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| Sue Me |
I got to keep this blog short because I need to wake up earlier than I have been since I am going to go do some manual labor over at Franklin Press. Today was an energy filled day since I spent the whole day with the kids from church. Our church went on some cabin trip up about 3 hours north and I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun I had but I'm not going to lie, little kids are exhausting. But I do love playing with little kids and our church has a lot of them ranging from 1 year olds all the way up to blooming high school students. Most of them are really beautiful children and only one or two really give me a hard time. I wish I could offer them more but I can't really come up with what I can do to make their lives that much better. I mean, I have so many limitations. I can only hope that I put a smile on their faces every weekend. On the way up to the cabin I watched Almost Famous which was an okay movie I thought. Nothing I need to brag about or rip on immediately so I'll just keep going with this blog. When I got there we had service and then lunch and then everyone went off to do find their own entertainment. After sitting around and not doing much for a couple of hours the kids and I went to go ride paddle boats and canoes. The boats were flooded because it was raining earlier so I had to pull the paddle boats to shore and drain all of them. While I was doing this a little girl I was ordered to watch fell into some shallow water because one of the other kids ran into her. I ran quickly to her aid but her pants were soaked. I felt awful but she didn't cry so I knew she wasn't to devastated. After some taking the kids out on canoes and paddle boats we all went back to our cabin and laid around and played some cards. After dinner our family headed out and I felt bad that I couldn't spend the night there with everyone but my parents are busy people and I told Jon I would come into work on Sunday. On the way home I just took a nap. When I got home I cleaned up and just surfed the inter-web. More interviews, more blogs, more YouTube. I think I've listened to "The Mighty R-E-A-L" like 5 times today during my limited iPod time. Such a catchy little tune, and it is nice to hear Meg&Dia sing about something other than a book. For the past couple of days, when ever I am on computer I have been streaming the new As I Lay Dying CD and let me tell you, its fucking crazy good. Every song makes me want to get my metal on and they have awesome preludes, interludes and just these cool breaks. Go to their MySpace and stream it!
Damn, its already one and I need to wake up at 9 so I better get to bed. I really wanted to blog about a couple of items but it'll just have to wait! Ni Ni! | |
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| | Still Wasted Off My Zima |
Nothing new to really blog about, just a bunch of little things that have been going on. Last night Jon and I set up a challenge that will take place until the start of September. Our mission so to lose 10 pounds in roughly 2.5 weeks. I believe Jon needs to get to 179 and I need to get to 164 come September. 164 sounds like a crazy number to me because I don't think I've been that light since the 3rd grade haha. And whats even crazier is that I started the summer at 185 and really I haven't done much to lose the weight. Just eat a little bit healthier, and be aware of proportions and really thats all I've done. I am excited to be in control of everything I eat once I move into the apartment and I've talked to Dean about experimenting with our diets. I am tempted to try a vegetarian diet or maybe even a vegan diet. I always hear stories of new vegetarians saying how light and wonderful they feel after they take meat out of their diet and I think its totally true. I'm not a big meat eater, and so when I go on long stretches without meat, I really do see and feel the difference. I heard that once you go two weeks without meat you are over the hump and can consider yourself a vegetarian. Oh, before I leave this diet topic, I've lost about 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks and all I've really eaten is Taco Bell. So, forget Subway, go to Taco Bell.
The last few days I've wasted a bunch of life by I've reading and watching an endless amount of interviews over at Absolutepunk.net. I mean the interviews totally rock, but c'mon Min, you can find better stuff you can do. On top of that, I've been doing a lot of YouTubing and I've been watching tons of band covers done by people at home and more band interviews. I think its safe to say music is completely consuming my life. I really enjoyed reading the Circa Survive interview then reading the Saosin interview. Its crazy how much more bitter Saosin is about the breakup. But I respect both bands and I totally dig the music that both create. I think Saosin is so lucky to have had Anthony and then how lucky are they to get Cove. Anthony is just this real down to earth, keep it reals kind of dude and is just hilarious to listen to during interviews. Cove is less articulate I think, but he has equally as deep thoughts and an awesome approach to music and life. And on top of that, he is strait-edge which is really awesome I think being that he is involved in the rock music field. When I'm not binging on the emo scene, the boys and I have been playing a lot of Mario Strikers for the Wii. A crazy addicting game. We went to about 4 Blockbusters this one night and wasted a ton of Mitch's gas looking for a copy of The Bigs, but no one had it so we got Strikers instead and we haven't been disappointed. It gets very intense at times and there have been countless re-matches. I not a self boaster, but when it comes down to it, I think I hold the champions seat. I accept all challenges haha. When we aren't Strikering it up, we have been going out a lot and doing people watching. It is really fun and funny but when you think about it is actually quite lame.
Well I really wish I could write more but I have to get ready to go to the Orthodontics. I am getting another wire put in and that means my life is going to suck again for about 2 weeks. But hey, it might help me diet challenge if I can't eat a lot. I was hoping to write about 2 topics that have been bothering me slightly recently and about perspective and how I've been doubting my judgment a lot lately. Maybe tonight. | |
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| | Warped Tour 2007!!!!!!!!!! |
I just got out of the shower like 10 minutes ago and I must admit it was a very refreshing shower. I haven't showered or brushed my teeth in over 24 hours and with good reason, and trust me, I am never that filthy. I spent my whole Monday at Jon's house bumming and bro-ing out with the bros, I mean, who else would you bro out with, girls?! Eww. We had a big old weenier fest at Jon's house after Warped Tour and our plan for Monday was to sit around and do nothing, but bro out of course, ha. But I will talk about my Monday later in the blog in effort to try and keep this blog as chronologically organized and possible. I am super tired right now but I want to start blogging about Warped Weekend and everything prior of Warped Weekend as soon as possible because I want to get my thoughts out while they are at their freshest. This blog has the potential to get VERY long and very un-organized but I got to do what I got to do.
