Life In Technicolor.

Welcome back.
It's been a while, QUITE a while since I've been able to post one of these from the luxury of my MacBook.
After not having it for about four weeks due to its hard drive dying, I finally got it back.
None of my info was able to be saved yet, so I'm still in a bit of a predicament as far as my book goes,...
but I've already got my plan of how to fix all that. (So that's a different story, for a different day)

But, for those wondering, if you've already pre-ordered/ordered my book, don't worry, I'm working as fast as possible to make sure it gets to you as soon as humanly possible. And now that my Mac is back things are going to be moving very very quickly and I'm hoping to have the book off to be published by the middle of this week, and then it will be shipped to you awesomely patient people by the middle of next week. (If you're unaware of my full laptop problems that occurred recently just check my last post on here to catch up on the catastrophe)

Anywayssssssssssss....
that's enough of this broken MacBook talk...
because now it is back and better than ever, and I've got a ton of shit to get caught up on...
but that also means that I've got a ton of really really exciting stuff coming up as well.

One of the exciting things is an idea I had a few months ago.
I'm not sharing any details at all yet, but I'm very fucking stoked about the possibilities of it.
It's looking like it will have a Fall launch...
right now I'm in the beginning stages of getting the legal stuff out of the way,
as well as all the other this and that to get this thing off the ground.

Another exciting thing is the fact that any day now I'm going to be able to finally share a good bit of Summer tour dates with you all for Backseat Goodbye, as well as the official date in which my new album will be available in some quite large chains of retail stores nationwide ;) (just keep your eyes peeled)

Also,
with my MacBook issue and the whole thing coming full circle with it being fixed...
I've decided that I really want to be in touch with all of you more.
So since my iCalendar was completely wiped anyway with the new hard drive,
I'm completely reforming how I divulge my days....
because yeah, I still used to take a good bit of time each day to respond to messages, emails, and comments that were just from fans...
but now I'm going to start taking at least two hours a day to make sure I get in touch with as many people as possible that send me messages and comments and just everything.
I'm basically just re-dedicating myself to making sure you people know how much I do actually give a shit that you listen to my music, read my blogs, etc...

I'm also going to be keeping up with this blog much more often again.

And seriously,
I apologize to anyone that has emailed me, messaged me, or whatever over the last four weeks...
please understand that my only means of internet was through my old Dell laptop (which had its internet plug-in port literally fried by a lightning storm years ago, so I was having to run my internet through USB, which basically made it slower than dial-up)... so it was quite hard for me to respond to anything that wasn't in the very important business email category.

But I'm keeping this post relatively short, and will end it on this note...
The coming months are going to be one hell of a ride for my music, not to mention the other endeavors (my book, and the other new "idea" coming this Fall)....
so as always, I hope you're up for coming along with me.
I've had a hell of a time so far, and couldn't thank all of you enough for sticking with me, whether it be for the last few years, few months, or last few days....
but I can't even begin to tell you how completely in love I am with even just the possibilities of the coming months.

This is going to be a damn great Summer, and as always, I'm much more fond of having someone there to sing along with me...
so if you're up for it, I sure as hell know that I am.

Let's make this Summer one to remember.

Cheers,
Chad

PostScript - If you didn't know, my new album is now available on iTunes via The Militia Group, and you can find it by searching for "Backseat Goodbye" in the iTunes Music Store or by clicking HERE

PostScriptTOO - Also, there are some new shirts available just in time for Summer at my online store @ store.backseatgoodbye.com

After School Special.

Here's an update on my lack of "updates" lately....

Early last week my Macbook's hard drive decided to basically die.
This is a very bad thing for various reasons...
but the main ones being:
- ALL of my important files are on that computer (and I had NOT backed most of them up on my external hard drive)
- By "important files" I actually mean what I'm saying... as all of my Backseat Goodbye demos, a ton of new lyrics, almost all of my poems and writings for my upcoming book.... ALL of that stuff was on that hard drive that died
- Not to mention that I was supposed to send all of my files for my book to the publisher to be printed this week

So here I am.
It's June 3rd.
My book comes out on June 10th.
And it's files aren't even to the printer yet.
Don't forget that my Macbook is still being fixed now.

