A L A S K A

GREEN MAN

2012-01-31T15:10:00.006-07:00

A hill top stirs far away from here. Mud slides are abundant as the exterior flanks give way and huge chunks of dirt roll to the valley below. The Green Man is stirring from his great year long slumber, and this year we're invited.

Yes, that's right, your friendly neighbourhood surf pop psych rock love sex vamp band are going be setting off on a dangerous and 5 hourish long drive into the deepest and most rugged wilds of Wales. Any kind of beast could run out into the road and write off our automobile. Especially at night. We'll drive in the day then.

The first wave of bands in the line-up for this majestic festival were announced on Monday and we're amongst the talent. Sharing the weekend with headliner FEIST, JONATHAN RICHMAN and a personal favourite of mine, CASS MCCOMBS with many more to be announced.

www.greenman.net

In other news we had a magnificent premiere for our wonderful new video last Friday and performed to a packed out room with support from our good friend and associate Samuel Foxton Welles. It was so awesome I forgot how good it was. You should have been there to remind me. However, if you weren't (or were, as it apparently does warrant repeated watches) you can see the video for free on the internet. For now and ever. ;) @ SFW.

PS. Please visit SAMUEL FOXTON WELLES here and listen to his new masterpiece.
http://music.samuelfoxtonwelles.co.uk/album/five-miles-south

T Shirts

2011-11-30T15:58:00.004-07:00

Behold! The EP cover's Trilateral Quantum Dream Web! Blown up T-Shirt size and printed to be appreciated in all it's intricate glory!

AVAILABLE TO BUY from Thursday the 1st at Paper Dress Vinage's Xmas Shindig (http://www.facebook.com/events/175180059242188/)and in ON THE WALL thereafter.

ARTWORK - Simon Walker
PRINTED by Dots

NEWS

2011-11-25T18:37:00.004-07:00

Hello Hello,

What a massive gap. Almost fell in!

In the three months it's taken me to write a new blog entry so much has happened! Really? Well kind of. YES. Ok, So ...

Point 1.

We are more awesome than ever before. This is TRUE. I have witnessed it my self. Only last Tuesday I was like 'Guys, we are so much better than last week'... The last time I wrote on here was 3 months ago. Imagine that! Think about it! If we're getting more and more awesome week by week, and I assure you, we are, then our trajectory is literally absolutely cosmic. We have a 50 minute set now. I was like "OMFG!" when we timed it. It was crazy. So, for the first time we are cherry picking what songs to play for gigs. This means you get a different experience first time, every time. 60% of the time you get a different experience every time. We played a show last week and didn't even play Reptile. Talk about controversial. Dave was distraught! We've got a gig in Manchester on Sunday and the set is OFF THE HOOK. I'm not even kidding.

Point 2.

Our EP is artworked and tangible and for sale. This is perhaps on a par with, or even better than point 1. The news is exciting because downloading mp3's and/or streaming them on the internet might appear like a worth while endeavor at first. You might think, 'This is great isn't it?' You can be checking your email and browsing information and so on whilst also streaming some hip new stuff on the internet... Wait a minute. Something's wrong.

Tell me, can you actually stream hip artwork? Perhaps you can. But can you FEEL it? I mean literally FEEL the way the wood has been pulped down and the fibers have been knitted together again in a smooth and sensual matt finish? Can you then FEEL the way the ink is eternally bound in a loving coital relationship to this wood-pulp using a space-age technique called 'screen printing'? Can you actually visually see the majestic artwork by Simon Walker with your very own eyes, (and I do mean THE Simon Walker) and not second hand, through a computer's monitor? (Now guys, computers like to think they know best, but they really fucking don't). Sure, you can print off your PDF but that's not the same. It was made by a machine! The ink wasn't pulled across that lovely firm hardened wood-pulp by a steady human hand. It was raped across by some horrible little mechanoid insect with wires in it.

This little package, our debut release, was made entirely by us and the friends we have around us. We have music performed by ALASKA. Music produced by our good friend Lewis Sleeman. Art work drawn by another friend Simon Walker, who I met through other friends Jonny and Joe who run Dots Printhaus. Artwork was screenprinted by Dots Printhaus. A comic strip drawn by Jordan Ramoth of the Black Leaf Company who I was at university with and who, incidentally, quit his job recently. (right on). You see whats going on here? It's a beautiful thing. And YES you read that correctly, there is a comic strip included in the package. It is based around the song Werewolf Women In Tow. How absolutely flipping unbelievable is that shit? Very.

All this can be yours for 3 GBP.

Did I mention all the discs were spray painted by me and Jonny? So every one is individual.

