Chicago's Lesser Birds of Paradise formed in the winter of 1998
around the beautifully sparse acoustic songs of singer-songwriter
Mark Janka. There are three main guys now: Mark Janka as Mark Janka, Tim Joyce as The Wizard,
and Ben Schulman as The New Guy.
Greg Thomas, known to the Lesser Birds Community as "The Drummer," has retired from the Lesser Birds to move on to other things, including Greg Rhythm's Rhythm Camp for the Young and Old. Their motto is "You bring the passion; we'll provide the rhythm." The Lesser Birds wish him the best of luck in all his endeavors and hope to get gigs as camp counselors at Rhythm Camp in order to better make ends meet between the release of LBoP records.
Video for "Take the Leaves", from Space Between, courtesy of Skylar.
The Bored Love EP Released February 14, 2007
Online-only EP. Download for free.
Space Between Released August 8, 2006
Contraphonic Records 056
The Scenery Released June 23, 2004
Tight Ship Recordings 053104
String of Bees Released March 23, 2004
Contraphonic Records 033
It Isn't The Fall Released May 7, 2002
Loose Thread Recording 009
A Suitable Frame Released July 25, 2000
Loose Thread Recording 002
WHAT THEY SAID "...Based around guitar work so polite you almost forget it's in the room,
every song is a charming, but emotionally driven piece of clever songwriting."
PITCHFORK MEDIA "... Play this for your lady, and she'll be all romanced up." TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING "This album is like a nap in a warm blanket...Lesser Birds Of Paradise
come out of left field to earn my highest recommendation. " NOW WAVE "...Sweet!" EDWARD LIFSON host of "Hello Beautiful!"WHO WEVE PLAYED WITH
American Analog Set, Captain Yonder, Central Falls, Court & Spark, Crooked Fingers, Decibully, the Fruit Bats, Gorky's Zygotic Minci, Micah P. Hinson, Mia Doi Todd, Chris Mills, Odawas, Owen, Places, Radar Brothers, The Wrens, Zincs.
Are you all going to play out anytime in the near future? Obama says your jams would help loosen up the credit markets, would get the banker types to chill the crap out.
I don't know if it's appearing on the page yet, but you can finally hear my metal! The solo sucks though... but I'll be good enough to play it soon I think.
I'm not sure why I'm giving you recommendations really, but I just tried out these new strings and I remember you tried out some new silk steel strings or something like that, so I basically just thought of you.
Anyway, they're call Alchemy Goldbronze by Dean Markley. I like them a lot. They have a really warm sound and a nice feel. I usually use D'addario's but I think I'm going to start using these. You should try them out sometime. And possibly play a show soon with them... (or without)
Eh a lot of metal still. I've been working on soloing lately, and I'm definitely becoming a much better guitarist from all the metal playing. I'm sure you don't know much metal so I won't really name anything other than a decent amount of Metallica and Slayer. Other than that Over the Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin is a really fun song to play on acoustic. And I learned Butterfly by Weezer, but that's pretty easy.
anymore upcoming shows? i miss you guys but i probably can't go on a monday night. although... school is pretty much over for me. but still. schedule more? please?
I used a Boss Loop Station. It's a little red pedal and it was kind of expensive, but definitely worth it. It makes it so much easier to write things with two guitars cause you can play along with it.
I don't know if I'm ready to start a metal band, though. Haha. We should have a little jam session sometime anyway, though.
I was just playing I Envy the Photons, and I thought of you guys. It's been way too long since I've seen you play. I think I'll try to come see you soon.
