's Blog |
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| That blog with boring shit about music
| | My Christmas Gift to you |
The link to the full gaslight anthem set at the fest 6:
http://www.vimeo.com/451871/
And my top 10 songs of the year that would make a BITCHIN playlist
10. ....But you are vast... - Crime in Stereo
9. Unicorn Odyssey - The Falcon
8. .....And the World Files for Chapter 11 - The Flatliners
7. Steady Riot - Big D and the Kids Table
6. No Son of Mine - Every Time I Die
5. The Messenger - Thrice
4. Can't Stay the Same - Saves the Day
3. The Flood- The Swellers
2. Die While We're Young - A Wilhelm Scream
1. Angry Johnny and the Radio - The Gaslight Anthem
Seriously, go on itunes and get these 10 songs, you'll love them, I swear!
Merry christmas (well, now day after christmas), fuckers!
Ryan | |
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| | My christmas wishes to other bands...... (it's long) |
A to Z order:
Against Me!: Don't let these assholes who don't like New Wave get to you, and Tom, if you were ever in a fight in a coffee shop, I'd back you up!
Andrew W.K.: PLAY A SHOW IN MY BACKYARD! Make another awesome record, I wish to PARTY!
The Aquabats: Please put horns on your new record! I can't wait for it, and make me a Aquabat costume! Preferably spandex!
Big D and the Kids Table: I want a release date for Strictly Dub. And please keep up the great work.
Blink 182: Please do not ignore the requests of millions and put your differences aside, after hearing something like your self titled, how could I NOT want more?!
The Bouncing Souls: Make a tour with The Loved Ones and Hot Water Music! It would be my dream tour!
Boys Like Girls: Please Break Up
Brand New: Next time I see you live, will you please play Guernica? It's easily my favorite song by you guys and I would love to see it again.
Cold War Kids: Could you please tell me, mr singer, what kind of piano you used during the recording of Robbers and Cowards? It sounds fucking phenomenal on the record, especially during hospital beds.
Comeback Kid: Keep up the good work, that is all.
Crime in Stereo: You have 3 cds now, and I would love to see a live dvd by you guys. Your cds are great and I can't wait to see you guys play the songs from ....Is Dead
Elliott Smith: Say hi to casey for me, I love you both very much.
Every Time I Die: I want to see an ETID get a Variety show, it would be SWEET, and I just need more COWBELL (and Ratboy!)
Face to Face: This is the biggest wish of all PLEASE FOR FUCKS SAKES GET BACK TOGETHER, YOU ARE EASILY THE MOST UNDERRATED POP PUNK BAND OF ALL TIME AND WE NEED ANOTHER FACE TO FACE RECORD TO SHOW THESE NEW KIDS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!
Fall Out Boy: Please keep being fall out boy, but try to shy away from the commericalism a little. And when you record your next record, everyone needs to have beards, and whoever has beards already needs to grow HUGE ones, I'm talking to you joe!
The Flatliners: Bring back some of the Reggae!
From Autumn to Ashes: I really couldn't ask for more from you guys, your new record is astounding. Congrats on the 3 record deal!
From First to Last: Please let your new record school Dear Diary! Only to spite that smarmy little fuck sonny moore!
The Gaslight Anthem: Do what you can to get more press, more people need to know about how amazing you are! Oh and next time I see you, open with "Angry Johnny and the Radio"
The Get Up Kids: I do enjoy the New Amsterdams and Blackpool Lights, but I really think we need another Get Up Kids record right now, the direction you were headed with Guilt Show was a great direction to go, I want to grow up with you guys!
Glassjaw: Enough of your mind games! I want to hear the new tracks!
Green Day: GIVE ME YOUR NEW RECORD!
Gym Class Heroes: Please incorporate more Funk into your next record, I know you guys have the music chops! And Disashi, I'm lovin the short fro!
Hawthorne Heights: Stay who you are, if you ever needed someone to scream and play guitar, god willing I would do it if you asked me, please stay strong, guys. I love you casey.
Hellogoodbye: Put more europop in your new record, you know you want to!
The Hives: Play smaller clubs, I know you're a big rock band now, but I know you still love those punk clubs man!
Hot Water Music: Make a new HWM record, I know you can, Chuck Ragan should play acoustic in my room!
I am Ghost: No
Jimmy Eat World: Please hold together and be the best band you can be, Chase this Light is easily one step closer to you guys becoming even bigger legends than you are now.
Latterman: I have nothing to ask for you, because in your 5-6 years as a band you have made some of the most relevant self recordings i've ever heard. You inspire me, and thats all I ask.
