Movies

Movies I've watched this month:

Cabin in the Woods
Hocus Pocus
Human Centipede 2
Whitewash
Sleepy Hollow
The Producers (1968)
Annabelle
The Haunted Mansion
Casper
13 Sins
Flight
The Impossible
Young Frankenstein

Update + October SALE

In honor of the Halloween release of Solt Olio last year, it and all previous albums will be priced at $5 starting October 1st. Visit http://velvet-ants.com to purchase.

UPDATE:

It's been one hell of a ride this past year. After losing Trevor last March I made several attempts to fill a newine up. Unfortunately after going through two drummers and losing a bassist over the course of several months I realized that it just wasn't happening. I'm left to my own devices now and maybe it's better that way.

I was able to re-mix some of the leftover covers we had laying around but that's also up in the air. We didn't get through all of the demoing process on them so there's still some things I'd like to add but for now a break might be best all around. I've been adding acoustic tracks to my solo page at http://soundcloud.com/ianmargolycz but as far as the Ants go I'm at another crossroads.

It'd be great to have played this album out live more but things just didn't work out that way this time. It'd also be great to find some players but it'd have to make sense for all of us. In these cases it was mostly scheduling conflicts but when you're booking gigs scheduling does become pretty important.

On top of all of it a vinyl pressing deal fell through. Looks like the cd's and digital versions will be it for now.

If I could predict the future I wouldn't be at such a loss for words. I'll just have to ride this one out.

-Ian

Covers (2014 Mixes)

2 for 1 on CD's (One Week Only)

We recently uncovered several copies of our second album 'Advantage' among our recording supplies so.. until the end of August we'll be adding a complimentary copy of 'Advantage' to any orders for 'Solt Olio'

Simply order as you would normally and we'll do the rest. We're also including a free wristband for a limited time.

Offer ends September 1st!

New Merch

As well as the final edition copies of Solt Olio in custom painted sleeves we also have glow in the dark wristbands now:

http://thevelvetants.bandcamp.com/merch/wristband

Solt Olio 3.0

Limited count. Order soon!

Seattle WA

Copies of Solt Olio are now available at both Easy Street and Jive Time Records in Seattle WA.

Enjoy!

LAST GIVEAWAY CONTEST

We're having one last giveaway contest for a free copy of Solt Olio. All you have to do is:

1) Suggest our facebook page to as many people as possible.

2) Have them post your name to our page.

Person with the most referrals gets a copy of our latest album on c.d.

Open to anyone, anywhere.

Ends 6/1

Last Minute Gig

Last minute solo performance tomorrow night opening for Clarence Buffalo and The Crooked Angels at IOTA Club & Cafe.

Show starts at 9pm.

Bull Moose Records

A free version of SOLT OLIO is available in a very limited edition format at Bull Moose Records in Salem, New Hampshire.

Check the top shelf as you walk in the door.

-Ian

Salem NH

Over the next couple of weeks I will be dropping off several copies of a very limited, and homemade edition of 'Solt Olio' to:

Bull Moose Records

356 S Broadway
Salem NH
03079

It will look like this:

I'm not exactly sure what I'll be putting on it. I'm thinking of adding an extra track to it though.

So make sure and stop by. It probably won't be there this weekend but the weekend after. Good luck!

-I

FYI

I want to let everyone know I did not block ANYONE on instagram or facebook. I did terminate my personal account on instagram months ago and have been keeping the band's account updated since. I have also decided to retreat from facebook a bit so if you want to contact the band for shows or other inquiries please write to us through e-mail.

If you don't know our e-mail then it's ok to message but it might take longer for a response. Thanks for your patience.

-I

*Update: I've officially taken my personal facebook account down and will only be posting at http://facebook.com/velvetants and http://facebook.com/ianmargolycz respectively

Record & Tape Exchange

We are fully stocked over at Record & Tape Exchange in Fairfax. Please pick up your copy today as they are at a discounted price of $5!!! (I had them lower the price for Record Store Day) and also threw a few stickers on the shelf there when you walk in. A BIG THANK YOU to RTX (Evan and Katie in particular) for keeping us in stock over there - And putting us amongst the masses for whatever reason and not in the local section! We'd take either though ;)

Happy Record Store Day and check out our instagram for what I picked up today along with other random postings: http://instagram.com/thevelvetants

Cotton Candy

Just a heads up: There are only a few copies left of the first run 'Cotton Candy' editions of SOLT OLIO. I've been calling them that due to their color schemes and just the overall feel of the layouts these had. They turned out pretty trippy looking. There's a time and place for starkness and this wasn't it.

Here's some more alternate artwork for the enthusiasts:

Most of these, or at least most of the first 100 copies included printed lyrics. If you didn't get those have no fear; there are more that may be included in upcoming giveaways and can still be requested through our storefront at Velvet-Ants.com (just ask)

Order soon!

-I

A Special Year

Getting a bit nostalgic these days as my label Zeptune Records celebrates a tenth anniversary this year. I started it in 2004 to house my project Dream LAX which eventually morphed into The Velvet Ants two years later. Those were also my first digital recordings (you can hear the laptop chirping on "Shovel Twang" as it was recorded straight from the on-board mic.

2004 isn't the only throwback as it's been 15 years since picking up the guitar and beginning to record in 1999 (when Zeptune was originally conceived). Time has flown. Maybe that's why I'm re-discovering the music I'd listened to in my youth with such fondness. (Cue Blind Melon's 'No Rain').

2012 was about as bittersweet as it can get and I can't say I knew what the outcome would be. Music is and has always been a very personal thing for me and it started to become a burden. I've tried to look at it differently and move forward. I'm glad I was able to make another record with the Ants and am starting to zoom out on the whole of it all with more ease than before. It's all a mess when you're in the thick of it -and- no matter what's next I remind myself of the friends I made and the experiences music brought me.

I've said it before about records and I can honestly say sometimes things find you. And lead you places. And change your life. I'm grateful for all of it. I had aspirations and dreams and most of my goals have been met, mainly to make record of songs and catalog them.

So here's to Zeptune and also Thaylobleu, the first band signed outside of my own musical projects and a band that needs to be heard and seen!

-Ian

Art Institute of Washington

Heading into D.C. next week for a two day recording session at the Art Institute of Washington. We're going to record a few songs with a student there working on a class project. We hope to get a couple of songs down but whatever comes of it (and if it turns out decent of course) we'll share it with you all.

Say goodbye to winter people, and let that warmth in!

-I

New show added

Hey guys-

Just a reminder that our show at Lost Rhino in Ashburn, VA on January 18th was cancelled.

A new show has been added here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/1452839384928355/

We're opening for Thaylobleu Saturday, January 25th at The Pinch in DC.

Show starts at 8pm - we will have copies of the new album for sale.

also: IF ANYONE ORDERED A COPY OF THE NEW ALBUM -OR- IF ANY BACKERS OF THE INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR COPY PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PACKAGES WERE SENT EARLIER IN THE MONTH.