Greetings Friends,

It is with great excitement that we announce that we will be sending out your copies of "The Universal Thump" (all four 'Chapters') on CD later this month (February 2012), plus all of your Rewards.

We are currently still figuring out how to release, distribute and promote this album, and have been sending it out to some record labels for consideration. This process might take a while. But THE MUSIC IS 100% FINISHED after over three years of work on it, and we can't wait any longer to share it with you guys, who made it all possible.

Please send us your CURRENT POSTAL ADDRESS as soon as possible. We will be sending you a LIMITED BACKERS-ONLY EDITION of the album, featuring the double-album on a single CD, your own, handcrafted WHALE album cover. You will also receive an accompanying booklet containing the lyrics and full album credits.

At some point in the future, if we manufacture something glossier-looking on CD through a label or other institution, you may redeem your WHALE for this 'slicker' version of the artwork. (The music will be exactly the same on both). Also, we may be taking pre-orders for the VINYL Edition of "The Universal Thump" later this year. We will keep you posted if/when that happens.

We are also working on our first music video & single from the album - FLORA. You guys will be the first to see it.

Thank you, again. We so extremely grateful for and humbled by your ongoing support and patience with this project.

Warm wishes from drizzly Brooklyn,

Greta, Adam & The Universal Thump

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your continued patience and support!  It's been a while since we wrote and we have some significant news.

A few days ago, we mastered "The Universal Thump" with Paul Gold at Salt Mastering in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  We still have one more session planned with him, for minor tweeks (such as changing some of the lengths of time between each song), but basically the musical component of our entire double-album is finished.

Although we can't send it to you just yet, I wanted to share this news with you hot off the press, and convey how grateful and proud I am of everyone - ALL OF US - involved in making this album.

In recent months, we added backing vocals for some songs with special guests Tanya Donnelly (Belly, Throwing Muses, The Breeders), Joy Howard & Lara Goodridge (Peccadillo, Joy & Lara, Fourplay) and Lucy Woodward (Verve). Adam also recorded additional percussion and edited all of the Pro Tools files to prepare for final mixing sessions (one song has 71 tracks). And we mixed the last group of songs with Noah Simon, who also composed a short piece for trinome named "Beitass", which will appear on 'Chapter Four' of the album.

"The Universal Thump" comprises of 18 tracks (14 songs, 4 instrumental compositions), 1.1 hours of music, 669 mb of Wav files, and it's divided into four 'Chapters' (sides, which will hopefully be pressed onto vinyl). I just counted all the people (musicians and engineers) who worked on various recording sessions for this album and it added up to a whopping 66! (Full credits and track listing coming soon). I also counted the gray hairs on my head, and there are 32 more than when we started making this album.  We are planning to throw a BIG party to celebrate the release of "The Universal Thump" sometime in 2012.

BUT first. We still need to figure out artwork, manufacturing, distribution and promotion of this beast. We are hoping to find a whale-pop-loving record label, and are searching for that now.... But whatever happens, we promise to send you your albums and rewards BEFORE the "official release" of the album, so you guys will be the first to hear it.  (I am hoping this will occur by the end of this year, but it may take a little longer to finish the artwork). Meanwhile, this weekend, I am home, drawing and painting whales, making a songbook and preparing other rewards for you guys.  I am enjoying this peaceful time, working on crafts.  

In addition to working on the musical side album, Adam and I have been directing our first music video for one of the songs on it, "Flora". The video stars and was choreographed by Rozz Nash (who was also part of our 40th Anniversary Concert for George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" at The Bell House last year, and who is pregnant with twins!) Recent transplant to NYC from Omaha (Nebraska), cinematographer, Branden Poe, filmed a bunch of friends and their kids (including some of you guys - thank you!) dancing joyously in the sunshine amidst the golden-red trees in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, last weekend. This might have been construed by outsiders as a shoot for a Prozac commercial, except that clearly it wasn't because craft services was a small plastic bag filled with bagels. I am now addicted to making music videos.

I also have some other news about Upcoming Shows and my new venture Goldfish Prize, but I'll get back to drawing and painting now. If you aren't already on our Email List regarding shows and other news, and would like to join, please write to me and I'll keep you posted.

Again I am exceedingly excited and proud and always am (and will be) grateful to you all for your support in making this possible. 

love,

Greta & The Universal Thump

ps. Here is a sneak preview; a song from 'Chapter Four' - "Teacher" - featuring guest vocalist, Lucy Woodward.

Dear Friends,

Hello!  It's been a while.  I hope you are well.  I wanted to keep you posted on "The Universal Thump", lest you thought we had forgotten about you!  It's been quite a busy year and there is a lot to write, so perhaps grab some popcorn or a light snack now, while you continue to read the rest of this email...

