THE PASSING
PARADE
News from Think Tank Media
The official newsletter of Erik Norlander, Lana Lane and Rocket
Scientists
Welcome to THE PASSING PARADE
Issue #9: October 9, 2008
Caps are for emphasis only.
No table of contents which means you have to
read the entire issue to find out everything that's happening.
:-)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
A NOTE FROM ERIK
Hello and welcome again to the latest issue of The Passing Parade, our aperiodical newsletter covering the activities of our Think Tank Media artists. To lead things off, we have some new web store announcements. First, we are happy to offer the new Rocket Scientists t-shirts in the web store. These are high quality t-shirts, in men's AND women's styles, with a beautiful 60s San Francisco - style psychedelic rocket ship design by our friend, Ohio artist John Troxell. The back of the shirt has the large RS logo emblazoned as well. Next, we have some steeply discounted stock of the European version of the 2CD Lana Lane Special Edition titles. These are the Ballad Collection, Love is an Illusion, Curious Goods and Garden of the Moon -- Lana's first four releases. These are the now out-of-print editions from Pseudonym Records in The Netherlands, and they use the thick double CD case (about the size of 2 regular CD cases). The track listing and booklets are the same as the USA Think Tank Media versions. These Pseudonym versions will be offered at $9.99 until they are gone. So if you want to complete your Lana Lane collection, here's a good chance. We are also continuing the sale of the Transmission Records Digipak version of the Lana Lane Covers Collection from 2002 -- we still have about a box left of these out-of-print editions. If you enjoyed the Gemini CD (released in late 2006), then you should definitely check out the Covers Collection as well. We are also happy to announce the new Best of Lana Lane 2000 - 2008 release which will be available in our web store in November. This is a Japanese - only 2CD title that is the next volume to the Japanese 1999 release, Best of Lana Lane 1995 - 1999. We are importing a few boxes of these to make them available worldwide. Please understand that they will be a bit more expensive than our usual 2CD titles since they are Japanese imports and not domestic releases. Best of Lana Lane 2000 - 2008 contains 29 songs, all remastered, along with some special previously unreleased bonus material. Meanwhile, on the Rocket Scientists front, we recently finished some concerts in the northeast, concluding at the 3 Rivers Prog Fest in Pittsburgh, PA. We had a great time at the festival and would like to send our compliments to organizer Howard Levy for putting on such a successful and well - run event. I've also been touring with ASIA featuring John Payne, landing in some spots in the Midwest for some great shows. We'll be playing in California in October and November, and then out to Florida after that. Hope to see you at one of these shows! Oh, and I hear that the Military Man CD EP from ASIA featuring John Payne will be released in January 2009. It sounds really great with some very cool new recordings of "Military Man", "Long Way From Home" and "Neurosaur". I'm a bit partial to that last one, of course ... ;-)
Best wishes,
Erik Norlander
El Dorado Hills, California, October 2008
______________________________________________________________________________________________
THINK TANK MEDIA WEB STORE NEWS
The new Limited Edition Rocket Scientists t-shirts are here! High quality men's AND women's t-shirts now available in the web store. US $21.99
The following CDs will be steeply discounted until stock runs out:
CDP-1078 Lana Lane - Ballad
Collection Special
Edition US $9.99
Out of print Pseudonym Records European version in thick 2CD case
(size of 2 single CD cases). Track listing and booklet is identical
to Think Tank Media USA version. This version released in
2000.
CDP-1080 Lana Lane - Garden
of the Moon Special Edition US $9.99
Out of print Pseudonym Records European version in thick 2CD case
(size of 2 single CD cases). Track listing and booklet is identical
to Think Tank Media USA version. This version released in
2002.
CDP-1081 Lana Lane - Curious Goods
Special Edition US $9.99
Out of print Pseudonym Records European version in thick 2CD case
(size of 2 single CD cases). Track listing and booklet is identical
to Think Tank Media USA version. This version released in
2002.
CDP-1079 Lana Lane - Love is
an Illusion Special Edition US $9.99
Out of print Pseudonym Records European version in thick 2CD case
(size of 2 single CD cases). Track listing and booklet is identical
to Think Tank Media USA version. This version released in
2001.
TMD-031 Lana Lane - Covers
Collection US $9.99
Out-of-print Transmission Records European Digipak version. Track
listing and booklet is identical to Think Tank Media USA
version. This version released in 2002.
Please visit the web store at https://secure.assurebuy.com/98058/98058.htm
______________________________________________________________________________________________
photo by Raj Naik
LANA LANE NEWS
We are pleased to announce the Japanese release of Best
of Lana Lane 2000 - 2008, a 2CD compilation containing 29 songs,
all remastered, along with an extensive full-color booklet with
lyrics, photos and thorough liner notes. Previously unreleased bonus
tracks are of course included. This is the follow - up to the first
volume, Best of Lana Lane 1995 - 1999. Both titles are released on
the Avalon label in Japan only. Best
of Lana Lane 2000 - 2008 will be released in Japan on October 21,
2008. We are importing some units for sale in the Think Tank Media
web store in early November (or maybe the very end of October,
depending on the post office).
