2.27.2004
I think that I have totally burned myself out these past 2 months thinking and worrying about the band and the EP. I have taken a break the past few days, and am feeling so relaxed right now. I need to not invest so much of myself into it right now, things will happen if they are supposed to. I still get little cringes when I remeber that I am supposed to do something, or someone else was supposed to do something, but I'm trying to just let it go. I will be glad when everything is done, and I have something that I poured my heart into and helped create sitting in my hands.
I feel like sitting under a nice willow tree next to a flowing, glimmerig river today. It's dark and gloomy out side though, and I have to work. My stomach still hurts a little today, yesterday I was fine though, I think.
I feel like sitting under a nice willow tree next to a flowing, glimmerig river today. It's dark and gloomy out side though, and I have to work. My stomach still hurts a little today, yesterday I was fine though, I think.
2.26.2004
Had to go home yesterday morning because I was still sick. I feel a little better today. Looks like we won't have the mixed recordings tomorrow. Richard is out all weekend, and we can't get back in till Tuesday. Not only that, but the acoustic song is being omitted from the CD, apparently because of Jason's refusal to sing it.
On a better note, we are playing with Cool Hand Luke in JAX on March 17 (St. Patty's day). That is super cool, I love that band. It's kind of a bummer playing MHT though, because kids for some reason only come out to local shows (I know, weird), and it costs us a lot of money to go up there (and we don't get any). Tony lets us stay at his house though, and it's a fun place to play, so it's all good.
On a better note, we are playing with Cool Hand Luke in JAX on March 17 (St. Patty's day). That is super cool, I love that band. It's kind of a bummer playing MHT though, because kids for some reason only come out to local shows (I know, weird), and it costs us a lot of money to go up there (and we don't get any). Tony lets us stay at his house though, and it's a fun place to play, so it's all good.
2.24.2004
It's raining outside. I wish I was 10 years old and floating little homemade rafts down the street gutters. It's just one of those days.
Ok, here's the recap. Saturday: Garage sale with will and jason, we ate doughnuts and played yard golf. In the afternoon, I played in the yard with Lily (my daughter) and she started throwing up. We found out it was a 24 hour bug, so we stayed home all night taking care of her. Sunday, we stayed home from church so as not to infect everyone, even though Lily was totally better. Went to the park and hung out, came home and took a nice nap. I got up to go over to will's house to practice before the show, and I started feeling not so well on the way there. Dave wasn't there yet, so I laid down for 2 hours until it was time to go. Just as everyone got up to leave, I ran into the bathroom and let it go (#1). They all left while I was in the bathroom, leaving me to drive the van and trailer. I laid for another hour or so, and then left. As I was leaving the neighborhood, I had to put it in park and open up the door (#2). I got to the brass mug in time to see Time and Distance. They did great. I felt like death, and there was like 4 people I needed to talk to. We got up and played, and it went pretty badly. I thought I was going to pass out after two songs. We also played two new ones that Jason wasn't exactly ready to play. After the show I had to leave like right away. Dad insisted on taking the trailer with his car, so while he was switching, I threw up again in the parking lot in front of time and distance and some people that were helping us load (#3). By this time, Lindsay (my wife) was also sick and my mom had gone over to help her out. I went home and sat on the couch for about 5 minutes and then ran to the bathroom (#4). To make an already long story a bit shorter, we had a horrible night including Asher (my son) screaming through the night and #5 and #6. I was supposed to fell better the next day, and I did a little bit. The show that night went a lot better, eventhough there wasn't that many people there. I'm still a little sore, but things are going to be O.K.
By the way: I wrote like that on purpose. I'm really not that bad of a writer. No, seriously, I'm not!
By the way: I wrote like that on purpose. I'm really not that bad of a writer. No, seriously, I'm not!
2.21.2004
The garage sale went well. We met our goal and got rid of some junk. Jason is filling in for Street Corner Medix tonight because their bassist couldn't make it for some reason.
Jason picked up our shirts yesterday and we rolled them and labeled them this morning. They are so sweet looking! Come buy one at the shows or at the online store.
Jason picked up our shirts yesterday and we rolled them and labeled them this morning. They are so sweet looking! Come buy one at the shows or at the online store.
2.20.2004
[caution: this post does in no way negate or contradict my previous post]
What is it with the pull of the world? While I was getting my coffee just now, I caught myself wishing I was pouring some hip Starbucks coffee in a bright colored, pottery barn decorated office, about to return to my Macintosh (with attached mini iPod) in my office with pop art hanging on the walls in a warehouse setting with fellow twenty-somethings workers popping their heads in my office like the latest VW ad or something. Do worlds like that even exist? Is it the graphic desigener dimensia? Or maybe just the figment of some really creative marketer's mind. I must admit, I wish I was a part. Which is probably why I'm trying to learn Adobe Illustrator so that my pipe dream can be fulfilled by one click of the mouse.