Since I last wrote, much music has been percolating and Adam and I have toured (individually and together) quite a bit.  We are now on the verge of finishing the whole double-album.  We will be mixing and mastering the remainder ('Chapter Three' and 'Chapter Four') in the next 6 weeks with Noah Simon, Bryce Goggin (Trout) and Paul Gold (Salt Mastering) and then working on artwork/manufacturing.  Songs on the final two 'Chapters' include: "Darkened Sky", "Envy You", Ban Melisma", "Dwell", "Flora", "Snowbird", "Only an Ocean", "Teacher", and instrumental interludes for tuba and trinome by Adam D Gold and Noah Simon. 

'Chapter Three' will be available in mid-October and we'll be celebrating with a show at BARBES (Brooklyn) on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 (more info below).  You guys will be the first to receive this music, in mastered, digital form.  We will send you each a FREE DOWNLOAD CODE around that date. 

You will also receive the complete double-album on CD (we still believe in CD) plus all of your Backer Rewards by the end of 2011.  (We would ultimately also love to press the album onto four sides of vinyl too). 

I wanted to back track a little now... In May, I toured the West Coast for the first time, visiting LA, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Portland and Medford, Oregon, previewing songs from "The Universal Thump" .  This was a great adventure.  It is indeed beautiful out there in America, beyond the concrete grid, even in Los Angeles.  I now understand where all that great, 70s highway rock came from, as I drove many miles up Highway 101 in my rental car, listening to it. I met up with many amazing musicians along the way including Robert Lloyd (who played mandolin with me at Hotel Cafe), Rebecca Gates (The Spinanes), Rachel Taylor Brown (West Coast piano-singer-songwriter kindred spirit), Jon Dryden (who arranged strings on the album) and more, many of whom sat in with me as I played solo shows.  After driving from my last show in San Francisco one night to Portland for a show the following night, I met up with Adam D Gold (visiting three locations of Stumptown coffee to revive myself along the way) and we did a couple more shows together.  We hope to get back to the West Coast as soon as possible for a follow-up tour.

This Summer we have busy in the studio and not working on our tans at all.  Firstly, we visited Magic Shop (the studio where many of my favourite albums by Suzanne Vega, Jenifer Jackson and many more have been recorded) to re-track three songs with hardcore 'Thump'-ers, Jonathan Maron (bass) and Pete Galub (guitar).  The songs have evolved since we first tracked them almost three years ago, and after much deliberation, we felt we needed to start them all over again, from scratch.  The lovely Kabir Hermon engineered the session.  Earlier in the month, I had been there, honoured to be recording some vocals for Lee Feldman's forthcoming album, and had struck up a very close relationship with their Neumann U67 microphone.  I was eager to visit it again with The Universal Thump. I am really excited about the results of that day.  We captured something much fresher and more vital than had been there previously on those songs, by playing together as a band in this beautiful studio, for this last big session on the album. 

Also this Summer, we were thrilled to work with Lucy Woodward (Verve recording artist) for the first time at Oh Real Yum studios, who sang on "Flora" and "Teacher" and whose voice has made the songs truly sparkle.  Adam also tracked some brilliant interlocking percussion parts on the song "Dwell" .  The history of this song (also known in some circles as "Blow Up the Pokies") continues to unfold.  I am currently attempting to write a short story (or maybe just one very-well-articulated sentence) about it.

In addition to "The Universal Thump", Adam and I have also begun working on our live recording of George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" which Ed Haber and Damon Whittemore recorded beautifully (48-track digital) late last year at our show at The Bell House, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of its release.  The show, which was our first 'Whale-of-Sound' production, featured many of the musicians who have contributed to the album, including Barney McAll (keyboards), Zach Brock (violin), J. Walter Hawkes (trombone), Sean Sonderegger (sax), Byron Isaacs (double bass) and many more.  Adam meticulously arranged parts for the band by listening to the album, staying as true as possible to George Harrison's/Phil Spector's arrangements and production aesthetic.  It was a NYC music miracle that the 17-piece band could all be in the one place at the one time, and pull off this show with only one rehearsal and the soundcheck! 

We were joined by an astonishing array of guest vocalists, who each inhabited their songs stunningly in their own ways.  These singers included Shara Worden, Missy Higgins, Dayna Kurtz, John Wesley Harding, Rick Moody and many more.  It was one of the most moving experiences of my life to be part of the band that night and to feel a great spirit of collective, musical generosity.  We are now thrilled to be working on this audio documentation of the show, combing through the tracks and organizing them.  Again, this is a big project, but one we are loving every moment of.  We look forward to finding a way to release this in 2012, along with the official release of "The Universal Thump".

