About this project
Greetings, Hawks friends, family, and tribal affiliates! We just finished tracking 13 brand new songs for our upcoming release "NEW KIND OF LONELY."
We've always wanted to make an all acoustic live recording, and this time we did it. We resisted the siren call of the pedal steel and the telecaster. We sat in a circle at Marc Doten's studio and captured our two guitars, upright & P-bass, and Rob Waller's lead vocals, on exotic microphones into lovely preamps.
The sound is crystalline, and the performances have the intensity of working without a net, like the good old days. No fixes possible! Cliff Wagner came by for some kickass bluegrass banjo, Dave Raven played some snare drum, Gabe Witcher played fiddle, we added a little dobro and background vocals, and we're done!
And now we need you to make this happen! As independent artists in the digital era, we're calling on the support of our musical family. It takes dough for recording, mixing, mastering, manufacturing, and getting our music out to the world. So we're offering you some rare and fun premiums to thank you for your pledge. The drive ends December 7, so think of the Hawks for your holiday gift giving!
Looking through our archives (boxes) for thank you items has turned into an opportunity to revisit our past. We've pored through dozens of live show recordings for our digital download offering, and we're reminded that we have indeed had some good and foolish times. The Hawks tribe has been feisty and full of affection from the very beginning.
We hope you can join us!
Here's a more detailed look at the digital download packages:
LIVE HAWKS TREASURES: a wild night at Coles downtown 2005, with Brantley Kearns in rare form; electric show at the Grand Old Echo 2010, with Tony Gilkyson and Christina Ortega; KXLU radio show, 2004, with Amy Farris; acoustic show at The Palms with Rick Shea; live on KUT radio, Austin, 2006; live on KRSH in Sonoma, fending off a hostile anti-L.A. DJ with subtle wit if we do say so ourselves; live on the Nixon Tapes, KPFK, 2001, the original incarnation of the band. Over 50 songs!
HAWKS STUDIO RARITIES: the original David Jackson recording in 2000 of "Baby"; the original "Humboldt" from 2002, with different lyrics, jawharp, Tuvan throat singing, autoharp, and frame drum; alternate mixes of past album tracks by Dave Trumfio, Gabe Shepard, and Vic Koler, quite different from the album versions; instrumental themes from Cattle Ranching, a History Channel show we scored in 2003; collaboration with #1 French country artist Eddy Mitchell; remix of "Keep It In A Bottle" by hip hop mixer Gabriel; and finally, HAWKS KARAOKE, 10 songs from our CDs, minus vocals, be your own living room Rob Waller!
FAQ
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 7.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Digital download of NEW KIND OF LONELY, 13 songs, your choice of high quality audio format, two weeks before official release date
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
NEW KIND OF LONELY CD, signed by the Hawks and delivered 2 weeks before release date, PLUS Hawks merit badge
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Both $15 rewards, PLUS your choice of one of our past classic CDs: EPONYMOUS, GRAPEVINE, CALIFORNIA COUNTRY, OR HALLOWED GROUND, PLUS your name in the CD THANK YOU CREDITS
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
All the $25 rewards, PLUS digital download of HAWKS STUDIO RARITIES (30+ songs, versions you've never heard, see "About This Project" for details), access code on beautiful hand printed card signed by the band
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
All the $25 rewards PLUS: digital download of LIVE HAWKS TREASURES (50+ songs from acoustic and electric live shows, see "About This Project" for details), access code is on beautiful hand printed card signed by the band
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
For that holiday gift season, five NEW KIND OF LONELY CDs for $50, we'll sign one of them for you or more if you request. Since the CD probably won't be manufactured by Xmas, we'll print a small IOU card at your request
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
All the $40 rewards (including CDs & patch, your choice of downloads--LIVE or RARITIES), PLUS: original 2001 design, hand screened HAWKS T-SHIRT in your size
Pledge $70 or more Pledge $70 or more
All the $40 rewards (including CDs & patch, BOTH downloads--LIVE and RARITIES!), PLUS: original 2001 design, hand screened HAWKS T-SHIRT in your size
