tttthhhhheeee sun'll come out tomorrow....

coming tomorrow...a blog about mixed martial arts, the ultimate fighting championship, and it's impact on society. or at least how i see it.

I never said I had a business mind, I just don't believe that quitting time exsists.

"I ain't waiting, I'm patiently persevering, I see greatness in the person in the mirror very clearly, and that's why I take this seriously."

This whole band thing isn't easy. It's hard enough when all the members are on board, but I feel like we're fighting inward just to get anything done. I have to beg half the band to play shows, and the other half can never make it to them. I also feel like Ryan and I are the only proactive ones. Ryan works his fucking ass off mixing this record, and I spend 90% of whatever time I have booking us shows, working on graphic design, and trying to establish a fan base. I hate depending on other people, and the fact that I have to depend on other people to be able to do what I want to do doesn't sit well with me. But, it's part of being in a band. I have to be able to rely on these people....but sometimes it seems like I can't.

Leila is trying to step up and get things done, and seeing as how she's the face of the band, I understand that people think they should go through her if they want to get shit done...but, well, frankly, it doesn't work that way. She may be the face, but she's not the brain. As far as I'm concerned, Ryan and I are in charge. We run the show. We put everything together, we make everything happen, and if Leila wants to be part of that, she needs to communicate and tell us what's going on. I had NO idea that some dude wants to use our music in a short film until today when I get a text asking, nay, TELLING me to email 3 specific songs to said dude. Of course I didn't. These songs aren't ready for official release yet. They're still just demos.

Not even to mention we haven't SEEN any of the film...not a single scene, nothing. By letting him use our music, we're essentially endorsing the film, putting our name on it, making people think of us when they hear our music watching this film. It could be a total piece of shit. I'm not putting our name on something I know NOTHING about. It's bad business.

And that seems to be the biggest component missing from One Way Fare. Professionalism. Ryan and I are the only ones treating it like it's a business...like this is our job. Because...well, it is. Sure, I'm a chef, and he's a AV engineer, but we're musicians first and foremost. And if that's what we want to start paying the bills, we have to treat it as such. Contrary to how it may seem, this is not a 'weekend' thing. This is what we do.

Sorry, just venting, I guess.

The water line is rising, and all we do is stand there.

My limbs tied down by these weeds

I've had a pretty crazy weekend.

On Saturday, my band One Way Fare (myspace.com/onewayfaremusic) played a show at the AV fair. I had SO much fun. That was probably the best show we've ever played. Everybody was pretty solid and tight, and everything sounded good. We had a really good turn out (thank god...I worked my ass off promoting it, and if no one would have showed, that would have been reeeeeally shitty) and it was awesome to see all my friends and family there.

On Sunday, Helen and I went to the last day of the 15th Vans Warped Tour. The different kinds of people that come to these things always amaze me. This was the 3rd Warped Tour show I've been too, and every time, I always say that I'm not gonna go back. It's not that Warped Tour sucks, or that it's too commercial, or whatever whatever whatever. It's just...too effing hot. I would love Warped Tour if it say...started in August and ended in October. But oh well.

This year, I didn't really want to go because there was only two bands (being Thrice and Underoath) that I really wanted to see, and shelling out 40 bucks BEFORE ticketmaster service fees wasn't really worth it to me. So Helen and I decided against going to the Ventura date that was at the end of June (btw, the three Warped dates I've been to, Ventura was the best, simply because of the venue) mostly because of money. Helen has gone to warped tour every year for the past 7 or 8 years, so she was really bummed about missing out on this one. Anyway, a friend of Helen's or a friend of a friend...I don't really know...works for some radio station, and asked Helen if she wanted free tickets to the LA date at the end of August, and of course she said yes. (how could you say no to anything that has "free" in front of it?) So we ended up leaving late because breakfast took longer than expected, and got there about an hour after it started. We missed Underoath by about an hour. We The Kings played, and they're...okay. Entertaining at least. I saw a band I've never heard of before called There For Tomorrow, and I really enjoyed them.

Then we went and got over-priced lunch, and went to watch Thrice. This was only the second time I've seen Thrice, and they we're amazing. I saw them open for Alkaline Trio and Rise Against last fall, and was completely blown away. I've always been a fan of Thrice, but never really went out of my way to see them, but that show was just awesome. I missed them at Bamboozle earlier this year. I caught the last 45 seconds of "The Earth Will Shake." So when I was able to see them at Warped this year, I was pretty stoked. They played a couple songs from their new album and those gave me the chills. Their whole set did, really. They played a cover of the Beatles "Helter Skelter" but stopped in the middle of it, because two dudes were fighting. So Dustin called them idiots and told them to stop ruining it for everyone else. After that, they closed with "The Earth Will Shake." After Thrice played, we caught the last couple songs of Streetlight Manifesto's set. Those guys are always entertaining.