• MYSPACE: Be sure to add Lana Lane as a friend on
her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/eriknorlanderandlanalane
and check out the songs posted there.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
ROCKET SCIENTISTS NEWS
Did we mention the new t-shirts? Please forgive us. These look so
good -- we are just so proud of them! :-)
Rocket Scientists recently played several concerts around the country
with the last one at the 3 Rivers Prog Fest in Pittsburgh, PA. Thanks
to all who attended these great shows. There are photo galleries on
the Think Tank Media web site from the Bay Area Rock Fest as well as
from previous concerts at Rotherham Rocks (UK), Baja Prog (Mexico)
and The Winchester Theater in Cleveland, Ohio.
A new Rocket Scientists live release is in the works. More news to
come ... please stand by!
• ROCKET SCIENTISTS BANNER AVAILABLE
Check out the banner posted on the Think Tank Media site and the MySpace profile. If you would like your own copy of the banner, please email SergeEnt@aol.com for the html code.
• MYSPACE: Rocket Scientists have a MySpace page located at http://www.myspace.com/rocketscientistsband so please be sure to add them as a friend and check out the full-length songs posted there. We have a banner we'd be happy to send to you for your own MySpace page if you would like to help support Rocket Scientists - just send your request to SergeEnt@aol.com and we will send it to you.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
ERIK NORLANDER NEWS
Erik continues his work with ASIA featuring John Payne. The band has played several great shows across the USA, and in October and November they will finally play in California followed by a jaunt out to Florida:
- Saturday, October 24 - October Wildfire Benefit Show / Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA 9PM http://www.rbunited.com
- Friday, November 14 - The Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills, CA 9PM http://www.canyonclub.net
- Sunday, November 16 - Ribfest (Main Stage), Vinoy Park on the waterfront, St. Petersburg, FL http://www.ribfest.org
The report from the band is that the ASIA
featuring John Payne Military Man CD EP to benefit
the USO will be released in January 2009. Please visit http://www.theasiaband.com
for official details, new tour dates and fan reviews of recent
shows.
Disclaimer: Asia Featuring John Payne is not affiliated with Think
Tank Media
• MYSPACE: Be sure to add Erik as a friend on your myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/eriknorlanderandlanalane
______________________________________________________________________________________________
ON THE WEB
Below is a list of just some of the places to find Erik Norlander, Lana Lane and Rocket Scientists info on the Internet.
http://www.lanalane.com
http://www.myspace.com/eriknorlanderandlanalane
http://www.myspace.com/rocketscientistsband
http://www.youtube.com/ThinkTankMediaMusic
Mark McCrite's MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/markmccrite
Don Schiff''s MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/donschiff
The Asia featuring John Payne MySpace page is located at http://www.myspace.com/asiafeaturingjohnpayne
The Asia featuring John Payne web site is located at http://www.theasiaband.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________
REVIEWS
Visit the Rocket Scientists - Looking Backward press page here - http://www.thetank.com/rslb.htm
Visit the Lana Lane - Red Planet Boulevard press page here - http://www.thetank.com/llrpb.htm
Visit the Lana Lane - Gemini press page here - http://www.thetank.com/llgem.htm
Visit the Erik Norlander - Hommage Symphonique press page here - http://www.thetank.com/enhs.htm
Visit the Rocket Scientists - Revolution Road press page here - http://www.thetank.com/rsrr.htm
Visit the Erik Norlander - Live in St. Petersburg press page here - http://www.thetank.com/ensp.htm
Special thanks to the journalists and editors who provide CD coverage for Erik Norlander, Lana Lane and Rocket Scientists.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
RADIO
Below is a sampling of the many radio shows and stations worldwide that are spinning Erik's, Lana's and Rocket Scientists' CDs.
INTERNET
Silent Planet Radio
Prog Positivity
Independent Nation
Neverending Wonder Radio
WRPS (WebRadioPugetSound)
Soundscape/Dividing Line
Epic Prog with The Lurker
Audities of Perelandra
Progressive Soundscapes Radio
Gagliarchives
Point of No Return
TERRESTRIAL
Afterglow
High Octane Radio
Canvas Prog Hour
The Soupy Gato Show
The Trip/WRFL
Progrockradio
Prog-Rock Diner
Aural Moon
Floydscape
Netteradio
Eleventh Hour
WCSB
WJCU
WRUW
WBWC
WRKC
WRAS
KEIF
InterstellarOverdrive
Soupy Gato Hour
WomensRadio.com
Distant Early Warning (Canada)
ProgDog (Canada)
ProgDependent (Germany)
PROTON (Germany)
Radio Rock Art (Germany)
Radio Jade (Germany)
Radio Powerplant (Germany)
Radio Emsland (Germany)
Radio afk max Nürnberg (Germany)
Radio Basile (Italy)
MasMusicFM (Mexico)
ProgWereld (The Netherlands)
Symfomania Rockshow (The Netherlands)
Symfozone (The Netherlands)
Spectrum (The Netherlands)
Los recuerdos del unicorno (Madrid, Spain)
Overloaded 89.9 FM (UK)
The Noise Hour at LA MEGA 99.5 FM Radio (Venezuela)
And many more ...