You can get your personalised ALASKA EP at any show until they run out. There are 100 in existence. Some might have been run over. Chewed up by dogs. Literally vanished into the ether. But they started out as a family of 100. And they are slowly but surely setting off on their own individual adventures.

Here is where all involved live. Apart from Si. No one knows where he lives.

http://lewissleeman.wordpress.com/
http://dotsprint.co.uk/
www.blackleafcompany.com

Point 3.

We have completed a music video for our epic-yet-concise, mega-hit-in-the-making "GIRL".

Wow! Each of these points is important and awesome in it's own right! What a great 3 months ey?

The music video was directed and conceived by Stuart Ramsay, and was filmed over two days in various locations around Leeds. It will be shown in public for the first time at the end of January at an amazing "GIRL" premier party featuring ALASKA and some friends. More details to come on that... Ever seen a Vicar get pistol whipped in the face... With a RIFLE?

Until that rolls round you can watch this video from the 360 club, a live performance of that very same pumping-yet-tender love song "GIRL", which unfortunately is proceeded by rather a non-interview. Feel free to skip on forward! Tally HO!

Finally, looking/skipping forward.

-We have a Leeds Gig at the very hip Paper Dress Vintage's XMAS PARTY, which takes place on the 1st of December.

Information at http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=175180059242188

-Dots will be printing some ALASKA t-shirts to sell at this gig, and future gigs, along with the EPs and also some of those ANCIENT ALASKA screen prints we did about a year ago. Only one of those got taken and it turned out it was STOLEN by Dave-bass-player's dad. Still.

-Teaser trailer for the "GIRL" movie experience will be hitting the net at some point soon.

-The "GIRL" Premier itself projected for January. More details to follow.

AND THAT"S ALL THE WEATHER.

njh

POP

2011-08-30T15:39:00.004-06:00

Hello

Whilst various members of ALASKA have been gallivanting around different parts of this graceful spinning EARTH, I, Nicholas, have been hard at work on the forthcoming ALASKA CASSETTE. A collection of demos recorded into my laptop. There will only be 30 of these available and they arrived in the post as blank cassettes earlier this summer (PAH SUMMER). You can find a picture of them in the last post. The idea is that these songs may come to be a part of our bands roster or they may not. They will, however, never be released on another format in their current form. APART FROM THIS ONE!

NEW IN TOWN

A cut from the recording sessions that I would like to share with you.

New In Town (Demo) by ALASKASOUNDS

What's this in the post?

2011-08-02T10:46:00.004-06:00

Here we have a bit of footage from our recent foray back into the world of the 360 club. Its a partial film of 'Ghost In Your Mind' which was filmed from the crowd. I think the quality is clear enough to warrant a post, but the good news is we are expecting a multi-shot video of two of our songs as the performance was filmed by the 360 club, which is expected to surface soon. In the mean time, have a look/listen.

ALSO a reminder of the review of said performance, which can be found here...

http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/15032/

A N D

Look what came in the post? I wonder what we'll do with them...

2011-07-25T11:39:00.000-06:00

LISTEN

2011-07-19T07:27:00.002-06:00

Here you are, you can listen to our complete EP for free here.

GIRL by ALASKASOUNDS

Werewolf Women In Tow by ALASKASOUNDS

Kylie by ALASKASOUNDS

Feel free to get up and dance around your room.

Also we have a review, which can be found over at Leeds Music Scene.

http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/15032/

Anyone want to put us on in a grander setting!?

Ta folks, and Rebecca Atkinson for your kind words.

Another Gig

2011-07-14T08:02:00.003-06:00

We are due to play Planet Leeds on the town centre on the 23rd of JULY. The running order hasn't been announced yet, however we shall keep you posted on any developments. More info can be found here...

http://www.planetleeds.org.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/PlanetLeedsFestival

360 CLUB

2011-06-30T05:20:00.004-06:00

ALASKA have confirmed their triumphant return to THE 360 CLUB at THE LIBRARY PUB on Woodhouse Lane in Leeds. This will take place on FRIDAY the 15th Of July, so by all means come along and hear things like 'GIRL' (featured below) for real and loud.

GIRL

2011-06-28T04:55:00.006-06:00

Here is a taste of the soon to be fully available to everyone on the planet 'Werewolf Women EP'. The 3 track EP was recorded, mixed and mastered by LEWIS SLEEMAN(see earlier posts) and here is the opening track...

