Plans.

Thought I'd give an in-depth heads up for what's in store with Backseat Goodbye for the coming months. 

Right now, this very second, I'm in the middle of giving away my most recent album, Dressed Up Like Dreams, that I released back in Spring/Summer of last year, plus my brand new single I wrote just to keep everyone's ears busy for a while with some new music from me, for absolutely free @ http://freecd.backseatgoodbye.com. If you haven't downloaded those yet, please feel free to!

This weekend I'm playing a showcase at the Florida Music Festival in Orlando, then I'm off to California for a week to visit my good friends E For Explosion while they're in the studio in LA. Next, will be a couple weeks off back home before my June tour begins with Breathe Electric, Mansions, and October Nites.

As for plans after that, I can't really say much right now. I can tell you that over the past few weeks off from tour I've been writing/finishing/demoing songs for my next full-length album. I've got about 10 songs written right now that I'm completely in love with that are ready to go, and I'm trying to get one more written that will complete the disc. There's a gap in between a couple of songs right now that I haven't figured out how to fill yet, but I will eventually, for the first time ever I'm not rushing to write, I'm just letting it happen as it comes to me.

Right now I'm in talks to figure out a schedule to go and record this next album in an actual studio, alongside a producer I'm very very excited to work with, but no finalized plans have been made yet. I'll let you know once I know.

Also, on a side note, I wanted to be clear that the new single I've released, "Summer", will NOT be on the next album. It's literally just a fun song I wanted to release to put some new music out there while I'm in between touring and writing. 

As for what these new songs for this new album are sounding like... and I say this without trying to give the cliche' many artists give with "Oh, these new songs are amazing and are like nothing I've ever done before..." but there are a few songs that are definitely... different, to say the least. I've really tried to take a step forward both lyrically and as a musician to make these new songs more complex that what I've done in the past... in a way that doesn't change the feel of what I do. 

Anyway, I'm getting WAY too in depth about these songs way too early, so I'll stop there. As soon as I hit the studio I'll be setting up a studio blog to let you hear some previews and all that good stuff, but that's all still at least a good month and a half away. I can also say that I'm shooting for a Fall release for my next full-length CD... and I'm pretty confident these new songs will fit really well with that time of year actually, so I'm stoked on that too.

I'll end this "just wanted to catch you up on everything I'm up to" blog with this...

Here's a list of some of the music that's been influencing me a ton on these new songs I've been writing:

John Mayer

R.E.M.

Elvis Presley

Death Cab For Cutie

Fun/The Format

Third Eye Blind

The Beach Boys

Billy Joel

Manchester Orchestra

Counting Crows

Neutral Milk Hotel

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

The Weakerthans

Cheers,

Chad

2009.

Wow. I didn't realize I hadn't posted on this blog since last year.

Anyway,... I'm starting this blog back up again,...

the whole point of this specific one is for my longer posts (you can find my shorter daily blogs over at backseatgoodbye.tumblr.com)

Just giving a heads up that there will be good things here soon :)

Cheers,

Chad

a new outlook.

A recent review of my debut full length album Dressed Up Like Dreams brought to my attention something that even myself neglected to notice...
yes, this album was supposed to be my debut full-length,
but the truth is, it's really not.
If you've been a fan of my music for any span of time over a few months then you know that half of the songs on this album have already been released on past EPs of mine.

The review stated that the album drags on, and the songs don't really mix well together. The truth is, I completely agree. I mean, yeah, I'm proud of the cd, it's a good compilation of some of my favorite songs of mine... however, it's definitely not an album of songs written to live and breathe together as somewhat of a soundtrack. A true album should fit perfectly together and flow from start to finish.

The album was put together for a number of reasons. The main one was simply to have a collection of songs available on a cd of mine that would actually be available in stores (because many people tell me that they can't, or don't like to, shop online). And now that I think of it, that's an alright reason to release an album, but it's definitely not the best reason to.

