It feels like the life of last week and the life of this week are completely different. Different living situation, different schedule at work, everyone is out of school for the summer. Plus, I'm still on that "I just got back from vacation, this is weird" thing.
Delfest proved to be pretty fun. It was relatively nice weather with the exception of rain on Saturday. The bands were interesting to see. I'm not the biggest bluegrass fan, but it was cool to see such historically important music played live and discussed by the people who were there during its inception. Would have made for a great paper for a music history class in college.
Bands that I recall catching off the top of my head:
Del McCoury Band (of course), Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams w/ Jeff Austin and Keith Moseley, David Grisman, Railroad Earth, The Bridge, Cornmeal, Trampled by Turtles, and The Lee Boys
I'm always entertained by the people at festivals. This one had a lot less of the generic, sketchy festival goers and more of the mountain people who played bluegrass. All throughout the day and night people would walk around and form little bands and play for hours. We hung out with a pair of girls from Ohio who camped near us for the weekend. I find that having extra company at a festival can't really go badly as long as they're relatively normal. One of our friends took it upon himself see what he could get going with the girls, which didn't go that well, but nevertheless made for an interesting situation.
We did have our fair share of interesting characters. On Friday morning at about 4am we were awoken by a newly arrived approximately 60 year old, Marlboro man-esque neighbor who talked to himself for about 6 hours, until about 10am when he decided to round up a band. I was surprised that he wasn't actually crazy, just one of those people who doesn't shut up. I'm assuming he was just drunk. Either way, by the time we had returned to the campsite Friday evening, he had supposedly gone to the hospital. I have to wonder what for.
We also decided to name the crazy hippie people who have the super dready hair and beards wooks (as in wookies). One particularly memorable wook came up offering us some moonshine. Apparently, he would go on tour for months at a time with nothing but moonshine sales for income. After a little conversation, he informed us that doesn't drink the moonshine. He'll drink beer from time to time, but his friends regularly dose him with 20 hits.
Overall, it was just nice to get away from the hustle and bustle, and just worry about the simple things like shelter, food, staying cool, and enjoying the music. A month and two weeks until round two.
Again, my ability to read situations is complete shite. Kinda thought things were fizzling out with this girl. Kinda the opposite. From here on out, I think I'm just going to read every day with people as different. It seems to work better for not only me and my mental state, but for the situations themselves.
That sounded a little depressed sounding... it really is a good thing. I'm feeling a little more optomistic than I had been feeling for the past couple weeks. So I guess the only logical conclusion is that either I can't read situations or I just need to be in my element. Apparently my element is parties? That sounds pretty bro. Just saying.
That sounded a little depressed sounding... it really is a good thing. I'm feeling a little more optomistic than I had been feeling for the past couple weeks. So I guess the only logical conclusion is that either I can't read situations or I just need to be in my element. Apparently my element is parties? That sounds pretty bro. Just saying.
The ebbs and flows of daily life just wear me out. I try to ride the wave of optomism when things are going well, but every wave crashes and returns out to sea. I'm just looking forward to a nice time in the mountains next weekend.
Hell of a weekend, hell of a week following.
Tonight we are playing some songs acoustically and answering some questions on Goucher Radio which I'm really pschyed about. Then, I'm hanging out with this girl Amanda I met at Ted's BBQ on Saturday, maybe having Holy Frijoles, maybe bringing her to Trivia, depending. It's just a busy, exciting day so I'm all jittery. It's a feeling that makes me feel more alive than the monotonous day to day, and I really like that.
I did get to GC on Monday, so come tomorrow I will be rocking the guitar below and I'll have a pedaltrain that can fit all my pedals. Rock and roll.
Tonight we are playing some songs acoustically and answering some questions on Goucher Radio which I'm really pschyed about. Then, I'm hanging out with this girl Amanda I met at Ted's BBQ on Saturday, maybe having Holy Frijoles, maybe bringing her to Trivia, depending. It's just a busy, exciting day so I'm all jittery. It's a feeling that makes me feel more alive than the monotonous day to day, and I really like that.
