The plan was to play in Tallahassee, Birmingham, Mobile and then spend Sunday in New Orleans for the Super Bowl before heading to Texas.

In Tallahassee, the brakes started to smoke. No problem. We had some money and some time so we replaced the two front brake pads and calipers. We played at The Engine Room, slept in Florida, woke up and drove four hours to Montgomery, AL.

In Montgomery, a woman pointed out to us that our front driver’s side wheel looked like it was about to fall off. We pulled over at a service center to have it looked at, hoping that the wheel had just been put back on wrong in Tallahassee. But, upon further inspection, we learned that the problem was much bigger than we imagined. in the end, basically, among other things, our entire front axle was broken. The cost would have been near two thousand dollars and it would have taken ten days to fix it. We decided not to fix it and that we would find another solution. The mechanics advised that we not even drive down the block to a motel, let alone two m0re hours to Birmingham. We drove it cautiously to a Days Inn down the street and we have been here since then (today is Sunday), waiting.

While we’ve been waiting, along with large amounts of beer, Domino’s pizza and HBO movies, we’ve done something so crazy, we can’t really believe it ourselves. We bought a new van.

On Friday, when we got the news that the old van was not going to be a cheap or easy fix, we began exploring other options within minutes, we found a van for sale on Craigslist, but it was in Birmingham and we were stuck in Montgomery.

Brother Jim was selling the van for his church. The van, also a ‘96 Dodge Ram, had been used lightly by the church over the years. It had only 77,ooo miles on it and had been kept current on oil changes by a member of the church who worked at a Jiffy Lube. The biggest selling point, though, was that it is a fifteen passenger van, much bigger than the old conversion van.

We pulled together some cash, emptying bank accounts and credit card limits, and called Jim to try and figure out, logistically, how we would get the van that was being sold two hours away. He offered to drive it down and on Saturday morning, he, with Brother Bill following in his car, drove 120 miles from Birmingham to Montgomery.

Everything looked really good and we bought it. We were all ready to go, almost. The new van doesn’t have a trailer hitch, which we knew beforehand, but we didn’t think it would be as hard as it has been to get one installed. No one in Montgomery could get it done before Wednesday. Basically, no one in all of Alabama, western Georgia or eastern Mississippi could get it done before Monday at the earliest. So, we waited some more.

We’re going to watch the Super Bowl in Montgomery instead of in New Orleans, and on Monday morning, we’re going to wake up and drive an hour north to get the hitch installed, drive back to get the trailer and then head to Texas.

Thanks to some extremely generous people, we are going to get to where we need to be in a vehicle that’s going to get us there. Its a better van than we had and in the end, it will be an all around better situation.

We’ll see you when we (eventually) get there.

We’re going to be back on the road next week, but before we leave, we will be kicking things off on Thursday night at Schubas in Chicago, where we will be playing two brand new songs, “Pot Luck” and “Pregnancy,” that have never been heard before. We’re super excited about the new material and we can’t wait to play it. So, come on out and have a party with us before we leave!

A Lull w/ Decibully and Clip Art
@ Schubas, Chicago IL
Thursday, 1/21/10 @ 9 pm, $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Then we’re gone.

1/22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Vollrath Tavern
1/23 – Louisville, KY @ Skull Alley
1/24 – Indiana, PA @ The Indiana Players
1/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Point Park University Ballroom
1/27 – Rochester, NY @ BugJar
1/28 – Manhattan, NY @ Pianos
1/29 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Grasslands
1/31 – Arlington, VA @ Galaxy Hut
2/1 – Charlotte, NC @ The Evening Muse
2/2 – Columbia, SC @ The Elbow Room
2/3 – Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
2/4 – Tallahassee, FL @ The Engine Room
2/5 – Birmingham, AL @ The Nick
2/6 – Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
2/8 – Houston, TX @ Super Happy Fun Land
2/9 – Austin, TX @ Hole In The Wall
2/10 – Dallas, TX @ Bills Records (In-store)
2/11 – Tulsa, OK @ Soundpony
2/12 – Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge

Check our Myspace for updates, times, etc.

We’ll see everyone everywhere!!!

Tune in to Local 101 on Q101 (101.1 FM in Chicago) or Q101.com (in the world) at 9pm tonight to hear our interview and “Weapons For War.”

Weapons for War

The Sky
Pregnancy
Spread It All Around
Pot Luck

More on the way…

So many things…

Recently we were presented with an opportunity to release a new song on xlr8r.com. So, last week, our brand new song, “Weapons for War,” was posted on the site and as of today (October 13), it is still the top rated mp3 on the site, just above Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop (Nasty Ways Remix).” We couldn’t be more proud of the song and we are thrilled that we were given the opportunity to make it public to such a wide audience. Also, Patric Fallon is a righteous dude. You can listen, download and rate the song here, on xlr8r.com.

