IPOD
RADIO
Feeling all better now - no more congestion, no more sore throat: I'm back! Just need to finish off these antibiotics which I'll do tomorrow and I can drink again! As lame as it's been refusing drinks, these last two weekends have been fun. Every now and again I'll get a nice reminder that I don't need to be shitfaced drunk to have a good time, and the last two weekends I've been just that. But come next weekend, I think I'll have some catching up to do...
Speaking of the weekend, last night I saw Carcass. I really have no words for how amazing it was to finally see one of my favourite metal/grind bands of all time, which may prove to be a problem seeing as I agreed to review the show.
Give it a day or two, I'll be able to phrase just how awesome it was, but as of now I'm still a bit disoriented from the experience.
Leo and I have resumed the writing process in light of us playing with a drummer again - we wrote a new song on Friday and I've been tweaking it a little here and there, really happy with how it's coming out. Also liking that I seem to have grown out of my blatant Saetia worship phase. I'm sure if B_Werner were still active on the site he'd agree, lol.
Uni's going great. As of me writing this which is roughly two weeks from the end of the semester, I haven't gotten any marks lower than a credit on any of the assignments that've been handed back to me. I even got a disctinction on the interview piece I did on Game Boy music! Very happy with this semester so far, and with the end in sight it's officially crunch time in regard to assignments and exams.
Oh, and as of a few weeks ago I officially quit dairy. It's partly due to the fact that with all this GM food popping up everywhere it's getting harder and harder to find milk, cheese, etc that doesn't give me a reaction as FrankenFood doesn't sit well with me, and partly due to me thinking that all the dairy consumption was one of the main things keeping the pounds/kilos on. Sure enough, after I stopped the dairy this weight loss plateau ended and I'm noticeably slimming down again. It's awesome going through my closet and putting on shirts that haven't fit me since before I moved from the US. I'm about the same size, if not smaller than I was at 16. I fuckin' love it.
Oh, and in case you missed it on Conjure's blog, I am now short-haired.
Speaking of the weekend, last night I saw Carcass. I really have no words for how amazing it was to finally see one of my favourite metal/grind bands of all time, which may prove to be a problem seeing as I agreed to review the show.
Give it a day or two, I'll be able to phrase just how awesome it was, but as of now I'm still a bit disoriented from the experience.Leo and I have resumed the writing process in light of us playing with a drummer again - we wrote a new song on Friday and I've been tweaking it a little here and there, really happy with how it's coming out. Also liking that I seem to have grown out of my blatant Saetia worship phase. I'm sure if B_Werner were still active on the site he'd agree, lol.
Uni's going great. As of me writing this which is roughly two weeks from the end of the semester, I haven't gotten any marks lower than a credit on any of the assignments that've been handed back to me. I even got a disctinction on the interview piece I did on Game Boy music! Very happy with this semester so far, and with the end in sight it's officially crunch time in regard to assignments and exams.
Oh, and as of a few weeks ago I officially quit dairy. It's partly due to the fact that with all this GM food popping up everywhere it's getting harder and harder to find milk, cheese, etc that doesn't give me a reaction as FrankenFood doesn't sit well with me, and partly due to me thinking that all the dairy consumption was one of the main things keeping the pounds/kilos on. Sure enough, after I stopped the dairy this weight loss plateau ended and I'm noticeably slimming down again. It's awesome going through my closet and putting on shirts that haven't fit me since before I moved from the US. I'm about the same size, if not smaller than I was at 16. I fuckin' love it.
Oh, and in case you missed it on Conjure's blog, I am now short-haired.
End transmission. 
It's been a week since I started feeling sick; feeling much better now but I'm not out of the woods yet. I still need a box of tissues within arms reach at all times, and my sore throat is still, well, sore, although its nothing compared to the "holy shit someone's stabbing me in the neck" pain I was getting whenever I swallowed earlier. For the most part this week of uni holidays was a total waste due to this throat/sinus infection, but there was one highlight; my band might have a full lineup now.
I dragged myself to the rehearsal studio on Wednesday night, and for the first time in months Leo and I played the songs with a drummer and it was fucking great. Not only is it the drummer I've had in mind since I started writing the songs, but his style is so much more dynamic than our old guy's was, and the patterns he's putting to the songs are making me see them in an entirely new light. Riffs that used to drag now sound awesome, and the parts we're really proud of sound better than we ever thought they could. Very excited to jam again and work on some of the songs we haven't recorded yet.
