They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint on the Insides of Your Eyelids

My love for music branches out beyond just listening to it. I've tried starting a band before. That is seriously one of the best feelings in the world. Being on stage in front of a crowd is exhilarating and really exciting and fun. When i think back to when i was in a band, i just can't help but think that it was one of the best experiences in my life to have ever lived out.

The first band i was in was The Starving Armenians. There's a whole back story to the name, but I'll focus elsewhere this time. Maybe in the future I'll confront that story. But, anyways, this band, The Starving Armenians, TSA for short, was one of the most fun things i was ever had the opportunity to be apart of. Playing music is so much fun by itself that the prospect of playing in front of people for entertainment just screams out to me. Besides the thrill of actually playing, i loved that part of my life because that's when i got some of the best friends that i ever met.

Lucas was the one who started the band. He is one of the most enthusiastic people i know. He loves everything and just loves life in general. He totally embraces all aspects of his life. He can take anything that life throws at him. Some would call him weird, sure, but the weird little things he did were the things we came to love about him. Lucas loves music and everything about it. He's one of the ones that actually got me into ska. I love him for that. He always talks about starting a band even after TSA ended. Yes, that's the full band in the main picture. And yes, that's right, TSA had to come to an end. Everyone was leaving for college and everyone just got lost in school and too busy to make any time for the music.

But i loved those times in the garage playing ska and having fun with my friends. I can't count the numerous times we got mad and angry at each other when we felt like one of us was asking too much of the rest. A band of this magnitude shouldn't be concerned with being perfectionists.
The band was really fun though and each member contributed a lot. Adam played his heart out on those drums. Devon provided the bass sounds of the trombone and was sort of the go-to guy when we were coming up with horn lines. Nick was the sax player who's skills transcended just playing for the high school band. Plus, he had a car...that was helpful. And Alan. Oh, jesus. What can i say about Alan? He was the king. King Alan. He was the most skilled musician we had. Not only was he an incredible trumpet player, but that motherfucker could play the shit out of the drums and just about every other instrument in the band. He started picking up on the bass and was already good at the trombone. That kid could play. Garrett provided the vocals, even if he didn't always provide the lyrics. But he really did sing really good and with a lot of soul. If you were to look at the band as the human body, each of us being a vital organ making up the insides and heart of the band, then Lucas was the brain. He structured all the songs and wrote the music, excluding some of the horn lines. But he was really the brain, the force behind the band. And if we were a human body and Lucas was the brain, then our IQ wouldn't hit triple digits. That kid, as much as i love him and as skilled he is at playing music, couldn't make his mind up on a fucking song. I think that we only had maybe two songs that were complete. All the other songs, Lucas would come to the next practice like, "ok guys, i just thought of something new we could add into this part," or "Alright, let's take a big chunk out of this song and make it something completely ridiculous and hard to play." sigh.
That kid was too much sometimes, but i tolerated it because i looked at him almost like a mentor. He was one of the important people in my life leading me somewhere. He led me to a huge passion in my life. I just wish school didn't separate us apart like it does. He since then has become one of my best friends. I couldn't imagine where i would be now in my life had Adam never introduced me to him or i never even met Adam freshman year. Had i never went to that first full band practice, i would have never met Devon or Alan or Nick or Jes and Heather and Julia.

I suppose I'm starting a theme right now for my blog. No regrets. I just have to be thankful for the cards being dealt to me, even if i get shitty cards.

So, until next time...

A Prayer For The Complete And Utter Eradication Of All Generic Pop-Punk

I've written on this subject in the past, but i'll continue it here. It has been way, way, WAY, too long since the last time i was at a good ol' ska show. I love being in the crowd at a show and just feeding off the energy of the band on stage.

When i look back, three specific shows come to mind that stood out as the best. And since i have your attention for the time being, i'll list them here for you. And they're in no particular order, so don't think that whatever is listed #1 is my favorite of all time. If anything, they just stand out the most as being overall fun. Just remember that it's all my opinion and if you think that show was complete shit and the bands sucked...well hey, that's your opinion. Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has 'em.

1. Slim's - Cracktoberfest

Not only is this show memorable, but it was when i got to see one of my new favorite bands: Leftover Crack. The opening bands were nothing really to talk about. 1) cool punk band that we came in half way through their set but were still pretty good. But we still got to see STZA(lead singer of Leftover Crack) sing a song with them. 2) ok punk band from new york. not as good as first band, but i liked it. The lead singer had some of the nastiest dreads you could imagine. These things went down to her ass and were as thick as a fucking lead pipe. still, a decent band. 3) Holy shit! must've been the shittiest hardcore band i've ever seen. ha. Now this band, i remember the name: Toxic Narcotic. Now, the music was decent. Decent drums, decent guitar and bass. But as soon as the vocals started...ok, imagine a pitbull just barking and barking. Vicious and gnarly sounding. Now imagine that sound sped up about 10 times. And not only did his singing suck the biggest balls imaginable, but every song sounded like he was saying the same words...or atleast yelling the same inaudible screams.

