They've gone to plaid!

I really like plaid shorts... especially plaid prints with shades of black and gray/grey. There is something old school about it. 

I also really like Chuck Taylor kicks and old school hardcore punk. Talk about old school. 

Old School. 

It's the secret phrase of the day! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Warped!

Warped Tour was yesterday... fourth one in a row and overall for me. Every year that I go there are less and less bands that I want to see or go to enjoy in exchange for a day burning under the sun. Yesterday was the best weather I encountered since I've been going to the tour. 

I wore my white t-shirt with my fraternity letters yesterday as means to counter the heat. Black shirts and summer sun is never good when combined. One of the small opening band's vocalist was a brother so I chatted it up with him for a bit. It was cool stuff. Met another brother from Buffalo State while waiting for Pennywise to hit the stage and then had a girl take my picture because she had friends in TKE and wanted to show them. It felt pretty cool even though I had my moments of feeling like a douche for wearing letters. On top of that, I'm also an alumni even though the brotherhood is for life. 

Every Time I Die played first and they were okay. They're last great record was two records ago and frankly, they haven't made anything as engaging as the songs on Hot Damn!  They didn't play "I Been Gone a Long Time," which was disappointing to me. I used to play that song on my am radio show during my freshman and sophomore years of college. 

All That Remains followed and they played well until I hear their new song, "Two Weeks." Now the thing is with All That Remains is that they are a really good band with skilled musicians. Realistically they could continue making music in vein of their first two records and eventually make a good living off it but they chose to continue their path of cashing in. It's okay that they have a song on the Guitar Hero video game and had the main song on the Saw IV soundtrack but then I was witness to the song "Two Weeks" being performed. All I'm going to say is that All That Remains can make it without having to use clean vocals in an entire song but they did. They have three amazing records and sure the older the record the heavier and more brutal but still. I expected more of the band. 

Moving onto Pennywise, aside from taking close to 15 minutes to hit the stage they owned the day. In my opinion, the older bands usually dominate Warped Tour but never get the respect for doing so. But for me Pennywise dominated and did it very well. No complaints whatsoever, then again, Pennywise are one of the few bands that have maintained a steady course and stayed true to their beliefs. 

Against Me! played 8 or 9 songs in their 30 minute set. They did no talking in between. They hit the stage and played all way through. I have no complaints about that. They easily maximized their playing time. 

And with that another Warped Tour is in the books. It was fun but the number of good bands is slowly ebbing and that sucks because it is quite possible this could have been the last or the penultimate Warped Tour for me. 

Time will tell.  

Get in the van!

So I'm now, currently, reading Henry Rollin's Get in the Van. For those that don't know Henry Rollins was the last incarnation of the band Black Flag's vocals. Get in the Van is a collection of journal entries and photos from his stint in the band from 1981 to 1986, when they broke up. It's an addicting read. 

Warped Tour tomorrow... all day or rather from noon to 8 or 9. Might leave early if the closing bands all suck. I'm interested in seeing All That Remains, Every Time I Die, Pennywise and The Bouncing Souls play. Against Me! is not on the east coast leg of the tour so I get to miss them, which sucks because they've started to grow on me. I'm pretty sure I'm going to feel old and out of place since I'm too old for the young crowd and too young for the older crowd that goes for one or two older bands. I'm stuck in the middle... shit never changes, eh? 

Back to Get in the Van. I told ya it's addicting. 

And so it continues

Finished reading Johnny Hazzard about a minute ago. It was good. But it felt lacking though because there was no major or significant climax. That or I didn't relate to what could be viewed as the climax. 

Saw The Dark Knight yesterday and it was easily one of the greatest films I've ever seen. Its greatness transcends genres and everything that can be perceived. It was a brilliant examination and presentation of what man is capable of and of the impact one person's actions have on others. Best movie this year so far and probably for the win! 

Warped Tour is this Saturday. Fourth year in a row going. Last years pinnacle was seeing Bad Religion and discovering Tiger Army. This year's pinnacle? I hope it involves Pennywise, Every Time I Die, All That Remains, Bouncing Souls and another band or two. We shall see, right? 

The Dark Knight was amazing!!!

Oh Snap!

Finished Franny & Zooey. I want to know about dear ol' Franny. 

I'm a little over a third into Johnny Hazzard. Not bad so far. Simple and engaging. I'm totally digging the Johnny Hazzard protagonist. Not to fond of the description of his love interest though. 

Two weeks left in July... about 5 weeks left before I go back to school. 

Thinking too much

I over think things. I take a situation and image all the possibilities that can result from it. It's probably because of this that sometimes I feel that I can't function or perform certain tasks. I simply think so much that I can't do something much simpler. Go figure. 

I will finish Franny & Zooey tomorrow. I have about 30 pages to go. Salinger was absolutely nuts to write what he has written. 