The Lawrence Arms: You left me hangin after Oh Calcutta! I need more, MORE!
Neil Hennessey is the Sex!
Less than Jake: Release your record for free, I'll donate money if I have to.
Lifetime: Play.more.shows.
Lostprophets: Can't wait for your record in 08', make it quick.
The Loved Ones: I mentioned you earlier, put the Lawrence Arms on my dream tour too.
The Matches: After Decomposer, I want this next record to be even more off the wall, you guys are art, I need more.
Midtown: Shoot Down the Cobra Starship and stop that band of Thieves (spare senses fail) and get back together already, I miss the way your records made me feel.
Modest Mouse: Isaac Brock needs to come to my house and help me write lyrics, you do it best.
Monty Are I: On your next record, I need more face melting solos, Steve, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!
Motion City Soundtrack: I want you to tell me what your NEXT record is going to be like, all you do is progress and I can't wait to hear more.
New Found Glory: Please mail me a signed copy of your new 7" when it comes out, BRING BACK THE HARDCORE!
No Trigger: Sign to Fat Wreck already, a new hyperspeed No Trigger record would sound good right about now.
Plain White T's: Stop.
Powerspace: bring back the sweet dance moves, Geek style, we love ya, we ALL do!
Reel Big Fish: Dont' make any more records, tour forever, I love you like that.
The Refused: Stop being "Fucking Dead"
Rise Against: Tim, you've got a great voice, and I want a little more punk though, I know you still want to make it.
The Riverboat Gamblers: I would muster together a band in a week if it meant touring with you.
Rufio: You broke up way too early, report back to the scene and we'll throw a curve and flunk all the other little bastards that put "punk" after their "pop"
RX Bandits: Longer songs, More Prog!
Ryan's Hope: Don't break up, you'll get signed somewhere amazing someday!
Saves the Day: I can't wait for the last record of the trilogy, it's so entralling already!
Say Anything: do a few tours and take a break! take it easy guys, you work really hard!
Senses Fail: New record needs more ROCK and a little more heath in it!
Set Your Goals: Make it faster and harder next time!
Shook Ones: Try your best to be amazing as usual, and get a tour with lifetime!
Sparta: Threes was amazing, but I need a fours fix, try to mix all your records together into one super rock record!
Strike Anywhere: Keep your values close, this movement still has momentum as long as you're still around.
Strung Out: Do what you want, you've influenced me so much in the last 12 years, I couldn't ask for anything more.
The Swellers: www.myspace.com/theswellers tell them to come to your town!
Taking Back Sunday: Do what you think is right, Andy Jackson seems like a good fit for you guys, considering he's not in the unbelievable hot rod circuit anymore, but i think you can bring them up!
Thrice: Make sure Air and Earth are even more amazing than the last 2 elements, but even if it isn't, it'll still be awesome.
Thursday: Go nuts and record whatever comes out of that. I know you all are amazing musicians, keep it intense and honest.
UnderOATH: Yes, I realize jesus is good, but don't make it your selling point anymore, I would rather hear about how you came up with these amazingly well written songs rather than your religious preferences.
A Wilhelm Scream: Become popular.
That is all. | |
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| | Regarding Paramore's current cover of AP: (end of the year lists) |
Congrats to them, but as much as I want to like their music, I find it very hard to like.
I do have a blog below this entry addressing my stance on FueledbyRamen and people exploiting girls in bands.
My choice for band of the year? Modest Mouse, lol, they will always be band of the year to me.
Best Stories of the Year:
5. Hot Water Music Reunites
4. Hot Water Music Reunites
3. Hot Water Music Reunites
2. Hot Water Music Reunites
1. Hot Water Music Reunites
Now go buy No Division, a Flight and a Crash, and Caution!
Worst Stories of the Year:
5. Jamie Lynn Spears is Preggers- Seriously, who should actually give a shit except for the 25% of this website that watches Zoey 101. At least she's not aborting it. Kids have sex when they're teenagers, thats what I did, thats what you probably reading this did! As hilarious as it is, let it go.
4. Much the Same breaks up: It was really tough hearing about this after hearing such an incredible punk influenced rock record such as Survive, That gunner had left and as they key voice for that band, it was pretty obvious that it was going to fall apart.
3. Latterman Finally Fesses up about the breakup: It was tough for me, thats all.
2: Anything Involving Alesana, Blessthefall, and Avenged Sevenfold.
