Winter Makes Sailors is the solo project of Columbus musician Sean Gardner, who you can also find leading MeltyMelty (new LP coming soon?), Bookmobile and playing keys/tambourine/dancing with the Kyle Sowashes. Gardner says this about the video below:

I just wanted to share this video that my friend Mike Postalakis made for my song “Two States Away.” We took a trip across the country a couple of years ago and I played shows for gas money to help him move to California. He made this video with the footage.

Videos shot solely with tour footage can be hit and miss, but I think this one’s a hit.

Official release show for White Elephants, with Super Desserts and Winter Makes Sailors. Details on the poster.

mp3: Paper Airplane – It’s Almost Over
Poster by Paper Airplane drummer Antonio Garza. Each image is a visual representation of a song on the album.

Once again the Columbus Music Co-op are throwing a free party in the parking lot of Surly Girl Saloon in Columbus, OH. This event is a fundraiser for their musician’s assistance program and is always a great event – a sort of nice counterpoint to the monster-sized event that is Comfest.

It all goes down July 11. Schedule:

Apocalypso………………………3:00 pm
Total Foxx……………………….3:45 pm
The American Jobs……………..4:30 pm
Winter Makes Sailors……………5:15 pm
Chuck and Lisa from Wussy…….6:00 pm
Rosehips…………………….6:45 pm
Deerhead………………………..7:30 pm
Moviola…………………………..8:15 pm
Guinea Worms……………………9:00 pm
Cheater Slicks……………………9:45 pm
Struck by Lightning…………….10:30 pm

They are also looking for volunteers, so if you’re interested click here for more details.

The fine folks at the Columbus Music Co-op have had a busy winter with all kinds of happenings, but spring has sprung, the Parking Lot Blowout is on the distant horizon, and a few other events are emerging from the CMC winter chrysalis. First one is happening this Thursday the 30th at The Shelf, where they’ll be hosting a workshop titled “Legal Issues for Musicians” lead by attorney and co-owner of All Hail Records Tony Clark . You got questions about whether you should be signing with Universal or Sony? RIAA or ASCAP? Or maybe just about how to establish copyright and digital music distribution? I really have no idea if Tony is gonna help you out with your major deal, but I’m betting this is an awesome place to get some fabulous free info on legal matters large and small, and a few of your basic questions answered.  The workshop is from 7-9 PM on Thursday- shoot ‘em an email to let ‘em know you’re coming.

As is the case with almost all the CMC events, this serious business is tempered with a healthy dose of fun. The evening will kick off just downstairs from The Shelf with a happy hour at the Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, complete with the ladies of the CMC spinning a couple hours (5-7PM) of all local music. I swear a few Commit To Be Lit drinks will make all the legalese magically comprehensible. After the legal workshop, The Shelf space will transition from courtroom to concert hall as it is filled with the dulcet voices of Dan Spurgeon (Bush League All Stars) and Sean Gardner’s solo project Winter Makes Sailors. Music should go from about 9 to 11. If you didn’t get enough booze at Tip Top, bring your own to The Shelf for the show, along with a couple bucks for the performers.

Disclosure: I’m a board member of the CMC

James from The Blastronauts has put together a great series of shows here in Columbus Ohio. I could have done with Dressy Bessy not being at Bernie’s, but hey what can ya do…

September 25th, 2008, Bernie’s
The Seedy Seeds (Cincinnati)
Flotation Walls (Columbus)
Couch Forts (Columbus)
New Vega (Dayton)

October 2nd, 2008, Rumba Café
Blastronauts (Columbus)
Earwig (Columbus)
Paper Airplane (Columbus)
Bookmobile (Columbus)

October 9th, 2008, Café Bourbon Street
Russenorsk (Athens, OH)
Melty Melty (Columbus)
James & James (Columbus)
Blood on my Neck (Columbus) (more…)

MP3: Two States Away
MP3: What’s a Boy to Do?

Sean Gardner is Winter Makes Sailor. A one man outfit (sometimes two – with a trumpet player), he has been a part of some of my favorite bands during my stay in Columbus, namely Denovo and Kopaz.

While Kopaz and Denovo played on the edges of aggressive and angular post-punk, this new project goes in a completely different direction. Quiet, delicate and somber are some of the words that came to mind the first time I saw him perform the other day at the Metronome House. I’m really excited about this new musical direction and hope that Sean keeps it up.

On his website he’s got a bunch of demo MP3s you can download. I’ve included two here for your downloading pleasure.

Sean’s on the road:

28 Aug 2008 20:00
Dayton Dirt Collective w/ Ease the Medic Dayton, Ohio

29 Aug 2008 20:00
Musician’s Playground w/ Ease the Medic Tupelo, Mississippi

30 Aug 2008 19:00
The Warehouse w/ Ease the Medic Tuscaloosa, Alabama

31 Aug 2008 20:00
Warehouse w/ Ease the Medic East Ridge, Tennessee