I have lots and lots of internet catching up to do. I have several other blog notes written down that I need to blog about but a Warped Tour blog takes priority over many things in my life. I have MySpace and Facebooking I need to catch up on and I hate falling behind in current events in the real world and the music and sports world. While sports is mentioned, I love Kevin Garnett. But I fell behind in all this earlier last week because my laptop has been severely molested by Spyware and anything else that could slow the performance of a computer. So to everyone that has been commenting me and messaging me on MySpace and Facebook, very sorry. I plan on fixing this advance P.O.S this week. And then I fell behind even further on Friday when Warped preparations began and Dean came down. I clear all appointments during a Dean Kong visit. After some major chilling I called it a day so I could get some sleep before church. After church on Saturday, the Warped preparations began again with Dean, Jon and Mitch. We hit up a few stores to pick up some items such as energy drinks and sun-screen and then got a good string of basketball games in. After basketball we did some major bro-ing out by listening to Warped music and playing some VG's. For dinner Jon, Mitch, Dean, Nick and myself went out to Applebees. There I actually checked my phone for like the second time all day and I had a bunch of texts. I rarely check my phone anymore, there is no use, I don't really have a lot of friends anymore. And when my few friends and I want to hang out, we already know when and where so there is little need for us to contact each other. Anywho, one text was of importance. Andy Dawson who was suppose to go to Warped Tour bailed out because of a tummy ache. A tummy ache would not have kept me from Warped Tour, the Worlds end might have, all of mans illnesses at once might have stopped me, but nothing else. But hey, not everyone is me, not everyone loves music the way I do, so its legit. Dawson's father is usually our means of getting to Warped Tour and now we needed to find a new ride. So we asked around and a couple of solutions quickly came up. Then we all went home to get some rest for Warped Sunday. Sunday, the big day, was finally upon us. I woke up on Sunday with a bloody-nose, maybe because I was to excited or something that makes me sound crazier and sweeter then I really am. I hopped in the shower, brushed my teeth, got dressed and then did my hair and skipped over to Jon's. When I got there everyone of importance was already there waiting. Nick, Jon, Dean and Mitch were all chilling in Jon's basement and when I got there we all rolled over to the McDonalds to get our breakfast on. I never wake up early enough for a McDs breakfast but let me tell you, the lines are long. After it took us 15-20 minutes to get our food and were behind in schedule, we jetted over to Freedom (Freedom!!) gas-station formerly known as Conoco. There we got our selves the necessary liquids for the day. After that we got back to Jon's house where we confirmed a ride with Jon's Dad and after a run over to my house to get some things and drop things off we all crammed into Jim's Tahoe. The "Overcast Kids" came and jumped in along with Leah. There is some massive road work going on and we didn't have a direct route to the Metrodome so Jim had to look for a detour, and this is on top of us being like 20 minutes late by our agenda. So Jim, with As I Lay Dying blasting in his ear, found a detour and got us there in good time. Much later than we had planned, but hey, we made it. We hopped in a shorter line since many of the people had already been admitted. Even with the shorter line it took ages for us to get on Warped grounds. Sweat had already started forming from standing in the hot sun and my bottle of ice started to melt way to quickly. The most baller thing in the line was probably when Jon whipped out his sausage egg mcmuffin from his back pocket and ate it in line. Oh, on the way to the line I ran into Dan Sederstrom who I haven't seen for an extended period of time and we planned on meeting up so it was perfect. I was the first to get my ticket scanned out of my group of friends and after I did, I stalled hoping so that some of my friends could get scanned and catch up, and as soon as I saw Mitch and Dan pop out of the mess I took off for the Mecca of Warped Tour, the giant balloon with the list of bands and times and stages. I was scared because there was a band that was playing while I was in line and they had finished before I got my ticket scanned and I had this ache in my heart because I thought one of the bands on my "Must-See" list had finished. But when I checked the first line of bands on the balloon I saw I hadn't missed anything important. So, who first...were there any bands stacked on top of each other...who was playing later...what are the stages called...this is going to rock my weenie off and I'm going to have to find it later...its hot...so many thoughts were running through my head because this is the time where everything needs to be organized for a successful Warped Tour. Mitch and Dan caught up and we quickly dissected the schedule and it helped that Dan had a sidekick cause he was able to punch the info into his mobile communication device. Here is what struck me first after reading the balloon: nice slow start to Warped, Chiodos and Escape The Fate are playing 15 minutes apart, Meg and Dia during the middle of he day, Amber Pacific and Starting Line playing 15 minutes apart from each other, Underoath at 7:15 and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus had indeed won the Energizer 10 minutes and were playing at 7:45. So, time to finally start the day that is Warped Tour 2007.
From here on out, I will list the bands I saw in chronological order and write about what I like, and mostly about what I like since I don't have a lot of negative things to say about music, and things about what I saw and what I felt. Warped Tour 2007!
1) Funeral For A Friend: I started Warped Tour with a Dan and Mitch and while we were staring at the giant balloon, Wales band Funeral For A Friend had hit one of the main stages. So we walked over there and caught about 3-4 songs of their set. I wish I knew more of their songs and I wish I had their new CD because they sounded really good. For those of you who attended the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, I can't wait to get back on the HUB. Lots of shopping to do. They definitely had some rock out music and their guitars sounded really good live. The vocals from what I heard were pretty much dead on with their CDs. If I get around to it, I will try and learn a bunch of Funeral For A Friend just so I can go see them live and rock out. I really like one of their older songs, "Roses For The Dead," I believe its called.