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Tomorrow night (THURSDAY, AUG 18) at 8pm I will be playing solo on 100 year old Steinway (right near the Steinway Factory!) at Waltz-Astoria (Queens, NYC) at 8pm.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 at BARBES at 10pm: with full band including special guests Kristin Slipp (Cuddle Magic, vocals/glockenspiel) and Cliff Schmitt (bass), plusmy co-Thumper, Adam D Gold (drums/guitar).  Pinataland at 11pm.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 at BARBES at 7pm: 'CHAPTER THREE' Digital Release Show! With special guests - our favourite animal-costumed band in the USA, THE XYLOPHOLKS.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 at THE LIVING ROOM (NYC) at 7pm: THE UNIVERSAL THUMP plus Aussie superstars, KATIE NOONAN and her brother, TY NOONAN.

Also, EVERY SUNDAY in AUGUST, we are hosting SUMMER THUMP! Piano-Centric House Concert Series in Sunset Park.  Rob Schwimmer and Daniel Kelly have played so far; Upcoming performers include Jordan Shapiro, Lee Feldman and Deidre Rodman. Piano-loving kids and adults are welcome.  Cucumber sandwiches are served.  Please email me for more information if you'd like to come along!

Also, hopefully, you have now received your digital versions of 'Chapters One and Two' here on Bandcamp:

http://www.TheUniversalThump.Bandcamp.com

http://www.TheUniversalThumpChapterTwo.Bandcamp.com

Please let me know if you haven't yet received these and would like a FREE DOWNLOAD CODE for either or both.

Ok, I assume you have now run out of popcorn and may need to go.  Thank you for reading this far, for your patience and support.

Love,

Greta & The Universal Thump XO

ps. We did manage to get outside once this Summer on a beautiful, whale-watching night out in Jamaica Bay, Queens.  NPR tracked us down there: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/25/138169328/a-floating-hotel-at-the-edge-of-new-york-city

http://www.TheUniversalThump.com

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your patience with "The Universal Thump". WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU! We vow that the completed double-album - on CD and DIGITAL FORMATS - will be coming to you as soon as we can possibly complete it. Plus ALL ADDITIONAL REWARDS will be fulfilled.

We recently completed 'Chapter Two' of the album, which features the songs "Honey Beat", "To the Border (Wild Raspberries)", "Opening Night" and "The Last Time". This 'Chapter' also comes with a BONUS SONG, "Linear Messages", and HOME-MADE MUSIC VIDEO for "Honey Beat" which we filmed in Prague in early 2009, after missing the plane back to NYC.

Both 'Chapters One and Two' are now available (digitally only) on Bandcamp at these links:

http://www.theuniversalthump.bandcamp.com
http://www.theuniversalthumpchaptertwo.bandcamp.com

If you have NOT received your FREE DOWNLOAD CODE for these songs, please write to me immediately and I will send them to you. Also, if you have not received the bonus materials on 'Chapter Two' but would like them, please write to me and I will send you another code to download them.

Also some VERY EXCITING NEWS. Our song "OPENING NIGHT" from 'Chapter Two' found its way onto NPR 'SONG OF THE DAY' last week (Feb 2, 2011). Because we don't have a record label or publicist for the album yet, this has been particularly meaningful for us. It has enabled us to reach a wider audience, which is extremely heartening as we continue to make this mega-whale-beast-record. We've even ended up on an obscure, Latvian blog! Please feel free to visit and share this link:

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/02/133433143/the-universal-thump-peculiar-exciting-alchemy

Finally, we recently updated our website with help from our friend, Dennis Cronin from Vitamin-D. Please take a look sometime:

http://www.TheUniversalThump.com

(There is also a page dedicated to our 40th Anniversary Concert at The Bell House, for George Harrison's album, "All Things Must Pass" late last year.)

We are so grateful and excited to be working on this album - Thank you, again, for your ongoing support and patience.

We will be in touch again with further developments.

Greta & The Universal Thump

Dear Backers,

Thank you to all the Australian Backers who came out to the shows on our recent Winter tour. For those not familiar with Australian landscapes, I have attached a short video I took on the road between Melbourne and Sydney. We didn't see whales that day. Only cows, alpacas and one wallaby.

We are now back in Brooklyn and looking forward to our only show this Summer at BARBES in Park Slope (http://www.barbesbrooklyn.com) on FRIDAY, JULY 16 at 7pm. Adam and I will be joined by a very special group of musicians: Jonathan Maron (bass) and a string quartet (featuring Maria Jeffers, cello). Sydney folks at the last show we did at Notes, may have some idea of what to expect from this configuration, sonically and costume-wise.... Jonathan and his new project, BROKEN TOY PEOPLE will also be performing a set.

The main reason I am writing (and please forgive me if this doesn't apply to you) is that I hope that you have been able to DOWNLOAD your copy of the "FIRST SPOUT" EP, featuring "Chapter One" of our album, "THE UNIVERSAL THUMP" (which YOU have made possible!) We really want to make sure you have received it, after so generously contributing to this project.

