This Morning

Cori woke me up half crying with the news that her car had been broken into and my cd's were all stolen. I half woke up and after realizing this wasn't a bad dream by neither her nor me, and felt the stinging loss. I'm sorry to those who have had much more taken from them, but this hurt. All my cd's? I thought. Then I remembered that I had taken most of my favorites out and put them on a little shelf (shrine?) in my room. I dragged myself out of bed, my body which had 3 hours of sleep at this point, protested heavily. Simplicity, I thought, thrust upon.

I have been thinking about simplicity alot recently. I have been thinking about the things that I own, and how much I love some of them, and how much I hate them as a whole. I am terribly unorganized, and so most of my things are piled on top of themselves, like desert platau's, as high as chairs, on top of chairs, all around my bed. I think If I could just get rid of all this stuff, maybe things would be better. Maybe I would be more focused then, my days would be more purposeful, or somehow, large muscles I did not formerly possess would suddenly be joined to my body.

The only meaningful thought I can cull out of having someone break my fiance's window, and (thank God not harming the radio or the ignition at all) take all of my cd's, is that my life is more than my things. I am more than my cd collection. I am more than my clothes, and other things I own. If all of my movies, books, and instruments were stolen, I would still be me. My identity is larger than the things which I have collected. It is larger than my cd collection, mainly because now it has to be.

Lately I have been having visions.

Not real, out of body, black out, ones, but imaginative journeys. Maybe "day dream" is a better term for it. The other day, I was painting this big garage. After a long time of this, I stood up, turned around, and looked behind me. I was looking across several backyards and driveways, and two yards down, there was this clearing in someones yard, a perfect square, with nothing but leaves blowing around in it. I imagined Jesus standing there, staring at me with great concern. His hair was kind of long and scraggley, being blown in the wind a bit, and he was staring at me.

There was another one, while I was at church. Our pastor was sharing a sermon, we all sitting in a circle, and I looked out one of the windows. A good ways off was a large building with a sort of castle looking roof. It was all brick, and square shaped. I imagined Jesus walking back and forth across it, and then I imagined I was for a split second, up there with him, all bundled up, because it was cold, marching back and forth with him, smiling big and wide.
It's kind of weird, I know, to imagine Jesus moments like this, but in some way, I think it is good for me. I think engaging Jesus imaginatively can part of how you relate to him. And its all about relating right?

So this is it.

Highschool spat me from its fattened lips like a cupful of warm water. I fell down three flights of stairs at a local Community College and ended up with an accociates degree in Liberal Arts. My band turned into a real band, and then poofed itself away. Now a duo consisting of myself and my girlfriend play music, and people listen to it. I just started working at the job I had in highschool, september has just begun its song, and my brother moved away from home. Off to college or someplace like it. This leaves me with a room to myself and countless fingers pointing at me saying "deadbeat".

I will be writing here. More for me than for you. I will be speaking, maybe just to hear my own voice.

About a show.

Tuesday, August 16th at the A/V Space

Bizzart
Gaybot
Epylogue

the fun starts at 8pm, and there is a 3 dollar "pretty please" donation.

I am terribly exited about this show and I hope many of you people can make it.

From 490W get off at monroe ave exit, take a left on monroe, take a right on north union, (its a one way) take a right into the public market (through a huge iron gate that says public market, cant miss it) veer to the left side of the parking lot, look for small white sign on sidewalk that says A / V, Go up the stairs towards the fun.

From 490 E get off at monroe ave, and take a right... then follow the above directions.

* north union street is the street that the bug jar is on, so basically take a right at the bug jar...

Avengers! Assemble!

