06.16.10

HEY
back from Euro intact and wot a nice time was had! THANKS to Pavement lads and to all fine folks with the hookups and kind words and ALL! MOST thanks due here to our man FITZ tour managing the band into fields of unknown function and LAFFS. PEACE. It was great to play new places and tho the attention you get as a result of playing a Big Festival or receiving Incisor Rock-like strokes from your Elders is usually in the POSITIVE vein, sometimes you come across the other- Like this fellow who let us know:

"From: David Lubeo {david.lubeo@gmail.com}
Date: Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 11:29 PM
Subject: Sic Alps aka DAVID BOWIE
To: sicalps@gmail.com

Just heard you guys for the 1st time. I must say, what an absolutely disgustingly blatant attempt to rip off David Bowie. No originality what-so-ever. I hope you guys die in a car accident.

Best Regards,

David"


THANKS for your feedback! And keep those internet opinions up! OK!

In the meantime...you know wot we think....cause we are:

SIC ALPS (Noel Matt Mike)

PEACE!

06.15.10

- Happy Birthday Matthew James Hartman

04.17.10

- New track is out: "Maddy / Riley" is available on a new Amnesty International compilation- "PEACE" Check it out here

01.26.10

- HAPPY NEW YEAR! Well it could be if you only stay positive! Check out all the humans walking around too while youre on focus. WELL, really just wanna say thanks here to all who gave us love in the last decade, Wot a fun time we had! Also, did we learn from that bummer shit? Either way it's on now so were looking forwrd to the next, now fortified with our mainman Noel Von Harmonson. YES. Let's get that record out to you!

- Also, announcements etc. in the live dept: might be old news to some now but check the live page for EXCITING info bout a Brixton Academy gig supporting Pavement, a Primavera Festival appearence via ATP, a full on European tour in MAY/ JUNE, plus an upcoming Fillmore gig with Yo LA Tengo. Speaking of LIVE gotta say big THANKS to Sonic Youth for putting us under their wing on the recent WEST Coast tour. And special thanks to the cruised out SY crew for hooking it up for us Sonically. WOT else? The 8-track version of "U.S. EZ"? Soon and YES.

LOVE.

Mike Matt Noel

11.29.09

- Killer news - we've been added to the line up of the Pavement curated All Tomorrow's Parties May 14-16 @ Minehead, UK! OK Psyched! Speaking of the UK gotta say HELLO to new friends and massive THANKS to everyone who helped make our OCT tour happen, especially Afs. It was a distinct pleasure to be rolling with our new bandmate and old friend Noel Von Harmonson- 14 great shows, we hope to come back and hit some spots we missed, throwing a line out to Doncaster here!!

- New release news action- just picked up copies of the Magik Markers/Sic Alps split tour 12" on Yik Yak (sounds good. 45 rpm=loud). Come on out to the show and pick up a copy: we hit the west coast in a minute! Dates here.

- New Sic Alps track on a limited 10" on Siltbreeze!! V/A "Skulls without Borders" is available directly from the label. Get in touch here. Early (05-07) live staple now out there for the turntabled - Kevin Ayers' "Clarence in Wonderland" is our covers tune for this rec which includes tracks from Chickins, Tommy Jay Band, Dan Melchior, Puffy Areolas and Kurt Vile and the Violators.

- Peace til next time.

11.04.09

- NEW SONIC YOUTH DATE ADDED!!!: pleased to announce that The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco has been added to the SY mini tour! Monday, January 10th 2010. Tickets on sale Saturday November 11th (Presale tickets available Thursday 11/5 at 10AM here. Password:ETERNAL)

10.23.09

LOS ANGELES NOVEMBER 1ST SHOW JUST ANNOUNCED! - yep. Coming down for a quickie with our old pals Times New Viking. It's going down at The Echo as part of Part Time Punks and will include New Zealand's The Axemen {recently re-released by Siltbreeze!} Hells yes. Hope to see you there!

10.01.09

ATTENTION BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, COVENTRY, LEICESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND SURROUNDING ENGLISH MIDLANDS: apparently our gig in Shrewsbury on OCTOBER 12th has fallen through. If you or someone you know would like to bring Sic Alps for a night please get in touch with our UK booking agent at: afonso@filhounico.com PSSST. BIRMINGHAM. i mean c'mon. Black Sabbath already. let's do this.