A couple of weeks ago (June 18), I sent you each an email with an individual DOWNLOAD CODE, but I have noticed that quite a few EPs have still not yet been downloaded. This is a reminder that it is waiting for you, and also a general enquiry to make sure that we are providing you with the music in the easiest, most convenient way to receive it. There are basically 4 options:

1. Download "FIRST SPOUT" on Bandcamp, using the Free Download Code I sent you on June 18.

2. The CD version of FIRST SPOUT is available too, with hand-drawn artwork by myself. If you would prefer a copy on CD, please send me your address and I will send you a copy by the end of July.

3. Come to our show on July 16 and pick up your CD there.

4. Wait until the entire album is finished and we will send it to you then!

BUT the Bonus Tracks ("Reckless" and "Martin's Big Night Out") will only be available until the end of July.

Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions/problems with downloading.

If you would like to spread the word about this music to your friends, please feel free to send them here:

http://theuniversalthump.bandcamp.com/

And,

If you would like your very own UNIVERSAL THUMP T-SHIRT, please visit:

http://www.myspace.com/gretagertlermusic

THANK YOU, again, for your support. It's great to finally see "Chapter One" swim off into the distance...

More music and rewards coming soon.

Greta & The Universal Thump Team

Dear Backers,

Today we are among the wallabies!

Tonight we begin our Australian Winter Whale Lovers' Tour, with an "All Request" Show at Raval (http://www.raval.com.au). Adam and I will be playing duo (piano/drums/guitar/vocals), with special guests including good friends Lara Goodridge (violin/vocals) and Peter Hollo (cello) from Peccadillo (see pic) and Fourplay. My very own brother, Dave Gertler, will open the show with his beautiful songs. This promises to be a very intimate, cosy, Wintery, tour kick-off show around the baby grand piano.

ALSO -

We are excited to announce that with your support, we have just finished mastering the first 3 tracks of "The Universal Thump"! These songs will be part of a very limited edition Australian Tour EP called "FIRST SPOUT". The tracks on this EP are:

FIRST SPOUT

THE UNIVERSAL THUMP: Chapter One
1. Swimming
2. Grasshoppers
3. Grasshoppers Gold

BONUS TRACKS:
4. Reckless (by James Reyne, Australian Crawl)
5. Martin's Big Night Out (out take from "Edible Restaurant", by Greta Gertler & The Extroverts)

Complete track information and musician credits coming soon - there are so many incredible musicians involved - but I would first like to thank Noah Simon, Brad Albetta, Mario Viele and Paul Gold who stepped in at the final stages over the past couple of weeks to mix and master these songs in time for this Australian Tour .

THANK YOU to everyone involved, including yourselves, for being part of this "First Spout". The first 3 tracks represent "Chapter One" of "The Universal Thump", and we will be continuing to mix and master the rest of the album incrementally, and will deliver each "Chapter" to you as soon as possible, culminating in the complete album release. We will keep you posted on each stage of the process.

Note to AUSTRALIAN BACKERS - The "First Spout" EP will be available for you to collect at any of the shows (dates below). ALL BACKERS - For those who can't make it to these shows, we will be delivering "First Spout" to you within the next few weeks - either in digital or CD form. We'll be in touch again about this shortly.

AND -
Fresh off the press! - We are really happy to have our first batch of T-shirts (American Apparel) available at shows, which we picked up in Brooklyn on the way to the airport! I designed a special whale for the T-shirts, and they come in mens', womens' and kids' sizes (Maya and Max - my niece and nephew - seem to like them...; see pics). My father said he couldn't believe I'd end up in the schmatta (sp?) business. But I'm thrilled with these t-shirts :) We'll soon have them available online. We are working on the website currently.

Hope to see you at the shows.

Warm wishes from Wintery Sydney,
Greta :)

THE UNIVERSAL THUMP - TOUR DATES
AUSTRALIAN WINTER WHALE LOVERS' TOUR

Tuesday, JUNE 8
RAVAL, Sydney
(http://www.raval.com.au/); support Dave Gertler.
Tickets are now available via raval.com.au!

Saturday, JUNE 12
PRIVATE HOUSE CONCERT
Katoomba, Blue Mountains
(email Greta at gretagertler@gmail.com if you would like to come!)

Monday, JUNE 14
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, Melbourne (http://northcotesocialclub.com/)
Supported by Houlette and A La Fu.
Tickets $10 at the door.

