Wednesday night was glorious. Knitzy and I made the trip down to Clifton Park to see Against Me! (along with World/Inferno Friendship Society) at Northern Lights. I hadn't seen World/Inferno before, and had only heard them a handful of times when Knitzy had played them. Honestly, though, they were pretty remarkable. The lead singer has a tremendous stage presence, and a silky-smooth voice to boot. In fact, everything he did was smooth. Plus, it's really cool music that's easy to get into.
As usual, Against Me! ruled like they do. They played a lot of stuff from Clarity and New Wave, but it was good nonetheless. It was obvious that most of the crowd was there because they've heard the stuff from the new album on the radio, but there was still a nice group of us smashed in the front screaming along to all of the old stuff. My favorite part of crowds at their shows is the moments in between songs/verses where you might make eye contact with some random kid in the crowd. Then they smile and you slap hands or put your arms around each other and sing along some more. It's a fun time.
A little while ago, Tom (the lead singer) sent me a message on Myspace commenting on how my tattoo was pretty excellent. During one of the songs, whilst I was singing along and pumping my fist, he pointed at his forearm, pointed at me, and gave a big 'ole grin. That was pretty cool. It's awesome to know that the band I love, even as they continue to grow and get big, still remembers their fans from a stray message on Myspace from a week or two before. But I swear to Christ, if I never see them play "Tonight We're Going To Give It 35%" before I die, I'm going to break their legs.
Thursday was entirely lazy. At night, Paul, Steve, and Franny came over to hang out. We put together the proposal for the talk show that Steve, Paul, and I are going to be pitching for next semester's PSTV lineup. It's either going to be called "Burghy Nights" (with a rip-off of "Wild Nights" as a theme song) or "Tonight?." I think I prefer "Tonight?," but we'll see what happens.
Today was the busiest day of work that I've had since starting. I spent the entire day putting together a publication called "The Chamber of Commerce Vision." It's a newsletter with articles and advertisements and all sorts of bologna inside. Not actual bologna, though. I imagine that it wouldn't keep very well.
Anyway, I spent the hours between 9 and 2 putting it together to be reviewed by the lady who reviews it. I had some things that needed to be fixed so I went through those, and we'll be printing it on Monday. It's a little exciting. I get listed as "Graphic Designer" on the second page. WOO!
I've been listening to a lot of Small Brown Bike lately. I'm not really sure what direction Yo, Adrian! will go in, but I wouldn't mind a direction like that. It's hard to always write positive songs, too, so I've got a couple that aren't so happy-go-lucky. Catharsis is key.
I saw in Chris' journal recently that there was a show coming up at 56 Elm. And in the bands listed for that show, Yo, Adrian! rounded things out. And, honestly, that terrified me just a little bit. Nerves! It'll be fun, though.
Plattsburgh isn't so bad, you know? The first part of my life in Plattsburgh was spent in college. I always had classes, homework, multi-media projects, the radio station and, of course, friends to keep busy with. Then you graduate and you wind up staying in this town. Your main source of activity becomes work, and you try as hard as you can to make room for your friends. Sometimes it doesn't always work out as well as you want it to. Sometimes you feel like your job drains you so much that, at the end of the day, you just want to come home, be alone, sit around and not move. Sometimes you feel like that's the only thing to do in town. You feel like you're becoming your job and that barely anything else is going on, save for the occasional weekend where fun runs rampant.
Life catches up with you quickly.
But then I realized that this town isn't a complete waste. It's not devoid of value at all. I've been to two shows at 56 Elm and it's helped to show me a new side of Plattsburgh that I never took a part in before. There are a lot of cool people and cool bands around. They're not pretentious. They're not playing music to be the next big thing or to make a buck or to show how well they play their instruments. They're playing music because it moves them. Because it means something to them. Because they're having fun while they're doing it.
Standing in the basement of 56, it's dawned on me on more than one occasion that people aren't always as judgemental as they sometimes appear to be. Nobody talks down another band or act. Everybody claps and gets into it. People talk after each set and tell the band that they played really well. That they had a good time.
