Winter is over!

Well after a long depressing winter of no touring hardly any show playing, I will be hitting the road once again! Thank your god! My winter wasn't a total waste though, I did start a new band. "Survival is for Cowards" The line-up maybe have change several times but we have found a solid crew! So look forward to that!

Asked for tour this summer, I have a full plate! Although I will not be playing on any of the tours, I will be having the time of my life. First in two weeks I will be hitting the pavement with my favorite middle aged (we joke, well...) Vegan/ Straightedge warriors EARTH CRISIS! This will be my second tour doing merch for these fellas. The first being last year. I must say I have a complete awesome time with these guys. I get along with everyone of these wit filled magical humans.

This year the tour consist of Earth Crisis, First Blood and Thick as Blood. One might think this is too much Blood. I think the red blood cell count is just right. Having toured a couple weeks with Thick as Blood last summer, I know what kind of adventures lie ahead. Needless to say I'm very excited.


Check here for tour dates http://www.myspace.com/earthcrisis

The second half of the summer I will be joining my good friends (maybe only friends) Polar Bear Club on Warped Tour. Yes my friends Warped Tour. The event I waited for every year of high school. The event myself and my punk rock friends could not wait to be set loose on, like a bunch of caged animals! A day full of our favorite pop- punk bands, making a total fool of ourselves, making new friends, getting dirty, buying over priced food and beverages and loving every second! Well now I will be at everyone of these sun burning concerts, selling t-shirts and begging for tips. So if you happen to be at any of these ska kid filled events come find me.



Check here for dates: http://myspace.com/polarbearclub

Check back here for updates from both tours. I purchased a "Flip Cam" so be prepared for some video updates as well.

Well I had to test the camera out! Enjoy

New Band

Due to lack of touring and playing of shows, I decided to work on a new project. The original idea was to write a couple songs put out a demo and play a show in the distant future. Well, we've decided to write a full length instead. Go big or go home right? Our good pal Pat of Forfeit has to record a full length record for his school project. Free recording? Yes please.

I thought this might be over my head but things have been falling right into place. Myself and Ian MacNeil (Earthquake, Merrimac, Election Day) have been a writing machine. We have written music for 6 songs in little more than a month and we have no signs of slowing down. Our friend Jon Tedd (Scarlett Ending, Speria) has been poking his guitar in every so often to write some leads. After a very successful night last night I can say this band is the best work I've ever done. We will be adding a bass player shortly Devon Hubbard (Such Gold) will stepping to give this shit some low end.

All that is missing is vocals which myself and Jon will be filling in very soon. I have never sang for a non-hardcore band before but I'm fairly certain I can pull this off. Jon's vocals are more are the clean side which will make for good contrast.

Needless to say I am extremely excited. I feel this band has a lot of potential, and this style is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I've been playing in heavy bands my whole life (except for a short stint in pop punk see Red and Black). This band while a "Rock" still has it's heavy moments, but more of a Smashing Pumpkins heavy and Jimmy Eat World style heavy parts. (See Nothing Wrong aka the best J.E.W. song ever written)

I will be posting a lot more about this band as we are close to recording and of course writing lyrics. Should be very interesting to see what comes out of my skull.

Week Playlist:
Alkaline Trio - This Addiction (Yeah I found it on the internet! Relax I already pre-ordered The LP)
Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
Murder City Devils - Broken Bottles, Empty Hearts
Smashing Pumpkins - American Gothic
Polar Bear Club - Chasing Hamburg
Young Livers - New Era Drop
Banner Pilot - Collapser
Smashing Pumpkins - All Goes Wrong (DVD Rehearsal songs)
No Knife - Fire in the City of Automatons
Strike Anywhere - Iron Front
Liars Academy - No News is Good News

Bride Nine Tour Recap

So this October I met up with Polar Bear Club in LA to finish out the Bridge Nine Tour which featured a great set of bands all on Bridge Nine Records. Ruiner, Crime in Stereo, Polar Bear Club and Strike Anywhere.
Due to Unholy's tour falling through because of fanatical problems, I had a void to fill this month. I couldn't just sit home and get depressed . Thankfully PBC offered to take me out. I flew out to LA to meet up with them halfway through the tour. I've never enjoyed LA in past visits, but this time broke the cycle. We managed to Get into Sacred Heart, the hospital used to film a little TV program called SCRUBS. Which happens to be Goose and I's favorite joys of life.