Thursday, JUNE 17
BEACH HOTEL, Byron Bay
(http://www.beachhotel.com.au/)

Sunday, JUNE 20
LIZOTTE’S, Central Coast
(http://www.lizottes.com.au/live/)
Supported by Anabelle Kay
Tickets available at http://www.lizottes.com.au/

Thursday, JUNE 24
NOTES, Sydney (http://noteslive.net.au/)
TOUR EP Release Show with full band including String Quartet, led by Lara Goodridge (Fourplay, Peccadillo).
Supported by Anabelle Kay.
Tickets are available at http://noteslive.net.au/

Hi,

THANK YOU to all of you "Thump" lovers, who have helped to nurture our album. And thank you for your patience. This is really a big album for us. And in the past month, production on the album has escalated, as we have captured the sounds of several large groups of musicians: We have recorded string quartet, french horn, childrens', mens' and ladies' choirs, and a tuba. (See pics from some of these sessions below).

We are on track to have all the sounds recorded by the end of May, ready to be mixed. In addition to working hard to complete the album as soon as possible, we are also working on your Rewards, such as T-shirts, paintings, drawings, songbooks and new songs! AND we will be hitting the road soon, to bring these things to you and play the songs live.

THE UNIVERSAL THUMP will be surfacing from the recording studio TONIGHT (SATURDAY, MAY 15) for our first appearance at 92Y TRIBECA, NYC. With fellow songer-singwriters, Jo Williamson (8pm) & Joseph Blaise (9pm). We play at 9.30pm. Please visit this link for more details:

http://www.92y.org/shop/92Tri_event_detail.asp... 92YTribeca Live at Cafe 92YTribeca888&productid=T-NN0MM02

We are really looking forward to playing new duo piano/drum arrangements of songs. This will be our last NYC show before heading down under. We'll be touring Australia throughout the month of June, starting with an all requests show in Sydney!

THE UNIVERSAL THUMP:
Australian Winter Whale Lovers' Tour, 2010

* Tuesday, JUNE 8: RAVAL, Sydney
TOUR KICK-OFF ALL REQUESTS SHOW!
We will be taking song requests in advance for this show. Please write to me if you have any songs that you'd like to hear, or if you'd like us to dedicate a song to someone in the audience. This includes all songs from previous albums, plus covers if you so desire; Please visit http://www.gretagertler.net MUSIC page for a refresher. (http://www.raval.com.au/); Support TBA.

* Saturday, JUNE 12: PRIVATE HOUSE CONCERT
Katoomba, Blue Mountains
(Please write to me directly if you'd like to come; Seats are very limited!)

* Monday, JUNE 14: NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, Melbourne (http://northcotesocialclub.com/); Supported by Houlette & A La Fu.

* Thursday, JUNE 17: BEACH HOTEL, Byron Bay
(http://www.beachhotel.com.au/)

* Sunday, JUNE 20: LIZOTTE?S, Kincumber
(http://www.lizottes.com.au/live/); Supported by Anabelle Kay

* Thursday, JUNE 24: NOTES, Sydney (http://noteslive.net.au/)
Full-band show featuring String Quartet, led by Lara Goodridge (Fourplay, Peccadillo). Supported by Anabelle Kay.

More information about the Tour coming soon.

Please keep in touch:

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/...

MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/gretagertlermusic

With gratitude,

Greta & The Universal Thump Team xo

Pictured:
String Quartet: Yuki Namata, Marisa Kuney, Beth Meyers, Maria Jeffers.
Childrens' Choir: Naomi Van Pelt, Colette Morea Di Grazia, Leela & Dhara Gebo, Allie & Rachel Ableman, Madeline Paterna, Rosa Lander & Nora Markus.
String arrangers: Noah Simon & Adam D Gold
Ladies' Choir: Serena Jost, Alice Bierhorst, Noe Venable & Clare Muldaur Manchon.
Minke: researching tastes of Australia.

Dear Friends,

I wanted to keep you abreast of the latest developments with the album. We've been busy!

In the past week, we tracked tuba with Matt Stauffer in the mountains near Woodstock and Oren Bloedow (Elysian Fields, Jenifer Jackson, Fela!) played some incredible Gibson electric guitar on two songs - "Wild Raspberries" and "The Last Time".

In the coming few weeks, we will be recording the final tracks for the album - including string quartet, vocals (including a children's choir!), French horn and pedal steel guitar. We are very excited to be reaching this stage in the recording process, and cannot wait to share this album with you. This could all only be happening because of your support - again, thank you.

We've also begun to rehearse and book more shows and there are some listening sessions in the pipeline in Australia, NYC and Europe over the next several months.

In NYC, we hope to see you at our upcoming show:

SATURDAY, MAY 15 - 8pm
THE UNIVERSAL THUMP
(in duo mode: Greta Gertler & Adam D Gold)
92Y Tribeca
http://www.92ytribeca.org
200 Hudson Street, New York - (212) 601-1000
As part of the Resident Noise series; with singer-songwriter, Jo Williamson.