2) Boys Like Girls: Although I don't really listen to a lot of power-pop-rock type music I listen to Boys Like Girls here and there. Dan mentioned them and I didn't mind checking them out so after Funeral For A Friend we went to the other side of the Warped grounds to catch the beginning of Boys Like Girls. Dan and I wanted to hear "The Great Escape" but I didn't catch it because they saved it for the end of their set and I had plans to catch some of Straylight Runs set. I managed to sing along with Boys Like Girls from the back. They were pretty good live but I guess I just couldn't get into it since I hadn't been in the thick of things yet and they weren't a band I was super-duper excited for. I'm sure their fans loved their set, and I think the singing and the instrumentals were good, but I'm going to say they aren't an act I need to check out again any time soon. After trading a few texts with Jon and Dean during Boys Like Girls about upcoming Chiodos and Straylight Run, Mitch and I hiked it back to the main stages to catch Straylight Run while Dan stayed to catch "The Great Escape."
3) Straylight Run: They played on one of the main stages so it was really surprising to see how tiny their crowd was. I watched them from the back of their crowd but if it were any other main stage band I would have been in the upper-middle of the crowd. I always feel terrible when bands don't have a big crowd to play to or when the fans don't give any energy and love back. I don't want to give the impression that no one was there, because there was plenty of people there to see them, just not the amount I'd like to see for a main stage band. Anywho, I can see why Dean loves this band so much because they really fit his style of music. Really chill with a indie feel. What I really love about the band is that everyone in the band can play pretty much every instrument in the world. Its cool to watch them move around and take over instruments depending on song. Straylight Run sounds like a band I need to check out with more depth, but again, not a band I need to see live again any time soon. Don't think I'm ripping on these bands that I don't need to see live again immediately cause I am not, they are all immensely talented and I have all the respect for them, but I'm more of a screamo guy, so there are acts I don't need to see live a bunch of times. I left Straylights stage a song early to hop over to the other main stage for an act I was very ready for.
4) Chiodos: Last time I saw them was at the Take Action Tour two years ago at the Quest. And I remember them putting on an awesome show and I still remember the gorilla that introduced them then. Before Chiodos even hit the stage I met up with a friend I made on the Warped Tour website, Rob. A real cool dude. We traded numbers prior to the show and we texted each other to find one another and we chatted for a bit but we were interrupted by Chiodos running onto the stage. If I am not mistaken, I believe they started out with "The Words Best Friend..." which is the same song they started out with two years ago. I hope when the song came on, Jon was rocking out hard as hell because thats our favorite Chiodos song and at the Quest two years ago he didn't know what was going on and didn't rock out with me during that song. I told him that he owed me. Chiodos was the first band at this years Warped Tour where I got in the thick of the crowd and got to jump around, throw some elbows, scream out loud, and spit all over the fucking place. I believe they played a new song for their second song and then I stayed for a couple of more songs but left early because like I mentioned in my foreword, Chiodos and Escape the Fate played 15 minutes apart from each other and it wasn't like I could just hop over to the next main stage since Escape The Fate was on the Hurley Stage. I just figured I've seen Chiodos once already so I better check out Escape The Fate since they are up and coming.
5) Escape The Fate: My shirt was finally a soaked dark blue due to the madness of Chiodos but after I snaked my way out of the crowd I had to run over to the Hurley Stage and stake my spot for Escape The Fate. No time to rest except for it took about 5 minutes until Escape The Fate got on. Damn, I left to early haha. Dean, Jon and probably the other guys made it over to Escape The Fate in time and got spots close to me. I saw the band waiting on the side to hop on and when the time came they all hopped onto the stage and played a little intro while Ronnie (Frontman) took this weird dragon mask off. The crowd wasn't as big nor as violent as Chiodos' but it definitely rocked. Escape The Fate pretty much lived up to my expectations but I cut them a little break because Ronnie seemed very sick. It might have been 2 or 3 songs in but he puked all over the middle of the stage and this guy ran out with a can of Monster and make-shift cleaned it. During the next song, as a joke Ronnie bent over to touch the left over puke with his hand and wiped it all over his face. Gross! Between the songs his fellow band members kept checking up on him and it was cool to see a band that is suppose to be machismo take care of each other. Ronnie felt we weren't living up to his standards so he kept calling us out. "You guys fucking suck!" "Where the fuck are you guys?!" "I want to see everyone rock the fuck out!" So we gave him what he asked for. I got a good laugh when they played "Situations" because they didn't have the moans and groans in the back but luckily Dean was next to me and filled in for Escape The Fate. They ended with "Not Good Enough..." which was an awesome song to end on. If Escape The Fate hops on the right tour this fall, you can count me in!
6) Meg and Dia: After Escape The Fate I think we went inside the Dome to drain our main vain and fill up our empty water bottles. After, we made our way to the Hurley.com stage to watch Meg and Dia, another first time band for me. When I got there I was surprised to see how spaced out everyone was and how short everyone was. I could see over the top of everyone, mostly because they were all little girls. I felt bad advancing my way up in this crowd so I found a nice little opening in the middle of the crowd. Before the rest of the band came out, Dia Frampton was walking around drinking her monster on the stage listening to their neighbor stage rocking. Then her band joined her and started their set and I started jumping around but something was wrong. I don't know if this is true with all Meg and Dia crowds, but no one was moving, everyone was standing still. I honestly think I was the only one dancing. And I'm a mosher so it was so weird not to be pinned up against another body. But hey, I was excited to see them and fuck other people if they don't want to get rowdy haha. Dan must have spotted me dancing, and probably quite easily, because the guy next to me poked me and signaled my attention over to Dan who I hadn't seen since Boys Like Girls. He gave me this, "eyes to the stage and look at those hot girls," look and he was pretty much right. Dia has this cowbell part during "Lessons In Jersey..." and after she finished her part she threw the stick out into the crowd. I bet she was trying to knock me out with it but I have these lightning quick reflexes and I was able to catch it before it hit me. Sucker, maybe next time. She went to work on that cowbell because the stick is trucked up! I enjoyed their set but I felt so stupid being the only one moving in a crowd with a bunch of 16 year old girls. I wouldn't mind seeing them again, but probably not at Warped and in a more jam packed indoor venue. The funniest part of the set was when this little girl, probably around the age of 5 was on her Dads shoulder. She sat there stating at me because I was stuck out and looked like an idiot. It was no ordinary stare, it was a look of death, no blinking, and her eyes were locked on like a heat seeking missile. I looked back at my friends to see if they noticed her and I saw they were already laughing. Dean had this stare down with her and I'm pretty sure she is damaged for life now. If that girl has social anxiety, blame Dean. I can easily say that Meg and Dia is the prettiest band at Warped Tour, but mostly because if Nick Price. After their set, only a fence separated the fans and their loading area so Jon walked up and got Dia's attention and began to talk to her and the rest of us less confident boys walked up to say hi. I just told her that she did well but Jon had a more extended conversation with her.