After that, I saw (but mostly just heard) Senses Fail. I never had the urge to go see them before, because I've seen plenty of live videos, and...well, frankly, Buddy always sounded like shit, and the whole band was sloppy. Not the case with this show. They were super super tight and Buddy sounded REALLY effing good. After that, we took a break and hung around in the beer garden. I felt much more comfortable there for three major reasons:

1) Shade
2) Somewhere to sit
3) Not ONE single 3oh!3 fan. (funny how that works. an area that's 21+ and there's no 3oh!3 shirts...)

After a beer or two, we went to watch A Day To Remember (the single bro-est band on the earth. even more so than Hollywood Undead). I've been into ADTR since Matt introduced them to me in high school. I went and saw them play at a shitty little club in Victorville with maybe 100 people 4 years ago, and afterwards, hung out and danced to Michael Jackson's greatest hits with them. Last year at Warped Tour, I saw them play on one of the side stages for...maybe 200 people. This year, ADTR played on one of the main stages for a few thousand people. I dunno...it was just weird to me...4 years ago, I'm hanging out with these guys in a shitty club, and now, they're playing for thousands of people fucking daily. I wish they'd played a song or two from their first record, simply so I could have a moment of nostalgia, but oh well. Anyway...good for them.

Then we caught a little bit of Less Than Jake's set. They're always fun. Then Chiodos played. I've always liked Chiodos, and I'm impressed by what they do. I was really into their first album when I first heard it in...2006ish? I think? somewhere around there. Might've been 2007. Anyway, Bone Palace Ballet came out, and I didn't really get into it. They were pretty good I guess. Entertaining at least. Their keyboard player kinda weirds me out though.

After Chiodos, we called it a day. I didn't have much of a desire to see NOFX and I'd rather gouge my eyes out than watch 3oh!3. Last year, I saw almost 2 songs of their set and it's really something I'd rather not take part in.

Anyway, Helen and I forgot sunblock. I hurt. fuuuuuck. haha. but the moral of this story is...Thrice owns.

It keeps me warm, and makes you smile

Sorry about the last couple posts. I shouldn't drink and blog. I'll try and keep the rest of my posts somewhat intelligent.

Got a show tomorrow. Trying to make a bigger deal of it then it is. It's tiring business. It's also dangerous business stepping out your front door.

Not much to say...but I'll let you know how the show goes.

there's blood on my hands like the blood in you

God damn, I said god damn.

Monday was my 22nd birthday. Had a pretty eventful weekend. Let's recap, yes?

On Sunday, Helen and I drove down to Olvera Street and had some delicious grub for lunch. We then drove to the hotel we'd be staying at in downtown, the Westin Bonaventure, and checked in. Then we walked to a movie theater at watched Funny People. Good movie. Not anyone's best, but it was still good. Then we walked back to our hotel and went to the Brewery in the hotel where I had a mediocre pale ale. Then we went upstairs, changed into dinner appropriate attire, and went the the 35th floor for dinner at L.A. Prime. Supposedly, L.A. Prime had LA's best steak. yeeeeah, not so much. We had a foie gras appetizer, and then ridiculously large pieces of meat as the entree. Helen had a 220z new york strip. I had a 24oz bone-in rib eye. Unfortunately, ALL the fat was trimmed off my steak. what. the. fuck. That's the whole POINT of a rib eye. Helen's new york was much better than my steak. We had potato gratin and some spinach sides. The potatoes were fucking tasty. The spinach? not so much. No seasoning to be found. But I was seriously disappointed in the steak. Oh well. It was a fun experience anyway. The foie gras totally made up for everything else. Being too full to do much of anything else, Helen and I then went to bed.

The next morning, we woke up way too early, simply out of habit, and could not go back to sleep. We decided to go to the cafe at CSCA for breakfast. So we drive from downtown to Pasadena, and the cafe was closed for student orientation. So we walk a few blocks down the street to this little mexican cafe I used to eat at a lot...and that too was closed. Not a good start so far. So we walked back to where the car was parked, and decided to eat at the White Hut across the street from the school cafe. We had cheeseburgers for breakfast. We decided to go to the museum of tolerance, since neither of us had been, so we drove back to LA. The museum was great. However, I would advise against going there on your birthday. I already knew all the facts, and I knew what I was getting into, but still, it's depressing. Then we went to the bank, and ironically enough, 3 Jewish people walked in. haha. aaaaanyway, there was a fruit cart outside the bank so we got some watermelon and some nowhere-near-ripe mangos. There's this pirate themed restaurant on wilshire near miracle mile called Crazy Hook that we had planned on going to for lunch. We got there around 2, only to discover they didn't open til 5. AWESOME. So we drove to Venice and spent the afternoon browsing cheap jewelry, ridiculous tshirts, eating pizza, and drinking beer. We figured we'd better start heading home. We didn't hit the road til 5 (why's it called rush hour when everyone drives so slow?) and got back in the AV around 7. We met my parents at Giovanni's for dinner where helen and i shared a tasty-as-fuck calzone and a chocolate eclair with a birthday candle stuck in it. Then we went home and passed the fuck out.

