LOTS OF MUSICIANS WILL BE MULLING ABOUT AND PLAYING THIS FRIDAY, JULY 13TH, AT THE CROCODILE, INCLUDING US. HEADLINER BENNI HEMM HEMM IS COMING ALL THE WAY FROM ICELAND TO SING IN HOPELANDISH AND WILL BE BACKED WITH AN ARSENAL OF HORNS AND OTHER AUXILIARY INSTRUMENTS. SEATTLE BAND KAY KAY & HIS WEATHERED UNDERGROUND ALSO PLAYS WITH A LARGE CAST OF MUSICIANS, AND WILL NO DOUBT FILL THE CROCODILE'S STAGE. WE ARE JUST FIVE, BUT WILL STILL TRY TO MAKE A LARGE SOUND. THE STARES ARE ON FIRST SO DON'T BE LATE FOR THIS MUSICAL FEAST!

IN OTHER NEWS, KEXP 90.3 FM IS OFFERING NEW TUNE "SUCIA" ON ITS MUSIC THAT MATTERS PODCAST, NO 54. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE TO FIND A FULL-LENGTH VERSION OF THIS SONG UNTIL THE NEW RECORD IS OUT. WE WILL KEEP YOU ABREAST OF ANY AND ALL RECORD RELEASE NEWS IN FUTURE CORRESPONDENCE. IN THE MEANTIME, SUBSCRIBE TO SAID PODCAST HERE. DON AND JASON/BILL ALSO APPEAR ON THE PODCAST, WITH EARTH AND J TILLMAN RESPECTIVELY.

FOR YOUR AUDIO PLEASURE, WE PRESENT CLIPS OF TWO TRACKS THAT WILL BE ON THE UPCOMING STARES RECORD, MERIDIANS. YOU LIKE POP MUSIC? THIRSTY FOR SPACE ROCK? THEN THESE SONGS SHOULD TIDE YOU OVER UNTIL THE OFFICIAL RELEASE. VISIT OUR MYSPACE PAGE TO LISTEN TO "SUCIA" AND "SPACE PAUSE." LEAVE US A COMMENT IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AS SOON AS WE KNOW WHEN THIS WILL BE HITTING THE SHOPS WE WILL LET YOU KNOW. IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP ON OUR E-MAIL LIST, PLEASE DO SO. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON OUR GRAND STARES IRON-ON PATCH GIVEAWAY (IF AND WHEN THAT EVER HAPPENS).

AND FINALLY, FOR THOSE OF YOU NEAR THE SEATTLE METRO AREA, THE STARES ARE PLAYING CHOP SUEY ON SUNDAY, APRIL 29TH, OPENING FOR MEMPHIS AND THE POSTMARKS. WE'RE ON FIRST, SO COME EARLY. YOU'RE GUARANTEED ONE, TWO OR MANY MORE OF THESE NEW NUMBERS.

WE HAVE NEW SHIRTS FOR THE TAKING! DESIGNED BY STEPHEN O'MALLEY, THESE JUNGLE BOOK-GONE-AWRY DESIGNS ARE ON DARK GREY AMERICAN APPAREL T-SHIRTS (SUPER COMFY, FITTED, AND SWEATSHOP-FREE), AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT CUTS FOR GIRLS AND BOYS. VISIT OUR BUY LINK FOR PRICES, SIZES, AND ORDERING. SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT THE SQUID.

05.31.06

SUMMER SOLSTICE IS THREE WEEKS AWAY. SUN COMES AND GOES. FRAGRANT BLOOMS STILL PUNCTUATE THE AIR. AHH, SPRINGTIME IN SEATTLE. IT'S HARD TO BEAT. FINALLY, DAYS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO WEAR HEAVY JACKETS WHEN WALKING TO THE GROCERY. IT'S LIBERATING - LESS CLOTHES. ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE. TRAILS. BIKING. AMPHITHEATERS. PREGNANT MOTHERS. PREGNANT BANDS. FERRY RIDES. GIGS. MAKING RECORDS. AND WE'RE STILL MAKING ONE. IT TAKES TIME YOU KNOW. ESPECIALLY AT THE MERCY OF SCHEDULES AND MONEY. AND SO WE BIDE OUR TIME, WAITING FOR THE NEXT STRING OF DATES IN THE STUDIO. WE'VE GONE FAR. THE BASICS ARE THERE - THE MEAT AND POTATOES. NOW WE WAIT TO APPLY TOPPINGS, EAR CANDY, AND SONIC MANEUVERS. WHEN WILL STARES RECORD # 2 BE FINISHED? WE KNOW BETTER THAN TO TRY AND FIGURE THAT ONE OUT, BUT WE'LL SAY WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. HOW'S THAT? GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT, RIGHT? WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECORD. IT WON'T BE LONG NOW.