The key thing about that is, is that the bands don't really sound the same. It's always such an intense mix of styles, but everyone still appreciates it all the same. The opening band at the Against Me! show (Cobra Skulls) wasn't exactly great. They were a sort of punky/rockabilly thing and were fun, but they weren't anything that made me jump up and down like a madman. They didn't play with a lot of energy, either. But I appreciate the fact that they got up there and played music. They feel everything that they write, play, and sing. They're emotionally tied to every song that they play. Even if a band isn't the greatest, they still deserve your applause, your kindness, and your praise. Because they're putting themselves out there when they don't have to. Good or bad, they're doing something that they believe in. And everybody who is doing something that they believe in deserves a pat on the back.
All of this makes me more confident about being in a band. I've said this before, but I keep seeing and doing things that make me think about it more and more. If we never play a huge show, or if we never play a show out of Plattsburgh, or if we only make albums that our friends own, then that's fine with me. I believe in what we're doing. We get together at least once a week and play music together. We joke, we have fun, and we come up with ideas that everyone enjoys. We have a good time and we're expanding ourselves creatively, all in different, yet similar, ways. When we play, if we're horrible, at least we're trying. At least we're having fun. At least we're making an attempt.
It's always easy to look at something and see the downside. To see that a town like Plattsburgh is just a vacancy with nothing going for it. That's not true, though. Everybody has a meaning and everybody has a purpose. It's not always going to come out and grab you by the lapels, giving you a hearty shake to get you moving. Sometimes it's harder than that.
Until recently, I didn't think that there was anything to do in this town other than hang out with friends. Now I know that isn't true at all.
You are not your job.
Find your purpose.
Make a meaning.
"Let's start this summer before it ends," is what she said. "Let's hit the road and live this life before we're dead," he said. To give is to take. To leave is to break. Opposing opinions are curling waves. Misunderstand. Ask then demand. The situation must go as planned. I'm at the crossroad of puppetry and pulmonary. Let's stop this fall before the climb becomes too much to bear. (Please look at me and listen carefully) This is mine. (A compromise consists of give and take) We must understand. Our clenched fists turn to open hands. It takes more to give than to demand. I understand. No more demand. Let's let the waves wash these prints from the sand. (I should appreciate what he's done for me) Respect is key. (We love like family and treat like enemies) We must understand. (Clenched fists turn to open hands. It takes more to give)
As usual, Against Me! ruled like they do. They played a lot of stuff from Clarity and New Wave, but it was good nonetheless. It was obvious that most of the crowd was there because they've heard the stuff from the new album on the radio, but there was still a nice group of us smashed in the front screaming along to all of the old stuff. My favorite part of crowds at their shows is the moments in between songs/verses where you might make eye contact with some random kid in the crowd. Then they smile and you slap hands or put your arms around each other and sing along some more. It's a fun time.
A little while ago, Tom (the lead singer) sent me a message on Myspace commenting on how my tattoo was pretty excellent. During one of the songs, whilst I was singing along and pumping my fist, he pointed at his forearm, pointed at me, and gave a big 'ole grin. That was pretty cool. It's awesome to know that the band I love, even as they continue to grow and get big, still remembers their fans from a stray message on Myspace from a week or two before. But I swear to Christ, if I never see them play "Tonight We're Going To Give It 35%" before I die, I'm going to break their legs.
Thursday was entirely lazy. At night, Paul, Steve, and Franny came over to hang out. We put together the proposal for the talk show that Steve, Paul, and I are going to be pitching for next semester's PSTV lineup. It's either going to be called "Burghy Nights" (with a rip-off of "Wild Nights" as a theme song) or "Tonight?." I think I prefer "Tonight?," but we'll see what happens.
Today was the busiest day of work that I've had since starting. I spent the entire day putting together a publication called "The Chamber of Commerce Vision." It's a newsletter with articles and advertisements and all sorts of bologna inside. Not actual bologna, though. I imagine that it wouldn't keep very well.
Anyway, I spent the hours between 9 and 2 putting it together to be reviewed by the lady who reviews it. I had some things that needed to be fixed so I went through those, and we'll be printing it on Monday. It's a little exciting. I get listed as "Graphic Designer" on the second page. WOO!