I did get to GC on Monday, so come tomorrow I will be rocking the guitar below and I'll have a pedaltrain that can fit all my pedals. Rock and roll.
Reeeally need to hit up GC and get rid of the Thinline/DRRI...
Pumped for an action packed weekend:
Today - rest... well, that's not really action-packed. but, I will catch up on the new degrassi episodes. maybe suit shopping since a tux seems pretty expensive to rent anyway.
Saturday - working overtime, Ted's BBQ
Sunday - home, Gala
Really eventful weekend:
Thursday, went to see Ted Leo, which is always a pleasure. Aside from the downpour going into 9:30 Club, it was a good show. Obits really shocked me... I was expecting some chill electronic junk from checking out some other Obits band on myspace, but they were really good. I just really like trekking to a show with a car full of people.
Friday, started off the day at the gym which was a lot less crowded than I expected. Then I had to go the UPE honor society induction thing which was a little weird. The three other inductees and I had to wait around in the hallway of York Road for a half an hour before there cult like ceremony with candles took place. I will say it was nice to go back and talk to some of my professors. Later on was Dan/Kevin's bday celebration at Brewer's Art. Had a near death experience involving the white snail on the way to it, but once we got there it was a really sweet place. Definitely will have to back there again for some Ozzys.
Saturday, started off the day again at the gym. I think I'm starting to get the working out routine in motion, which is good. I've been pretty damn lazy about getting any exercise since I've started working. Then had a real solid band practice in preparation for the Sunday CD release and worked out all the kinks in the new song which is rocking pretty hard. Then rushed off for the trivia championships. Da Beers did not show up, which was slightly disappointing cause we had a nice rivalry going on, so basically we just got crushed. It was fun, we all got to eat some good food and ordered 15 pitchers of beer. We decided that our name should be changed from Team Zissou to Youngest but Drunkest. Had a nice little post-trivia card playing and called it a night.
Sunday, had lunch with mom and then went to Kinko's to get some posters printed. I wasn't expecting them to have the 11x17 for the big ass show posters, but they did and the lady working was nice enough to basically double my order because she liked the design so much. I really want to go back to school and take graphic design, and she said that I should go back cause the design was a lot better than the stuff other students print at the store. So that was a huge mood boost in my day. Then we packed on up and headed over to Recher. The show went fairly well, all things considered. We had a good turnout from our promotion, just the other bands kinda half-assed everything. Overall though, it went pretty well.
Thursday, went to see Ted Leo, which is always a pleasure. Aside from the downpour going into 9:30 Club, it was a good show. Obits really shocked me... I was expecting some chill electronic junk from checking out some other Obits band on myspace, but they were really good. I just really like trekking to a show with a car full of people.
Friday, started off the day at the gym which was a lot less crowded than I expected. Then I had to go the UPE honor society induction thing which was a little weird. The three other inductees and I had to wait around in the hallway of York Road for a half an hour before there cult like ceremony with candles took place. I will say it was nice to go back and talk to some of my professors. Later on was Dan/Kevin's bday celebration at Brewer's Art. Had a near death experience involving the white snail on the way to it, but once we got there it was a really sweet place. Definitely will have to back there again for some Ozzys.
Saturday, started off the day again at the gym. I think I'm starting to get the working out routine in motion, which is good. I've been pretty damn lazy about getting any exercise since I've started working. Then had a real solid band practice in preparation for the Sunday CD release and worked out all the kinks in the new song which is rocking pretty hard. Then rushed off for the trivia championships. Da Beers did not show up, which was slightly disappointing cause we had a nice rivalry going on, so basically we just got crushed. It was fun, we all got to eat some good food and ordered 15 pitchers of beer. We decided that our name should be changed from Team Zissou to Youngest but Drunkest. Had a nice little post-trivia card playing and called it a night.
