news archive - 2003

december 2003

happy to be here will be a featured release this month in los angeles' amoeba records "homegrown program." ads in the la weekly and campus circle will spotlight the album and it will be available at a sale price from the store. don't forget that happy to be here is the perfect gift for dads and grads.

andrew will return to the recording studio in december to pick up work on his forthcoming album. december's demo of the month is the about-to-be-recorded how it goes. the exclusive version heard here was taped by andrew at his home analog eight-track studio especially for the website. he says the album version will have strings and all the usual andrew sounds (12 strings, harmoniums...you name it).

there is news from the bus stop label that computer troubles have hampered recent emails and online sales. label owner, and resident nice guy, brian kirk, says the problems will be resolved in january. happy to be here should still be available from all the regular outlets (see online shopping page).

november 2003

andrew took the prize for second place with his stock 1971 volvo 1800e at the first annual bozzani volvo show in covina, ca. he did not get sunburned this time, but got rained on instead. life is bittersweet.

click on the thumbnail for a higher-res image.

andrew spent most of october travelling in london and paris, so there were no recording sessions. however, andrew did do some songwriting, with how it goes written in london and another way of life written back at home in los angeles. november should see some more recording sessions to complete the next andrew album to be titled what's it all about?

andrew played a strong set of new and old material at freakbeat records on november 9, 2003. three new songs were debuted and andrew was accompanied by probyn gregory on french horn/trumpet & backing vocals, jim laspesa on drums & backing vocals, carrie bartsch on violin and matt cooker on cello. the set was: how it goes/or, maybe not/friend of mine/tears anyway/unrequited life/nobody's someone/high tower/how do you go on?/if i see you smile/he can fly/happy to be here.

the fanzine bee's knees carries yet another positive review of happy to be here in its current issue.

october 2003

on november 9, andrew will give another free live performance in support of his two recent releases at a brand new record store. founded by legendary moby disc figure bob say, freakbeat is the store's name (it's located at 13616 ventura blvd. in sherman oaks; 818-995-7603) and it features a fine selection of new and used vinyl and compact discs. come and check it out on sunday afternoon and see andrew do his thing with strings.

andrew has been busy in the studio recording a new album. four more songsó"the golden state," "or, maybe not," "we'll dream" and "how come it takes so long (and it's over so soon)"ówere taped during september. the tracks from augustó"how do you go on?" and "i can't be lonely (without you)"ówere also worked on at these sessions. with six tracks down (and six to go), the wait for the next andrew album should not be too long. in the meantime, enjoy "we'll dream," the demo of the month. andrew hopes you don't enjoy it too much, because the version on the forthcoming album will be quite different.

september 2003

andrew and ric menck returned to the studio with brian kehew in august to start some new recordings. nearing completion are the songs i can't be lonely (without you) and how do you go on?

the latest issue of goldmine (september 5, 2003, with marc bolan on the cover) features a tandem review of happy to be here and happily ever after. lee zimmerman writes "drop the proverbial needle anywhere, and you will find a song that wells up, emitting infectious stylings that would make Brian Wilson blush." meanwhile, the current shredding paper (#16 with the exploding hearts on the front) reviews happy to be here, saying "andrew sandoval's brand of orchestral pop is so damn good, it's amazing that he isn't some sort of huge indie star."

when not busy wondering why he isn't some sort of huge indie star, andrew has been busy writing songs for a new album (as well as digging up some ancient demos and outtakes for an archival release). nevertheless, plans are afoot for a few more happy to be here performances with strings. check back on the news page during september for updates and details.

august 2003

print reviews are starting to roll in. the july/august issue of amplifier, which features liz phair on the cover (we still can't figure out what that pose is all about) features stewart mason writing up happy to be here. the new issue of dagger includes reviews of both happily ever after and happy to be here. Also, look for upcoming reviews in shredding paper, where they say there are 500 cd reviews, so we hope they're alphabetical, as well as in an upcoming issue of goldmine.

online, a beautiful review for happy to be here came in from tone and grooveóit is listed under andrew sandoval and has a caveat: "Be warned: This record is delicious and habit forming."

also on the web, msn entertainment has put up an andrew page. there are no reviews yet, so we invite you to visit there and help them out.

the show at the knitting factory hollywood was, shall we say, an intimate affair. street closures on hollywood blvd. kept away the crowds (and seemingly everyone else). pity, because it was an awfully good-sounding show. here's what you missed: till i met you/high tower/strange dreams/he can fly/unrequited life/i wish you would/dream about you/friend of mine/please remember me.

july 2003

andrew (with a full band) will be performing a show at the knitting factory's alterknit on july 16 at 9pm. tickets are available now for advance purchase online, or can be bought for just $5 on the day of show with a flyer or postcard discount (join the yahoo andrew mailing list if you want the flyer discount sent to you).

the demo of the month for july is friend of mine, which andrew would like to dedicate to his late friends bob, page porrazzo and greg dwinnell.

issue of #64 (summer 2003) of england's bucketfull of brains features an incredible review of happy to be here. look for it on newstands now. meanwhile, another online review has appeared, albeit in japanese at sevensummers. we are told it is good. any japanese fans out there care to give us a translation?

songs from happy to be here have been recieving spins at some fine radio stations such as wfuv (new york); kaos (olympia, wa); kpfk (southern california); kumd (duluth); kser (lynnwood, wa); waer (syracuse, ny); and the wonderful wfmu (new jersey), where you can actually hear the broadcasts from their archives:
inflatable squirrel carcass with rich hazelton - june 22 (features he can fly)
pseu braun - june 18 (featuring strange dreams)

in europe, happy to be here is now available from delicious goldfish

june 2003

andrew sends his best wishes to the family of greg dwinnell and says a fond "goodbye" to his friend.