I still can't figure out HTML tables, if anyone else is getting sick of my vertical design, please email me with help.
What is it with the pull of the world? While I was getting my coffee just now, I caught myself wishing I was pouring some hip Starbucks coffee in a bright colored, pottery barn decorated office, about to return to my Macintosh (with attached mini iPod) in my office with pop art hanging on the walls in a warehouse setting with fellow twenty-somethings workers popping their heads in my office like the latest VW ad or something. Do worlds like that even exist? Is it the graphic desigener dimensia? Or maybe just the figment of some really creative marketer's mind. I must admit, I wish I was a part. Which is probably why I'm trying to learn Adobe Illustrator so that my pipe dream can be fulfilled by one click of the mouse.
I still can't figure out HTML tables, if anyone else is getting sick of my vertical design, please email me with help.
Im trying to learn Adobe Illustrator and that junk is hard. I just don't get it. We have a copy at work so I've been playing around with it.
We have two shows this weekend. Well, kind of. One is on Sunday night at the Brass Mug in Tampa, and then one on Monday night in Lakeland at Johnson Sound. We're trying to put togehter some shows with Chasing Victory and Forever Changed in March and April. Also planning a CD release party in early April.
Listened to the new Dead Poetic song "New Medicines" the other day, and at first I was really impressed, but then it got a little repetitive. Very good production though. I've also been really excited about the new Beautiful Mistake CD and listened to one of the new songs. I wasn't impresssed with that at all. It was a good, light song. It sounded like maybe they've been listening to too much Copeland. It was good, I was just hoping for something a little tougher.
We have two shows this weekend. Well, kind of. One is on Sunday night at the Brass Mug in Tampa, and then one on Monday night in Lakeland at Johnson Sound. We're trying to put togehter some shows with Chasing Victory and Forever Changed in March and April. Also planning a CD release party in early April.
Listened to the new Dead Poetic song "New Medicines" the other day, and at first I was really impressed, but then it got a little repetitive. Very good production though. I've also been really excited about the new Beautiful Mistake CD and listened to one of the new songs. I wasn't impresssed with that at all. It was a good, light song. It sounded like maybe they've been listening to too much Copeland. It was good, I was just hoping for something a little tougher.
2.19.2004
OK, what is the deal with Norah Jone selling 1 million copies of her new record in the first week it's out? That's absurd. Who does she think she is, N'Sync?
Our friends Anam Cara have been signed to Strikefirst!
Our friends Anam Cara have been signed to Strikefirst!
2.18.2004
I am so wishing we could have gotten a copy of the tunes from Richard the other night. He wants to mix it all down at once though, so we have to wait till everything's done. I can't wait.
Looks like Juliana Theory will be touring with Anberlin in April sometime. I also saw that Dead Poetic is joining up with the Tooth and Nail tour for a few dates.
We still haven't found out if we are on the Cool Hand Luke show at Murray Hill yet. I am so bummed I couldn't get us on the Tally or Panama City shows, they would have been perfect.
Looks like Juliana Theory will be touring with Anberlin in April sometime. I also saw that Dead Poetic is joining up with the Tooth and Nail tour for a few dates.
We still haven't found out if we are on the Cool Hand Luke show at Murray Hill yet. I am so bummed I couldn't get us on the Tally or Panama City shows, they would have been perfect.
2.17.2004
I have to say that Richard redeemed himself last night. We finished all instrumentation, minus an acoustic song, and started on vocals. I was getting a little worried, because I was adding all these little guitar parts that just sounded like they were going to stick out. Richard started doing a rough mix while Jason was doing his vocals (which sounded awesome), and then he called us to the booth to listen. I was blown away. It was just a rough mix, but it sounded freakin amazing (in my opinion). Everything sounded smooth, the guitars are tough and well blended, the drums are thick, all is good.
We should finish everything up by next Friday, hopefully. Then it's off for mastering and to then the factory.
We've already had some purchases from the Ann Arbour store, and I think those limited edition EPs are going to sell out. We hope to order some newer shirts by the 1st of March with that sweet design from Hydragraphik. We have to sell about half of the "Leaves" shirts first though.
Anyways, I was so psyched to be hearing the music last night. I was a dork and kept high-fiving Will and Jason. What can I say, I was excited.
