Dear Friends, Fans, Lovers & Victims,

After 8 years of playing on stages in and around the NYC area, KiNDERGARTEN has decided to throw in the towel, call it quits, sing a verse with the fat lady, draw the curtains, sing their swan song, maintain radio silence from now on …

KiNDERGARTEN wants you to know that this break-up is in no way because of some baloney creative differences or silly band member tensions.  Sure we’ve had our squabbles along the way, as any 4 people would after spending oh so much time together.  But it is not the reason we are parting ways.  And no, it’s not your fault. 

Our difficulties with building and maintaining a steady fan-base, mixed with the added pressures of today’s DIY music industry, plus the lack of support of the NYC music scene have made it harder and harder for us to keep our spirits up.  The light at the end of the tunnel looks farther and farther away and we are losing the drive to keep reaching for that light - and we are no longer enjoying the struggle.  So we have decided to quit while we are ahead and look at the last 8 years with the best possible attitude.  We are very, very proud of our music, the 2 albums we made, and our incredible, high-energy live shows.  We are very proud of the snorting, burping, farting, drinking and yelling we did on and off stage.  We want to walk away from KiNDERGARTEN knowing we did something great.  And we think we did.

We’re not disappearing completely, however.  Our albums will still be available on iTunes & CD baby, so you are more than welcome to keep recommending them to your friends!  (Uh, hello!  We still need money!)  The lines of communication will remain open for some time.  Our website, myspace & facebook will remain open, as will our youtube and vimeo channels.  (Although I don’t think I’ll be doing much more of that twittering business anymore.)  You call also continue to contact me at ariel@kindergartennyc.com if you have a question or concern regarding the band. Most of us will still be involved in other musical projects, and may even start a few new ones, so keep your eyes peeled. 

I started this band back in the summer of 2002.  Over the last 8 years, we’ve gone through a few different names, over 30 band members, and hundreds of songs.  I set out to start a collaborative band that would help revive the quintessential New York sound, and bring something wildly new to the table while maintaining common pop and punk elements that made the music inviting and familiar.  I was only able to accomplish this goal when the final quartet was solidified.  Sakura, Zach, Yancy & I played our first gig together in April of 2006, which I now believe was the real birth of this band.  Since then, with the exception of an occasional substitute, the 4 of us have played countless gigs, became a strong collaborative writing team, and came up with some pretty unique ways of writing songs together.  I would like to thank any former member or substitute of KiNDERGARTEN, Last of the Redbirds, & The Damnnears who helped get us to where we are today.

            KiNDERGARTEN would like to thank anyone who helped us along the way, whether you got us a gig, provided us with financial support for recording, or gave us time in your studio.  And thanks to Barry, our manager, for working as hard as you could to make us a success, and for making sure that the letter “M” was stricken from the alphabet. 

Finally, we would like to thank our biggest fans.  Even though it’s a small number of people, you guys made it all worthwhile.  It was great having you at pretty much every show.  I’m glad the settings were always intimate enough that not only were you our fans, but our friends as well.

So, signing off now.  Once again, thanks, and keep your eyes open for future projects.  We had a great time, everybody, and we hope you did, too.   No go blow your noses.

-Ariel, Zach, Sakura & Yancy

KiNDERGARTEN

Nearly ran into Lou again.  The past Thursday at the annual Coney Island USA fundraiser event.  I’m a lifelong Coney nut, and thanks to a fan/friend, my girlfriend, Anita Cookie and I were able to attend and show out support for NYC’s greatest neighborhood.  Anyway, Lou and his life partner Laurie Anderson are apparently this year’s King and Queen of the mermaid parade, which means they probably donated the most money, and will be this year’s judges at the upcoming mermaid parade.  That also meant that Lou and Laurie were up in the VIP mezzanine while Anita and I were down on the floor with the rest of the useless cattle who only paid $100 to get in.  

As they were being recognized and honored, and a spotlight flashed upon them, I was standing directly below them.  Trying to resist the urge to look up and scream “Hey, Lou!  Remember Me??”  Nevertheless, I missed him again, so it looks like Kindergarten won’t be opening up for him anytime soon.  

Perhaps I’ll catch him at the judges booth of the Mermaid Parade.

Ok, so last week we played at a Best Buy store.  Weird.  totally weird.  There’s a new “flagship” store in Union Square, which now features a musical instrument section… kinda like a miniature Guitar Center.  Anyway, as a promotion for said new section they feature live bands on Fridays.  We were one of them.  It was weird.  

First of all, I don’t think we’ve ever played in the daylight, and without alcohol, no-less.  Our music was pumping through every TV speaker in the store, as we played on their demo house equipment.  People were trying to shop, for chrissake, and those pour souls are subjected to our semi-racey lyrics, and in your face punk funk antics while trying to figure out which h-def tv is right for them!  We kept getting these looks like, “what the hell is that?”

Not to mention, you can hear the Beatles rock band demo louder than us.  It was weird.  Crickets.  

You wanna know the funniest part?  We actually brought people!  Fans actually showed up to Best Buy to watch us.  Another funny part, was that we didn’t sell a single CD, but 3 of us walked out with at least $40 worth of DVD’s each.  Nice little racket you got going on, Best Buy.  Entice unassuming bands into your store with the promise of exposure and glory, then we walk out sucker customers.  Harumph.  Well, I will enjoy my Ultimate Watchmen package, I will.