Playlist
My Disco - Cancer + Paradise
I dragged myself to the rehearsal studio on Wednesday night, and for the first time in months Leo and I played the songs with a drummer and it was fucking great. Not only is it the drummer I've had in mind since I started writing the songs, but his style is so much more dynamic than our old guy's was, and the patterns he's putting to the songs are making me see them in an entirely new light. Riffs that used to drag now sound awesome, and the parts we're really proud of sound better than we ever thought they could. Very excited to jam again and work on some of the songs we haven't recorded yet.
Playlist
My Disco - Cancer + Paradise
Slint - Spiderland
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
Orlacs Hände - S/T EP
It's not often I go to a gig and have a crazy amount of fun.
Sure, Iron Maiden earlier this year was a teenage daydream come true, and seeing Lifetime late last year was a homecoming of sorts that came to me from halfway across the world and one of the best things I've ever seen/heard, but for the most part I go out, have a few drinks, emit a few laughs, enjoy the bands and go home. Last weekend, however, I saw Extortion and absolutely lost my shit. I was fighting to stay upright in a turbulent sea of bodies, getting fucked up and fucking others up in equal measure, the highlight of which being one dude who ran backwards to clear the floor and combined it with a star-jump (jumping jack for you American folk). I still have sore spots on my legs from the show I saw on Friday night. I went up to the Sunny Coast to see them again on Sunday night, and it wasn't really the same watching them in a room full of strangers. I was hoping I'd recognise at least one person from the 3+ years I lived up there, but nope. Still, was worth the trip.
I've gotten word that I'm going to Melbourne with my friend's band, and as a result I'm not spending a fucking dime on extras. I'm allowing myself the occasional gig with an admission fee, but no more drinking at shows, no more records, no more fast food - in other words holding back on everything but the essentials. With the money I save doing this plus my tax return I might even have some left over after the trip. Really, really looking forward to checking Melbourne out.
Music I've been enjoying lately:
Extortion - Sick
Sure, Iron Maiden earlier this year was a teenage daydream come true, and seeing Lifetime late last year was a homecoming of sorts that came to me from halfway across the world and one of the best things I've ever seen/heard, but for the most part I go out, have a few drinks, emit a few laughs, enjoy the bands and go home. Last weekend, however, I saw Extortion and absolutely lost my shit. I was fighting to stay upright in a turbulent sea of bodies, getting fucked up and fucking others up in equal measure, the highlight of which being one dude who ran backwards to clear the floor and combined it with a star-jump (jumping jack for you American folk). I still have sore spots on my legs from the show I saw on Friday night. I went up to the Sunny Coast to see them again on Sunday night, and it wasn't really the same watching them in a room full of strangers. I was hoping I'd recognise at least one person from the 3+ years I lived up there, but nope. Still, was worth the trip.
I've gotten word that I'm going to Melbourne with my friend's band, and as a result I'm not spending a fucking dime on extras. I'm allowing myself the occasional gig with an admission fee, but no more drinking at shows, no more records, no more fast food - in other words holding back on everything but the essentials. With the money I save doing this plus my tax return I might even have some left over after the trip. Really, really looking forward to checking Melbourne out.
Music I've been enjoying lately:
Extortion - Sick
Ceremony - Still Nothing Moves You
Heist - S/T 7"
Heads Kicked Off - S/T 7"
There's a storm a'brewin' inside my head, but outside has never looked clearer.
I went in for a meeting with the tutor for my short story course today, and got back my first short story. It had one measly correction on it, and according to him I got one of the highest marks in the entire course. He told me I have genuine promise as a writer, and I felt some genuine pride when he said so. Everything feels so right this semester - I feel like I'm really progressing with my writing and opening myself up further to sound recording thanks to my elective. I've recorded countless bands/projects/whatever over the years and thought I knew what I was doing, but looking at it in hindsight I was pretty much working in the dark. It's been good to learn more about something that'll contribute to my extracurricular interests, if nothing more.
Still, uni has got me by the balls right now. I go to class, work on assignments and review the materials outside of class, and when I get home I wanna do nothing more than collapse onto the couch, turn my brain off and watch TV. I need to get drunk, but not simply drunk, I need to write myself off and have one of those can't-walk-and-vomit-up-shitty-Valley-food-into-my-toilet-and-then-fall-out-of-my-bed kinda nights. I'm itching to put the books away and fuck myself up soon, curriculum and funds permitting.