We should finish everything up by next Friday, hopefully. Then it's off for mastering and to then the factory.
We've already had some purchases from the Ann Arbour store, and I think those limited edition EPs are going to sell out. We hope to order some newer shirts by the 1st of March with that sweet design from Hydragraphik. We have to sell about half of the "Leaves" shirts first though.
Anyways, I was so psyched to be hearing the music last night. I was a dork and kept high-fiving Will and Jason. What can I say, I was excited.
2.16.2004
I think Thursday and Thrice are good examples of using the mainstream to its full advantage. Those are two bands who put out amazing albums, without compromising themselves. They've gotten great support, and in my mind are still true to "the Underground" or whatever you want to call it. Bands catch a lot of flack for signing to major labels, and for good reason (Juliana Theory), but Thursday especially has done well. Just my 2 cents.
2.15.2004
Yo yo hommies. I was listening to Bright Eyes tonight. Its Violent Femmes with string arrangements. Has a very negative vibe to it so I really couldn't enjoy it. I do appreciate the creativeness, daring. The fact that I have been in a negative mood today anyways may have had an effect as well.
Yeah. indieworkshop.com is now back up. Weird.
Recording tomorrow, all night. We should finish up all instrumentation and start on vocals. I'll just say I'm very frustrated with the whole band thing right now, and I'll leave it at that.
Sunday February 22, 7:00pm - Ann Arbour, Time and Distance and others @ The Brass Mug in Tampa. Admission should be like $6. This will be our second show in Tampa in the past 3 months. They're becoming quite the rarity (abscence is supposed to make the heart grow fonder, but it's not working yet).
There are so many bands out there with CDs out, why should I think anyone will find ours and buy it? Because I believe we are good. That being said, preorder our CD tomorroe for only $4.99. http://www.annarbour.net/store.html. Peace out my peeps.
Yeah. indieworkshop.com is now back up. Weird.
Recording tomorrow, all night. We should finish up all instrumentation and start on vocals. I'll just say I'm very frustrated with the whole band thing right now, and I'll leave it at that.
Sunday February 22, 7:00pm - Ann Arbour, Time and Distance and others @ The Brass Mug in Tampa. Admission should be like $6. This will be our second show in Tampa in the past 3 months. They're becoming quite the rarity (abscence is supposed to make the heart grow fonder, but it's not working yet).
There are so many bands out there with CDs out, why should I think anyone will find ours and buy it? Because I believe we are good. That being said, preorder our CD tomorroe for only $4.99. http://www.annarbour.net/store.html. Peace out my peeps.
2.13.2004
Anyone know what the heck happened to indieworkshop.com? It was down all day and now there's some lame site up in its stead.
I've been working today on getting the Ann Arbour pre-order store ready for launch. Its actually already up, just hiding in some links (hint, hint). Maybe I will give away a free CD to the first person who finds the store and orders one. That might be a good idea.
We are also scrapping the garage sale tomorrow. We'll do it next week instead since we won't be in GA.
If anyone wants to put up some banners for us, here are the links:
http://www.annarbour.net/photos/headers/stohope.jpg
http://www.annarbour.net/photos/headers/forum.jpg
Just put the link in forums and what not. Im not sure what good it will do, I don't think I've even told anyone about this site, so I'm not sure if anyone knows it exists (except my brother, who probably doesn't even care to look.)
What's your opinion; period inside parentheses or out? There has been some debate on this in the office this week. Any thoughts. Thanks, I thought so.
I've been working today on getting the Ann Arbour pre-order store ready for launch. Its actually already up, just hiding in some links (hint, hint). Maybe I will give away a free CD to the first person who finds the store and orders one. That might be a good idea.
We are also scrapping the garage sale tomorrow. We'll do it next week instead since we won't be in GA.
If anyone wants to put up some banners for us, here are the links:
http://www.annarbour.net/photos/headers/stohope.jpg
http://www.annarbour.net/photos/headers/forum.jpg
Just put the link in forums and what not. Im not sure what good it will do, I don't think I've even told anyone about this site, so I'm not sure if anyone knows it exists (except my brother, who probably doesn't even care to look.)
What's your opinion; period inside parentheses or out? There has been some debate on this in the office this week. Any thoughts. Thanks, I thought so.
I got my polaroid camera tonight when I came home. I decided to see if it had any film in it while I was sitting on the couch with Asher. It did.
That's Asher on my shoulder. We both jumped when the flash went off 10 inches away from our faces.
The GA shows are now cancelled, but we are playing a Tampa show on Feb 22 with Time and Distance at Brass Mug.
Pre-sale for the EP starts Monday.
