-Sungod: played a show recently as a two-piece, first time in ages, plus the first time without drums. We're on the finishing stages of a ton of material that we've been laboring on for months. This batch of material will definitely have much more synth, some flute, bass, piano and more slide guitar along with segments of field recordings as well. I'm very excited about this stuff, worth the wait/tape machine problems. We have a re-release of our Laurentide cassette coming out on sonic meditations and another cassette of a live set on dusty grass imprint.
-Hatred Surge: finishing up our second LP. playing some shows around chaos in tejas. the new stuff will feature just alex on vocals and, in my opinion, rejuvenates many of the things i loved about the band before I was in it.
-The Impalers: maybe finishing up a small group of songs soon but no promises. time isn't on our side. playing some shows around chaos with them as well.
-The MMudprinTTs: new band where i primarily play guitar, with an old friend(Mike Engle) plodding on drums. Recording this project very soon, we have about 20 minutes of material but it should prove to be a fun exercise. Maybe a few live shows once we figure out how to release the material but not much.
As for the rest of my life, school is going well although keeping me very busy. Work is more comfortable than ever and all else is truly a marvel. I am getting back into checking out movies I haven't seen rather than revisiting. Most recently Thief with James Caan, directed by a younger Michael Mann. Incredible example of noir/neonoir. You can even feel his directorial style that way back then.
I'm going to make it a point to start posting mixes as often as possible, This is the first one.
Tracks:
1 Black Pus - Hole in the Ground
2 Jimi Tenor/Tony Allen - Darker Side of Night
3 Mark McGuire - Brainstorm(For Erin)
4 Soul Coughing - True Dreams of Wichita
5 Phantomsmasher - Scrolling Sideways
6 Windy & Carl - Nature of Memory
7 Achim Reichel & The Machines - As if I Have Seen This All Before
8 Bill Orcutt - Way Down South 5
9 NOMO - If You Want
10 Agents of Abhorrence - Mint
11 Grant Green & Donald Byrd - Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
12 Marijata - No Condition is Permanent
13 Nirvana - I Hate Myself and I Want to Die
14 Walter Wegmuller - Die Kraft
15 Roy Montgomery & Chris Heaphy - Spurious
Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?9hmbmuzrz6jxz6k
These mixes will mainly represent what I've been listening to lately, which I used to do with sparce album downloads. I find this is much easier to custom cater, plus with links dropping left and right due to governinternet wars, these will stay up longer. I have been having a bit of reminiscing in some of my listening(nirvana, phantomsmasher, soul coughing) but a lot of good newer jazz, funk and classic krautrock from the cosmic couriers era. There are some scattered other records on here I've been checking out as well.
Austin - Played at Beerland w/Impalers. First night we saw Miasmal(FRUM SVIDDIN) and got told a joke by Magnus, the tour heart throb. The joke was about someone freezing to death, it didn't translate well. Great sendoff. Magnus later tried to fight one of his band members and pissed his pants. Pontus talked to us about d-beat right off the bat. Bjorn and Ruben were timid.
Dallas - Left for dallas, got Czech stop. Picked up 7"s, BBQ'd at Bongress with Riley n' friends and played at Rubbergloves. Got wild drunk and stayed at some house with a beautiful dog.
St.Louis - Joel's Birthday. Started the day with our last whataburger stop in which a gaggle of 8th grade girls pestered us with questions about being in a band(moreso the swedes since they all have long hair, but victor got bothered and photographed because of his mexfro). 10 hour drive to st.louis, and then played in the basement of Apop records with some local bands. The kid who booked the show looked 16 because he was clean cut but we were informed by his girlfriend that he is actually 24. Went out drinking for joel's birthday with some ladies, one of which was a stereotypical record store clerk(too discerning to even conversate with). Played pinball and watched joel throw up in his hand. Good bday. Went back to Chris'(booker) apt to be told to shut up vicariously through him by his roommate about 9 times before we decided to go to bed. We were wearing masks and being loud.