Worlds most Giant Doctor



I was really excited to be hanging out on this tour, not only are the PBCers my favorite humans to hang out with but I was also a fan of the other bands. Strike Anywhere one of my favorite bands. "Exit English" would make my top 5 favorite records. So needless to say I was pumped and hoped I would not make a fool of myself. 2 of my past bands have ripped that record off completely.

After watching Strike Anywhere one time I could tell this band who had been playing now for 10 years still could write amazing songs and STILL meant ever word they said. You can just sense the honesty of the band when they played, something few bands have. Every night I got sucked right up front by the energy the band gave off with a dopey ear to ear smile on my face.




Other than the amazing bands every night, I enjoyed being out on the road with PBC. It was nice seeing my friends for more than a few days when they're home. I was great to see them in their element doing what they love. No matter how much any of them could complain about being on tour so much or about any of the many pains of actually touring, as soon as they got on stage any idiot could tell how much they love playing music.




Here are some more pictures from the tour (my camera on my phone sucks):


West Coast may actually be the Best Coast


LA Tarpits


Halloween in SC Myself and Goose.


Deafter. (jumped on the last 2 shows)

"Home"..

So I'm back from the Summer Slob Tour '09. I miss everyone already.

The last run of shows were really awesome. Most of the shows were between 200-400 kids. Not too bad! I had a blast playing in Unholy and can't wait to go out again. We have at least 2 months off which is a total bummer. Although this tour was well attended, it was not really a tour for us. As been explained to our management several times, we need a METAL tour! Some hardcore kids can get into us but the idea crowd would be long-haired, devil horn throwing head-banging maniacs! They love to buy records and black T-shirts with monsters on them. Every show on this tour there would be 2 or 3 of them at the shows. And they would always be up front getting wild! We need 200-500 of them watching us every night!

Along with buying records these metal heads love talking to Steve-O our long haired shred-master guitar player These dudes will talk his ear off all night and buy him beers. It's really incredible. Every night! A couple people will say a few words to Billy, the drummer of the opening band will talk to Andy and of course older dudes that recognize JD from Another Victim or The Promise will shoot the shit with him. What's left for Jay? Girls?......hahaha. Girls don't like metal IDIOTS!! This is fine with me, I like to chill by myself after the set anyway. I like to think about how things went and be thankful I'm playing music.

After every tour I ask myself if I enjoyed myself and if I really want to continue being broke. The answer is always yes. Tour is really perfect for me. Obviously playing music, but I enjoy driving long distances.......yeah weird I know. I love listening to music and watching the miles go by. When you drive you get to see everything. Mountains, lakes, bridges, weirdos, bears (yep saw a black bear just walking around on this tour) I love it. Call me a hippie if you want but I can't get enough of that shit.

This tour package was packed with characters. Let me tell you about them.. ok?

First Evergreen Terrace, my personal favorite of the tour. I award Josh with the MVP of this tour. A fucking wild man. Best story teller I've ever met, packed with the best stories I've heard. Along with his brother Caleb (filled in on drums this tour) they are an unstoppable comedy team. Chris their new bass player brought alot to the table as well. Kinda funny in a way where he didn't know he was doing so.... you get me? Drew and Craig brought a quiet wit to the team that just balanced everything out. Band was built perfect for touring and keeping everyone else on the tour in high spirits.

Acacia Strain although they kept to themselves very important to this tour. Their fill-in guitar player Dave dub as the "Hardcore Fagha (father)" made early load in worth it. This man would buy $100 worth of items at Wal-Mart or any other mart almost every day. What was he buying??? Where did he get all this money??? No idea, we'll never know. What we do know about him is that he had the meanest stage presence, played in "Blood Has Been Shed" for a while, and now plays bass in a Reggae band back home.

Cruel Hand.... well I can sum these dudes up in one quote...... "Yeah we we're going to be on time for load in but then we found a pool" Awesome guys, love water and not wearing shirts.