But of course, the show was stolen by the headliners, Leftover Crack. They started the show with the typical song about killing cops and living in a squat. They played some songs from the original band that leftover crack spawned from, Choking Victim. The first Choking Victim song played was "500 Channels". Now the bass line in the album version is hard enough, but the bass player speeds it up about 2 times faster. The show was full with almost every song in both the leftover crack and choking victim library. The highlight, though, came when the band played the most depressing song that i have ever heard (and i listen to Bright Eyes). The song was Operation MOVE and the band played it with so much intensity and emotion. When stza yelled into the mic, i couldn't help but feel a bit of sorrow and pain. The part that really hit me about the live rendition, however, wasn't while the band was playing, but after. When they started playing a kind of upbeat song, i couldn't get into it. i was still clinging on to the emotion that hit me during the last song. The only thing that would have made that night any better was if i met stza himself. But i'm sure that opportunity will arise the next time they're in town.

3. Ashkenaz - The Phenomenauts

What can i say about the Phenomenauts that hasn't already been said about star wars? They're interstellar musicians bringing a message of peace throughout the universe. With their rockabilly sound, they find their ways into each of our hearts. ha. But in all seriousness, they are one of the best live bands ever. They come from Oakland, so they're a local band to the bay area. They have the most original show that i have seen and when they play, they are full of so much energy. They come dressed up in their space gear ready to play the show. There's not much else that i can say about the band. Their shows are something to be experienced. No words can fully capture the intensity of the show. So....go see em!

3. Nickel City, San Jose - Bomb the Music IndustryNow, some of the greatest things i have witnessed gave all been at shows. Never before this show, though, did i see a band play at an arcade. Not only was it the first time seeing a band play at an arcade, but it was also the first time i saw bomb the music industry!, my new favorite band. You see, some might think that having a show in such a small confined place would be horrible and sweaty and cramped. True, it was all these things, but did i forget to mention it was bomb the music industry! playing? It didn't matter to me one bit being in such small space. Besides, that only meant that i could be closer to the band. which i was. Btmi! played their hearts out and played their fingers to the bone. The only thing that was bad was that they only played a 20 minute set....!!! Of course, being so close, i was able to get some decent pictures with my phone. They played some really good songs, a couple covers, and ended it with one of their best songs "Syke! Life is Awesome". After they played, we got uninterested in the bands after, so we went and enjoyed the free arcade games. Soon after, we got to witness the greatness that was Jeff Rosenstock (the lead singer) play DDR.

A really cool thing that the band does is let's the fan bring a shirt to the show and they'll spray paint some stencils on it for free. So, i took the opportunity to get a free btmi! shirt. But we were feeling drowsy by this time and wanted to go home. And who do we see but Jeff Rosenstock playing some arcade games. I nervously approached him and asked about my shirt which i gave the merch girl early in the night. He said, Yeah sure, just hold on one sec and i'll check for you. As we waited, the merch girl was with him playing games and asked if we wanted to play. We couldn't refuse, after all that would be rude. While playing an intense game of Bust-a-Move, Jeff came back and placed the shirt on my back, but we couldn't leave until i could get the chance to beat him at his own game. I reigned champion for a few matches, but of course, everything must come to an end. It was seriously one of the best nights of my life. So, we got his autograph and started the journey home.

My reason for sharing these things with you is to help me cope with not going to any shows in recent months. But i do hope that i atleast entertained you for the time you spent here.

So until next time...

So Lets Go! Nowhere

The introduction. The basis for the entire reading of this blog. Without a good intro, how can i pull people in and keep them coming back for more? Well, i'll have to try my best.

The whole of most of the things i write here will revolve someway and in some form around the people and things i love: family, friends, and music. My world revolves around music and the sounds of life. As ridiculous as it sounds, i couldn't think of a world without music. Along with poetry and literature, music is the life source of the world. Just imagine a world without any of these things and you will surely be dissapointed with the results. Music brings the mundane to life, gives the dead new life, makes life worth living. At least in my opinion it does.

There's a quote from High Fidelity where John Cusack says "Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?" I feel a sort of connection to character in that respect. Am i miserable because of the music i listen to, or do i listen to the music the cope with being miserable?

I try not to look too much into things like that for the results will surely affect me. And i'd rather not know how the results would change me. i feel pretty good about my life so far. of course there's regret. Everyone has regret. But i dont need to change. not now. I have too many good things to fuck them all up now.

Well, i guess i'll be posting here for the next couple months, so i'll try and keep the topics a little light and not delve into the depressing, taboo, or inappropriate. then again, it's my thoughts. It's my blog. i can say whatever i want. That's what's gonna be happening, so if you must come back, come back with an open mind.