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
All the $60 rewards, PLUS: Past Lives: a treasure trove of CDs, LPs and cassettes from our individual musical pasts and presents: Paul Marshall solo, The Bonedaddys, Rotondi, The Apple Pork Four, The Magic Of Television, Mountain Pony, Hollow Log, Goin’ South Band, Earthworm Ensemble
Pledge $99 or more Pledge $99 or more
For that holiday gift season, eleven, yes, eleven NEW KIND OF LONELY CDs for $99, we'll sign one of them for you or more if you request. Since the CD probably won't be manufactured by Xmas, we'll print a small IOU card at your request
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
All of the $70 pledge goodies, PLUS: a never before seen DVD of Paul Lacques’s ill fated History Channel mini-show, “Logger Paul.” Fifteen episodes of Paul introducing very odd clips from the National Archives vaults, such as Mussolini’s son’s appearance on Little Rascals after dropping bombs on Ethiopian rebels, Nixon getting attacked by mobs in Venezuela, a 1939 Hitler claymation, of course--with lots of acerbic commentary by our host. (The show was ready to air on the History Channel, the contracts were signed, when some executive in New York said, “No way.” Far too strange for prime time, but available now to you)
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Advance CD signed by the Hawks, PLUS: original HAND MADE LETTER PRESS PRINT made for the Hallowed Ground CD by Victoria Jacobs and Paul Lacques. Only 60 of these were printed on a big iron 1910 press in Pasadena. Signed by Victoria and the Hawks
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
All the $70 rewards plus a HIGHLAND PARK PROGRESSIVE DINNER for you and a guest. We Hawks and our lovely spouses will serve cocktails and appetizers at one Hawks Figueroa-adjacent house and the main course and dessert at the other. Join two to four other couples/trios/singles for a great night of libation and conversation, and we'll play a few songs too. At your request, Katie Waller will reprise dishes from her award winning Highland Park restaurant The Gutter
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All the $70 rewards PLUS an ORGANIC GARDEN SOIL WORKSHOP with Hawks guitarist Paul Lacques: he'll show you how to terrace your garden and make fantastic soil using the sheet mulch method. The afternoon includes a trip to an Echo Park stable for free horse manure and leaf mulch. Grow the best tomatoes you'll ever taste!
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All the $70 rewards PLUS an AFTERNOON OF WEAPONS TRAINING AND TARGET SHOOTING with Hawks Libertarian bassist Paul Marshall, at a bucolic San Gabriel foothills shooting range. Guns and ammo provided
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All the $70 rewards, PLUS we'll handwrite all the lyrics to the songs on NEW KIND OF LONELY, with a personal note to you
Pledge $350 or more Pledge $350 or more
All the $70 rewards PLUS the Hawks will write and record a song on a topic/theme of YOUR CHOOSING, and you'll be credited as a songwriter! It might even show up on our next recording
Pledge $700 or more Pledge $700 or more
All the $70 rewards, plus an all acoustic (no mics!) intimate performance in your back yard or living room, invite all your friends! (plus travel expenses if outside L.A. County)
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
All the $70 rewards, plus an electric show at the venue or house of your choice. We bring the P.A.! (plus travel expenses if outside L.A. County)
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I See Hawks in L.A. were spoken into existence in 1999 by Rob Waller and brothers Paul and Anthony Lacques during a philosophical discussion and rock throwing session on an East Mojave desert trek. The Hawks wrote their first batch of songs and then sought advice from local country rock guru David Jackson, bassist with John Denver, Dillard and Clark, and Emmylou Harris.
Jackson set up a few mics and recorded Rob and Paul, adding his own melodic bass lines. This demo turned into featured songs on the Hawks eponymous debut, featuring legendary fiddler Brantley Kearns (Dwight Yoakam, Dave Alvin, Hazel Dickens). The CD established the Hawks signature sound: high lonesome three part harmonies, twang guitar and unadorned acoustic arrangements, with lyrics musing on mortality, whales, and the geography of pre-apocalyptic L.A.