G I R L

01 Girl by ALASKASOUNDS

Visit lewis @ http://lewissleeman.wordpress.com/ to pat him on the back

PERSONS OF INTEREST

2011-06-12T09:49:00.002-06:00

NEWS: Recording, New Member, Seacroft Gala

2011-06-11T04:42:00.002-06:00

Hello there,

We would like to announce the completion of 3 track EP, recorded over two days at our own studios by Lewis Sleeman. This music is being mixed by Mr Sleeman as we speak. It will then be artworked and printed and ready for consumption. We shall keep you posted on those matters.

We also would like to formally announce that we have a fourth member, Matt Humphreys has joined us on second guitar and you can see the four piece ALASKA in action at the Seacroft Gala on the 2nd of July. Stage time 1.20pm.

Should be a right lovely day...

Lots of love

REVIEW

2011-03-26T12:46:00.002-06:00

Hello there everyone, Alaska stomped on stage and rocked out on the 18th of march at the 360 club. We had a blast and it seems some other people did too...

http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/14453/

Can Be Found

2011-03-01T01:18:00.003-07:00

At the library pub on the 18th of March, which is a Friday. Tickets are £4 advance can be bought at Jumbo records, or directly from us (alaskasounds@hotmail.co.uk). Or £5 on the door. But be warned! This is a weekly night that regularly sells out because of its awesome sound and line up, so get in there early!

We will also be at The Hop on granary wharfe on the 27th of March which is a sunday. Details to come to light soon I should imagine.

We can now also be found at

www.myspace.com/alaskainleeds

Where you can see extra footage and hear a new song!

Right, I'm off to paris. AU REVOIR!

Its Coming Along

2011-02-01T10:25:00.003-07:00

Footage

2011-01-28T04:53:00.003-07:00

Some mysterious footage has emerged of Alaska's Last Stand of 2010. An entire set infact. Here is a cut from the set. Reptile.

Needless to say that this is a rock song so it should be turned UP.

Hats off to Brendan for pounding the living shit out of that drum kit.

And thanks to Ruth for doing a great job on filming it.

Remember to check the last post for a free download album.

Retrospective

2011-01-26T18:38:00.007-07:00

This time last year I was beginning to write a kind of concept ep/album, or at least, a collection of songs that had a common thematic thread. I recorded a few songs for it at home and at hope house, as demos. Two of which already appear on this blog. We're into 2011 now and the band are in the midst of recording the chosen songs in the studio. I thought it would be nice to put up a free album of some of the demos which didn't make the final cut, or that have no real home right now. We're into the new year so here is a misfits retrospective of 2010, 11 tracks and some artwork I cobbled together today to fit it. Far out. Copy the link into your address bar and download in confidence. Please enjoy.

http://www.mediafire.com/?137gj0xh7qqal3w

R E P T I L E

2011-01-23T06:32:00.003-07:00

At The Fenton

2010-12-21T18:47:00.002-07:00

Photos by the massive ALEX WITT http://wittsphotographyworld.com/

THE FENTON

2010-12-09T06:26:00.003-07:00

Hello, ALASKA will be bringing rock and roll to the Fenton Pub in Leeds on the 15th of December.

Link to google map

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&expIds=17259,27213,27585,27817&xhr=t&q=the+fenton+leeds&cp=11&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

AT NIGHT

2010-11-26T17:08:00.003-07:00

New song. Written and recorded by Nick John Henry between breakfast and lunch on Friday the 26th of November at hope house through a USB mic. Beneath the cloud lies Otley, a thick fog hanging over its head. Who knows what lurks within. Danger, perhaps. Maybe gold. Likely nothing. Could be rock and roll. You can let yourself go, you can take what you see.

At Night by nick john henry

COMA NOCTIS VEHICULUM

2010-10-26T10:35:00.004-06:00

At night he took to road in a pick up truck. Traversing the back roads in the grainy dark looking for answers and rabbits to eat. Sit in a car park, nothing but the sound of the rain on a metal roof.
Nick John Henry - Coma Noctis Vehiculum by nick john henry

Photos From Jupiter

2010-10-26T10:26:00.002-06:00

All PHOTOS OF ALASKA TAKEN BY JAMES WEST http://www.flickr.com/westy1989

HEAR US FEEL US

2010-10-02T13:25:00.003-06:00

You can here some recordings over at www.myspace.com/nickjohnhenry

Baby Jupiter

2010-10-02T12:50:00.001-06:00

Alaska is a rock band performing songs by Nick John Henry.

A new bi-monthly night is starting at a bar named BABY JUPITER in Leeds and ALASKA is playing at the launch night on the 16th of October. It runs from 5-10pm I believe and will feature another 3 or so artists including an acoustic set by TAG-TEAM PREACHER. The band was told it would be a fairly relaxed vibe and to accommodate this as much as possible. We are trying our best. 2 cents an acre.