7) Merch tents and other tents: There was a little break between Meg&Dia and Bayside so we decided to to walk around and check out all the tents and some people wanted to buy some Merch. We hit up a bunch of PETA like tents and some other tents but I wondered where the merch tents were. Later we learned that all the merch tents were moved to a special corner this year and thats why we weren't seeing them in their usual spot. While we were walking around I saw this guy that looked a little to familiar and when I got a direct look at his face I realized it was Chris of Underoath, who seems like the coolest and most down to earth guy of the band or at least thats the way it seems from the video blogs I've seen. As I walked by I said Hi and I told him to play hard during their set because I'm excited to watch them. As I was walking away, I thought of a question I had to ask him so I ran back to ask him, "Why isn't The Almost playing on our stop?" and he told me that it would be to hard for Aaron to play two sets a day. Which makes sense because c'mon, it is Underoath. After Chris and the more boring section of tents, we made our way to the merch corner where we paused by Amber Pacific's tent because Nick was going to by something and Will of Amber was selling the merch. The Meg&Dia tent was right next to the Amber Pacific tent so Mitch had to decide to I get something from Meg&Dia or something from Amber Pacific. He opted Meg&Dia. Nick got some value pack where he got a shirt, poster and CD I believe. I had a longer chat with Will about how Warped was going and the reception of their new CD and he gave me honest and humble answers. Two qualities I definitely value in any human being. Oh, and at the Underoath tent they had this sign that said "No We Don't Know Why The Almost Isn't Playing" posted so I felt bad for asking Chris because I can imagine how numbing answering that question 100,000 times could be. After all the tent hokey pokey it was time to return to the music.
8)Bayside: How fitting that I caught some of Bayside's set after Meg and Dia's. Where was Anberlin and Jonezetta haha. No, but really, where was Jonezetta, Meg and Dia remembered when they couldn't make it to Minnesota due to the snow storm this past winter but Jonezetta hasn't made it up yet. Losers. I wish I would actually get around to learning Baysides stuff because they seem like a class act band. I tried to learn their stuff for the Anberlin tour but I just didn't feel the songs for some reason. Maybe they just aren't my cup of tea, but I know they are a brilliant band and that sucks that I can't get into them. I caught the beginning of their set but left a little early to catch Cinematic Sunrise and to see Meg and Dia during their signing.
Alrighty, bed time because I am FREAKIN TIRED! I will finish this blog in the morning.
Good morning! All this writing has taken its toll on me and I needed to take a 7.5 hour nap exactly in the middle of Warped Weekend. Lets finish off with the bands.
9) Cinematic Sunrise: Cinematic's and Bayside's stages were close enough where I could still watch and hear Bayside while we waited for Cinematic. I planned on watching Cinematic from the back because I wanted to catch Amber Pacific for sure and they were next. But another thing that worked out perfectly was that we were right next to the energizer tent where Meg and Dia were to have their signing. Dan, Mitch and I went through the line and I had them sign the stick I caught and Mitch got picture with them and got his shirt signed. Oh, before we even reached Meg, Dia and their band, I saw this lady I knew I saw before and I asked Dean, "Isn't that chick from Straylight Run?" and Dean immediately stole his camera back from Mitch and made his way. Look at his default picture to see how it turned out. I listened to a couple of Cinematic Sunrise songs most of which I didn't know since their songs are impossible to get a hold of. Before we left the stage to hop over to the Amber Pacific set I saw that the line to Meg and Dia was pretty much gone so I asked Dia quickly if I could get a band picture since I regretted not getting one before and I'd prefer a whole band picture because I hate singling people out. Meg was all ready to leave and Dia was nice enough and shouted her back and I felt like a dumb ass because after my picture the line grew again and they were forced to sign for another 10 minutes or so. So the real question I need to ask is, did this part have anything to do with Cinematic Sunrise?
10) Amber Pacific: This was Deans first time seeing Amber Pacific and it is Mitch's favorite band so he was jacked to see them again. And I must admit it was one of the best crowds of the day. Matt of Amber Pacific suggested we open up a circle pit so Mitch and I made our way and had to jump in the circle pit. It was a soft circle pit by hardcore standards, but it was still lots of fun. I knew we should have opened one up during Meg and Dia. I promised myself that I would limit my circle pit action, but there was no way I was going home without one. They had a good mix of old songs and new. Matt brought his brother with him and when he told the story of why his brother came to Minnesota he explained that it was because Minnesota had the hottest girls. Ya, right, buddy. But Amber Pacific rocked it like they usually do and depending on how good the Sum41 CD is and how much tickets are, I may have to see them in the fall/winter. Oh, and Amber Pacific could probably challenge Meg and Dia for the prettiest band at Warped Tour award but mostly because of Dango. (Damn it, I just looked up the Amber dates and it says they are playing with Yellowcard, that probably means higher priced tickets).