Chicago - Woke up and hung with their upstairs landlady, who had not even heard us the night before. Got free kombucha and coffee, plus a load of instruments to mess around on 'til the freshly hungover swedes woke up. Made the drive, ate indian food and got told by a Ft.Lauderdale flight attendant about the perils of not being hung. Played a great show with Socially Retarded, Sea of Shit(awesome) and Nazi Dust in a space that resembled either the set from roundhouse or the subway station hideout from TMNT 2(you know, one of those places you dream to live in as a kid). Lots of wooden sculptures and the like just spread around. Stayed at an old friend's house just outside the city and built a Whataburger cup grav, in honor of the great state.
Cleveland - Pulled up to the sketch joint and watched some pretty thrashin' local band play. Everyone in the band was talented and the bassist had a wireless system so he could walk around..naturally it was more a spectacle than anything. Played an alright show, blew up the p.a. midset and then smoked with a gauntleted guitarist. Left that night for the long drive to boston and crashed in a hotel.
Boston - Made the worst drive of tour, lots of rest stops and restlessness from the swedes. Denny's wasn't as poison as previously considered. Met up with DFJ in boston after dropping the swedes off at a friend's house. Watched Waterworld and Roadhouse on what was probably a 72" tv. Next day wandered around record shopping while ulsh and brian practiced for Innumerable Forms(who were joining the tour that evening). Met up with my friend Laura to tote around with the swedes. Drank a little, checked out the new armageddon location. Got The Four Aims Lp by Flower-Corsano Duo, and The Falconer's Arm I by Robbie Basho. Played at some bar(the church) and hung with carms, brendan and danimal real tight. Bonded with Bjorn on a walk to guitar center to replace a snare head. Amidst shit talking I got stoked on Game of Thrones watching when I got back. Met doug and only talked to him about his rickenbacker. Blew up some trashed computer monitors behind the venue and then stayed at the loft/apartment/space of the Ramming Speed dudes. Got out-grav'ed by their shit, apparently turtles in time was played and we listened to entombed with the swedes. Other such driving hits for the day were Dire Straits, ZZtop and the formidable ACDC. Ruben had some fine big-assed girl all up on him but he denied her much to the van's shagrin. Magnus passed out in the van and later got lost in the street after we'd left him there.
New York - Made the short drive to new york, now DFJ in tow with us. Went straight to the venue but made it a point to walk around and get decent food(Mothers' hamburgers with Tim Hodgin). Got coffee with old friend Rosie from england, talked a lot of shit. Opening band had to use my kit because they were from Australia. Got way too drunk and Magnus immediately had some girl on him. She gets in the van to post-hang with us while some mopey non-player kept yelling "so this is what's happening? fuck you then" over and over outside the van. The van took turns talking to this dude on the phone while he was trying to call her. Dude didn't have Magnus' game. We go and sing karaoke with some of Brian/Chris/Joel's old Austin friends. Trashed. Magnus wanders off with this female and stays with her. Ulsh called her "Jamie's Cryin' " because that was the song playing while she was trying(and failing) to conversate with all of us. Some girl I've never met named Gretchen got too trashed and had to be dropped off. Pontus temporarily disappeared but took a cab to where I was staying, with old friend Bloom.
Philly - Next day we had to find Magnus, picked him up from rando girl's house and apparently all she had done was try to seduce him before he passed out and wet her bed. Truly a dude move. Went out to more record stores/food...Picked up a live Charalambides record from the Market Square era and the new Glenn Jones/Black Twig Pickers split. That was the last of some money I got returning a ticket for Chaos that I don't need anymore. After some sight-seeing and what not we went to philly since the show was early(started at like 7pm). On our trip we found a jacket Gretchen had left in the van and then this happened: http://twitvid.com/95BAL
Borrowed the old Disfear backlilne from Greg which was a nice return to form. Ate perogi and drank until we went to the casino with Wade(who had flown in that day to play in Mammoth Grinder), Clif and Pat. Took advantage of free drinks then went to another spot to watch the Phillies game(which had gone to something like 19 innings). The swedes got nice and drunk, as did we. Stayed at Clif's house, forgot my sleeping bag. Watched simpsons and showered then left for Maryland(Death Fest), but not after eating barbecue sandwiches with mac and cheese on them.