So lately I have been reading a book called Blue Like Jazz, and another book called Travelling Mercies One is by Don Miller, and the other by Anne Lamott. Both are very good, honest books about christian spirituality. Or whatever. You should really check them out if your interested in that sort of thing. Other than that it has been comic books. Thats right. The Avengers, Captain America, Young Avengers, and House Of M have all found their way into my hands recently. Its getting pretty bad. And by that I mean good. Whenever I buy comics it feels like a secret pleasure that only I feel. It starts with seeing new cool looking comics with big muscular spectacular heroes on the cover, then I nearly squeal with joy as I run upstairs to my bedroom, knowing that soon, my wide, child like eyes will read about the adventures of... some fantastic super hero. Heres a rundown:

The New Avengers:(#1-8) well after some disasturous event, some of the team members died, and the rest quit. Well now, Captain America and Iron Man are assembling a new team. Which so far is awesome. It features none other than Spider Man (!), Luke Cage, Spider Woman, Wolverine (!!!), and of course Captain America, and Iron Man. I mean dang. This is one of the Worlds Greatest Comic Magazines after all. So far they uncovering some huge plot that involves S.H.E.I.L.D. and some huge coverup thing. They've fought over 90 villians at a prison break, Electro, Sauron, and The Wrecker. Oh man, the Wrecker nearly beat the half of the team he was fighting. Nearly.

House of M #1 This is the begining of the big summer marvel blockbuster. So far, the Avengers and the X-Men teamed up to go decide weather or not to put down the Scarlet Witch, whose powers are on the fritz. When they arrive, Magneto, her father, has taken her away somewhere... and when they arrive at her supposed location, everything goes white. Spider man wakes up later....married to a different woman than MJ!!! Cliff hanger!

In other news, Johnny, my brother will be filling in for paul at the show thats on the 16th... so that will be FUN times. I hope to see you two there.

Ju-Jajuba is alive.

Somehow I have managed to obtain a purevolume page. Check out the first fruits of our labor. Its a reeeeally rough version that shalt be updated once a more respectable version is recorded, but, until then, you may, if you wish, listen to our first song.

Shows Baby.

First post in a while... most will probably not read this. However I feel the distinct need to invite you all to some shows that I had a hand in organizing.

This Sunday:

The Castanets
Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice
I Heart Lung

July 17th, the Bug Jar, (8-11PM) 6$/8$

This is one that I am terribly exited about, because the Castanets are a very good, and strange group, mainly comprised of one guy creating all sorts of strange sounds while remaining solidly within the avant-country/dark-folk vein. The other two bands sound great too. I'm only famliar with I Heart Lung, which is a drone/free jazz sort of guitar drum duo that should be great. So come on out and see a show with me everybody. Its going to be one of those shows that you'll thank yourself for going later.

(links to check out the bands with: Castanets, I Heart Lung)

Also, I have managed to organize a show with Cameron, (the guy who DJ'd our show at matt's basement) at the A/V Space, that will feature the mighty Bizzart. If you are unfamiliar with Bizzart, you should know he is a deconstructionalist hip hop artist who pushed the label for avant guard hip hop with his full length Ear Drung a year or so ago. He is the man. You can listen to some of his stuff at www.soundsareactive.com. He has worked with soul-junk a number of times, and his sound is similar to their noise-hop romps.

Anyways, the show is happening on the 16th of August, at the A/V Space. it will feature Dummy Destroy (Cameron) Bizzart, and Gaybot. Its going to be nuts. Oh and my band is going to open Lord willin'.

You can ooh and ah about it here.

So much to say.

School is finally, completely done with. I am most likely graduating. Now I can at last focus on some music without any collegiate worries. (until i go for my next 2 years) Epilogue played a show at the penny last saturday that went horribly. It involved joel and brice coughing up 250 dollars, a surly, hungover soundman (with haste the day gym shorts) and a guitar, being played by myself that was tuned a half step off.

Joel and Brice got their money back by the end of the night luckily, but that didn't save our nerves. Alethes Metanoia rocked the house however. It was good to see someone do well. And of course Save Us did their thing. Which is... rocking.

Other than that, there are other big things going on. Thats right people you can preorder sufjan stevens new album for 10 bucks, and it will ship weeks earlier than it's july 5th release date. (check asthamtic kitty . com for that) THAT is big news my friends. If you didn't know, sufjan is a genious. Here is where you can find a new song by him. Please, if you have never heard him before, take a listen or two to that song. Music is supposed to sound like that.

