Hey ya’ll. It’s been such a creative time lately. Besides turning into a total comedy nerd and listening to a lot of Marc Maron, I have been working on a new set of recorded music that we are looking to release in the early part of 2012. I’m going on a train ride tomorrow so I just spun down all the roughs to listen to and as of now over 20 recordings of both new originals and covers that we have been performing of the last two years. Yikers-island!?!?!??! The covers range from Hendrix to the Fleet Foxes. Even a couple things that I didn’t think worked came out really great. Hold tight. I promise you I am working hard on getting these out there. One of the reason that I’m behind on all of that is because we recently produced our first video project. Seven more tunes there – playing live and basking in the light (literally) of my boy Brad Fields lighting direction. That cat makes me look I’m napping 24/7, but not on the video. Very lucky we could even make all the schedules work out and the project ALMOST got completely derailed by David Bowie and the ghost of Freddy Mercury. (More on that another time.)

Also had the opportunity to play with some of my favorite NYC musicians recently OUTSIDE of MY BAND. Opportunities like this might be the biggest reason that I’m still in NYC. Rhythm section madness with the likes of Solomon Dorsey, Andy Hess, Jesse Murphy and Shawn Pelton. Big fun.

We married of the Joster a few months back which was great and Wentworth is falling soon also. Luckily no calls to play in any wedding band just yet……

Gonna be playing some showcases in NYC in January for the APAP Conference. Those will be in the shows page. We will be gearing up BIG TIME with shows after the record is released. Stand tight and thanks for hanging in there with us.

I love making music with these guys so much. To Brad, Jost and Brook – here’s to 2012. Love, Bellar

 

 

 

We have had an AMAZING year. Simple as that. To all who have come to shows and continue to support our thing. THANKS!!!

We did 60 shows in 14 states. (including 3 festivals, a headlining show at SXSW, one full length modern dance score and one incredible college residency at Presbyterian College in SC (go Blue Hose!!)

Here’s a link to some free downloadable LIVE bootlegs from this year. http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Michael+Bellar+and+the+As+Is+Ensemble%22

Lots of shows north AND south in January including 3 shows with OLIVER WOOD of the Wood Brothers. What?!?!?! Please help spread the word and tell all your peeps. And don’t forget that the latest CD – Turned On Turned Up is avail everywhere and would make a GREATTTTTT holiday gift. Links are below. Thanks. See you at a show. MB http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=330320309&s=1 http://michaelbellar.com http://facebook.com/michaelbellar.asisensemble

Hey ya’ll. What a great summer for the band. Had our first shows in Texas, Missouri and Kansas. Plus a tour with Kellin Watson and more shows in NC, SC, CT, NH and VT.

We are stoked to have the opportunity to play EVERY SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER in NYC, in residency at the Rockwood Music Hall. Each week will have a different slant musically. Check out the lineup below. So tell a friend. We promise to shower either before of after each show!!!! Thanks. Michael

hey ya’ll…..actually doing lot’s of nyc shows in the next couple months…check it and come on down. also been working getting together a record for the wonderful and saucy singer/songwriter kellin watson from the nc. check her out. going to be doing some shows with her this summer.

Michael Bellar/the AS-IS Ensemble will release their new CD “Turned On Turned Up,” on September 15th 2009. Yes yes, it’s been way too long but oh my it’s good. Couldn’t be happier about it. It’s gonna be available pretty much everywhere thanks to the good people at MRI/RED. We are going to be doing a CD release tour that includes shows in NYC at DROM on Sept 15th and opening gigs for Medeski, Martin Wood and Tea Leaf Green?!?!?!?