GIGS ARE POPPING UP AGAIN. TIME TO POLISH THE RUST AND PLAY TO THE PEOPLE. SEATTLE. PORTLAND. COME ON DOWN. WE'LL HAVE NEW T-SHIRTS TOO.

6.21.06 TOWER RECORDS/QUEEN ANNE IN-STORE @ 7PM - SEATTLE
6.22.06 COMET TAVERN - SEATTLE
7.14.06 SUNSET TAVERN - SEATTLE
7.15.06 MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS - INTIMATE DUO - PORTLAND

KEXP 90.3 WAS KIND ENOUGH TO ASK US TO OFFER UP A STARES OFFERING FOR THEIR MOST RECENT PODCAST. CHECK OUT '8,000 FEET' ON VOLUME 15 ON YOUR I-POD. FREE SERVICE.

DETAILS:
USING ITUNES
LEARN MORE ABOUT PODCASTS

AND FINALLY, WE ARE STILL SADDENED BY THE PASSING OF GRANT MCLENNAN. THE WORLD LOST AN AMAZING SONGWRITER. R.I.P. GRANT. LOVE GOES ON!

03.13.06

IT'S BEEN A FULL TWO YEARS SINCE WE FINISHED RECORDING SPINE TO SEA. WE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN THOSE 2 YEARS - SHOPPED THE RECORD AROUND, LANDED OUR FIRST HOME WITH MIMICRY, PLAYED ANACORTES, TUCSON AND POINTS BETWEEN, WROTE SONGS, WORKED DAY AND NIGHT JOBS, GAINED A FIFTH MEMBER - BUT THE CONSTANT FORWARD-THINKING GOAL WAS RECORD # 2. IN TWO WEEKS TIME WE'LL FINALLY COMMENCE WITH RECORDING. WE HAVE SONGS WRITTEN BEFORE THE SPINE TO SEA SESSIONS, NEW SONGS, LOUD SONGS, QUIET SONGS, SONGS THAT NEED TITLES, SONGS ABOUT ROMA AND SKAGIT VALLEY, ETC., ETC. MOST OF THESE WE'VE BEEN WORKING OUT LIVE - HECK, WE PLAYED THE NEW RECORD AT OUR LAST GIG. IT'S FRESH, IT'S STRONG, IT'S AFFECTING. WE'RE THRILLED. RECORD-MAKING DOESN'T COME CHEAP (ESPECIALLY OURS), SO IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED UP A COPY OF SPINE TO SEA FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND, GRANDMOTHER, OR COFFEE SHOP, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO PURCHASE SAID CD OR A SHIRT. WHEN YOU BUY DIRECTLY FROM US IT CIRCUMVENTS THE MIDDLEMAN'S PINCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RECORD # 2.

01.18.06

"MANY MODERN PURVEYORS OF ORCHESTRAL POP TEND TO GET BITTEN BY THE KITSCH BUG OR GET DRUNK OFF THE BOMBASTIC POWER OF A FULLY ARMED STRING SECTION. NOT SO WITH THE STARES, WHOSE ADMIRABLE SELF-RESTRAINT AND DEEP SATCHEL OF INFLUENCES ACCUMULATE INTO MUSIC AS SUBTLE AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL. THEIR ALBUM, SPINE TO SEA, RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THE ESOTERIC MIMICRY LABEL, IS A LUSCIOUS AFFAIR THAT CONJURES IMAGES OF AN IMAGINARY SUMMIT BETWEEN LOW AND THE HIGH LLAMAS. IT'S NOT EVERYONE'S CUP OF TEA, BUT I COULDN'T PICTURE A BETTER SOUNDTRACK FOR A HAZY WINTER'S NIGHT".