MDF - Rolled into BAWDEMOAH, watched some awful L.A. band with a singer that was way too into the banter portion of the set. Caught lack of interest, extortion, tragedy, buzzov-en and cathedral, all awesome. Miasmal had a good set, chilled at their merch and got to know rowan from extortion. The fest had all four bands booked into hotel rooms so most of us enjoyed our own beds that night. Watched adaptation, the invention of lying and wayne's world 2 whilst taking advantage of shitty-room coffee and HBO. Next day ate at a place called DiPasquale's that had some of the most legit italian food ever. Impalers played and hopefully rocked it, saw C.O.C. and while it was cheesy, was still pretty fuckin' awesome to finally see them. Machetazo was a surprise hit as well. Mammoth grinder played an aftershow with shitstorm, coke bust, triac(whoa) and extortion, got shut down but I was four-loko'd. One of the swedes tried crack(see:BAWDEMOAH). Stayed in another hotel room, but this time all the bands in one, and the next day hung around until Vic and I had to catch our flight. We went to Daniel from Lion of Judah's property and checked out his wind tunnel business in the midst of some vape bags and his awesome dog. He lived on some grassy escape from reality and manufactured machines that could crack the speed of sound, legitimate life. Good end to the day.
Got back in to Austin, met with Liv at the airport. Dropped Vic off, got Mrs.Johnson's and tour was over.
Tour Music:
Flower Corsano Duo - The Four Aims http://www.mediafire.com/?xuzgnnmxzot
Robbie Basho - Falconer's Arm I http://www.mediafire.com/?6wmuzyyhuuy
*The link said this is it but it could very well be Falconer's Arm II, either way you're gettin' some Basho in the mix.
Spacey and incredibly out there recordings from one of my favorite Kranky bands. This is a bunch of 4-track demos they submitted to the label before recording their self titled LP.
The Heads - Everybody Knows We Got Nowhere(Sweet Nothing Records)
Won't have to be broke for much longer. Supposed to play Fallcore in Houston this weekend. Worried about some friends. Forming plans for Sungod again. Registered for music classes next semester, it's beginning finally. Love shines through like warm sunrays through blinds, heating stripes on your goosebumped chest. Thank you Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, Entourage, Futurama, Eastbound and Down.
Going to start Rubicon and Breaking Bad soon. I've only seen the first season of BB all the way through so I'm excited to say the least.
He's one of the best composers I've heard to date, and rightfully so. If you're a fan of any of his scores(which, if you like westerns, you definitely are) you'll enjoy this. Not as jangly with the guitar work but very liberal with keys and arrangements. 5ive Style - S/T http://www.mediafire.com/?nymnlxo2onk
Funky instrumental chicago outfit. Heard it by accident, loving it though. Good "put on" music.
Group Bombino - Guitars from Agadez Vol.2 http://www.mediafire.com/?sxnbnl1ujgm
A rhythmic upheaval from the sublime frequencies label. If you like drums, funk or poppy eastern music..this is your thing.
I was Waylon Smithers for Halloween. I spilled some pumpkin soup on my pants the night of, though..so I had to improvise and be Richard Gere with fake blood all over. I went to some parties, specifically some weird forest party where I got off the ground.
I hope I'm not jinxing anything by saying I'm happy with who I've been around for the past week.
This weekend should be the shit, playing FunFunFun Fest on Saturday, so lots of cool food and free beer..then an afterparty with Scream at Red7. Hatred Surge and The Impalers...yowza.
Also yesterday whilst coming down I recorded some Dead C/Charalambides free noise type stuff with Braden..which we don't get to do very often. I don't know if we'll use it for anything but we'll definitely post it online.