So I'm basically having to wait until my laptop is fixed and sent back to me before I can send off everything to be printed. Supposedly it's going to be back to me in mint condition by the end of this week.

If all works out like I'm hoping it will,
then I'll actually get my Macbook back by the end of the week and I'll be able to get a rush order in to the publisher and my book will be printed on time still and everything's just peachy.
If not, then obviously the book will be ready a few days late.

So, just in case you've preordered my book,
there's the story. I'm doing everything in my power to make sure it arrives to your hands on time.... but if it's a few days late, then I sincerely apologize.
Hopefully you can understand that there's no way I could have seen this computer problem coming.

From now on I will be backing up every file everyday on my external hard drives...
I know that much.


Other than that,
over the last week I've basically just literally been freaking out about all of the above over and over and over and over again. I've been able to at least get online and keep up with my emails and messages through my BlackBerry, iPod Touch, and my good ol' Dell laptop (it barely works, but it does work nonetheless).

Also.
I recieved the test copy printing of my book a few days ago...
it's basically just a little 34 page preview for me that has allowed me to make sure I like the fonts I used and the cover and everything is printed right.
I haven't let anyone see it yet, other than the cover.

And the more I think about it...
the more scared I am about this release.
"Scared" is a bad word to describe that....
I think I'm just more awkwardly curious as to what people will think of the book.
Because really, no one has seen about 99% of it.
I'm used to testing songs out and letting friends hear them...
but with this, it's completely unseen by anyone but me.
It's a great new feeling actually.


Anyways.
Sorry this post doesn't have photos or anything actually interesting to look at...
I have no way of uploading photos right now since my lovely Macbook is being fixed.

Oh,
by the way,
for those that have been asking,
tomorrow I'll be sharing when you'll be able to get my new album, "Dressed Up Like Dreams", on iTunes....
so lookout for that ;)

- Chad

Strangers In The Night.

I have no clue when I last posted a good long blog, but I know it's at least been over a week and a half...

So here we go.

I've been in Florida since last last Saturday (the 10th).

I was in Destin the 10th through the 14th.

And I was in Orlando the 15th through the 17th.

I went to Destin for just a bit of a vacation with some good friends of mine.

And basically, it was just a grand 'ol time.

(Here's what my luggage for the trip looked like.)

(Ha, Yeah, I packed 24 shirts for a week long trip, so what?)

(Yours truly on the beach, talking about bullshit probably.)

In Destin I basically did a bunch of nothing.

We all went to the beach every day (played volleyball, frisbee, you know, the usual beach stuff).

I saw Iron Man one day during that part, it was suprisingly awesome.

I also managed to buy the new Death Cab For Cutie and Jason Mraz albums (and a new Frank Sinatra collections album).... all are great, except the Death Cab album is just plain phenomenal.

On Thursday I headed down to Orlando for the 2008 Florida Music Festival.

My showcase wasn't until Saturday, so me and usual merch guy, Garrett had a couple of days to do basically more of nothing.

Then, on Saturday, Magic found its way to our lives...

as one of our superawesome Orlando friends took us to damn Disney World!

(In front of Cinderella's badass castle.)

(Yeah, Mickey and I go way back.)

So Disney World was amazing as always (this was my third time going).

The only thing that sucked is that we had to leave by 5 so I could get to my showcase check-in on time.

However, we did manage to get our asses through three parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios) before we had to go.

So anyways.

Backseat Goodbye news?

Yeah, there's a lot of it...

and it's really really really great stuff...

but I can't share it with you quite yet.

I can let you know that soon I will be able to tell you every date of the first part of my Summer tour, and I'll also be able to let you know when my new album will actually be available in a store near you (and also when it will be available on iTunes)   :)

Other than that there's really not much to tell as of late.

Right now I'm just getting things ready for the upcoming tour and the album in-store release.

OH!

I almost forgot since it's been so long.

But the weekend before I left I just happened to get about 75% of the music video for "Technicolor Eyes" shot.

There are still a couple of scenes to go... 

then editing won't take long and so hopefully I'll have that video ready for you by the end of this week.

But yeah, that's pretty much it...

nothing too exciting since I was gone for a week.

I'll leave you with some more photos now.

(My Steamboat Mickey figure I bought at Disney World.)

(My new baby. BlackBerry 8830. I love it oh so much.)