SO WRITES VOL. 15, NO. 19 OF THE STRANGER. THANK YOU MR. STRANGER. PROBLEM IS, THE DATE AND VENUE LISTED ABOVE THE BLURB IS INCORRECT. WE WILL NOT BE PLAYING THE S.S. MARIE ANTOINETTE IN SEATTLE ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 20TH, SO DON'T GO THERE. WE WILL BE IN ANACORTES THAT NIGHT, PLAYING AT A REFURBISHED FIRE STATION. INSTEAD, HEAD TO THE SUNSET TAVERN IN BALLARD ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 21ST. THERE WE WILL BE. NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING ...

01.17.06

3-DAY PUGET SOUND EXTRAVAGANZA! BARRING TORRENTIAL FLOODS CLOSING THE I-5 CORRIDOR (WE'RE GETTING THE POINT MR. RAIN), THE STARES WILL BE EMBARKING ON A WHIRLYWIND TRIP TO OLYMPIA, ANACORTES AND SEATTLE THIS WEEKEND. ALL SHOWS WILL BE WITH PORTLAND ACT GRAVES. WE'D LOVE TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

THURS, 1/19/06, OLYMPIA
THE EAGLES' CLUB W/ GRAVES, KANAKO

FRI, 1/20/06, ANACORTES
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY W/ GRAVES, THE POISON DART

SAT, 1/21/06, SEATTLE
SUNSET TAVERN W/ GRAVES, LITTLE CHAMPIONS, SEA NAVY

12.21.05

AS 2005 WINDS DOWN, REVIEWS OF SPINE TO SEA ARE STILL POPPING UP, WITH MAGNET MAGAZINE DECLARING SAID CD ONE OF TEN SIGNIFICANT RECORDS YOU MISSED IN 2005. THE RECENT BIG TAKEOVER WAS JUST AS KIND - "AN EXQUISITE, MULTI LAYERED PIECE, GROWING BY THE MEASURE INTO A BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONAL FEAST. POIGNANT LYRICS, AND A STURDY INSTRUMENTAL FOUNDATION, THE STARES HAVE IT ALL GOING FOR THEM." WE'RE NOT ONES TO TOOT OUR OWN HORN, BUT AS WE PLAN FOR RECORDING THE FOLLOW-UP IN 2006 IT'S NICE TO READ POSITIVE CONFIRMATION ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN. FOR FURTHER READING, CHECK OUT THE PRESS PAGE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!

12.05.05

JUST IN TIME FOR YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING NEEDS, WE'VE THROWN UP THE STARES SHOP TO HANDLE CD AND T-SHIRT SALES HERE AT STARES HQ. FAIR PRICES, INTROSPECTIVE LULLABIES, EYE-CATCHING GRAPHICS, SWEATSHOP-FREE AMERICAN APPAREL T-SHIRTS, NO GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS - JUST A BUTTON CLICK AWAY! VISIT BUY FOR DETAILS AND ORDERING.

11.15.05

YOU'LL FIND US ABOARD THE S.S. MARIE ANTOINETTE THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH. GO TO 1235 WESTLAKE AVE N OFF LAKE UNION IN SEATTLE AND LOOK FOR A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT WAREHOUSE. YOU CAN'T MISS IT. ALSO ON THE BILL IS THE JEN WOOD TRIO, FIREDANCERS, AND THE FABULOUS SNOWDRIFT WHO WILL HAVE FRESHLY PRESSED COPIES OF THEIR NEWEST CD FOR SALE. FESTIVITIES START AT 8PM, IS ALL-AGES, AND IS ONLY $5. WE CAN'T PROMISE ANY SEA SHANTIES BUT WE DO HAVE FREE BUTTONS IN TWO LOVELY COLORS.

