The Dear Hunter

I went to see The Dear Hunter with Jodette and Sara on Wednesday night. I must say that I haven't been to such a great show in a while. They were awesome. They are one of my favorite bands at the moment. I mean, the song/story writing is just brilliant. I talked to Casey (the musical genius behind it all) after the show. I felt like I was 16 all over again. I even bought a hoodie! (I know what a lame-o, but I had fun).

Maybe (my mantra)

Sleepyhead.

I have become slightly obsessed with this song.

American Idol

This is how my version of No one should have sounded like. Ugh. I love him.

A Pleasant Change of Plans.

Tuesday I woke up with the intention of getting together with Max to write a song. He didn't pick up my calls or call me back, which I thought was weird, so I bided my time and met up with Amanda and Sway at KGB. I was telling Amanda about meeting this girl Anja at the burlesque night. Anja and I seemed to have hit it off, in a more than friends sort of way. I was explaining to Amanda how she told me she may be able to hang out Tues night, but hadn't returned my text or call. I was actually rather loud in describing her this situation, when I get a tap on the shoulder, and who is it?!?! Anja! I was SOOO embarrassed I couldn't even deal. Out of the 10 people I know in Taipei, it just so happened that the one girl that I had a crush on heard me venting about her. OMG. Anyway, she explained to me that she was busy but would call me later on in the day and that we could possibly get together. I sat in KGB with Amanda and Sway for a few more hours. I rocked out on guitar and gave a sort of performance for them because there were very few people in the restaurant. It felt really good to play for people who appreciate my music. It was like I was a paid performer in there. I have grown to be much more comfortable in playing my music because of this new sense of being I have collected from being here. I look forward to going home and playing at Tula Kitchen (where Kristen works) because they said they would like to have me come and play shows once a week or so. I have to get together a semi-good recording first which may cost a bit of money but I think will benefit me in the long run. I can't wait to go home and get a new guitar that I can plug into amps and start playing real shows!! Anyway, Sway said that listening to my music/sappy love songs helped her out and calmed her down about her current relationship situation. I am glad that my music can help people with that. :)

Pascetti Night

Friday night we went back to Sway and Amanda's for a dinner party. We kept saying it was going to be an early night, but then 6 in the morning rolled around. At some point, the guitar was taken out and I played a bunch of songs for everyone and it made me feel really great because they loved it. I found out that two of my new friends Max and Austin are both musicians as well. We are supposed to get together and jam at some point while I am here. That makes me super excited. This is where I should post a video that Cres took of me playing...

We Jammin'

Tuesday I went into work to log and capture the Jennifer Pozner interview. Afterward, I went to Cosmic Cantina to visit Carissa and ask her to lunch. She was so excited to see me, as usual. She is probably the most bubbly person I know. She is always in high spirits, the kind of friend I enjoy to be around. The bar was pretty dead and two of her friends came in to DJ, as well as an old mutual friend of a friend and his gf. Being that we were all musicians, we wound up jamming out in the bar. There were two acoustic guitars, one electric, a harmonica and a bongo. Everyone contributed vocals and I got to play two of my original songs. It was realy excellent to play with musicians and be appreciated for being a musician.

Can't Tear Myself Away

Monday I woke up and wanted to be completely lazy all day. I wound up getting lunch at Cassis with Boppy. We had a great convo. After that, I came home to more lazy time and then at 4 I met up with Nicole at the Beach. It was a nice, free, lazy day. After that, I went to Brian n' Morgan's for a fire in the backyard. It started thundering and raining so we came inside and played Cranium. After that, I stopped at Nagshead on my way home to say hi to Smally. He is finally moving out of NY. He is moving to Boston, to live with Brianne. Anyway, Monday nights at Nagshead are open mic nights. This means I will be playing there very soon. Hooray!

Having a Coke and Eatin' a Tomato

Last night I hopped a train out to Rockville Centre to catch Lucas Carpenter at Vibe Lounge. This guy is an incredible musician and used to date Lauren. He plays a whole bunch of instruments and has a loop pedal so that his songs just build and become really amazing and multilayered. It really is astounding. I met this girl Crista, who used to date one of my friends from HS and is now BFF with Mike Del Rio. She is really great. I always get excited when I meet new girlfriends. It is really hard to meet really down to earth people sometimes. Anyway, after the show we went to a diner with Lucas and Mark Rose (the band that went on after)and then MDR met up. It was a really great, laid back night.

Lauren told me this great analogy that is synonymous for the strategy of pursuit of our love interests. They are like tomatoes. You can't ignore them. You have to water them, but they aren't ripe for the picking yet.

Do the Shuffle

Sunday night I went back out to Brooklyn to wish Anna farewell. She is moving back to Canada after a summer in NY. We went to R bar and had really good italian food. Yep, I am pretty bored of Brooklyn bars. They are kind of over rated. Actually, the bar scene in general is kind of dead to me. The only exception is a few places in H-ton (MC's, the Tavern), but just to meet up with people. I really don't actually enjoy bar hopping anymore. I would much rather hang out at someone's house with the people I actually care about or do something else. Anyway, I left the bar kind of early to go home and start packing up my car. I started moving my stuff out of BK and to LI. I cannot wait until I live in one solitary home again. I hate the city in the summer. It is way too hot and there isn't really much to do. Long island is the best for summer.