Also, Joy Electric is putting out a 7 inch on republic of texas records. This will be our, (mines and paul's i mean) first taste of what his new album will sound like. I know what your thinking, "it will sound just like his other billion records you nerd.." But alas, you ears are too bone-headed and thick to pick up on the subtle differences of the sugary, delicate bleeps and bloops that make up Ronnie Martin's soul in audible form, try though you may.

Joy Electric Dot Com.

Show Today we are probably going to rock and fall apart

We are actually playing at the Penny Arcade today everybody. We are playing around 4 o clock, and the doors open at 3:00pm. Save Us is headlining, and in case you've havent heard, they are the junk. Im talking syncopated, sassy, speed punk with proficient musicianship. Theres another band I don't the name of.... but their from finney so its all fam. And of course John, JJ, and Phil's collective known as Alethie's Metanoi will be playing some sophisticated, epic rock and or roll. So show up if you can for some reason. we should start at at 4. probably. I really don't know.

When there's nothing else to beleive in, beleive in hope.

My Dad and the Pawn Shop.

My dad is an interesting fellow. He is over 50 years old. He works for the city. He inspects buildings to make sure they are "up to code". His area is the worst area in the city, Avenue D. But despite dealing with drug dealers, and difficult landlords, and such, sometimes his job pays off.

He recently brought me and my little brother john and his friend Phil to a pawn shop on north clinton. it was called Cash King. We walked in, and an older hispanic man was sitting behind a huge plastic screen, while vcr's tv's, were all piled up along the wall. "Hey Rapheal," my dad says to the guy "how you doin?" My dad goes through a door to the other side and chats with him, while me and john check out some of their amps. This was why we had come. "they got amps" our dad had told us, so we grabbed a bass and jumped in the car. Our eyes inspected every inch of these suckers. There was a big TNT 100, that claimed 150 watts of bass amplification. An there was a keyboard amp that claimed something similar. John had already plugged in his bass to the big one and was laying down some serious funk (causing some other surly looking customers to remark "hell yes. play that sh*!") And well a keyboard amp is just what I need for Ju-Jajuba's material, and Joel will be happy not to play through that acoustic amp anymore. So we gave Dad the "yes we want these amps dad, buy them and we'll pay you back" nod, and my dad starts talking to them about the price. The big bass amp had a sticker on it that said $150. Rapheal looked at me and john, then at the amps, and said "70 bucks, for both". Me and john grinned, said a thousand thanks, and began hauling these monsters out of the store.

Thats just one of the many things my dad can do. He can get get us huge amps from the hood.

Ju-Jajuba Happenings.

I figured out some new things on my Synthesizer and am now pumped about Ju-Jajuba. I can sequence an entire song on my Korg-Electribe, and after filtering it through Joel's Keyboard, it sounds fantastic. Very Joy Electricish, but still Ju-Jajuba to the max. Hopefully we will get a few more songs done on the synth, and then be able to put some up on purevolume. Just thought I would let you all know. Ju-Jajuba is coming

More good stuff from Real Live Preacher.

Good ol' RLP really holds it down. I just found some essays he wrote that really beg to be shared.

The first is about faith, its called Going down with the ship

and the other is called How to Find A Church.

Both of them are quite good. Gordon is very refreshing to hear, very honest, very real.

But anyways... How is everyone doing?

West Side Rundown.

It went well. It was the first time the band was out of the basement, so it was fun and scary. We were the first in a string of bands I already mentioned, all of whom we hadn't heard, so we were all nervous and giddy and excited. I was pretty tired all that day, but the nerves woke me up on stage.

The sound was incredible, moniters, speakers, all this stuff we wern't used to. No more combo amps in basements, this felt like we were in a freaking colliseum. I looked around at the crowd and got pretty nervous... it was mostly teeny bopper girls, and barely coming of age guys, mixed in with band guys and friend-of-band-guys. None of them would proabably have an open mind about our songs. Heck, not even I really get our songs... do they suck? are they interesting enough to be considered "good"? Do I like them? Do I not like them when im in a room full of critics?

I was hella nervous during our sound check, but after opening up my mouth I realized that I sounded good coming out of this sounds system thing and loosened up. So then we all got down and tried to calm down before we started in half an hour.

