93 Band Name Ideas We Had Before Choosing 'Pinto and the Bean'

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The Making of 'Let's Make Noise' Music Video

Exactly a month ago today, we headed out to Michigan to begin filming our third music video for the song 'Let's Make Noise'.  If you aren't familiar with our two official music videos for 'Midnight Monsters' and 'Robot Wars', check them out because we're total music video nerds and we get all giddy when we're about to make a new one.

Before we tell you how it all went down, we realize you may just want to jump straight to the video...if that's the case, then you can check out the video footage below. It's pretty raw and random - we probably haven't shown this side of ourselves to P&B fans before...yep, it's a dorkier side of us and that's just fine and dandy. So, click on the video below to see the 'Making of Let's Make Noise' video. 

Paul's family has a cottage in Lakeside, Michigan and it was sort of a last minute decision to ask his mom if we could stay there for a week to film this video.  We just needed a room that was large enough to hold a giant black backdrop/curtain that we bought from a fabric store...we couldn't find a place here in Chicago that was within our budget to rent out for a few days.  So the three of us (Paul, Ivan, and Nick) headed out to the cottage and stayed there for the week.  If you've ever been to the ginormous Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo about an hour outside of Chicago, we weren't far from that. 

So, the way it all went down  - we first had to build a structure to hold up the backdrop before we could really do anything else.  There was quite a bit of hammering and sawing going on in order to build the giant frame that would eventually hold up the backdrop.  Then there was the covering up of every single window in the living room where the video was to be shot.  We used dark blankets for this - which is essential for vampires - you may or may not know this, but we are vampires...we need darkness at all times....we didn't wake up until late afternoon each day when the sun had already gone down so the blankets turned out not even being needed....you know what - let's just make a bullet point list below of some of the highlights of making the video:

• Animated pieces.  We built a ship, a heart, and a clock - all using Christmas lights - so they turned out looking like a Lite Brite...that toy from the 80's that we've never actually seen in person, but heard is pretty cool.  The challenge was to animate these Lite Brite objects in the video. 
• The buildings for the city scene were made from broken down cardboard boxes we got from Walmart. We then covered them in bed sheets and finally painted windows on them to make them into buildings.
• The actual filming of the making of the video.  We came to realize that although we may not be funny...we think we're pretty funny when we're holding a camera...sometimes
• The clothes we're wearing...not really a highlight and not sure why we wore what we wore, but whatever...
• The actual structure and backdrop - mentioned in the paragraph above.  Without that, the video would never be capable of existing. 
• Lights - this is really the motif of this third music video of ours.  It all revolves around lights...Christmas lights. 

Empty Bottle show

We want to thank those of you who came out to our show on New Years Eve at Horseshoe.  We really couldn't ask for anything more - surrounded by our favorite people on the last day of 2011, while making balloon animals, drinking champagne, and playing music.

Our next show is in a few weeks - January 23, a free Monday night at Empty Bottle with some other really great bands...Otter Petter, Mutts, and Wally Dogger.  Otter Petter and Mutts have both had their albums on several top 10 lists in 2011...come to think of it, we did too.  Our album The Waiting Place is one of Windy City Rock's Frank Krolicki's favorite albums of 2011.  Check it out here.

New Years Eve party at Horseshoe

Boys and girls - the holidays are among us and we want to close out the year by inviting you to a New Year's Eve party! We'll be spending the evening at Horseshoe (4115 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL) celebrating the last moments of 2011 in a night that includes a buffet, champagne, and of course music.  All of this for $20!

Joining us in the fun will be our sweet friends PoundCake from Kankakee and fine felines Bad Bad Meow from Chicago.


So, mark your calendars to party with us at Horseshoe on New Years Eve; it's gonna be a grand feast, a drunken blast and a perfect way to say goodbye to 2011!




Contact us for any questions or details - band@pintoandthebean.com

Old Christmas Song

So we were just looking through an old hard drive and found a Christmas song we wrote almost two years ago. This was well before Pinto and the Bean even existed. Listening to it... awkward...is that the right way to describe this song? It's called "Christmas Hug". We're thinking about sending it out in our next newsletter. If you aren't already on our mailing list, sign up in the box above. Thanks folks! Happy Holidays! Here's the flyer to our next show at Cole's on Friday, December 16.

BTW - here's a very recent review/interview with Bad Ass Bands Blog.  Thanks so much to Jo Scott for the interview!

Streetside show next Saturday night

Lovelies, we're sorry we've been away hibernating.  It happens during these cold wintery times.  We'd love to see your pretty faces next Saturday night at Streetside.  Our very good friends Bad Bad Meow will also be performing.  Check out their music if you haven't yet.  They're a pretty rocking' acoustic country punk duo.  It'll be a grand ole time.  It's a free show and they've got delicious drinks and food.  See you then!

The Waiting Place now available on Bandcamp

Our debut album 'The Waiting Place' is now available where all the cool kids hang out!  That's right, it's on bandcamp.  Click here to check it out.  T-shirts and posters available soon...We'll keep you posted with happenings...and there are LOTS of happenings coming.  Talk soon!