Oh, and thanks to one of my co-contributors dropping out, I'm seeing Judas fuckin' Priest tomorrow night! Hail!
As you were.
I went in for a meeting with the tutor for my short story course today, and got back my first short story. It had one measly correction on it, and according to him I got one of the highest marks in the entire course. He told me I have genuine promise as a writer, and I felt some genuine pride when he said so. Everything feels so right this semester - I feel like I'm really progressing with my writing and opening myself up further to sound recording thanks to my elective. I've recorded countless bands/projects/whatever over the years and thought I knew what I was doing, but looking at it in hindsight I was pretty much working in the dark. It's been good to learn more about something that'll contribute to my extracurricular interests, if nothing more.
Still, uni has got me by the balls right now. I go to class, work on assignments and review the materials outside of class, and when I get home I wanna do nothing more than collapse onto the couch, turn my brain off and watch TV. I need to get drunk, but not simply drunk, I need to write myself off and have one of those can't-walk-and-vomit-up-shitty-Valley-food-into-my-toilet-and-then-fall-out-of-my-bed kinda nights. I'm itching to put the books away and fuck myself up soon, curriculum and funds permitting.
Oh, and thanks to one of my co-contributors dropping out, I'm seeing Judas fuckin' Priest tomorrow night! Hail!
As you were.
I had a good weekend.
I attended a gig and neglected to watch any of the bands. I drank a stupid amount of beer and wine two nights in a row and wasn't visited by the hangover fairy (he/she/it must not know were I live, I've moved and haven't submitted a change of address form). I attended a party and took my first cab home since I moved to the Valley. I went out for breakfast and had a sweet day of yogurt drinks, light-up gummy bugs (ponderch3rry, you're a silly goose ) and record shopping. Yeah, my bank balance has dipped a bit, but seeing as this weekend has brought a few things to my attention I consider it an investment.
Mainly, that sober days can sometimes surpass drunken nights.
Speaking of records...
I attended a gig and neglected to watch any of the bands. I drank a stupid amount of beer and wine two nights in a row and wasn't visited by the hangover fairy (he/she/it must not know were I live, I've moved and haven't submitted a change of address form). I attended a party and took my first cab home since I moved to the Valley. I went out for breakfast and had a sweet day of yogurt drinks, light-up gummy bugs (ponderch3rry, you're a silly goose
) and record shopping. Yeah, my bank balance has dipped a bit, but seeing as this weekend has brought a few things to my attention I consider it an investment.Mainly, that sober days can sometimes surpass drunken nights.
Speaking of records...
Quality of life: still great.
In the past 8+ months I've grown too cynical towards music to trust any possible collaborator's word, but sometime soon I could be having a jam with a band my friend is putting together - looking forward to it.
Life is great. I had my first piece of assessment due last week and I did a really good job on it; an 800-word news feature that required research and had to include a quote from an interviewee, all done within three hours of the topic being posted. It was stressful and I went into it thinking it'd be impossible, but having done it makes me think I've grown up to the point where my expectactions of myself need a bit of updating.
I'm making progress with LSDJ as well. I'm familiarising myself with it first and foremost as a songwriting tool, not a easily-aquired skill considering I have no theory knowledge and can't even read music. I keep thinking back to a fretboard and working off that, but in time and with some sight-reading study etc. it should come naturally. Speaking of fretboards, I have my JCM900 going through my old AVT275, essentially using it as a 2X12 cab and it sounds fucking amazing.
I'm doing a shit-ton of things for the mag this month: somewhere in the neighbourhood of ten CD reviews, two e-mail interviews, and a questionnare because I've been with the mag for fifty issues now (half its life). I showed my mom the picture they're gonna be printing alongside it this weekend and she was almost angry at me - granted the picture is of me with a look like I've been kicked in the sack, but come on, laugh a little! I'm sure my friends will when the issue comes out.
Back in Brisbane, sweet hangs plz.
Life is great. I had my first piece of assessment due last week and I did a really good job on it; an 800-word news feature that required research and had to include a quote from an interviewee, all done within three hours of the topic being posted. It was stressful and I went into it thinking it'd be impossible, but having done it makes me think I've grown up to the point where my expectactions of myself need a bit of updating.