Speaking of music:
Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar http://www.mediafire.com/?jzghmqfteiz
This record is a rocker. Jangly rock riffs and killer beats. It's LOUD, so make sure you act accordingly.
Sir Richard Bishop - Polytheistic Fragments http://www.mediafire.com/?mzq4ygngnom
SRB is a master of his instrument, ever since his days in Sun City Girls. This is another foray into his very ethnic mix of guitar styles. Dude is a master.
Otherwise I have a lot of complaints. If someone wanted to give me some money I'd much appreciate it.
Non-interpersonal love is something that goes unnoticed when referring to the word "love." What do you love? I feel like I rarely see people I know glowing at the thought of something happening unless it's social. Excited, sure, but not so much with an air of aloofness(aloofness?)..sitting above all the concerns and grievances of their day-to-day. Not that this is absent, but I don't think I see it enough. This may even apply for myself, didn't Jung suggest that observations are usually turned inward? Some old fuck did, I don't remember. Once there was an impression made of me where someone kept talking about their drums and how loud they are...So I'm guessing my "love" has definitely transferred itself publicly to others' knowledge. Among others..I have a fleeting love for film. It comes and goes.
I think I refer to passion too much as a gauge of worth rather than a point in someone's development. I don't care as much about the things I used to care about, and I care about things I didn't care about before. People changing is really the thing to get used to. Lately, some people close to me have undergone drastic changes(according to themselves) and I'm seeing the glow emerge once again. I want to live parallel to those I care about, if the stuff of life is change.
^^Good guitar/jazz record. If you don't like Elvin Jones' drumming, you can pretty much stop saying you like drums around me. While he's not as wild as he was in his Impulse days on this record(came out like 9 years ago), he definitely holds his own. Frisell's guitar work is soothing and tense. If you like acoustic guitar, jazz or any of Frisell's work on Earth's Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull, get this.
Played a house show Friday, haven't done that in a while. Was too good.
Dabbling in rye whiskey.
Pelt - Empty Bell Ringing in the Sky http://www.mediafire.com/?jntddzigyj0
This record is an old favorite. Kind of obvious, and it's definitely no Ayahuasca but it's beautiful natural drones from Jack Rose's old band Pelt. Listen for deep inner beauty.
Mississippi Fred Mcdowell - Steakbone Slide Guitar http://www.mediafire.com/?c1mzmdgbnn2
Fred Mcdowell has become a new favorite of mine. Giving me insight to vocals and slide guitar that I didn't think possible. If you like this album check out I Do Not Play No Rock and Roll.
I've been recording with Sungod a little bit. Just demoing/fleshing out songs. It's going better than ever and Braden's engineering has only gotten cleaner and more rich.
I'll be up and down the west coast in January, which excites me. Some awesome weather and a good time to be out on tour. I had originally planned to go to Fairbanks, Alaska in January but that surprise plan got nixed. Regardless, I will be in great weather with most of my favorite people. There is no feeling bad about that.
Feel right.
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12.1.10
I've been having trouble saying what I mean. It's so frustrating. You can see the reactions people are giving and gauge every misunderstand you're putting across.
I found out yesterday that no one in my family, outside of some distant-to-me cousins, has graduated from college.
My problem with communication is hindering my ability to write. I know that I have songs and stories but I can only get so far. The jumble and mess of being in a house with 4 other people makes this a constant chore. I can barely hear myself think in my room. I can feel myself breaking apart.
I need to make myself alive. I live in the past and future when relatively the only controlled period is now. There's no argument or really even reason to mention that fact. Coming to grips with the other perceptions and areas of control in my life is proving to be so difficult. I'm trying to make myself selfless. I want to be able to only receive signals and respond to what others are seeing, due to an insensitivity that i've recognized in myself. I feel like keeping things to myself and only thinking of what I think is killing my connection with my life.
Unfortunately, I think being raised in a guilt-ridden environment doesn't help much. I don't want to feel like some dying explosion, burning less and less as time goes. Absorbing less and slowly growing darker and colder...
