The Good, the Bad, and the Shadows…
Hello everyone.
I have a lot to post…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”- Charles Dickens
I have good news and bad news. Things have been all over the map, and we as a band have had a few bad breaks and face a difficult road ahead. Externally we are near the height of our career. We are coming off our tying our highest charting single ever with Quicksilver, and have just started our own record label with Wishfire Records. Behind the scenes things have been wonderful… and terrible. We have made the transitions necessary to make the future very bright, but at the same time are putting out fires left and right. There has been a significant amount of stress generated by our fortunes as of late, but depending on how you look at things our lives are in peril… or better than ever:-) Those two things do happen together sometimes. Life has a strange duality in everything when you think about it.
Before I get into the meat of things, I just wanted to say that I just had a birthday. It was one of the better ones. Being born on July 4th (Independence day) means that people usually have something else to do. But my friends, my family, and my fans made it really nice for me.
Thanks:-)
We have relocated…
In April of this year we moved from Tallahassee Florida to Jacksonville Florida. The two cities are about 200 miles apart, but Jacksonville is a much bigger city (13th largest in the US by population, 1st in the contiguous US in terms of size ). It is located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, and centered around the St Johns River (Like the Nile, it is one of only a handful of rivers in the northern hemisphere which flows north). Its beautiful here; beaches, wetlands, the River etc. Additionally, its nice to be in a city with a skyline… although we will definitely miss Tallahassee. (But not the heat. It is still very hot here, but with the ocean it averages about three degrees less than Tallahassee during the summer… yay!)
Jessica and I have moved into an amazing house built in 1904 in one of the historic districts; we really love it. Its gorgeous. Just the kind of place We have always wanted.
The neighborhood has made us feel very welcome. Some of the other band members now live a block over from us, and the studio is very close to everyone. Speaking of which, the new studio has finally been finished, and I believe that the move will provide an exceptional situation for us in the future. The band is very happy in the new studio, and it is far better set up than anything we have had in the past. Here… take a peek:-) The next album will be from here…
2010, so far has been… well, hmm…
Most of our fans are aware that Cruxshadows was robbed in the beginning of the year. We have tried to keep from overreacting, but the reality is that the theft took us to the brink, and even now the future seems uncertain and difficult. They got all of our tour earnings, and we still have debts that we have been unable to cover, and equipment that still needs to be replaced or paid for. Many of you have helped us out, and your support is greatly appreciated. We are thankful that we have such a loyal and supportive fan base. Without you I am not sure how we would have kept going.
But there are additional difficulties that have served to compound things. Without going into the details too much, Cruxshadows has been tied up in a “legal dispute” with some of our former business partners that has had a fairly negative impact on our ability to tour, release music, and sustain ourselves financially. It’s frustrating, for me in particular. I have put so much blood, sweat, and tears into CXS… so much of myself. To others my art is just dollar signs. I have tried to make all the right choices, but in the end it seems all of those cliches about the music industry are more or less true. It sucks, but we are confident that the law is on our side, and we will do whatever is necessary to protect our rights.
So all that combined with the theft and then the move, have made things very difficult for us this year. Apparently when it rains it pours.
But we are still here, and we are not giving up. We will hang in there and find a way to connect the dots. When the going gets tough… you know the rest:-)
The future belongs to the brave.
Changes…
Yes, you guessed it, we have been shuffling and regrouping… again. While the core of the band has stayed firmly in place, weathering our relocation and a slew of other difficulties, we did lose guitar player Cassie Luger, as well as dancer Stephanie Griffith. I can’t help but wonder if the robbery was kind of a wake up call. Stephanie had only signed on temporarily to fill in as a dancer when we found ourselves in a pinch. She wants to go into law; you can’t argue with that. We were still sorry to see both of them leave us, but they each cited their desire to return to school. We wish them the very best.
Much success to you both.
But without any further delay, I bet you were wondering who those new faces on the masthead were…
Our new Guitar player will be Mike Perez. Mike is an excellent guitarist who came to us from Miami. We met him in Tallahassee before we moved, and we decided to make him a part of the band. He’s a genuinely good guy, and I have to say that he has jumped right in with both feet. He has made himself a real part of the team, and we are looking forward to playing shows with him this month. His comfort and mastery over the instrument make him a joy to work with, and his laid back demeanor is a nice addition to the bands social dynamic.
We have also added dancer Jenne Vermes. Jenne (pronounced kind of like “Jenny”) is an award winning dancer and dance-instructor whose wide range of talents made her a must have choice for CXS. She plays half a dozen (or more) instruments, but she really shines as a dancer. Jenne is a no nonsense personality who gets things done. Her dance skills make her one of the most technically gifted dancers we have ever had. She has demonstrated a real skill for learning and executing new choreography with ease. We believe she will be something special on the left side of the stage:-)
I ask that all of our fans give these new band members a warm welcome and all of their support. It is reallly difficult to just jump into someone elses shoes, and it requires real desire and courage. It is through their efforts we are able to stay the course and continue making music and playing live shows.
