Here's the deal:
We're planning to release 'Extras' in January with A/U & Covers following shortly thereafter. We've been lucky enough to have a few band "extras" hanging around and we'd like to give a few people some prize packs in celebration of the new year and the album release! Check back here for the contest questions to win... all prize packs will include:
1 - Limited edition copy of "Advantage" w/ digital copy
1 - Free digital copy of "Extras" when it's released
2 - Smaller Velvet Ants magnets
1 - Limited edition car magnet
2 - Black & White Oval Velvet Ants stickers (these are weather proof)
1 - Limited edition band flyer & poster! (last 3 we have!)
2 - "Yes, I" Velvet Ants stickers
and 1 - Large bumper sticker (versions vary)
*If there's anything I missed I'll add it to the list. If you'd like anything signed just let us know. Shipping & handling will be taken care of. We will accept the FIRST correct answer given through this site, e-mail, twitter, facebook message (or) reply.
QUESTIONS WILL BE POSTED HERE, AS WELL AS TWITTER & FACEBOOK. CHECK BACK SOON.
-Ants
Friday, December 7, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
How to play "Yours To Keep"
In preparation for the next release (which will probably be Extras) ...and the fact that I even remembered it... here's how to play "Yours To Keep"
You can listen to the song here
"Yours To Keep" (demo)
VERSE 1:
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X54030)
With no distractions here at hand
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X33210)
I should be happy where I am
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X54030)
And when I'm in this state of mind, I'm far
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X33210)
away, I'm far... away
CHORUS:
(320022) (X33210)
I'll bite the knife and dive in time to save you (4x)
VERSE 2:
The words that fail me once again
Could offer something then it ends
And when I'm in this slow decline
They fall away, They fall away
CHORUS:
(320022) (X33210)
I'll bite the knife and dive in time to save you (4x)
BRIDGE:
Am Em G D
MAIN CHORDS:
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X54030)
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X33210)
CHORUS CHORDS:
G F
(out)
There it is, remembered most of the song... had the chords above the words but they wouldn't stay put. I'm not sure I even wrote the lyrics out for this one so I had to decipher my own mumblings from the recording (good times). The music was written in the winter of '09 and the words last year. Like most, I have no idea what it's about. Usually takes on different meanings over time. Enjoy.
Extras should be out sometime next year!
-Ian
You can listen to the song here
"Yours To Keep" (demo)
VERSE 1:
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X54030)
With no distractions here at hand
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X33210)
I should be happy where I am
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X54030)
And when I'm in this state of mind, I'm far
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X33210)
away, I'm far... away
CHORUS:
(320022) (X33210)
I'll bite the knife and dive in time to save you (4x)
VERSE 2:
The words that fail me once again
Could offer something then it ends
And when I'm in this slow decline
They fall away, They fall away
CHORUS:
(320022) (X33210)
I'll bite the knife and dive in time to save you (4x)
BRIDGE:
Am Em G D
MAIN CHORDS:
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X54030)
(X02210) (X20210) (X32010) (X33210)
CHORUS CHORDS:
G F
(out)
There it is, remembered most of the song... had the chords above the words but they wouldn't stay put. I'm not sure I even wrote the lyrics out for this one so I had to decipher my own mumblings from the recording (good times). The music was written in the winter of '09 and the words last year. Like most, I have no idea what it's about. Usually takes on different meanings over time. Enjoy.
Extras should be out sometime next year!
