September 14th, 2004 - THE 8TH GRADE ON MYSPACE.COM!!! - This is a polite little diatribe for all you people out there who don't know what MySpace.com is, you folks who think meeting new people means greeting new faces in the flesh, swapping smiles and shaking hands. This is a wake up call. Those days are over. Throw all that person-to-person crap out with your beeper, your VCR and your dial up connection. Person-to-person is dead. Cyber intimacy is real intimacy. Your buddy list on AIM is the only group of friends you're ever going to need. MySpace.com is the new Pampered Chef Party, the new ice cream social, the new free clinic. It's the place to see and be seen, and it's free! Go check it out. And while you're there, check our our profile at:

The 8th Grade on MySpace.Com

August 17, 2004 - THE 8TH GRADE PLAYS W274!!! - Hey, everyone! Come on out for the Saturday, September 11 show at the new, state-of the-art club in Cool Springs, W274. Headliners are Bottom Line, straight off the Vans Warped Tour. Should be epic. More details to follow...

August 15, 2004 - Hey, everyone, check out our Nashville Scene interview at www.nashvillescene.com. Thanks to everyone who came out for out 12th & Porter gig!!! We had a terrific and/or splendid time seeing everyone again!!!

August 13, 2004 - The 8th Grade at 12th & Porter w/ Pale Blue Dot and Kristi Neumann. $ 5.00 at the door. Show starts at 9:30. Don't miss Matt's first show with the band. Plus three new tunes and all new voiceovers!!!!

July 19, 2004 - ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS OF THE 8TH GRADE BRIGADE: WE'VE GOT A NEW BASS PLAYER - AGAIN!!! - His name is Matt. He did drugs once. He is a Spartan. So check him out!!! Actually, his full name is Matthew Sexton. Good guy. A real "old soul," you know? I assumed he was a Sagittarius but he claims he's Taurus. If he's Taurus, his moon is in Scorpio, I swear.

Anyway, back to the drugs...I have no conclusive data about Matt's history with illicit substances, although the teardrop tattoos on this right cheek suggest that he's done a stint in the cooler. My guess is San Quentin, since he's also got "San Quentin" tattooed across his shoulders in ornate lettering.

What does this all mean for you? Well, it means we'll be playin' gigs again before you know it, so look for 8th Grade gigs coming soon! Oh yeah, and our album, "Your Requesence is Prested," is almost done, so keep an ear to the ground on that one too. Talk at ya' soon.

June 10, 2004 - SOUNDTRACK IS A DONE DEAL! - That's right, guys, we finally receieved confirmation of our appearance on the soundtrack for Employee of the Month. In an odd, but unsurprising turn of events, Dirty Deeds will not be included in the soundtrack, but The Lunch Function will play over the end credits. We're very excited about this. Make sure to see Employee of the Month when it hits theatres (I'll post the date as soon as I know it.) Kalamazoo? starts filming next month which will feature our song of the same name.

June 3, 2004 - ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS OF THE 8TH GRADE BRIGADE: WE'VE GOT A NEW BASSPLAYER!!! Yes, it finally happened. After, months of searching, we've got a new guy. His name is...what?..really?...when?...oh...Correction, we had a new bassplayer for about two weeks and he quit. Oh well, hope he didn't get "The 8th Grade" tattooed on his bicep of anything foolish like that. Ah, too bad. Though, I wish him no ill will, I will nevertheless burn his house down to celebrate the good times we had together.

February 26, 2004 - NO IPO SHOW!!! - Sorry guys, but The Grade is cancelling their appearance at IPO. Major scheduling conflicts and lack of bass player have been cited as reasons for the cancellation.

May 28, 2004 - 8TH GRADE SINGER PAUL RETURNS FROM GUAM!!! People often say to me, "Paul, you're such a good-for-nothing slacker. Why the hell haven't you updated your website since February?!?!?!" Keeping my head, I cooly respond, "I was in Guam, you cretin. I was spreading the word of Jah and converting people to hedonism. It's the only way, you know." After a thoughtful pause, I continue: "Wait one hot minute...You actually look at our website? Unbelievable." The nonplused, yet still star-stuck fan then usually responds, "But, Paul, I'm your mother--I want to support you. I want to help you further you music career. And you never went to Guam. You live in Nashville. And you're a waiter, not a missionary!" I then reply in my trademark, deadpan, cold-as-ice monotone, "Okay, I may not be a missionary but I am on a mission. If you wanna support the cause, then but a CD, honey." One tense moment passes and I drive the final nail, "And can you please have Pop send me about $100? The energy bill just got here and I blew my tips on a new shirt. Thanks, Mom. I love you!" Yes, folks, we're back!

February 11, 2004 - THE 8TH GRADE ON 102.9 THE BUZZ!!! That's right folks, The 8th Grade is in regular rotation at 102.9 The Buzz. Don't forget to call and request Dirty Deeds by The 8th Grade. Here's the number: 615-399-1029. Thanks for the support!

February 10, 2004 - THE 8TH GRADE PERFORMS TITLE TRACK TO MOVIE KALAMAZOO!!! Using their extensive list of contacts throughout the motion picture community (wink), The 8th Grade have managed to squeeze another one of their tunes onto a movie soundtrack. This time the film is Kalamazoo. "We're very excited about this new project. They [the film's producers] approached us about writing a song for the film with the only requirement being that it had to more or less follow the plot line and also use the word ' Kalamazoo.' It's a catchy little ditty and it rocks live," James says of the project and song. The film begins production this spring in Kalamazoo, MI.

February 8, 2004 - THE 8TH GRADE TO PERFORM AT IPO!!! - Your favorite adult children of rock 'n' roll idolatry will be performing Thursday, March 4, 2004 at The End as part of Nashville's first-ever International Pop Overthrow (IPO). IPO is a long-standing event organized by indie rock impressario David Bash. "The purpose of International Pop Overthrow is two-fold: one aim is to give every worthy band who'd like to play their music in a festival atmosphere the chance to do so, and the other is to bring pop music the attention it so richly deserves," says Bash of the event he started six years ago. Previous Overthrows have been staged in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Liverpool, England (at the world famous Cavern Club)! Each International Pop Overthrow features between 100-180 of the best pop bands from around the world. Everyone from the bands to the spectators has a wonderful time. Go to www.InternationalPopOverthrow.com for show times, line up, etc. Come on out to support The Grade and be part of Nashville rock history

February 7, 2004 - THE 8TH GRADE ON MAJOR MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK!!! You may ask yourself, "Self, why does a powerpop band boasting influences like Cheap Trick and Elvis Costello cover Dirt Deeds Done Dirt Cheap?" Well, as a matter of fact, The 8th Grade's version of the classic AC/DC paean to a hit man is scheduled to appear on the soundtrack for Employee of the Month, staring Matt Dillon, Christina Applegate and Steve Zahn. The film debuted at Sundance to excellent reviews. For more details, check out these links: http://sundance.weblogsinc.com/entry/6313209331131743/ http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=290205

January 30, 2004 - THE 8TH GRADE UNVEILS MAJOR, EARTH-SHAKING DEVELOPMENT: "We're gonna release an 10-song album in late February or early March," singer Paul Cassella typed from a remote location in the jungles in Guam. He later added, "This is top-secret. Tell no one." This reporter immediately disregarded the request--the people must be warned.