I'm making progress with LSDJ as well. I'm familiarising myself with it first and foremost as a songwriting tool, not a easily-aquired skill considering I have no theory knowledge and can't even read music. I keep thinking back to a fretboard and working off that, but in time and with some sight-reading study etc. it should come naturally. Speaking of fretboards, I have my JCM900 going through my old AVT275, essentially using it as a 2X12 cab and it sounds fucking amazing.
I'm doing a shit-ton of things for the mag this month: somewhere in the neighbourhood of ten CD reviews, two e-mail interviews, and a questionnare because I've been with the mag for fifty issues now (half its life). I showed my mom the picture they're gonna be printing alongside it this weekend and she was almost angry at me - granted the picture is of me with a look like I've been kicked in the sack, but come on, laugh a little! I'm sure my friends will when the issue comes out.
Back in Brisbane, sweet hangs plz.
Friday: Game Boy music in West End. Drinking in a carpark and missing my friend's band as a result. Cabbing to the Valley, meeting new people, talking with old friends and drinking until 2:30 when my body felt like it was shutting down. Had a slice of pizza and walked home.
Saturday: Death metal in the Valley. Perved on metal chicks, drank beer and was downright hypnotised by Portal and their sickening, suffocating music. After-party was crap, ran off after a short time. Had a slice of pizza and walked home.
Sunday: Punk/indie stuff in the Valley. Hung out with various friends, including a friend of a friend who I'm really glad I'm getting to know. Watched The Diamond Sea and loved them; not only are they an awesome band but their guitarist is a total babe that plays a Telecaster. Cute girl + awesome band + good taste in gear = marriage material. Bought a shirt, drank beer, don't really know when we decided to call it a night, the hours felt like minutes. Had a cheeseburger and walked home.
On a lower note, in three days time my band will have been without a drummer for eight months. When/if it hits a year, I'll probably walk.
Saturday: Death metal in the Valley. Perved on metal chicks, drank beer and was downright hypnotised by Portal and their sickening, suffocating music. After-party was crap, ran off after a short time. Had a slice of pizza and walked home.
Sunday: Punk/indie stuff in the Valley. Hung out with various friends, including a friend of a friend who I'm really glad I'm getting to know. Watched The Diamond Sea and loved them; not only are they an awesome band but their guitarist is a total babe that plays a Telecaster. Cute girl + awesome band + good taste in gear = marriage material. Bought a shirt, drank beer, don't really know when we decided to call it a night, the hours felt like minutes. Had a cheeseburger and walked home.
On a lower note, in three days time my band will have been without a drummer for eight months. When/if it hits a year, I'll probably walk.
OK. In the last week I...
- Went back to uni, and this time around I'm going to do it right. See you on campus fellow artsy types, I'll be the guy with the canvas bag littered with buttons and huge headphones.
- Worked 20 hours. I don't think I've worked that much in a week since we put the shop together.
- Saw The Dark Knight (technically falls outside the last week by a day, but the movie's awesomeness transcends time)
- Had a sweet night hanging with Lexiphanic, Rook and friends at Ailbi
- Attended a gig at The Living Room, featuring Day I Die from Melbourne (think Thrice going through teenage angst and listening to too much Maiden). I walked away from this gig with their complete discography (three separate CDs), which the band gave me for free. Sweet dudes. I got drunk bogan-styles by drinking VB tinnies. Oh and that reminds me, fuck you Caxton Street and your need to cling to your now-dead trendiness by charging out the ass for basics. I really should get my stealth on and sneak drinks into gigs like the old Indie Temple days.
- Saw The Gaslight Anthem, A Death In The Family and The Gifthorse at Rosie's - all three bands blew me away and I had a nice bonding session with three quarters of Gaslight, who live a mere ten minutes away from my old neighbourhood in New Jersey. Bought a sweet shirt from the dudes, too.
- Aquired a copy of Baseball's debut full-length, Animal Kingdom. It has joined the ranks of My Disco's Paradise as one of my favourite albums of the year.
- Submitted my reviews for the next issue of Tsunami, and if it all fits I'll have ten pieces in this one. Be sure to grab a copy when it comes out of the first Friday of the month!
Oh shit, look at the time.
- Went back to uni, and this time around I'm going to do it right. See you on campus fellow artsy types, I'll be the guy with the canvas bag littered with buttons and huge headphones.
- Worked 20 hours. I don't think I've worked that much in a week since we put the shop together.
