Since April -
Won second place in Governor's cup,
Graduated
Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Branson, Arkansas in May
Gillette, Construction, Beard in June and July
Chicago again in August, this time for real.
Living with 4 Moody Grads who have conservative theology and a cabinet full of hard alcohol.
You know those things you like that everyone likes? and you know that by you liking them people probably think you are bland and uncritical? Mine exist below
1. Obama
2. Sigur Ros' new album
3. H&M
4. the Chicago Cubs.
What are yours?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
My Divorce and Makeup with Concerts
Today is a day where I recover my youth.
The statement is ironic coming from a 22 year old, but thats what ignoring a passion for a year does to you.
I am going to a concert tonight with my buddies.
It has been over a year since I've been to a concert, and this is ridiculous for me.
I used to thrive on concerts, I remember as a young boy, my friends dad would drive us 2 and a half hours to Rapid City, South Dakota to see the Newsboys. Obviously, this experience was life-changing for my eight year old mind, and I will never forget seeing the Newsboys come down on flying saucers, the spinning drum cage, or singing "Shine" with hundred of other fans.
This passion continued into high school, where I was an avid disciple of bands like Project 86 and Stavesacre. I remember going to project 86 concerts with a homemade project shirt, and being absolutely captivated by Andrew Schwab's intensity on stage. I could sing every line to every song and the feeling of getting thrown around with other fans while the unsafe volumes of the live instruments pounded my every sense is something that I will never forget.
In college, my affair continued. Many of the greatest trips, memories, and friendships I had could be directly connected to a concert. I can say things like "The Pedro trip", "The Norma Jean fight", "The Saosin letdown", etc, and me and my friends can immediatel spout off a barrage of memories about the experience.
As I started playing more concerts in my own band, The Growing Robot Population, I saw my love for music and concerts grow steadily to a crest until it was at an all time high. It was a complete essential in my life, and I would watch or play a show at least twice a month. Towards the end of GRP's run, I started to get burnt out. The stage antics that thrilled me were starting to look staged, the inexplicable coolness of rattails, mustaches, and dirty v-necks started to look like calculated fashion, the stories of bands being crazy on tour started to seem like contrived efforts at being, well, "bandish", the ironic tees and smoky style of the scenesters became less a novelty and more of a bore. Everything was turning into a busines, a business of being cool enough at a concert to get people to be your friend on myspace, buy your shirt, and tell their friends about you. I myself completely fell into this mindset, as the thrill of my band starting to get a following and the possibility of me being up on stage in front of tons of fans becoming an attainable reality were simply over powering.
Well, I got burnt out on it. The band stopped. I got busy. Tons of excuses, no concerts.
So tonight, I am not only revisiting an essential activity, I am probably burning some old demons too. I am watching a concert, just to see people play music I enjoy. I am not going to see what I can do to promote my band, I am not going to try to appear cool, I am not going to try to casually hang out with the band. Just me and some friends, watching some bands, having fun, and going home.
These lyrics from Oh, Sleeper, are not only some of my favorite right now, but actually apply a bit to my experiences.
I once saw my deeds grow to greatness,
and now I'm lost in the folds and worthless.
Following the footsteps of heroes,
never led to the safe and grey roads.
Oh, Sleeper; Memphis May Fire; and A Skylit Drive. Tonight. Great times.
Today is a day where I recover my youth.
The statement is ironic coming from a 22 year old, but thats what ignoring a passion for a year does to you.
I am going to a concert tonight with my buddies.
It has been over a year since I've been to a concert, and this is ridiculous for me.
I used to thrive on concerts, I remember as a young boy, my friends dad would drive us 2 and a half hours to Rapid City, South Dakota to see the Newsboys. Obviously, this experience was life-changing for my eight year old mind, and I will never forget seeing the Newsboys come down on flying saucers, the spinning drum cage, or singing "Shine" with hundred of other fans.
This passion continued into high school, where I was an avid disciple of bands like Project 86 and Stavesacre. I remember going to project 86 concerts with a homemade project shirt, and being absolutely captivated by Andrew Schwab's intensity on stage. I could sing every line to every song and the feeling of getting thrown around with other fans while the unsafe volumes of the live instruments pounded my every sense is something that I will never forget.
In college, my affair continued. Many of the greatest trips, memories, and friendships I had could be directly connected to a concert. I can say things like "The Pedro trip", "The Norma Jean fight", "The Saosin letdown", etc, and me and my friends can immediatel spout off a barrage of memories about the experience.
As I started playing more concerts in my own band, The Growing Robot Population, I saw my love for music and concerts grow steadily to a crest until it was at an all time high. It was a complete essential in my life, and I would watch or play a show at least twice a month. Towards the end of GRP's run, I started to get burnt out. The stage antics that thrilled me were starting to look staged, the inexplicable coolness of rattails, mustaches, and dirty v-necks started to look like calculated fashion, the stories of bands being crazy on tour started to seem like contrived efforts at being, well, "bandish", the ironic tees and smoky style of the scenesters became less a novelty and more of a bore. Everything was turning into a busines, a business of being cool enough at a concert to get people to be your friend on myspace, buy your shirt, and tell their friends about you. I myself completely fell into this mindset, as the thrill of my band starting to get a following and the possibility of me being up on stage in front of tons of fans becoming an attainable reality were simply over powering.
Well, I got burnt out on it. The band stopped. I got busy. Tons of excuses, no concerts.
So tonight, I am not only revisiting an essential activity, I am probably burning some old demons too. I am watching a concert, just to see people play music I enjoy. I am not going to see what I can do to promote my band, I am not going to try to appear cool, I am not going to try to casually hang out with the band. Just me and some friends, watching some bands, having fun, and going home.
These lyrics from Oh, Sleeper, are not only some of my favorite right now, but actually apply a bit to my experiences.
I once saw my deeds grow to greatness,
and now I'm lost in the folds and worthless.
Following the footsteps of heroes,
never led to the safe and grey roads.
Oh, Sleeper; Memphis May Fire; and A Skylit Drive. Tonight. Great times.
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