1. Casey Calvert passing on: As a friend and fan of the band, it was extremely hard to hear about someone so passionate about music in general passing on, but the real worst part about this story is all the little fucking follow up stories that have been sprouting. He has passed on, leave it at that, and buy one of those shirts to support his wife. www.towriteloveonherarms.com
Biggest stories of the year:
5. Paramore blows up- Paramore got big, they worked hard, good for them.
4. Panic! at the disco scraps their new album- It was pretty obvious they were working way too hard on it, and created a crapsterpiece.
3. Fall Out Boy makes a surprising album- Honestly, I was surprised, but it was a great move on their part, considering the large venues they will be playing from now on.
2. Hot Water Music Reunites- One of the most influential bands in underground music comes back. GET INTO THEM!
1. Brett Favre is still awesome after all these years.
Albums of the Year:
5. The Swellers: My Everest
4. Crime in Stereo - Is Dead
3. Say Anything - In Defense of the Genre...
2. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
1. A Wilhelm Scream- Career Suicide
So shutup!
Ryan | |
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| | excellent news (for me) |
"The Jury is Instructed to Disregard It's Own Testimony"
is the name of the first song.
They're getting mixed, i'm AMPED!
Oh and friends died and I lost my idea of humanity somewhere along the way.
Ryan | |
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| | This is something I have to do for myself.... |
Recording weekend overhaul. My weekend started last night. Recording all day and all night is fun.
What is so fun is that I am writing new stuff every time. I need to start getting drum mics and recordig the drums myself.
The only thing I'm nervous about is lyrics, it's not that I'm BAD at them, I just think that maybe I'll sound either a little crazy or it'll be too personal. But personal is good, right?
I'm also thinking of doing a cover of an A Wilhelm Scream song, acoustic... Crazy right? "These Dead Streets" is fun to play acoustic, i'm almost done transcribing it for myself.
Otherwise, I'm starting to lose touch with my old friends in cali.
Or maybe I'm losing touch in general.
Music is all I have.
This is something I have to do for myself.
Ryan | |
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| | I'm sorry, I have to plug this band..... |
They're too good not to talk about.
www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem
The Gaslight Anthem is Rock and Roll, thats about it. Soul Songs in a punk rock shell.
To be honest, they remind me of my youth. Bands weren't cocky, just confident. They were there to play their hook with complete and utter honesty.
Music is so, desolate now. Everything is built around gimmicks, whether it be bad haircuts, good looking folks, or even a humble red headed girl singing unoriginal lyrics through a girls eyes (yes, it's a gimmick, as much as I love their hard work and LOVE for music, fueled by ramen is going to ruin them).
There are always patches of honesty left in a sea of fakes and bandwagon jumpers. Why do you think FOB made Infinity on High? Why do you think Green Day made American Idiot? To let you know that they are REAL, they are REAL fucking bands.
Now before you go out there and buy the new Scary Kids Scaring Kids record, or the new Blessthefall cd, get on myspace and look for something real. I have compiled a list of bands that I believe are emotionally REAL and not a trend following bunch of turds.
www.myspace.com/sayanything
www.myspace.com/theriverboatgamblers
www.myspace.com/theswellers
www.myspace.com/thelovedones
www.myspace.com/awilhelmscream
www.myspace.com/muchthesame (RIP)
www.myspace.com/Sleeperhorse
www.myspace.com/Hotwatermusic
www.myspace.com/againstme
www.myspace.com/smokeorfire
www.myspace.com/montyarei
www.facetofacemusic.com
www.myspace.com/coldwarkids
www.myspace.com/bigdandthekidstable
And of course www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem
Hopefully you'll like one of them | | Tags: Good bands |
|
| | You know you're getting old... |
When one of your friends gets married...
But you know you're falling behind when a roadie of a band calls you and says your friend is getting a divorce.
I realize I'm 20, but it's weird.
I've had a friend in a band die in the last few weeks, and another one I know is getting divorced. I'm growing up too fast.
Are the fights I pick with people justice? Or are they fickle?
I emailed all of her friends.
Texted all of her friends.
Relaying the story, relaying a story about how someone can lie to you for years at a time and you can lay back and believe it because they tell you the 3 words.
She called me within 2 minutes, complaining about calls of outrage about what she had done to me, apparently she is still getting them now. She asked me why I did it and I replied:
"What would you have done?"
I gave her 5 seconds to answer and I hung up on her.
Now that I am approaching 21 I have to ask myself:
Is this fickle?
God I hope not.
Ryan
(Oh and do not ask me of my sources of information) | |
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| | I am calling her out. |
She's a liar and a fake and the double life she lived is what tore me apart.
Once I'm done with her, hopefully she'll leave with a lesson.