Well now I'm home bored and have no friends. I'm going to go ride my bike and hopfully find some bums that want to hang out.

tired

The past couple have days have been rough. A couple over night drives and sleeping in the van. Drained me pretty good. My on stage energy has been at an all time low, as well as my mood. Tonight was pretty cool though. We actually hung out after the show with all the bands, went to Buffalo Wild Wings and a bar after. Everyone fought over the 3 girls that hung out. I've luckily realized that this is a waste of time. Beside that fact that any girl hanging out with 3 three bands is most likely lacking an interesting personality and the only skill they have in dropping names and getting drunk, you're going to end up frustrated. I just stay away from girls as much as possible on tour as "gay" as it sounds, I'd rather hang with the boys and cause trouble.

If I haven't mentioned the Evergreen guys are awesome dudes. We've started to hang with the other bands a bit. They seem pretty cool.

Anyway here's some pics


Evergreen Terrace w/ Brian Stage Diving


Acacia Strain

July 17th

Tonight was the first night of the Acacia Strain part of the tour. We played Doylestown, PA/ Never heard of it? Well, it might be because it looks like it's been cut off from the rest of the world since the civil war....we except for the Startbucks and Verizon Wireless store. All Locally own stores and restaurants. Full of Lawyers, Doctors and their wives looking at us like a traveling freak show. (which I guess is not to far off). Annnyway. The venue was moved( unknown to us) to a pavilion in the woods...... yep. The first day of "real" tour started in the middle of the woods. Only thing that could make it worse.....rain? Sure enough. But despite all of that the show turned out to be pretty ok. Well besides kids not coming within 10 feet of the stage while we played. Cruel Hand and Evergreen Terrace did very well. Acacia Stain is playing as I type. I'm sure Canadians are swinging from the rafters... what?

Today is also the first day with our new road dog Brian Magee. Should spice things up a bit. Did I mention that everyone has been lifting on this tour? Imagine and Golds Gym in the middle of the woods full of tattooed dudes mixing protein shakes. Pretty incredible if you ask me. I have yet to join in, maybe a couple push ups here and there but no iron pumping.

Well back to mesh short land.

Playlist:

Weakerthans; _Left And Leaving
Small Brown Bike- Nail Yourself to the Ground
Minus The Bear - Acoustics
Ted Leo - Shake The Sheets

Encouragement

We met up with the first half of our tour a few days ago. The tour includes: Evergreen Terrace, Thick as Blood, and The Word Alive. The first two shows were awesome, alot of kids packed into small venues. Kids seemed to be in to us even if they didn't buy merch.

Evergreen Terrace is full of incredible dudes. I've already had real conversations with all of them. Which is odd because it takes a while for bands to actually start becoming friends on tour. They're all extremely friendly. The other two bands are pretty cool as well. Thick as Blood, are wild dudes who are constantly making they're own fun. AKA smashing shit. The Word Alive are young dudes and a little more chill, also friendly.

We played some interesting venues including a pizza shop with a stripper pole and a christian venue with an Aerosmith type cat walk sticking out from the front of the stage with a lightbox at the end. Real Fantasy stuff right there. Needless to say I jumped off the lightbox at least 3 times during the set. Before the show we had to join the crew in prayer. Awkward but we were respectful. The people were awesome, made us food had food for us all night, offered to fix anything wrong with our van and trailers ect. Bet part of the night was when the presented to us a BIBLE which had our band name inside........ UNHOLY! YESSSS! but later we discovered it actually said Unholly. Either the man misspelled our name or refused to write it. Either way I'm fine with it.

We've been playing a couple decent tour games. "Sandwhich Punch" as always, "Can You Surf That" (my personal favorite) and "The Coin Game", which basically is whoever has this Pokemon coin we found at the end of tour loses. It's more exciting than it sounds, you wouldn't get it. What do you know idiot?

We meet up with the "real" tour in a few days. Shows should be bigger and hopefully some kids will buy merch (fingers crossed). I don't miss home. I literally have nothing home waiting for me besides bills and work. Even Goose will be gone by the time I get there. Oh I do miss my bike.

Billy looks like Vin Deasel.....

Later Skater!