Brand New show 10-2-09 Cleveland

Caught Brand New before they headed out with Thrice, but I heard Manchester Orchestra was going to open for them, so that sealed the deal.

I became a fan of Manchester Orchestra when I heard "I've Got Friends" on the radio, then I happened to be in a record store and saw that Everything to Nothing was on sale for $8. I immediately liked the record, and coincidentally, thought they sounded like Brand New and should tour with them. Lo and Behold, my prophecy came true.

Brand New was pretty explosive, opening the show with you "You Won't Know" from the The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. Their set spanned their catalog, but the songs I enjoyed the most were from Devil and God, including "Sowing Season (Yeah)", "Jesus Christ", and the very atmospheric "Welcome to Bangkok". They played a good bit of their new stuff from Daisy, most of which I didn't know, because I didn't have a chance to pick up the record before the show.

All in all, a good show. Not great, but memorable.

Empty

On the most recent open mic night, I performed "Empty" by Ray LaMontagne. You can watch an incomplete video of it here.

The Low End of High

Hey.

It's me, I'm sorry it's so late.

But I couldn't sleep.

This weekend was a good weekend. I guess when I say weekend, I mean the last four days. I had Thursday and Friday off for the Holiday. Thursday was reserved for family of course, to celebrate our blessings together and the one year anniversary of my father's heart-surgery. We played poker (I won), and Mad Gab (I won both times, albeit with different partners).

Friday was another open mic night at Coffee Fusion. It was okay, kind of embarrassing (not for me, for others, being watched by me, but they were just young kids, so you kind of have to cut them a break). My songs were as follows:

Beggars -Thrice
Red Sky - Thrice
Empty - Ray LaMontagne
Whiskey Lullaby - Don't even know the artist. But it was a duet between myself and my friend Madison Trainer.
Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron and Wine

Pictures and videos will be put up soon, and when they are, I will link to them.

After the mic night, several of us went to a cabin on Gilford Lake. Games and laughing and music and drinking ensued, but I had to leave early as I had plans the following morning.

Said plans were a trip to see New Moon (Good, much better than Twilight). We then ate at the Cadillac Ranch where I ordered Ranch Mac and Cheese (so good I almost punched the waitress in the face when she tried to take it away before I was finished...okay, not really). Then it was back out to the cabin for me, to spend Saturday evening through Sunday morning.

Walks were taken, lakes were jumped in at below freezing tempatures (by yours truly and one other brave soul), runs were taken in haste back to the cabin to put on clothes and thaw myself in front of the fireplace. Philosophical conversations were had on the dock at 2 a.m., and then since all the beds were taken, I stretched out in front of the smoldering remains of the fire and fell asleep, which was a little glimpse of heaven as far as I'm concerned.

You know, I have almost come to be reluctant about the highs in life, because they are inevitably followed by lows. Like right now. I can't sleep. The weekend is over. I'm alone. And I have to get up in roughly five hours to go back to work. And you know what I'm going to do when I'm done with work? Go home. Alone. And do it all over again until Saturday.

The book continues to grow and take on a life of its own, and the journey, both of the characters and the process of writing it, is nearing its final leg. I have never felt more passionately about anything as I do about this story.

I suppose I'll leave you with this:

Pessimism is what Optimists call Realism.

The Snoopy sticker on my laptop is wearing off (How things are right now)

I'm not sure when my last post was, but suffice it to say, it was too long ago. Life ticks by the days and sometimes these things get left in the wayside, even though they are extremely important (I have let down my millions of blog-readers).

Well, folks, I'm back. Get ready.

I have nothing philosophical or deep to say in this post, other than to catch you up on what's been going on in my life.

Well, I met a girl...

HAHAHAHAHAhahahahaha....oh boy, that was fun.

No, for real, there is no girl.

Most of what's been going on in my life revolves around music, actually. I started a new job, which is why I haven't been blogging as much, but that job is barely worth mentioning, as it is probably the least important part of my life right now, other than the fact that it pays the bills. I go in, do my time, then forget about it before my body hits the seat in my car for the drive home. I am thankful for it, however. It is a good thing to have a job in these times.

Probably the coolest development in my life as of late is the beginning of a local open mic night which was started by some friends and myself at a downtown coffee shop. Until the point I walked into the place to perform, I hadn't even been aware of its existence, but it's actually a pretty nice place, and if you're ever in the East Liverpool, Ohio area on a Saturday night around 7, you should hunt down Coffee Fusion and come see me.

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The people who run the coffee shop liked it so much that they talked to us about doing it on a regular basis, which is very exciting. I really enjoy performing (except for the occasional nerves) and look forward to future evenings spent there, even if the only people who show up are my friends and I.

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I performed two songs: "Intensity in Ten Cities" from the album Bone Palace Ballet, by Chiodos, and "Beggars", the title track from the new Thrice record. If you're interested in seeing a video of my first performance, go here:

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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=55704018#/video/video.php?v=1180000258865&ref=mf

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Also on the subject of music, I attended the Polar Bear Club/The Dear Hunter/Thrice show this past Sunday at the Deisel Club Lounge in Pittsburgh, PA. Great show, horrible venue. But, The Dear Hunter surprised me in a really, really good way, and Thrice was as amazing as ever. My respect and admiration for those guys is boundless. I hope to post a review of the show and some pictures along with it sometime very soon.

