Farewell Flight
One of the last albums I A&R'd for Mono Vs Stereo was Farewell Flight's debut "Sound. Color. Motion." When I decided to leave they were the band I was worried about the most. I have known the lead singer/song writer, Luke, for many years and consider him a friend of the family. He's an extremely talented song writer and his band is some of the hardest working guys I know. After being done for almost a year and a half the album is finally available independently today on iTunes. The album was a labor of love for me because of Luke, the band, and the songs. Please go download this album. I can't speak enough good things about it. I think you'll fall in love with it too.
Lake-ation, keeping it off, and other random thoughts
So this past weekend was lake-ation. I hit the road with Sara, Emmy, and their friend Laurie for Loudon, TN. Laurie’s family has a house on Lake Tellico. We arrived to a home cooked southern dinner, which was something I haven’t had in a long time, and a family that was extremely hospitable. We closed out the evening in the hot tub and boy was that relaxing because I don’t even feel stressed right now in life. I took it easy on Saturday by enjoying my conversations with Sara on the dock. It was so peaceful at the lake so we just chilled. Sunday was time for water sports and some of Laurie’s friends and her brother came down from Knoxville as well. Needless to say I got my ass thrashed while tubing and got the red face from chillin’ in the sun on the boat and on a raft in the lake. But totally worth it. I should have taken more pics but I was having way too much fun. Laurie’s family was super nice and hopefully I’ll get to go back sometime.
On a side note, I finally weighed myself the other weekend at a Restoration Hardware in AL. I clocked in at 157.2lbs. Not too bad. If you knew me a year and a half ago I was over 200lbs. But I lost a lot of weight real quick when shit hit the fan last year. I was worried that once I started working in March and actually had some money in my pocket that I would start eating more and put the weight back on. But I haven’t. I have been diligent with refusing to eat the junk food and other stuff that was the cause of the weight going on in the first place. Not to mention I’m trying lots of new and healthier foods like salads. So yeah, I just feel healthier overall and it feels great. Now I just need to get toned up. I have been looking at getting a YMCA membership now that I’m settled into a place and a routine and even more so since there’s one right across the street from my new place. So yes, if you know me, than all of this might sound weird. But I have learned that when one area of your life changes many other areas of your life will change as well and hopefully all for the good, which I believe in my case they are. It’s not to say that I was a bad person before or an extremely overweight person but I have decided to take what has happened to me and create as many good and positive things out of it as I can.
Something that has come to my attention lately is this. There is a beauty in the spiritual. I don’t feel this was something I could have said years ago. I can only associate this awareness with attaching myself to Him as deeply as I have tried this past year. And because of that I have taken notice of a new beauty in people that align themselves with Him as well. It’s a beauty I have never seen before. It’s extremely exciting, humbling, and challenging all at the same time.
Anyways, that’s the latest. Be blessed and be well.
New HM Magazine Articles
So the new issue of HM Magazine is out. It’s a special double flip cover featuring Underoath and Anberlin for Sept./Oct. ‘08. I wrote small feature articles on The Classic Crime and Nevertheless. I’m real happy with how they came out. I keep trying to take a different twist on each band instead of the usual topics of conversation. So I hope that comes across in the articles. Anyways, if you’re near a news-stand, check it out.
Aphrodite: The Disillusionaire
So my bros in The Showdown are set to release their new album, “Back Breaker”, next week. The album is as aggressive and heavy as the album title leads you to believe. I found myself particularly connecting with one song titled “Aphrodite: The Disillusionaire”. If you read the lyrics below I know you’ll see why. And yes the song was written about the the same kind of shit I went through, so thanks Josh, I’m off the ropes and breathing now!
Bring it down, ruiner.
She is the weight on his chest between sorrow and sin.
She is the best he ever was.
But he never left her, he just let her down.
Get off the ropes.
She can’t kick you if she don’t know you’re down.
Gather yourself.