That's Asher on my shoulder. We both jumped when the flash went off 10 inches away from our faces.
The GA shows are now cancelled, but we are playing a Tampa show on Feb 22 with Time and Distance at Brass Mug.
Pre-sale for the EP starts Monday.
2.12.2004
So Juliana Theory is no longer on Epic. I used to really like that band, but no longer...Dension Marrs is also rumored to be breaking up. That of course is hearsay...Got Happy Kreter's CD in the mail today. I have yet to open the goodness. Been trying to get on a couple Cool Hand Luke shows that would fit perfectly on our little tour. No luck yet.
Find out tomorrow if we have to scrap the GA trip, we will be so bummed. Just bad timing I guess.
Find out tomorrow if we have to scrap the GA trip, we will be so bummed. Just bad timing I guess.
2.11.2004
That polaroid camera that I ordered the other day should be in tomorrow, then I can skake it like a...nevermind, I'll spare you.
Danny from Hydragraphik Studio sent over a sweet shirt design to me this morning out of the blue. That really made my day. I wish I had some playa skills like Aaron and Danny.
I started filling out all the forms neccesary to send off with the CD to the manufacturing plant. It's a little early for that, but I don't want to forget anything. Will is itching to play some shows here in town so I think he booked one for the Masquerade on March 5th or something. We may play that Time and Distance show on Feb 22 as well if the GA show is a no-go, which it is shaping up to be.
Danny from Hydragraphik Studio sent over a sweet shirt design to me this morning out of the blue. That really made my day. I wish I had some playa skills like Aaron and Danny.
I started filling out all the forms neccesary to send off with the CD to the manufacturing plant. It's a little early for that, but I don't want to forget anything. Will is itching to play some shows here in town so I think he booked one for the Masquerade on March 5th or something. We may play that Time and Distance show on Feb 22 as well if the GA show is a no-go, which it is shaping up to be.
The new artwork for The Beautiful Mistake's new album is online, and is freaking amazing. Check it out here. That studio puts out some rad stuff in my opinion (humble as it may be.)
This is funny. AP.net announced that a new Senses Fail song was posted on some site. Everyone goes to listen to it, and its supposedly horrible. All the listeners then comment about how they hope its not going to be on the album, because it sounds like crap. Turns out, the drummer writes in to AP.net and says that it was was some live version of a song that they had written 2 years ago and decided to scrap. Or so we're told....
This is funny. AP.net announced that a new Senses Fail song was posted on some site. Everyone goes to listen to it, and its supposedly horrible. All the listeners then comment about how they hope its not going to be on the album, because it sounds like crap. Turns out, the drummer writes in to AP.net and says that it was was some live version of a song that they had written 2 years ago and decided to scrap. Or so we're told....
This week has been good so far. Our shirts are going to print, and somebody else has put together another sweet design for us. I've been working on trying to raise money for the album this week. We have a good budget and hopefully we can raise enough. Will is having a garage sale this weekend to try and raise some extra cash.
I'm pretty sure our show on the 21st in GA is going to be cancelled. That's a bummer.
Will said the Anberlin show was amazing and that they seem rejuvenated with the new guitarist. I guess there may also be a chance we could have a new guitarist coming on soon as well. He's interested. We'll see if anything works out.
Ava (our van, and my main source of transportation) is running pretty poorly, so please keep us in your prayers that we can make it to and from our shows successfully.
I'm pretty sure our show on the 21st in GA is going to be cancelled. That's a bummer.
Will said the Anberlin show was amazing and that they seem rejuvenated with the new guitarist. I guess there may also be a chance we could have a new guitarist coming on soon as well. He's interested. We'll see if anything works out.
Ava (our van, and my main source of transportation) is running pretty poorly, so please keep us in your prayers that we can make it to and from our shows successfully.
2.07.2004
The Tooth and Nail tour rolled into town tonight. I couldn't make it because we had some family in town. Will was there though, and I'm sure he enjoyed it. I heard something about Mae possibly joining the tour. I hope the don't leave the Copeland/Working Title tour to join up. The tour they are on now is infinitely better in my opinion.
I've been working on securing some capital to put out this album, so that's good. I'm a little worried about our trip up to GA because the guys that booked us have been a little flaky about keeping in contact with us and passing on details.
If anyone remembers, there was a guy trying out for vocals the past couple of months. Unfortunately it didn't work out. We've been thinking of asking this other guy to come on as a second guitarist. Not sure how interested he is though.
Can't wait until our next show, it's been forever!
I've been working on securing some capital to put out this album, so that's good. I'm a little worried about our trip up to GA because the guys that booked us have been a little flaky about keeping in contact with us and passing on details.
