Self Titled Journal Entry

Texas was a blast. I got to do everything on my list of things to do before I die, and I didn't even have a list.

I got to eat giant turkey legs while watching the knights battle with swords, axes, and maces in an obviously rigged fight, because we all know the Blue Knight was superior to all the other Knights. I guess even he has to step down once in a while to let the other crappy Knights win. What I'm trying to say is that we went to Medieval Times. If you have one near you I highly recommend going, getting drunk, and getting rowdy. The best part is how it turns into a little kid night club with a dance floor and rap songs blaring when the fighting is all said and done. I wish Dwight bought me a sheild.

I got to barrel roll a TC-13 (I think that was the type of plane) straight into the ground from twenty thousand feet up, or at least simulate it. Thanks to Neil's overall popularity in every military base (because he is a war hero), Dave (Neil's brother) was able to pull some strings at his Airforce base to get Neil some time on a flight simulator. And of course Neil brought us with him, and it was awesome. Sparky is apparently a natural, so eventually when he forms his hippie militia, be prepared to be attacked from the sky. I got to go last, so when the time was up, the guy in charge just told me to crash the plane, which I had been waiting to do since I started, so I did...And I went out with style.

I ate a million burritos from all sorts of different mexican restaurants, I took a million trips to the airport and another million back from the airport. People were coming in and leaving the entire two weeks. We all got to hang out again for the first time since we all went to Denmark about a year ago. We went to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar and sang along to songs and requested 'Barbie Girl' and 'It's Raining Men'. We played 'Ghostbusters' as many times as we could on each Jukebox we encountered along the way. One bar manager cut it off before we made it to the first chorus in one bar. Neil gave them hell for that, and even got his dollar back. Hilarious.

I designed the website for my new music project not an Airplane. I watched season 1 of LOST over again so Sparky could see it, and I watched season 1 of Arrested Development again so Neil could see it. I even kept Sparky company when he went to see WWE's Vengeance at the Movie Tavern. A movie theatre that serves beer and food to you at your seat. Utopia.

It was a great couple weeks, and we packed a lot of stuff in. From Working on Dwight's House, to Working on my Happy Gilmore Drives at the driving range.

I am sad to leave it all behind, because I havent been so relaxed and care-free in a long time. Being around my friends helps me forget about everything I am ever worried about, and I barely even thought about the music, and I actually got some peaceful sleep. But of course its time to get back to work, for all of us. Neil is headed back to Iraq til November, and Sparky is headed to Finland for a film project opportunity, which I am excited about for him. And I am back in Northern California doing what I do. Ill be back in the studio July 11th, and I am looking for a part time job to pay those bills and the few other ones I have stocking up.

It was really good to see everyone again, and of course its only a matter of time until we all re-unite again. I couldn't have dreamed up a better two weeks.

Well now that I am done listing everything we did, I am going to go. Wasn't that journal entry exciting?

New Stuff

Well I finished up the new website for my new music project 'not an Airplane'. I added a link to the right so check it out.

I will also be posting my usual album of the month and mix of the month a little late this month. But I will get it up as soon as I can. I am very busy here in Texas, and Neil comes back into town today for a couple days before he heads back to Iraq, so I will be even busier.

So anyways, as soon as I have the time, I will put those posts up.

I can tell everyone is super excited.

I almost got rid of this blog too, but I decided to keep it. I made the background white for some reason, and I can't tell if I like it, or if it annoys the shit out of me. What do you think?

Futuristic Nipple Gazing

So today I am off to Texas for sixteen days.

I am going to get to see Neil, Sparky, Dwight, Dwight's New House, Mcmahon for a couple days, Laura (aka Mrs. Prakash), Cracker and a bunch of knights while I eat giant turkey legs (we are going to Medieval Times.

Its going to be an action-packed 16 days of non-stop hilarity and furniture building.

I am excited.

When I get back, its straight to work on a couple things. Getting a bullshit job to pay the bills and to help pay for studio time, and getting the new music project off the ground.

I may even start an official website by the end of this month with the help of Sparky and George. So all this blogging crap could get moved...who knows.

Ill keep you updated.

Either way sleep is out of the question for awhile...

Indie Culture

Does anyone else think that pop culture is getting worse and worse, and Indie art is getting better and better. Maybe its because of the increase access of Indie music that I am just starting to figure this out, or maybe its because I am a moron that doesnt know what he is talking about.

I mean there has always been great art that went unnoticed until years and years later. Look at the Velvet Underground. They are considered to be one of the most influential bands these days, but back when they were around, they were playing for 80 people. I suppose time always does bring out the best stuff into a more mainstream light.

But thats why I love the internet. Because now we have everything at our disposal. You can hear the latest pop chart topper, or you can hear some schmuck recording folk songs in his basement like me. Except Im not even cool enough to have a basement.

Even in film too. Some of the best films Ive seen in the last couple years would be considered 'indie' films. Or stem from an Indie background.

I guess all I am trying to say is how great it is that we have all this at our disposal. Thats all.

Your thoughts?

When You Wake Up Feeling Old...

The last couple weeks have been quite awesome-tastic.

For starters I got to see Beck last week, and the Eels tonight. I was really impressed with both acts, moreso then I ever expected. Beck put on a fantastically entertaining show including a puppet show of the concert behind the actual concert on stage, and many other quirky entertaining things as well. I enjoyed the Eels much more, which has a lot to do with the fact that I am a much bigger fan of the Eels then I am of Beck. But overall I was more impressed with the individual musicianship of the Eels, as well as the overall rocking-ness of the show. I realize I am making up words, but you can look them up in the rhyming Beck-tionary. Anyways, go see either one of these acts if they come your way...

I also recently bought a Line 6 POD 2.0 for use in the studio. It is an amp modulator that was recommended to me by the producer in the studio I am recording in. It turns out it is quite the useful tool and has given me and Mike some beautiful tones to work with. Its taken our sound into a new direction that is more modern, and a lot more professional. Its also changed the way we approach things, and has gotten us a lot more involved in the collaborative writing process.

Mike will be joining me in the studio from here on out, and we will be writing a lot, if not all, of the songs together. I have decided to spend all the time it takes to put out a decent album rather then just a decent EP. So it could be a while before anything is distributed, but it will be worth it. Its going to take time and money which I am more then willing to spend. I have completed 2 sessions in the studio by myself, and things are looking very promising, and the stuff sounds great so far. I am excited to see where everything goes, and what happens over the next few months and months.

Other then that I am just hanging out and waiting for mid-june when I take off for Texas once again. My old pal Neil is going to be on R&R from Iraq and will be in Texas for a week. Then I will stick around and hang with Sparky for another week while we wait for Neil to show back up in Texas for a couple more days. Its going to be a great couple weeks which will mostly be spent in Dwights brand new house. Its a pretty sweet house, although my one sole mission is to infiltrate Dwight's master bedroom and take a big dump in there. I really should get some higher life goals.

So yeah June will be a low-key month for me, but hopefully things will start to take off this summer when I get back to Northern California. My plan is to start playing more shows in the Bay Area (starting off just acoustic) and also to get a job to help fund studio time and new and better equipment. Mike and I are going to keep practicing and writing every chance we get, and recording as well. For once I feel like I am moving in the right direction, and it is motivating me to work harder and harder.

Anyways, I felt like I should update cause its been so long. But its just another boring rant about my musical aspirations and blah blah blah. I love you. You. No not you. You. Ok you too.