photo by michael j charles

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(NEW!) VIDEOS
PETE WEISS
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News:

Our super-groovy four-song EP "Weisstronauts In Memphis" is finished and available almost-exclusively as a download from iTunes, with a strictly limited (300 hand-numbered copies) pressing CD edition available at Weisstronauts live shows. We've had a lot on our plates lately, and have not yet had a chance to make the limited-run CD available on our "BUY" page. Rest assured, it will be there very soon; in the meantime, simply email Pete to make purchasing arrangements if you just cannot wait. Or visit CDBaby. This little gem was recorded entirely live in historic Ardent Studios (okay, there were a few subsequent overdubs...) during a Memphis stop on our last summer tour. Knob-wizard and pal Jeff Powell handled the recording (and told us some astonishing and hilarious stories about working with the Allman Brothers and Big Star), while mixing was done back at Pete's Verdant Studio in Vermont.

"Instro-tainment," our fourth full length instrumental album is still VERY MUCH available. And, really, it is our masterverk. Sessions at Verdant Studio went swimmingly. A broader-than-ever sonic palette was employed (fake strings? Moog synth? pseudo-operatic female vocals? Yes yes yes.) New song highlights include Kenny Lafler's bossa nova "Caixa Dos Moluscos," George Hall's Eastern European-ska-flavored gem "Seven X's," Jeff Norcross' party-themed "Get It Together," Kevin Quinn's epic farewell to the surf genre "Surf's Down," and Pete Weiss' own farm-rock study "Chicky." Part-time 'Nauts road bassist Doug Yule (ex-Velvet Underground) made it to the sessions and contributed bass and fiddle on a few of the new tunes, including a spontaneous stomp-a-billy version of the Velvets' classic "What Goes On." Album out now on Sool Recordings, purchasable with Paypal on our BUY STUFF page.

Videos! We've been regularly creating and posting Weisstronauts videos on Youtube. At last count, we're up to eight. This particular one was recently "featured" on the Youtube homepage and has racked up 80,000 viewings! More coming soon... Enjoy!

Upcoming shows:

Saturday July 25, 2009
Benefit for Soldier Ride (Wounded Warrior Project), Amagansett NY
A rare outdoor, daytime show for us (and a rare appearance in the Hamptons). We'll play two sets starting around 3pm to wrap up some marathon bike riding for a great cause. Tip: watch for possible celebrity stage walk-ons...

Thursday August 6, 2009
Bangkok Paradise, Salem MA
The 'Nauts return to Salem's newest musical venue, this time in a rare power trio format (Pete, Kenny, and Jeff) and promise to do some vocal numbers as well as possibly invite Ed "Moose" Savage (opening the evening) up on stage for a tune or five.

Saturday, August 29, 2009
private party, southern New Hampshire

Thursday September 10, 2009
TT the Bears, Cambridge MA
CD release party! We celebrate the official release of the limited edition "Weisstronauts in Memphis" EP at historic TT’s. Yes, copies of this scarce and sought after soon-to-be-collectible will be available for purchase. Sharing the night with fellow instro bands Invisible Rays (also releasing a CD that night) and Axemunkee. Nauts go on first, circa 9pm.

Recent Press/Quotes:

"Wish I could play with you guys more often than once in a lifetime. Definitely the most fun I've ever had in a band."
- Doug Yule (ex-Velvet Underground) following the 2006 tour

"You guys were the best thing EVER!"
- Mitch Easter, artist (Let’s Active, Sneakers) & producer (REM, Velvet Crush, Game Theory, Pavement) following a show at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl in New Orleans

"You guys are better than Maiden"
- Paul Logus, producer/engineer (P. Diddy, Pantera, Mary J. Blige, Notorious BIG, the Barnies) stopping by the Rodeo Bar in NYC after an Iron Maiden concert

"You guys were totally way better than Maiden"
- Paul’s friend Sean (no, not Combs) in agreement

"If there’s such a thing as a forward-thinking surf band, Boston’s The Weisstronauts are it. Avoiding the purism that makes so many instrumental retro-fetishists seem redundant, The Weisstronauts combine vintage surf and Nashville chicken-pickin’ with cartoon zaniness and spaghetti Western intrigue. They often recall NRBQ’s offbeat musical humor as much as Link Wray’s reverb-drenched Tarantino fodder."
- Jack Silverman, Nashville Scene

"Please do not disregard my mind-blowing experience caused by your music...The fact that the Weisstronauts didn't exist 25 years ago should be considered an embarrassment to all musicians."
- Brendan Curtis, co-owner/chef, Plough & Stars

The wonderfully-monikered Mojo Flucke recently interviewed Pete for Popdose. They chatted about the new album, the creative process, garage rock, monkeys with fezes, etc. Check it out HERE.

There's a sweet review of the new album on Epinions HERE.

New England Music Scrapbook News interviewed Pete Weiss about the Weisstronauts and Verdant Studio. Interview is HERE, about a third down the page.

Pete Weiss was interviewed by C.C. DiGuardia in Northeast Performer magazine and by John Clarkson in the U.K. webzine Pennyblackmusic.