-Ian
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
AU & Extras UPDATE
To all the decomposing trees out there:
Still no news on shows but I have made some headway on some of AU & Extras. This past week we featured 2 never-before-heard tracks from the upcoming AU release on bandcamp. AU was started back in 2007 shortly after we finished Lunatic Frame but was basically abandoned until now. Depending on how the next few sessions go I might put a few of these in the "free bin" over at the site. Besides that I've also started narrowing down contenders for the Extras release. Right now it's really just a matter of a couple more drum takes, some unfinished vocals and mixing, ahh good old mixing... what every musician loves doing with time he or she could be spending elsewhere. I guess when it comes to the recording process it's the tediousness that drives me nuts sometimes, cause after all... a song can not only be written and arranged an infinite amount of ways but you can also get carried away with post-production. For me at this point, I've been able to learn how to get things sounding alright but God, if it isn't nice to have someone else listening and making decisions too. So far, about half of the Extras album is complete and a third of AU is done - we weren't even planning to work on the latter. For all it's worth some progress is better than none! Got a chance to mix a new version of "Shebore" that features Youlee Park on piano and 2 more tracks that Trevor was originally going to write words to and sing on. "Digitalis" is sort of a silly, punk-country b-side, and "Save Room For the Water" is basically a bad Weiland/Morrison impression with a dash of Cobain. The tracks are about as bipolar as the songs on Advantage too... but in a way that pretty much sums us up at this point. I'd like to think that seriousness/quirkiness is what makes us us.
I'll leave you with a few cover designs I cam up with for the AU cover. Still no release dates on either of these, and the Covers album looks like it's just gonna have to wait.
-Ian
Image credits: digital art and photo by Ian, papyrus image by Olivia [hauntingmewithsmiles]
Still no news on shows but I have made some headway on some of AU & Extras. This past week we featured 2 never-before-heard tracks from the upcoming AU release on bandcamp. AU was started back in 2007 shortly after we finished Lunatic Frame but was basically abandoned until now. Depending on how the next few sessions go I might put a few of these in the "free bin" over at the site. Besides that I've also started narrowing down contenders for the Extras release. Right now it's really just a matter of a couple more drum takes, some unfinished vocals and mixing, ahh good old mixing... what every musician loves doing with time he or she could be spending elsewhere. I guess when it comes to the recording process it's the tediousness that drives me nuts sometimes, cause after all... a song can not only be written and arranged an infinite amount of ways but you can also get carried away with post-production. For me at this point, I've been able to learn how to get things sounding alright but God, if it isn't nice to have someone else listening and making decisions too. So far, about half of the Extras album is complete and a third of AU is done - we weren't even planning to work on the latter. For all it's worth some progress is better than none! Got a chance to mix a new version of "Shebore" that features Youlee Park on piano and 2 more tracks that Trevor was originally going to write words to and sing on. "Digitalis" is sort of a silly, punk-country b-side, and "Save Room For the Water" is basically a bad Weiland/Morrison impression with a dash of Cobain. The tracks are about as bipolar as the songs on Advantage too... but in a way that pretty much sums us up at this point. I'd like to think that seriousness/quirkiness is what makes us us.
I'll leave you with a few cover designs I cam up with for the AU cover. Still no release dates on either of these, and the Covers album looks like it's just gonna have to wait.
-Ian
Image credits: digital art and photo by Ian, papyrus image by Olivia [hauntingmewithsmiles]
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
11.13.12
Hi folks,
Ian here. As November rolls on I'm not sure if we'll reach our deadline for the next two releases being out this year. At first I thought we'd at least have the b-sides out but of course things never go as planned, right?
We have ordered, or were rather granted, a brand-new limited edition of 'Advantage' (due a few things being askew on the first batch). They are pretty much the same album, although I did make a few minor adjustments we hadn't allowed ourselves the first go around.
Here's a glance at the new disc layout:
I'd like to have a few more giveaways between now and the the release of 'Extras' and the covers album so if you'd like a copy of one of these new bad boys, and maybe a few other items we have laying around stay tuned to our twitter/facebook posts in the upcoming weeks.
We're also still on the fence regarding any new performances... I think we'll have to see where the rest of the year leads us before making any new commitments. It takes a lot of time and patience (at least in this band) to make sure things are right for the taking.
Plus I'd like to see us in the best shape to do so. Maybe a short tour here or there would be better, but again we'll have to discuss these things and sort out the options well before hand.
The venues we were able to play over the past year, for the most part, acquired us the luxury of keeping things afloat. Hopefully we'll have these and other things squared away in the next few months. I don't think we're done just yet.
