The PDX Broadsides: "Relatable Content" Store + More!
Created by The PDX Broadsides
Purchase copies of our fifth studio album, "Relatable Content," as well as other goodies from your favorite nerdy Portland trio!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Studio Confessionals: The Return
almost 5 years ago
– Wed, May 15, 2019 at 01:57:05 AM
Christian here - it's time for another peek into the making of "Relatable Content" and maybe a little shade :) It's fun to look back (two whole weeks ago) at ourselves being so excited about making music.
As of this writing, we have been through two rounds of mixing, and the album is going in for mastering tomorrow. It's sounding amazing, to be totally objective.
There are only nine days left on the Kickstarter, and we're at 91% thanks to you. Only $1060 remaining, and we have some stretch goals just in case! Thank you for backing us and/or sharing the link here - it means to world to us.
And so without further ado, Relatable Content Confessionals 2!
We hope you enjoyed some serious and no-so-serious commentary from the recording of "Relatable Content"! We're getting closer to making it a reality!
Christian (and Hollyanna and Dr. Jessica)
We're at 85%! Puppy livestream tonight! Reward updates!
almost 5 years ago
– Mon, May 13, 2019 at 05:19:52 AM
85%!!!!!!!!!
GOOD GLORY, Y'ALL.
Friday night, I made a deal with Twitter: if we could get over 75%, I would do something ridiculous on the internet. We made it. And then we tore right through it because this morning we're at $10,646, 85% funded!!! And y'all thirsty, because Facebook says that this 3-second GIF of Christian has been watched for more than NINE TOTAL MINUTES. He has promised more cowboy action in the future, so...let's get that goal!
LIVESTREAMS, now with dogs!
To celebrate reaching 75%, I shared a poll to our social media for three options, and the winner was "Drunken Sexy Science," where I explained the basics of reading a scientific paper, read the intros and abstracts of 3 reproductive science papers in as dulcet tones as I could manage, while drinking wine and taking questions. We'll totally do it again, it was fun! You can see the stream here.
Because of your support over the weekend, I agreed to do another livestream TONIGHT (Sunday 5/12) for anyone who missed last night, using the second-place poll option: "Storytime with Lucy."
For every new backer or every $10 increase from a current backer, Lucy gets a little treat. Snuggling and reading is hard work. Don't you want this puppy to get treats and learn to read?
The perpetual look on this dog's face when confronted by her goofy family.
Rewards Updates!
As of this morning, we're down to ONE custom full length song slot left. 4 jingles remain and 5 cover slots! Also available: the house concerts, both in person and online. We're really fun in a living room with 40 of your friends, but if you're worried about fitting in an instrumental setup/noise, or the additional travel expenses if you're outside the 100 mile Portland radius (talk to us, they're very reasonable!), we can do online streaming and give you an amazing show in high def with lots of space for chatter and questions.
Special shout-out to Chicagoland residents: several of you have asked if we're coming there. We WANT to, very much. You're not on the East Coast, but if you all banded together for a house concert level, we could 100% make that happen. Call us. <3
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More news for you soon, but for now, we love you, thank you for helping us get this far, and we hope we can smash that last 15% ASAP and get to have some fun with this as the campaign days dwindle!
See you tonight on the livestream (YouTube/Twitch/Facebook/Twitter)!
<3s,
Dr. Jessica (and Christian and Hollyanna)
WINTER IS COMING Video, FAQ, #CanadianFact, and $3500 to go!
almost 5 years ago
– Sun, May 12, 2019 at 12:00:14 PM
You. Are. AMAZING.
Because of you, we hit $9000 yesterday, and so we’re proud to present our video and first listen to “Winter is Coming.” This is a pre-release version of the track (final mastering happens next week!), but we’re already so, so proud of it. Share it widely.
We call this song “Arya Stark Is Over Your BS“: she is the feminist anti-hero we need right now, and we are HERE FOR IT. The video is a chronological tribute to her evolution as the person Westeros needs.
Theydies and Gentlethems, we present: “Winter is Coming.”
We have TWO WEEKS TO GO!
We are $3500 away from our goal with 2 weeks to go. Here are some FAQs:
What happens if we don’t reach our goal?
We get nothing. You get nothing. Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing setup. We’d rather have this be a win-win, of course, so we need to get there.
When does the money come out of my bank account/credit card?
Not until May 23 at 6 PM PDT.
Can I raise my pledge?
HECK YES, any time until Kickstarter shuts it down on May 23.
Can I get extra pins/stickers/art prints/signed things/old merch?
Yes, AS LONG AS WE REACH GOAL AT MINIMUM. After the campaign closes, we’ll be working with Backer Kit to fulfill our rewards and offer extra things. Signing will be available for lower tiers, and remember, all backers $100+ get art prints, CDs, and USBs ALL SIGNED as part of their package.
What you can’t get on Backer Kit: house concerts, custom songs, cover songs, Brunch, Hot Seat...anything from the $150+ levels. We’re offering them at a deal on Kickstarter for backers. Don’t miss out.
If you fund, will there be stretch goals?
Oh friends. We’ve been listening to you and we have SUCH PLANS, including an extra-special new merch item for physical backers, remixes, and new cities to answer the question: “Why aren’t you coming to see ME?!?”
BUT there are no stretch goals without funding. Help us reach our goal!!!