ISHILA received rave reviews, made the F.A.R. Alternative Country Chart, and continues to get regular airplay. With its experimental spirit and wide ranging musical influences, the record tweaked some traditionalists. But most agree that the Hawks have broken new ground.
The Hawks hadn't planned on much more than back porch songwriting and beer drinking, but the buzz prompted them into live performing, and they quickly rose to the top of heap in the brand new Los Angeles alternative country scene. Bassist/vocalist Paul Marshall (Strawberry Alarm Clock, Hank Thompson, Rose Maddox) threw in with the Hawks after sitting in at Ronnie Mack's Barndance in Burbank. When brother Anthony left to pursue documentary film making, drummer Shawn Nourse (Dwight Yoakam, James Intveld) signed on for a trip to SXSW and never left. Shows all over SoCal garnered the Hawks L.A. Weekly Best Country Artist awards in 2002 and 2003.
The Hawks second CD, "Grapevine," was released on the summer solstice 2004, and immediately went to #1 on the F.A.R. Chart, lingered in the Americana Chart's top 100 for months, and hit #2 on XM Radio's X Country station. Strong reviews and a national audience followed the Hawks 28 city Summer '04 tour, from a state prison in Vermont to a Mississippi roadhouse to the Cactus Cafe and KUT's Eklektikos in Austin, to Hempfest in Seattle.
Summer of '05 West Coast and Rockies tours brought the Hawks to the woods, and the woods to the Hawks. A strange beer commercial airing in Spain made the Hawks a big Euro presence for 15 minutes.
The Hawks released their third CD, "California Country," in June '06, with guest spots from Chris Hillman, Rick Shea, Cody Bryant, Danny McGough, Tommy Funderburk, and other SoCal roots brethren. Tackling subjects like despair in Disney World, blackjack in Jackpot, hippie parenting, donkeys, and Senator Robert Byrd from West Virginia, "California Country" brought more bluegrass, Phase 90 country psychedelia, and steel driven honky tonk to the Hawks sonic empire.
That summer the Hawks hit the road with Tony Gilkyson and Kip Boardman for a 57 show tour of the U.S., England, and Scotland. Thirty states, two currencies, many varieties of local whiskey, including highlands single malts and North Carolina moonshine, not a lot of sleep, and too much fun. Highlights include the Belladrum Festival with peat smoking teepees near Inverness, Scotland; a Vermont barn dance; an outdoor festival near Yellowstone; and Joe's Pub in NYC.
In March '08 the Hawks' 4th CD "Hallowed Ground," recorded in drummer Shawn Nourse's studio and Paul Lacques's Echo Park flat was mixed by Ethan Allen (The 88, Patti Griffin, Daniel Lanois), with stellar guest spots from fiddlers Gabe Witcher and Dave Markowitz, pedal steeler Dave Zirbel, acoustic guitar from Rick Shea, and accordionist/pianist Richie Lawrence. Folkier and more experimental than previous Hawks outings, "Hallowed Ground" was released in May 2008 to rave reviews, and hit #1 on the Freeform American Roots radio chart, hovering in the top 10 for four months, and hitting #4 on the Euro Americana Chart. An enchanted tour to Norway and Ireland followed.
In 2010 American Beat Records released a Hawks 17 song retrospective CD, "Shoulda Been Gold," highly praised by national press and hitting the top ten in the Americana Euro chart once again.
The Hawks can be found in their native habitats: The Echo and outdoor fest Grand Performances in downtown Los Angeles, The Cinema Bar in Culver City, Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance, Pappy and Harriets and Gramfest in the high desert, and Ben Vaughn's Wonder Valley Music Fest at the Palms bar, even further east of nowhere; at acoustic house concerts, and any dive that will take them, from Seattle to San Diego, and all the Sans and Santas in between.
