FROM THE DESK OF BRAD SUNDRESS AND THE ALL NIGHT PARTY:

There were many reasons we cancelled our show at Desdemona, but for brevity’s sake I’ll list the main reasons…

1.) We found out we were playing Desdemona because we saw our name listed in the City Beat ad. We also found out WHEN and WHERE we were playing in the same way. If you are seriously promoting/organizing a festival, even in its infancy, that is not the way to inform your talent no matter what “level” they are at.  We never received any basic information about Desdemona; load-in time?, sound check?, storage?, parking?,guest lists?, etc.

2.) All the locals, apparently, were to have received an email with all the details about Desdemona. We received no such email; nothing at all. Nick Spencer insisted he sent them. He did not. He lied to us.

3.) No agreement or details were given regarding payment. We would have played for FREE if we had been approached in a manner that suggested Desdemona wanted us to perform. Something like, “Hi Sundresses, we’re really trying to start something great here in Cincinnati with the Desdemona festival and we really want you to perform. We may not be able to pay you, but we like your music and want to give you the opportunity to be a part of what we think is going to be something really special.” Something along those lines would have worked, but that never happened. When I asked Nick Spencer to tell me why The Sundresses should play Desdemona, his response was (with a tone of indignity), “Well, if you dont wanna play, just don’t play.” Well, fine, if we’re not worth YOUR time, you’re not worth OURS, Nick. 

4.) A festival like Desdemona is a good idea, but after dealing with Nick Spencer it’s obvious to me that he is not a good enough businessman to organize and promote such an event on such a low budget. No one I spoke to had any clue what was going on and the buck kept getting passed, always ending up with, “Well, I don’t know, Nick Spencer’s the guy you wanna talk to; this is his event.” Even the police officers expressed to me thier dissatisfaction with how things were being run.

5.) Nick Spencer could not look me in the eye when I finally caught up to him to ask him for some basic information. Personally, I consider that an insult if you are doing business with another man.

**Our sincerest apologies go out to those of you who may have gone to the festival hoping to hear Sundresses perform. We hope you understand that we cancelled because we were not treated like serious artists who are trying to do this for a living.  I would hope you would do the same thing in such a situation.  This is not our hobby, nor do we make our art exclusively for want of a good time.

Desdemona did not care if we played or not, so, we went to our practice space and worked on new material instead of wasting our time.

As ever,

~Brad Sundress~

http://www.thesundresses.com

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1. anon says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  01:00 pm | #

   Headline spelling! Cites, not “sites.”

2. JoeRo says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  01:10 pm | #

   Here we go again…

3. f says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  01:20 pm | #

   lets see front page now has negative references to gothard, spencer and both heimlichs.  The world is in perfect harmony

4. says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  01:36 pm | #

   Thanks for catching the spelling.  This is what happens when you try to update a website between putting a kid down for a nap and going out to mow the lawn!

5. says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  01:37 pm | #

   JoeRo, f:

   Please note that this is a media release from The Sundresses.  I do not know The Sundresses.  But I found their release entertaining, and I thought some readers here might as well!

6. says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  02:14 pm | #

   “We would have played for FREE” got me excited!  Searched LimeWIre for your music, I am certainly interested, and would derive satisfaction, listening to songs that, as your Web-site describes, deal with “the wretchedness of the American government” Search of Lime Wire found “The Love Song” unfortunately download stated “Need More Sources”.  I’ll try again later.

   If bands are interested in playing for the exposure I will become a promoter, I would not have any of my events in the city of Cincinnati though, too much government wretchedness.  Norwood, Cleves, Blue Ash/ Montgomery, Anderson Township and surrounding Ohio counties are possibilities.

7. says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  02:47 pm | #

   The Sundresses web page have some songs on it.  Did you find that link, Trevor Moonbow?

8. WhinyRockStarWannabesSuck says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  04:27 pm | #

   I can honestly say that I will never *ever* listen to The Sundresses again. What poor attitudes about absolutely everything. I’m sure Nick had it out for them. Just because there is some miscommunication doesn’t mean you should be pointing the finger at someone trying to get you exposure. If it was so poorly organized and planned, I would think other bands would have similar words...but they don’t. As far as I know and am concerned, the 29 other bands (including any of the bands to whom I talked, and bands to whom others have talked) have been overwhelmed and delighted that the event has been so enjoyable.

   Quote from Brad Sundress:  “When I asked Nick Spencer to tell me why The Sundresses should play Desdemona...”

