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Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 9, 2009.

THUMP nominated for two INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS

Update #27 · Mar 19, 2013 · comment

Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to announce that THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT "The Universal Thump" has just been nominated for the Independent Music Awards 2012, in two categories: BEST CONCEPT ALBUM and BEST MUSIC PRODUCERS for Adam D Gold and Greta Gertler.

We are extremely honored and grateful to you guys for allowing us to make this record, and to all of the musicians and creative talents involved.

Judges include Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega, Meshell Ndegeocello, Judy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Jonatha Brooke and others. If you'd like to take a minute, you can explore lots of great music on the IMA website and also VOTE FOR US in the Vox Populi section of the Awards for those two categories.

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/2013/12th-annual-independent-music-awards-nominees-announced/

Thanks again, dear Backers.

The Universal Thump XO

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Twin CDs are born!! US and Australian Tour Dates and more.

Update #26 · Jul 9, 2012 · 1 comment

Greetings from Rhinebeck, NY where I am currently at an artists retreat, working on my first musical with Australian collaborator, playwright, Alexandra Collier. So far, the food has been fantastic, but I haven't yet written a single note!

This might be partly because, "The Universal Thump" CDs arrived three days ago and I'm somewhat distracted! After almost four years of working on it, Adam and I picked up the boxes from the manufacturer and brought them back to our place (see pics below).

We are thrilled with how the CDs look and feel! - Dutch artist and musician Sonja Van Hamel did a beautiful job with the artwork and it's printed on velvety matte, reverse board. In these fast-paced, digitally-oriented times, it's sometimes difficult to feel the relevance of a physical 'object' that contains music. But we just love having the CDs in our hands! We seriously can not wait to send them to you! (plus the other rewards) And we hope to press the album on DOUBLE VINYL later this year too.

We are hitting the road extensively in the coming months, in celebration of this release, and would love to see you guys! Here are our upcoming TOUR DATES:

North East USA Mini-Duo Tour

Thursday, July 19 - Green Line Cafe (on Locust), Philadelphia PA

Friday, July 20 - The Pushkin, Greenfield MA, with J. Johnson (National Carpet).

Saturday, July 21 - The Lily Pad, Cambridge MA

Monday, July 23 - Radio Bean, Burlington VT

Thursday, July 26 - Barbes, Brooklyn NY. With special guests Byron Isaacs (Ollabelle), Alec Spiegelman and Kristin Slipp (Cuddle Magic).

AUSTRALIAN RELEASE SHOWS!

PART ONE (Chapters One & Two)

Wednesday, August 29 - BLUE BEAT (Sydney)

Advance tickets available here.

and

PART TWO (Chapters Three & Four)

Saturday, September 1 - CAMELOT (Sydney)

Advance tickets available here (scroll down).

It's been over 2 years since we were last in Australia, and we can't wait to be back there again! At both of these release shows, Adam and I will be joined by Lara Goodridge, Joy Howard, Peter Hollo, David Gertler and other special guests. We'll be playing the album in its entirety, in sequence (all four 'Chapters') plus some newer and older material.

The album will be officially released in the USA on OCTOBER 2. NYC Release Residency to be announced soon.

"ALL THINGS MUST PASS" Concert/Show

As a side-project, Adam and I have also been slowly working on releasing live concert recordings and editing video footage from our George Harrison "All Things Must Pass" 40th Anniversary show at The Bell House. We recently released the first two tracks - 'I Live For You' and 'Beware of Darkness' - featuring special guest vocalists MISSY HIGGINS and SHARA WORDEN (My Brightest Diamond). They are available only on Bandcamp here. All proceeds go to George Harrison's Material World Foundation.

Finally, we also have a new, home-made website - please feel free to check it out: TheUniversalThump.com

THANK YOU, as always, for your ongoing support with this project.

love,

Greta, Adam & The Universal Thump

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'Flora' Single and Video

Update #25 - For backers only · May 8, 2012 · 2 comments

For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.

Spring Thump News (and quite a lot of it)

Update #24 · Mar 20, 2012 · comment

Greetings from Spring-y Sunset Park.

THANK YOU to everyone who has sent us their current postal addresses for delivery of "The Universal Thump" CD and rewards. (We are still waiting for a few people to get back to us... Please keep us posted on where to post :) please send your addresses to gretagertler@gmail.com

We were hoping to have the CDs manufactured and sent to you all by the end of March, however there will be a delay due to various factors. We'll now be pushing delivery back to the end of APRIL (just one more month).