I need incorporate some drastic changes into my life. I feel that I don't do enough and hence the window of opportunity for certain things is getting smaller. There I go thinking things over too much. It's a crippling disease. 

Gotta do more, gotta be more!

Saw the cute receptionist at the gym again. Either she digs me or she's a totally nice person. Not sure which. 

Might road trip in August for two weeks. If this goes through then awesomeness I become. 

Statue of Liberty tomorrow with kid brother and mom. It's been like 12 years since. I was last there in '95 when I had my broken left arm. 

Still reading Franny and  Zooey. I think I'm love with the character of Franny. Damn you Salinger! I find that I always end up liking literary characters for some reason. Why? Who knows! 

I need to buy a new pair of headphones. I want to buy a Wii. Played Wii Bowling and Mario Cart last night and it was AMAZING. I want. 

Musings 2

Saw people from high school last night. Needless to say, no one has really changed except for the fact that some of us have gained weight. Why? 

Oh well, it was nice to reminisce on some good old days. 

One story left to read in Every Man for Himself anthology. And then it's back to reading Franny and Zooey. Salingers' writing needs to be read patiently by me. Can't speed through it. I guess so I can savor it more. 

Musings

Cute receptionist at gym thought my name was Louis. Oh well. She's nice. I wish there was a way to figure out what she really thinks of me. She did promise to remember my name next time... will hold her up to that. 

Day 2 of workshop was very filling. I was burnt out by the last hour or so. Day 3 tomorrow and after Day 3 it's Day 4 and then, I wait for the check to come in the mail. WOOO!

At the workshop we kept talking about the word "outsider" so I had the Chumbawumba song, "Outsider" stuck in my head all day. It was kinda cool but then I remembered the Chumbawumba CD is upstairs in the attic. The stepladder to the attic has one broken hinge/support and I'm a big fella so I feel this is a recipe for disaster. 

Strung Out, the band, is growing on me. I have Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues and at first it was meh but it begins to latch on and gnaw without submitting until you dig it. Cool stuff. Very hectic pace. 

Back in the City

Started day one of a four day workshop on how to use inquiry to engage students in learning. It could be worse. 

The best part of the workshop is that it's in downtown Manhattan. Stopped by South Street Seaport for the first time in years. Literally. It was nice to go back... tons of tourists though. Good place to get one's afternoon drink on though. 

Riding the LIRR in the morning is pretty fun. I enjoy myself. Kudos! 

Night time

I like to listen to music at night. 

I miss being under some influence and listening to music. I would notice music more for its less obvious details. 

I love listening to Suenos Liquidos and grooving to the bass lines while in a state of influential bliss. It was groovy like a squiggly line. 

It's the Fourth

Fourth of July is a cliche. Like all cliches it is overrated and pretty useless. 

Listening to 311 during hot, muggy, humid summer days is a cliche. Listening to 311 while smoking weed is also a cliche. 

Blogging about cliches is a cliche. 

I'm a cliche because I try to avoid being a cliche but in the process I become a cliche. 

To be a pessimist; we're fucked. 

But we'll try to avoid being fucked and that is another cliche. 

Insanity

My family is insane. My parents need therapy... we all need therapy or something. Everyone has multiple issues. 

I hope my little brother avoids this trap hole. I really hope he does. 

Estranged

At 8 minutes and 42 seconds the song reaches its emotional climax. It's amazing. One of Axl's best vocal performances. It's easily the part that sold me on the song. 

What's even better is that "You Could Be Mine" follows it on the record (Use Your Illusion II) with its horse gallop drumming. Awesome. 

Guns N' Roses were/are a great band with a legendary legacy that touches the farthest reaches of the who knows what. I can only imagine if they were still together... then again maybe it's a good thing they ceased to continue. 

Thoughts and Ideas

The songs I will best remember are not metal. I could also be saying this because these non-metal songs fit my current mood. Then again, it could very well be true that the best songs written are songs that are not metal. 

It's weird. 

I love heavy metal but I know that I'm aware that other genres exist. I also know that not one genre has supremacy over the others. Just browse my iTunes. I do believe though that Meat Loaf knows the formula to creating successful music or good tunes. Just listen to any Meat Loaf song and you will see. Meat Loaf has it all, guitar solos, epic song structure, back up singers, soaring chorus', great drumming, the works. The works. 

Musicians must drink and do a lot of drugs. 

The least interesting music has to be the music created by people who do NOT drink or use drugs. Just take a look at some of the most memorable music created over the years. The one exception in my book is KISS but there is no mystery behind KISS. KISS is KISS and that's all. 

Even the better metal songs were/are created by people who drink and do drugs. 

Any song that makes you think or reflect or simply fits the aura/mood that booze and drugs puts you has a trail of spilt beer and drugs consumed. 

Believe me. And if you do not then just listen. Just listen.