11.02.05

10.25.05

10.05.05

THE STARES STRIPPED AND A NIGHT OF PIANO

TOMORROW NIGHT IS YOUR CHANCE TO HEAR THE STARES STRIPPED TO A DUO AND PLAYING ON A REAL-LIFE, HONEST-TO-GOODNESS RECENTLY-TUNED PIANO AT THE INTIMATE GALLERY 1412. IT'S A NIGHT OF PIANO-BASED ARTISTS INCLUDING JOHANNA KUNIN, GRAND HALLWAY, AND DISCS OF FURY. COME DOWN AND HEAR THE BEAUTY OF THIS UNWIELDY INSTRUMENT AND WE MAY EVEN TRY OUT A NEW SONG OR TWO. PIANO LOVE PEOPLE, PIANO LOVE.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2005 @ 8PM
GALLERY 1412 (1412 18TH AVE), ALL-AGES, $5-$15 DONATION

8.23.05

8.03.05

SHAKE YOUR MEDIA MAKER: A BENEFIT FOR INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS. THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 7TH, WE'RE PLAYING A BENEFIT AT NECTAR IN FREMONT FOR THE HAZEL WOLF ENVIRONMENTAL FILM NETWORK AND THE MGW PROJECT, BOTH CREATIVE MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS. DOORS OPEN AT 4PM JUST IN TIME FOR HAPPY HOUR, FOLLOWED BY A SILENT AUCTION FROM 4-7. STARES CLOSE OUT THE EVENING AT 8PM. COME ON DOWN AND SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE, YOU'LL EVEN MAKE IT HOME IN TIME TO CATCH THE FIFTH RE-RUN OF SOME DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES EPISODE.

7.13.05

"'SPINE TO SEA ' IS NOTHING LESS THAN BEWILDERINGLY, HARMONIOUSLY REALM, COMPROMISE, DARK, REALISTIC WORK. IMPOSSIBLE THAT YOU ARE NOT TOUCHED THE STARES. IT ARE ESPECIALLY BRUSHES - AND MANIFOLD ARRANGEMENTS OF EYVIND KANG (ALSO BLONDE SAVES HEAD) THAT ' T ' EM DOES. AMERICANA WITH THE CARROTS KILOMETRES DEEPLY THE SPIRITUAL GROUND."

AREN'T ONLINE TRANSLATIONS OF DUTCH REVIEWS THE BEST?!

WE'VE GOT SHOWS CLOSE TO HOME THIS WEEK (SEE LIVE FOR LINKS):

- FRI. JULY 15TH @ LO-FI W/ V. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL SHOW FOR US, PLAYING WITH OUR FRIENDS TIM YOUNG AND PAUL MOORE WHO SPEARHEAD V. THIS 15-20 PIECE ORCHESTRA WILL BE PLAYING GRANDLY HARMONIOUS MUSIC THIS EVE. THINK FLAMING LIPS, POLYPHONIC SPREE, BEATLES, AND HOT SUMMER DAYS AT THE POOL WITH BEACH BOYS ON THE AM RADIO.

- SAT. JULY 16TH @ ROCKFISH IN ANACORTES W/ ROBERT DEEBLE. WE'LL BE PART OF THE WHAT-THE-HECK FEST, A FESTIVAL OF MUSIC/ART/MULTIMEDIA/ETC THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SHIPWRECK DAY FLEA MARKET. THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT FEATURING 8 CITY BLOCKS IN DOWNTOWN ANACORTES PACKED FULL OF GOOD JUNK, ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES, TOOLS AND ALL KINDS OF TREASURES.

- WED. JULY 20TH @ SUNSET TAVERN W/ THE RISE & FALL OF AMY RUDE, AND CAMPO BRAVO. WE MET THE FOLKS IN BOTH THESE BANDS WHILE WE STAYED IN TUCSON, AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO BE REUNITED FOR A NIGHT OF GLORIOUS DESERT AMERICANA. THIS IS ALSO JASON'S BIRTHDAY - COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

AND FINALLY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN SEATTLE, KEXP 90.3 FM HAS BEEN PLAYING CUTS OFF "SPINE TO SEA." KEEP THOSE REQUESTS COMING!

