Half-way

So, this week was a toughie...but I've known it was going to be since the beginning of the month. Let's just go through a run-down:
Monday - studying my pants off (not literally - but it might have been funnier that way) for Poli. Sci. test - youl'll see why later. I spent a lot of the day at the church trying to get our wireless internet to work.
Tuesday - drum lessons in the afternoon at the church, still working on the internet. At 8:30, we had a practice for the Clear Lake gig. The rest of the guys didn't show up until 9:15ish. Rehearsed until midnight and then took about an hour to tear down and load the trailer. Fun times. Stayed up until 3:45 studying for Poli. Sci.
Wednesday - woke up at 6:30. Studied geography and more political science. Took my tests at 9 and then came home to do laundry and get ready to head to Clear Lake at 1. Played the gig and got hom at about 2am.
Today - woke up really late. I have studied some for my history test tomorrow and have finished laundry. I am heading to the church this evening and working with our newest drummer, Josh. He's going to fill in for me this week...thank goodness. Going to visit my family this evening and come home to polish cymbals and hardware and get ready for the next gig this weekend.
So, Clear Lake gig went well. We played for about 30-40 kids, which was a pretty slim crowd...but, that will change. Clay's only been there for a little while, so I expect the next time we play that it will be a much bigger crowd. It was there "SawYou@thePole Rally"...pretty neat to be a part of one of those. Clay took us to a great restraunt after the service and we got on the road shortly after. I got home and relaized I had dropped my house key somewhere in the process during the day. Don't know where, but it's gone... Found a way into the hosue and we asleep by 3.
Livingston gig is Friday through Sunday. Nervous, but it will be fine. I am playing on their drums...a sweet Gretsch maple kit. Very excited about that! Will keep you posted on how that goes.
Peace!

I love my church! Seriously, you hear the statement all the time - and some of you feel this way. I am so glad I am at a oint in my life where I can say this. We are so blessed to have a pastor that is not afraid to preach the truth. I feel truly blessed that he is an approachable guy, and someone who can relate to what we - as students - are going through.

I love the fact I can be surround by folks who care for me, and want to help me. I am so excited and fired up to know that each week we will heart the truth of the Word and that I will leave challenged. Man, it's just such a cool feeling.

That is all my friends...

Peace!

Is it Needed?

I have a question - and sorry, this is for musicians only...though folks who are not musically inclined may have some insight into this...who knows.

Why is it that an overwhelming majority of really talented musicians are so arrogant?

I have unfortunately experienced a lot of this. It's that "I'm-much-better-and-much-more-important-than-you'll-ever-be" attitude. It happens a lot with guys who are really talented. It's an ego thing I know...but I can't wrap my mind around why it has to end up that way. I have run into about three or four of this type of musician in the last month, and I don't like it.

If I ever become successful in music, you all have my word....arrogance will not be my game....

On another subject...I took a big step in my history - I bought something on iTunes! "WHAT?!?!" you may be saying (well - actually, if you said it like that you would be screaming in a questioining tone). I have been trying to track down a song or two by this band and Rhapsody and Napster don't have it. iTunes is just so manipulative with the way they format their music - but, they were the only ones that had it...so that is that. I know, it's a big step, but, big changes happen with baby steps my friends.

Peace!

Two Words

...Vanessa Carlton

Man, this girl rocks! I have really been listening to her stuff lately. The drummer who did sessions for her, Abe Laboriel Jr., is a phenominal drummer. I have been listening to both of her CD's, which are both really really good. I would recommend taking a listen. I think the production is very very good also. There are so many different sounds going on, like dulicmer and harmonica, and some of the loop programming is pretty neat too. The guys that they got to record with her are all just amazing. But this drummer, man, he can throw it down. I have been reading a lot about him, some other projects he's done. He is amazing. But, still, Vanessa Carlton blows me away - very talented girl.

I am really trying to listen to a lot of different artists - rather than bands - to see what some session drummers are doing. We had a talk in my electronic music class today and it really hit me...I don't want to be in a band. I mean, right now, playing in bands is fine. But, when I start my career, I want to do session work instead.