Sunday, had lunch with mom and then went to Kinko's to get some posters printed. I wasn't expecting them to have the 11x17 for the big ass show posters, but they did and the lady working was nice enough to basically double my order because she liked the design so much. I really want to go back to school and take graphic design, and she said that I should go back cause the design was a lot better than the stuff other students print at the store. So that was a huge mood boost in my day. Then we packed on up and headed over to Recher. The show went fairly well, all things considered. We had a good turnout from our promotion, just the other bands kinda half-assed everything. Overall though, it went pretty well.
Having one of those off days. A bunch of people close to my co-workers have either died or have become very sick in the past couple days. As is normal, whenever these thing happen, you gain perspective on life, look at the bigger picture, and examine how things are going/should be going. I'm feeling a little frustrated with some work stuff that I was hoping to have done by now, but it's really out of my hands.
On the upside, I'm excited for trivia tonight. We've decided to move to Tuesday's at Bateman's in Parkville because it's better for several people's schedules and Piv's has been kinda slacking lately. I'm a fan of Bateman's food and frisbee/kickball is going to be starting up soon, so I don't mind at all. Still feeling a little hurt about some of the team trying to oust Nate, Keith, and I for some random ringer. So I guess the oust-ers will become the oust-ed.
Our CD's come today, so I'll probably go home and pick those up. It's nice that one of my goals for the year got accomplished. I also joined a gym yesterday, so that's another goal completed.
Life is just up's and down's, I guess.
On the upside, I'm excited for trivia tonight. We've decided to move to Tuesday's at Bateman's in Parkville because it's better for several people's schedules and Piv's has been kinda slacking lately. I'm a fan of Bateman's food and frisbee/kickball is going to be starting up soon, so I don't mind at all. Still feeling a little hurt about some of the team trying to oust Nate, Keith, and I for some random ringer. So I guess the oust-ers will become the oust-ed.
Our CD's come today, so I'll probably go home and pick those up. It's nice that one of my goals for the year got accomplished. I also joined a gym yesterday, so that's another goal completed.
Life is just up's and down's, I guess.
Just had this random thought about being social. I picture people's desire to hang out on a scale:
1 5 10
Clinger Normal No desire at all
Generally, anything between 1 and 4 creeps me out, and anything between 6 and 8.5 intrigues me. 8.6 to 10 has no point.
Kinda weird. I think it's natural to think that way, but it's just weird and makes me wonder why people were designed or learned to think like that.
1 5 10
Clinger Normal No desire at all
Generally, anything between 1 and 4 creeps me out, and anything between 6 and 8.5 intrigues me. 8.6 to 10 has no point.
Kinda weird. I think it's natural to think that way, but it's just weird and makes me wonder why people were designed or learned to think like that.
I completely forgot about a close friend's bday that's tomorrow until yesterday and I kinda feel like a jerk. I mean, yes, it's not like I literally COMPLETELY forgot about it, but usually I'm on top of these things. I mean, yeah, he didn't make it to hang out with me on my bday, so I shouldn't feel that bad, but he's a long time friend. Bleh.
So, I'm pumped that the album artwork is essentially done. Gonna get the badboy ordered by Friday.
So, I'm pumped that the album artwork is essentially done. Gonna get the badboy ordered by Friday.
Per the request of Quinn, this is me blogging more. See me blog. Blog, me, blog. I don't really like to talk about myself and my daily happenings, so I usually resist writing things in here. That is, unless it's something I need to get off my chest, but I'm just going to go with it.
Music of the day thus far:
Hot Rod Circuit - Sorry About Tomorrow
This week I'm pumped for:
Today - Getting the album artwork done hopefully. I really need to get on selling the tickets as the date is fast approaching. Craaaazy.
Wednesday - Trivia! Final week for the season, and as long as we don't fuck up big time, we're automatically going to the Playoffs and possible the Championship.
Thursday - Kevin's standup, we might even get COUGARS!
Saturday - Playing bass at a gig for the first time. Can't wait to rock in a band in a different role.
Other thoughts lately:
I'm pretty overall content. Hanging out with everyone about equally, meeting some new people here and there. So yeah, pretty much all there is to say about that.
Really, really digging the gear I picked up last week. Perfect to play solo stuff and to have the 60's tones I've really wanted at bedroom levels.
