February 2012
56 posts
234
Beautiful day in the garden. What’s better than rocking out?
233
Perhaps it’s the weather change. Maybe we’re rockin’ out differently. I’m not sure. One thing I am sure about, though, is that the general reception to our guerilla shows has been more positive as of late. :)
232
Alice Waters! Cafe Fanny! Hahahaha. First of all, the above video turned out way differently than was expected. Most of the people at Cafe Fanny that day were older and, in our eyes, less likely to enjoy rock n roll. Before I started playing, I told two older ladies sitting in the front that we were only going to play for a half a minute. One of them quickly replied, “Oh! Can we dance on the...
231
“Running Man” was also written during a guerilla show. I’m pretty sure it was at Volcom. There isn’t a linear story to the some… probably something to do with a form of musical angst.
230
“If You Don’t Like It” was a song I wrote while doing a guerilla show in the staircase of my apartment building. All tenants here are my friends and support the guerilla thing, except for one of two folks. So I sang this song for them!
229
Our friend Brendan asked us to play an art show at his studio in Berkeley called “Studio 9.” We obliged and I’m happy we did… a memorable show!
228
The above video is from a rehearsal at Volcom in Berkeley, California with Brett Anderson of The Donnas. rock n roll!
227
In the past few weeks, I’ve learned to tell the folks who may be very annoyed at rock n roll in our guerilla show vicinity that “we’ll only play for a few minutes.” Usually they are fond of the warning (especially because we’re not playing too long.)
226
“One Of These Days” is a song I wrote while doing a guerilla show on the UC Berkeley campus. Shortly thereafter, a cop came up and shut us down. Thankfully I got a song out of it. :)
225
Valentine’s Day 2012! Our friend suggested that we crash a giant pillow fight in the Embarcadero district of San Francisco. We got parking, found a plug and just as we were about the start rockin’, a group of park rangers asked us if we had a permit. Thus started the whole game of “we’ll have to give you a ticket if you play.” I told them, “sure, it’s...
224
Threw a little “show” in our downstairs studio area at the Firehouse Art Collective. It was kinda mellow considering how we were rocking out.
223
It’s neat to give insight into recording music. I also like the idea that everything is being documented visually as well as the audio. Keeps you on your toes.
222
Love playing in the Mission District of San Francisco. It’s one of the dirtiest, grungiest, roughest metropolitan area I’ve ever been to, but boy do they love some rock n roll!
221
Since this project started, I have learned to trust myself more musically. For example, the less I plan a set or “learn” a song, the better it goes. Above video is a case in point with the song “I’ll Fly Away.”
220
The above song we recorded in the parking lot of a Honda dealership… bet no one has ever sang a song there!
219
Again, one of the main points of guerilla rock n roll is to play music where there is normally NO MUSIC EVER. I do believe that life is to short to have alley ways, star cases, bath rooms… what will you… without have there been a concert there! :)
218
The UC Berkeley campus is a wonderful, haunting place. Old buildings stand undaunted by their younger bleached companions. Trees hang over walkways and the Campanile is always in majestic view to the East. On most days, you can look West and see the Pacific Ocean dipping down from the sky.
217
Toronto… I do miss that place and rocking out there. Hopefully a trip there will be underway soon enough.
216
Sure, bathrooms aren’t the best place for rock n roll, but… it’s a wonderful cinematic contrast to the shows that are rock n roll!
215
Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs and it’s by none other than Bob Dylan:
Buckets of rain, buckets of tears Got all them buckets comin’ out of my ears Buckets of moonbeams in my hand You got all the love, honey baby, I can stand I’ve been meek and hard like an oak I’ve seen pretty people disappear like smoke Friends will arrive, friends will disappear If you...
214
Once I was recording a song in Eagle Rock, California with Manny Nieto as engineer (our first session together, actually) and Alex Orbison on drums (son of the legendary Roy.) Right before the tape started rolling, Alex casually walks up to me and goes, “don’t worry, this is only what people will remember you by when you die.”
213
We did a show at the Emeryville Public Market for Firehouse Art Collective. On this occasion, we had our pal Isaac play keyboards with us. It was a fun time. Basically it all consisted of us just making up songs and people dancing around us. :)
212
Forgot to mention, with Classical, that I normally only listen to the works of Debussy… specifically his Suite Bergamasque.
211
Classical music is one of those things that I use for a specific purpose: large amounts of writing. For some odd reason, the music allows my brain to easily grab onto and bring my usually pensive words forthright into the world!
210
Got a bunch of new songs (electric and acoustic written.) Now on to that next process: recording.