- Saw The Dark Knight (technically falls outside the last week by a day, but the movie's awesomeness transcends time)
- Had a sweet night hanging with Lexiphanic, Rook and friends at Ailbi
- Attended a gig at The Living Room, featuring Day I Die from Melbourne (think Thrice going through teenage angst and listening to too much Maiden). I walked away from this gig with their complete discography (three separate CDs), which the band gave me for free. Sweet dudes. I got drunk bogan-styles by drinking VB tinnies. Oh and that reminds me, fuck you Caxton Street and your need to cling to your now-dead trendiness by charging out the ass for basics. I really should get my stealth on and sneak drinks into gigs like the old Indie Temple days.
- Saw The Gaslight Anthem, A Death In The Family and The Gifthorse at Rosie's - all three bands blew me away and I had a nice bonding session with three quarters of Gaslight, who live a mere ten minutes away from my old neighbourhood in New Jersey. Bought a sweet shirt from the dudes, too.
- Aquired a copy of Baseball's debut full-length, Animal Kingdom. It has joined the ranks of My Disco's Paradise as one of my favourite albums of the year.
- Submitted my reviews for the next issue of Tsunami, and if it all fits I'll have ten pieces in this one. Be sure to grab a copy when it comes out of the first Friday of the month!
Oh shit, look at the time.
1953 was a year jam-packed with history, innovation and culture; examples being the death of Joseph Stalin, the development of the hydrogen bomb, and the publication of the first issue of Playboy. However, none of these hold a candle to the most amazing event of that year, and arguably any year: the successful formulation of what is now known as WD-40.
Invented by Norm Larsen and manufactured by the Rocket Chemical Company, WD-40 was originally dreamed up as a water displacer/anti-corrosion spray, but on his fortieth attempt at forumating it, Norm created something much greater: the best fucking thing ever. WD-40 prevents rust, it's a lubricant, it removes dirt and grime, it loosens siezed parts, and it does all these things efficiently and thanklessly. WD-40 is your best friend that's always there to lend a helping hand, specially contained in a conveniently pressurised aerosol can. Some guy may have said something to the effect of "alcohol solves all problems" many years ago, but that guy was misquoted, because only WD-40 has the power to do that. Nowadays, the Rocket Chemical Company is called WD-40 to pay tribute to this, their greatest achievement, and to have the name on a huge sign out the front of their headquarters - and who could blame them? It's that awesome. Hell, I'd wear this stuff as cologne if it wasn't harmful to human skin, for WD-40 scoffs at vanity and instead focuses on getting the job done.
When I was a wee lad my father taught me that WD-40 is the most useful and versatile product around, and I thank him for handing down this wisdom to me. As I type this, my guitar's saddle screws are bathing in this amazing substance, and already there is a noticeable difference in appearance - once rusty and brown, the shining silver underneath is being unmasked to see the light of day once more. I am grateful, but WD-40 doesn't need my thanks, for it already has its pride.
March on, WD-40, and may your gift bless future generations like it has blessed mine.
Invented by Norm Larsen and manufactured by the Rocket Chemical Company, WD-40 was originally dreamed up as a water displacer/anti-corrosion spray, but on his fortieth attempt at forumating it, Norm created something much greater: the best fucking thing ever. WD-40 prevents rust, it's a lubricant, it removes dirt and grime, it loosens siezed parts, and it does all these things efficiently and thanklessly. WD-40 is your best friend that's always there to lend a helping hand, specially contained in a conveniently pressurised aerosol can. Some guy may have said something to the effect of "alcohol solves all problems" many years ago, but that guy was misquoted, because only WD-40 has the power to do that. Nowadays, the Rocket Chemical Company is called WD-40 to pay tribute to this, their greatest achievement, and to have the name on a huge sign out the front of their headquarters - and who could blame them? It's that awesome. Hell, I'd wear this stuff as cologne if it wasn't harmful to human skin, for WD-40 scoffs at vanity and instead focuses on getting the job done.
When I was a wee lad my father taught me that WD-40 is the most useful and versatile product around, and I thank him for handing down this wisdom to me. As I type this, my guitar's saddle screws are bathing in this amazing substance, and already there is a noticeable difference in appearance - once rusty and brown, the shining silver underneath is being unmasked to see the light of day once more. I am grateful, but WD-40 doesn't need my thanks, for it already has its pride.
March on, WD-40, and may your gift bless future generations like it has blessed mine.
