Climbing The Charts

Well who’s ready for some stuffing? I am, but we’re just a blog, so all we can give you is word stuffing for your hungry reading brain. Dinner is served!

In the spirit of Casey Kasem, Offbeat Magazine has created a Top 40 List. As the year winds down, not only will we see plenty end-of-year wrap-ups, but also many end-of-decade wrap-ups as well. People love to reflect, and the staff at Offbeat is no different. They recently released their list of the Top 40 Albums of 2009. And, yeah, you’ll never guess who’s on it.

Right you are!

MNIJM’s The People That Come and Go has the good fortune to be included on this hefty list of heavy talents, and we are humbly grateful. 2008 was a great year that gave us an album we could be proud of, and now that 2009 (a hell of a year for MNIJM) is ending, it’s nice to see that all our hardwork is paying off. Here’s to 2010! What could possibly be next!

Stay tuned!

Much love

MNIJM

Po-Boy Pitchas

Happy Turkey Week, lovers. Did everyone else have as good a weekend as we did?

I sure hope so. Between NOIR Fest, Po-Boy Fest and the solo set extravaganza Sunday night, our weekend could not have been better. And just to touch on one of those items, Po-Boy Fest was a particularly blasty blast. And we weren’t the only ones who thought so. Over at iHeartNOLA.com, a website run by New Orleans natives who wish to take their readers “beyond the tourist traps and the tourist guides to show you the true way of life down here,” has put up a post regarding the pleasantness of their Po-Boy Fest experience. And hurray, we were included as a highlight! There’s also a sweet photo slide show. Check out the post here.

Thank you to iHeartNOLA.com, and everyone else who came out to see us this weekend. You made it a helluva weekend indeed.

Much love

MNIJM

One Mo Again!!!

KICKOFF TONIGHT!!!!

Ok Ok Ok, so all we got to say is….WHAT A WEEKEND IT WILL BE!

You probably know by now of all the MNIJM related happenings this weekend, festival appearances and solo shows and such, but we just wanted to remind you that it all starts TONIGHT!

One Eyed Jack’s – NOIR Fest III – Night 1
Doors at 9pm – $6 Day Pass – $9 Weekend Pass

Come out early to catch our very own Leo DeJesus initiating the evening under his solo banner Vox and The Hound. Stay out late to see the big, bad MNIJM blaze the burning stage with great vengeance and furious anger.

DOUBLE KICKOFF POWER!

Don’t be a loaf, Rock out to both!

Much love

MNIJM

I’ve Made My Reservation…

Howdy lovers. As you may already know, we’ve got quite a busy weekend coming up, and the fine folks over at Offbeat Magazine are helping to spread the word. On their website, they give a little a YouTube du Jour, and guess who is starring.

Us!

In order to help promote our festival appearances this weekend, they posted a video of us doing our short, serene rendition of Irma Thomas’ “Breakaway” at Tipitina’s. Head over to Offbeat in order to check out the vid. And head on out to One Eyed Jack’s tomorrow night (Friday) to witness the kick off of NOIR Fest III. It’s gonna be fiyaya!

Much love

MNIJM

Road Flicks: Austin, TX

What it is, lovers.

So this edition of Road Flicks highlights a very special film. One that mere explanation could not do justice. So I will try to dispense some kind words and then quickly default to the incredibly strong suggestion: “SEE THIS MOVIE!!!”

The movie in question is the blaxploitation spoof/homage Black Dynamite. During our last stay in New York, Richard and I actually dragged our butts outta bed and to the movie theatre to catch this mutha on the big screen. But we quickly decided that this was a movie that had to be seen by all. So our rascally resourceful tour manager Mr. Woods Drinkwater acquired it (completely legally….I guess), and we indulged in the ridiculousness that is Black Dynamite during our drive to Austin this past weekend.

Wow. That’s my entire review. One word. Wow. There’s nothing more you can say, besides (you knew it was coming) SEE THIS MOVIE!!! I’ve seen it twice and I’ll see it a million more times if anyone needs a date to the cinema. It’s still in limited release, but its slowly but surely spreading its afro across the nation. It’s not a question of “if,” but a question of “when.” I mean, if you don’t see it, it won’t really make sense to you when me and the rest of MNIJM walk on stage dressed like this….

My Name Is Leo

and I’m in MNIJM, can you dig it?

A Festive Weekend At Home

Howdy lovers. Ready for a festive weekend?

I hope so, because it’s happening whether you’re ready or not. Friday kicks things off with the return of NOIR Fest (New Orleans Indie Rock Festival). Night 1 includes not only MNIJM, but also Vox and The Hound (Leo DeJesus solo set), so don’t miss this party opportunity, ’cause NOIR Fests don’t grow on trees you know. Here’s the rundown:

NOIR Fest III

Friday, November 20 – One Eyed Jack’s – 9pm
Gamma Ringo
MyNameIsJohnMichael
One Man Machine
Vox and The Hound

Saturday, November 21 – Blue Nile – 9pm
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Giant Cloud
GIVERS
Loren Murrell

$6 Day Pass – $9 Weekend Pass
FREE Sampler CD: “Hipper Than Thou”

Please come out and show your support for the NOLA indie scene. It thrives because you drive, so let’s make it happen.