It feels that way, but I think it's just because new things are on the horizon. In the face of change, while I cower and become brittle on the inside, I adapt and become more myself.
been listening to: Vic Chesnutt Thee Silver Mt. Zion.... Miles Davis(first-retirement era stuff) Lloyd Miller Barn Owl Spacemen 3 Sleep
10.12.09
His hide is stretched and charred on the edges pebbles for knuckles and when he's weak he coughs up the darkest obsidian shades of oil
23.11.09
You have to gnaw on the wood to whittle a tongue The splinters will keep your words short Your blisters will silence you
Last month was my birthday. On my birthday I was greeted with breakfast at work, some recognition via desk decoration and a cake baked by one of my roommates when I got home. Along with much needed company.
The day itself had some hollow moments that were a little too glaring to ignore. This isn't anything new, I suppose.
Lately I've missed my family quite a bit. My father currently lives near the Pacific rim with my little brother. My mother is quite busy with her new position that requires tons of travel. And even when she is home, in Dallas which is only a 4 hour drive or so, I don't have a car to make the trek. I'm not sure what it is but sometimes there is just this overwhelming feeling of loss when talking to the people you grew up under. Like there's no more building and you have to take what you can get for any growth as a person.
I've been playing a lot of guitar. And since I actually did get that steel kick, I've been playing drums more and more. It's hard to be in the daily grind but the sun is out less and the wind blows so I don't feel as trapped. Stress at work combined with little to no time to myself has been a jading experience. I'm working my way out of it but it's like trying to crawl out of a muddy ditch. Every time you reach you just pull more down on top of you.
Enough personal talk though. Let's talk records I've been listening to.
Organic drone duo from france. They create atmospheres like no other. This is new and their first proper LP. It's a 3-LP. Here is a mediafire of the cd version.
One of my favorite guitarists in recent times. Very dissonant, like a score to a void. Lots of brilliant instrumentation and dynamics. This is his most recent release.
Living situation: -stayed in Austin -Lived in a cheap house on the east side with no a/c, a faulty foundation and right next to the railroad tracks. Sean and Greg(Odhinn) lived with us until about January and then broke lease and moved out. We had one more roommate until about June. Moved out last weekend. -Currently live in a house on the Northeast side with Fat Zack, Braden, Bill Money and Mike McHale. It's the shit.
Work: -Have worked up to being an Eligibility Clerk at Boon-Chapman. It's a third-party administrator for health insurance. It's a steady job with alright pay. -Currently looking for supplemental income, but haven't figured out what I can do around here quite yet.
Extra-Curricular: -Joined Hatred Surge, a powerviolence band originally started by Alex Hughes. Used to be just him but he asked Ulsh and I to play on the first LP. We just got back from supporting that LP, and I'm very happy to be on it. This is the band I get pissed and play fast in. -Odhinn disbanded a little while before Sean and Greg moved out. -Started Sungod with Braden. A lot of Odhinn's sound transferred over(moreso the improvisation element)..but basically it's a two-piece noisy psych-rock band. That's the band I lose myself in. -Have been writing more in screenplay format. Nothing too exciting, in my opinion, but I've been working on it. -Currently seeking out stainless steel drum shells -Currently picking up guitar again in a serious way, thanks to FZ
Lovelife: -Not much to report. Have "seen/dated" some different girls in and around Austin but nothing serious. Usually just a few dates or hanging out spread out over the course of a few months. Doesn't look like much is going to change on that. Still don't really know what I want whatsoever. I guess that never changes, though.
What with having to re-assemble my life after tour last year and take responsibility as far as paying bills and not living on couches; I've had to simplify my priorities quite a bit. There is a steady climb in my self-control over my own angry and anxious nature. Being on the road recently has put more in perspective. I wasn't scared of coming home. That could be attributed to me actually having a home to come back to this time, I'm guessing.
