ars longa, vita brevis

This is sort of interesting. I came across this video of me playing recently at the Fine Line in Minneapolis. It seems that the camera was physically melting while recording my performance. At least that's the only logical explanation I can think of. n.joy!

The new CD is now available! Pick it up at any live performance. Or you can purchase/download it at iTunes or CDbaby.com. Also—Come out to the Fine Line on October 5 to hear the new songs live! Visit the Performances section for all the dirty little details.

BUY THE CD: CDBaby.com
DOWNLOAD: CDBaby.com OR 

Ever heard of the Six degrees of Separation? How many is this: Bonnie Duhamel attends a Neal Peterson concert. Her son Josh marries Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas. I lost count. Don't get me wrong—I like the Black Eyed Peas. Although, I only own their first album, Behind the Front, which I purchased in 1998 from a 99 cent bin at a record store. Also of note, Fergie wasn't on that album. I digress.

Anyway, a couple months ago, my brother-in-law, Cale, asked me if I had seen the music video for Boom Boom Pow. I hadn't, but upon review, Cale was right: The imagery is somewhat uncanny. I wasn't even going to comment on this until I heard Fergie sing (and I quote): "I'm so 3008. You so 2000 and late." Despite the grammatical errors, we can see that her flux capacitor is a bit off (see diagram below):

Oh, well. The Peas are great, and I wish them the best of luck. Maybe they'll let me open for them sometime or maybe they'd like me to design their next album cover. It's all for the best, I suppose. After all, it's just like my song (Revolution No. 13) from Riot in Luxury says: "We're victims of headphones"...

Thanks to all who came out to the Aquarium in Fargo friday night (Doc Brown was most pleased)! Also, a big thanks to all the media and support: John Lamb at The Fargo Forum, The High Plains Reader, "HPR Night with Raul and Zach" on 1100 AM, T-Bone and Sabe at The Boneyard on ROCK 102, and Chris and April at DM Cooperative. Also thanks to Michael Pink, the glorious Mark Proulx, and Darren Keen for rounding out the night! Check out a shot from the crowd:

Press (Forum left, HPR right):

From the Fargo Forum: The man may be the same, but his songs have changed. That's what you need to know before checking out former Fargoan Neal Peterson's new disc "Chaos Theory, Explained." Gone are the stripped-down acoustic stylings of his first releases, replaced with electric beats and other amped-up sounds. What remains is the singer/guitarist's knack for mining hooks and catchy melodies.

From the High Plains Reader: BEST BETS! Neal Peterson is a North Dakota native who has walked the stretches of life and found success ... His latest album, "Chaos Theory, Explained," is the pinnacle of his solo work thus far, delving into intense subject matters: life, the universe and everything really. The sound that accompanies it is as abstract and multifaceted as the musician, who is also an award-winning artist and graphic designer. ... Most certainly a show worth seeing.

Hey North Dakota—Don't miss the Sept. 4 Show at The Aquarium in Fargo! The High Plains Reader is calling the show a Best Bet!

Thanks to Kelly Hagen for the feature article! Also, thanks to URLradio.net for the recent airplay in the Dak!

Aug 14, 2009 - 04:01:14 CD

Harmony can mean bringing two or more parties together, despite their separations, and blending them together into a sum that exceeds their parts.

Sometimes, that separation can be a great distance, like the length of a trip from Minneapolis to Bismarck.

That's the length of the journey Neal Peterson, a musician with North Dakota roots now making his way in the Twin Cities, will make in time for Saturday's Harmony Festival, which kicks off at 11 a.m. at Municipal Ballpark on South Washington Street.

Peterson will play his set at 4:30 p.m. on the BNCStage. Fourteen acts are scheduled throughout the day across two stages, including Gypsyfoot, Trifecta, Ben Suchy, The Levee and Luke Graner. Admission will be $10 at the gate.

This will be Peterson's first time performing at the annual Harmony Festival. "I was invited by my good friend, Luke Graner," Peterson said. The two played together in the band Curious Yello for several years across North Dakota and Minnesota. "Between that and Luke living in Bismarck, I always seem to get to town to play a show every now and then."

Peterson was born in Bottineau and grew up in Minot. He says he believes that growing up in our state can be beneficial to any developing artist.

"It's amazing how western North Dakota is such an isolated area, yet it fosters immense creativity in so many that come from it," he said.

Peterson will be rolling into town fresh on the heels of releasing his new EP, "Chaos Theory, Explained." He describes the new album as "an experiment."

"What's exciting about this CD is that it's a pretty radical departure from my previous acoustically driven albums," he said. "The music is built upon synthetic beats, but it still retains a solid rock feel by the integration of guitars and melodic vocals."

"I've decided that life is too short to repeat a chorus, and the songwriting reflects that—it moves fast. It's the type of disc you listen to twice when you need to get something done."

The CD will be available for purchase online at Peterson's Web site, www.nealpeterson.com, or through iTunes within a couple of weeks. However, anyone interested can get their hands on a disc at Harmony Festival through a pretty special deal.

Instead of selling the CD there, he will be asking people to "pay it forward," and giving the money they would have spent on to the charity of their choice, in exchange for the disc. "I've been recommending the Humane Society for those who don't have a preference,"he said.

"After all," he said in closing, "I'm working on a revolution."

Finally had time to get in for a new photo shoot. Posted a few pics in the Biography section of the site. Shot about 120 photos that day after getting up at 6am and having an allergy attack. Thanks to the stellar creative eye of Aaron Ripplinger for making me look as pretty as possible.

Found some photos from the recording sessions back in March. Sort of one-man-we-are-the-world with whiskey and romanesque statues. 

North Dakota: New shows booked! Be one of the first to get the new EP and hear the new songs live!

Bismarck, ND: August 15 @ Harmony Fest
Fargo, ND: September 4 @ The Aquarium

Check out the PERFORMANCES page for more details. We'll see you there...

As a THANK YOU for your continued support, I want to offer you my new CD, Chaos Theory, Explained for free! Here's how:

1. Go to CDbaby.com and purchase any Neal Peterson or Curious Yello CD by 8/1/2009
   (All CDs are priced at 9.99 or less. This offer includes the new Curious Yello Rarities album.)
2. Forward the receipt and your mailing address to freeCD@nealpeterson.com
3. I will personally send you a hot, fresh copy of my new CD for FREE (including shipping)

It's that easy—who says the Revolution needs to cost money?

Shoot me an email with any questions.