Busy, busy….let’s see…where did we leave off? We wrapped up with The Lives of Famous Men and sent them home to Oregon. Then we started mixing the new (yes…NEW) Buffalo Tom album. After that we spent a couple of days working on the Jason Bennett and the Resistance record. Which brings us more or less to the present. This week brings us Peabody, MA’s favorite son, Ryan Montbleau and his band. Martin Sexton is on the other side of the glass this time, rocking the producer’s seat. Ryan and crew’s sunny disposition has not been enough to disperse this patch of rainy gloom we are currently mired in, but they soldier on with their good vibe tune-age, regardless. Find out why these guys are so cheerful at www.ryanmontbleauband.com.

Next week we welcome back Joshua English in to track a new full length. You can pick up Josh’s previous record, ‘Kill For Sport’ on limited edition ‘cookie’s and cream’ colored vinyl right here via the Camp Street Records online super shop.

We’re smack dab in the middle of a seven song super set brought to you by 5 handsome young gentlemen that collectively refer to themselves as ‘The Lives Of Famous Men.’ TLOFM hail from the state of Alaska via Portland, Oregon…its seems that we’ve just about cornered the market on talented Alaskan imports (see fellow ‘Last Frontiersmen’, Portugal. The Man). Between trips to Trader Joes and various misadventures in temporary lodging, the boys have given the full sonic treatment to seven songs. Go to www.myspace.com/thelivesoffamousmen for more info and while you’re there, check out TLOFM’s performance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live.’

Brian Karscig (x-Louis XIV) of the Nervous Wreckords is in from sunny San Diego to enjoy some of our legendary East coast weather tantrums while mixing his new album with Anthony Saffery and Adam Taylor. It’s a banger…head knocks abound. Release date for this one is TBA, but don’t sleep on the ‘Nailbiter EP’ available from www.hispeedsoul.com. You can even work in a bit of philanthropy when you pick up the special edition ‘Fight Breast Cancer’ pink version of ‘Nailbiter’ with some of the proceeds going toward the American Breast Cancer Foundation. Good music for a good cause. Keep up with the Nervous Wreckords on www.myspace.com/thenervouswreckords.

Dave Godowski’s alter ego, John Shade is in the back room with Paul Q K adding vocals to last weeks’ recorded performance with the Neave String Quartet. We’ve got a full house and loving it! Next week ‘The Lives Of Famous Men’ come to Camp…we’ll tell you all about it. Don’t touch that dial…

The hardest working band in show biz is set for a March 2nd release of their 5th album, “American Ghetto.” This latest full length from Portugal. The Man was tracked right on the heels of the completion of ‘the Satanic Satanist’ down in our now deserted basement space here at Camp Street (we’ve since consolidated our operation). Anthony Saffery and Adam Taylor manned the ship. According to PTM chief, John Gourley, “The whole process of the American Ghetto recordings was basically a two week explosion of ideas followed by about 4 months of clean-up and focusing.” “We spent our nights out with Anthony’s family in Cambridge and our days in Camp Street just riffing off one another. It was a truly great experience and is, in my opinion, one of our most important albums.” Download the first single, “The Dead Dog,” right here. For more info on how to get “American Ghetto” and all things PTM, head over to www.portugaltheman.com

John Shade came in fresh off his month long residency at the Somerville Armory loaded for bear with a well rehearsed string quartet. Note to bands: coming into the studio after a heavy dose of live performances can be a very good idea. John Shade and the Neave String Quartet played like a well oiled acoustic dream machine capturing excellent versions of some of Shade’s best, including “So Long, Theresa,” and this humble author’s personal favorite, “Kingdom Come.” We’ll let you know how and when this recording will be made available to you, the listening public, when we get the scoop.

Invading the live room this week is one of 2010’s “Band’s To Watch” according to both the Phoenix and the Boston Herald. Endless Wave includes bassist/singer Andre Obin (Matters and Dunaway, Eyes Like Knives) as well as guitarist Tim Ryan and drummer Tucker Dawson. Catch the Wave (oh…that’s bad), March 10th at the Good Life on Kingston St. in Boston and see what all the fuss is about.