We are extremely sorry about the delay in sending you the CD - thank you, again, for your support and patience. Please email me if you would like an ADVANCE DIGITAL COPY of "The Universal Thump" (the music is 100% finished; we are just still waiting on the artwork). We'd be happy to email that to you this month, and then will send you the CD with artwork, and rewards next month.

We're very excited to be working on the artwork for the album with exquisite Dutch artist and musician, SONJA VAN HAMEL, whom we met at a show in NYC in 2008 and then performed with in Amsterdam in 2009, on our first duo European Tour. If you have a chance to check out her Draw Clip you will see/hear why we feel an affinity for Sonja's work.

Here are the songs that you are in store for soon....(so you can clear some space on your iPods)...

"THE UNIVERSAL THUMP" (Complete Track Listing)

CHAPTER ONE

1. Swimming

2. Grasshoppers

3. Grasshopper's Gold

4. Honey Beat

CHAPTER TWO

5. To the Border (Wild Raspberries)

6. Opening Night

7. Linear Messages

8. Conversation, Not far from the Gowanus Canal

9. The Last Time

CHAPTER THREE

10. Angular Banjos

11. Darkened Sky

12. Ban Melisma

13. Dwell

CHAPTER FOUR

14. Teacher

15. Flora

16. Beitass

17. Snowbird

18. Only an Ocean

OTHER NEWS:

* We recently performed duo in Philadelphia (see pic below, minus the cheese steaks). We opened for NOAM WEINSTEIN for the release of his brilliant new album, 'Clocked' produced by Mike Viola (Candy Butchers). Please check out this song, which pretty much sums up the situation we're dealing with in the USA right now - and this one, which has been receiving much love in radio land.

* Earlier this month, we had a LISTENING PARTY at Barbes! It was really fun and heartening for us to emerge from the recording pit to witness a room full of people listening to the songs we've worked so hard on, for the first time. We also commissioned hand-made whales for everyone, for the occasion (see pic).

* We are on the verge of completing our first MUSIC VIDEO for "FLORA" (attached as an mp3, for you to preview), which we have been working on since November.

* We will be releasing the video at our first band show of the year on SATURDAY, MAY 5 at JOE'S PUB (NYC). This show will also be the premiere of our 'DOUBLE THUMP' ensemble: double drum kits! Adam D Gold and Robert Di Pietro; plus Jonathan Maron (bass), Barney McAll (keys) and special guest, Pete Galub (guitar). I'll be singing and playing piano. Also on the bill are Django Haskins's band, The Old Ceremony. Advance tickets are available here.

* Late this month we'll also commence mixing "The Universal Thump and Friends perform GEORGE HARRISON's 'ALL THINGS MUST PASS'" - a live concert album featuring our 'whale-of-sound' 17 piece band plus special guest vocalists including Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond), Missy Higgins, John Wesley Harding, Rick Moody, Dayna Kurtz and many more. Originally recorded in November 2010 at The Bell House, this was our tribute to the album on the 40th Anniversary of its release.

* For those of you who are familiar with my solo albums, I wanted to let you know that I just put "The Baby That Brought Bad Weather" up on Bandcamp, with full credits and a note about each song. "The Baby" turns 10 next year! I will be adding photos, lyrics and more to the Bandcamp page. Please feel free to share this link with anyone who might like this album:

http://gretagertler.bandcamp.com/album/the-baby-that-brought-bad-weather

* Finally, here is a song I had the honour of singing on called "The Magician" by Lee Feldman, whose "Album No. 4.." will be released soon. I had the pleasure of contributing vocals to it last year.

Ok, I guess that's all for now.

Thanks again for your support and patience. We're almost there!

(p.s. If you have read this far, you are my hero).

love and thanks,

Greta & The Universal Thump xo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Universal-Thump/294748843676 Twitter: @gretagertler

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Please send your postal addresses to....

Update #23 - For backers only · Feb 2, 2012 · comment

For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.

200
Backers
$15,606
pledged of $15,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding period
Sep 23, 2009 - Dec 9, 2009

  • Pledge $15 or more

    44 backers

    THE PYGMY SPERM WHALE: You will receive an advance, digital copy of "The Universal Thump", including extra tracks from the album sessions.