In concert with he release of “Weapons for War” alull.com has been made over. The song is also available streaming and for download here as well.

And if Myspace music players are what you’re into, “Waepons for War” is streaming here, at myspace.com/alullmusic.

As well as this one new song, many more new songs are in different states of completion and they are being saved and stored up and arranged and judged and the best of them will be released next year on out debut full-length album, “Confetti.”

We are also playing a few shows coming up this weekend as well. Find us. Hang with us.

Friday, October 16 – Milwaukee, WI @ Stonefly Brewery
Saturday, October 17 – Indianapolis, IN @ Broad Ripple Music Fest

A Lull’s Late Summer Tour is kicking off tomorrow! Here are the updated dates:

September 15 – Indianapolis, IN @  Birdy’s (21+)
September 16 – Covington, KY (Cincinnati) @ Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (18+)
September 17 – Albany, NY @ Red Square (Early Show)
September 17 – New York, NY @ Arlene’s Grocery (21+) (Late Show)
September 19 – New York, NY @ Sullivan Hall (18+)
September 20 – New York, NY @ Piano’s (21+) (Early Show)
September 20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Public Assembly (Late Show)
September 22 – Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar (18+)

We can’t wait to see you there!

All of us, in A Lull, grew up near Chicago and we all have memories of our first trips into the city to see a show at Metro. The shows when someone’s dad drove a group of us in a mini van and then watched with a cautious eye from a seat in the balcony as we tried to squeeze as close as we could to the stage in the once smoky and still dark room were first and they were fun and memorable. But the times when we drove ourselves or rode with slightly older friends who drove and risked leaving cars, without paying for parking, in the Taco Bell parking lot at Addison and Clark, were adventures. We were alone in this strange, huge city, and we were going to the coolest place on the face of the earth to see a band that we absolutely loved.

The list of legendary and admirable bands who have played on the stage at Metro is too long and too daunting, so I will simply say that we are honored and that we couldn’t be more excited to play there.

We’ll be unveiling a new song, “Weapons for War,” as well as saying goodbye to the wonderful friends who come to way, way too many of our shows (every show, making the the best friends) before we head back out on our September tour to the east coast.

We can’t wait for Friday to come and to have a wonderful time together at Metro.

Here are the details:

A Lull w/ 1997, Chimera Twilight, Venna
@ Metro, Chicago IL
Friday, 9/11/09 @ 6:30 pm, $8 with band flyer, Metro text 46786, $11 day of show.

Purchase tickets here.

Here’s what this thing is looking like so far.

Sept. 15 – Indianapolis, IN @ Birdy’s
Sept. 16 – Covington, KY (Cincinnati) @ Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
Sept. 17 – Albany, NY @ Red Square (Early Show)
Sept. 17 – New York, NY @ Arlene’s Grocery (Late Show)
Sept. 19 – New York, NY @ Sullivan Hall
Sept. 20 – New York, NY @ Piano’s (Early Show)
Sept. 20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Public Assembly (Late Show)
Sept. 22 – Rochester, NY @ Bugjar

We can’t wait to see everyone everywhere!!

Things are coming along…

* We’re working on the finishing touches of two news songs for Confetti, songs with not only numbers as titles 48 & 49, but with actual titles, “Pot Luck” and “Weapons for War.” We couldn’t be more excited about these new songs and can’t wait to be able to share the recordings when the release of the record gets closer.

* We’re also on the middle stages of many more songs for Confetti.

* Next Chicago show: METRO on SEPTEMBER 11, 2009. We will be unveiling our newest song, “Weapons for War,” at this show!! Please come out and hear/see this new song for the first time. We admit that a new song has been LONG OVERDUE and we can’t wait to play it!!

* Plans for a late September tour back to the east coast are currently being finalized.

* The audio from the Arcada Theatre live session is being mixed (It sounds amazing so far.).

* The video from that session is being edited (It looks amazing so far.).

Thanks so much for everyone’s support and we can’t wait for what the (near) future looks to have in store for A Lull!!

We’re back! The Family Vacation pretty much ruled! Thanks to everyone who came to any of the shows in any of the cities!

Come hang out with us at Schubas on Monday (8/3/09). We’ll be playing with our full seven-piece lineup, which hardly fits on the stage there, and we’re honored to be opening for Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, who we’ve heard is eleven-piece band. Eleven people on the Schubas stage? Come see how it works and also come to hear their great sounds!

We probably won’t be playing again in Chicago until September, so get there!

A Lull w/ Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
@ Schubas Tavern, Chicago, IL
Monday, August 3, 8pm, $8-10, 18+