ok, don't get mad...

so, i realized something this morning. Its important to stay on top of the times. Being 'old fashioned' doesn't work in this day and age. If you can't roll with the punches, you'll get left behind. You have to stay in tune with what is going on, and that kind of means what the younger generation is bringing to the table. If you can't relate with the younger people, you'll never get anywhere. I've watched alot of people make alot of mistakes recently because they don't know how to relate to younger people. Just something I've noticed. and of course I have a solution: stay young. Not in age (of course you can't anyways), but in attitude. How am I doing that? Black on High. Hahahahaha! you knew that was going to come full circle didn't you! I'm writing alot more now, lots of acoustic stuff, i'm really excited to do that part of BOH. I have a feeling BOH is going to be the embodiment of everything we ever wanted to do. There will be no way to pigeon hole it. And that's a good thing. I found this picture just now, thought you'd like it. This is a really good indicator of what life was like on the road with Narcotic Self.

d

Perfect is a skinned knee...

God, Mike Patton writes good lyrics! I just wanted to say that.

I realized something in this picture. Weddings are drinking contests. The one's who are coherent enough to be pissed when the bar closes at 10, win. Granted the reception started at 4, and i appreciated the free beer ( Boulevard no less, thanks Ryan!), but you see where I'm going. On another sad note, I'll be cutting the hair again tonight. I hate getting my hair cut. I always have it in the back of my mind that i need to keep it for one more show. But the shows are just starting up again, and frankly, I'm tired of it. I'm only happy with it if its short or really long. I wear hats during the in between time. Which is most of the time. And I'm wearing out another DC hat.

I heard the new Brian 'Head' Welch track today. I think it was called 'Flush'. Two things were made very apparent: 1.) you know who wrote the good shit in Korn, and 2.) Brain can't write lyrics for shit. He's an amazing musician, but shitty singer/lyricist. Sometimes guitar players have to realize that if they can't sing, they shouldn't. Why do you think i don't? hahaha. I've been trying, but its not good. So, I probably won't! So, I imagine the rest of his record is probably that way. Too bad. I know he found Jesus and all, but come on, even Jesus knows shitty lyrics when he hears them.

Anyways, one more day closer to Friday. Enjoy!

d

Update

Cheers! (this is one of the few times you'll catch me at the 49'r, Hi Kyle!).

Practices are going very well. The set for the 15th is about 6 songs. We also just posted a new track on the myspace called 'Razor Clean'. Go check that out right now. I'll wait................. ok, good, glad you dug it! Lots of other cool surprises are being worked at the moment as well. We'll keep rotating demos on the myspace as we finish them, so keep checking back! The cool thing about this project is that we are just doing whatever we want. We don't have to be brutal, we don't have to be complicated, and that opens up a ton of doors. I personally am doing a lot of things i've never done before. I think that takes some sack personally. I know way too many people who just write the same song over and over and over again. Trying to make it heavier or more 'radio friendly' in a futile effort to get noticed. Selling music is just like selling anything else, if you market it right, you'll sell it. If you don't, you won't. You don't have to be 'brutal' or 'user friendly' to get noticed. It has to be good of course, but there's always someone out there who will buy it. So why not take chances? Anyways, enough venting. Cheers.

d

what to say and not to say to a sound guy...

For those of you who are musicians, here's a list of things that were said to me last night while i was working a show. The first list is a list of very nice compliments that were given to me, and the second list is a list of things that will ruin your show before you even play, and just makes you look like you have no idea what you are doing.

list one.

5.) Dude, your monitors were right on dude! I totally could hear everything, that never happens here! (thanks dude)

4.) We've had nothing but bad shows here, but tonight sounded badass! (thanks Ed)

3.) Can i buy you a beer? The show sounded fucking sweet! (best thing you can ever do for a soundguy, thanks btw)

2.) Will you run sound for us next time? (being asked to do it again means you did something right the first time)

1.) You're not the regular guy that works sound here are you? you should be. (i was speechless since I'm kind of a hack at it).


List two.

5.) yea, uh, that's the kick drum feeding back.
- the sound guy knows dude. he's doing what you tell him to do.
4.) yea, you won't need to mic anything else, just my kick drum.
- know your telling him how to do his job. does he tell you how to play drums? the sound guy doesn't work for you, he works for the club, and has to shine your turd so people don't leave.
3.) we need to start on time cause we have another show at 11 at a different bar.
- still dumbfounded.
2.) why does nothing ever work here!
- do you want me to even try dude? (i didn't by the way)
1.) we have two songs left in our set!
- when a sound guys says you have one left, you have one left. if you bleed two songs together, you're lucky if he doesn't pull the plug on you. i should have, but at that point i was in the bar getting a drink to dull the pain of just having had to sit through 40 minutes of your music.

All but one of these was said by the same guy. i don't mean to be judgmental about anyones music, because creating music is the best thing you can do in the world, but when you get cocky about it, that's when it becomes lame. you, my friend, were quite lame last night. i hope your second show was better than the first!

