Kickass NYC Punk and Garage Rock!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pixie serves as the TFL Complaint Dept.


Don't see a question that you want answered?  Just send it along to info@tiedforlast.com

1.

Where can I purchase Tied For Last music?

Both of our CDs, “Kickass Yes-Man Corporate Hacks” (2007) and “Sorta Live” (2004) may be purchased at any of our shows.  KAYMCH is also available for (cheap) purchase from interpunk.com

Both albums, plus our Christmas single ("Please Daddy [Don't Get Drunk This Christmas]") are also available in whole, or as song-by-song downloads from I-Tunes and Amazon.  AND they’re available by subscription through Rhapsody.

You can also listen on Spotify, but we don't get a dime from that.  We'd rather have you hear the tunes than not hear 'em, but they're making a lot of money on the backs of truly independent bands like us (see FAQ #3).


2.

I’ve seen that you sometimes put out CD singles.  Are those for sale, too?

Generally, no.  Most of the self-pressed singles and EPs we’ve put out are as giveaways for particular shows, promotional material, or samplers to sell on tour.  Once we finish ‘em, that’s it.  The good news is - most of the songs end up on albums in one form or another anyway.

But if there’s a song that’s not on an album and you really want it, contact us.  We’ll see what we can do for you.

Otherwise, we may compile some singles and release 'em at a later date...


3.

I don’t “buy” music anymore - why the hell should I pay money for yours?

We make no money off of the band.  Contrary to popular belief, most rock bands (even most signed bands) are a money-losing proposition for the band members.

Sure, the big name acts make bucketloads, as do most record labels.  
Bands at our level, however, and even most bands above our level, don’t ever make it into the black.  We’re fine with that, because we never planned on making any dough from this and that’s why we all keep day jobs for now.

But, since every penny we make on merch, music and shows gets put right back into more merch and recording, we can use every cent you’re willing to pony up.  And at 99 cents or less per song, that ain’t exactly gonna break the bank.  At the very least, if you wanna listen without paying, check us out on Spotify.


4.

When’s the new album coming out?

If the stars align, we're hoping for VERY soon.  We're working as dilligently as possible, and so far, it's sounding great!

Keep in mind, we have a LOT of new songs since the last CD, and you can hear loads of ‘em at our shows!


5.

Who's the new drummer and haven't we seen him before?

The new drummer is Mr. Steve "Ringer" Ringwald.

Though he's only just now made it official (after a lot of begging by us), he'd been a member of the extended TFL family for quite awhile and he saved our collective asses in the past on a number of occasions:  He's filled in for guitar when Tommy's apartment burned down, and he's filled in on drums on tour when Drew couldn't get time off from work.  Now, he's a full-time TFL member, and we've been having a blast with him behind the kit!

Before he decided to slum it with us, he previously played drums with our friends Gentle Ben, and is a hell of a
singer/actor/guitarist/songwriter in his own right.


Oh yeah - and he's newly married to Pixie!


6.

What happened to the former band members?

Former TFL drummer Drew had to leave TFL for employment reasons.  He's still active in music playing solo shows in and around his hometown of Stamford, CT.  Check him out - he's a heck of a singer/guitarist/songwriter, and an all-around good time!

Former TFL drummer John Geller (aka Kisco Slim) is playing around the Westchester County area with a few projects.  He checks in with us often, and you'll often find him at our NYC area shows.

Former TFL bassist Reah Valente recently released her second full-length solo CD, and, though she’s a world traveler, she stops in whenever she’s in town.

The others (John, John, and Jon) have kind of lost touch with us over time, but we wish 'em well.


7.

What’s the deal with tiedforlast.com?

We used to have a HUGE website, but with the onset of the social networking sites, more people gravitated toward myspace and later to facebook and other social networks.  Tiedforlast.com was down for awhile, but now it’s up, and revamped.  We continue to add content regularly, so check back when you can.  We’re also still on facebook, and youtube.  So remember to “like” us, “friend” us and “favorite” us!


8.

Any other merchandise for sale?

Yes!  We have a bunch of t-shirts (men’s, ladies, different designs, all sizes), plus stickers, pins and the ever-popular shotglasses.  For now, you can make purchases at shows, or e-mail us and tell us what you're looking for.  We may eventually set up a merch page for online ordering.


9.

Why don’t you guys play more often?

In the metro NYC area, unless special shows come up (which seems to be often), we try to keep it to about once a month or so.  It's not because we don't wish to play more - rather, it's because bookers and clubs request that we don’t play more often than that, as it may negatively impact the draw.

Out of town and out of state shows are done as we can book them.  We LOVE hitting the road, but we prefer to so that as a "tour" with a few shows bunched together rather than just one show far away from home.  If you live somewhere outside of the NYC area, and have an idea of where we should play, let us know.  We’d like to play in as many places as we can!


10.

Since you’re all from Westchester county, why don’t you play more shows there?

We're all originally from Westchester County and Tom and Steve both still live there.  So even though the majority of our fanbase is in NYC proper, we try to play at least one or two shows in Westchester when we can.  Of course, most venues in Westchester cater to cover bands (bands playing other bands’ material), or metal bands.  We’re neither of those.

