June 22, 2004

KirkSmith.net -- Issue #3

Issue Three: Time flies when you’re . . .

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IN THIS ISSUE:
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1. Digital Distribution
2. New Gig Calendar Service
3. Upcoming Show
4. New SUDDENLY BRIGHT OUT Review
5. Kirk featured on Austin Music Minute
6. THE DELUGE at Readers’ Theater
7. Some Other Stuff

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1. DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION
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Digital Distribution is in full swing, with more partner companies signing on all the time. Here are the companies carrying our music so far. Not every service has received every album just yet, so if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for try to be patient. We’re pedaling as fast as we can!

Apple iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/
Rhapsody http://www.listen.com/
Sony Connect http://www.sonyconnect.com/
Napster http://www.napster.com/
PureTracks http://www.puretracks.com/
MusicNet http://www.musicnet.com/
AudioLunchbox http://www.audiolunchbox.com/
MusicMatch http://www.musicmatch.com/download/music_intro.htm
Emusic http://www.emusic.com/
BuyMusic http://www.buymusic.com/
NetMusic http://www.netmusic.com
DiscLogic http://www.disclogic.com/
Emepe3.com http://www.emepe3.com/
Etherstream http://www.etherstream.com/
Linspire http://www.linspire.com/
Music4Cents http://www.music4cents.com/
QTRnote http://www.qtrnote.com/
TriaSite http://www.gimmemusic.net/
CatchMusic http://catchmusic.net/catchweb/
Viztas Digital Marketplace http://viztas.com/

COMING SOON:
Digizaar http://www.digizaar.com/
Weed http://www.weedshare.com/

So what’s the skinny anyway? Why would you want buy from one of these companies rather than kirksmith.net? Well, you probably don’t -- unless you only want one or two songs, or if you prefer to buy digital files (MP3) rather than make them from the CDs you already own. Maybe you just don’t like cover-art. That would be weird, but we don’t judge. We want you to have the option to do it however you like. News flash: MP3s don’t sound as good as CDs. But you knew that already, didn’t you? :-)

Best thing about these services, we think, is that they make discovering new music really easy. If you’re not completely satisfied by what you hear on the radio then here’s a place to start. It’s an adventure. Have fun.

It’s still fine to buy SUDDENLY BRIGHT OUT directly from us: http://www.kirksmith.net/store_cds_suddenlybrightout.shtml

Or from CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/kirksmith

Gotta have it today, or just like that Independent Record Store vibe? In Austin, go to Waterloo at 6th & Lamar or Cheapo, 3 blocks up. So far no one’s asking why the record’s not available at the Tupelo Wal-Mart. So we’re not telling.

Records are always available at Kirk’s shows.

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2. NEW GIG CALENDAR SERVICE
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Speaking of shows, it has been brought to our attention recently, repeatedly actually, over the last couple of weeks, that although it is nice to visit the site regularly -- to read the blog and catch up on things, like when Kirk’s playing -- it’s also nice, and rather more convenient, to get a little reminder in the inbox a day or two before the gig.

So, we stayed up all night (just for fun) and then decided to offer you a new service as part of your kirksmith.net subscription. We call it “the day or two in advance of the gig notification service”. It’s free! And you’ll only find it here. It’s opt-in, which means that you’re NOT automatically on it. Not yet. You have to let us know you want it before we let you have it!

But it’s so easy. All you do is send a blank e-mail to: calendar@kirksmith.net. Hit that link right back there and then send. We’ll do the rest. One more chance: calender@kirksmith.net.

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3. UPCOMING SHOW
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If all goes as planned, and it usually does, Kirk will be singing songs from SUDDENLY BRIGHT OUT (and probably DESPAIRS BOOK OF DREAMS AND THE SOMETIMES RADIO) Saturday, July 10th at a party to benefit Austin Script Works. The press release, rich in detail, will be in the next Issue. And you’ll get a reminder in your inbox if you sign up for “the day or two in advance of the gig notification service”. calendar@kirksmith.net.

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4. NEW SUDDENLY BRIGHT OUT REVIEW
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-- Alicia Koledin, AltarNative --

“Kirk Smith's aggressively articulate debut CD reveals that he's not merely another emerging artist from Austin, but one who's already exposed himself and is just waiting for the crowd to gather 'round, staring and pointing. Daring to shun the theatre world by writing music for the masses instead of plays for the pretentious, for which he had recently received wide acclaim, Smith returned to writing what he started with in the first place – music.

While Suddenly Bright Out's assertive opener, "Stop Comets", pays tribute to Smith's hometown with a definitively Austin vibe, this is hardly where his strength lies. He's at his best on more gentle, aura-laden songs like "Suddenly So Bright", where he quite effortlessly accomplishes unfailing vocal clarity over a wide range, and "Anniversary", where tentative chords taunt and tease the listener further inward.

Smith's dramatic lyrical style is consistently compelling, evident of his theatrical experience. His songs offer both the unexpected with the familiar, which makes them powerfully passionate and persuasive, yet still tangibly fragile. But nowhere is his music as sweetly serendipitous as on the last track, "Aloud", a sentimental acoustic ballad that offers up everyman's hidden fears in the simple poetry of, "If I could dance like this aloud."

Listen for yourself at http://www.kirksmith.net/store_cds_suddenlybrightout.shtm

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5. KIRK FEATURED ON AUSTIN MUSIC MINUTE
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With the Austin Music Minute on KUT 90.7 FM, host Teresa Ferguson spotlights Austin’s finest live music talent, both longstanding established acts, as well as up and coming artists. Recent highlights include Explosions in the Sky.

Listen for Kirk the first week of July.

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6. THE DELUGE AT READER’S THEATRE
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Dear Mr. Smith,

I wanted to thank you again for submitting your play, “The Deluge: On the Shoulder of Night”, [it] was Readers’ Theatre’s official selection this season. The reading of your play was followed by a lively discussion of both the dramatic and spiritual issues raised in the piece. Thank you again for helping to make Readers’ Theatre a success.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Schwartz
Readers’ Theatre

Read THE DELUGE here: http://www.kirksmith.net/theater_works_deluge.shtml

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6. SOME OTHER STUFF
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Only 3 posters left! This is the last of an extremely limited edition of 25 pieces by widely collected artist Mig Kokinda. We got 10 last month to sell through the website. Not at shows, not in stores, only through the website. http://www.kirksmith.net/store_posters.shtml

If you’ve got a collector on your gift list, or you owe yourself a little something special, skip the pedicure and snap up one of these bad boys. It will knock you out. Guaranteed.
Remember, each is one of a kind, 16x28, spray paint and stencil. Check out the image at: http://www.kirksmith.net/store_posters.shtml

More Mig poster art and paintings: www.migkokinda.com.

For some reason the soundtrack recording of DESPAIR’S BOOK OF DREAMS AND THE SOMETIMES RADIO is hot again. Seriously. We know, we think it’s strange too. Here’s the link, if you lost your copy and want another: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/despairs

Kirk says this is “going to be [his] DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” We just smiled, nodded, got him a glass of cool water and told him to sit down and relax a spell.

Remember to look in on us at www.kirksmith.net every now and then. And send a site-link to a friend if you think they’d enjoy it. http://www.kirksmith.net/sendsite.shtml.

You’d be surprised how much people appreciate a forward that doesn’t outrage them, or ask them to sign a petition. By all means forward those links too -- but if you want to catch them off guard, use this: http://www.kirksmith.net/sendsite.shtml

Finis.

Thank you.

Love.

Your friends at kirksmith.net