Also, a question for Australian Backers: We would like to host a special, advance Listening Party (or two), for Backers, members of the music industry and other friends. Champagne, cucumber sandwiches and a short film about the 'Making of' the album will be involved, in addition to the music itself. We are currently look for a location for the listening session(s) in Sydney, Melbourne (and possibly other cities, if we can manage it) - Might you have any suggestions? (eg) a recording studio with ample space for people to sit and listen to some songs, or a small music venue where we could have some food, and also screen a short video of scenes from the making of the album? We would very much welcome any suggestions you might have.

Some recent photos are attached for your perusal, including a press shot taken by our friend, Vincent Douglas at Barbes, Brooklyn, where we will be performing on July 16.

More news soon.

Thank you.

Greta & The Universal Thump Team

Hello Friends,

It's been a little while since I last wrote, so please forgive the length and width of this email. For the past few months, I've been holed up in snowy Brooklyn, working on the album and cooking soup (most often, broccoli and cauliflower). But finally it's warming up (the weather, not the soup).. it's time to get out and play.. tonight!

THE UNIVERSAL THUMP
((featuring Greta Gertler & Adam D Gold))
FRIDAY, MARCH 26 - 8.30pm
NORWOOD
241 W 14TH ST, NYC (btwn 7th & 8th Aves)
http://www.norwoodclub.com

Norwood presents Club Australia, featuring a stellar all-Australian line-up of bands:
Second Dan - 11pm
Diamond Cut Lingerie - 10.15pm
Tyrone Noonan band (ex co-lead singer of george) - 9.30pm
The Universal Thump (feat. Greta Gertler Adam D Gold) - 8.45pm

Norwood is a members-only club, but non-members can gain free access on the night with the password "DOWN UNDER". As in, "I come from a land down under where women glow and men chunder.."- oh, poor Colin Hay (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8497433.stm). And yes, I will bring some Vegemite sandwich prizes for Americans with the best Australian accents. Or homesick Australians.

ALBUM PROGRESS REPORT:

Thank you to everyone who has climbed about this whale of an album and shown their support. I know I've said "Thank You" a lot already but I still cannot express enough my gratitude.

Since the success of the Kickstarter fundraising campaign in December, Adam and I have been working extra hard. It's growing into quite a spectacular beast...a cross between a love-sick mermaid and a gigantic Narwhal with a thousand horns, golden teeth and big, googley eyes. I have posted some photos of recent sessions on our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php...

Recent musical contributors include Zach Brock (violin), William 'Beaver' Bausch (drums), Jon Dryden (celeste and electric harpsichord, recorded at Joe McGinty's keyboard lab, Carousel) and Aussie pianist, Barney McAll (Rhodes). Noah Simon (co-producer of "The Baby That Brought Bad Weather") is arranging more strings, and Adam just finished a striking tuba/horn arrangement which we will be recording next weekend on top of a mountain near Woodstock with Matt Stauffer. We will hope to record string quartet in the next few weeks. Minke the kitten is excited about that!

On the administrative side of things, we plan to have tracking of all the instruments and vocals finished by May, but we've already begun reaching out for help distributing THE UNIVERSAL THUMP. As such, we will soon be organizing a series of advance LISTENING SESSIONS in Australia (June), NYC (July) and Europe (August)... Stay tuned for more information about these.

Please Note: As Backers, you will be the first to receive your copy of the album and your rewards for backing, in advance of any 'official' release. We are so excited to be getting closer to sending the album to you.

Those who still wish to show support for THE UNIVERSAL THUMP are welcome to contribute via PAYPAL on my MYSPACE PAGE. We still need to raise additional funds for promotion of the album (eg. publicity, marketing materials, touring costs). The rewards will be the same as for the Kickstarter Backers:

http://www.myspace.com/gretagertlermusic

MORE NEWS:

Thank You to LucidCulture blog for this review of my solo show in January: http://lucidculture.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/small-beast-11810/

Thank You to Pump Audio/Getty Images for choosing "Veselka" (my tuba rock song from the album, "Edible Restaurant") as one of their favourites for March: http://www.gettyimages.com/

Thank You, Animals. "Manhood" (from "The Baby That Brought Bad Weather") was also recently heard on an "Animal Planet" show.

If you would like to put "Veselka" or "Manhood" on your iPod, please send me a note and I will send you a FREE MP3 of these songs.

Warm wishes,
Greta XO

http://www.GretaGertler.net
http://www.Facebook.com/greta.gertler
http://www.Myspace.com/gretagertlermusic

Hello, Happy New Year and Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

I wanted to invite you to my first show of the year tonight in NYC at THE DELANCEY (http://www.thedelancey.com) as part of Paul Wallfisch's Small Beast Series. With Elisa Flynn, Paul Wallfisch and the Kings County Queens. I'll be on at around 9.30pm, solo, singing songs from "Edible Restaurant", "The Baby That Brought Bad Weather" and some new "Thump" tunes. Please join us if you can: MONDAY JAN. 18 - 168 Delancey St (between Clinton & Attorney) 212.254.9920; No cover and 2 for 1 drinks all night.