Never.  NEVER, under any circumstances, do a show on St. Patrick’s Day!  And if you absolutely gotta, don’t make that the show where you decide not to drive cause you might wanna have a “few” drinks.  Because following your highly successful set will be a night of heavy heavy drinking, and a mess of stumbling band members, fans and friends all yelling at eachother, banging their heads on doors, improper sexual behavior, air guitar, drunken managers, fighting yelling screaming dancing.  You see people in a whole new light that maybe you shouldn’ta seen.  That is, before the lights go completely out in your head. 

Kidding, it wasn’t all that bad.  But I did wake up this morning not knowing how I managed to successfully get my guitars home in one piece.  

Truthfully, last night was a great night.  For a Wedesday at 11pm, I’d say a very successful event.  We played a great set (in my personal estimation), and had a grand ol’ party proceeding our stage show.  I want to personally thank all of our friends who partied with us, for risking the health of your livers in the interest of stroking our egos.

I hope you are all recovering well today, as I am.

And for future reference, if any booking agents are considering booking us on a St. Patricks Day - or for that matter - Cinco De Mayo, Superbowl Sunday, or Company Christmas parties, we you could just FORGET IT!  My liver refuses to participate.  

Cheers

-Ariel

KiNDERGARTEN

Friends, Fans, and Former Lovers.

January was a great month, thanks to the love and support all of you beautiful monkeys.  Our new album “Small” shot out all over the internet like a load from hell.  We’ve been hard at work making sure it falls into the right hands, and the good word of K-Garto is spread throughout the world.  Most importantly, we’re glad it’s in your hands.  

“Small” will go up onto iTunes in the next few weeks.  But in the meantime, please continue to spread the word about the free download available on our homepage, http://www.kindergartennyc.com

We plan to keep pressing forth, writing, recording and releasing a sackfull of new material, and playing our silly little asses off all year.

Let’s start Febuary out with a bang.  Come join us this Monday night at Arlene’s Grocery for our first appearance in 2010.  Plus, you can get your limited edition signed copies of “Small”.  (only 100 in existence!)

Monday 02/08/10 @ 8pm
ARLENE’S GROCERY
95 Stanton Street, NYC
$7, 21+
(Stay for Rock n Roll Karaoke starting at 10pm!)

-KiNDERGARTEN

P.S.  Our campaign to take over the internet carries on.  Suggest to a friend to join us on facebook, or sign our mailing list.  CC us on the message at kgmgmt@gmail.com , and we’ll send you an exclusive live track of one of our newest songs.

Greetings, Fans, Friends & Long lost lovers.

Welcome to KiNDERGARTEN’s brand new Tumblr page.  Here we will discuss love, life, booze, farting, and all things KiNDERGARTEN.  We will generally try to keep you abreast of what’s happening with the band, and it’s members… . if it’s deemed important enough.

2010 has started off with a bang, thanks to the release of our new album, SMALL.  We set out to release SMALL on our homepage for free on 01/01/10, and since then, it’s been downloaded over 100 times, and is being very well received.  That’s right everyone from my mother to Lou Reed has been enjoying our new album.  And why not?  It’s REALLY good!!

Lou Reed, you ask?  That’s right, Lou Reed.  We were mastering the album back in December, with our go-to mastering engineer, Nathan James of The Vault Mastering.  The Vault is located within the walls of Masterdisk, a well known mastering house, where big name acts roll through for the final stages of their productions.  Well, this big name act happened to be there at the same time and heard some K-Garto pumping through the walls.

A humble intern knocks on the door.  After I throw a hot cup of coffee in her face, demand a new cup, then calm down she says to us, “Lou would like to know who this is.”  And we were all, “Lou who?”  And she was all “Lou Reed”  and we were all “Yeah, does he want to come in?”  She went back out to the hallway to retrieve him.

Mr. Reed walks in, Nathan introduces himself, then me.  I shake the man’s hand.  I’m trying my darndest to keep a shit eating grin off my face.  The effort I’m making to suppress my excitement and act cool as a cucumber was transferring my nervousness to my palms.  So, Lou, if you’re out there, I’m sorry you had to shake my sweaty palm.

Lou asks, “What was that dancy tune you were just working on”  He was referring to “E’s Ok, Ah’s Ok Too” Track 9 on SMALL.  We proceeded to play him a bit more of said dancy tune, along with clips of the other songs as well.  When we got to “It’s Gonna Take You & I” (Track 5), his head pops up.  He looks me in the eye and says “That one’s got my vote.”

Still acting cool as a cucumber, like I don’t give two shits that my idol has just heard my music with me in the room, and liked it.  I hand him a copy of our first album, RIVER OF SLIME.  (I’d-a given him SMALL, only we were still working on it.)  He repeats the word “Kindergarten” nods and walks out the room.  Just as quickly and mysteriously as he entered.

I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.  But it was a nice way to start off the year, and a good feeling that we may have done something right with this album.

Lou, if you’re out there, thanks again.  We’re ready to collaborate with you anytime.

As for the rest of you, welcome to Kindergarten’s new blog page.  Please feel free do download SMALL for yourself while it’s still free.  Come back here and let us know what you think!

-Ariel