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.