Anyway, so yeah I came back to LI on Monday for band practice. Lauren came over and we wrote a new song.



After practice, I met up with Julia, Sean and Jackie and we went to some shitty bar out east. Sean and I kicked ass at beer pong and I got way too drunk. I think we all had a lot of fun, but i actually don't remember all of it. I smoked an entire pack of ciggs yesterday. I can't believe I did that. I am not buying anymore packs. I feel disgusting and my breath is so bad.

It's All For The Music

Monday I had band practice with Lauren. We made delish bloody maries and egg white omelets. We didn't really get too much done, but I got this spark where I realized that I really wanted to do an open mic night. After a pretty uneventful practice, we went to the cup and played a few games of scrabble.

My friend Stephen was telling me about these open mic nights in Coram on Tuesday nights. So, Tuesday came and I spent much of the day practicing and did it! I went up there by myself and played about 8 songs (2 different sets). I picked up Steph on the way and Julia, Nicole, Jackie, Sean and Tony came to support. I didn't play the most amazing sets of my life, but I guess thats what open mic's are about. People don't scrutinize you and applaud the fact that you are up there playing songs. A lot of the people there told me I did well. It was weird to be on the performance side of the open mic night. I always had a feeling that I should be, but it was nice for that aspiration to finally be actualized. I was always the one to tell people they did a good job, just for trying and now people were telling me the same.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Last night I met up with Dan, my great friend who lived in Montreal for a while. He just moved to Halifax for his masters in this Fisherman Science program. He is so multifaceted. Quite possibly the smartest guy I know. Anyway, Carrie slept over last night and this morning we got bagels before I dropped her off this morning. Her car got broken into last night. Right out side of her apt. Kind of ridiculous. I mean, they even took her contacts and mix CD's. I think maybe it was someone who knew her, cause why would someone take stuff like that, which is SO personal. I mean, I understand taking someone's gps or ipod, but not that stuff.

Anyway, I had a meeting with my new boss today. I finished all my paperwork and I am pretty much ready to start working, just as soon as the Nov semester begins. I got the textbook for one of the classes I am teaching today. Pretty stoked. I also got to catch up with my friend Karyn (who got me the job) for a bit. I am really excited to start teaching.

After that, I went to Kim's for a bit of band practice. Everything seems to be coming along nicely. After that, I went to Jen and Will's to plan Jen and I's circle line cruise. She is taking me on one for my grad/birthday. We also went to her job for drinks. I can't believe the guido's she works with. I would never be able to deal with that.

I am exhausted. They must be having some sort of Winona Ryder sort of marathon lately on encore because movies starring her are all that seems to be on. Oh well.

Oh boy

I have been rather evasive, but not out of neglect, out of sheer transportation confusion/poor planning. My computer and I have not been seeing much of each other. I went to the beach, as usual, on Sunday and then met up with Lauren after for band practice/hanging out. We practiced a bit and then passed out while watching 'Thirteen'. This morning we had high hopes of getting brunch, but only wound up with bagels. My fingers are sore. So much music playing within the past 30 hours. We have so much fun and get so much done. It is really really great.

Here is a video of one of the songs we wrote and have been working on.

Cutting a 13 Track Album

Yesterday I recorded in my bedroom for 7+ hours. I wrote a new song, learned a new song and finished up an old one. I titled the CD 'Naked Friday' cause its just a bunch of rough copies for Kim and Lauren to practice with.

After having to file a noise complaint against the church across the street, I went over to Carrie's. She just got back from PA. We went to sweet ups and then R bar. We got caught in a downpour in between. Later on, I beat it and went to Sam's house warming right by McKibbin. I could never live there, its like a dorm building with rowdier students and higher ceilings. The apt next to Sam's got robbed and ransacked last night. Fuck that shit. It made me happy to be 5 blocks west of there (not even).

I got into some really interesting sociological discussions with some strangers last night. I got the feeling that (hopefully) that will be what my classes will be like to teach. Once again, though I guess I get boring when at parties and have the same conversation with everyone. I am good with one on one, then my conversations have a purpose and lead to something more profound. I hate having to feel like I have to start at square one with everyone, it is a lot of work. Just an observation.

The Currant

Monday morning I woke up to get brunch with Dr. Rogers. We went to Mundays, our usual joint and discussed a broad cross section of goings ons. She was all flustered as she left for Paris yesterday. One of her students wrote a paper for SASE and got into the periodical. They have one conference per year for the student and advisor to go and commemorate their publication. This year was Paris, last year was Bangladesh. I am hoping that I can get one of my papers into this journal, as it would be fun to travel (for free) and it would look excellent on my resume. Nathalia is always so upbeat and positive. I told her about my band and that I may be taking an extra year off, (deferring my acceptance) and she said that I should do what I feel in my heart right now and that school/academia will always be there. I just can't lose focus. She even said that she would like to come to one of my shows or something.