(I have a good bit of unpacking and cleaning to do now.)

So, good day to you and yours.

- Chad

Two post-it notes.

So it's a week before my new album is released...

Needless to say, I'm a busy kid right now.

However, beyond the busy parts of my day, it feels sooooooo good to know that every bit of the album is done, and the first pressing is being made right now, and in a matter of days I'll be getting a visit from the UPS man and then my room will be full of boxes and boxes and boxes of my new album. It's hard to describe the feeling I get when I open up the first box of a new album...

it's just so.... so.....amazing. I really don't what to say other than pour your heart out into something for months on end and then one day you hear a knock on the door and moments later you're opening a box with your finished work in a pretty package.... just waiting to go out to the ears of others. Ahhh, I LOVE it.

So yeah, I'm excited about recieveing that first shipment this week :)

As far as busy goes...

Today I finally started the storyboard for the first actual Backseat Goodbye music video.

(Storyboard. And my To-Do List for today)

If all goes well I hope to get it shot and wrapped up over this coming weekend... and then have the video ready by the 29th.

Ha.

On a side note.

If you're a close friend of mine you know this, but a lot of people don't...

I'm quite the forgetful person... I mean, I'm reaaaaaally good at accidentally forgetting things...

and for the longest time I've been meaning to make BG business cards, and I finally got those made today. Now this really doesn't matter to anyone but me, ha, but I'm just so happy that I finally made some so that I don't feel like a dumbass when people as me for a card.

(Simple and sweet.)

On a personal note.

I bought the most awesome Audrey Hepburn photograph (I've had a crush on that legendary lady for quite some time now) for my wall a couple of days ago.

And now that I'm done recording Dressed Up Like Dreams I was able to rearrange my bedroom so that I can actually manuever around my room, so that's exciting to me as well. Don't worry, I know I'm lame :)

(A bit of my new bedroom layout.)

That's pretty much all I've got for right now.

I'll be posting all of the lyrics from the new album sometime within the next day or two...

I'll also be posting a new song tomorrow on Myspace, I think I'm going to post "The Future Is A Masterpiece" I haven't decided for sure yet...

so be on the lookout for all that if you're interested.

- Chad

And I'll go lie down in the middle of the road.

I didn't realize until about 5 minutes ago that my new album will be released in just a matter of a few days now. 

And wow, to be honest with you I was scared about this album.

See, I've been working on it for the longest I've ever worked on an album, and it's truely evolved from so many different forms. Originally it was going to just be a collection of old songs I've released on previous EPs. Then I decided I didn't like that, I just couldn't cope with making people pay money for an album with songs they already had or could already get on past cds of mine. So then I decided to make half of the album have new songs and half be old songs... then I didn't like that and decided to have most of the album be new songs with just a few old songs.

It was then that the album had 16 tracks, 9 of which were new, and seven that were old.

And in the last two weeks I didn't like that, (and actually this is my first time announcing this) so I decided to put 17 songs on the album, 12 of which are brand new, and 5 that are old.

So now I give you the 110% final tracklisting for my new album, Dressed Up Like Dreams.

1. Swallow The Sun

2. Dressed Up Like Dreams

3. Summer Drive Song

4. Bottom Lips And Fingertips

5. Hello Yellow

6. Song For Audrey

7. Technicolor Eyes

8. Hey (New Version)

9. 32 Ways To Make You Smile (New Version)

10. Calico Kitten

11. Envy The Living

12. Boys, Girls, Sing!

13. Sidewalk Sing Along

14. The Future Is A Masterpiece

15. Reactions Over Resolutions (Acoustic)

16. An Attempt To Forget

17. I Think I Might Change My Name To Tomorrow

And I mentioned a second ago about being "scared" about this album...

well, see... I kind of haven't really let anyone hear the new songs or the new versions of them at all (except for literally 3 people). 

And I can just assure you that some of them are....well...."different" from things I've done before... 

but really, I think that's the most exciting thing about this album for me.

The fact that I'm going out on a limb and trying to really let my music grow is really freeing for me on a personal level.

But yeah, until last night I hadn't really put all the songs together and listened to them as a group, and I think that's what was scaring me the most,.... just the fact that I didn't see how these were going work together on the same album.