Special thanks to all the DJs who provided and continue to provide airplay for the Think Tank Music projects.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
DISCUSSION GROUP
The musicians and fans of Lana Lane, Erik Norlander and Rocket Scientists would love for you to join their web discussion group on Yahoo Groups. It is a nice summit of fans, friends and musicians (including Erik Norlander, Mark McCrite, Don Schiff and Lana Lane) from all over the world. The posts cover all things Lana Lane, Erik Norlander and Rocket Scientists, and the messages are posted in English. The musicians participate in the group and posts often. The list is moderated by Mike Alvarez (USA) and Marcel Haster (Europe), creator of the Escher's Staircase fan site. The group is called "Lana Lane and Erik Norlander", but it is also the official Rocket Scientists group as well.
The Yahoo Group is located at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LanaLane_ErikNorlander/
To join the group, go to the link above and enter your Yahoo ID (or sign up for one -- it's free). Or you can simply send an email to LanaLane_ErikNorlander-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and you will start receiving the group posts at the address you emailed from.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CD / DVD AVAILABILITY
You can order Lana's Red Planet Boulevard CD, Gemini CD and 10th Anniversary Concert DVD, Erik Norlander's Hommage Symphonique CD and Live in St. Petersburg DVD, the Rocket Scientists Revolution Road CD and Looking Backward box set and all of their available back catalog at http://www.thetank.com. Select titles are also available at progrockrecords.com and at CDBaby.com. International secure ordering and shipping.
In Europe, Think Tank Media titles are distributed by Bertus (Benelux) and Musea (France) and sold through Empire Music and Just For Kicks Music in Germany along with many other fine companies throughout Europe. Select Lana Lane titles are released on the Frontiers and Diversity Media labels in Italy and Germany respectively.
In Japan, Think Tank Media titles are nationally released by Marquee, Inc. on their Avalon and Belle Antique labels. http://www.marquee.co.jp
All CDs are also available for sale at shows so be sure to support independent music and purchase CDs for yourself and all your friends and family! Music is the gift that keeps on giving.
For our friends in the USA, please ask your local retailers to stock the CDs which are now distributed by ProgRock Records and Ryko Distribution.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
WHERE TO DOWNLOAD
Think Tank Media recommends http://www.mindawn.com for your primary digital download source. Many bonus tracks are available on Erik's, Lana's and Rocket Scientists' Mindawn pages:
Erik Norlander on Mindawn: http://www.mindawn.com/artists/ErikNorlander
Lana Lane on Mindawn: http://www. mindawn.com/artists/LanaLane
Rocket Scientists on Mindawn: http://www.mindawn.com/albums/281
Mark McCrite on Mindawn: http://www.mindawn.com/albums/1926
Here are some recent additions to Mindawn from Erik, Lana and
Rocket Scientists:
Rocket Scientists - Looking Backward: http://www.mindawn.com/albums/3882
Rocket Scientists - Revolution Road: http://www.mindawn.com/albums/2082
Lana Lane - Red Planet Boulevard http://www.mindawn.com/albums/3856
Lana Lane - Gemini http://www.mindawn.com/albums/2276
Lana Lane - 10th Anniversary Concert: http://www.mindawn.com/albums/1213
Erik Norlander - Hommage Symphonique: http://www.mindawn.com/albums/2274
Erik Norlander - Live in St. Petersburg: http://www.mindawn.com/albums/2460
You can also legally download the songs and albums of Lana, Erik and Rocket Scientists on the Apple iTunes, Yahoo Music, Rhapsody and Music Match services. Please avoid peer-to-peer file sharing services that violate international copyright law.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
OFFICIAL WEB SITE
For all things Erik Norlander, Lana Lane and Rocket Scientists, please check out the official Think Tank Media web site at http://www.thetank.com. You will also find info there about other projects released by the Think Tank Media group.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks so much for reading The Passing Parade. We appreciate your continued support. If you have any feedback, please email us at SergeEnt@aol.com. We always enjoy hearing from you. Remember to tell all your friends about the Erik Norlander/Lana Lane/Rocket Scientists newsletter and their music! Please invite them to join this mailing list.