Oh, but the FESTivities don’t stop there, my friend. Sunday, November 22nd, we play the New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival on Oak Street. We’re joining the likes of Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes and Rebirth Brass Band to celebrate these fiiiiiiiiiine, fine sammiches. The party goes from 11am to 6pm, so come over and have a bite and a blast. We hit the Carrollton stage at 3:30pm. Let’s live it up this weekend, NOLA!

Happy Festivus!

Much love

MNIJM

Who’s Your Crawdaddy?

Happy Monday, lovers.

So today’s post is just a lil bit of catch up on the happenings of the end of last week as we left for the Lone Star state. We got a couple bits of press that we would love to share. First up, we have Crawdaddy! Magazine, the first U.S. magazine of rock music criticism. They happened to do a piece on little old us. In my humble opinion, it does a great job of highlighting our beginnings and forecasting our future. An all around good read (even if you’re not us).

“Tracks like ‘Character Piece’ and ‘Down Near the Lost and Found’ distance the group from an indie-rock scene increasingly saturated with acts more interested in crafting an aloof cool than conveying raw, palpable emotion. MNIJM prefers to bludgeon the listener with lush melodies, astir drumming, powerful hooks, and unrelenting passion.”

Well said, sir. Read the whole article here.

Also, Tulane University’s campus newspaper The Hullabaloo did a nice article on the New Orleans indie-scene in honor of the upcoming NOIR Fest this weekend. They had some pretty nice things to say about yours truly.

“Now a city staple, their hyper-catchy brand of dance-rock with a dash of New Orleans flair is a rare treat, especially delivered live.”

Read that whole article here.

Gotta love press love.

Much love

MNIJM

Every Man For Himself

Hello, lovers.

So we’ve got plenty of exciting things happening this weekend and next, and we’re just gonna add one more to the list, if ya don’t mind.

On Sunday, November 22nd, JM and Leo will both be playing solo sets along with Chris Rehm of Caddywhompus at Circle Bar. This trio of balladiers is sure to bring the house down (in an extra low-key, quietly destructive sort of way). Yes, this is the same day that MNIJM performs at Poboy Fest, but it’s all good. There are plenty of hours in the day, and plenty songs to sing. So strap on your late night Sunday pants and come hear some singer-songwriters sing the songs they wrote. If ya don’t, then what’s it all for anyway?

In summary: John Michael Rouchell, Leo DeJesus, and Chris Rehm, solo sets, Circle Bar, Sunday November 22nd. Be there, or puppies will cry.

Much love

MNIJM

Pix & Vidz: We Both Know The One

Good morrow, lovers. And how are we feeling this fine Wednesday?

Well we’ve got some goodies for you to chew on, either to turn your bad day around, or to make your good day even gooder (suck it, grammar!). First of all, last week, we shared some beautiful live photos taken at our Voodoo performance by the talented Ms. Julia Pretus. Well she has since posted a few of these pictures up on her photo blog. Seems like she’s just getting started with it, so even if you’ve looked at her photos of us a million times, hop on over to her page to get her traffic meter going. Show love to those who show love!

Secondly, and this is kind of neato, there’s an MNIJM music video of sorts floating on the interwebs. No, it’s not the music video we’ve been warning you about. And no, it’s not actually floating. It’s pretty stationary, and it’s here. Ben Reece of Deltree Studio edited some [amazingly beautiful] footage from our performance at Project 30-90 to an old recording of “The One.” Of all our tunes, Ben has always been fond of this particular jam, and we are so happy he has finally attacked it with his talents. Special thanks to him, and for all of you who will go watch it, now!

Much love

MNIJM

Hungry Hungry Hipsters, The Fest Is Back

Howdy doo doo, lovers!

Well, it’s that time again. Time for the New Orleans Indie Rock Collective to swoop in with sample sounds from the scene’s newest sensations!

Last year, around this time, we performed at the first NOIR Fest, and they have been gracious enough to ask us back. And believe you me, we are jumping at the chance. Positively leaping! This is a great way to witness what’s going on in the New Orleans indie rock scene. The collective (with the help of their sponsors, of course) puts on a hell of a party, and the sampler CDs they give away (this edition entitled “Hipper Than Thou”) are always a great snapshot of what’s buzzing in the Big Easy.

Some come out, come out! November 20-21, One Eyed Jack’s and Blue Nile, for all the festivities. Good friends, good times, and loads of talent, including the likes of Loren Murrell, Gamma Ringo, GIVERS, and…ahem….MNIJM. Looking at the flyer above, you may also notice that our very own Leo DeJesus (flying under his new banner Vox and the Hound) will also be playing a solo set. You gotta be kidding me!!!!

Don’t miss it!

Much love

MNIJM