Rose Polenzani

I’ve been working for the last week on some home recordings for the bonus e.p. I promised to those who donate to the next record at the “highest hopes” level or higher… It’s humbling and fun. I used to work with 4-track machines and cassette tapes, and I still have all those Tascam boxes in the basement, but for this one I’m trying to move into the computer age. It’s daunting! No cassette hiss to smooth out the edges. But I’m finding some beautiful moments when I let my creativity loosen up. I’m my own best yes man in the studio.

And I just wanted to say that your generosity has been so truly amazing and wonderful, and the best takes I’m getting on these songs happen when I imagine that I’m actually saying thank you with the performance. The e.p. will be five songs and totally exclusive to those who donate. Thanks all!!

I’m writing from Q division studios in my lovely town of Somerville, MA, where Matt Malikowski and I are doing final mixes of the new record AND a separate e.p. slated for digital release ahead of the album, which will include gorgeous outtakes from both this record and “When the River Meets the Sea,” including “like a miracle,” which should have been released YEARS ago!

Love to all from Davis Square,
Rose

Okay, so it hasn’t been THAT long, but it feels like a million years when you’re in school again. I can’t wait to get back to the Lizard Lounge with all my friends! Yesterday morning I suffered through an 82 question exam and then I went home, got into my pajamas (1pm, folks), hauled all of my felt out of the basement, and made this video to promote the show. I hope you enjoy! and please feel free to embed or link to this video to get the word out about the show. See you all soon!

This SUB ROSA will feature myself, Dave Godowsky, Margaret Glaspy (both recently moved to NY and returning for the show), Chris O’Brien, Dave Champagne, Jennifer Kimball, Brian Webb, Jess Tardy, Chuck E. Costa, Elana Arian, Joel Ninesling, Austin Nevins, Alastair Moock, Charlie Rose, Andy Santospago, and the amazing Zack Hickman & Billy Beard on bass and drums.
And of course, maybe more! Oh, and a stranger. xo rose

You can buy tickets at Brown Paper Tickets.

Dear friends, fans, and family,

I am going into the studio in August to make my next record! Many singers and musicians from the Sub Rosa crowd are taking part, and the plan is to record live in the studio again. I can’t wait! The album will be engineered by Matt Malikowski (who engineered and mixed “When the River Meets the Sea”).

I am starting a fan campaign to raise money to release the record! This is an opportunity to support the arts directly – the money will go towards paying the musicians who join me in the studio, as well as mastering and duplication costs. And just like NPR, you can donate on many levels. Everyone who donates will get a signed copy of the record well in advance of the release date. People who donate on a major level ($50 or above) will also get an exclusive e.p. of never-before released solo acoustic and demo versions of songs. Here are the details!

1. The “Cornfield” Level – donations of $30 or more
- A signed copy of the record in advance of the release
- public thanks on my website at time of release
- and the knowledge that you helped to make this happen, because every dollar counts!

2. The “highest hopes” level – donations of $50 or more
for this you get:
- A digital download of the bonus e.p!
- 1 signed copy of the record in advance of the release!
- Your name in the thank yous on the record!

3. The “like a miracle” level – donations of $100 and above
for this you get:
- Your name as one of the Executive Producers of the record!
- A physical copy of the BONUS E.P. with handmade artwork!
- A digital download of the bonus e.p.
- 1 signed copy of the record and a digital download of the record in advance of the release!
- My deepest thanks!

If you are not in a position to donate, we will start collecting pre-orders near the release date, so stay tuned. and Thanks!

Click the “donate” button below to support this record! Review the amounts above before you enter your donation amount! I’ll send you an email confirming your donation level and how you would like your name to appear in thanks yous, etc. THANKS!

SUB ROSA, the secret society of Rose Polenzani, friends and strangers is happening this Thursday, May 27th 9:30pm at Lizard Lounge in cambridge, ma, and featuring:

Rose Polenzani, Dave Godowsky, Billy Beard, Dinty Child, Jess Tardy, Amy Correia, David Champagne, Laura Cortese, Andy Santospago, Kimber Ludiker, Antje Duvekot, and and Joe McMahon on the bass. Anais Mitchell may make it to the show this month!

Lizard Lounge is at 1667 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge,
and a 21+ club.

Good evening. I’m so behind the 8-ball on my promotional activities, but it’s only because I’m kind of trying too hard.

Here is another stop-animation advertisement for SUB ROSA – starring Anne Heaton!!!! This Freaky Friday idea is Jess Tardy’s – we are going to cover each other~~!!!! Confirmed guests include: Dinty Child, Katie and David Champagne, Antje Duvekot, Anne Heaton, Neil Cleary, Zack Hickman, Melissa Harper, Jess Tardy, Joel Ninesling, Andy Santospago, and….

Our beloved SUB ROSA contributor MC Mr. Napkins has picked up and moved to Los Angeles – He’s going to be a huge star! He’s going to write all the rap songs for animated sitcoms in 2011, that’s my prediction, or that the Simpsons will create a character of him for their 2010 fall season. OR that he gets his own comedy central special.

Anyway, SUB ROSA has a surprise built into it every month, the “stranger,” booked by beloved Billy Beard. And this month, that surprise was spoiled – I met the “stranger” by accident on Sunday, December 27, at the Fa la la Ferrick show at Club Passim – “Lady Lamb the Beekeeper”, aka Aly Spaltro, who wowed me early on with her indie-sensibility percussion skills and charming half-lisp (I didn’t know yet how exciting her solo stuff was, I’d just met her).

Anyway, Aly wrote a curious and sweet email on facebook in her friend request, and now I realized that it’s lost forever, because I accepted her request… this feeling of missing that bit of information is kind of beautiful, like the passing of sweet moments in real life. She told me about her parakeet, how she was singing “you were drunk” to him because he seemed to like it.

So instead of the stranger being a surprise, I got another one. MC Mr. Napkins made a surprise appearance in “you were drunk” – everyone says, “the look on your face…” about this moment – here it is on youtube – the excitement happens at 2:19, after the solo…

Also, I wrote a new song – despite the names given here, it’s still nameless – we’ll see – the beautiful people of SUB ROSA gave it so much soul – and thanks to Nicole Soriano for the taping!

and my favorites of 2009 – - – - – - – - – -
best movie I saw: Fantastic Mr. Fox
best book I read: “The World To Come” by Dara Horn
best NPR story: on “the Moth” – the story of the home health aide in the home of a klansman
best tv show: Glee
best new album: Bill Callahan’s “Sometimes I wish we were an eagle”

best website: wikipedia, still, after all these years. I even just used it twice while making this list.

vote for me in the 2009 Boston Music Awards!! The awards are held on December 2nd. Voting is easier than ever this year, and also fun–they put youtube videos up on the voting website:

http://www.thebostonmusicawards.com/contests/bma09/vote/

thanks!
rose p