Local Music?! Metal Gear?!

So, local music in Benedictine isn't exactly what it was back in Pella. There used to be all kinds of music to hear people play in Pella: grindcore, acoustic folk, soul, shoegaze, sludge metal, you name it. Here, I found out, there is indeed music, but it's slightly more limited. I went to an open mic night, and met some guy who apparently likes my taste in music and keeps talking to me about dubstep, and some guy complimented me for playing "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," but for the most part, I think my performance (I also played The Tallest Man on Earth's "The Gardener") went over a lot of people's heads. The dubstep guy was the only other guy to pick good music (he did a few Bright Eyes songs). I still don't know his name. But back on topic.

There's really only one band whose gained my respect on campus: Top Shelf. The first time I saw them, I was completely taken by surprise at how good their music was. If I had to try and describe it, I would call it a mashing together of Vampire Weekend and Weezer, but I really don't think that description does them justice. You can check them out here. I recommend giving them a listen; "Mornings" is probably one of my personal favorites.

Now that I've shamelessly plugged a band I admire, time for other stuff. It's almost summer time. I should be worrying about the band. I'm not. For some reason, I have this thought that spending two semesters not playing Halo will result in people ACTUALLY beating me in Halo games again this summer. Frightening stuff. And I have a really bad hankering to watch Futurama again. It's been so long since I've seen that show, and it's probably one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. Certainly funnier than Seinfeld. This post doesn't really have a point anymore, not that it ever really had one to begin with.

As one final note... Gentleman, I will be marrying Taylor Momsen someday, so keep your mitts off her. So says Thor of the Thunders.

Time to Look at The Future

Man, I've been sucking at updating regularly this past week. I'd like to say it's because I've been way, way, way too busy, but I really haven't been as busy as I thought I was going to be. I blazed through two tests that I thought were going to be the death of me, and now all I've got is a German presentation about Cold War Berlin due in two weeks. Spoken in German.

But, as the title of this post implies, it's the future I'm excited for. Sure, the future's never certain, but it's the possibilities of the future that make it so interesting. Pending the recruitment of someone to be drummer, my new planned music project is coming along surprisingly smoothly. I've got plenty of my friends interested in helping out, which is exactly what I've been needing and hoping for. The Elephant Tree is coming, I can feel it. The writing process, while I can't say it has been enjoyable, has been so necessary to do. It's almost therapeutic, and with each song, I feel like I'm becoming a new man.

I'm looking forward to seeing those faces that care about me this summer. I know that as the years go on, I'm probably going to see less and less of the people I love, and that's why I want to make the most of our time now. This summer... will be the SUMMER OF AWESOME. I'm ready for it, are you?

And now, just for no reason, this:

From an Honest Soul

Music really is a wonderful thing. It can bring people together, mend hearts, change lives. It doesn't matter who you are; everyone can find music that speaks to them, evokes such emotions that nothing else could. There are some songs that I can honestly say have changed me as a person. There are so many artists and bands whose music has shaped the person I am today, yet I'll never be able to thank them for all they've done.

As much as I may have my issues with the town, I really am thankful to have been able to live in Pella. The friends I made, the thing I've learned, and all the many experiences I've gained, I could never have gotten anywhere else. Being in college, I've realized how lucky I was to have spent my high school years in a place that had an active music scene. I've tried talking to people about the towns they came from, and so many of them have said that they never used to go to concerts and see local bands, or see any local musicians.

Being able to do that created such a huge impact on me. It lit a fire in my that's been burning ever since; it created the passion for music that made me want to start making music of my own, which eventually led it's way into the creation of A Rainy Day for Jupiter (my old band). So many people talk about how they would love to start a band and play shows, or that they would love to be able to record an album. That's something that a lot of people talk about, but seldom do they ever actually follow through with it. 

I was able to do all of that before I was out of high school, and I want music to stay as much a part of my life now and in the future as it was back in those days, when my friends and I would get together in the basement every single day and work on our songs. So to all those musicians who've impacted me, both famous acts and aspiring local artists, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 

While You Do Something Meaningful.

I haven't had a lot of time to get on here. And that's a sad fact. On the bright side though I always have time to listen to music. Tonight I did all of my homework, while laying in bed naked, with strep throat and diarrhea. Yeah. Gross. Although laying in bed naked with my woman all day was nice I still felt like shit. Now, I have this weird thing, about whether or not my days are good or bad. Usually it comes down to this: No matter what happens during the day as long as I have a good night, it's a good day.

Tonight I got a hot ass bubble bath made for myself, and I sat in it listening to Andrew Bird. Now the reason I call this entry "While you do something meaningful." is plainly because before you play this video you had better be ready to listen to the whole god damn thing and seriously reflect, and relax of course. It's important that you take a moment out of your busy lives to listen to something great, and that in itself is a meaningful thing. Like we say here at Glassjaw Boxing, "Bitches are not shit, but hoes and tricks. So please lick these testicles and suck our dicks." I hope all you girls and lovely men have a good night out there. And please listen to more Andrew Bird, the guy knows what he's fucking doing.

Oh Yes...

Gentlemen, say hello to my latest celebrity crush:

Why Dianna Agron, you ask? Well, not only is she amazingly beautiful, but check out her celebrity playlist on Youtube. A hot girl with the same musical tastes as me? I must be in Heaven.