After brunch, I had the girls over for band practice. As always, we made progress. I told them about the band name I had been thinking of, and they both love it. I don't want to go with one of those 'the' names, however, when thinking about the band's common interests I thought about wine and the beach. I thought about 'The Currant', the kinds that are in wine, then I thought about 'The Current', as in waves, and then I thought about current times. I like that this word has three meanings, even though some are spelt differently. They were both excited about the name, and amazed that no one had thought of it before (or maybe they have and just haven't gone anywhere with it).

Jam-Packed with Musical Fun

Wednesday was a really great day. I started the day a bit early with Kim, coming over around noon to do yoga in McCarren park. After finding our chi, we got some delish Indian food in the burg and went back home to practice. We blended so well together and really accomplished a lot in a matter of a few hours. This thing is really coming together. We are definitely going to start playing shows in the end of August. I just may have booked our first one. Yay!

After a wonderful jam session, Kim and I decided we deserved a beer before she went home and I went to work. We went to Duckduck, this cute, little, duck-themed local bar.

After a couple of brewskeys I went to PTTV to help orientate some new members, and got put on the spot to fill in and facilitate the meeting. I was a tad absent minded, being put on the spot like that, and I had to leave early. I think I do way better at being the center of attention when I have some time to mentally prepare. I asked the collective about my band playing at our screening in the garden and they all seemed OK with it, I just have to OK it with the garden.

After my meeting, I went to see my friends in 'In India' play a show at Trash Bar. I went by myself, which is something I am trying to do more lately. However, I knew that Lauren S was gonna be there, so it wasn't like I would be completely alone. The boys played a great show, and I swayed and tapped my foot accordingly. They had open bar for a bit before the boys went on, so I was in for some quick drinks. After they went on, I found lauren, who was accompanied by Ariel and Jani. I then played pool with the boys (terribly) and threw back a few jack n' cokes.

After I was fully satisfied with my networking skills, talking to an abundance of strangers, I hit the road. I talked to some guy who does booking at Trash Bar. I have a feeling it is going to be pretty easy to get shows. I am really excited that everything seems to be coming together.

Bandsies

Today I woke up, did some Yoga and hung out with the fam. My uncle and 2 cousins were here from Maine this weekend. We watched Monday morning cartoons and had some breakfast. They are such great kids. On July, 4th I had a conversation with MJ about global warming and he was really impressing me. He absorbs information like a sponge and is remarkably intelligent for his age. Ethan is so adorable with his awe-inspiring conversationalist skills, and i am really proud to say that they are my cousins/nephews.

After a family oriented morning, Lauren came over for some sushi/band practice. We had a lovely lunch and came home and wrote a song. I find it so incredible how well we work together. She is wonderful with song concepts, eloquently written one liners, and is really knowledgeable musically.

Explosions in the Sky

Last night I went to see Explosions in the Sly with the Castinettes and the Constantines. Wihle I was waiting on line, it started downpouring. Mind you I was all alone with no friends to complain about it with. Everything on me was soaking wet. I am surprised my phone made it. Later on, Carrie and Audrey showed up and it kept raining. We went to go buy panchos when we got in, but the guy 5 people in front of us got the last one. We stood and complained under two black umbrellas for a while. Then we complained a little more. Finally the sun came out and we went to sit on the bleachers. The show from then on was pretty great, after we got over being cold and wet for a while. Explosions was great. I have always wanted to see them. They are so soothing and mellow. Just what I needed. Watch this guy in the while dance.

RIP MJ

I got on the train tonight to go to work and witnessed this nice young woman mourning the loss of Michael Jackson. I was pretty shocked because I thought he was pretty young. I also found out that Farrah Fawcett died today too. Supposedly MJ had a heart attack. After I got off the subway, there was a constant buzz around Broadway - Lafayette. Everyone was talking about it. All you had to do was walk down the street. He made a huge impact on pop culture. But hey, that's what people do, they die. RIP.

I Told You We'd Make It

My life has been taken by storm due to musical influence. We had a band practice on Sunday night after my fathers day festivities and I introduced Lauren (Keys, Bass & Back up Vocals) to Kim (Violin, Electronic, & Back up Vocals) to each other. They totally hit it off and we are all really stoked to start doing songs together. We decided that we are going to try to do a cover of Radiohead - Paranoid Android just to get it started. However, also in the mix is Explosions in the Sky, the Cartigains, Rilo Kiley, the Beatles, Andrew Bird, Metric, and Van Halen amongst others. I am really ecstatic that this musical project is coming together and with such talented musicians. Both of my girls went/almost went to school for music, did all county/nyssma/all state and one of them actually used to play gigs with Miley Cyrus and Ashley Tisdale (She said it was as a joke, but I am mucho impressed). Anyway, I will have some songs on here soon. I just wanted to post some "Paranoid Android" so you could listen to it and pretend it was being played with violin, keys and little old me on my guitar (oh and some drums...somehow).



OH and other good band news. Last night I recorded this song with my boy steph and he told me that I could hold onto his drum set for a while. Woohoo! Free drums!! I am so glad that I have a practice space and that drums are being added to it! The pattern of the universe is certainly in my favor!