Atlanta Based!

Hello hello! It's my birthday and all I can keep thinking about is how fast life is. We all have this one chance to live and only a hand full of us get to make the most of it. I am so lucky to have learned how to take nothing for granted and to breathe and be thankful for each breath.On that note, before I get too "earthy," the band is now Atlanta based! I have to admit it's nice to be in a big city. I miss Athens, of course, but I know that Athens is a place I will see often this year. I am excited for our next show at New Earth with the returning students. Our goal is to show our music to as many new faces as possible. So, let's just hope everything stays in shape and people keep loving it. <3 I wanted to enter a blog post on my birthday, I thought it would be pretty cool. So, there ya go...I'm off to get spoiled which began yesterday with a new vacuum that I can't stop finding reasons to use. Good day to everyone! Can't wait to meet you in person if I haven't already.

Full Weekend

Hello friends. I finally updated my infodizzle and want to start keeping in touch. We had a long but sweet weekend. (Thursday) Adam, Josh, and I stayed up late messing with beats and the new micro sampler, which I am veeeery excited to abuse. (Friday) Started early with no sleep on file. Performed and interviewed for Atlanta & Company on Atlanta 11Alive News! It was pretty freakin cool knowing that I've dreamt of being in that very building from watching it everyday. And not to mention we witnessed Bradly Cooper through satellite getting ready for an interview right after us. Next, we were off to Georgia Public Broadcasting for a 25 minute set and a 15 minute interview that will be aired on July 3rd. Google the stations for your particular city/town for details. Last but not least, we drove 2 1/2 hours to Augusta to play at Sky City for the Shine for Scott Benefit Concert. Scott passed from cancer, leaving a wife and two daughters. The concert was created to raise money for his family. His medical bills were overwhelming and not totally covered by his insurance. Please visit their site for the full story and give any thing you can to help. I have personal experience with losing a loved one to cancer. It's not a joke and not easy. It doesn't really get any easier either. I lost my mother when I was 14 (two weeks into my freshman year in high school). Being at this show and seeing the support given to this family touched my heart. I found myself unable to express my feelings like I wanted because I remember not wanting to be around people or hearing reminders of whom I had lost. I also did not know this family personally and did not was to say something out of line. So, unfortunately I would start saying something between songs in our set, and never got it out as planned. It was a great show and we will be here if they ever need us again. Adam and I drove 2 hours back to Athens. (Saturday) We slept in for our vocals' sake. We got ready and left with the gear and headed to Athfest. We unloaded, THEN loaded the stage soon after, and rocked it out two hours after waking up. I have to admit, not waiting to play was convenient. It was like 100 degrees and people stood as they fried while we played. I was surprised at the crowd because no one really knows that much about us. In Athens, it's hard to take friend suggestions for bands since there are soo many. I had so much fun and am amazed at the support we are gaining and maintaining from old and new fans :o). Definitely felt the love.


Well, I think I wrote a good bit. Josh and Brad are the best at this kind of stuff, but I will eventually get the hang of it. I'm drained, but ready for more!

Show Hard!

Greetings Programs,

Well we just recently returned from Ultra Cool Orlando, Florida after performing at The Florida Music Festival. We played a set, met some great new friends, had cocktails with old friends, saw some killer bands, shook hands with the industry folks, and yes...grabbed some quality beach time (which was cool, because 4 out of the 5 of us are pale enough to be Cullens). Thanks to Dave Claassen and BMI for pumping us and for all the support and spirits-you are MEGA!

We also had a really dope interview with the good folks from pop*Vulture. Check out their recently launched blog as they pick at the carrion of culture. Very, very sweet peeps (it's not often we meet humans on the road we can debate Marvel vs DC with)! They've done a 4 part piece on us and you can check it out here! Thanx pop*Vulture for sharing some drinks with us and thinking us worthy. We likey!

All in all, it was a solid excursion filled with late night debauchery and quality seafood. Pics will be posted soon.

Stay tuned as we have some surprises in store in the next few days including the release of a brand spankin' new track.

But...if you really can't wait, and need to commune with us ASAP, please feel free to check us out this Friday, April 30th at The 500 Songs for Kids event at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta. We will be performing song #403 "The Sign" by Ace of Base. We go on at 11:20pm, but come early to hang and hear some amazing performances by some of Atlanta's finest...plus all the money goes to charity. Find out more here.

So until next time, True Believers, keep it extremely real and remember, whatever you do, Show Hard!

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Josh Maximum

Wagon Time!

Greetings Programs,

We're back with the latest bits 'n bobs from La Casa de Orkids...or as we like to call it "Thunderdome". Tonight we take the stage at the fab 4o Watt for what is sure to be a killer show featuring The Less and Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun. Both are uber-cool bands from Atlanta that we can't wait to carouse with. Also tonight, for those of you in attendance, we will be debuting a brand new up-tempo jump song in our set. Though the new tune does not have an official name as of yet, the duration of time during the song's perfromance will be known as "Wagon Time". Draw from that what you will, just know that there will be heavy use of the pitch bend wheel happening!

In other news, The Orkids were recently featured as part of the BMI/99X Showcase in Atlanta on April the 1st. The show went very well and it was right then and there that we realized we all had superpowers, or for all you Smallville fans "abilities". I think the picture above proves that The Orkids are in fact meta-humans!

