Upcoming Music project! (Lyrics at bottom) [Also subscribe]

I haven't taken part in releasing a recording or playing a live show since 2009.  In 2009 my band Iron Will played exactly one show and practiced maybe twice. Playing music always has always been a good emotional outlet for me.  That being said, I'm HOPING to put something together during the time I go home this winter break.  Anything really.



I recommend more people make music.  I am living proof that it doesn't take much talent.  When my first band got going, I played bass (an instrument I had no experience with) with a quarter for a pick and only strummed downwards.  Our first demo and show were played 2 and 3 weeks after I picked up the bass and quarter.

Bass players will be face palming right now.

For the last 2 years, my best friend and former band mate Jeff and I have thrown out a few band ideas and jammed several times. A fellow NC English teacher and I have talked about starting a band as well.  A lot of these ideas are REALLY good and things I would be excited to do, but they seem like they might not happen.

One thing I've noticed about the music industry, never make promises or go into too much detail about a project before it gets going.  That is how my band Maury worked.  We started as an Emo/Indie band called "In Loving Memory" before our first practice.  Look how that turned out.

Ok.  Back on topic.  Right now I've had a lot of inspiration to look at and write about different things, and I've had some success writing simple guitar songs.  All I know about this project right now is it will likely involve a line up of me and vocals and guitar and Jeff on drums and better guitar.  I think (based primarily on my lack of guitar skill) it will be very punk.  Very very punk.  Maybe not even in a good way.  I'm looking to do something like old Rites of Spring or a more punk version of the Get Up Kids.


Here are some lyrics I've been working on:

Deadtown (this is by FAR the most structured song I've ever written)

Growing up in a graveyard means skeletons for friends

And I’m not a phantom or at least I’d pretend

We’re writing excuses on cemetery walls

Paying lip service to prophets that we can’t recall

I know my reaction can’t be endless pleadings

But carry me away lord my heart beat is ceasing

One more sleepless night and I’m sick of this city

My back broken backwards and I’m feeling self pity

And I tried

And I failed

So I slept 

Interred at encampments made out of lost sacred tombs

We’re meeting our makers in motherless wombs

Forgive my unfaith but I think it’s disturbing

How we keep leaving but are always returning

Fate and my heart are always opposing

The veins of these streets are constricting and closing

Take me away from my duty and grief

I’d give it all up for a decade of sleep

Please forget my face and forgive my name

If this is forever then I’ll accept the blame

Straight talk has never been a problem with me

Alive under the radar with all my honesty

It’s in my head the bells are still ringing

If I have to scream these words I’ll still keep on singing

If I’m out of this place then it’s a whole different story

I’m still trapped on this earth, here in purgatory

Young Man (very disjointed, but I have the rhythm in my head)

I wish I could explain to you

all those things you could never understand

like life and love and growing up

and how things got so out of hand

Maybe you could forgive me for my mistakes

I hope you understand why things have to be this way

and they have to be this way

And I still believe in the same things

But as time goes on so much goes wrong

And you gotta know how we got here

Like that night when I held her hand 

and told her I wasn’t ready to sleep together

that I was waiting for my wife

And could we maybe talk about this later?

Another month went by and by and by

and she was out of my life forever

Just to clarify it still hurts

Or how the other one looked so pretty in that dress

While we danced and talked nothing, nothing, nothing

All night and met up a few others

And she looked so pretty in that dress

but we were both nothing, nothing, nothing

We parted on the worst terms sifting through the lies

And now I know I’m heartless because I just don’t care anymore

Remember the girl who told us thats he loved us

And you were dumb enough to believe her?

Well I’ve heard she is the mother

Of a child who could use a decent father

But it’s not me

It’s been years since we last spoke

There’s nothing left to say, there is nothing left to say

And I feel free

And how there were all those times I thought I wouldn’t make it

Through another song about the person that I used to be

But people still wanted that so I got up and delivered

And there aren’t x’s on my hands but theres no blood on my hands

And I couldn’t be happier than their current state

Even though people think the worst of me

I keep on keeping on

How could I ever explain to you

Did you know I am a teacher?

Thats the crazy thing, maybe we both saw this coming

But I never thought I’d see the day, and maybe I still haven’t

I stay up only by drinking black coffee

But I remember the days as well as you do

That I couldn’t sleep to save my life

Maybe I still can’t

Young man you’ll get your share of scars

and you will let them shake you

But I can promise you’ll won’t be broken

Even though every word I’ve spoken

Is so damn true

And I know you’ll keep waiting

Because I am still waiting, waiting, waiting

Could you just continue to believe in me

Like I still smile when I remember you?

And I’ll try to be the man, that everyone said

we both could be.

So here you go.  I don't know how this is going to end up, but I really want to record these.  The first one already has the guitar work complete!

More poetry, very different

Here are some new things I've been working on.  Different than my usual stuff.  Also, apparently when i changed layouts it took out line breaks in old poem posts

First post in forever. Forever.

First of all, subscribe to this blog.  Once december hits, I will have a lot more content.  For now, I am student teaching and can't post anything about it.  Which is infuriating. It violates some sort of rule.  I have so much to say!

I will say this: teaching is all about reflecting on your practice.  IF you are not reflecting, you will at some point cease to be a good teacher.  If you are reflecting and are honest about it, you should continue to improve.  This is important.

I would like to post some more content that is not my own so please email me.  I have some poems and songs I've been working on I will post soon enough.

As far as my development as a writer: had one poem published, and will be attempting nanowrimo.

I think I might jot down some thoughts here soon.  I've got a lot on my mind.


Also.


Dig the new lay out.

Dig it.

Beer Review Session #1

My friend Brandon and I have been talking about doing an entire blog for beer reviews for awhile, but it seems like we never have the motivation to get it going.  This will be a little test for that.  This past weekend my friend Seth and I tasted a few beers. There were all an impulse buy at a local Beer and Wine store. We drank these out of a tulip, chilled to recommended temperature.   Here are the results (copy and pasted from my profile at Beeradvocate.com, if you like beer sign up!):

Mexico

I had a long, wordy entry for this typed out but decided against posting it.  I feel like that would cheapen the experience for both me and you the reader.  If you would like information feel free to email me, facebook me or we could go get coffee or something sometime and talk about it.

HC Thursday

I was looking through my collection of music for stuff that wouldn't be on iTunes I could pass your collective way. Lots of Florida hardcore. Also some bands are on iTunes that you should check out (Black SS, Pg. 99, Years from Now, Myproof and many more you wouldn't expect).

As always if any of the individuals in these bands or labels have problems with these cd's being here for download, I will take them down upon request.

Summer update/Some new poems

I haven't posted a lot this summer.  Mostly cause I've had absolutely no drive to.  Which has been nice in it's own way.  I've gotten most of my to-do summer list done (or well underway).   Quitting smoking has been success with a little failure here and there (but on the right track).  Beat Okami and Adom. Reread some books, read other books.  Mexico Training is going good and leaving for that soon.


So here is some stuff I've been working on.  Enjoy.

[Edit: for some reason line breaks didn't show up. oh well.\