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BOTAR to perform first shows

Ian — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 11:31:46 +0000

BOTAR have come out of hibernation to announce they will be performing their first ever shows this coming January. The slightly longer named and slightly differently logoed (violin instead of guitar) Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution Orchestra will be a 40-piece orchestra performing Streetlight Manifesto songs alongside the band itself, on 13th January 2018 at the Beacon Theater in New York City, and on 25th and 26th January at the Ace Theater, Los Angeles. Tickets go on sale this Friday (25th August). According to the Streetlight Manifesto facebook post about the news more info on future BOTAR activity can be expected shortly.

Streetlight Manifesto Reveal Track List and Album Art for “99 Songs of Revolution: Volume I”

Ian — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:48:03 +0000

Streetlight Manifesto have finally revealed the track list and album art for their upcoming release 99 Songs of Revolution: Volume I and put it up for pre-order on both vinyl and CD at The RISC Store. They also confirmed 16th March as the release date.

Track list:

“Birds Flying Away” - Mason Jennings
“Hell” - Squirrel Nut Zippers
“Just” - Radiohead
“Skyscraper” - Bad Religion
“Punk Rock Girl” - The Dead Milkmen
“Linoleum” - NOFX
“Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” - Paul Simon
“They Provide the Paint for the Picture Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint on the Insides of Your Eyelids” - Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution
“Red Rubber Ball” - The Cyrkle
“The Troubador” - Louis Jordan
“Such Great Heights” - The Postal Service

They also claim to have tons more news regarding upcoming tours, more song samples, etc etc to be posted in in the next few days.

Possible Track List for 99 Songs of Revolution

Ian — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:36:02 +0000

While it’s far from 100% confirmed it seems like the track list for the first volume of 99 Songs of Revolution might now be known based on a partial leak.

Mason Jennings - “Birds Fly Away”
Blur - “Country House”
The Postal Service - “Such Great Heights”
The Squirrel Nut Zippers - “Hell”
Paul Simon - “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”
Radiohead - “Just”
NOFX - “Linoleum”
Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution - “They Provide The Paint for the Picture Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint on the Insides of Your Eyelids”
The Dead Milkmen - “Punk Rock Girl”
The Cyrkle - “Red Rubber Ball”
Bad Religion - “Skyscraper”
Louis Jordan - “Troubadour”

This matches up with the list of included artists (Paul Simon, The Postal Service, NOFX, The Dead Milkmen, Bad Religion, Radiohead) from Victory Records’ latest newsletter

Streetlight Manifesto Come Out of Hiding

Ian — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:11:29 +0000

11.17.2009 | Still Alive, Still Kicking
Hello there everyone. Let’s jump straight into it, shall we?

1) 99 SOR. We’re being buried with emails regarding the release date but we can’t announce one because we don’t know when it is. What we can say is this: some record labels (not naming names here, so it can’t be “libel”) are just plain horrendous. That’s pretty much all we can say for now. Seriously though, it’s a sad fact that the bullshit bands have to put up with from some labels isn’t worth the benefits (ha!) of being on said labels.

That being said, it looks like 99SOR: Volume One will be released on vinyl via the Pentimento Music Company long before it comes out on CD or digitally. Stay tuned for a release date for the vinyl. We’ll also be posting clips from the record in the next few days, along with artwork, since it is in fact finished and just sitting around (you have no idea how frustrating it is).

2) People are also asking when we’ll be hitting the road again. We have no tours planned as of this very minute but we are planning our 2010 now. More importantly, though, we will be heading into the studio soon (as is a particular electricity deficient collective..) and we don’t plan on touring until we have a few records to release.

3) The Risc Store just got a bunch of new items, Streetlight and otherwise. ‘Tis the season yada yada blah blah blah..

4) During our downtime, our resident tenor sax genius will be giving lessons. Straight from the Conti’s mouth:

Jim Conti will be offering saxophone lessons along with music theory tutoring/instruction in the Montgomery County, Maryland/NW D.C. area. Individual instruction for all levels on alto, tenor, or baritone. Lessons can include classical and/or jazz and improvisational instruction. Anyone interested can contact him (serious inquiries please) at jim_conti@live.com for more information.

Obviously we are very fond of our Jimmy, so no stalkers or creeps please.

That is all, see you at the next update, with soundclips!

RISC Store Sale

Ian — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:02:28 +0000

The RISC Store is currently having an “economic stimulus sale”, where everything is reduced by 10%. The items are still listed at their normal prices and the discount is only applied after you add them to your cart. So head over there and pick up any CDs you don’t already have, or perhaps treat yourself to a nice print or a hoodie for the cold weather (unless you’re in the southern hemisphere, in which case you’ll probably just want a t-shirt).

