5/7/05
Greetings once again. It's been quite a while since I've updated news and I have to admit that my spirit was deflated for a little. Like most guitarists have, and may not be open to discuss with the average joe, we have our dream guitars. Well, one of mine was a Burns Brian May Signature Series guitar. I was messing around online and found a great priced BM guitar, corresponded with the seller for over a week with the seller, and made the deal. After a week and a half of waiting, multiplying hopes, and images of rocking my new axe in my head, it was all flushed down the crapper when I got in contact with a few pervious "buyers" that notified me they were scammed as well. Soul-less bastard. It's not even the stolen money I'm completely pissed about, but just the fact that I left myself so open to get jerked around like this. Grrrrrrr. Anyway, enough negative pissing, the good part about it is that I've been inspired, as Brian May and his father, to attempt to build my own guitar. Think it'll work?
Sleeprunner will be getting off the ground in the next month or so due to my return to Boston, MA. In between my belly aching, I have managed to squeeze out close to a dozen demos for the boys and I to toss around.
Speaking of the boys, one of them has forwarded to me an interesting story about something every struggling, broke musician has seen and pondered over. That's right, those little ads in the classified section of the paper know as....
3/25/05
Happy Greek Independence day and happy March. I turned 26 on the 1st. I took a brief trip home to Beantown where Sleeprunner had it's first musical gathering as a unit. I'm not an "I told ya so" type of person, but I guess if it's directed towards myself then there is no harm done. I TOLD ME SO!!! I couldn't have been happier with how things went. Despite some guitar amp issues of mine, and some excited keyboard levels, our first few minutes sounded like some kind of sonic family reunion. Unfortunetly, we had to stop after we realized that we were a half our past our noise curfew. Well, step one of having compatible chemistries in the rockroom is a big check farkin' plus. Only good things can happen from here on out.
As for other goodies, I threw up a few more pics in the history section and in the shit section. Luckily enough, I got a chance to catch some Sox spring training on ESPN to see Bronson Arroyo steal a basehit off former teammate and new Dodger Derek Lowe.... what a hoot.
Speaking of hoots, the only reason to ever have cable right now, is to watch Most Extreme Challenge on the Spike channel. MXC is quality television needing to find it's way to a DVD box set.
Here is the Sleeprunner Week in Entertainment review:
New Audioslave song: *sniff* *sniff* ...just let me know when the album comes out.
New Queens of the Stoneage: Ummm, so where is my "Songs for the Deaf" cd?!?!
The Ring Two: New title..."The O Ring"
Constantine: Jim Carey could have overacted that better then Ted Logan did. It's a good thing Gavin left Bush for the movies, the bloke can actually act.
Mr. Show Seasons 1,2,4 DVDs: My TV loves me again.
2/24/05
I put up a few sentimental goodies in the shit section..... I knew that saving shit would someday pay off. Speaking of which, I found an old Shaman review from a local Boston Music Magazine. You can find it in the Music History section. Or just click here....
Oh yeah, my condolences to my buddies from Throe ..... they are breaking up.
2/21/05
A few stones of interest happened to put a ripple in my pond today. First, and more importantly foremost, writer/author/drug enthusiast, Hunter S. Thompson bit it.... and not to play on the pun, but he fed himself. Sorry, I feel terrible to poke fun, but it was there. In the short time I've been on the reading frenzy, I must say that Hunter was one of my favorites, and it is shocking to see him leave that way. Who knows about his personal life, but this sort of reminds me of the Kurt Cobain situation.... if in fact he did commit suicide (yeah, that's right Courtney, keep runnin!) Wouldn't it be great to see Tyson, Love, and Canseco battle it out!?!? Bats, gloves, ears, and needles would be a flyin!!!!
The other thing is with a show that I try really hard not to watch, but m'lady was watching it and one of the performers was somewhat familiar to me. This dude named Constantine Maroulis was singing a Seal song in the second round. I knew I knew him.... so I looked it up and it just so happens that my old band, March of Sound, played with his band, Pray for the Soul of Betty, at the Sky Bar in Boston. It's not like I feel like I know a star or anything, but actually, on the other side, I'm a little put off by it. When did it become OK for rockers to do that show? I don't mean to judge, because he was in fact a great guy, and really friendly and modest as I got a chance to share a conversation and a few drinks with him. I don't know, maybe I'm rambling, but I guess my point is I wish I had seen him crashing the party and creating a disaster of the show, then see him join that prissy little TV party. And no, I am not jealous, I just don't see the benefit or gain for an artist, with a genuine and honest craft, by becoming a part of...... ugh..... forget it.
In other news, Sleeprunner will be having it's first gathering during my visit home to Boston in the first week of March. I'm pretty stoked for it seeing as though we have alot to mess around with. Mark Sexton, Mike Scrima, Jay, and myself will be making sweet music down by the fire.... fireplace not included.