But after getting them all together for mastering I can gladly say that I don't know what the fuck I was so scared of. I could NOT be more glad to call this my debut full-length album.

I've never had one of my albums flow this well, these songs all just feel so right together.

I have NEVER been 100% happy with any of my previous releases (for various reasons)...

but with this one I am actually fully comfortable with it.

I could gladly hand the album to anyone and proudly say "Yeah, this is my music, my life."

And I'm not saying this album is perfect at all...

because it's really not...

if you listen close enough in some parts you will definitely be able to hear flaws in guitar riffs or flaws in my voice...

but I'm so so so sooooo fine with that fact.... because this album is an expression of me, my life, my loves, my desires, my hopes, my shortcomings, my hates, my everything.

But yeah, that's all I'll say about that right now, I'm sure I'll pour out a lengthy blog on the release date about my feelings about the about the album and what it means to me and what I hope it will represent for you....

for now, just know that I'm excited for you all to hear it.

Also, you may have noticed (New Version) beside "Hey" and "32 Ways To Make You Smile" in the tracklisting...

if you're a fan of the original versions of those songs don't worry....

these versions aren't far from the originals, I just wanted better recordings of them.

The new version of "Hey" is literally almost exactly the same as the originial, I just redid it to how I've always played it live, which it's just a tiny tiny bit faster, and the guitar riff is a bit different in parts. But I promise, the new version is much prettier and really how I wanted the song to be originally, so I hope you'll take in the new one nicely.

And the new version of "32 Ways To Make You Smile" is exactly the same as the original except I added a nice little "oldies style" solo to it in one part.

Let's see, what else....

Today I'm finishing up Mastering all the songs.

What's Mastering?.... you might ask.

Well, it's basically where you mess with the song's overall volume and frequencies to make sure it will sound good when it comes out of your iPods, laptops, and car speakers.

So yeah, after today the songs will literally be 100% done and ready for your ears.

I plan on making sure you get to hear a good bit of the new songs before the album actually comes out to, so just be on the lookout, because in the next two weeks I'll be posting new song previews like crazy.

Speaking of, if you didn't know, you can hear "Swallow The Sun" now on my myspace (www.myspace.com/backseatgoodbye)

What else...

hmm...

Oh, just a small warning, there's a chance the album's release on iTunes will be a bit delayed (probably just by a week).

I'm still working all that stuff out with the super awesome people at The Militia Group, and we're all just trying to make sure it gets released in the best way possible.

As far as the physical album goes, it will still be available beginning April 29th.

And if you preorder it then your copy will be sent early sometime the week before :)

By the way, you can preorder it now and get a free signed poster and sticker, all for just $8 at my online store at www.downtownrivals.com/store/BackseatGoodbye

That's all I've really got to blog about right now,

I've been too busy working on the post-production of the album for anything super interesting to post now.... 

but the fun stuff (including videos, finally!) and photos and new merch and new songs and all the exciting things that come with releasing a new album will be coming in new blog posts soon!

- Chad

P.S. - I'll be posting ALL of the lyrics from the album soon

P.P.S. - Don't forget to check out the new song "Swallow The Sun" and tell me what you think of it!

I wasn't born to be a skeleton.

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

- From Semisonic's "Closing Time"

We were sitting in a bar in downtown Nashville when that line really hit me for the first time.

The song mentioned above has been one of my favorites of all-time for years now,

but I suppose it just really takes some perspective for certain lines to really hit you.

The funny thing though, is that the line doesn't pertain to me at all right now.

It instead involves two of my closest friends (which is the "We" I referred to earlier).

But that's all I'll say about that subject, if by chance either of them read this I just hope they know that they'll both be alright, no matter how much their mind fucks with them and tells them they won't be. I love you both, and think you both have grown from what you shared over the last couple of years. And to be honest, I think it's going to make you both even more amazing human beings with time.

So anyways.

I ended up alone at The Weakerthans concert in Nashville last night.

And actually, I wasn't sour about being alone at all, despite what my company with me thought as they left. There was really no reason for either of them to say sorry to me, if there's one person that understands the complexity of human relationships and personal needs, it's me.

But yeah, so here's what happened...

I'm standing there in the Exit/In with my 16oz "Champagne of Beer" listening to the open band.

They finish, and I for some reason I felt the need to wash my hands.