The truth is, when you look at it, some of the songs on this album are over two years old. I've grown quite a lot musically in the past two years. I will never claim to have unsurmountable talent or wisdom when it comes to writing music, however I do believe my "musical horizons" have definitely expanded. I used to try and write and somewhat stay in a safe little box, never really straying from my normal writing style. These days, I'm at a point where I'm actually trying to stray away from writing the same song over and over again. I mean, there's definitely nothing to worry about, the new songs and demos I have so far are definitely recognizable as Backseat Goodbye songs. I'm still writing them for the same reason, because I truly love bringing new music into the world.

One thing I always notice in reviews of my cds, is that everyone says I have this "potential". A potential to do something great with my music, and for some reason I'm onto something, but I just haven't found all of it quite yet. Well, the truth is, I think I've found it.

None of this may make any sense to anyone but me, but I just wanted to say this:
In 2009, I'm going to be writing and recording a new full length album, and I'm giving my word that it will not let any of my fans, critics, or myself down. I'm not saying I'm going to give you a genre-altering masterpiece, or anything like that, however, I will be dedicating myself to write and record the absolute best collection of songs my mind and body can create.

And all of this is definitely something I'm sharing wayyyyy beforehand, because as of now I have no set plans for when I'm going to actually sit down to write and record this album (granted I already have a bunch of demos ready to sort through for it), but I just wanted to let you all that care enough to read when I post seemingly meaningless rants like this know that I'm not going to let you down at all with this next album.

You will be the first to know when I'm getting ready to actually fully write this new album and record it.

Until then, you can be your own judge on Dressed Up Like Dreams, it's available on iTunes, at my online store, and at select Hot Topic stores nationwide.

- Chad

P.S. - You can see the album review I'm referring to HERE, and I want to make sure to note, that I like the review, and really appreciate Bradley taking the time to review the album.

Singing In The Rain.

It's raining here in TN today,
and I'm still surprised that it's already October.

I'm sitting in my "temporary office",
which is actually just my kitchen table until I enough time off from tour to go buy a desk for my bedroom here in the new house.
Right now, I've got Lenka's new cd coming through my stereo speakers,
and I think it's going to be a good Fall/Winter album to listen to, pretty much daily.

Anyway.
How about an update?

Let's see.
First off, there's good news and one bit of bad news (that actually is good in a way)...
it involves my October/November tour.
So, my October/November tour with Jimmy Robbins has been pushed back a couple of weeks (that's the bad news).
And actually, this isn't bad news at all, because it actually gives me extra time to really get ready for the tour :)
The tour is still going to be the same length,
but it had to be pushed back a bit due to booking reasons.
So yeah, this does mean you (and not to mention, I) have to wait a bit longer for the actual dates announcement, but when it comes this time it's going to be a full list of about 30 dates :)
And that tour is going to start on October 27th now,
so just expect the dates to be announced somewhere around two weeks from now.

Also, I have a two week December tour I'm doing with Vanessa Rose,
and you can actually see the first couple of dates for that now up on my websites ;)

In other news...
if you've been a fan of mine for a while now,
you might recall how I usually release a new holiday album every year...
well, it's about that time of the year where I've started thinking about that.
And the good thing is, usually I don't plan this out until about literally the last week of November,...
but I'm starting early this year to work up some really special stuff for a super special holiday release this year that will totally kick my past holiday albums' asses.
That's all I will say about that right now,
but just be on the lookout around the middle of November for more news on that ;)

Hmm...
what else?
Oh! In case you didn't know,
since I haven't been able to update this monthly blog as much,
I've finally started a daily Backseat Goodbye blog over at Tumblr...
so you should feel free to check that out @ backseatgoodbye.tumblr.com.

I'm also working on a new BackseatGoodbye.com that doesn't suck...
and will finally be 110% functional,...
full of photos, all of my tour info you could ever need, new guitar tabs, and many many many other special things.
I'm hoping to launch that pretty soon :)

Also,
be on the lookout for new BG merch over at backseatgoodbye.storenvy.com soon, too!
I've got a TON of new merch ideas getting put into motion for the coming colder weather to keep you warm ;)
And actually, I'm planning on doing a special thing soon where you all will get to decide which new shirt, hoodie, tote bag, and other merch designs will actually be available for the new Fall/Winter BG Merch Line Launch :)


I'm pretty sure that's all I've got for right now, as far as BG stuff goes.