My only problems lately lie in the expectations of others, rather than any of my own. So these are not real problems except in their minds. I feel like people make it a point to be unhappy if they don't know all the details. More and more my peers get wrapped up in what they think should be happening in their lives. While one obviously should have goals, the lack of patience and the act of spreading oneself thin seems to really effect one's soul. At the end of the day the only thoughts they ponder are how to be prepared for tomorrow. Being sure to step over all of your conceived problems, fast-tracking to your own last days with the final product steadily in mind.
I've been under the impression that, if I work towards this picture in my head of where I'd like to end up..who I want to be, I end up missing out on everything that's not pictured. Trapped in that frame of mind, so to speak. Simply put, I am able to relax a lot more now with this attitude. I try not to let my ego control me.
I'm back it was an incredibly important thing to get away for that long. Some things didn't go as planned,but good came from it. we sounded better than ever, i saw more places than i cared to(but without the shitty ones,the spectacular ones wouldn't be as such), and i think i can honestly say the dudes in the band are my friends now.
above is like 1 of......12 pictures i took. all bad, all within three days out of 7 weeks....that is a long damn time man. It has been decided that next year we are venturing to europe,recording,among other things that i've dreamed about doing.(i've recorded just nothing with the likes of kurt ballou,i mean jesus fucking christ)
so i come back to you texas...naked, in my room, listening to a 1.5 gig carepackage of music delivered by my friend braden. two days before i move to the almighty austin to become employed,and enjoy my time off whilst bettering myself in ways that i've already decided.
tonight i saw my whole family and it seems more and more that they are concerned with seeming happy than actually doing so for themselves...i guess that's either me getting older and happier, or it actually happening.
i have about 13 pounds of laundry to do, all soaked in sweat and black. tomorrow i have to go sort out my passport, buy new clothes to work in(and just wear in general..i have no winter clothes that fit), and pack my things for the journey on sunday.
i will be living with my friend matt needles. one of a handful of dudes in texas that i can truly say that i connect with on more than just one shallow level. it's exciting, i would probably choose him as a room mate, but he is nice enough to extend his living room to me nearly free of charge. perhaps he is lonely and in need of a real dude.
i am already itching to find out what the band is going to do next. it feels so powerful and amazing to be delved deep into a blinding collision of intensity and sound. the days that i felt it, i really felt it, and there were many.
i strive to be nothing more than a name on a memorial wall of contributors to the noise against relaxation and recreational music.
"chill music" "music to sleep to"
suck my dick if that's what you want music for. if it doesn't excite every single sense of you, it's not worth listening to.
also i have a girlfriend.
out
13.9.07
In about one week's time i'll be heading out on the road from San Antonio for about two months. That is a long time, my chops will improve greatly, i will lose weight from malnutrition, i will make better friends with those in the van and around the U.S., and I will go broke. I will pee in bottles, i will masturbate in public restrooms that i find clean, I will not see a familiar face sans band, I will probably watch magnolia and blade runner about 20 times.
It's more than exciting, it's the life anyone should live for their passion.
Of course doing so makes me wonder about other aspects of my life...finances,education, women....let's go through each for a second.
finances..i have no savings. i have no money whatsoever. i was barely able to scrape together enough to eat for the next two months and even then it might not be enough. my car almost got repossessed, i owe the state of Texas for four speeding tickets, i've sold pretty much everything i have of wordly value besides what i use at home to keep myself entertained and not going out....But with finances it's usually correctable....so naturally i'm not worried about my debt.
education? you can always go to school but i really don't want to be taking basics still when i'm 24...but really...to travel the world and do what i'm best at in front of complete strangers for money...really just seems a lot more important when you're idealistic about the arts, like myself.
women...haven't tried to date a girl in about a year, and it was like 6 months before her...i really just...don't care...although it's starting to feel like time to pursue someone. Should i though? It's so much trouble, i won't be really..STATIONARY for the next two months,and who even knows during the next year. Not to mention i think i've been striving to make myself more unattractive by telling whatever jokes i want, acting like a nerd, and just wearing whatever is folded on my floor..i'd really have to try i guess.