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What else? The usual festive autumn stuff: carving pumpkins (pictures on their way), trip to Cedar Point for Halloweekends (a tradition for the Clark siblings and crew). I've also been writing a LOT. I'm working on a group of short stories that have been nagging me for quite some time. So I'm taking a break from the book (which is about 60-70% complete) to clear the backlog of stories in my head, and after I'm done with that, back to the novel.

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Oh, and I have begun reviewing records, the first of which is Creed's new record, Full Circle. You can find the review here:

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http://www.breakthroughband.com/Series/MusicReviews/AlbumReview_Creed_FullCircle.html

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You can also find a lot of information about getting a band on its feet, so you should check it out, it's an all around cool site. Breakthroughband.com

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I'm just realizing how much catching up I have to do. Hope you stick with me while I get back into it. I hope to have a flurry of activity on this blog, so stay tuned.

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Currently Reading or Recently Read:

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller, Jr. (Interesting, but not great, and a bit strange)

The Affinity Bridge - George Mann (Cool story, poorly written)

The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller (Excellent)

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Currently listening:

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Night Castle

In Fear and Faith - Your World On Fire

Emery - ...In Shallow Seas We Sail

The Dear Hunter - Everything

The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

Oh, Sleeper - Son of the Morning

Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain

In case anyone is interested.

Awhile ago, I posted a blog about what is, in my opinion, one of the best songs ever written: Tool's "Lateralus".

Here is a review of the entire album, albeit from a stoner's perspective:

http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/06/19/12-tool-lateralus/

It made number 12 of 21 on their list of top metal albums of the 21st century.

From a band that until recently was my favorite band ever, came an album that defined and inspired me for many years, sonically and lyrically.

I think you can tell a lot about a person from the things they like, and especially the music that inspires them. This may be a glimpse into my psyche, if, as the title suggests, any of you are interested.

THE BANQUET

Rumors went out through the streets of the city
Of a banquet set by the King
My brothers and I, were the first ones in line
So we wouldn’t miss a thing

They opened the gates of pearl and gold
And at the table we took our seats
Then the King entered and in his presence
We all began to eat

When the meal was over, the King raised a glass
And he gave a toast to the night
Then my blood ran cold and shivered my soul
As he leveled me in his sight

The King passed the cup round the table and said,
“Welcome, friends, all, to my home.
Though the moon becomes high and night becomes late,
I must tell you a tale ‘fore you go.”

Then he told us a story of deceit and betrayal
And a shudder swept through the room
But before we could ask, “My Lord, is it I?”
He said, “The traitor lies among you.”

Then all of us there began turning our heads
And looked round the room to see
But when my turn came to drink from the cup
I realized the traitor was me

Tears streamed down my face and I hung my head
Then I felt the good King draw near
He kneeled before me and wrapped me in His arms
And he whispered this in my ear:

“My child, my son, wipe clear your eyes
Weep no longer for your soul
I set this meal and invited you here
My son, you were forgiven long ago.”

The Tide

It is said that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.

If this is true, then I have been insane for awhile.

How does one change? How does one truly alter a way of thinking?

For the longest time, I have accepted life as it is. I have allowed certain things to become the status quo. I keep doing the same things, acting the same way, thinking the same way, and then turn around and ask myself incredulously: "Why is nothing getting better? Where is that thing I keep expecting to come along to make things better?"

Why?

Because it's comfortable. Because it's convenient. Because it suits me. Because I have used the excuse that it is who I am. I have fooled myself into thinking that everything I do extends directly from my personality and the kind of person I have become. And as I have fooled myself, I have become a fool.

Part of the problem is that we have these ideas about ourselves, these pictures of who we want to be, who we fancy ourselves to be. And we get used to viewing ourselves that way. We operate in this fantastical realm of self where who we are is who we want to be. And somewhere along the way we convince ourselves that this is who we are right now. We wear a disguise, a disguise so good, that it even fools ourselves, and we fail to see that this picture of ourselves is far from reality.

If we were to take a look at our lives, a real look, an honest look, we would have to admit that who we think we are, and who we are in reality are two very different things. Like Neo after he wakes from the Matrix into the real world, he must deal with the "residual self-image" and face the reality of what he is.

But we don't want to do that. Because it's uncomfortable. Because it's difficult. Because we might have to...change.

It's not just habits. It's thoughts. And if you sow a thought, you reap an action. Sow an action, you reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny. And when we fail to change our thoughts, we wonder why our destiny hasn't altered one bit.

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

Who we are is the most powerful tool we possess in order to make of our life what it should be. But the first step to that is to realize that the glorified picture we have of ourselves is not correct, and to wait around for things to change, while in the meantime we change nothing, is foolish.

We aren't locked into who we are. We can change. We can become. We are not merely rafts tossed about on the sea of our personality.

For a long time I have lived with life being less than what I want it to be. I have shouted and shaken my fist at God, asking why things aren't getting better. But all the while, I have been acting and thinking the exact same way. That must change. That will change. I have reached the point where I am frustrated with being frustrated. I am tired of being tired of life.

I could let it go on. I could sit and do nothing, like I have done. I could wallow in who I am and what I want. I could wait around for things to change, and undoubtedly, some good things would happen, some bad things would happen. That's just life. But to get to where I want to be I have to BE who I should be.

If I change nothing in my life, then life will never change.