Anyway, I had a good birthday, pretty much just ate for two days. I hope we walked some of it off at Venice, but I doubt it. haha.

You're Ever so Inviting

I don't know what changed for me, but I just fell in love with underoath.

No revelations in the water, no tears in the booze.

Three beers in about 15 minutes. Let's see what happens.

wait, hold on. i gotta clean the griddle that i shoved in the oven real quick.

okay.

so...the other day, jeff and i were watching old hi-8 videos of a band we used to be in.
hold on. let me clarify a few things here.

First of all, jeff collier is a very very dear friend of mine. he's a great friend and he's always been there when i've needed him. he is incredibly talented, and is playing a major role in the album my current band (that he is not in...but was for a little while about two years ago...) is making. there is no person on this earth i would rather be working with on this album. jeff and i first met in our high school freshmen PE class. we both played guitar and had similar tastes in music. sophomore year, jeff had a birthday party at his parent's house. we spent the day swimming, eating, playing music, listening to music, and just...being awesome. at some point, we decided we should start a band. he would play guitar, i would play bass, and we'd find a drummer. our friend ian was the only drummer we knew, so we asked him. the three of us jammed once, and that was the end of that. then, our friend matt leone picked up the bass, and jeff and i played gutiar. it was decided that my brother, morgan, was going to sing. the first "practice" we had was in jeff's parent's living room. me, matt, jeff, and morgan. no drums. we painfully worked our way through a few cover songs and called it a day. sometime during the beginning of junior year, nathan kracke, who didn't really know at all at the time, was playing drums with penicls on his desk during home room. jeff asked him if he could play drums. i think he said something like "maybe" or "i could figure it out" and went out and bought a drum kit. two days later, he was in the band. so morgan was singing, jeff and i on guitar, matt on bass, nathan on drums. we wrote a couple jams, cover a few tunes, and played a couple parties. matt starting getting into the pathetic music scene that was "avhxc" and started playing with a beautiful elegy. we "let him go." jeff moved to bass, and we started writing new songs. we played a few more parties, then morgan left the band. jeff and i started singing...if you could call it that...and we pressed on. we played a few more parties...a couple showcase gigs...and started recording. some of our songs were actually really fucking cool, even in retrospect. anyway...jeff joined a metalcore band...and apparently kracke didn't want to play with me anymore. that was never really addressed. anyway, the band broke up. about a year later, kracke called me up, asking if i wanted to play bass in this band he was in with leila (my current singer) and these two dudes, dave and joe, that i hadn't met before. there was sort of an informal audition, and i was in the band. i was frustrated with the way things were moving with that band (that is, not at all) and conveyed my frustrations time and time again, to no avail. i convinced kracke and leila that we should do our own thing. so we did. i'm pretty sure joe still hates me for it, but dave is cool now. so i was on guitar, leila singing, and kracke playing drums. my cousin ryan joined the band on guitar, and we started writing like crazy. we got a couple shows booked, but had no bass player. our friend alex filled in for the first few shows, but could no longer do it. the band jeff was in broke up, and he sort of asked/sort of told us that he was our bass player now. i couldn't be happier. i was glad to be playing with him again. a few months later, he grew frustrated and wanted to start his own studio. so he quit the band and did just that. matt leone was our next bass player. we later recorded a demo at jeff's studio. then some shit went down, and matt left the band. shortly after that, kracke quit. i was frustrated and whatever whatever. nick griffith then joined the band on bass...a sort of friend of a friend. then gabe martinez joined the band on drums, and things started rolling again. we won battle of the bands last fall, and started recording a full length about a month ago, with jeff engineering and co-producing the album.

so...that was a "abbreviated" version of my music "career" thus far. ANYWAY.

jeff and i were watching these videos of us when we were 17...and my god, were we awful. i mean, seriously, we were terrible. always off time, out of key...just awful.
watching those videos was fun, and brought back good memories, but listening was just painful. i was really having a hard time. jeff reassured me (several times) that i've gotten much better...and i sincerely hope so. i've worked really really hard at what i do, and if it's all for nothing...well, i don't know what i'd do. so...i've made a promise to myself...and that is to never ever ever be that terrible again.