If anyone remembers, there was a guy trying out for vocals the past couple of months. Unfortunately it didn't work out. We've been thinking of asking this other guy to come on as a second guitarist. Not sure how interested he is though.
Can't wait until our next show, it's been forever!
2.06.2004
I need to start saying 'owns' more. Like, "man, Thursday owns" or "that movie totally owns". Don't you think?
Getting some shirts made to get ready for some touring. Nice design by Aaron, Ill put a link to the artwork on the site soon.
Edit: Here's a link to the shirt HERE
Getting some shirts made to get ready for some touring. Nice design by Aaron, Ill put a link to the artwork on the site soon.
Edit: Here's a link to the shirt HERE
2.05.2004
Everythings cool with Richard, the interview tonight got cancelled though. I've booked a couple of shows for Time and Distance. I'm really psyched about this coffeehouse show I've been putting together too. This guy Happy Kreter from Canada is the reason I put it together, he's quality, or at least his demo is.
well our great producer Richard is know hastling us about how much time we are taking in the studio. this from the man who said "take as many hours or sessions needed to complete the album, there are no time limits or pressure to hurry up". frustrating.
I wonder how much of rock n roll is really about heart and motivation. Are the bands that are 'successful' ones that really wanted it, that gave everything to get there? Or did they just get lucky, in the right place at the right time? Probably a mix of both.
I really like 'moveabletype', but my unzipper unzipped it wrong, so I never figured out how to se it. I'm sure this page would be much more organized if it had.
This pretty cool site by some guys in New Zealand, The Underground Show, posted some news about Ann Arbour. That was pretty cool. We are also doing an interview tonight with indieriot.com.
Coheed supposedly got signed to Columbia, which is cool. I'm not sure if they'll sell enough records to do Columbia any good. Probably though, they're blowing up right now. I will be honest...I just don't like the guys voice. A little too Rush for me.
I bought a Polaroid camera yesterday on Ebay to use for album art. Then Will and I deceided NOT to use pictures on the EP. Oh well...
Another producer I would have wanted....Ed Rose.
Coheed supposedly got signed to Columbia, which is cool. I'm not sure if they'll sell enough records to do Columbia any good. Probably though, they're blowing up right now. I will be honest...I just don't like the guys voice. A little too Rush for me.
I bought a Polaroid camera yesterday on Ebay to use for album art. Then Will and I deceided NOT to use pictures on the EP. Oh well...
Another producer I would have wanted....Ed Rose.
2.04.2004
I wish we could have recorded this EP the way we wanted to. I'm sorry we couldn't. I wold have loved to have had someone like matt goldman or aaron sprinkle produce this for us, but all we got was richard. I really am sorry. It just comes down to dollas and sense.
The Christian indie scene is extremely frustrating. I believe that it is even more exclusive than the so-called secular scene. (now of course the people in the christian indie scene would not want me to pigeonhole them by calling them christian, but whatever, this is my space) It's like it's so hard to make it anywhere, that when you do make it, you vow never to help anyone else. The people who are in the positions to help you out, all have recognition now, and think they deserve more than they're actually worth. In case you cant tell, i'm trying not to be too specific.
We have worked our asses off (sorry, butts is just an understatement for this one) to make this EP great in every way possible. Well, really I have done about 90% of the work, but I love Jason and Will and want to share credit with them as well, after all, we are a band. I've been dreaming up some really cool packaging ideas that I hope will come to fruition. Once again, all abouth the money (which we have none of).
I've also been wishing we had some more artist/photographer friends. You just can't be a successful band without them. Someone to help us with designs and whatnot. Don't you want to be my friend?
The Christian indie scene is extremely frustrating. I believe that it is even more exclusive than the so-called secular scene. (now of course the people in the christian indie scene would not want me to pigeonhole them by calling them christian, but whatever, this is my space) It's like it's so hard to make it anywhere, that when you do make it, you vow never to help anyone else. The people who are in the positions to help you out, all have recognition now, and think they deserve more than they're actually worth. In case you cant tell, i'm trying not to be too specific.
We have worked our asses off (sorry, butts is just an understatement for this one) to make this EP great in every way possible. Well, really I have done about 90% of the work, but I love Jason and Will and want to share credit with them as well, after all, we are a band. I've been dreaming up some really cool packaging ideas that I hope will come to fruition. Once again, all abouth the money (which we have none of).
I've also been wishing we had some more artist/photographer friends. You just can't be a successful band without them. Someone to help us with designs and whatnot. Don't you want to be my friend?
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