Sorry, i don't mean to be mean. I've learned a lot about how to treat a sound guy since i started doing it. and believe me, i now know their pain.

not to trump the good news, but i like this picture. its me and josh from Black on High drinking beers by the River. good stuff. nicely done Kyle.

d

its official!

Black on High's first show with be August 15th @ the Waiting Room in Omaha for the Beta - Minus CD release party! mark the calendars. it doesn't matter how much it costs, cause you love me and will support it anyways. and, shit, come on, first show dude! we play first of course, so get there early. like 7, so you don't miss it. i'll see you there!

d

?

Henry Rollins said 'Its sad when someone you know becomes someone you knew.' Is it sad if you do it on purpose?

d

WWHRD?

i mean really? what would he do? its a very valid question.

d

Dimebag...

i remember the day dime died. i was in Atlanta when i got the phone call. the voice on the other said 'some asshole shot dime!'. i was heartbroken. this was my tribute to him. this is me, josh (b.o.h.), gregg (rifles at dawn), jeph (downshift), J3507 (downshift/beta minus), and our friend JR. We were playing Suicide Note Part 1. Downshift went on to play Suicide Note Part 2 right after. That was for you Dime! I hope we did it justice.

d

?

ok, i'm going to try something. since i am not a very organized person, i decided to post song ideas on here. i usually write ideas for songs on little pieces of paper, business cards, text them to scott, any number of different things. I call it 'feeding the muse'. For those of you who aren't really familiar with the concept of a 'muse', and its going to be slightly different for everyone, I will explain how i see it. A muse is a center of inspiration, whether its good or bad, both, or neither. Every artist has one. That's what makes them artists. Its different for everyone, and you can't really tell anyone what it is. A muse is a very very private thing. The 'art' that comes out is the part that be hear, see, taste, whatever. So, from now on, with every post, i will have a little section at the bottom called 'feeding the muse'. Could be song titles, could be a lyric, could be a topic, it could be anything.

d

feeding the muse: 'continuous states of change'

me and the dean.

haha, me and jesse at that last sokol show. so, i slept in a little this morning. prolly cause some one fed me shots of rumple last night. not sure who did that, but who am I to pass on free booze? thanks who ever you are! its been kind of a wierd last couple weeks. i'm kind of at a cross roads in my life. every one has kids, is or is getting married, changing up their priorities, etc. i've been asked more than 15 times this weekend when i was getting married or having kids. i've been asked so many times, i have a scripted standard answer to that question. i'm not sure if that's completely messed up or just ridiculous. so, for those reading, i'm still a big kid myself, can't take care of myself really, i still play on playgrounds. alot. i'm surprised that some hasn't asked questions. i'm enjoying my 20's. I'm not doing anything serious until i'm at least 30. my uncle mark gave me that advice, and he's one of the most optimistic people i've ever met in my entire life. he loves life. everyday is a new day. a few years ago, I got into some trouble, and i went out to Detroit to spend some time with him and clear my head. he took me to this little stretch of beach on Lake Michigan right at the MI/IN border. It was amazing. While we were sitting there, he looks at me and says this 'you know why this place rules? Cause even God hangs out here.' So, now when ever something drastic happens in my life ( and i have 16 hours to kill) i go there.

good morning/afternoon, whatever you call 11:30 these days

what up guys? so, i was thinking this morning. i talk alot on here about writing music and this and that. For some reason, I feel the need to qualify how much a part of my life this is. Not for you, but for me. Sometimes you need to see things in writing to gain perspective. I write music constantly, and for those that do write music, you know it is not an easy thing. I've been doing this 'seriously' for about 10 years. Here's my 'official' discography':

Albums:

Downshift: Exit Loney - 2000
Downshift: Savior EP - 2002
Angel of the Story: A Tribute to Dan Rosseter (solo, and with Downshift)
Brown Bottle Church: 3 Song Sampler (self pressing)
Downshift: 'Hollowcore' CD single - 2004
Downshift: A Blueprint of Suppression - 2005
Downshift: A Blueprint of Suppression DVD - 2005

I never officially released any music with Narcotic Self.

Film Credit:
Haunted Nebraska: Downshift 'Better Days'
1320 Street Racing Vol. 1 - 'Hollowcore' (i think, i never got a copy)

Now, that may not seem like alot, but here's what never got released (or ultimately recorded):

Downshift: Untitled (follow up to Exit Lonely)
Downshift: A Deathwish for the Heartless
Downshift: The Recoil Index
Mac Dividends/Dj Genius: 'In the Air Tonight' Sample, i played guitar on
Tensioner: Tensioner
Untitled Project with Kristin Lee from SS Nova and 1982 Ferrari
Blackspoon: Blackspoon

Sometimes you get to a cross roads with a project and you know its just not going to work. A lot of these were that way. Except the music written with Kristin Lee, there were a lot of logistical issues that couldn't be worked out.