09.25.09

Matt Hartman, Mike Donovan, Noel Harmonson

09.09.09

- Sorry to announce the cancellation postponement of all late September dates with Sonic Youth. See the live page for a link to more details. All but one of the dates (Santa Barbara) have been rescheduled. Sic Alps' participation in the reschedule is pending confirmation. Stay tuned.... CONFIRMED! {updated 09.10.09}

08.27.09

- Check the live page for newly added dates with SONIC YOUTH

- Also OCT UK tour shapes up - check back at this site for more venue info etc. as it develops. Londoners and Mancunians can addtionally look forwrd to an evening that will include a set by our man Ty Segall, solo-style and with some help from his friends, freak out.

07.28.09

- Maybe you already heard but news is such: We are pleased to announce we are playing a gig with Sonic Youth at the relatively intimate confines of the Independent in SF on AUG 3. Thus making up for missed Malkmus CA dates nicely (Happy 40th anniversary BOB and SARA!) We remain stoked. Yes, in a world of generous slide sometimes it goes well.

- Up next in the release column is the 2xLP version of "A long Way Around to a Shortcut" on Drag City. Out on AUG 18th. If I could have taken a nap sometime around 1996 I would have liked to wake up now. Or never did bummer drugs. But alas we are alive and life simply does not suck. You can go back and read that last sentence if you want but better yet check these lyrics:

"she went to seek adoption, just to see wot she had gotten for me
we bombed that mansion, its gonna be the last one, its gonna be the last fling
we went to see a doc then, just to see wot she had gotten for me
mind searching, shes gonna get back at them, gonna gonna get back at them with violence"

they belong to a new 7" being born AUG 25 on the Slumberland label. Did you see Henry's Dress play? Write to us and say so! The b-side is a Donovan cover and its our first rec in a year and first with Ty.

- In other recording news- work and play continues on the next LP, slowly, as mice scurry about.

- In tour news an extensive OCT UK tour is in the works. Scotland, Ireland and Wales included.

- Also the Magik Markers / Sic Alps rescheduled West Coast tour is getting set up for DEC. Expect a split 12" to coincide that reflects LOVE, up or down, on the esteemed Yik Yak label.

- Are we dominating again? Hold tite!

5.22.09

- TICKETS FOR THE BLACK DICE/WOLF EYES SHOW ARE NOW ON SALE! *ONLY* at Aquarius Records in San Francisco. 10 American Dollars.(12 American Dollars at the door)
Sic Alps and Pod Blotz open. With VJ Kamau & DJ McDeuce. FRIDAY MAY 29TH at the OCD Garage. 758 Natoma San Francisco

2.5.09

- POSITIVITY ALERT Hey. It's been awhile since word has showed up here. Many miles traversed, beers consumed and even a bag or two of cigarettes (tho not since Europe.) Gotta say thanks (as is the custom here) to all who came out to see us in America and Europe. You guys fucking rule it. Thanks. We love you. Especially Montreal, whose beautiful faces we will arrive to without violence, next time, Ladies and Gentlemen. So wots the deal? Basically two large news items dominate. The first being:

- DRAG CITY BABY Drag City will release a 2xLP version of "A Long Way Around to a Shortcut" this summer. The 26 tunes from the Animal Disguise CD plus "United" and some extra-nicey packaging courtesy of Matthew Hartman's brain. We are heavily exited to be on the label, I personally had to take a walk around the block when they told me.

second news item:

- NEW DUDE Ty Segall joins the ranks. Wonderkind Ty Segall is on board playing drums, guitars, et al. He is a sweet dude and a man of many fine projects the least not being his own (Matthew just recorded a bunch of tunes for his new one coming up on Goner) Check him out here won't you?

- Also keep an eye out for new Sic Alps tracks coming in 09 on compilations by labels Siltbreeze, In the Red, Almost Ready, Raven Sings the Blues plus a new EP that is in the works....! and around that corner we got....?

8.3.08

- Apologies to anyone who thought we were supposed to play that show at McClaren Park Pool tonight. We honestly have NO IDEA how that came to be. (Someone pointed out to us at some point during the tour that it was listed on Deerhunter's MySpace). Uh, what can we say? We are the ONLY people who book our shows (well, in the US anyway) and NO ONE asked US if we wanted to play. Go figure. Again, apologies to anyone disappointed by our no show. We had intended to make this announcement sooner, but just got back from tour and things have been a little hectic. Oh, and on that subject - thanks a million to every band and every person who came out, saw the shows, bought something, or not..... we had an amazing time. Look forward to more in less than two months!!!