2/7/05
John Madden was in Buffalo to announce a football game one weekend
when he noticed a special telephone near the Bills bench. He asked
Drew Bledsoe what it was used for and was told it was a hotline to God.
John asked if he could use it. Drew told him, "Sure, but it will
cost you $200."
John scratched his head, then thought, what the heck, I could use some
help picking games. He pulled out his wallet and paid $200. John's
picks were perfect that week.
The next week John was in Indianapolis when he noticed that same kind
of phone on the Colts bench. He asked what the telephone was for
and Peyton Manning told him, "It's a hotline to God. If you want
to use it, it will cost you $500."
Recalling last week, John pulled out his wallet and made the call. John's
picks were perfect again that week.
The next weekend John was in Foxboro at Gillette Stadium when he noticed
the same kind of telephone by the Patriots bench. He asked Tom Brady,
"Is that the hotline to God?" Tom said, "Yes, and if you
want to use it, it will cost you 35 cents."
John looked curiously at Brady and said, "Wait a second, I just paid
$200 in Buffalo and $500 in Indianapolis to use the same phone to God!
Why do the Patriots only charge 35 cents?"
Tom looked at John and replied, "Because in New England,
it's a local call."
-Ratchaburi now has a working link in the links section.
1/15/05
Week 2: Moments before accidental disqualification.
Well shit. So this is minutes before I attempted to touch up my stache with one of those heavy duty electric head shavers. As I was gently guiding the buzzer, with my finger tips, to the path of upper lip perfection, the fucker slipped and I murdered my facial manhood. Actually, I was lucky that I didn't shave my lips off. So ends an era. You know, I bet I could grow it back in the 2 weeks I have and still will the contest, but that's ok, I know deep inside that I'm the ultimate contender. Plus, I did get to wear two of my favorite T-shirts with undisputable conviction.
"Moustache rides, $.25"
"Guns don't kill people..... people with moustaches kill people."
R.I.P. Moustache #1.5 - Lost in the pipes below my sink, but not forgotten.
1/7/05
Week 1:
I lack the lighting to get rid of the shadows, but most of the darkness on my upper lip is all man power. With a great moustache comes great power... with great power comes great responsibility.
Funny story anyone? Check this out.... Mr. Cuervo.
1/5/05
Not that I have anything too worth it to say.... but on a lighter note, I thought I would share that I have taken part in a moustache growing contest at work. Starting on January 1rst, we are to grow until Febuary 1st when we will be judged. I feel that this is one of my callings in this lifetime. I have the perfect face for a moustache that was generously given to me by my father (who is a proud 30+ year moustache owner). Seeing as though work doesn't permit any facial hair except a moustache that can't grow lower then the sides of your mouth, I have to strategize. Do I go for the classic Zappa-stache, or a tiny sharp french-stache, or a sancho-stache, or what... I don't know. I think a rock-stache would be appropriate.... just for shits and giggles, I'll update the site with weekly photos of my progress.
I'm also a proud owner of this.....
Please email all title challenges as I am currently open to defending it.
1/2/05
Another holiday season has passed, and Santa brought me nothing but intigestion. *burb* ... All in all, it was a pretty good holiday. I, like everyone else, make New Years resolutions and never take action on them, so my resolution was to not make a resolution this year. I picked up my UK II and had one of the more fertile creative practices that I've had in a while. Was it a New Years omen? Was it the case of Amstel Light? Was it Kids in the Hall playing in the background? Who knows, but it was a great way to welcome the new year.
Some bastard smashed my car window in the other day. Asshead stole a few hundred bucks (I'm a bartender, I have tips lying around everywhere, so there's no need to ask 'Why the hell did you keep money in your car in the first place') but was kind enough to leave a 20 dollar bill on the front seat. My bag containing a bunch of my Bar paperwork was stolen too... which annoyed me even more then the money... I mean thats the kind of stuff thats only useful to one person anyway, so why steal that? Take the money, empty the contents of my bag out in the car to see that there's nothing to take, and piss off. I'll even let you take the bag if you'd like!! I'm sure I won't be heartbroken over anything missing.....oh damn.... my ipod headphones were in there..... grrrrrrr!!!!!
So I get to have a ghetto bag window for a while... I'm really looking forward to that.
On a lighter note, I've mastered the Bahama Mama cocktail.
12/11/04
Dimebag Darrel, good bye, eternal be your memory.
Nathan Gale, thanks for taking away another truly genuine reason to pick up a guitar and listen to music. You have committed the ultimate foul in the party of life, and you've ruined it for everyone. May your soul be thrown into the shit pool of the universe, for Hell is far too good a place for you.
