Art for Starters

While still a member of Before Braille, David Jensen would constantly demo new songs for a project that he called Art for Starters.[http://www.myspace.com/daveforstarters/blog/168195064 Dave for Starters Myspace Blog, Sept. 15, 2006] retrieved 03-15-12 Some of those songs, such as Limb from Limb, Unfit, and Secret No. 7, would later be recorded with Before Braille. At one point, Jensen claims to have filled over fifty tapes with demos for this "project" that he never intended to pursue. Then in 2005, it appears that drug abuse led to Before Braille's demise.

Having been greatly trouble by the loss of his band, Jensen would spend many nights demoing new material on a cheap laptop to relieve the "stress and grime associated with the Before Braille" mess, while working as a night-watchman.Dominic, Serene. [http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2009-04-09/music/art-for-starters-is-a-startup-operation-that-s-barely-gotten-started/, Art for Starters Is a Startup Operation That's Barely Gotten Started The Phoenix New Times, April 9, 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329095235/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2009-04-09/music/art-for-starters-is-a-startup-operation-that-s-barely-gotten-started/ |date=March 29, 2010 }} retrieved 02-16-12 It was while making these "bedroom recordings" that Jensen finally decided to go it alone.[https://archive.today/20120718180036/http://2knowmusic.com/interview-with-dave-from-before-braille/ 2knowmusic.com Interview with Dave from Before Braille, Oct. 22, 2009] retrieved 03-15-12 He had become tired of all the trouble that came with working in a band, and decided that he wanted to be solely responsible for his own musical future.

This led Jensen to record his first album as Art for Starters. The circumstances surrounding the recording itself are quite interesting. In late 2006, Jensen put together a band and recorded what would become his double-LP debut, Drugs Made My Favorite Bands, Drugs Ruined My Favorite People in two locations, Flying Blanket Studios and Bubbles Bounce Studios, after which mastering took place during an almost 28-hour marathon.[http://www.myspace.com/daveforstarters/blog/207322779 Dave for Starters MySpace Blog, Album/New Songs Update, Dec. 19, 2006] retrieved 03-17-12 Immediately thereafter, Jensen left the United States to teach English in South Korea.[http://www.myspace.com/daveforstarters/blog/204510478 Dave for Starters MySpace Blog, t, Dec. 12, 2006] retrieved 03-17-12

When Jensen finally returned from Asia, it became time to release the album and to promote it with a tour. To do so, he had to recruit musicians who could replicate what he had done almost alone in the studio. After grouping together with musicians from many other local bands, including Chad Martin and Brad Cole from Fivespeed, David Marquez from the Sweetbleeders, Ree Boado from Lesser Heroes and Dearspeak, and then finally Ashley Taylor from Splitlips (who would later work again with David Jensen in Loyal Wife), a band was born.

Art for Starters finally released its first record, a double album titled Drugs Made my Favorite Bands, Drugs Ruined My Favorite People, by playing two separate shows, one to showcase the album's acoustic disc, and the other to showcase its rock disc.[http://theshizz.org/forum/index.php?/calendar/1/day-2009-4-11 TheShizz.org Events Calendar, Apr. 11, 2009] retrieved 03-16-12[http://www.myspace.com/daveforstarters/blog/476705585 Dave for Starters MySpace Blog, Mar. 14, 2009] retrieved 03-17-12 Both the record,[http://musicsnobsanonymous.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html Music Snobs Anonymous Blog, Best of 2009:April, Apr. 30, 2009] retrieved 03-16-12 as well as the live band,Leatherman, Benjamin. [http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2009/03/shizzfest_offers_the_chance_to.php Shizzfest Offers the Chance to Reunite with Old Friends and Make New Ones, The Phoenix New Times, Up on the Sun Blog, Mar. 15, 2009] retrieved 03-16-12 were immediately welcomed by the critics. Interest in Art for Starters would quickly grow and allow the live band to share the stage with national acts such as Taking Back Sunday[http://rialtotheatre.com/events_archive.php Rialto Theatre Show Archives, Dec. 7, 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330053202/http://rialtotheatre.com/events_archive.php |date=March 30, 2012 }} retrieved 03-15-12 and Dear and the HeadlightsLeatherman, Benjamin. [http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2009/05/star_swim_returns_this_saturda.php Star Swim Returns This Saturday, The Phoenix New Times, May 20, 2009] retrieved 03-16-12

Unfortunately, just a few months later, the live band fizzled out and disappeared.[http://loyalwife.net/about/ Loyal Wife Official Site: About] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625020537/http://loyalwife.net/about/ |date=2012-06-25 }} retrieved 03-17-12 According to reports, the acrimonious break-up occurred over a dispute over t-shirts.Dominic, Serene. [http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2012-05-10/music/loyal-wife-demonstrates-dedication-to-rock/ Before Braille's David Jensen Returns With New Band Loyal Wife, The Phoenix New Times, May 10, 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628131453/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2012-05-10/music/loyal-wife-demonstrates-dedication-to-rock/ |date=2012-06-28 }} retrieved 2012-05-12 While it does not appear that Art for Starters will continue as a large group project, especially since David Jensen has gone on to start a new band called Loyal Wife, Jensen plans to continue releasing his own personal recordings under the Art for Starters moniker.

• This is Flying Blanket, Vol. 1 (Common Wall Media, 2008)

::Song: I Went to Church Instead

• The Shizz Presents...AM or PM, I Don't Know (Shizz Records, 2009)

::Song: The Bone Stopped The Bullet

• Sunset Alliance Discography 2005-2011 (Sunset Alliance, 2011)

::Various former releases

• You Heard Us Back When, Vol. 6 (Zia Records, 2012)Sandoval, Anthony. [http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2012/03/you_heard_us_back_when_volume.php You Heard Us Back When Vol. 6 Tracklist Tops 30 Songs, The Phoenix New Times, Up On The Sun Blog, Mar. 30, 2012] retrieved 2012-04-12

::Song: Diction (The Beverly Hills Song)

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::FEATURED ON RECORDINGS

• David Jensen - vocals, guitars
• Spencer Reed- bass
• Chuckie Duff - bass
• Chad Martin - drums
• Bob Hoag - drums, keys

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::LIVE BAND (2009)

• David Jensen - vocals, guitars
• Ashley Taylor - vocals
• Ree Boado - vocals, keys, synth
• Chad Martin - drums
• Brad Cole - guitar
• David Marquez - bass
• Spencer Reed - bass
• Rajiv Patel - guitar
• Loren Brinton - drums

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{{reflist}}

• [http://www.artforstarters.com Art for Starters Official Website]
• [http://www.myspace.com/artforstarters Art for Staters Official MySpace]
• [http://www.myspace.com/daveforstarters Dave Jensen's Art for Starters MySpace Page]
• [http://www.sunsetalliance.com Sunset Alliance Records]

Category:Indie rock musical groups from Arizona

Category:Musical groups established in 2006