Seven thirty rolls around, my family shows up which made me really happy, Sue and Mikey had never heard us play so that was great. Then all of the sudden everyone starts showing up. Suprisingly, John, JJ, Phil, (Alethies Metanoia) the esteemed Paul Ganguly, and Andrew Russo, and even Joanna and Joy Hagan. What the flip? Where did these people some from? I said Hi to them on the microphone. Then we started playing. I felt real weird talking about the "story" in front of a bunch of people who were just terribly confused, but stuttered a few words about it, and then played some more. All of the songs turned out really good. At least on our end. And I talked the sound guy into playing a telletubbies video on the big screen behind us while we played "Gerald's Daydream" which was great. I had a good time. But I think I was scarred a little by the audiences general confusion. All my friends really thought it was great and all that which was good to hear. And my bandmates just thought it was great that the audience was confused. "Thats what its all about." "Who cares! you gotta be ready for that!" they said. I guess their right. Its just not as easy as playing in a basement full of friends and family. Now thats a good time. I do want to get this playing in front of strangers thing down too, but its tricky.

The other bands were good too. Pelican't served some alt rock, with a great cover of "Yellow" among other kind of weezerish rock songs. Then Save Us DESTROYED the stage with some power emo screamo speed punk. All of the members of that band are just really talented. And while emo punk aint my cup of tea any more, I really had a good time watching them and would have bought a t-shirt had they had some available. They tore it up. Hopefully we will do a show with them sometime soon.
Undeveloped story had arguably the most fun on stage, just completely rocking out and pumping some three chord, punk songs like it was their job, and they were 16. Because they were 16, and it was their job. It was fun to see, because man, when I was 16, that is EXACTLY what I wanted to do. And here these kids are doing it, in front of throngs of screaming girls at that. They also were the ones who set up the show, so big ups to them for throwing us a bone and letting us play.

So it was a good time, now the remainder of my time will not be spent on memorizing lyrics or stressing out. now I can write some more songs, Ju-jajuba it up, and go buy a Synth drum machine on thursday... or friday. Life is good.

This Week.

It still doesn't feel like school has actually started. Probably because I missed an entire schoolday yesterday. But I have an excuse. The power was out. When I was little, the power being out was like a get out of jail free car.
"Mom can we have hot cocoa and graham crackers and stay up mad late?"

"No!"

"But Mom, the powers out."

"Oh all right. But just this once."

Then we'd all bust out the candles and get all freaked out when you have to go to the bathroom in the dark by yourself, and you can't see where your peeing, you just judge by the sound of things. "Yea I must be doing this right."

Thats sorta what happened monday night over here. I was reading before Iwent to bed and all the lights and clocks shut off in my room. So I go downstairs and Jim and Jeff are frying canadian bacon. That did it for me, we all fried up all kind of meats and eggs and ate at a table filled with candles. It was fantastic. But then I refused to get up on time for school, and finally got up at like 1 thirty or something. Pretty terrible. But nothing new.

The night before I saw Melt Banana, which is a Japanese Noise-Core band form Tokeo Japan. Yes, it was just as awesome as it sounds. No words can describe the "video arcade getting trampled by a herd of buffalo" sound this band conjured up. Actually those words almost do it. I got a t-shirt.

I've been writing a new song for Epylogue that I'm very excited about. I'm also very nervous about this show coming up. It could go either way. Really well, or really awkward. I just hope the crowd has an open mind to non emo-punk slower music.

I listened to both of Anberlin's albums with headphones while I tried to sleep. Their both so good. The second one has all these tiny things that you could only catch fully with headphones on. I love hearing those things for the first time. After that, to try and go to sleep I pretended we were playing the show and I was singing all the songs in my head and then doing between song banter. That usually helps me get to sleep, but this time it didn't.

I bought a tellatubbies video at record archive and I'm dying to try setting it to music. I just need Joel. And fortuneately, he is coming over today.

Melt Banana is playing tonight at the bug jar, and Jeff Brice is spending the week at my house. Oh, and we have a show on friday. Its a good week.

Saturday April 23rd
Mercury radio theatre
Seven Head Division
1 more tba
7pm-5 bux

anyone want to go?