popbang.com (premium power pop radio) is now featuring andrew's happily ever after ep on their site. of till i met you they say: "many have called this song a 'pop gem'...the more you listen to this cut, the more it sinks it's claws into you, and grabs you with it's head-bopping chorus. andrew's ep, on the very retro vibro-phonic label, is for fans of big star/matthew sweet/aztec camera-style lush pop. We like it!"

the massive new issue of the big takeover magazine features an all too brief, but postive, review of happy to be here (as well as great articles on the left banke and action)! Pick it up at your local cool record store.

andrew and his 1971 volvo 1800e (which is featured on the cover of happy to be here) were winners at the annual volvo sports america classic car show on saturday, june 14. andrew placed third in his class for e type (electronically fuel injected) stock volvo cars. this is andrew's second consecutive win, as well as his second consecutive sunburn.

ink19 (the glass bottom boat of the cultural press) describes happy to be here as the "perfect soundtrack for the summer season that lies ahead."

june sees the first big radio push for happy to be here. so, if you hear andrew on the air, be sure to call the station and tell them to play it andmoreagain.

andrew will be returning to the stage with a show at the hollywood knitting factory's alterknit theatre on july 16. showtime and other details will be available soon. more shows are in the works for new york, san francisco and, of course, los angeles.

may 2003

reviewing happy to be here, indiepages.com says "this eleven-song batch of light, breezy pop is just what I needed right now."

fufkin's mike bennett encapsulates happy to be here, with nods to the bee gees, the ladybug transistor and paul heaton.

this review is splendid, simply splendid

pop matters' tim alves believes in the magical powers of the one and only magic harpsichord! read his review of happily ever after.

more reviews are showing up for happy to be here.

aiding & abeting says that "andrew simply makes music that will leave a smile on even the most dour of countenances."

meanwhile, erasing clouds said the record was "gorgeous, buoyant, and magnificent."
in love with these times in spite of these times says the beach boys "ain't necessarily that great," but still seemed to like andrew. ilwttisott wonders if he'll go "a little more new wave" next time. not likely, but the review is quite a hoot.

happily ever after also got some attention from the british site americana uk. they called till i met you "an absolute classic." well, what about "magic harpsichord"?

chartwise, dagger rated andrew in march and february.

planting seeds were also moved.

no andrew gigs for may (a month of rest at last), but everyone had a great time at the aron's records in-store. The set was: happy to be here; he can fly; if i see you smile; allyn white; high tower; tears anyway; now; medley: friend of mine/i'm gonna say goodbye. david nolte and dave amels joined andrew on bass and keyboards respectively (just like on the record said andrew). jim laspesa sang back-up and played drums. probyn gregory played french horn, wrote a great string and horn arrangement for happy to be here and even joined jim on some backing vocals. carrie bartsch and matt cooker expertly bowed their way through the string charts, and andrew stood at the front playing harmonium, guitar and doing his version of singing. he was happy to be heard!

april 2003

here's what toneVENDOR has to say about happy to be here. after reading the review, you can order the cd right on the same page.

andrew will be giving an in-store performance at aron's records on saturday, april 26. come on down and hear songs from andrew's new records, plus a few surprises.

happy to be here is available in canada from poppolar records.

andrew's performance at the rhino record store featured the following songs: i wish you would/if i see you smile/high tower/allyn white/dream about you/strange dreams/unrequited life/tears anyway

photos by mike bodayle.

march 2003

andrew will be making an appearance at 4pm on Saturday, March 29, 2003 on the stage at the rhino record store in westwood. this is a free show and will feature a different setlist from the highland grounds show (for those of you keeping track). look for more in stores and live dates coming soon.

check out torpedo pop's review of happy to be here

happiness is...this great review of happy to be here by mundane sounds.

there is an extensive interview with andrew in the new issue of dagger. this 'zine (which is free in portland, oregon) has also turned up in some tower stores and can be mail ordered from parasol.

andrew will be performing two elvis costello songs at the knitting factory on thursday, march 27, 2003. this is a special charity event being held in honor of eggbert records founder greg dwinnell. tickets are $15 and the proceeds go to the usc/norris comprehensive cancer center and hospital.

meanwhile, happily ever after will soon be widely available in europe from shellshock distribution.

andrew's two new records are now available! the full length happy to be here can be ordered from the bus stop label.

meanwhile the companion ep, happily ever after, can be ordered directly from vibro-phonic recordings.

additionally, happy to be here and happily ever after have shown up at mail order houses such as parasol records (where happy to be here and happily ever after are currently 15% off normal price ñ what a steal), as well as retail stores such as amoeba music, aron's records and rhino records in california.

in other news: the live show at highland grounds was a huge success! andrew was accompanied by seven piece group including cello, violin, french horn, trumpet, harmonium and percussion. the set list: man who would be king/i wish you would/what do you see in me?/friend of mine/unrequited life/allyn white/high tower/dream about you/nobody's someone/tears anyway.

february 2003

andrew's first live performance in two years will take place on february 20, 2003 at highland grounds in hollywood. he will be accompanied by a string section and many of the people who have appeared on his past recordings. this is a special event, so don't miss it!

andrew has two new releases available in february 2003--an album, happy to be here (11 new recordings available from the bus stop label), and an e.p., happily ever after (five more new recordings from the happy to be here sessions available from vibro-phonic recordings on february 25, 2003).