Being on a stage is like being trapped on one side of cliff. No way to get to the other side.
I really derive my energy from being close to the audience. When I can't be down with them, when I have to room to move, I have no room to breath, and little passion for what I'm doing. Yes. All from a stupid stage. I'd rather be down on the floor.

With that little rant out of the way, let me say that the Tombs, Junius, Irepress, and Rosetta show in NYC was one of the most fun and enjoyable nights I've had in a long time.

Here's a little blurb Brooklyn Vegan did about the show:
Link


Even though I think we were nervous about the new material, we played technically well(For once I could hear my voice...always a plus for me). However, due to the freshness of the new songs out energy level was low, and with little room to move on the stage, it felt a little weird for me.

The turnout was fantastic. Even before we played the room was nearly maxed out...or at least it looked that way. This show was also the first time I've ever seen an audience pressure an opening act(Rosetta in this case) to play an encore. I truly thought that would have been impossible in the state.

Irepress was impressive, and it's been nice to see them evolve over the last two years. They really have a tight sound mapped out now. Irepress also pulled off a sweet 90s style singalong that really was nostalgic. Whats so awesome about this is that Irepress is an instrumental band. It got me excited.

Junius is one of my favorite bands at the moment, and it really was a treat to see them play in a good sounding space. Their new LP is fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for something new.

Tombs played some new material that blew me away. It was very heavy, and a little more angular than their last full length. I'm excited to hear it once it's recorded.

Our friend Luke from Burning Wheel has been letting us crash at his place the last 3 weekends while we record. Once again he provided us a haven for the night by allowing us to crash on his floor. It's always nice to get breakfast in Queens with him.

Travel conditions did not allow for us to get to upstate NY and play with Achillies.This was a bummer for me because I really like that band and have been wanting to play with them for sometime. But it was nice to get home early. Admittedly I'm overly exhausted and looking forward to my Christmas Vacation. Recording on top of school, on top of Grad classes, on top of shows really has taken it's toll on me again. Some much needed R&R is on the horizon.

Rosetta recording part one

While it's going really well, day one destroyed me.






There are still two and a half songs to finish vocally. That's going to easily be 5 hrs of non stop screaming. My chords are tired as is. And my muscles feel as if I spend the night wrestling a panda(that would be awesome, minus the claws).

Overall I'm happy with the sound, but once again feel like I'm Ill prepared for the job.

Here are some other photos just for the hell of it:

Really looking forward to this.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Junius- Martyrdom of a Catastrophist

Please do yourself a favor and download the new Junius record: Martyrdom of a Catastrophist. You'll be glad you did.

So it's been a minute.

I'll give you a short breakdown in 4 parts: Rosetta, Teaching, general complaints, and where I'm looking next.

Rosetta- We start recording next month. This will be first and only recording session I've ever been prepared for. My contributions to TGS and Wake/Lift can only be described as “Free Association”. The lyrics for both records were composed during live shows and evolved to what was finally recorded. It's not the same this time. I drive to school each day listening to the demos, going over parts, scripting things out. And just about each Friday since we recorded the demos, I've been locked inside my house with head phones on, putting the pen to the paper. Yet I'm still not sure this is enough. I fear I'll step inside the recording booth with nothing done.

For the first time I can truly say we're working hard. Lets see what the payoff looks like.....

Our touring schedule is really exciting! First and foremost, the Rosetta/Battlefields/ City Of Ships tour is going to be a whole lot of fun. We're going to some places we normally would not travel to this time of year and I'm looking forward to that very much. But I'm really looking forward to spending time with the traveling party.

Rosetta will be touring Europe again this summer.....STOKED!!! I had such a good time last year and I hope this year is just as amazing if not better. And I want my Godflesh shirt back.

Teaching: This year I'm teaching American Government and Intro to Psychology/Sociology. The classes are awesome, the kids are fantastic, the 12hr days are fast. How October 25^th came around so soon I'll never know. I would like to go apple picking with someone thought. However I think that might just pass by this year.

The grad class I'm taking is coming along well. It's nice to be back at Temple and indulge in that community once more.....now only if a nice lady would talk to me.

Awesome quotes from school-- “Hey Mr. Armine.....I'm a street pharmacist”

“Chick peas.....that's that....over there food”(points to world map)

General complaints:

Please allow me to clear this up for the general public: My dog has three legs. The following statements need not apply: “Dogs got no legs” or “Dogs got one leg”. If either of these were statements were true Rosie would not be able to walk. Yet she walks well. Thus, she has more than one leg. She's just missing one.....O and she'll kill you.Please see the picture below in case you're still confused.

Things are really good right now.....so this is my only complaint=)

Whats next......

Tattoo apt in December. Going to Syracuse to finish my arm with the following:

Yeah....it's lame.

Mule

So it happened. Finally. It was bound to. Last night was as good a night as any I suppose. She stood behind the counter, hunched over doing a crossword in front of the coffee machine. I walked slowly towards the leather cushioned sofa and sunk there for a few moments. Hiding probably, from the 5 or so years I'd much rather not confront. How unavoidable time is these days, especially when everything I know and loved has been seemingly distorted somehow, sculpted into something it was never meant to be. It was going to have to happen, if I left without saying anything I'll never get over it, accepting the last 5 years for what they've been. Amazing? Possibly....possibly maybe. But there are always doubts, always. The door was open and I could have left, told Kyle I'd catch another open mic at another spot another time, but instead I went and said hello, to a girl now in her second year of college, studying English Lit, doing a semester in Scotland. I taught this girl American History 5 years ago when I was student teaching. 5 years.
That's a long time to have spent in and out of a van, living in a basement, paycheck to paycheck, all in support of dreams.

Having spent the last 5 years almost everywhere, I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. This will be my second year at Haverford teaching, and I'm starting Grad school next month for a Masters in Special Education.
But even still I'm an old mule these days. Hardcore......I don't know about Hardcore anymore. It's only once in a blue moon that Rosetta gets to play a show that truly feels DIY anymore, and heavy music is getting a little too trite. It's so hard to find something heavy and fresh.
I never went to shows at bars. I had dreams of playing houses and squats. Yet here we are, doing shows in bars because that's all that can be maintained for any consistent amount of time.
And Skateboarding....that's changed so much. But something remains the same about it. Skateboarding is always right where I left it.

I'm finished, because I feel broken. No more energy for Rosetta outside of practice and shows. That warhorse did me in simply trying to feed it as best I knew how. Once bitten twice shy? Is that the saying. I love Rosetta, but she's a burden I can no longer care for the way she needs to be cared for. Dave's picking up the pieces anyway.

Focus has to be on teaching and skateboarding. Teaching makes me happy, skateboarding brings me balance. I'll be able to go on accepting my age, and the changes if I do this.

I feel like a mule any longer, or the next time I look 5 years back it won't look so good.