...but why is a person like me unable to do anything in this world except dream or scratch at the violin, for which he possesses no talent?

After some patience and work, here is the go-round:


- my solo LP "Book of Ghosts" is available as of today from Vinyl Rites, Katorga Works (alone or with a package deal), and No Idea. I should be getting my personal copies within a week or so. Here's the description, written by the VR PR man:

"David has been cutting his teeth for 10 years in various bands around the Tampa area. Most recently he's been half of MERCHANDISE and a quarter of NEON BLUD, before that he was one of the primary song writers in CULT RITUAL, and all this time he has had 5+ other projects on deck. Very rarely do we drop the ex-members card at VINYL RITES, but having that kind of musical pedigree is pretty unbeatable. His first solo LP is wildly different from the aforementioned groups, although it shares some of the bedroom sensibilities that MERCHANDISE espouses so well. Luckily for all of us, great song writing transcends genre and with BOOK OF GHOSTS he explores more of the Creation Records and 4AD back catalog. His musical hombre ZZ compares it to FELT and TRANS era NEIL YOUNG. It seamlessly goes from intensely personal singer-songwriter numbers to huge and lush shoe-gazing darkness, from NEW ORDER pop to THIS MORTAL COIL downers. Not only our favorite release on VINYL RITES yet, but it's also the most hauntingly beautiful recordings we've heard in years."

the second track on the album:
d. vassalotti-death will one day rob us all by Vinyl Rites


- in addition to "Book of Ghosts," I've completed another full-length of instrumental music entitled "say hello to the devil for me (and other fragments)". this may or may not get released within the next year. i'm also at work on a follow-up to "Book of Ghosts" that also may or may not get released within the next year. see music vids below to attach a visual to this madness.


- Merchandise has been busier than ever this season. we're wrapping up production on a new LP, tentatively titled "Children of Desire." We are going to tour much of the USA (and maybe some Canada) in the spring, so be on the look-out for those dates.


- the Church Whip 7" has been recorded and should be out within the next few months via Corpse w/o Soul and Fallow Field. the "Psychedelic Nightmare" LP is in its infancy. touring plans for us as well, sometime in 2012 (hopefully sooner than later).


- the Dads (the Grateful Dads) "Bubular Tubes" single should be out any day now, but we're still awaiting the word. the LP is done and will probably get released mid-2012.


- Neon Blud's 2010 magnum opus "Discotheque Deathbed" will finally see the light of day next year via Vinyl Rites. Hear the kick-off track here: NEONBLUD#1 by Vinyl Rites


- per tradition, we're holding our annual Xmas Midnight show this 12/25 at Unit 19. the line-up consists of Russian Tsarlag, Church Whip, Merchandise, and the Dads. i didn't book it, so don't take me for being overly self-indulgent here.


- keep on the look-out for LA Bat, as well as Higgs and the French Man, the future saviors of rock and roll.


take care, y'all. next year's gonna be da one.

<3
shrimp narcissus.



vids:

d. vassalotti - l'ange de l'assassinat from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.

d. vassalotti - masks confronting death I from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.