So I go to the restroom and do so.

(Keep in mind, that at this point in time I'm a tad bit drunk)

And then I decide to go outside (for what reason, i have no idea)...

and I start walking for a second, and have a sudden realization...

I look down at my hand (where at the beginning of the night the cool doorman gave me a stamp as he took my ticket to get into the show) and sure enough, my dumbass had accidentally washed it off completely.

I hated myself for a minute, decided I was too drunk to stay and wait for The Weakerthans to go on anyway, and headed off to my car.

Ha. So that's my story about how I didn't see The Weakerthans last night.

It's now my favorite, I was a drunk dumbass one time, story.

And here's to many more :)

Anyways.

It's almost April now.

The weather's getting warmer and the Earth is getting brighter again.

It's going to be a great Spring.

(I think it may be time for me to do some laundry.)

It took about a week's worth of listening,

but I finally really really really like the new Panic At The Disco album.

So if you went out and bought it, and didn't like it at first,

please give it a chance, because yeah it's weird not hearing every song be a fast distorted pop song... but once you get over that and just listen to it for what it is you'll realize it's a great album.

And I just have to mention the fact that Counting Crows' new album "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" is my favorite of the year so far. I love it.

Business talk?

Yeah, I've got some business talk now. 

I've finally started making the marketing plans for BG, as well as promotional and street team ideas. I've also been trying to come up with some really interesting contests as well for the new album.

So far I've got a lot of ideas and I'm just filtering through them all now to figure which are good and which are definitely not.

I've also gotten some more work for my book done as well and if you've been keeping up with that on myspace or chadsugg.com then you'll be seeing a ton of new info, previews, and other stuff on that this week.

I'm pretty sure that this April is going to be the busiest month of my life thus far...

and I couldn't be more excited about that.

By the way, in case you didn't know...

I have a daily "blog" now that you can find and follow at chadsblog.tumblr.com

And that is now my newest obsession, and I definitely suggest you get one at Tumblr.com

- Chad

P.S. - By the way...

(Here's the newest BG poster, available now HERE)

The rest will come when it comes along.

Well well well...

so as you may (or may not) know,

this past weekend I played my first shows of 2008.

The first was in Memphis,

I now officially love that town and the people in it.

That was a fucking great show to kick off a year full of shows with.

A big thanks goes out to Won't Look Back Booking, Taylor and Ryan, you guys 'effing rock.

I'm definitely looking forward to heading back down there on tour later this year.

The second was in my hometown, Clarksville....

and it was a house show where I saw a ton of old friends and made some awesome new ones.

A little note to the music industry...

Hi, sorry but music isn't dead, over the weekend I played in two completely different settings in which every person was there simply because they love a little thing called music.

If you think that independent music is dead, then you had better open your eyes, because it's alive as it's ever been and I can assure you that it's all growing in every aspect no matter what your damn internet headlines read.

So to all of you that are skeptic about the state of the music industry today all I have to say is this...

Music is a living and breathing thing,

the people making it are the heart,

the people singing along are the lungs,

we're all still alive and well in perfect harmony and it's a beautiful thing.

So if you think it's all in a decline, then you need to take a step outside of your bedroom door and open your ears, because I'm here to tell you that there are concert halls and living room walls singing louder than they ever have right now.

Ha, hopefully that doesn't sound too bitter,

I'm just tired of hearing so many people say that the future of music is fucked,...

when in all reality it's not fucked, it's just that the people saying that aren't doing it right (or even for the right reasons for that matter).

So, anywayssssssss!

This week I will be completely wrapping up all work on Dressed Up Like Dreams!

I've still got a bit of post production work to do on some songs and a good bit of the artwork to finish, but after Wednesday it will all be done, and then it will be time to get this baby pressed and ready for your eyes and ears :)

Tomorrow a photographer will be coming to my apartment for a quick photoshoot to go along with a feature interview that's going to be in a Nashville paper that I thought I would never ever ever ever ever be featured in, so I'm excited beyond belief to say the least.

Let's see,...What else?

I don't think I have anything that's actually cool to talk about right this second...

but I'll be posting another blog on here later this week, because I'll finally have a bunch of stuff about the new album to share with you all....

so this blog might actually get a bit interesting this week ;)

Au Revior,

Chad