11) The Starting Line: I planned on leaving Amber Pacific's set early to catch the Starting Line but I was so caught up in Amber Pacific I stayed for the whole time. When I got to the Starting Line they were playing a song I knew so I was able to jump right in (I don't know any of the songs off their new CD). I think I was able to catch 3 Starting Line songs and all of them were off their old CDs so it made for a grand time. Jon got himself a better spot because he left Amber Pacific early but I could see his headband from jumping up and down from a distance. I wish they would have spaced Amber and Starting Line out more because I would have loved catching their whole set because I had lots of fun singing along with them. Which was a little bit harder since the singer changes how the songs are sung a little, but hey, easier then singing along with Dia because if you want me to falsetto like her you might as well chop off my balls.
12) Circa Survive: We stayed at the Starting Line stage because Circa Survive was set to play there after the band played on the other main stage finished. New Found Glory was that other band so I got to sing along a little while we waited to Circa Survive. I only recently got into Circa which sucks because I've had them on my iPod for I don't know how long but I never listened to them. I guess I was into Saosin and that made for no Circa...does that even make sense!? Anywho, Circa's set was hypnotizing. Anthony Green is a mad man. I am going to make a promise right now: that I will learn all of Circa Survive's music and I will go to one of their up coming concerts. Promise. Come school I will do some major HUB shopping and believe me, "On Letting Go" is at the top of the list. I might actually just go out to Best Buy and snag that as soon as possible. Because I have a feeling that if I can get really into their music and I see them live, I can have one of those out of body experiences like I did with Underoath at the Myth. And out of body is the best way to describe Anthony Green on stage. I would feel safe betting that it is not actually Anthony Green performing on stage, but rather a spirit that posses him while singing and is trying to rip his physical body apart. He really is something else up there. Some might think he is weird, but I think if I were ever a front man, my style would be very much like his. Of course I couldn't sing like him, but our styles are alike, sort of the head-bangers mentality with a bunch of white-boy sexual dance club moves mixed in while making the weirdest stares. And one of their guitarists seemed way cool too. He challenged us to make a trifoce pit, which we failed it, but it was a cool idea. He also told crowd that if they received a free condom and knew they weren't going to use it, that they should make a balloon out of it. Lets just say that Circa Survives crowd could be considered celibate. Oh, another funny part was when someone threw a shoe at Anthony and he said if you hit the singer of a band thats like 10,000 points. Really, who assigns points to real life events except for me and my friends? I was reading an AP issue like 2 weeks ago and they had this section where they listed 22 bands you need to see before you die. Circa Survive was on the list and I was kind of surprised, but now I know why. Expect to see me in a Circa Survive crowd real soon. Thumbs way up.
13) Coheed and Cambria: I watched them from the back because I needed to find a good spot for Underoath who was up next. I always heard Coheed sounded just like their CD which I found hard to believe because of Claudio's voice. But what I had heard from the people was no lie. They sounded right on. I was also amazed by Claudio's guitar skills, I didn't know he was the shredder of the band. There isn't much to write about Coheed except for they played a wonderful set just because I was so tired by this time and I only had Underoath on the mind. During Circa Survive I thought was going to faint because I was so tired and I hadn't drank anything for a while so I got a hater-ade before I jumped into the Oath crowd. The funny thing is Coheed probably played like 3 songs total since their songs are so epic haha.
14) UNDEROATH: The greatest live show on earth, period. What I look forward to every year at Warped and then again in the winter. Not enough can be said about their music and their live performance. Trust me, you don't know what a rock concert is until you have been in a Underoath pit with me and Jon, and please, try and keep up. So don't tell me you've been to a rock concert until you have been. At the Myth this past spring during the Taking Back Sunday, Underoath, and Armor for Sleep show, I had this crazy out of body experience during Underoath's set. I couldn't move and I started crying out of no where and my eyes were locked on to the stage. It was actually quite scary but it felt so good. I didn't think it would happen again and it didn't, but it was still the same type of energy. It is amazing how much energy is put into me when Underoath is on the stage. Remember, I was dead tired, I really thought I wouldn't last in the Underoath pit. This was at the end of Warped tour and somehow Jon and I found the energy to rock out non-stop. But sometimes I feel like it really isn't our energy, but more we are just feeding off their energy, it sounds crazy, but thats exactly what an Underoath show is, crazy. I really can't describe what it feels like to be in an Underoath show, you just have to experience it. Before they played while in the crowd I couldn't even move I was so sore and I didn't talk much just cause I was so tired. Truly something else. Hands down, best set at Warped for me. Underoath again real soon please.
15) Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: The band that earned the 10 minutes extra. And although they weren't the best band live, I enjoyed watching them from the back. It was going to be to hard to make our way through the large crowd so Dean and I just chilled. But I really can't grasp why Underoath didn't earn 10 minutes extra, it really still doesn't make sense to me. Yes, I know Underoath isn't everyones favorite band, but ya know what, I don't give a shit, Underoath for 10 more minutes please! Or shit, give it to Coheed and Cambria so that they can play half a song extra. Or call up Dragon Force and let them play 2 songs total. I've always heard the RJA sucks live and I could see where people get that, Ronnie doesn't have the best live singing voice and they totally change their style into a more screamo feel. But you know what, if you listen to their demos, they sound exactly like their live show. I really think RJA should just become a screamo band because its a better fit, but of course bands need to make money and that means become more poppy. RJA live is like Underoath meets Senses Fail. They played Guardian Angel and another song with their 10 extra minutes which I thought was awesome because Guardian Angel is a good song. I wouldn't mind catching RJA live again soon. People rag on their live performance but I enjoyed it, Ronnie isn't the best singer but I still think he rocks as a frontman. He had some really awesome screaming parts.