Might be a mess, but you’re bigger than doubt.
Disillusionaire.
Remember the teeth behind the goddess smile.
Pale horse breath the air.
And always death not far behind.
So breathe.
Just breathe.
Gather yourself, clear your head.
Cause if she ever let you loose she’d have a reason to beg.
She is the best you never were.
So if she wants a war, give her all that you’ve got.
A killer weekend
Killer. I know I use that word a lot. But I truly had a killer weekend.
I have lived in Nashville for 8 years now and I have never gone to a baseball game for some reason. So Friday evening my friend Sara and I went to a Nashville Sounds game. The weather was amazing and the stadium was packed for “Pure Faith Night”. I grabbed a hot dog and a cold one and enjoyed the game. People watchin’ was a must as there was an eclectic crowd. The Sounds lost but we were treated to an incredible fireworks show at the end of the game. I was really blown away by how good it was. To be honest, the whole evening was better and cheaper than a movie. Bill was there too and came up to our seats to say hello. We talked for a while and ended up being the last 3 to leave. It felt great to do something I have never done before. Fun times indeed. Oh yeah, Bill loves his iPhone and grabbed this pic.
On Saturday Sara and I took a road trip to Auburn, AL. Why Auburn? Well one of the bands I signed to Mono Vs Stereo in 2003, Chasing Victory, broke up last year right before everything went down in my personal life. They reunited this summer for a few reunion-farewell shows and Saturday evening was the last. I couldn’t miss it. These were some of my most favorite people to work with and one of my most proudest accomplishments in music. It was an emotional evening seeing them perform their songs for the last time. I invested a lot into these guys and they always gave back. We got some killer hang time with them before and after the show that proved our relationship goes way beyond business. These are guys I consider friends and I know I will stay in contact with for years to come.
On Sunday we headed back to TN but made a stop in Birmingham to grab brunch at The Village Tavern and do some shopping at the Summit. Be warned, they serve their Jamacian coffee with a kick...of brandy and rum that is...and it was killer. When we got back in TN we grabbed dinner at the new Boscos in Cool Springs. I find myself enjoying the simpler pleasures of life even more now. Conversations outside on a beautiful evening can’t be beat.
Yesterday the mighty Underoath came through town. I made sure to watch my bro Ryan Rado and his new band, Ill Patriot, open up the show before heading over to Virago for sushi with Sara. Also, like I said earlier, I have lived in Nashville for 8 years and surprisingly I have never been to Bongo Java. So Sara and I hit that up too. Again, beautiful weather outside and great conversation. We then headed back to Rcktwn for the Oath and enjoyed a killer set. Their last album “Define The Great Line” was one of those albums that helped me get through this past year. These guys are huge and not just because of their great music. Their hearts are in the right place.
So in all, it was a KILLER past 4 days. It’s like I said in the last post, I am enjoying my time with my friends, appreciating great conversations, and enjoying new experiences. Life is good.
How many times did I say killer?
Tweets
- thx to my wife, the Powers, McNeelys @eddyboer A-Cates @hillbillyslim and the bearded wonder for the KILLER b-day surprise @CorsairArtisan
- RT @iTunesMusic: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours was released 35 years ago today. #70sClassic http://t.co/buRklHbI
- Do yourself a favor and go listen to one of the greatest albums of all time today...Fleetwood Mac's #Rumors. It released 35 years ago today.
- RT @AKJeremySpring: When you're doing what you were made to do you, you couldn't care less about what everyone else is up to.
- group shot from the last mix on the new @houseofheroes album @ Paragon Studios http://t.co/vIf4dtLV
Listening To
- The Shins – Simple Song
- L.A. Guns – One More Reason
- Kix – Blow My Fuse
- Europe – Cherokee
- White Lion – Wait
- Britny Fox – Girlschool
- Winger – Seventeen
- Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine
- Alice Cooper – Poison
- Iron Maiden – Wasted Years
Instagr.am
