Cincinnati Folk/Pop duo Ellery has recently announced a new “pricing plan” for its forthcoming album. Following in the footsteps of artists like Jill Sobule and Josh Freese (who recently took a $20,000 donor mini-golfing with the Maynard Krebs from Tool, among other fun perks), the band will be offering several tiers to fans that pre-order the CD. —-
The packages range from $25 (which includes an advance, autographed copy of the CD and access to an archive of rare Ellery tracks) to $2000, a package that includes free admission to all Ellery shows for a year, handwritten lyrics from the album, a free private concert and a song about you. That’s right – the band will write and record a song all about you, post it online and give you all the behind the scenes goodies (outtakes, handwritten lyrics, etc.).
The album – due in early 2010 – is likely to be the duo’s highest profile one yet. Ellery has tapped acclaimed producer Malcolm Burn to produce the record and they’ll commence recording this summer at Burn’s studios in upstate New York. Burn is renowned for his work with Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Ryan Adams, John Mellencamp and Emmylou Harris.
Below are the various packages available from the band, which performs tonight at Molly Malone’s in Covington with Chris and Tomas and Ruth Collins (click here for details):
$25:
An advance copy of the next album, personally autographed and delivered one week before its street date (a.k.a., release date)
Access to rare and unreleased material and live tracks from the Ellery archives.
$50:
All the perks of the $25 level, PLUS:
A copy of the live full-length DVD, An Evening with Ellery.
$100:
All the perks of the $50 level, PLUS:
Two tickets to the public CD release show in Cincinnati (options available to non-Cincinnati residents)
$250:
All the perks of the $100 level, PLUS:
ESCALATED delivery of the new album (3 weeks before street date), personally autographed
Admission to a private CD release show
A complete set of handwritten lyrics for the new album
$500:
All the perks of the $100 level, PLUS:
A house concert or a private concert
PRIORITY delivery of the new album (3 weeks before street), personally autographed and delivered at a private release concert show.
$1000:
All the perks of the $500 level, PLUS:
Free tickets for two to Ellery shows for one year (commencing at CD Release Date)
A professional recording of an Ellery performing one of your favorite songs – any artist.
A complete set of handwritten lyrics for the new album
$1250: (Limit 5)
All the perks of the $250 level, PLUS:
Spend a day with Justin and Tasha in Cincinnati, doing some classic Cincinnati things we love. Lunch at Skyline or LaRosa’s; ice cream from Graeter’s; an afternoon at King’s Island, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, OR at a Cincinnati Reds Game (the nation’s oldest pro-baseball team!). We’ll end the evening with coffee and sandwiches at the unique and fabulous Speckled Bird Café.
Includes two nights at a classic Cincinnati Bed and Breakfast
$1500: (Limit 1)
All the perks from the $250 level, PLUS
Ellery’s touring keyboard! This Yamaha P-120 has been with us since 2005. It’s seen all four corners of the US, innumerable stages, dozens of radio stations, and many a hotel room.
Instrument has been played by several artists, including Vienna Teng and Lucy Kaplansky, and it’s graced us with several hundred Ellery shows. It has a wealth of sentimental value to us; an emotional offering! We would love for you to have it with a small promise of love and care.
$1,500: (Limit 3)
All the perks of the $250 Level, PLUS:
Spend an afternoon with the band in the studio! Get a bird’s-eye view of the new record as it’s happening. Lodgings and meals provided
$2000: (Limit 3)
All the perks of the $500 level, PLUS:
Free tickets for two to Ellery shows for a year (commencing at CD Release Date)
A complete set of handwritten lyrics for the new album
Ellery will write a song especially for you, professionally record it, and make it available online. You’ll receive the finished song, handwritten lyrics, and any recordings made during its development, like the initial run-throughs at the upright in the living room.
This article appears in Apr 15-21, 2009.