-Ian
ps. Found a new distributor for the first album so you'll see that flying around a bit more.
Ian here. As November rolls on I'm not sure if we'll reach our deadline for the next two releases being out this year. At first I thought we'd at least have the b-sides out but of course things never go as planned, right?
We have ordered, or were rather granted, a brand-new limited edition of 'Advantage' (due a few things being askew on the first batch). They are pretty much the same album, although I did make a few minor adjustments we hadn't allowed ourselves the first go around.
Here's a glance at the new disc layout:
I'd like to have a few more giveaways between now and the the release of 'Extras' and the covers album so if you'd like a copy of one of these new bad boys, and maybe a few other items we have laying around stay tuned to our twitter/facebook posts in the upcoming weeks.
We're also still on the fence regarding any new performances... I think we'll have to see where the rest of the year leads us before making any new commitments. It takes a lot of time and patience (at least in this band) to make sure things are right for the taking.
Plus I'd like to see us in the best shape to do so. Maybe a short tour here or there would be better, but again we'll have to discuss these things and sort out the options well before hand.
The venues we were able to play over the past year, for the most part, acquired us the luxury of keeping things afloat. Hopefully we'll have these and other things squared away in the next few months. I don't think we're done just yet.
-Ian
ps. Found a new distributor for the first album so you'll see that flying around a bit more.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
New guitarist + other updates
We`re pleased to announce that as of September we`ve added Nate Perez on guitar! Nate played in ALLDAY MORI with Trevor over the last couple of years and we are psyched to have him on board
At the other side of the spectrum, we`ve unfortunately had to cancel some of our upcoming events including this weekend's STPP Festival in D.C. (we were really looking forward to this one). Instead, we will continue work on the `Extras` album (which includes outtakes and b-sides from `Advantage` as well as the `Covers` album
We want to thank everyone who made this year possible. Especially all of the people who made it out to shows and supported us through out! If you happened to miss our last performance visit http://youtube.com/velvetants for a special clip
Take care everyone, we hope to see you soon
-TVA
At the other side of the spectrum, we`ve unfortunately had to cancel some of our upcoming events including this weekend's STPP Festival in D.C. (we were really looking forward to this one). Instead, we will continue work on the `Extras` album (which includes outtakes and b-sides from `Advantage` as well as the `Covers` album
We want to thank everyone who made this year possible. Especially all of the people who made it out to shows and supported us through out! If you happened to miss our last performance visit http://youtube.com/velvetants for a special clip
Take care everyone, we hope to see you soon
-TVA
Friday, September 14, 2012
ON STAGE with the Velvet Ants
Here's a review of the show by DC Rock LIVE:
http://dcrocklive.blogspot.com/2012/09/thaylobleu-good-fight-unlikely-hero.html
Thanks to everyone who came out to see us and Thaylobleu for having us on the bill.
Until next time
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
GET A COPY OF ADVANTAGE @ DULLES EXPO THIS SAT.
We're pleased to announce the first 300 admitted into The Dulles EXPO Center this Saturday will get a FREE digital copy of the new album "Advantage" at this weekend's sale hosted by Dani's Duds.
Hours are 9-5, but keep in mind ONLY THE FIRST 300 ARE ELIGIBLE.
Here's a different idea we had for the album's cover:
We want to thank Dani's Duds & the Dulles EXPO Center for teaming up with us to promote the new release! While your there shop around, you're bound to find something at a bargain.
Next show is 9/10 @ Jammin Java (show starts at 7pm and we're on first).
-The Velvet Ants
www.Velvet-Ants.com
Hours are 9-5, but keep in mind ONLY THE FIRST 300 ARE ELIGIBLE.
Here's a different idea we had for the album's cover:
We want to thank Dani's Duds & the Dulles EXPO Center for teaming up with us to promote the new release! While your there shop around, you're bound to find something at a bargain.
Next show is 9/10 @ Jammin Java (show starts at 7pm and we're on first).
-The Velvet Ants
www.Velvet-Ants.com
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