Also, THANK YOU again for backing "The Universal Thump". It's been a really exciting time since you allowed us to make the goal budget for production! We have been busy in the studio: Jonathan Maron (bass), guitarists - Pete Galub, Matt Munisteri and Clint Newman - plus Rachelle Garniez (accordion), John Ellis (woodwinds, tenor sax), Barney McAll (keys) and Chucky have all contributed beautiful tracks to it since the beginning of the year. Adam D Gold has been recording the whale masterfully, and is now on the road for a couple of weeks in Europe and Israel, playing drums with Gutbucket (http://www.myspace.com/gutbucket).

Meanwhile, I have begun to work on whale drawings & watercolours, T-shirt design, songbooks and other fun rewards for Backers*. And I have also set up a new FACEBOOK Artist Page for THE UNIVERSAL THUMP. This will be the main source of information and feedback for all things "Thump"-related. Please check it out when you can...The link is:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/...

We hope to have the album finished by April, and sending the first, advance copies out to all of you guys. Then we'll be launching the live project with an orchestral show in NYC in the Spring (venue TBA). Shortly after, we'll be touring the West Coast for the first time. Plans for playing in Australia and Europe are also in the pipeline. More news to come!

Yours gratefully,

Greta :)

PS. I'd like you to meet our beautiful new kitten, Minke. (see pic)

"At last the anchor was up, the sails were set, and off we glided. It was a sharp, cold Christmas; and as the short northern day merged into night, we found ourselves almost broad upon the wintry ocean, whose freezing spray cased us in ice, as in polished armor." - Herman Melville, "Moby Dick"

Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays! Thank you so much again for backing “The Universal Thump” and helping us reach our fundraising goal on Kickstarter. I am so grateful and excited that the album will be swimming in early 2010. Currently whirling around in our heads are thoughts about recording string quartet, celeste, pedal steel and choir...We will be keeping you posted as the album progresses!

The Brooklyn Paper wrote a follow-up to their earlier story here:
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/50/32_50_dc_greta_gertler.html...

Due to requests from people who missed the Kickstarter deadline, but are still interested in backing the album, we have set up a PayPal account for Donations here (with the same rewards as on Kickstarter): http://www.Myspace.com/gretagertlermusic
(All further contributions will go towards promoting the album once it's finished - publicity, marketing, touring and more. 5% of these new contributions will go to the World Wildlife Fund.)

Other News: Thanks to everyone who made it to the The Living Room to hear the show on December 7 with a 12-piece band, including horn section and 4 backing vocalists! We had the chance to play several songs from "The Universal Thump", fleshed out to the fullest I've experienced live. I am so thankful to all the members of "The Universal Thump" Team who performed that night. Also, Tom Birchard, owner of Veselka, spoke and presented prizes, such as his fantastic cookbook: http://www.veselka.com/cookbook/ (I highly recommend the potato latke/pancake recipe!)

I also recently had the pleasure of performing Benjamin Britten songs and other beautiful choral music with a group of fellow, NYC-based female singer-songwriters as part of the "Sirens of Brooklyn" Fundraising Concert for WomenforWomen.org at the incredibly beautiful First Unitarian Church (see pic).

A last-minute note about my last gig for this year - TONIGHT! I'm sorry about the late notice - my email program was down for several days. But I hope some of you Brooklynites can make it.

All-Star Holiday House Concert Fundraiser
Saturday, December 19
7:30 pm: doors open - food and drink served
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: music
at the home of Alice, Rob & Dexter Bierhorst Price
587 4th Street, basement entrance
btwn 8th Ave & Prospect Park West
347-266-4253

Performers include:

Sandy Bell (http://www.sandybell.com)
Alice Bierhorst (http://www.beanbagfrog.com)
Jen Clapp (http://www.jenclapp.com/)
Greta Gertler (http://www.gretagertler.net/)
Shante Paradigm (http://shanteparadigm.com/)
Noe Venable (http://www.noevenable.com/)

PLEASE RSVP today if you can make it. Seating is limited.

For those of you who live too far away to attend or have other plans, you can always make a donation online for Women for Women International: http://www.womenforwomen.org

Wishing you all a great, happy, healthy, fun, relaxing, beautiful, inspiring holiday season and all good things for 2010.