16) End: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus was the last band we caught live and we left with Alkaline Trio playing in the back. Leah and Overcast Girl had to catch some of Spill Canvas. I was just drained, sore back, sore neck, knees, and burned face and just ready to die. Jim picked us up from the same spot he dropped us off and it was time to go home a heal our battle wounds. When we got home we all went our separate ways to get cleaned up. I was the first to came back to Jon's and I walked into Dean making his sandwich. Chicken noodle soup and sandwiches for dinner. After dinner, we just sat around, bro-ed out, did nothing and watched movies. The talk before we all fell asleep was pretty interesting too. I love sleep over conversations because everyone is so tired and we just say the dumbest crap ever. Oh, and 40 Year Old Virgin is sooo fucking funny, I love that movie. So if you ever wondered, "Do 20 year old dudes have sleep overs still?" the answer is yes.
17) Bands I Wish I Saw At Warped: The Almost wasn't there like I mentioned before but I think it would have been cool to see the. Can't blame Aaron tough, he kept it real during Underoath. I listened to New Found Glory at Warped but I didn't get to watch them because I was waiting for Circa Survive, but I think it would have been to see them. I think it would have been cool to catch Hawthorne Heights even though I have not listened to them since their first CD. I thought about catching Family Force 5 just because their music sounds so fun live, but nothing I had to see. I wish As I Lay Dying came to Minnesota because I have never seen them live yet and "94 Hours" would be amazing live, even though I've seen videos and they play it much slower. I wish Bert wasn't all messed up because I would have loved to see The Used. They rocked at Taste of Chaos. Jonezetta still owes me. And I wish Anberlin had come to Minnesota again.
I'm going to end this blog because its probably way to long.
Warped Tour 2007! If you didn't go, shoot yourself in the foot now. And in the face. I can't wait for 2008 and I am already looking foreword to this winter when the list of bands start showing up. It makes me so sad, soooo sad, knowing that it'll be a whole year until I have this much fun again. Bamboozle anyone? It'll make the wait seem shorter. I need some more concerts soooooon! I honestly feel like a new man. Thanks to all the music and thanks to my friends actually showing a bunch of love. I forgot what it was like to have friends who seemed like the actually care. I was going through a rough patch of life prior to Warped Tour but now I feel so refreshed. Ready to tackle anything thrown at me, well, not until all this sun burn and soreness wears off.
Warped Tour 2007!!!!!!!!! | |
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| | Met Joe Black |
I just finished watching a movie that is titled "Meet Joe Black" and basically it rocked my little human heart. I've never seen The Notebook before, but if that is romance classic, and if Dawn of the Dead is a gore and zombie classic (And a movie about a dream of mine haha), and if 40 Year Old Virgin is a funny ass movie, then Meet Joe Black is the movie you should watch any time you feel bad about life. I mean it just brought me back down to Earth and then slapped my face and laughed at me. It makes you ask your self, "Why do I think life is so terrible?" And before Warped Tour this Sunday, I honestly thought my life was terrible. Ever since Warped Tour, I've been floating and nothing could affect my happy mood, but Meet Joe Black knocked some sense back into me. How could a rock event make me so happy? Where are the people you love in your life? I don't know, maybe I am way to emotional right now after watching such a touching movie, and probably come tomorrow I'll ask myself why I wrote such a pussy blog, but still, I am going to continue writing. Because the one of the best lessons I pulled from the movie is that not to have regrets. And the movie was right, regrets are just stupid, they are self-barriers we create on our selves. The movie taught me not to have regrets, because life is to complicated, but in the end things work them selves out and that life is way to hard to let go of. But one day, we all do let go of it. I'm the type of person that always worries and always tries to plan out the next move? And why, for what? There is no predicting where life takes you, its just 90% luck any ways. Why do I always worry about what I have done, and why do I always worry about what I'm about to do, and why do I always worry about things I am doing? Why am I always trying to impress people and why do I have to act macho all the time? The sad thing is, I am 99% more honest and more other things than the other people of this world, and I'm just not pleased with my level of living. I just don't think I've lived up to par with the "Good Human Being" living standards. But who gives a fuck? No one is keeping track. No regrets right? I am 99% better than most of the people I know because its my nature, it all comes natural to me. Do I sound like a cock for saying that? Yea, probably, but I most likely sound like a cock to the people who don't really know me. And I was going to say, "Who gives a shit about those people?" But I do. I really do. Again, its my nature. I just care about people and I care about feelings and emotion and love. Why, I don't know, blame my Mom and Dad for cursing/blessing me with these genes. Get to know me, you'll see. There are people that I let get close to me, and they know what kind of person that I am, but some how our friendships have decayed. I don't know where I am going with all of this, I'm just speaking from the heart and I think thats the best place to draw words from. Not from the brain where your words are influenced by self gain, but rather from the heart, where things are un-filtered and full of love (I sound like a hippie). Maybe thats why I love the saying, "You can die like a republican without a heart, or you can die without a brain like a Democrat." And ain't it the truth? Its sad that in the world we live in, if you show that you care and show that you love, you are stupid. Well, I'm stupid. Maybe what I'm trying to say is, re-evaluate where you are in life. Sometimes we just need to take a few steps back and see what we are doing, see what we are doing wrong, and don't forget what we are doing right. Just live the right way, and don't forget, try not to have any regrets. No one can say what is wrong or right and be 100% sure.
I also loved the movie because it really is so fucking romantic. And I happen to be a hopeless romantic. I plan on checking out The Notebook and comparing it to Meet Joe Black and I'll let you know how much nuts The Notebook sucks. Meet Joe Black has one of my favorite scenes from any movie (I explained it in a blog before). I'll search for it on YouTube, I found a ghetto version of it so if I can't find a better one, it'll have to do. Unless you go see the movie or have seen it. Its the coffee shop goodbye, before Brad Pitt becomes Joe Black. And I'm not going to lie, I shed a few tears, yea, I did. It is so much easier to say that over a blog, and I don't know why. Fucking society and making it wrong for a man to cry. Why can't we cry we ever we want? Thats just not fair. Societies standards blow nuts! Thats why I love non-conformists. But I also know that with out law and order, nothing would exist. Any who, fuck society and go watch Meet Joe Black. Its 3 hours long, so make sure you have the time haha. It was cool, right when the movie ended and the credits starting rolling, my clock switched to 1 A.M. Like a message from fate or something.