This ASSASINATION, don't be mistaken, ASSASINATION, is like the mother of all stubbed toes in the world of Rock and Roll. It's as if Rock and Roll was having a bad day at work trying to make a living with all the other nutless, soul-less shit "music" out there, and right when they came home to kick off their shoes, relax, and reach in the fridge for last cold bottle of Dimebag Unfiltered (next to the Tool casserole, the Mike Patton nachos, and the Bjork fingers) their little toe gets slammed into the corner of the fridge, sending the bottle of DB to the floor. Smash. Great, the only thing left in the fridge is that Creed juice that came with my take out the other day. Fuck it, I'd rather be thirsty.
12/1/04
All the music in the history section should be working now. I've also added a couple treats in the "sleep-shit" section, so if you have a few minutes, definetly check it out. My three 60+ hour weeks are coming to an end, finally, and I'll be full time in the Sports Bar at the beginning of next week.
Sleeprunner progress will be plentiful as we enter the ritual of the fat, whiskey soaked whiskered stranger, deliriously breaking into our homes, leaving shit loads of shit we don't really need. Otherwise known, as the holidays. I actually happen to love xmas, so I'm not taking any sort of bah humbug stance on xmas, I just always thought it was really funny that we gather round some obese trucker in red velvet that brings our kids gifts. I mean, think of it, can you picture Santa telling his elves to load his bag with holiday lingerie? What would Mrs. Claus think of that....which begs me to ask the question, does Santa ever get horny? Well, we've seen movies about the dual nature of public figures, politicians, and even Christ, but what about the dual nature of Santa? I mean shit, if they can exploit Christ, it's time to hit the fat man. In fact, before I go any further....
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2004 DUAL NATURE OF SANTA (And all ideas pertaining)
There fuckers, it's mine!!!
11/20/04
Oops. So Jim "The Anvil" isn't dead. My bad. Hercules and Crash Holly are dead. Wow, don't I feel like an ass.
Anyway, So the job started sucking a little because the bar lacks what is known in the bar business as "customers." So I'm working overtime at the sports bar across the hall in the casino where business is steady, which makes my music priorities somewhat stagnant at the moment. I will be transferring to the sports bar very shortly, still picking up shifts at the steakhouse where I started off. Once the schedualing gets steady, then I'll be balls deep back into the music.
Everybody go see Team America: World Police for some inspiration. It's worked for me!
11/7/04
I'm happy as a pig in shit. I gots a job, the Sox are the champs, and after talking with some old friends, Sleeprunner is now awake. Mike Scrima (March of Sound) is joining me as switch off lead vocalist as well as on keys, and Mark Sexton (Fade the Escape/Arhythmia) is so generously lending his endless energy on drums. I'm extremely excited to have these guys on board, and although we'll be long distance for a little while, brick by brick, I'm confident knowing that we'll build something special.
As far as a bass player... we have a few people in mind, and we've yet to come to a decision about whether or not we'll be able to utilize a second guitarist.
Naked Lunch is addictive. I haven't read a book by someone who's english vocabulary is as impressive as William Burroughs's. If anyone is looking for a book unlike your everyday story, I highly recommend Naked Lunch.
I don't know if there are any other wrestling fans out there, but I used to be, and I just heard the shocking news that the Big Boss Man, as well as Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart have died... poor Bret Hart, his family is dropping like flies.
10/17/04
So this is where I'm at. As I start to record, I'm wondering if I should go all out and create the masterpiece of masterpieces, or should I just get a "demo" version of each song. I've got about 5 songs begun, guitars and bass, and about over 10 more to sculpt and lay down. I would like to think that I put 100% into everything I do, musically that is, but am I going to be recording all this shit in the future again? A great musician once said that every recording of a song is like a polaroid photo, a snapshot of where that song is at the time. I understand that, but when do I stop focusing and just snap the god damn picture? The I ramble on about it, the more it makes sense for me to just keep demo-ing each tune. Recording and listening back does leave more of the senses available to process and react... at least more consistently then jamming/spontaneous improvisation. Plus, there is nothing quite like taking a long drive through middle America while rehearsing with yourself blaring on your stereo.
Speaking of middle America, after three months of hunting, I finally got a full-time job as the head bartender at the Steakhouse within the Argosy Casino here in KC,MO. I can already feel myself transforming back from a job hunting robot to a fully disfunctioning human being. *wink*
I started reading The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson and although I'm enjoying it, I feel like I haven't given it the appropriate attention it needs. I polished of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest relatively fast, probably due to the the dead shifts at my part time bartending gig, but I'm thinking of putting The Rum Diary aside and starting Naked Lunch by William Burroughs. I'm sure a great mindfuck is all I need to get my focus back on track.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot... Go Sox.
10/9/04
Well, here it is. The fucking site is finally close to where I want it to be. On a whole, everything is close to being completely done, but there are still a few things that I need to finish/tighten up, add/subtract, blah, blah, blah. Finished or not, I just needed some instant gratification in seeing this online. If someone may happen to find any problems with the site performance, please drop me a line.