I've been listening to a lot of Small Brown Bike lately. I'm not really sure what direction Yo, Adrian! will go in, but I wouldn't mind a direction like that. It's hard to always write positive songs, too, so I've got a couple that aren't so happy-go-lucky. Catharsis is key.
I saw in Chris' journal recently that there was a show coming up at 56 Elm. And in the bands listed for that show, Yo, Adrian! rounded things out. And, honestly, that terrified me just a little bit. Nerves! It'll be fun, though.
Plattsburgh isn't so bad, you know? The first part of my life in Plattsburgh was spent in college. I always had classes, homework, multi-media projects, the radio station and, of course, friends to keep busy with. Then you graduate and you wind up staying in this town. Your main source of activity becomes work, and you try as hard as you can to make room for your friends. Sometimes it doesn't always work out as well as you want it to. Sometimes you feel like your job drains you so much that, at the end of the day, you just want to come home, be alone, sit around and not move. Sometimes you feel like that's the only thing to do in town. You feel like you're becoming your job and that barely anything else is going on, save for the occasional weekend where fun runs rampant.
Life catches up with you quickly.
But then I realized that this town isn't a complete waste. It's not devoid of value at all. I've been to two shows at 56 Elm and it's helped to show me a new side of Plattsburgh that I never took a part in before. There are a lot of cool people and cool bands around. They're not pretentious. They're not playing music to be the next big thing or to make a buck or to show how well they play their instruments. They're playing music because it moves them. Because it means something to them. Because they're having fun while they're doing it.
Standing in the basement of 56, it's dawned on me on more than one occasion that people aren't always as judgemental as they sometimes appear to be. Nobody talks down another band or act. Everybody claps and gets into it. People talk after each set and tell the band that they played really well. That they had a good time.
The key thing about that is, is that the bands don't really sound the same. It's always such an intense mix of styles, but everyone still appreciates it all the same. The opening band at the Against Me! show (Cobra Skulls) wasn't exactly great. They were a sort of punky/rockabilly thing and were fun, but they weren't anything that made me jump up and down like a madman. They didn't play with a lot of energy, either. But I appreciate the fact that they got up there and played music. They feel everything that they write, play, and sing. They're emotionally tied to every song that they play. Even if a band isn't the greatest, they still deserve your applause, your kindness, and your praise. Because they're putting themselves out there when they don't have to. Good or bad, they're doing something that they believe in. And everybody who is doing something that they believe in deserves a pat on the back.
All of this makes me more confident about being in a band. I've said this before, but I keep seeing and doing things that make me think about it more and more. If we never play a huge show, or if we never play a show out of Plattsburgh, or if we only make albums that our friends own, then that's fine with me. I believe in what we're doing. We get together at least once a week and play music together. We joke, we have fun, and we come up with ideas that everyone enjoys. We have a good time and we're expanding ourselves creatively, all in different, yet similar, ways. When we play, if we're horrible, at least we're trying. At least we're having fun. At least we're making an attempt.
It's always easy to look at something and see the downside. To see that a town like Plattsburgh is just a vacancy with nothing going for it. That's not true, though. Everybody has a meaning and everybody has a purpose. It's not always going to come out and grab you by the lapels, giving you a hearty shake to get you moving. Sometimes it's harder than that.
Until recently, I didn't think that there was anything to do in this town other than hang out with friends. Now I know that isn't true at all.
You are not your job.
Find your purpose.
Make a meaning.
"Let's start this summer before it ends," is what she said. "Let's hit the road and live this life before we're dead," he said. To give is to take. To leave is to break. Opposing opinions are curling waves. Misunderstand. Ask then demand. The situation must go as planned. I'm at the crossroad of puppetry and pulmonary. Let's stop this fall before the climb becomes too much to bear. (Please look at me and listen carefully) This is mine. (A compromise consists of give and take) We must understand. Our clenched fists turn to open hands. It takes more to give than to demand. I understand. No more demand. Let's let the waves wash these prints from the sand. (I should appreciate what he's done for me) Respect is key. (We love like family and treat like enemies) We must understand. (Clenched fists turn to open hands. It takes more to give)