I've decided guitar gear-wise I'm just going to sell off anything I don't use really frequently and just have ideal setups for each of the types of music I want to play:
Rock and roll - ES339 > JMP 2204
60's pop/solo stuff - '62 Telecaster w/ Bigsby > AC15C1
Pop-punk - '72 Deluxe or Delonge Strat > DSL 50 or JMP 2204
Really need to get the Thinline, some extra pedals, maybe the Delonge, and maybe the DRRI out the door to get a '72.
Music of the day thus far:
Hot Rod Circuit - Sorry About Tomorrow
This week I'm pumped for:
Today - Getting the album artwork done hopefully. I really need to get on selling the tickets as the date is fast approaching. Craaaazy.
Wednesday - Trivia! Final week for the season, and as long as we don't fuck up big time, we're automatically going to the Playoffs and possible the Championship.
Thursday - Kevin's standup, we might even get COUGARS!
Saturday - Playing bass at a gig for the first time. Can't wait to rock in a band in a different role.
Other thoughts lately:
I'm pretty overall content. Hanging out with everyone about equally, meeting some new people here and there. So yeah, pretty much all there is to say about that.
Really, really digging the gear I picked up last week. Perfect to play solo stuff and to have the 60's tones I've really wanted at bedroom levels.
I've decided guitar gear-wise I'm just going to sell off anything I don't use really frequently and just have ideal setups for each of the types of music I want to play:
Rock and roll - ES339 > JMP 2204
60's pop/solo stuff - '62 Telecaster w/ Bigsby > AC15C1
Pop-punk - '72 Deluxe or Delonge Strat > DSL 50 or JMP 2204
Really need to get the Thinline, some extra pedals, maybe the Delonge, and maybe the DRRI out the door to get a '72.
I probably should have followed up the last one of these sooner, but whatever. My mistakes were not as drastic as they seemed to me when I wrote the last entry. In fact, it seems as though I make a MUCH bigger deal out of things in my mind than I should. What can I say though... a "stage 3 clinger" freaks me out a little bit.
But as those mistakes pass, good things come. I've realized that staying true to the idea of doing what makes you happy is truly the most important thing. That said, as a way of addressing my fears of not meeting new people and putting myself out there, I'm going to the Cursive/Alkaline Trio show with this random girl. Usually when I get myself in to these kinds of situations, I have a level of apprehension. My sleep goes to hell, I get anxious, and I have a sensation of dreading what will come of it. However, this week I've felt completely relaxed, to a level that is out the ordinary for me. I've slept 9 hours or so the past two nights, which is unheard of unless I'm sick. I have a good feeling about this *knock on wood*
But as those mistakes pass, good things come. I've realized that staying true to the idea of doing what makes you happy is truly the most important thing. That said, as a way of addressing my fears of not meeting new people and putting myself out there, I'm going to the Cursive/Alkaline Trio show with this random girl. Usually when I get myself in to these kinds of situations, I have a level of apprehension. My sleep goes to hell, I get anxious, and I have a sensation of dreading what will come of it. However, this week I've felt completely relaxed, to a level that is out the ordinary for me. I've slept 9 hours or so the past two nights, which is unheard of unless I'm sick. I have a good feeling about this *knock on wood*
Sometimes I do things to put myself out there, then I realize it might not be the best idea after the fact. Most of the time I'm pretty good at making logical decisions, but when it comes to social things I do some dumb shit. I guess you have to make mistakes, otherwise, you will not learn.
I realize that I sometimes use playing music as a way of escaping things I don't want to deal with. But I think that's ok. In my mind all good things in life will come because of music. Music gives me a medium to be myself on a level not able to be reached in normal interaction. Completely devoid of anything negative; true, pure, honest.
So pumped on the band right now. We've got three good recordings, and we'll probably do a couple more throughout the month. We're getting some new promos done, redoing the myspace, getting stickers, and maybe doing some shirts. Being in a band can be a lot of work, but being able to say, "yeah, this is us" just feels awesome.