Long time, no speak…we’ve been enjoying a nice burst of productivity here at the Camp. Amongst the many happenings are a couple of top-notch Boston bands working on new tunes.

Jason Bennett and the Resistance are working on a fist full of hits. They’re gearing up to release the first single from this new batch, “The Patriot,” which will be accompanied by a video. Keep up on the venerable Mr. Bennett and his crew on myspace.com/jasonbennetttheresistance and catch them live March 7th at TT’s and at the ‘Boston Rules, Ok Festival’ at the Middle East Up on March 20th.

On the pop side of the room, This Blue Heaven is plugging away on the follow up EP to their debut full length, ‘Quicksandglass’. Get acquainted with the guys and gal of TBH at myspace.com/thisblueheaven and see them live and in color on March 19th at Church on Kilmarnock St in Boston.

If you’ve never heard of John Shade, don’t feel too tragically un-hip or out of the loop. He’s a brand new folk sensation whose live debut took place at the Music Hall of Williamsburg just last Saturday (see below). John tracked his debut full length, “All You Love is Need,” at Bon Iver’s April Base studios and mixed it here at Camp Street. We could describe the music using terms like ‘whimsical’ and ‘earnest’ and throw a ‘Beatle-esque’ somewhere in the mix, but John has enabled you to apply your own played-out, ambiguous music reviewing terminology by streaming the whole derned thing on www.johnshade.bandcamp.com. John Shade will be appearing every Thursday in February at the Somerville Armory on Highland Ave. For details go to www.johnshademusic.com.

Martin Sexton, spoke to Billboard Magazine about his recently completed full length, “Sugarcoating” due out on KTR Records in the spring. Martin describes his Camp Street experience: “‘It was live off the floor and organic, like I usually do,’ says Sexton. ‘They have all this vintage gear there…Every single thing was older than I am. We recorded it all, mixed it down to analog two-track to give it that tape warmth. It was all pretty old school.’ In addition to the musicians, Sexton also multi-tracked backing vocals in a variety of characterizations, which he’s dubbed the Cowboy Trio, the Soul Sisters, the Gay Men’s Chorus and the Arm of Islam.”

Look out, Jordanaires! Read the whole article online, here: www.billboard.com/martinsexton You can hear the many voices of Martin when ‘Sugarcoating’ drops on April 6th.

We’re feeling rested and well fed on the other side of the ‘09 holiday season. No resolutions were made, so none shall be broken. First up in the studio for 2010 are Brooklyn-based band, the Neon Kingdom, who are in with our pal, producer Josh Hager to add some sonic accouterments to their debut EP. The tunes are epically glam-tastic, featuring the soaring vocals of Chris Hall and the piano stylings of Paul Leschen, who’s resume includes playing piano on the Scissor Sisters’ debut album. Check out the sounds of the Kingdom at www.theneonkingdom.com

Looking to kick off your New Year with some quality live music? We’ve got a few suggestions for you, but instead of just listing the shows, we’re going to take a page from all of these Lala and Lastfm and Pandora websites and try to figure out what you like. We’re going to narrow down the scope by examining your musical tastes and extrapolating which show you’d be more likely to enjoy based on the first record in your alphabetically organized record collection. Ok….here we go..

If AC/DC is the first record in your collection:

You love top notch rock and therefore will have a great time seeing guitar heroes, The Upper Crust and the Gentlemen (x-Figgs) play at Church on Kilmarnock street in Boston.

If ABBA is the first record in your collection:

You just might dig the funky disco rock boogie of the Bodega Girls, who will be whooping it up at the Good Life on Kingston Street with NYC’s Ninjasonik and several other party bringers.

If Aaron Carter is the first record in your collection:

You need to stay home and reorganize your record collection. This record should clearly be in with the ‘C’s and not the ‘A’s. Actually, you need to stay home and rethink your life. Why do you own an Aaron Carter record? I mean…I could see it if it were 1998 and you were a twelve year old girl, but clearly that isn’t the case. No New Year’s Eve show for you…just a good old fashioned record burning.

Happy New Year from all yer pals at Camp Street Studios!!