Well, while I am in the mood for writing and on an emotional high, I might as well continue writing about things. Lets talk about Kevin Garnett, the greatest basketball player I have ever watched play the game and will ever watch play the game, no questions asked, and please, don't ask any because you're wrong. I was at Jon's house when I heard the news he was to be traded to the Boston Celtics, and I really could have cried. And if I was alone when I heard the news, I probably would have. Again, society. This is the guy I've come to respect so much over these past 10 years. The guy I modeled my basketball game after and my psyche after. The guy who put Minnesota basketball on the map. The guy who does everything basketball stands for so right people will never know. I hope for the best for Kevin Garnett. I hope this change brings him many good things, but the thing I hope for most is that I hope people start to understand him. I feel horrible for the guy, he does everything the way it should be done, and no one gives him any respect. Well, I know what he has done, and thats why he will always be my favorite basketball players and really, one of my favorite human beings. Thats bold because I don't even know the mo-fo personally, but I can just sense it. I know what he is made of inside and its the same stuff I am made of. I'm excited to see what is going to happen in Boston.
So today I got 5 teeth pulled, all of my back teeth and a front one pulled to make room for my teeth when my braces move them. I chose to go to sleep over being awake and numb because I scared about the operation. I was scared about both methods so I chose the method where I would wouldn't have to think about anything. Quite the experience I guess, or like, lack of experience. I remember them putting the laughing gas over my nose and talking to me. They were strapping me into the chair so I wouldn't fall out and the doc was talking some things over with me and then they injected something into my arm. It made my whole arm numb and it almost took all my brain power just to think about it. Then I switched my attention over to how I was feeling and I could sense the gas taking its toll on me. I challenged myself to fight the anesthesia for as long as I could. I closed my eyes because it would be easier, it was such a task just to keep them open. I remember the doc kept talking and he asked if I was out and I shook my head no because I was to lazy to speak. So they just kept waiting because I was being stubborn and thats all I remember. Next thing I remember is being in a tiny room with the lady and my Dad. They were talking and when I looked at my Dad he was holding a bottle of ice cream and I kept thinking, "I wonder what flavor that is and I can't wait to get home so I can eat it." Then I passed out again, at least I think I did. Then I slightly remember being in the sun, my sister tells me it was when I was walking to the car. She said she asked me a bunch of questions and I would answer them like I was fully functional, but I don't remember a single question she asked me. And now that I think of it, I remember sitting shot-gun being asked questions. She also told me I kept walking toward walls and that she had to pull me to the car. I feel fine now and I felt really good after I took my nap. My mouth is still numb and I keep putting my tongue where my front teeth should be but everything seems good. Its kind of scary though, the anesthesia. I mean I pride my self on my ability to think under pressure and having such sharp senses, but really, all that means nothing. It can all be taken away from me with simple anesthesia.
Anywho, my last blog (Warped Tour) was way to long to I'll try and keep this one to a minimal. Probably blog tomorrow after-noon.
Remember, no regrets! | |
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| | Boo-Ya-Sha-Ka |
These last couple of days I've been such a good mood and I've been totally slap happy and I've realized that spooning is such a good way to pass the time. If you can't get around to spooning due to lack of personel, or just embarrassed to try it, dry humping also happens to be a very positive alternative. But you know whats pissing me off right now, YouTube is fucking up and its throwing off my concentration. Meh!
Before I start knocking off some of the items on my "Very Important To Blog About" list, which doesn't really exist, I'm going to take a moment to jot down what my day was like today. So it began as a normal Saturday and pretty much ended like a normal Saturday. Went to church, did my church thing then came home from church. After church I got a call from Jon so I was going to run over to his house but I took a second to lay on my bed and it ended up to be a 4 hour nap. It sucked and rocked at the same time because really, who needs a 4 hour nap, but really, who doesn't want a 4 hour nap? So when I woke up Dick and Jon were chilling in the other room so I walk out and laid on the couch and almost fell asleep again. Lazy? I think not. Later Mitch came over and we just bro-ed out basically. We didn't really play any video games, we didn't really watch any movies, we just sat around and entertained ourselves Amish style. We sat around and chatted and thats just what we did for hours and hours. Boring? I think not. We did manage to make a Taco Bell run, you can decide whether thats Amish or not. We just goofed off but we did have a very serious talk about the state of our friendships, and it just re-assured me how lucky I am to have put these very special people around me. The world we live in is a crazy place and the only thing one can control is what one does, thinks and feels. To have special, caring people around is such a luxury. Remember that, I know I truly do value that luxury. I wish I could write more about how cool we are, but no, I can't.
So I think it is safe to say that I am fully recovered from my teeth operation. Really I've never struggled with it, I've been good since my nap after the surgery. I was scared going into it because Dawson got his teeth pulled a while back and it put him out of action for a week. He couldn't work or hang out for a while so I was worried that I might waste a chunk of my life. But I also should have given myself more credit and listened to Jon and Ben's stories a little more. They, Jon and Ben, told me that you are pretty much good to go right after and really I was. I like to think that my pain tolerance is comparable to Jon and Ben's. Now I just have this huge gap in the front of my teeth and I can't wait to get the wire in to close the fucking gap. I look like a hockey player, and I feel stupider because of it haha.
I have a note for the movie "Identity" here since I watched it a couple of weeks ago. But I think I'll pass. A decent flick, but nothing I need to blog about.