A guy in my class got a letter from the school because he has been illegally downloading music. The school either fined him or shut off his internet (maybe both), but my profssor (Herbert Midgley) said that he was very lucky that the IRAA didn't get a hold of him. They don't play around. This dude could have been fined thousands of thousands of dollars.

In the discussion about copyright laws, we started talking about the breakdown of record sales and what bands see of that - and it isn't much. I didn't realize how much actually went back to the label after production. A band setup is great, but, I think that I would much rather play different styles and genres of music and get paid more to do it.

Anyways, that's what has been going on. A lot of classes, and studying. Never thought I would actually be taking this thing seriously, but here I am. And I like it. I like accomplishing reading a 100-page reading assignemnt for History.

Alright, I am out. Peace!

I have been surrounding myself with music lately. I am listening to a lot of things I haven't listened to in a while - or ever.

Here's what I've got:
- Alicia Keys
- Sting
- R.E.M.
- Sheryl Crow
- Train

Good stuff!

Is it just me - or can anyone else not take this product seriously anymore?

The Greatest

Today was long. I had a lot to do, and I thought a long time to do it. Forgot drums needed to be set up in the chapel for lessons and youth, no biggie....let me show you the way this panned out:

1. Got to GBC at around 3:30 (already an hour late) Tore down drums from Crosspoint.
2. Moved equipment over to chapel at around 4:15 (now about an 1 hour and a half late). Took entirely too long to move stuff and setup...it's still not done!
3. Loaded the car at 4:45 - into Lufkin by 5:25 (had to turn around because I forgot something...like usual).
4. Uloaded and ready to play at 6:00 - recording rig NOT!
5. Recording rig setup with mics and mixer by 6:45. Tweaked levels until 7:45 and then recorded a take or two.
6. Go to setup another take and talk to Todd for a bit. As I am doing that, I had computer issues and lost the first take, which was okay with me. Get ready to knock out three more by 8:45
7. By 10:00, I had done three more takes and was relatively satisfied. Tore down by 10:40 and out the door.
8. Stopped by Todd's to drop off keys, and then went to Taco Bell. Back in Nac by 11:45.

I want to be known for stating this...I have the GREATEST girlfriend in the world. She learned enough about Pro Tools to help me record. In this setup....I can't do it. With the mixer and all, it throw me for a loop and the setup has to be further away. She watched levels and put up with a lot....with a headche and all. I love her dearly! Not just because she did that, but, she puts up with all my musical endeavors. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful girlfriend to sit there for a painful lenght of time to get nothing in return...but she did, with a smile....except when we lost the first take....but I wasn't smiling either. Love you Angela!!! and THANK YOU!!!!

Alright, I'm off to do some MIDI research. Peace!

Busy-ness

Back to school again...but, this semester seems exciting. It seems challenging and for some reason, I think I am at a point in my life where I want that. I did drop a Communications class yesterday just because I have three very reading intensive courses and my vision just keep diminishing...but, I am still taking a more full load than I have ever taken in my college career - so that's good. I am still excited. I think I am also narrowing down a major. I am looking at Speech Communications and Journalism with a minor in Public Relations. Ever since I was younger, journalism alwyas stuck out as an interest. People always told me I was great at writing and said I would make a good reporter. Whether that is true or not, I still need to think about. This is the time to decide.

In other news, started teaching drum lessons this week. That is actually a lot of fun. I am learning a lot in the process too - which is fun. I have two students now, but, I would like to branch out into having a few more. It would be a great way to expand my career by doing education work. Also might be recording the demo for David McElvens's country band. I talked to him at church last week and it seems promising.

V-Drums (boo) are going to be back up at church tomorrow. We used acoustic for the last month and we'll be using the acoustic in Crosspoint (which went really well last week). I am supposed to meet Ryan at the church today to set the V-Drums (boo) back up.

Well that's all for now. Peace!