In other news for myself,
I've really started writing a bunch more for my next poetry book,
and I really like how it's coming along so far.
By the way, my first poetry book is now finally back in stock over at chadsugg.storenvy.com.


And in personal news,
I'm glad to say I'm alive again,
and am very lucky to have a lady in my life.
Many people that have found this out already have been asking if they could look forward to some new BG love songs in the works,...
and the answer to that is, yes ;)
I'll actually be posting a new song later this week in the light of that likeness.


I'm off for now though,
a lot of stuff to work on for the upcoming tours!

Cheers,
Chad

P.S. - For those who are weird like me and like to know what other people are up to, I have a Twitter that you can follow now at twitter.com/backseatgoodbye ;)

Purely Decorative.

And.....go.

(After show in Rhode Island)

Backseat Goodbye Summer Tour 2008.
The above words form into an experience that is officially wrapped up in the Past now.
It was the longest tour I've ever done.
It was the best tour I've ever done.
It was amazing at times.
It was frustrating at times.
It was all-together unforgettable.

I traveled through more states last month than I had in my entire life.
I saw New York City for the first time.
I met an overwhelming amount of great people.
I ate more Burger King than you probably have in your whole life.
I went ghost hunting at Gettsburg Battlefield.
I lost my glasses in a scary Louisville hotel.
I saw a giant Superman statue in Indiana.
I did a lot, and I could go on for a while with this stuff, but I'll stop there.

All in all, the tour was great....
my throat is sore from so many shows so quick,
but other than that I'm good to go.

(Note to self: Find vocal warm-up lessons so throat doesn't die on next tour)

I've posted a video (and may post more later) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfLyayUZmMQ where you can see me and the other guys (Marshall of Ladybug Landslide, and our tour manager, Zach) on the tour rocking out in 3D glasses to Ghostbusters in the car, in order to prove how lame we are when we get bored on tour.

I suppose that's it for now.
I just wanted to check in and give a recap of the tour.
I'm back home in Murfreesboro for a couple of weeks,
so I'll be sure to keep up with this blog much better now.
And in case you didn't know, I do have a daily blog over at chadsugg.tumblr.com

Also,
for those wondering why my new album isn't available in your local Hot Topic store,
no worries, I'm going to have a solution for you very very soon....
for those who went out and got a copy of the album when it arrived in Hot Topic, I'll be posting the info on how you can get your free two unreleased songs and video literally this week.

By the way,
my book has been sold out at my CS online store for a little while now,
if you've been wanting a copy I'll be posting a new link where you'll be able to order the book soon.

And last but not least,
I've got a new venture I'm working on, for an idea I've had for a while now,
so be on the lookout for that, too ;)

To wrap this up I'll leave you with some photos from the tour :)

Cheers,
Chad

(Guitar cases and my new Spider-Man backpack)


(The Kansas City crowd during my set.)


(Rainy drive in St. Louis)


(Superman and I.)


(On the road somewhere.)


(Interstate adventures with Cleveland the tour giraffe.)


(The car was 'effing packed to the brim.)


(My keychain collection halfway through.)


(Night off in NY.)


(GA merch table.)


(Couldn't live without these things.)


(Louisville sidewalk.)


(Travel arrangements, my car, the ever-lovely Roxy.)


(Lame license plates on strangers' cars are always nice.)


(Until next time.)

Idol Times.

Over the span of my life so far I've looked up to many different faces for inspiration, strength, guidance, hope, and countless other things.
When I was younger, before my musical endeavors as Backseat Goodbye, hockey was my thing.
I was an aspiring goaltender, and looked up to such National Hockey League greats as Patrick Roy, Martin Broudeur, and Mike Richter.

Now, I find myself in a new world as a 22 year-old kid that's completely in love with a girl named music.
I look up to many more humans for inspiration now, which consist of an amazing variety of musicians,...
to name a few: Bright Eyes, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jack Johnson, Frank Sinatra, The Mountain Goats, Cat Power, Tilly & The Wall, The Format, and John Mayer.