   Why even ask? It’s your opportunity to gain exposure. The consistent bitter, “we’re too good for you” bullsh*t attitude ensures that I will trade in my Sundresses CD, delete their mp3s, and advise absolutely no one to check them out. Oh, and rest assured that I will cite my reasons.

   You’re too good for no one, Sundresses. I’m glad you earned no percentage of my money. Fade into (further) obscurity...please.

9. Telegram Sam, et al says:
   25 Jun 2006  at  04:41 pm | #

   f is for f inney…

10. JoeRo says:
    25 Jun 2006  at  06:47 pm | #

    Nowhere in Cincinnat, eh, Trevor? Last I checked, Northside Tavern is in Cincinnati…

11. f says:
    25 Jun 2006  at  07:51 pm | #

    telegram sam is for fucking moron

12. Brockelmann says:
    25 Jun 2006  at  08:42 pm | #

    f is for f inney!

13. says:
    25 Jun 2006  at  08:50 pm | #

    Dean, I noticed the “music” link, however, I do not wait for music to download merely to listen, I take pleasure bringing together different music styles assembling CD’s for various entertainment purposes.  Unable to save Sundresses web-site music I can not use it.  I will take this moment to mention I don’t use Beacon’s video excerpt features, do not have the patience, why not provide audio only? A photo is more than enough visual.

    JoeRo, you are correct, North Side is still in Cincinnati, too bad huh?  I believe most property owners in the area would vote for ceding from the city.  I will not promote events within the City of Cincinnati’s boundaries, the governments wretchedness is unhealthy.

    Mr. Brad Sundress has a right to be angry, I will not be as cruel to groups performing at my events.

14. quim says:
    25 Jun 2006  at  10:12 pm | #

    Brad and Nick are probably using Outlook.

15. says:
    25 Jun 2006  at  10:38 pm | #

    trevor:

    Sorry to hear you have had problems with the video features.  For me, they are instantly available to watch.  But I do have a high-speed connection.  And I also have Flash.

    Why not have downloadable mp3s?  Well, quite frankly, that would be an extra step—exporting the video audio content—and then where would I host it?  The great thing about YouTube and Google Video is the free bandwidth!

16. hometown says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  06:51 am | #

    Dean;
    How successful was your protest of the event?  As I recall, you were going to stage a protest because of the name Desdemona.

17. says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  07:02 am | #

    That was before I realized he planned Desdemona for the same weekend as The Greek Festival.

18. matt says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  07:36 am | #

    Leslie and David were slinging fried cheese at the Greek Festival on Friday.  As far as I could see Leslie was not on her crackberry.

19. Brendan says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  08:01 am | #

    Hm.  I was wondering about the protest march too.

    I guess all it takes is a little baklava and your most cherished progressive causes get thrown by the wayside, Dean.

20. Zorba says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  08:25 am | #

    You guys are way off base about Jason. That bit about a protest march wasn’t to be taken litearlly--or seriously for that matter. It’s what we call “political theater” or “a hobby”. Of course he chose his white ethnicity over a protest March. Race isn’t really important to Jason My Main Man. It’s just a way of making points, a card to play.

21. says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  09:22 am | #

    Brendan, this was half-serious at best.  Hardly a “cherished progressive cause.”

    But, yes, I do balance that kind of stuff with my personal life.  With my best friend in town from Arizona, and the Greek festival (which I have attended every year my whole life), or the idea of going to bother Spencer—well, what would you have chosen?

    Zorba—my “white ethnicity”?  I’m not Greek.  And hell, Greeks just barely made the “cut,” back when the Founding Fathers decided who would be white!

22. Zorba says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  09:42 am | #

    Jason My Main Man in this own words:
    

    half-serious at best

23. Perhaps says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  10:34 am | #

    It took some time, but I believe Jason came to realize that Desdemona was a good thing for the city.  Afterall, he did have a Desdemona ad on this site for awhile.

    This may have been Jason’s way of saying “I judged the event inccorectly and chose not to admit it publicly.  Instead, I will enjoy the Greek Festival with my family and friends rather than harass Nick.”

24. says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  11:40 am | #

    I did have a banner up for a while (until I saw it was messing with the site layout in Microsoft IE.)

    I think the event had potential for the City.  And, after communicating civilly with Spencer for a while, and seeing how he was treated by the City and the corporate press, I changed my attitude.

    Then I got that press release from the Sundresses.

    I’m waiting to hear how the event went, so I can judge the full picture of the event, and what may have caused it to turn out how it did.

    I haven’t heard yet…

    But, really, the Greek festival is a long-standing tradition.  Think what you want.  I needed a gyro, and beer, and baklava, and to watch the dancing!