Tomas Kalnoky Interviewed by the AP Show

Ian — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:40:08 +0000

A few days ago Alternative Press posted an interview and acoustic set with Tomas Kalnoky. He talks about (among other things) his influences, being on Victory, the writing process, and the 99 Songs of Revolution project, as well as playing acoustic versions of “Somewhere in the Between”, “Forty Days” and “Dear Sergio”. You can listen to it on the AP site or download it from here.

99 Songs of Revolution Emerges

Ian — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:07:30 +0000

Nearly 7 years after it was first announced in the A Call to Arms liner notes, new information about 99 Songs of Revolution has finally been released. In updates to both the Streetlight Manifesto and Pentimento sites it was announced that the project will span eight releases in total, two each from SM and BOTAR and the other four split between two yet to be announced SM-related Pentimento acts (could Man Bites Dog be one of them?). The first pair of releases will be out in early 2009, one from SM and one from one of the unknown acts. Victory will be releasing the two SM CDs while Pentimento will be handling the other six as well as vinyl of all of the releases. Read the full updates below.

Pentimento update:

New Cover Records Series

Streetlight Manifesto will be putting out the first of 8 records comprising the “99 Songs of Revolution” Project. For more info, check out their site. 99SOR is a series of cover records from SM, BOTAR and 2 other yet to be announced PMC groups. PMC will be releasing and distributing the vinyl for the first chapter of 99SOR, as well as all forms of the other 6 non-SM releases. 99SOR Volume I hits stores and iTunes in early 2009.

Streetlight update:

New Album(s) News

Ok, technically it’s not a new original record, but here it is: A few years ago, when BOTAR (Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution) released it’s first (and so far only) record, there was a mention in the liner notes of a large project called “99 Songs of Revolution”. This is a collection of 99 cover songs, spanning all kinds of genres, all kinds of artists. Now, a few years later, it’s all going down. And here are the details. Some of them, at least.

The 99 Songs of Revolution Project will consist of 8 full length records. Two from SM, two from BOTAR, and two each from two other SM related groups. Yes, this is indeed the record that Victory mistakingly posted as coming out in Oct of 08. Not sure how they got that date, but it was never even a possibility. The first SM record for 99SOR will be out in early 2009, simultaneously with another of the 8 CDs (no, not the BOTAR one). Victory will be putting out the CDs and mp3s and Pentimento will be releasing and distributing the vinyl. We are aware of our reputation to take forever to release records and miss our self imposed deadlines, so we are not giving anyone solid dates, not even our labels. Early 09 release, that’s it. We are, though, working hard on it. The demos are all but done and we head into the studio to begin tracking in October. Our upcoming tour schedule, as you know, is borderline impossible/insane, so cut us some slack.

This will be a nice way for us to get into the studio and put out some “new” music as well as tide you guys over until our next full length. It’s been a project that’s been on the back burner for too long, and it’s time to do something about it. Stay tuned to this site as well as the Pentimento site for more info over the coming weeks. Also make sure to keep peeking in on our other sites, as we’re in the middle of working on a few projects that have been dormant for way too long.

BOTAR Update

Ian — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:48:18 +0000

As some of you know the BOTAR site updated a little while ago but didn’t really add anything apart from a link to the Pentimento Music Company. However it updated again yesterday and this time actually has a whole bunch of new info.

So here’s an update for all you patient BOTAR peoples:

* BOTAR (and SM) has added some folk behind the scenes to help out with web updates and in general start kicking the “talent” around to actually get things done in some sort of timely manner.

* BOTAR is about to start recording its first full length. The plan is to release it around the same time or slightly after Streetlight gets its record done. But we’re dealing with you-know-who here so expect it sometime before the end of our current decade.

* BOTAR is recruiting musicians for recording (and possible touring in the near to distant future) on the West Coast. Yes, BOTAR is starting a West Coast Division. Now between the two groups maybe they’ll put out more than an EP every 5 years. If you or someone you know
A) play any of the following: Upright Bass, Drums, Violin, Viola, Cello, Trumpet, Trombone, Any Sax, Clarinet, Oboe, Piano, Mandolin, Percussion (Especially Ethnic) or anything you think might contribute and compliment the BOTAR sound
B) Are very, very skilled at your instrument
C) Are 18 years old or older
D) Live in Los Angeles County or one of the neighboring counties
D) Want to be a rich, famous rock and roll star
Please contact me at jarekotar@gmail.com with the subject “BOTAR West Coast”
Links to video/audio of you playing or a description of your experience will really help out, so send what you have.

* BOTAR is now affiliated with the Pentimento Music Company, a tiny new label that will be releasing and distributing their records. Their site will be up shortly (and yes, from now on when we say “soon” we actually mean it)

* Please don’t email me about the band, or Streetlight or to request anything from them, I barely know more than you guys do. I’m just here to make sure things move along. And from the emails I’ve read from you all, it’s about damn time.

Jarek, RISC
March 16, 2007