We were invited by the mighty 99x to stop by the night before the show for a performance and Q&A session. We were able to smuggle in my MicroKorg and Adam's acoustic for a stripped down "Paper Dolls". You can check out the performance and interview here (also as an added extra special bonus, we also weaved in some behind the scenes footage of the making of our "Paper Dolls" video which we will be premiering in the next month or so-stay tuned). Thanks to Shawn Williams for being ultra-groovy and for making us "meow"! BTW, the 99X studio and location is SICK! I'm just sayin'...

Next up, we head to Orlando, FL for the star-studded gala known as the Florida Music Festival or FMF if you're nasty! We will be performing Friday, April 23rd at 8:30pm on the BMI stage. Grab tickets here. This should be a very radical event with headlining acts like Less Than Jake and Rusted Root. If you are near Orlando (the city, not Sandra's brother-he's still in the UK due to volcanic ash and the end of the world), drop by and check us out-we can sip drinks that have little umbrellas in them.

After that we are back in Atlanta for the Amazing charity event 500 Songs for Kids. We will be peforming song #403 "The Sign" by Ace of Base on Friday, April 30th at 11:20pm. All proceeds go to the charity. Come out and support if you can and find out if Sandra sings with an accent or not! Hmmmm....

Anyhoo, that's all for now. Keep checking back for more updates, videos, media, and tissue samples. We keep adding them all the time. Laters...

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Josh Maximum

We're back...

Greetings Programs,

It's been a while since our last post. Forgive our tardiness, but it's been very busy lately in The Orkids camp and we have been hard at work preparing a whole slew of new goodies for your listening and viewing pleasure.

First off, Adam and Sandra will be returning shortly from their adventure in South Africa. Being on the other side of the world and without solid 3G coverage, our communication with them has been limited. However, the reports that we have received via Morse Code and Facebook have informed us that they are safe, happy, and have a new found respect for penguins. So, as Adam continues on his quest to locate the giant powered exoskeleton used in District 9, the rest of us can't wait for them to get back and debrief us on the whole excursion. Pictures and videos to follow!!

Next, we have officially shot a video for "Paper Dolls". We totally have to thank Jessica, Scott, and Sarah for making the ordeal extremely groovy. It can get pretty hot under the lights and we have to give them giant props for keeping us in the zone and on point. You can get pretty distracted when there is a plethora of glow in the dark face paint and Evan Williams at your disposal. Currently in post production, the "Paper Dolls" video should be hitting the world wide web in the very near future. Stay tuned as we will surely do something very special for its release.

In other news, we are pleased to announce that The Orkids have been chosen to appear on the Athfest 2010 compilation CD. The Orkids' previously unreleased track "Told You So" will appear alongside other contributions from artists including The Whigs, Five Eight, and Modern Skirts. The album will be released May 4th on Ghost Meat Records. For more information and a full track listing click here.

Finally, The Orkids have a couple of new performance dates including:

-April 1st: BMI/99x Local Only Rock Showcase @ Vinyl in Atlanta, GA w/ Trances Arc, The Falcon Lords, and Andy Lehman & the Night Moves

-April 3rd: Modern Skirts w/ The Orkids @ The Loft in Columbus, GA.

-April 16th: The Orkids @ The 40 Watt in Athens, GA w/ The Less and Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun. http://athensmusic.net/product_info.php?products_id=1852

-April 30th: 500 Songs for Kids @ Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta GA. The Orkids perform song #403 "The Sign" by Ace of Base. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Orkids/151495871555#%21/event.php?eid=384316040287&ref=mf

And there is still more to come in the mega month of May. Check back for updates as we promise to jack in and transmit more frequently...we've made the appropriate upgrades, I assure you.

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Josh Maximum

Happy CD Release Eve!

Greetings Programs,
Well, here it is...the eve before our "Paper Dolls EP" Release show at the 40 Watt. Can't believe it's finally here. We had a great show last night at The Star Bar, our first in Atlanta, to warm us up proper-like for the big gig tomorrow. Lots of love and support from the people at The Star Bar. Uber props to Pop Death Squad for including us in their Big Trouble in Little 5 Points lineup and a special shout out to Lynn, owner of The Star Bar...she's got mad polaroid skills.

The Orkids have also been featured in some killer publications this week in anticipation for the show. Feel free to check out the articles in The Flagpole, The Red and Black, and The Athens Banner Herald. We can't thank these people enough.

So as we go into love lockdown mode in preparation for tomorrow's synth bath, we will be adding the McCormick's Irish Cream to new Orkids' trax like "Footsteps", "Look No Further", and "Found". We hope to see you out tomorrow night flexing multiple Swatches and ghetto blasters! Catch us tomorrow night and claim your free copy of the "Paper Dolls EP". Take it...it's yours!

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Josh Maximum

Paper Dolls EP reviewed in The Flagpole

Greetings Programs,
The mighty Flagpole has reviewed our little old "Paper Dolls EP". Check out the review to see if the answers to life's enduring questions are finally revealed like, "Can you really put Ranch dressing on everything?"

In the meantime, we are busy little bees preparing for the release show on the 23rd. The new songs are coming togehter quite handsomely and we are stoked to unleash them upon the Earth in a little over a week. Like the old saying goes, "Time flies when you're generating synth tones." Keep a look out for some upcoming Orkids features in rad publications near you in the coming weeks. More details to follow...

In the meantime, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for a Strongbow!

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Josh Maximum