From a number of those bands/artists, I've became amazed by a select few that make up those groups.
Take Conor Oberst, for example... the ringleader of my favorite band, Bright Eyes.
The man has accomplished so much, and he's done so in a completely independent perspective.
What he's done as a whole is something I've always been in awe of.
Yesterday I was reading an interview on Blender.com that was done with Conor last week.
My eyebrows were raised to the fact that Conor was 22 when he released the album that basically broke him into the Indie mainstream, "Lifted".

After reading that I got even more excited about the point I'm at in my life right now.
Sure, I've been living quite comfortably from my music over the last two years,...
but I'm at a point where things are happening in much larger scales, much quicker.
Though no one really knows about all that's about to happen with my Backseat Goodbye, other than a handful of people,...
there are some literally HUGE things that are going to occur.

I've always been blown away by the fact that I've become able to do what I love for a living,
but there are things happening as of late that really just blow my mind.
It's going to be an exciting rest of 2008...
and I can't even begin to fathom what 2009 is going to hold.

ANYWAYS....
that's not the point of this post,...
so back to where I was originally going with all of this.

I'm a frequent reader of John Mayer's blog.
The guy has always been interesting to me, not only as a musician,
but as a normal dude.
I've been a huge fan of his for years now,
but today I realized I look up to him even more-so than I thought.
I mean, he's a nice guy, doing what he loves, and helping the world along the way.

I get asked a certain question a lot in interviews,
it usually goes something like, "Who are your favorite artists? And what people inspire you as an artist?"
To me, that's a very personal and big question.
I could chime on for hours about how certain songs and artists have completely changed my life with one lyric.
But in interviews you're expected to give a truthful, yet somewhat concise answer.
And that's completely cool with me.
Anyways,...
I usually always just throw one name in there as far as single people I look to for inspiration,...
and that's Conor Oberst.
But I decided today, that John Mayer is now a second name for that list.

I can only hope that one day I'll be able to do things as level-headed and awesome as him on the same large scale.

It may be seen as childish to still have idols at my age,
but if you were to ask me, I would say it's childish NOT to have idols at any given point in your entire life.

- Chad

the book is finished!

So...
I finally get to make this post.
What post?... you ask.

Well,
the one where I get to say my book is finally finished.

Wow. What a relief!
After all the crap that's happened that delayed the release,
it's finally off to be published, printed, and ready to read!

Due to me losing about 60 poems that were going to go in the book when my last hard drive died I had to work my ass off to write, and I was worried about even being able to get the back up to half of what it was at the beginning.
But I can gladly say that when I sent it for print, it ended with 96 pages total.
So, despite having half the book ripped from my hands and lost with my old hard drive,
I still fought back and managed jusssssst under 100 pages (which was my original goal.)

And really,
I was super scared about this book.
I really really really didn't think I was going to be happy with the final product,
and I was just plain worried as hell, up until last night.

After I finally arranged all the poems and everything, and looked at it all together as a whole...
I really felt (and feel) like I have made something that people just might like a bit :)

I still have a bit of a reserve in the back of my head that's wondering what the hell people are going to think of it...
because literally NO ONE has seen the book or even read a full page from it.
So, it's kind of a big leap I feel like I'm taking...
but I think it will be recieved quite well.
I suppose I'll find out soon enough!

And who knows,
maybe everyone will hate it.

Like I said, we'll see.

By the way, if you don't know what the hell I'm talking about...
I've got a book coming out next week,
it's called Monsters Under Your Head, and it's a poetry book.
For now it's ONLY available at store.chadsugg.com,
but it will hopefully be available in select retail stores soon (I'm working on that part).

As far as Backseat Goodbye news goes,...
tour dates coming SOON (I PROMISE!!!!!)....
new website coming soon,
new merch coming soon,
and a lovely huge announcement about my new album Dressed Up Like Dreams coming soon, as well.
:)




Oh,
also...
I've got a bit of a preview of the book for you...
if you go over to my Tumblr @ chadsugg.tumblr.com you can see a sneak peak of a few pages from the book ;)


That's all for today,
Hope all is well for you and yours.

- Chad