So if you know of an original venue that would want a band like us, point us in that direction!


11.

Why don’t you play more all-ages shows?

We’ve done our best to play all-ages shows (even to the point of playing malls three times including two acoustic Hot Topic in-stores).

But ultimately, i
t's sort of the same thing as the Westchester venues.  We'd prefer a lot more all-ages shows, but most venues keep it 21+ because alcohol is what keeps them (and us) in business.

When we find the right all-ages venues, we book 'em.  If you have one, send it our way - we'll very likely play it.


12.

I’m in a band.  Can you book us an NYC show with TFL?

Because we have a manager/booker (RevLina) who works for us, a lot of bands hit us up for gigs.  We do what we can in the right situation, and we’ve had many successful gig swaps with bands for other areas.

If you want to play with us in NYC, and you can get us a decent show in your neck of the woods, contact Lina, and we’ll go through all the details with you. Keep in mind, we usually book at least three or four months in advance.

Oh yeah - and be smart - Don't hassle Lina.  She gets enough of that from us.  Instead, buy her a drink.  You’d be amazed at how many bands treat her poorly while they mistakenly kiss up to us.  SHE’S the one who runs the show.  So SHE’S the one to kiss up to.  We're just her dancing monkeys.


13.

Who is Lopes?

Lopes was Steve’s cat.  He’s no longer with us.

When Tommy and Steve first started playing together in Steve’s living room, Lopes was at every rehearsal.  Eventually, he became the namesake of our record label.  We all work for the kitty.

He had an interesting personality, and apparently, kept up his own myspace page.  His blogs are still well worth reading. 


14.

Is Lopes Records a "real" label?

It depends on what you consider real.  Perhaps we'll incorporate it at some point, but for now, it's our imprint for our self-released stuff, and perhaps a future comp or two.


15.

Why aren't you guys signed to a "real" label

Great question...


16.

How did Tom get to be so damn awesome and talented?

This question is only asked by Tom himself, but to be fair, he does indeed ask it frequently.


17.

Why does Steve always wear glasses?

So he can better see the enemy.


18.

Jen is also called HMC and Pixie.  What does HMC stand for, and why does she change her name all the time?

She won't tell us what HMC means, so we make up things.  As for why she changes her name, she’s told us both, that it’s because she’s in the witness protection program, and because she’s a narc.  We no longer believe a word she says.


19.

Where's question 19?

There is no question 19.  Move along.

 


20.

RevLina is your manager/booker/photographer...Is she really a reverend?

In addition to telling us what to do and where to go while making us look good, Lina is indeed also an ordained atheist reverend who can legally perform weddings, and has married lots of folks.  Oh yeah - did we happen to mention she’s a part-time sideshow performer who can eat fire and walk on broken glass while barefoot?

So if you needed to get married by a fire-breathing reverend, look no further! 


21.

Is Bloody Tuesday about what I THINK it's about?

No!

I mean, yes. 


22.

Do you take requests?

Depends on what we get in return.  Whaddaya got?


23.

How do you choose cover tunes to play, and which ones have you recorded?

Usually, it comes down to one band member lobbying so hard for a song that the others just cave in just to have them shut the hell up!

Our first CD (Sorta Live) has our version of the Barry McGuire/PF Sloan song, "Eve of Destruction," and Kickass Yes-Man Corporate Hacks has a live version of Elvis Presley's "Burning Love" as a hidden track.  Additionally, we recorded the Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday” for the “Wasted” CD single, and we’ve done John Denver’s “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)” and Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" as Christmas gift CD singles.

We may choose a cover to record for the new CD, but it's gonna be difficult getting all four of us to agree to a non-TFL song.


24.

What songs have you covered live?

In addition to the above, you may hear any of the following at a TFL show:  Tommy Tutone's "867-5309/Jenny," Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl," REM’s “Radio Free Europe” and “End of the World As We Know It,” Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run,” and Dion’s “Runaround Sue,” Black Sabbath's "Paranoid," Bowie's "Suffragette City," Tom Petty's "American Girl" and most recently, The Knack's "Good Girls Don't."

Covers that we’d done in the past, but no longer do include the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers," (for Lebowskifest NY 2005), Buddy Holly's "Rave On," The Cars' "Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed," David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust," Tom Waits' "Heartattack and Vine," and The Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane." At private events, we’ve been known to play The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and Radiohead’s “Creep.”


25.

Any advice for musicians just starting out?

Yeah. Judging by some of the bands we’ve seen lately, you wanna go with fewer hooks, less humor, and more skinny jeans.  Having people scream, cheer and have fun at your shows is so over.  Instead, you want them to stand there, nod their head slightly and go, “That’s cool, but so-and-so did it first.”


ONE MORE SHOW


SATURDAY, Oct 20
 OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD

East Village,
Manhattan, NYC
538 East 14th Street
(btw. Aves A & B)
AFTERNOON SHOW!!

TIED FOR LAST - 5:45pm
THE BLOODY MUFFS 4:45pm
BUT, PYRITE 3:45pm
DARK MOON APACHE 2:45pm


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In the meantime, find us and stay in contact with us on FACEBOOK