Friday, April 29th, We will be playing at Brian's church... so if anyone wants to come, well that would be fabulous.

"throw your hands up, throw them up, throw them up."

Heres Jeff and Paul, the better looking half of the band.

Dave has just made a stellar point. and that stellar point is this:


Blindside/Showbread/The Showdown
June 25th – Club Tundra, Syracuse, NY – tickets on sale 4/23/05

Somebody hold me.

There are some wonderful people on this planet.

I feel very compelled to share this link to Stephen Christianson's blog. He's the singer in Anberlin. (you know, that band.) And he is quite the thinker/writer. Very inspiring stuff. Please read.

Stephen Christianson: www.modesty.blogspot.com
Related: www.RealLivePreacher.com (another good blogger)

Tooth and Nail Records.

This label has always treated me right. No other label on the Christian market has the uncanny knack of signing some of the best music around, and wrapping it in a drool worthy package. (praise the lord for Asterisk Studios! Prasie Him on high!) Even haters have to give TnN props for signing Mewithoutyou, when we were all like "whats this singer doing?" the first time we heard them. Turns out that band happens to be filled with madmen. Go figure. And signing the mighty Joy Electric ten years ago? bravo brandon ebel, bravo.

But, is anyone else disturbed by the growing number of teen-punk bands on the label? This should come as no suprise, Tooth and Nail did sign MxPx back in the day, who opitimized teen-pop-punk. But still, TnN seems to be at a sort of awkward crossroads. There are the teeny-emo-punk bands, right along side the intelligent, indie-rock bands, and other bands that just plain rock.

But this split in the style of music on the label must be on purpose. Hawk Nelson, FM Static, and Thousand foot Krutch must be selling tons of records on the CCM market, and that must be what make them so attractive to the label. (God forbid they should like the music.) And it wouldn't flip me out so much if the contrasts between the bands weren't so large.

I mean, Tooth and Nail has some really original bands. Like Joy Electric, and Mewithoutyou. Both have very distinct styles, and seem pretty content doing their own thing. Both top my lists of favorite artists too, which make Tooth and Nail something Im in a sort of relationship with. (which is why I pick it apart so)

Then you have the teeny bopper music. FM Static and Hawk Nelson rule this catagory. Throw Side Walk Slam in there if you want. All of them sing highschoolish anthems with more pop than 94.1 would dare play.

Then you have the bands that are a step up from these. They rock, and may fall into "emo" or screamo, or "rock and roll" catragorys, but there is a decided maturity. Look at Sullivan, Waking Ashland, Slow Coming Day, Number One Gun.

Then there are the bands that absolutely without a doubt tear it up. In my opinon, Emery rules the emo world with an iron fist. They bring an original take on the typically uniform emotional yelps, and their songs are unique and flowing and have freaking texture for crying out loud. Mae, a band that many people describe as "girly music" are phenomenal musicians, and bring a fresh take on everything sweet rock has to offer. Their new album "the everglow" should lay to rest any fears of them taking a turn for the worse. Anberlin has transformed into the greek god of pure arena rock. And their new album drips with so much sass and testosterone, it will make you want to wear tight leather pants while riding an elephant. (the afformentioned Mewithoutyou and Joy Electric fit in here as well)

Then there are these new dorky bands that I'm exited about. They've signed five bands recently, the grungy looking Terminal (don't ask), the emotional car wreck Sullivan, the sweet girl boys Waking Ashland, and the more indie sounds of Eager Seas and Discover America.

Those last two bands are the ones im pumped about. Finally Tooth and Nail is watching out for the nerds. Discovering America is the project of Chris Staples, the former lead singer of Twothirtyeight. Here he's made some sort of weird half synth, half guitars, dirty lo-fi beats with clean vocals kind of band. In other words, it sounds good. His stuff on Myspace and Purevolume sounds dope. And frigging Eager Seas, born out of remains of Watashi Wa, have some how made music that is incredible, immediate, and simple. I don't know why, but their really great.

www.myspace.com/eagerseas

www.purevolume.com/discoveramerica

There is a good conversation going on over at Gina's Livejournal currently. Look lively.