7.23.08

- Animal Disguise has just informed us that "A Long Way Around To A Shorcut" has already sold out!!! But don't panic. Due to popular demand they've decided to keep it in print (or at least do another 1000). Also, be on the lookout for a repressing of 300 - 400 more copies of "Pleasures & Treasures" on LP. So don't go paying collector's scum prices on eBay just yet. Both due out in the Fall. Also, it is our sincere hope that we may actually bring you a version of "Long Way..." on vinyl.....someday.....if we get enough requests......

6.20.08

- NEW ALBUM!!! July 15th, 2008 will see the release of a brand new full length on Siltbreeze entitled "U.S. EZ". See the listen page for more details.

- in other news.....the rescheduled US July tour is shaping up nicely. Still confirming a few things last minute. As always stay tuned to the live page for the latest.
For those missing out on this upcoming swing, we are stoked to announce a plan for more US dates coming in September with our good friends Thee Oh Sees. We're making our way East to play GonerFest in Memphis, do a Chris Johanson art opening in NYC, possibly even get up to Montreal for a little somethin' somethin', and then off to the UK and Europe for a good long chat. Stay Tuned......,

6.01.08

RECOVERY! Matthew had his cast removed this past Tuesday and all signs point to a full recovery.
Dr. Randy Lee Sutherland (Sword & Sandals, Vholtz, Wiggwaum) has been expertly advising as to proper come-back therapy. Furthermore the tour re-schedule continues full steam ahead. Please check in on our live page for full details as they develop.

4.24.08

BICYCLE ACCIDENT SIDELINES SIC ALPS U.S. TOUR (FOR THE MOMENT):
Hey everyone. We are massively bummed to announce that we are having to postpone our tour which was to commence tomorrow night at the Hemlock in San Francisco. On the morning of 4/23 Matt was involved in a bicycle accident resulting in a broken wrist. After much deliberation as to possible scenarios, it was agreed that the best thing was to postpone to allow for a speedy and full recovery. As we speak we are in contact with all parties involved to try and reschedule the shows for July and early August. Massive apologies to all who put their efforts into getting this tour booked, and to all the bands we were to play with - we were looking forward to playing with you all. We are bummed but are keeping our heads up and looking forward to the summer. See you then. As always, shout at us at sicalps@gmail.com. Peace.

3.16.08

-Just want to clarify one thing for the record as per an erroneous interview/article from late last year. Sic Alps love the Magik Markers. Okay. As you were.

3.07.08

-New spring US tour dates are posted on our live page. Playing with some great bands, check it out! Also, we will have copies with us of "A Long Way Around to a Shortcut"- our upcoming limited edition CD on Animal Disguise that compiles all out of print stuff from '06 and '07. Also a new 4-song cassette on Folding and a new 7" single on Important. Can you say hells yes?!

-Also would like to say thanks here to ALL friends overseas who made our first European tour last fall a real nice time. Especially the very fine folks at Kraak who made the whole trip possible and to our brothers in Portugal at Filho Unico who taught us our first sentence in Portuguese: "A melhor banda de rock do mundo" Yep, they were talking bout us! Cheers!

11.26.07

-First of all, much muchos thank yous to all of you who put us on, put us up, and came out to see us on our recent US tour. We had a fantastic journey and hope you did too. We look forward to doing it again in spring 2008. Details as they develop. In the meantime please enjoy this video re-cap as realized by our own Herr Donovan!

- Our mini tour of Europe & the UK is nearly upon us. Please see our live page for a list of dates and a link to a more detailed list. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

- TWO NEW RELEASES!
First, "Description of the Harbor" has finally been delivered to Revolver for distribution. We apologize in advance because the pickins are gonna be slim on this one. We unloaded about 75 copies on the US tour, leaving approximately 225 more copies to share among the world. You will have to keep your eyes peeled at your local record store, or contact dave@midheaven.com and plead for the opportunity to get a copy. Also, 20 signed and alternate artwork copies will be for sale at the Jack Hanley Gallery in San Francisco as well as a New York gallery (which shall be named shortly as soon as Chris reminds us which one it is. haha.) Do not fret, however, if you miss out on the vinyl. "Description" will be included in it's entirety in an upcoming CD compilation of ALL of our limited edition vinyl and cassette releases over the past two years. It will be titled "A Long Way Around to a Shortcut" and will be released on Animal Disguise Recordings, tentatively in early Spring 2008.
Second, the "Strawberry Guillotine" 3 song 7-inch is also officially out on (and available directly from) Woodsist records. This was a whirlwind session of HC dominated scree made to order for Woodsist in the midst of recording sessions for our 2008 record (or records - wink, natch, more on that soon)..