The phone is ringing
Wish me luck. | | Tags: Liar |
|
| | | The Rain is my thing |
I grew up next to the ocean.
I revered the ocean. it was the only thing bigger than everything else, I was intimidated and in awe. Whenever you jumped inside of it, you were the ocean's guest and I was thankful every day its unsure waters let me go ashore.
I lived there, next to the ocean, for 20 years and moved to the desert. For the first few months I would wake up and not hear the ocean air outside my window, I would get the shakes. The next few months I started bearing insomnia again.
The spring came and the rain was soothing. It was like a message from the ocean, comforting me.
Every time it rains I smile, almost uncontrollably.
The Rain is my thing.
Enough said.
- Ryan
P.S. The Devil & God are Raging inside of me is a great rain cd! Try it! | | Tags: Rain |
|
| | Aaron Rodgers has promise |
That game was a huge disappointment, the only thing that redeems it is the fact that I watched it online, listening to BRYANT GUMBEL commentate. Lamest dude in the world, lol. Aaron Rodgers is definitely a story to watch now, even though he looks like Scott Stapp with bigger eyebrows when he has long hair. We could've used Charles Woodson but McCarthy was right to keep him on the bench, there are still about 6 more games, and pretty much and instant berth anyways.
The one I'm worried about is Favre.
I got stood up again, I feel like I might have the plague or something. I wish people wouldn't be judged because they hang out with me. I'm not even that bad of a guy.
It's a different species here in Fruita, Colorado.
Working on the guitar demos has been quite fun, but I have my usual trouble of timing and such, I wish I was a human metronome like my buddy seph.
I want one more chance in the spotlight.
Otherwise:
http://www.zambooie.com/twloha
Seriously, Buy a Casey Calvert shirt, and get even if you don't like the design, it's for a widow, you random prick worried about fashion sense. | |
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| | Law and Order: Special Littering and Beastiality Unit |
I think it would be a funny show, just a thought.
"Sir, step away from the sheep..."
On a silly note, don't write a blog that features one statement:
LYKE OMG FALL OUT BOY IS THE BEST!!
Okay, if you want to write that, okay, that's great, but it would be less annoying if you just text messaged it to your friend, instead of wasting an opportunity to put your innermost personal thoughts on display, and I'm pretty sure they don't consist completely of ROFLZ lURVE FOB ROOLZ.
(I'm not saying fall out boy is bad though, yes, they rule in the correct spelling of the word).
So I talked a little bit to Tom from Powerspace about music and such, and I need to start dressing up my guitar demos so he can hear them.
Ah to be on my mac again killin the garageband action.
I'm not worried about impressing him, it's more about getting my point across with just guitar.
Thats as serious as I get right now, I have to go play madden and force some fumbles with Sean Taylor, it's what he did best, unless there was a game where he could spend his time with the wife and daughter he left behind, My condolences to them. He was the best up and coming Safety there was!
RIP Sean Taylor: 1984-2007
RIP Casey Calvert: 1981- 2007
Ryan | |
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| | In Defense of the following bands: |
Regarding Max Bemis' statement:
Right on, okay? I realize that Max Bemis has a mental disorder, and anyone who says he's using that as a gimmick is fucked, and if anyone has a problem with me saying that you can private message me yourself and give me solid proof. Oh, and if you don't think Say Anything is honest, gimmick free music, listen to it again.
Regarding Brand New:
Jesse Lacey is actually Rivers Cuomo.
Get it now?
He plays what he likes and he should leave it at that, if you wanted to see Seventy Times Seven, would you want a heartfelt performance? Or a halfassed resentful one? Leave him alone, believe me, this is probably the last tour they'll play D&G in it's entirety. A lot of bands like to explore every possibility when they play a new album live, realistically, they will try to incorporate other album songs also.
And even if they did play D&G in its entirety every time, I'd still see it.
Uhm, D&G was fucking amazing by the way, YFW is another moment in time.
Regarding Fall Out Boy:
I do have a soft spot for them, but at the same time, even people who don't listen to them are starting to see they are getting needless shit. They have always been supporters of the underground and they're still running strong through it and that should garner more respect rather than "Hey you got your fall out boy in my underground!" They're a good band and after much deliberation I finally realize that Infinity On High was the best move they've ever made. You really can't go much higher than where they were when they made one of the most addictive pop rock albums of all time, From Under The Cork Tree. They knew they were playing arenas after the next album was released and their new songs are so theatrical and so PERFECT for the venues they are playing now (except the secret shows, COME ON, if that isn't reason enough to love them).
it's pretty fucking obvious they love what they do, and all the fucking metalheads at sputnikmusic.com have to realize that their cover of "Walk" featuring Keith Buckley is almost EXACTLY THE SAME as the original, the solo exempt.
