed. March 16th. The open mic also starts at 9:30. Come on down and I will sing just for you, gazing into your eyes like some sort of adorable forest animal.

love, Jeff

I hope you’re all feeling very nice.

There are a few shows coming up this weekend, each very different. I’ll tell you about them!

Thursday, Feb 10, 7pm
Winona Arts Center, Winona, MN w/ Bo.Monroe
$5
This will be a more sit-down sort of a show. It starts at 7 for you early-to-bed I’m-tired sort of folks. Bo.Monroe is a Winona musician doing some cool live looping based around acoustic guitar.

Friday, Feb 11, 9ish? 10ish?
The Main Entrance, Prairie Du Chien, WI / …all by myself (and you).
FREE!
The Main is one of the great musical dive bars (I mean “dive bar” in a good way. Is that logical?). When I play at the Main Entrance, it’s usually about a 4-hour marathon show. I tend to dig in to my country-blues collection and do a lot of fingerpicking there. These people are old-time music fanatics. Also, the graffiti in the bathroom is worth the (non-existent) price of admission.

Sunday, Feb 13, 1pm (our set’s at 5pm)
The Cabooze, MPLS, MN w/ the Jackson Street Polecats!
29th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands
This will be the first time the Polecats have ever competed in the Battle. Thanks to Jan Erdman for giving us a kick in the butt. We are bringing the hurt to Minneapolis. Come show everyone that you have incredible taste in tasteless music! The Polecats will uke your face off.

And not to be too Midwest-centric, for anyone who feels excluded by this, I am including this link to a shaky YouTube video of baby owls…

Enjoy.

love, Jeff

Hi all,

Lot’s of shows coming up. It’s good to get out and see everyone. Keep checking the schedule and things will keep popping up. Just a special note, the Minneapolis show with Charlie Parr at Hell’s Kitchen originally scheduled for Feb. 11 is now on Sept 29th. All the best, Jeff

I am going to play music for you if you live in the Fox Valley of Wisconsin. I am going to do it this weekend. You will see.

Fri. Dec 10
8pm, New Moon Cafe
Oshkosh, WI
I will play the music for you on the saw with the Dr. Kickbutt Orchestra of DEATH band.

Sat. Dec 11
7:30pm, Rock Island Cafe w/ Castles
Neenah, WI
I will play the solo music for you on the baritone guitar and the microphone with the electronic doo-dads. I’m really going to show you all just exactly how I do that.

Ok. It’s up to you now.
love, Jeff

I’ll be playing a show at Mother Fools in Madison, WI coming up on Dec. 3rd. Sharing the show with the one and only ASUMAYA. Come on down, the show starts at 8pm. Can’t wait to see you all.

Just want to say thanks to all who have been coming out to the Midwest shows since I’ve been back. You’ve been making this an awful lot of fun. Watch for shows in Menomonie, Minneapolis, Winona, Chicago, etc… Thank you!

First off, hope you’re all doing well. I’ll be playing more Midwest shows in the coming months, looking forward to seeing you all. This weekend, I’ll be playing a benefit for Patrick “Salty” Ryan at the Reptile Palace in Oshkosh, WI. My set is at 5PM on the button. Patrick recently lost his toe and is without insurance so we’re pitching in to help him out. They’ll be asking for a ten dollar donation at the door. But, holy cow, will you get your ten bucks worth. Here’s the details…

FREE BEER AND FOOD!!!
from 5-7 with $10 donation
11 BANDS, RAFFLES, AUCTIONS
Featuring the likes of:
Andy’s Automatics
Southside Stranglers
Uncle Eddie
HAPPY
The Goodtime Specials Bluegrass Revue
Attack Octopus acoustic
Nathaniel Frank and the Wisconsin Magic
IfIHadAHiFi
Members of Burnt Toast and Jam
B Side Revivals
Jeff Mitchell
and SPECIAL GUEST STAR!

This is a pretty comprehensive look at the Oshkosh music scene, so if you’ve ever been curious about what goes on in that town, this would be the show to see. It’ll go until bar time.

In other news, I’ve got a bunch of new content, including an extended poster archive, some of my older artwork, obscure recordings for free download, blog, etc. here on the site as well as brand new pages on lastfm and reverbnation. Please hit them up as the traffic is a bit anemic at this point. Here’s a list of links…

http://www.last.fm/music/Jeff+Mitchell
http://www.reverbnation.com/jeffmitchell
my facebook
I also just designed some stickers and put in an order at stickerguy.com. When they get in, I’ll send you guys a note where you can send me a SASE and get your free sticker!
Holy crap!

Lastly, a few months back, I did my first stint recording someone else in my home studio (since Amalia Vagts’ “Hairworm” demo) in a two-day session with Alastair Lawson. He’s got two songs from that session posted online at…
http://www.soundclick.com/alastairlawson
I play baritone guitar on the backing track to “Rainbow Song” as well as some other odds and ends. Both recordings feature Rachel Dahlinger on duet vocals.

All right folks, hope to see you soon.
all the best, Jeff

Do you like ukulele’s? Do you like hideous polyester sportcoats and nauseating neckties? Do you wish the corpses of Spike Jones and his City Slickers to rise up and walk among us (in a degraded and poorly rehearsed form)? Well you, sir(ma’am), are in luck. To witness a shambling heap of vaudvillian rompery (featuring my own self as musical sawist), please comport yourself to…

the NEW MOON CAFE
Oskosh, WI
Sat., October 30, 7pm!
to witness the repugnance that is…
Dr. Kickbutt’s Orchestra of DEATH!!!!

Friday, Jan 7
ArtHaus
Decorah, Iowa

More soon!

I hope everyone’s well out there. I just got done making the move back to Wisconsin (with the help of Baer and Schwartz from the Polecats, thanks guys) and am wasting no time. This weekend, I’ll be playing a few shows with my friend Connor Garvey. Here’s the lowdown…

Friday, Sept 3
Gingko Coffeehouse, 8pm
St. Paul, MN
We’ll both be playing solo sets and hopefully a little together as well.

Saturday, Sept 4
Storyhill Fest, 4pm
Deerwood, MN
I’ll be backing Connor up on baritone guitar for this one.

Monday, Sept 6
Amazing Grace, 7pm
Duluth, MN
Same as at Gingko

If you can make it out, I’d love to see you.
take care, Jeff

See you soon! j
p.s. Midwest shows coming soon, including Storyhill Fest with Connor Garvey Sept. 4-5!

I’m happy to present to you my directorial debut. It’s a Beanpole Studios film starring the one and only Leif Larson (director of Piss Missile and co-star of Dr. Kickbutt-Kick Savin’ a Beauty). The film was based on a complex idea I developed on the way to Taco Bell with Leif and our esteemed friend Aaron Baer. Leif plumbs the depths of artistic expression in this, my vision. I hope you will receive it in the spirit in which it is offered.

love, Jeff