- Finally, if you haven't done so already, please check out our most recent live taping for WFMU. Recorded on October 24th, 2007.

***(OLDER NEWS)***

08.28.07

- Sic Alps is pleased to announce that we've been asked to backup Neil Hagerty in Howling Hex at his next San Francisco appearance. Mike and Matt will be joining Neil with a guitarist and percussionist for a two hour special set at the Hemlock Tavern on September 22nd. There will be NO opener, but this five piece will be throwing in a couple of Sic Alps numbers! Fuck yeah!

- Sic Alps is touring soon. yup. in addition to a month long US tour mid October to mid November we'll be visiting the European Continent for the first very very time. The last two weeks of November will see a Euro-tour leading up to our appearance at the (K-RAA-K)3 festival on Dec 1st. Check in with the live page for more details as they develop.

06.15.07

- HAPPY 36TH BIRTHDAY TO MATTHEW HARTMAN.

- "The Description of the Harbor" 10-song 12" EP on Chris Johanson's Awesome Vistas is now due to be released in September of this year. Again, it will be limited to 300 vinyl only copies, each with unique hand crafted artwork by Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson. We can't wait. But wait we must.

- We are slowly but surely working on a follow up LP for Animal Disguise Recordings. It may even be a double. Yowza. Tentatively looking at an Oct./Nov. release.

- We are going to be touring the US from mid-Oct. to mid-Nov. As dates get confirmed they will be added to the live page.

- Not much else new at the moment. A small handful of live shows coming up.

03.23.07

-WHOA. Thurston Moore and Byron Coley of "BULL TONGUE" fame (see Arthur Magazine - R.I.P.) have just named "Pleasures & Treasures" the number 3 album of 2006!! merci beaucoup. see it here.

-On February 22nd Matt Hartman broke his hand. a bummer of the most major order. he is out of the cast and trying to rapidly relearn how to use his hand and very crooked ring finger. crooked fingers crossed that we will be full steam for our upcoming show.

-Meanwhile work has already begun on yet another Sic Alps release which will hopefully see the light of day in late summer/fall - shortly after release of "Description of the Harbor" on Awesome Vistas. Speaking of which, rumor has it that "Description" will be limited to 300 vinyl copies, EACH of which will have UNIQUE hand-crafted cover art by Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson. shit yes.

02.10.07

-NEW VIDEO of Sic Alps on YouTube. Live versions from our recent Fools Foundation show in Sacramento of "Trip Train" and "Stories". Thanks to "bcfaulkner" for filming and putting those up!

01.06.07
-HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-"Description of the Harbor" is mastered and the wheels begin to turn. more details on a release timeframe as soon as possible.

- Our video for "Arthur Machen" is up in a couple of places. it is conspicuously absent here at sicalps.com because i am lazy. meanwhile however, check it here or here.

- We will have an interview/feature in an upcoming (Feb.?/Mar.?) issue of Performer

- the "Semi-Streets" 7-inch is out now on Skulltones.

- "Pleasures and Treasures" is out and in stores, of both brick and internet variety. see your local retailer, or Animal Disguise or MidHeaven mailorder or hey, google it.

- "The Soft Tour in Rough Form" 4-track vinyl EP on Mt St Mtn is still available. Mailorder it online here. Limited to 500 copies. Giddyup.

- are we dominating yet?

12.08.06

-We've just finished mixing our latest release, tentatively titled "The Harbor". We'll be mastering once again with Weasel Walter mid-month and we'll get the production ball rolling ASAP. This will be released on artist Chris Johanson's label and will feature hand screened sleeves of Chris Johanson's cover art. Pressing will be limited, but the exact copy run is unknown at this time. It will feature and 8 minute A-side cover of the Strapping Fieldhands "Description of the Harbor" and a 9-song, 16 minute B-side of Sic Alps originals - all grade A pop gems (natch!). we'll hopefully have some previews up on our listen page sooner than later.

Japanese label 777 was 666 has released the compilation "Hip Hop Shop Sweepers Vol.1", for which we contributed an exclusive track called "Latin". More info here.

Matt's side project THE HOW has a new 7" out on Slumberland Records.

Sic Alps are no longer on MySpace. Too many crappy ads, Madonna videos, and the fine print about them owning your tunes, etc. So we did what any self-respecting band with a website would do and got off of there. Go ahead and throw yourself upon the gears of the corporate machine too why don't you, man?