  • Pledge $25 or more

    66 backers

    THE PYGMY RIGHT WHALE: A signed, advance first edition pressing of "The Universal Thump" (ie. a real, tangible CD) plus digital downloads of extra tracks from the album sessions.

  • Pledge $50 or more

    24 backers

    THE COMMON MINKE: A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), plus a Limited Edition SONGBOOK, featuring all the chord charts, lyrics and photos of the making of "The Universal Thump".

  • Pledge $75 or more

    2 backers

    THANKSGIVING SPECIAL - THE UNCOMMONLY HANDSOME MINKE:Same as the Common Minke, but Greta will throw in a personalized THANK YOU SONG (30 seconds or less), which she will leave on your voice mail or answering machine (this offer applies throughout the world.)

  • Pledge $100 or more

    13 backers

    THE BELUGA: A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), a signed copy of Limited Edition SONGBOOK, plus your name will be included in the "THANK YOU" section on the album credits.

  • Pledge $125 or more

    7 backers

    NEW REWARD!!! THE DISORIENTED BABY WHALE (see article below): Specially designed, shoulder-rubbing Universal Thump" T-SHIRT! Plus a signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), a signed copy of Limited Edition SONGBOOK, plus your name will be included in the "THANK YOU" section on the album credits. Article about Baby Whale: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4562632.ece

  • Pledge $200 or more

    10 backers

    THE ORCA: A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), a signed copy of Limited Edition SONGBOOK, plus your name will be included in the "THANK YOU" section on the album credits. Plus, you will receive an original, personalized, HAND DRAWN ALBUM COVER (of a whale, of course) by Greta.

  • Pledge $300 or more

    3 backers

    THE 'FREE WILLY': A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), a signed copy of Limited Edition Songbook, plus your name will be included in the "Thank You" section on the album credits. Plus, you will receive an original, personalized, WATERCOLOUR ALBUM COVER (of a whale) painted by Greta.

  • Pledge $500 or more

    2 backers

    BALAENOPTERA PHYSALUS: (Studio Patron Level). A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), signed Songbook, plus your name will be included in the "Studio Patron" section on the album credits. You will be invited to attend and give feedback on a RECORDING SESSION in Brooklyn, and will likely be enticed to sing backing vocals on a song on the album. Snacks and vocal warm-ups will be provided.

  • Pledge $750 or more

    0 backers

    THE BIG-WINGED NEW ENGLANDER (Backstage Pass): A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), plus your name will be included in the "Studio Patron" section on the album credits. You will receive FREE ACCESS TO ALL GG SHOWS for one year following the official release of "The Universal Thump". If you are not in New York, Greta will send you a care package from NYC, including a Katz's salami, knishes and other delights. (This is a good option for all you Australians.) When Greta tours Australia next, she will alternatively provide Vegemite, Tim Tams and other delights to those in the Northern Hemisphere.

  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    1 backer

    THE RIGHT WHALE: (Executive Producer Level) A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), plus your name will be included in the "Executive Producer" section on the album credits. You will and a guest will receive free access to all Greta Gertler shows for one year following the release of "The Universal Thump". You will be invited to the final listening party for the album, prior to the final mastering session. Cigars and sushi will be provided.

  • Pledge $1,500 or more

    0 backers

    THE HUMPBACK: (Tour Promoter Level) A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), plus your name will be included in the "Executive Producer" section on the album credits. Greta and her band will come to your house and perform "The Universal Thump" live, in its entirety for you and your guests.

  • Pledge $1,750 or more

    0 backers

    THE SPERM WHALE: (Tour Manager) A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), plus your name will be included in the "Executive Producer" section on the album credits. Greta and her band will come to your house and perform "The Universal Thump" live, in its entirety for you and your guests. Greta will also bake you a whale-shaped cake while performing the show at your house.

  • Pledge $2,000 or more

    1 backer

    KRILL BUILDING: A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), plus your name will be included in the "Executive Producer" section on the album credits. Greta will write and record a song specifically for you - this could be a gift for someone close to you, a way to get back at someone, or a chance for you to express whatever you'd like to express through song.

  • Pledge $5,000 or more

    0 backers

    KRILL BUILDING DELUXE: A signed, advance copy of "The Universal Thump" (CD), plus your name will be included in the "Executive Producer" section on the album credits. Greta will write and record a FAMILY ALBUM specifically for you, featuring a song about every member of your immediate family (up to 10 people).

  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    0 backers

    THE NARWHAL: All of the above. Plus a set of steak knives.