Currently working on:

Black On High: Untitled as of now (2009 eta)
Black On High: Music for When the World Goes Dark (2009 eta)
Downshift: Idle: The Irregularities
Theme for the Independent Film 'Abracadaver'

Busy Busy Busy. Anyways, i had to see that in writing for it to really sink in. Thanks for playing along. Here's another cool picture. This was my second time playing the Sokol Auditorium Upstairs with Narcotic Self.

d

blah.

man, i'm just blah today. i have no motivation to do anything. sometimes i think that writing so much music really does take a toll on the soul. you know what i mean? music is an extension of you, and when that gets thin, so do you. its almost like you put so much of yourself out there that there isn't a whole lot left inside. at least until the next round comes along. then there is too much, and thus the cycle repeats. again and again. anyways, i'm saying goodbye to Thursday. here's another goodie from the Ranch Bowl days. i had my highs and lows there, but i'm proud to say, I was a part of the last song ever played on that stage. nite.

dc

i think...

that falling asleep to VH1 is a bad idea. i'm starting to follow pop music WAY too much. 90% of the music on that channel is crap, but some songs are WAY too catchy, and i feel stupid for having listened to them in the first place much less recalling them in my nugget later. Case in point, that fucking retarded 'i kissed a girl' song. i hate that song. yet, i'm driving in La Vista today, and as I'm listening to Children of Bodom at an extremely loud volume, i started recalling that song in my head. i pulled over and screamed. I had to listen to Slayer even louder to scrub that shit out of my head. Although, I would have never heard Sara Barellies had i not woke up to 'love song' everyday for a week solid. and fuck you if you don't like her, she's amazing. Moral of this story: pop music blows, but every once and awhile, there's a jem. This pic by the way is one of my favorites. It was the last show that Downshift had ever played.

ok, one more...

just found this one. for all the myspace addicts, this is Narcotic Self and the one and only Metal Sanaz. She was cool as hell. and yes, i had to stand on a couch to get my head into the picture.

results!

ok, well, i guess my gut isn't completely full of shit! i think Scottie busted me out of my writing rut. i'm actually running with a few things i'm really diggin' right now. practice was good, and it rained! i love rain. except when i'm driving. if i can just sit there and get rained on, that i like. don't know why. so, all in all, next time my gut tells me the day is gonna be shit, i'm calling in sick to work and drinking all day! hahahaha! anyways, i hate to say it, but i'm going to bed. after a beer. or two. and some guitar playing. shit, who am i kidding, i'll be up till 2am doing shit.

for some reason, i like posting pictures. for those that didn't know or don't really now me, i have to be inspired 24 hours a day or i'm miserable. sometimes it comes out in music, and sometime other things. here's a painting i did for Cameron (downshift drummer) and his wife Dara for their wedding gift.

d

experiment

ok. I'm going to try something. yesterday i woke up, kind of felt like shit, and there was just a weirdness about the day. something didn't feel right. i have no idea what it was, but it kind of fucked up my day. i couldn't concentrate on anything. but, i just knew that something wasn't right. nothing crazy happened or anything, but there was just an annoying weirdness lingering all day. but, this morning, something is different. something feels connected. so, here's the experiment: i will write more after practice tonight, and if it turns out to be a bad day, then my gut knows shit, and i will no longer trust it. my gut usually has shit for brains anyways. if its a good day, well, then thank God cause Monday's usually suck. have a good day kids!

d

happy 4th of july...

well, happy 6th of july. busy weekend. trying to get back in the mode of writing music. this slump is bad dude. i did write an acoustic track i'm pretty happy with. I called it 'For The Life Of Me'. i like it. anyways, just diggin' through the vault of music pics i have from my 'career'. I like calling it that. makes me some how feel justified in still pushing it so hard. anyways, i found this pic. the boys in beta-minus should get a kick out of it! hahahaha. cool picture, good times. It was at the word famous Ranch Bowl, which is now a fucking wall mart. thanks for that. the picture is prolly at least 8 years old. as you can tell by the stage attire, this was back when JNCO's two sizes too big were cool, and if you didn't have a Dickies shirt, then you were just lame. My how times have changed.

d

here's another pic from the collection, for those interested. this was my attempt to set myself apart. because, you know, the hair wasn't enough.

more demos

hey guys. had a very good studio session in studio del armstrong last night. i'm proud to say all the demos for the live set are almost done. a few vocal things and some mixing, and we might, just might, toss them on myspace. we'll see. i will also say that there is a show in the process of being confirmed. Let me just say its a very good band's CD release here in omaha. keep checking back for info on that. i'm super proud of this project. more proud than i think i've ever been. all of us are doing things that we haven't done before and they are coming out better than we could have ever anticipated. i have waited a long time to play with Scottie, and it was worth the decade wait. I knew it would be good, and I was right. I've waited a long time to play with Josh and Dave too. I'm in a very good place musically these days. On the listening front, lots of Children of Bodom. I love keyboards in metal bands. i tried to push it with BOH, but there seems to be a shortage in omaha. oh well. so be it. Been listening to the NIN (still) record alot too. If you haven't heard that, go to youtube and type in 'nin still'. watch 'becoming'. its amazing. trust me here. anyways, i'm off to feed my snake and reconfigure my studio. talk soon.

dc