6.21.05

THANK YOU ALL WHO CAME OUT TO SEE US ALONG OUR WEST COAST TOUR OF DUTY! WE MET LOTS OF FRIENDLY FOLK AND EVEN FOUND A HOME AWAY FROM HOME IN TUCSON. THE RHYTHM SECTION THREATENS TO HEAD SOUTH AND CUDDLE UP WITH SAGUARO, BUT NO WORRIES, SEATTLE IS HOME FOR NOW. NO CATASTROPHES TO SPEAK OF, JUST A FLAT OUTSIDE PENDLETON, OREGON AND DECAPITATED SKYLIGHTS ON SPIRIT THE TRUSTY ITASCA. THANK YOU IAN, KAVEH, DON SR., AMY, NEKO/CYRIL, AND JACOB FOR LETTING US PARK OUR RIG AT YOUR HOMES, RANDY FOR THE HINDU TEMPLE TOUR AND VEGAN EATS, AND TO YOU JESSE SYKES & THE SWEET HEREAFTER FOR MAKING OUR HOMECOMING CD RELEASE A SPECIAL ONE.

SO NOW WE REST UP AND ENJOY THE SEATTLE SUMMER UNTIL WE VISIT THE EAST COAST SOMETIME IN THE FALL. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL GIGS LINED UP IN JULY, BUT FIRST THING'S FIRST, WE'RE PLAYING THE TRACTOR TAVERN THIS THURSDSAY, WITH J. TILLMAN, SERA CAHOONE, AND THE MALDIVES. SPEND IT WITH US! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME TO THE NEUMOS CD RELEASE SHOW, WE'LL PLAY A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SET. WELL, MAYBE WITH ONE OR TWO EXCEPTIONS OF NEW MATERIAL. 9PM ~ $6 ~ 21+. WE'LL HAVE CDS, SHIRTS, AND CUTE LITTLE BUTTONS IN TOW.

5.27.05

IT'S TIME.

THE STARES PROUDLY PRESENT "SPINE TO SEA" FOR GENERAL CONSUMPTION, RELAXATION, CONTEMPLATION, DISLOCATION, REALIZATION, SLEEP DEPRIVATION, MIGRATION, AND MEDITATION. THE OFFICIAL STREET DATE IS MAY 31ST AND YOU SHOULD FIND IT AT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC SHOP WORTH THEIR WEIGHT. IF THEY DON'T CARRY IT, DEMAND THAT THEY ORDER IT. IF YOU NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR BATHROBE AND SURF DAY THROUGH NIGHT, ONLINE RETAIL OUTLETS WOULD LOVE TO FILL YOUR ORDER. STILL CAN'T FIND IT? CONTACT US.

TO KICK OFF THE STATE OF AFFAIRS, THE STARES WILL BE TRAVELING THE WEST COAST. TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO COME OUT! WHO KNOWS WHEN WE'LL BE BACK - NOT A THREAT, JUST AN UNKNOWN. WE'LL HAVE CDS, T-SHIRTS, BUTTONS, AND OURSELVES AS INCENTIVES.

FOR ALL YOU SEATTLE FOLK, IF YOU COME TO ONE STARES EVENT IN THE COMING MONTHS, MAKE IT THIS ONE AT NEUMOS ON JUNE 11. IT'S A SATURDAY NIGHT AND THE OFFICIAL CD RELEASE OF OUR DEBUT RECORD. THAT'LL NEVER EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THE LOVELY JESSE SYKES AND THE SWEET HEREAFTER, AND WINFRED E. EYE WILL BE SHARING THE STAGE THIS EVE. NOT TO BE MISSED!

KEXP 90.3 FM IN SEATTLE HAS RECENTLY ADDED "SPINE TO SEA" TO THEIR LIBRARY. THEY'VE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO HAVE STARTED PLAYING A CUT OR TWO, SO REQUEST, LISTEN, AND ENJOY! FOR THOSE OF YOU OUTSIDE THE SEATTLE AREA, YOU CAN ALSO STREAM OFF THEIR WEBSITE. YOU CAN CONTACT THEM AT 206.903.KEXP OR DJ@KEXP.ORG. STARES ON THE AIRWAVES!

IN OTHER STARES NEWS WE'VE JUST SET UP OUR VERY OWN MYSPACE PAGE. BE OUR FRIEND.

PHEW. UNTIL NEXT TIME, CURL UP WITH OUR CD AND FIND US ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!