With much gratitude,

Greta

Dear Friends,
I just woke up to find that we made the goal this morning!!!!
THANK YOU to everyone for backing this album.
I am so touched and grateful to everyone for this support.
We all did this together. We are going to make a beautiful album.
I feel that this is what I have been working towards for so many years...
BUT...It's not quite over!!! There are still a few hours left for anyone else who might want to be on this whale ride!!! This is the final push for backing.
Anything over the budget will go towards helping to promote the album once it's finished: eg) publicity, marketing, posters... As of now, "The Universal Thump" is a totally independent operation - us (the musicians) and those who want to hear this music. No middle man (or woman). So every little bit of extra support will be going a long way to promoting the album once it's finished. We still have a couple of hours left before the deadline.
Once again - THANK YOU.
"The Universal Thump" is swimming!!!!!!!!!!
Greta :)
& The Universal Thump Team

Hello Friends,

Firstly, THANK YOU to all the backers and WELCOME to those who have most recently climbed aboard this whale. Unfortunately, I have not had time to paint the whale (the water has risen substantially over the past days!!!) but I will be doing so very soon.

We are currently at 64% of the goal and have only 2 days left to go. We will still need to raise around $5,000 by 1pm December 9 (EST), otherwise we will lose ALL of the pledges. I am still optimistic that we can reach our goal in time. However, I now strongly urge you to get in touch with anyone whom you think might be interested in backing "The Universal Thump" and send them to this page. The countdown is on: http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Meanwhile, I will soon be appearing onstage in NYC with an absolutely INCREDIBLE 12-piece band, featuring many members of "The Universal Thump" Team, including horn section (J. Walter Hawkes, Ken Thomson & Sean Sonderegger), organ (Jon Dryden), guitar (Pete Galub), bass (Byron Isaacs), four beautiful backing vocalists (Alice Bierhorst, Serena Jost, Clare Muldaur Manchon & Noe Venable), and drums (chief whale watcher, Adam D Gold). We'll be playing at THE LIVING ROOM tonight - MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 - at 9pm. 154 Ludlow Street. http://www.livingroomny.com.

This will be a FINAL FUNDRAISING EVENT for "The Universal Thump". VESELKA (Ukrainian Diner, East Village) has kindly donated several really cool prizes. Everyone who backs the album tonight will go in the draw to win these prizes and the winners will be announced at the end of the show. I am also offering an additional prize to ALL BACKERS throughout the world - an offer that has no geographical limitation. If we make the goal budget, ALL BACKERS (of any amount) will go into the draw to win "THE NARWAL" rewards (see pledge categories). I'll soon be researching steak knives.

With hope and EXTREME gratitude for your support and encouragement.

We will make a beautiful album soon!

Greta & The Universal Thump Team

Dear Friends,

It's a chilly morning in Brooklyn, after a couple of days of rain. I sit in my kitchen. Yesterday's coffee is heating up. Pro Tools is set up on my laptop and I'm working on some backing vocal ideas for the big show on MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 at The Living Room. New Yorkers - Will you be there? This will be our final fundraising push before the deadline of next WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9. I am so excited to be playing with a 12-piece band! Plus there will be a raffle on the night, with really cool PRIZES from VESELKA! (Please see previous update).

THANK YOU again for backing "The Universal Thump". We are currently at 52% of our goal for funding this album. I am overwhelmingly grateful for your support and encouragement with this album. And I am so inspired by all the musicians who are working on this album with me, and grateful for their support for and participation.

Because we now only have a few days left in which to raise the rest of the funding, and we will receive NONE of the pledges and the album will not be completed unless we reach our goal - I am now asking even more of you, even though you have already been so generous because we basically need to double the pledges within 6 days, otherwise "The Universal Thump" will be stranded.

Do you happen to know anyone - even just one orchestral pop fan, someone who came to a show with you once and liked what they heard, or liked a previous recording of mine - who might like the music we are making, and wish to back this album? If so, would you please help to spread the word by sending them to this Kickstarter page in the next few days?

If we manage to succeed in raising enough pledges by December 9, I have decided to send something extra, along with the album and other rewards to ALL BACKERS - a very special Holiday Gift - "GRETA's SECRET GUIDE TO SURVIVAL IN NEW YORK CITY" (including a book, map and supplies)! I can't reveal more about this but it is something I've been working on for the past 10 years, and it's highly confidential. You guys will be the first and only people in the world to receive this gift if we make it to our goal for the album on December 9! :)

Meanwhile, I passed by this mural yesterday, while I was teaching piano in Park Slope. It is a few doors down from the studio in which we are recording "The Universal Thump". In addition to the show on Monday, my piano students have their big end-of-year Recital this Sunday, December 6 at IBeam Studio (also on 7th Street, Brooklyn) from 2-4pm. I am really proud of how they are all playing! Plus they are writing some cool songs! Please let me know if you'd like to come along.

THANK YOU again, for hopping on the whale and being part of this. Kicking hard for the final push off the island!

Greta & The Universal Thump Team :)