Until 8 PM PDT tonight, I’m writing a #CanadianFact for each new backer we get since I’m in Vancouver, BC today. (Factualness not guaranteed.) I’m posting them on Facebook and Twitter. CHALLENGE ME. :D
OKAY! ENOUGH NEWS!
What did you think of the video?!? Tell us below!
We are so grateful for you and your support so far. 2 weeks to go, we’re getting closer.
MUCH LOVE!
Dr. Jessica (and Christian and Hollyanna)
P.S. Our friends Misbehavin’ Maidens close out their Kickstarter tomorrow which includes a cover of our song “Smile!” which is what our pin is based on, and we‘d play with them in October if our tour funds...you can tell we’re big supporters of each other. They are rad. Consider backing them to reach their last two stretch goals!
Behind the Song: "The Alligators"
almost 5 years ago
– Sun, May 12, 2019 at 12:00:04 PM
Hi, friends! It’s Hollyanna and I am here to give you all a little peek inside one of the new songs on “Relatable Content.” Today, we are digging deeper into “The Alligators”.
About 20 years ago, I was enrolled in an acting class at Pentacle Theater in my hometown of Salem, Oregon. At the helm of the class was Jo Dodge, a tiny but imposing woman whose name still causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. Jo was like someone’s Bubbe from New York--complete with the accent—and capable of doling out love and disappointment in equal measure. She was known for getting the best work out of the most unlikely sources and she was not afraid to shout to make it happen.
In the class, we did a lot of improv exercises and learned a lot about the principle of “yes, and”, but we also worked on scripted scenes in groups and with partners. My particular scene was from the second act of “Death and the Maiden” by Ariel Dorfman. I was set to play Paulina Escobar, a woman who is convinced that a guest that her husband brings home is, in fact, a doctor that kidnapped, raped, and tortured her many years before in South America. The scene was intense, violent, and emotionally vulnerable and I was…well…none of those things.
I have very little memory of the rehearsals beyond Jo shouting from her chair, “MORE, MORE, MORE” and “SHOW ME SOMETHING”. She wasn’t talking to the cast, she was talking to me. “Kill your alligators, Hollyanna.” She said with an air of exasperation, “Or they will eat you alive.”
She was right. Something gets in the way when I want to fully commit to something, whether it’s an intense scene on stage or just being myself in a social setting. These days, thanks in part to Jo Dodge, I call my inner critics “the alligators” and when the alligators get chompy, they’re busy telling me that I don’t deserve success, love, or recognition. They whisper that I only got that job because I was in the right place at the right time or I got chosen for that award because there wasn’t much competition. They tell me that my friends are exhausted with me and that I am foolish for believing that anyone could love me.
I wrote the lyrics to “The Alligators” because I felt like it was time to address them. Being fully myself means quieting the alligators. I have to be kind to myself and allow myself to feel okay about that. I have to say out loud that I am good at what I do and believe it (which is the hard part). The song is also about comparing yourself to someone else who seems to move through life more easily that you. “You are cloudless/I’m a rainstorm” is about feeling envious when people close to you make things like laughter, love, and confidence look effortless.
Let’s be real, sometimes, the greatest obstacle to success is believing in your own ability to do it. The alligators are the critics that lurk in the dark corners of your mind. They feed on your insecurities and tell you not to attempt the things that scare you. You don’t have to kill the alligators; you just need to learn to quiet their voices so that you can speak louder.
THANK YOU so much for your support and for sharing our campaign with all your peers. Those shares are especially important when we get to meet new fans and share our work with new audiences, so keep it up, friends!
Oh, and by the way, Jo Dodge is still teaching that acting class (I told you, she is FIERCE). The next session starts on June 22.
Video Reveal at $9000 and Live Chat TONIGHT!
about 5 years ago
– Wed, May 08, 2019 at 02:26:27 PM
We're at 70%! *KERMIT FLAIL!* When we hit $9000 (we're getting close!), we'll release a video for "Winter Is Coming," AKA Arya Stark Is Done With Your Nonsense. The video is a really cool chronological progression of her story arc and we can't wait to share it with you. Please help us get there! You can:
Consider bumping up your pledge to our special Kickstarter-only* offers: custom songs! house concerts! cover songs! reserved seating! BRUNCH WITH US. And remember, all levels $100+ come with everything signed and a GORGEOUS art print of either Ben Dewey's "Trust Issues" cover or Aud Koch's "Relatable Content" cover.
Give yourself a great big hug because you're doing great work and we appreciate you.
The Library Bards, Misbehavin' Maidens, and The PDX Broadsides: SO MUCH TALENT.
We are so, so excited to get the opportunity be Muppet-y at each other. If you have questions for us, you can ask here on our group FB event, Tweet us, or ask directly through our Instagram story (@PDXBroadsides) and we'll share with everyone.
Coming up: a new BEHIND THE SONG post, a list of podcasts (and where you might catch a listen of a couple of these new songs), and more fun surprises!
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. We would not have come this far without every single one of you and our gratitude is over 3000.
<3 <3 <3 <3,
Dr. Jessica (and Christian and Hollyanna)
The PDX Broadsides
* - yes, we do take song commissions/do house concerts outside of Kickstarter, but Kickstarter patrons will have priority over any upcoming work, and the price is a special deal for the purposes of this very cool opportunity to tour. :D
