The Satellite with Brother (UK)

hey there useless keys supporters,

i know you don't get updated on useless keys news as frequently as you desire. i'm sorry. we've been recording, writing, rehearsing, playing shows, designing new merch, brainstorming video shoots, really so much i can't list it all right now. thanks to the dudes and dudette in yuck for letting us play a couple shows over the past week with them. they rock and they're nice normal people too.

we have a show coming up at the satellite on april 26th with brother (uk). we play at 10pm. go to this link here for tickets and buy them now so you don't get left out if this one sells out.

i hope you're doing okay.

USELESS KEYS FREE SHOW MONDAY MARCH 7TH

hey people, we have a free show coming up at the satellite in silverlake on monday march 7th. we go on at 10pm. it's gonna be an epic show, get there early so you don't have to wait in line.

we're also playing march 10th at detroit bar in costa mesa with asobi seksu for our orange county fans.

i'm really into watching this video below this week. must have logged 10 plays. enjoy.

NEW MUSIC IN PRODUCTION

MIXING MIXING MIXING MIXING..........

Mixing makes your head spin. We're knee deep in new recordings and haven't been doing much other than focusing on that. We have a show coming up at Detroit Bar with Asobi Seksu on March 10th, a show in Phoenix at Sail Inn on March 15th, a show in Fullerton at The Slidebar on March 22nd and more recording in our future.

This is the first time I've ever been in a project where writing, recording, mixing, learning how to play new songs live has all been occurring simultaneously. Generally throughout my musical career, the path has been linear: go write some songs, learn how to play them live, play a bunch of live shows, schedule recording time, go record the songs you've been playing for months, after recording mix the songs, get it mastered, etc... UK's have been taking a new approach where we never stop recording, never stop writing, never stop mixing, play live shows in between, write demos at 4am, record a song from 2 years ago, record a song from 2 days ago, it's much more liberating, pressure relieving and fun this way.

So far we have 6 songs under our belt with Sheldon Gomberg and Rick Parker and the writing/recording/mixing shows no sign of stopping. The working titles we have for the new recordings thus far are:

Sympathetic/Pathetic

Sea Bells

Radiation Burns

Arizona State Highway

Static Friends

You Said You'd Never

The title "Sea Bells" evolved quite a bit, maybe it will evolve more. I originally called the song "Wedding Bells", then "Church Bells" basically because my sweeping guitar and Regilio's guitar line made me recall the church bells I'd hear in my old neighborhood when I was out playing in the street as a kid. Regilio being the devout atheist that he is took issue with that title and subsequently it became "Mary Star of the Sea Bells", then was shortened to "Sea Bells".

Recording demos in my studio apartment in Atwater Village.

This is how I spent a recent Friday night. (I bought at 30 pack of Miller Lite)

I listened to a lot of Rolling Stones in the plane on my trip to St. Louis last weekend.

It's my Arch. Mine.

See you all soon.

mb

"We're gothic/post-chillwave funk."

Hey there world. This is Michael Bauer reporting from Useless Keys headquarters. It's been a while since we updated this blog. You might be asking yourself, "Why the long delay, Michael?" Well, I'll tell you why. WE'VE BEEN BUSY DOING SHIT! :)

We started recording our debut full length earlier this month with Sheldon Gomberg and Rick Parker. Those dudes know how to record killer jams. We have no idea how many songs will be on the final product, when it'll be released, the title of the record but I can share with you the names of a few, new tentatively titled songs; "Dream in Red", "Sympathetic/Pathetic", and "Sea Bells".

San Diego has been treating us well as of late; I really love playing in that city. Maybe we've just hit a string of lucky shows down there lately, but the vibe of the crowds have been so welcoming and appreciative that San Diego now has a warm place in my heart. Thanks to dudes in Beautiful View for inviting us down, we appreciate it.

Last week our song "Is The Painting Changing" was played on MTV's Jersey Shore. We uploaded the song to our myspace page, click here to listen.

Tonight we're playing a show at Commonwealth Lounge in Fullerton. The show is free. Thursday we're playing with Shadow Shadow Shade, Great Northern and Wet and Reckless at Satellite/Spaceland in Silverlake. Show is only $5 if you rsvp on the Facebook invite page or email uselesskeys@gmail.com. Get there early because we play at 9pm, new songs will be in the set and you don't want to wait in a long ass line to get inside.

In March we have shows in Costa Mesa with Asobi Seksu and Braids (3/10 at Detroit Bar) and in Phoenix (3/15 at Sail Inn).

Here's some pictures I took over the past week from our recording sessions. Enjoy. More to come soon.....

This is where Regilio records demos.

This is where I record demos.

Day 1: Jerry's starter doesn't work

Jerry's car is subsequently towed.

Jerry's doesn't get upset by machines breaking, he's still kind.

Sheldon produces.

Jerry's drums, regular picture.

Jerry's drums through the hipster filter camera.

Where I scratch vocalize.

Where Regilio stands.

Down time.

Life is ticking by.

It's important to be organized.

Professional recording tools.

Control the room.

Fuel.

Pedals.

Red, Blue, ORANGE.

Rick produces.

Kamikaze Now Streaming on MySpace

Our new song, Kamikaze, is available for streaming on our MySpace page. You can listen here. Kamikaze was recorded earlier this year at The Carriage House in Silver Lake. The song was produced by Sheldon Gomberg and mixed by Rick Parker (BRMC, Von Bondies).

FREE SHOW AT VIPER ROOM!!

Hey there friends, fans, family. KROQ Locals Only and ShowlistLA are sponsoring a free Useless Keys show at the Viper Room on November 9th with Twilight Sleep and Nightmare Air. Please email your name and your guests' names to rsvp@showlistla.com to get on the guest list while availabilty exists.

In other news, we are still diligently writing for the new album and breaking in our new drummer, Jerry Roe. Hope to begin recording very soon. See you all at the Viper Room.

Opening for Dax Riggs next Thursday and Friday

We are opening up for Dax Riggs at Spaceland next Thursday and Friday, 9/9 and 9/10. Advanced tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.clubspaceland.com.