We’re thrilled to announce that our new single, “Revolving Doors” is now available on iTunes, Amazon, and other fine music retailers and streaming services the world over.

“Revolving Doors” is a big milestone for Empire State Express. It’s the first full-fledged studio recording that the three of us have done in the year and a half that we’ve been playing together. The narrative will be familiar to anyone who’s ever watched “Behind the Music” or read Keith Richards’s autobiography. The full-band sound halfway in is as concentrated a blast of ESE as we could fit into two minutes. “Revolving Doors” seemed like the natural choice to kick off the series of singles we have planned for the next several months.

Our not-so-silent partners in all this were producer/post-engineer Nick Messitte (Brooklyn) and recording engineers Matt Schlachter and Eddie Kerpan (Chicago). Their skill and talent shepherded the recording through equipment failures, postal mishaps, a major tropical storm and a slew of smaller gremlins. For all this and more they have our heartfelt thanks.

We had a blast putting the final track together and hope a little bit of that joy comes through in the listening experience.

ESE is not a cover band, but we like good cover songs as much as the next music fan. A good cover is like a pithy quote at a cocktail party: most people know it’s not your idea, but they dig your style; and those who don’t know any better think you’re a bloody genius.

Not long ago we reached out to our fans on Facebook for some song suggestions to help us with a new project we’re working on. What we got in return was an embarrassment of options (thank you, by the way). So we could use some help in narrowing things down. Have a look at the “sushi menu” below and check off whatever you want to hear Empire State Express take a stab at. If there’s another song you want us to cover that’s not on this list, just post it to our Facebook page and we’ll add it to the poll.

If you’re wondering what we’re going to do with all these covers, we’re not quite ready to blab just yet. For now, let’s just say we’ll get to a lot of these songs in short order.

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UPDATE: “Train Sign” won by popular demand, closely followed by “Ink Blot.” Handsome American Apparel-style fashion tees featuring this design are currently available at an ESE show near you. Thanks for your vote!

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Check out the options below (you may need to open this post first), then scroll all the way down to vote for our very first t-shirt design! All designs by Christopher Magruder (a.k.a. UneekGrafix). Although Chicago style is to “vote early and vote often,” please limit yourself to just one selection. Voting will close at 10PM Sunday, October 10th (Eastern Time, natch).

Thank you for voting! Also, a special thanks to those of you who submitted design ideas. We hope you like what you see.

Option #1: “Cursive Logo”

Design by UneekGrafix

Option #2: “Train Sign”

Design by UneekGrafix

Option #3: “Butterfly Excerpt”

Design by UneekGrafix

Option #4: “Ink Blot”

Design by UneekGrafix

Option #5: “Butterfly Lyrics”

Design by UneekGrafix

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SUPER-OFFICIAL ESE T-SHIRT DESIGN BALLOT

Don’t get us wrong, we feel that people who sing along to our songs are entitled to do so with whatever words they please. Also, the various “re-imaginings” of ESE’s lyrics have been a deep vein of entertainment (favorite so far: “all up in my heart/are you Wings tonight?/butterfly”). At the same time, we realize that some completists among you may actually want to know what Chris is drawling about as you listen, so we have included song lyrics with each of the recordings on the Music page–just look for the “Lyrics” button on the player. Ponder them and prosper. Also, please reply or email with any interpretations of your own and we may just do something clever with them.

Empire State Express has some cunning schemes hatching for the coming year as we put muscle behind our new EP. Plans include TV airtime, festival appearances and showcases with a few of our favorite Chicago bands. To get in on the action, keep tabs on our progress, or just experience the warm, enlightened glow that comes with adding ESE to your Twitter feed, check out the Contact page for all the ways you can stay in touch.

Also, if you’re especially taken by something you see or hear on the site, we’ve added sharing quick-links toward the top right of each page for your convenience, you web-savvy mavens you.

You may have noticed the swish new gallery view now included on this website. We would love to include some of your own live pics as well…of yourself, the band, your dog, or whatever you happened to capture for posterity at one of our shows. Email us your gems and keep it reasonably non-incriminating (of yourself anyway).