On the Road Again;
Today we leave for New York. Soon we will catch our flight to Germany and begin a fairly short tour (one month) that will be highlighted by our first appearance at the Amphi-Festival in Cologne (Köln) and a city festival in Rostock called the Hanse Sail Festival. Beyond that we will be playing a select few shows in Austria and Germany. These will be the only shows in Europe scheduled for this year. We want to ask our fans to please come out and support our concerts… and to bring a friend or two (or ten:-) ) if you can.
OK- We understand that many of you are used to Crüxshadows coming very close to your home city. We know that the economy is less than healthy at this point. We understand that the World Cup ate up everyone’s money! But it is important for the future of CXS that we get a really good crowd at these shows. If you can’t make it, please help us by spreading the word about the upcoming dates via your blog, facebook, myspace, twitter, and vampirefreaks if you can.
For those of you who don’t live in Europe, I’m sorry but we are unsure as to the status of our next US tour. We will be going on the road in America, but we want to have a new album before we commit to a long tour. An album of course takes time, but with the studio completed we are looking forward to getting things done quickly. We will be playing DragonCon which happens September 3rd through the 6th in Atlanta GA, and we will be returning to the Gothic Cruise which departs September 25th from Miami FL. Tickets for both events are still available from their respective web sites.
A Call to Arms…
So we are off again to conquer the world, and to spread our music across the globe. We are off to hopefully make a difference to someone somewhere. We are prepared for all the difficulties that may lie ahead, but we can’t really do it without you.
We need our fans more than ever. We need people who love the band and our music to make some noise. I know there is no new release yet (We’re working on it). I know the economy is down. I know it can be hard to believe in, or get excited about, anything these days. But if everyone could help us spread the word; text someone, email somebody, twitter your friends, or even link to our quicksilver video… well, it would make a difference. Ask the DJ at the club to play Cruxshadows, and if he doesn’t… ask again. Better yet, ask them to play the quicksilver single. Get people to watch the video… your mom, dad, neighbor, coworker, classmate, or favorite complete stranger. It all helps.
In the coming months we will make some of our older CDs available through Wishfire Records. The remastered recordings will give many of our early works the sound that they deserve. Look for the Wishfire Records name. When a CXS disc is labeled Wishfire Records, it means that most of the money actually makes it to Cruxshadows.
Thank you everyone. I look forward to seeing you on the road (or on the sea) soon.
Live Love Be Believe-
Rogue
Rogue, thanks for posting this extensive updated. I am saddened by all the crap you guys are going through, but all your fans, me included, appreciate your music, your art and will always be here to support you guys in any way we can. We will sit patiently and wait for a new cd and tour in the US and will be there at the front of the stage cheering you on and have the time of our lives.
I wish you all the best of luck on this tour. Although I wish it was in the US it is completely understandable with all you have been through why that is not possible right now. I have my ipod loaded with CXS music and my new CXS hoodie ready for when the cold months hit. Plus hopes for more music and a US Tour as you rebuild and come back stronger than ever. Be safe in your journey and I hope you pack the shows and gain new fans along the way. Best wishes.
Happy Birthday Rogue!! I love you guys! my husband, and I have seen you live a bunch of times (you danced with me once.i’ll never forget it). my b-day is also the 4th of july so i know how you feel. people are ALWAYS busy. i’m glad this year was a good one for you. we just had a baby (a new cxs fan if we have a say in his musical preferences lol) please come back to NYC we miss you. don’t let those theiving douches get you down. my hubby is NYPD. too bad he didn’t respond to the call. being a HUGE fan of yours i’m sure he would’ve worked extra hard to retrieve your stuff. hopefully everything will work out for the best. i hope to be at your next NYC (or even Philly!) show. love you!
Glad to hear you’re still looking up…
*sings* On The Road AGAINNNNNNNNNN
See you at DragonCon!
~Specter
Best of luck to you all on the tour! If you guys can weather this storm, you can make it through anything. much much love, and I look forward to the new CD and the US tour!
>But we are still here, and we are not giving up. We will hang in there and find a way to connect the dots.
THAT’s what I wanted to read the most 🙂
I followed all your news via twitter, myspace and your website this year and was very anxious about the future of CXS.
Now I am relieved and happy that you still seem to be able to do what you (and we) love the most: Wonderful music and shows!
I am sad to hear that Cassie and Stefi left but can’t wait to see the new faces!
I am very anxious to see you in Berlin this month (wanted to go to the Hanse Festival, but it interefered with my schedule and anyway, an own concert is much more fun ;))
I look forward to your new album and the new releases of the old (even if I have most of them already) and will surely reccomend everything to my friends once again 🙂
Last year, in Hanover, I told you, how Quicksilver saved my life and that holds still true.
Your music gives me hope, joy and encourages me to get out of bed every day.
I don’t know where I would be without you and I thank you so much for it.
I can’t even start to try to explain HOW thankful I am.
Well, all in all:
I can’t wait to see you in Berlin (and will bring a little late-birthday present for you!) and hope you will have a great tour!
So much love,
Jelena
I am ecstatic to hear about the upcoming remasters. I’ll preorder as soon as it becomes available. Your resolve never fails to impress. CXS forever.