Regarding Hawthorne Heights:
If they pull through this, they have to be the invicible band.
Anyone who doesn't like them, at least show them some fucking respect.
Their Music is Catchy.
They support local bands.
And they love their fans IMMENSELY.
Oh and did I mention their music is fucking catchy?
Listen to "saying sorry", I dare you to disagree.
That is all,
Ryan | |
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| | The second I found out.... |
I was forced to clinch my chest. Minutes later, I ran to the bathroom to throw up. I cried. We weren't close, we only met a few times, but I owed that whole band something.
2004:
I was going through Austin with my band Stereotypical Epic, and it was our day off, and Hawthorne Heights were playing at the local venue with the usual camraderie of Victory bands. We decided to go and act like we're way more "hardcore" than everyone else, because we had heard that "Cut my Wrists and Black my Eyes" song and we were always angry about it, cause we were jerks and we thought we were "hardcore".
Some opening slot band played, another victory band played. We gave our sighs and boos, we were jerks, we thought we were hot shit, I was 18, what did I really expect? After hawthorne heights played a surprisingly energetic show, we weren't exactly floored, but I was impressed nonetheless and walked back to the merch stand and started conversations with all of them. Of course, back then, I thought Victory was the new epitaph, bands were selling records, makin money, (at least i thought) and were all getting popular, i thought they were gonna be some cocky shits.
They are by far the nicest band I've ever met. Everyone was nice, even the merch guy (merch guys are generally surly if you didn't know), and I couldn't be mad at them. I talked to all of them for hours on end, until the show was over and the venue closed it's door. I helped them pack because I know what it's like to lug all that shit around, and one of them asked (I'm not gonna say it was casey, I don't really remember a LOT) if I had lived around here, I replied I was another band on tour and they asked me all about who we were, and honestly, I was flattered. They asked me where I was staying, and I explained that we generally drive to the next town at night and we sleep in the van on the way (cause we're "hardcore" like that, which meant we were poor).
After I finished helping them pack I believe it was Micah who came up to me with a handful of bills and said that they gave their tip jar money to me with a little extra, and explained it isn't safe to be driving so much at night and that we should get a hotel. I was apprehensive at first because they earned that money for playing so hard, I did accept it eventually and thanked them.
From then on, I was a fan. I've gone to many of their shows, seen them numerous times, talked to them every time, always had a great time.
To hear about someone as nice as Casey dying in his sleep, is more than devastating.
The reason I told that story is because only a band that knows what it's like to start up rough, would give us such an honor/reward like staying in a hotel for a night when you're poor in a band. That night has always stuck in my mind as a great act. I have and always will defend them to the death.
One thing I always thought my chemical romance got right was the concept behind the black parade.
When you Die, the thing you remember most fondly comes to take you into the afterlife. I can see him on an arena marquee with the greats who have died, a show that will never end, but will always be fulfilling.
I hope I see him there someday.
My condolences to his wife and the rest of the band, Thank you for everything Casey.
Keep on playing in heaven.
Ryan | |
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| | Modest Mouse is better on vinyl |
I have a confession to make. I have insomnia, not like the "Pete Wentz omg i'm so freakin troubled LOLZ" insomnia, but clinically diagnosed insomnia.
Unfortunately, I closed the restaurant 2 nights ago and my prescription ran out.
So, last night, I spent the evening awake. It had been a long time, but I busted out my record player. I had received a lot of new orders in the mail lately and I hadn't busted out my record player for a good 2 months.
I thought, how can I make a musical journey in 5 hours (when I was supposed to wake up in order to open the restaurant).
I started rifling through my new records, and I realized that I had finally gotten my copy of Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank and thought, I'm goin all the way.
So I listened to the modest mouse album discography (not including B-sides records, they're hard to get on vinyl). What I really had was a journey without drugs, no alcohol, just music.
Isaac Brock can paint a damn picture, from The Lonesome Crowded West, to The Moon and Antarctica, to my Personal favorite, Good News for People Who Love Bad News (it's seriously classic), all the way to the end, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.
I think Johnny Marr isn't the best decision they've ever made, but he definitely pepped them up after the success of Good News.
(I only mentioned albums special to me, I did listen to 6 Modest Mouse albums).
They really are special to me, although I've only really been listening to them since 2001, but really, I think they have the capability to be the next Primus, as more of an influential band than a popular band.
There I said it!
I can't wait to see them live.
Ryan | |
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