25. says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  03:05 pm | #

    FROM THE DESK OF BRAD SUNDRESS AND THE ALL NIGHT PARTY: we end at the
    the Greek Festival, Dean,you have taken this trip too far.

26. Homeless Maul says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  03:11 pm | #

    I am begining to think that the Dean is critical of Nick Spencer.

    That band member needs to get over himself.  “I am an artist.  I need respect.  You need to beg and coddle me and tell me I am important” Wah Wah Wah.  What that guy needs is a ballsack that he can keep some real live testicals in. 

    F’in grow a pair, especially if your name is Sundress.  Brad Sundress?  How far into the hormone replacement threapy is this guy?  Is it to late to come back, is the damage done?

    This guy just took the Nancy-boy title right away from Andrew Warner.

27. says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  04:36 pm | #

    While reading ~Brad Sundress~’s judgement that Nick Spencer is a poor businessman, I couldn’t help but wonder if ~Brad Sundress~ is just stupid.
    How could he burn bridges over such a trite misunderstanding? If I were a promoter and I read what he stated and how he stated, I wouldn’t touch him or his group with a ten foot poles. What kind of businessman would do that? Where does ~Brad Sundress~ get the gaul to evaluate any person’s business acumen?

    Where is Nick Spencer’s side of this story???

    Why did the Dean post this obvious smear? This is no longer an open forum so Dean would have to have had to accept it. Is the Dean so hard up to post something that he would post this kind of obvious trash? This doesn’t enhance the prestige of this blog. Is there something personal here?

    How about telling us of the specific treatment that the City of Cincinnati gave Nick Spencer?

    Dieter

28. Glue Bill says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  07:51 pm | #

    It’s all Leslie Ghiz fault!

29. says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  08:09 pm | #

    Dieterschmied asks “Where does ~Brad Sundress~ get the gaul to evaluate any person’s business acumen?“ Reviewing the post, “The Dohoney Interviews:  Tarbell. Ghiz, Berding, Bortz” we read Dieter has the temerity to state, “I think it laughable the Jim Tarbell is hung up on accreditation“, then has the gall to add, “He was a poor or mediocre businessman and he is a mediocre councilman.” The most important essential detail contained in Brad Sundress and Dieterschmied’s postings is independent thought, each is entitled to their opinion.

    In my opinion, from what Mr. Sundress writes, he has been treated badly.  Learning you are expected to perform from an advertisement is outrageous.  What I have read about Desdemona signals Nick Spencer has difficultly communicating, surprise charges from the city to failure to notify performers.  It is easy to see why Mr. Spencer continues his attempts to be elected to Council, He wants to climb on the gravy train.

30. jeremy from the sundresses says:
    26 Jun 2006  at  11:39 pm | #

    wow.

    okay, brad has a ton of ballsack, maybe too much, hence the cancellation. what this boils down to is this, the sundresses often get treated better in other cities than we do at home. i think what happened(i wasnt there) was brad wanted nick to at least be polite and helpful,and nick was an asshole. its hard to be a bigger asshole than me or brad, so that is what happened. it sucks to be treated with respect and kindness away, and have most promoters at home treat you like “local band x”.

    the obscurity comment shows just how this attitude plays at home in cincinnati.

    i apologize to any of the five hundred people that were at the stage waiting for the sundresses to perform,perhaps if i were the one to have talked to nick things would have been different, but it was brad. please feel free to join us for one of our free shows in cincinnati, and please feel free to download some of our songs from our myspace page.

31. Homeless Maul says:
    28 Jun 2006  at  09:10 am | #

    Brad is a nancy boy.  If he had a ballsack he wouldn’t be sending out whinny press releases.  What was the point of that?  Did he hurt your wittle feelings?  Is he a big meanie?

    Grow a f-in pair dude.  You guys didn’t make the cut.  Take it like a man.

32. jeremy from the sundresses says:
    28 Jun 2006  at  02:52 pm | #

    actually, we did make the cut, 9:00 p.m. on friday.

    whatever, i think brad made a mistake because nick was obviously gonna be a cock about anything anyone approached him with. but you, anonomous person with the post above this one can certainly suck my cock.

33. Urbanists II is dead says:
    03 Jul 2006  at  04:40 pm | #

    I wonder if any Spencer defenders have ever had a conversation with him?  I don’t know the Sundresses’ music or their members, but their account of the situation reeks of vintage Spencer.  Maybe Nick should stick to blogging about himself on his autobiographical shrine site?