Best wishes for the tour – and be careful if you stop in NY again for some grub;)
I look forward to being your Dragon*Con concert photographer (for the third year in a row!)
Live Love Be Believe!
-C-
Setbacks are only trials that make us stronger and wiser, loss is another way of remembering that we are alive with things left to do, and the future is indeed bright when looking through eyes of hope.
Keep up the amazing work- you all work harder than anybody I know and deserve the respect and adoration of your fans.
And as far as your friends, even those far away, we know you’re truer than your words and music can ever let on, and miss you tons. Looking forward to catching a tour date or two this go around. 🙂
I know what you mean about “when it rains, it pours.” I have had a similar year with many ups and downs. I’m glad to hear it’s not getting you down and you’re continuing to put your soul into your work! Your fans appreciate it! Music is my inspiration to keep myself going though life tries to beat me down. Thank you for continuing to inspire me!
I’m glad to hear you guys are on your own record label now; it seems like that’s the only way any music artist can put out a good album with as much creativity as possible and also earn any money at all from it. Sad that the music industry is what it is lately. Though I may not believe in the industry anymore, I still fully believe in the artists and performers, and will only purchase through mediums where I know you are getting what you deserve from it!
Can’t wait to see you in the States again! <3
Being agnostic, I don’t normally push my beliefs on anybody. Being a HUGE Crüxshadows fan, I push them on everybody. I think The Crüxshadows ARE for everybody. I’ve been able to get possibly a dozen or more to go out and buy a CD or two. Others I’ve at least got a hint of interest. My 4 year old son, for example, loves the music. Possibly more then me (I think). When I start playing music he jumps up and yells, “CRUXSHADOWS!” When he was a baby, the DVD Shadowbox was his lullaby. He would go to sleep to it every night. People need more Cruxshadows in their life. When you all come to Kansas City, I’m going to do what I can to get as many people to the show as possible. I’ll make flyers if I have to.
Me too!
Davey’s promotions department has gone so downhill in the past couple of years that it’s nonexistent. Let me know when you’re coming again, and I’ll be a faerie again locally, even without the wings!
Your hard work and the ability to overcome all the obstacles placed in your path make me Believe that you can Be who you truly are. A kind, hard-working, generous and genuine person. You will prevail and the band will play on. Brightest blessings and safe travels to you and the entire band.
Lots of love to you guys… I’m so sorry to hear you’re still having hard times. I know I’ll do what I can, and I’m sure lots of other fans will as well.
Happy birthday Rogue.
“We are off to hopefully make a difference to someone somewhere.”
You can be sure you made.
I wish you strenght to come through this hard time, really sorry, that the live doesn´t make it easy for you recently. Hang in there, I´m sure your true fans will support you, as much as they can. I know I will.
Your art is just this realy rare something, that touches ones soul, give you strenght and let you belive, not everything is lost for this world. I´m so glad I came upon your music a few month ago, it´s such a shame I didn´t earlier.
I like your german, Rogue 🙂 The show in Göttingen 3 days ago was just great, as I said.
And thanks for the hug 🙂
Interesting. discovered you guys thanks to author John Ringo. It was interesting to read about your move to Jacksonville and to see that you’re in Springfield. In fact your house looks a lot like the one I owned at 1517 Hubbard St.
Rogue, Jessica, and CXS family,
Thanks for all the wonderful lyrics and music! I know that you’ll enjoy Florida’s First Coast-my son lives there and loves it!
It has been said that adults hate change, yet from change comes growth. Often we don’t see through the immediate difficulty to comprehend the positive aspects of future outcomes. However, CXS has weathered some storms in the past; you will grow and evolve through these most recent hardships.
Enjoy the Goth cruise…remember to eat right and rest as often as possible (advice from Granny Goth!). be well…be inspired…be at peace.
Hello CXS,
I am a shiny new fan who was turned on to your group through a “Steampunk” club I belong to. They saw you at Dragon Con and posted photos. I have since bought your music through iTunes and have been enjoying it very much. I find the whole of the group, the look, the lyrics, the music (especially the amazing violins), and the show to be quite enticing. I feel drawn even. Though, I don’t know exactly why. Nonetheless, I wanted to say hello, send you well-wishes and ask you to take a look at my website. My husband and I collaborate on various projects, primarily costuming, but as artists we appreciate the talents of other creators of art as well. (There are also a lot of cats on the site as they are my “children”. I hope you enjoy them Jenne!)
Keep calm and stay focused.
Purrs,
J
This is a little late but Happy Birthday! (I know how you feel, holiday birthdays are sometimes crappy, I was born on Halloween but you make the best with what you have!) Also, I would like to wish you good luck. I hope that everything will work out. Everything just sucks so much right now but no matter what, your fans will always love you!
Hello,
I am very sorry for the waves knocking the band down. But as strong as the band is… I’m sure you can strongly swim over the waves and be back at the shore.
I just want to say thank you for so much for your work. Your work is what motivates me to go after my dreams. I’m happy to hear that your making a new album (that I’m happy to wait for.)
Can’t wait to see Cruxshadows in the US
much love!
<3 Marley Jayne (daughter) and Me