It is hard to believe that Warped Tour 2007 was a week ago now. It honestly feels like it was 2 days ago and I just can't get over the fact that I need to wait a whole year for it happen again. I just can't, and every time I think of Warped Tour I get this feeling in my tummy (its actually happening while I write this) and I get kind of depressed. A whole fucking year?! This is a serious request, if anyone wants to go to the Kansas Warped Tour or any other neighboring Warped Tour's, holler at your boy. I am thinking about going to the Motion City Soundtrack concert next week and that might help calm my nerves. I'm like a drug addict, except for concerts, and you know, not drugs. Drugs are dumb, don't do them.
So its 4 A.M and I'm not tired, that means nothing but trouble. Note to self: avoid 4 hour naps during the middle of the day. They will fuck you up.
While Warped Tour was mentioned, lets talk about Meg and Dia and how fucking hot they are haha. Its pretty pathetic how much Mitch and I are obsessing over the two ladies, because really, do we have any chance? First we got to meet them and grab their attnetion, and secondly we got to meet them, and lastly we have to have something to actually attract them. Do we have like a 1% chance? Um, no. But do we have like .03% chance? Yea, maybe, which is sweet, because you're saying there is a chance. Prior to Warped, I just figured they are probably decent looking people in real life. I mean, I've seen their music videos and photos and I always thought they were edited to look better and blah blah. But now that I've actually seen the two gals in person, and the fact that they were actually prettier in person...well...thats not good news. Or is it? Ahh, I don't know. All I know is they are easy on the eyes. The two hottest girls the emo scene has to offer.
And while I mention the emo scene, this is something that has only recently begun bothering me. What the hell is up with these people threatening to hurt emos and ripping on emo music? I just don't get it. Its just another style of music and its just another group of people. Get over it!
You know what, I think I am actually going to try my luck with some sleep even though I know I will just end up rolling around. I was going to write something about the bridge collapsing in Minnesota but maybe I will save that for my next blog. Which might be a while because come Monday I will be in Wisconsin with Jon, Mitch and Dick playing some golf, doing a little fishing and sipping on some O'Douls. Ya know, getting wasted. Ya, like I'm cool enough to get wasted haha. It sounds like its going to be a grand old time. Maybe if they have internet there I will bring my laptop and do a video dairy like I did for the Cabin Trip last year or I will just blog about it. Hmm...video dairy does sound cool...maybe I will make it a every August type thing since it has been a year since Jon and I went on that trip. We will see. | |
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| | A Mothers Love Is Unconditional |
Not that I will ever experience what that love mentioned in my title is like first hand, I still believe it to be true. But I like to think that I have enough love to share to keep someone happy.
I haven't blogged for a while, but it hasn't been my fault. I went on a little cabin trip with Mitch, Jon and Dick last week up in Wisconsin and the area we went to had no internet connection. Ya, none, pretty gross huh? I managed though. It was a very entertaining vacation but nothing I have to blog extensively about because it was just your ordinary cabin trip. Well, I guess nothing can be really ordinary with me, because I am so weird. I mean, who can find such amusement in Cheesy Poofs and Icicle Treats? Who can find such happiness in Van Damme's Blood Sport and 50 round games of Mario Party? Who can trigger slap-happy mode with a flick of the switch? Not many people, so ordinary was the wrong word to use. I apologize. But we got some quality lake time in and I went golfing for the first time ever. I must admit, golf is one hell of an activity, very entertaining. I don't see why people get so angry when playing golf, I can't find it in myself to get so angry when playing golf. I mean, to say I'm a competitive person would be an understatement, but I still can't get angry during golf. It is so friendly! Hopefully I can edit the footage we recorded while on our vacation and make a short little video blog out of it.
I got to watch Rush Hour 3 last night and it didn't blow me away, but it didn't make me want to pull out my hair either. I got some good laughs out of the movie. There was a part in the movie where I seriously must have been the only one laughing in the theater. I don't see how other people didn't laugh at that part, but meh, their loss at a chance at laughing. And laughter is quite beautiful is it not?
On Friday Ben came over and we didn't have much planned. We just thought it would be cool to see each other after about a 3 week to month long drought. It is a damn shame we can't see each other more often, but thats life isn't it? We are all growing up so fast at we are at that point in life where things are going to change whether we like it or not. It may hurt, it may be for the better, it may make people stronger, but things will change. I had the hardest time accepting that, but I think I am learning. And as long as I learn from life, what more can I do? Anywho, I've strayed. Ben came over and we just sat around for a while watching Dick do things on the computer. Later we busted out the guitars and helped Leah figure this part out this piano part for a Chiodos song. After we popped in Halo2 and killed each other for a little bit since some of my files are corrupted or something. Then we went over to Peter's house for a little jam session and I must admit it was a grand time. We had this list of songs we wanted to play, but that quickly was thrown out. I know people have heard of rap free-styling but let me introduce to you rock free-styling. It was the best thing we could have done and it was very entertaining. I think we actually laid out the structure to our next little song. A metal-core tune that I've already started thinking the lyrics out to. The jam session reminded me how fun it is to have the ability to just mess around and play some music even if it sucks. It reminded me why for the longest time I wanted to be a touring band. Because I love road trips, I love just sitting around with friends for countless hours, I love having to find my own entertainment, and I love music. Put it all together and basically you have a touring band.
Anywho, I have no idea where I'm going with this blog. I guess I wanted to blog just to blog. You know what would be cool? To be a C-list celebrity. I think it would suck to have paparazzi chasing you around, although I would manage to find amusement in it the first couple of times, but I think it would be cool to have people want to talk to you just because they think you're cool. Is Pete Wentz considered a A-list celebrity?
Well, I best go take me a shower and get ready for the day. I don't have much planned, but hopefully something comes up. I have this feeling in the pit of my tummy and the best way to describe it is to say it feels like this ball of love I need to share with people. I sound like a hippie. But I'm serious, I've been in such a relaxed, happy and loving state lately I just want to share it with everyone. | |
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