Blog About Topspin For Artists Jobs at Topspin

Archive for July, 2008

Ben Harper Offers Tom Freund’s “Collapsible Plans” for $1

By iancr

Tom Freund, http://www.collapsibleplans.com/

I’m just back from a vacation with my wife and baby but the team has been busy back at the homestead (thanks, y’all). A couple things of note:

In the friends-promoting (and producing)-friends department, Ben Harper not only produced the new Tom Freund record, he’s promoting its sale from his site at a limited-time introductory price of a buck-fifty. The record is full of clever songwriting, soulful vocals, and gorgeous instrumentation. Go grab it. You can’t beat the price (unless you’re buying the awesome new Paul Westerberg record from Amazon, which you should).

Also, our friends Jubilee released a new single and video while I was away (both free to anyone who bought the $20 package, of course), just a couple weeks ahead of their European tour and less than two months ahead of the full-length album, which is nearly finished but needs mixing and mastering (and will also be included in the $20 price tag). Travis and Aaron have been by the office regularly playing bits and pieces of it and it’s incredible.

Speaking of Travis Keller and Jubilee — Travis DJs on Thursday nights at Bar Chloe in Santa Monica (2nd Street near Broadway) and a few of us usually post up there for the evening and talk shop. Come on down and say hello. Starting this week we’re going to try a dinner/discussion beforehand. Not sure of the venue yet (though likely Gloria’s papuseria on Venice) — drop an email if you’re interested in attending and we’ll add you if there’s room. There’s always room at Bar Chloe, though, come by anytime 9pm to midnight if you’d like to say hello.

Finally, wanted to welcome the newest additions to the team: Ty White, Tara Brown, and Justin Davis. We are honored to have you among us. Thanks for joining our fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. You have our gratitude.

More fun stuff on the way in August, we’ll update as there’s news. As Robert Wyatt says, stay tuned

UPDATE: Not making it to Bar Chloe tonight, didn’t realize Imaad Wasif’s LA show was tonight. So the new plan is: Gloria’s Cafe on Venice at 7:00pm then to The Smell downtown to see Imaad at 10pm. See you at the show. Buy Imaad’s album here.

ian c rogers
Topspin

Old Friends, New Opportunities

By iancr

Soul Patch, LIVE IN BOULDER 2008!

More than seven years ago, Topspin’s founders Shamal Ranasinghe and Peter Gotcher were introduced to each other by Ryan McIntyre. So to find Topspin working closely with Ryan’s partnership Foundry Group in 2008 feels pretty damn natural. Fateful, even.

We don’t talk publicly about our financing efforts (so save your inquiries, please), but Ryan did such a great job talking about why they’re happy to be in business with us we’d be remiss not to post a link here. Thanks, Ryan, the feeling is 100% mutual. Ditto to Tim at Redpoint. We couldn’t be more excited.

Ryan and fellow Foundry partner and Topspin friend Jason Mendelson play in a band called Soul Patch. On June 21st Soul Patch played their first show in four years in Boulder, Colorado. I told Jason if Topspin and Foundry found themselves partners before the gig, I’d be there. As anyone following my Twitter stream knows, I made the show and was glad I did. They killed. iPhone photo of Jason stepping out from behind the kit for a run at the (moar) cowbell and vocals (second from left) and Ryan shredding the SG, above.

ian c rogers
Topspin

Categories: Misc 3 Comments