Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Life is Beautiful

Good news everyone!!!

Yesterday was a good day, John's dad was doing well, last night things got a little ugly, but he pulled through and it now looks like he's going to be ok. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers and good vibes! We are so lucky and so thankful to have such wonderful people in our lives. Thank you.

It's going to be a long road to recovery, but we're all very hopeful and it looks like everything's gonna be ok. Life is beautiful! I love you all. Thank you!!!

Monday, January 19, 2009

No news isn't always good news...

As of yesterday he was not doing well, but that's all I know. Saturday and Sunday were supposed to be the critical days, but as of the CT Scan yesterday things were not looking good.

John and his dad are in my hopes and prayers though, and please I ask everyone, just think positive thoughts about health and wellness, smile and feel all the love you can possibly feel in this world.

Thank you. Your support means the world to us. Deep breaths and positive thinking everyone!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

January 16th @ Goodbye Blue Monday *special update*

Thursday night we were in a cab on our way to rehearsal and John got a call from his Mom that his Dad was in the hospital. He had a massive stroke and because of the post stroke swelling of his brain, was in danger of dying within the next few days. John and his sister were on a plane Friday morning at 6AM back to Arkansas.

Being the trooper that he is, he wanted us to play without him, which was way more difficult than I can possibly explain. I have only played one show without John since Stewart started in January of 2006. One.

So. When I got to Goodbye Blue Monday, I didn't really know what to say or what to tell everone or how to say it... so I just kind-of stayed in the back until it was time to go on. Al broke the news during the Angry Lemon set, which made it a little easier. We had to change everything around because without John there was about half the set that we couldn't play. It was like Spinal Tap where they're trying to figure out what songs they can still play without Nigel. Not fun.

Luckily, Al was nice enough to do an impromptu cover of In The Aeroplane by Neutral Milk Hotel with me, (we played it at his birthday party last year,) and the rest of the set we just cut a little short. I tried to sing all of John's solos, just to myself, because it made me feel better, but I think it went really well considering. Not the same, so not the same, but good nonetheless.

I talked to John today and he said his dad's starting to show signs of improvement. Fortunately he's surrounded by the people who love him and I really think it's helping to make a difference.

Thank you everyone for all your positive thoughts, kind words and support through this. I will keep you posted, but keep those good thoughts coming!

Set List:
-In The Aeroplane (Neutral Milk Hotel)
-Leave Me Here
-Guiltless
-Destiny
-Consider Me Gone
-Without You
-Stuck In My Head

2008: Year in Review

I haven't written about any of our shows for almost a year now... here's a little summary of what y'all missed (or didn't... you know who you are):

April 6th @ The Tank (Strand Band Party - Part 1)
I didn't tell anyone about this show because we had so many other ones around the same time, and I also therefore don't really remember anything that happened, other than good musicians, cheap beer, and good times. Boring, I know, but hey, what do you want from me? Some shows just rock and there's nothing more to say.

May 19th @ Trash Bar (Strand Band Party - Part 2)
All I remember about this show was Green Andy pretending to suck Romeo's c*ck during the "Our Precious Death Machine" set. Classic. That and John and I used our portable drums!

May 24th @ R Bar
John, me, Leslee, Will, the bartender and the sound guy were the only people at this "Lo-Fi Entertainment" booked show. It was awesome. I danced on a pole!

June 13th @ Goodbye Blue Monday
An intimate night with Stewart where John and I did a solo set, a duo set and some full band songs. It was very different, but very cool- somber, silly, and sincere. We plan on doing more of these acoustic-y shows this year just because they are so chill and fun.

June 14th @ Crafty Records BBQ
Whoa! I can't believe I forgot about this show! This was one of my favorites! It was a bright and brilliant day in the Bronx with great music and great people. It started pouring during our last song, everyone was dancing and it turned into mudfest, then Dan gets down on one knee and proposes to Reina (sp?)! I almost cried! It was so awesome! For all those who haven't been to the Annual Crafty BBQ, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's been a really long time since I've met such an accepting, wonderful, fun group of people. Next year everybody. Next year.

June 25th @ Lit Lounge
You kind-of had to be there... this one was another one of my favorites. Green Andy was our special guest bassist, we played with Lost Locker Combo who are AWESOME, I tripped over an amp and fell on my ass, danced in the crowd and screamed my head off. Special thanks to Seth for coming down from Connecticut!

July 4th @ Goodbye Blue Monday
We couldn't get enough of Goodbye Blue Monday last year! (Still can't.) They throw awesome parties with free food and good music. This cover heavy set was lots of fun. Hot dogs for everyone!

September 13th @ Knitting Factory (Belated Birthday Party)
A fight started outside the club, the police wrestled some guy to the ground and started kicking him, he flips the cop holding him onto the ground, then punches him in the face and is taken down by three more cops. 28 police cars and 3 ambulances show up less than 2 minutes later, shut down the street, block in my car, take the guy away and proceed to stand in groups of 20 on the corners for no reason after everything has been resolved. I was pissed-
"Excuse me, I know you're busy, but someone needs to move that car."
"A police officer was badly hurt and is on his way to the hospital!"
"I understand, but there are a lot of you and I just need ONE person to move THAT car."
And the douche bag insists on conferring with his buddies before moving it. Grr.

On a positive note: cookies (everybody loves cookies), awesome songs, my Mom came and so did Dave (all the way from California!) We had such a good time- Rachel, it's always a pleasure, Marsha, it was so great to meet you! Good times for everyone! Oh, and here's the other story I almost forgot- baking is a science apparently. I thought I remembered the cookie recipe off the top of my head so I tried to make them from memory. Who knew 1/2 a teaspoon made such a HUGE difference? Fortunately I realized my fatal mistake after the first batch and we had plenty to go around. Phew!

October 10th @ Red Star Bar (MEANY Fest)
During our set the bouncer got into a fight with someone who pinned him to the ground, covered the bouncers face, and the bouncer subsequently bit his little finger off. This actually happened, I'm not shitting you. Stewart makes people do crazy, violent things.

November 8th @ Passout Records
This show was awesome and totally renewed my faith in music playing. Pool and Burritos at San Loco, rain and beer in paper bags so no one would notice, good bands, lots of dancing, and tons of fun. Also of notable mention, The Pigs. Very reminiscent of Tim.

December 12th @ Trash Bar (Graduation / Holiday Party)
OMG! This was seriously the best time I had all year. John's family was there from Arkansas, people kept feeding me whiskey, Rancid and lots of other punk rock on the jukebox, and all of my favorite people from NYC in the same room! Who could ask for a better graduation party? Murphy's Law packed the place to the point where they had to open the double doors into the front room- you have no idea how many people can squish into Trash Bar. Beer flinging, boot stomping, lots of dancing and great music. Shiragirl is my favorite local band, and if I had it in me I'd explain how tiny the music scene in NYC is and how everyone is randomly, inconceivably connected.

...

And there you have it. 2008 in a nutshell. Oh, and set lists for anyone interested:

April 6th @ The Tank (Strand Band Party - Part 1)
-Dark Side
-Without You
-This Happens
-Consider Me Gone
-Out of Ideas
-Leave Me Here
-Adaptation
-Destiny
-Stuck In My Head

May 19th @ Trash Bar (Strand Band Party - Part 2)
Uh... I don't remember exactly what we played, but it was something like this, with the possible addition of 2 or 3 covers.
-Don't Know Why
-Not That Bad
-Destiny
-This Happens
-Half Here
-Consider Me Gone
-Dark Side
-Falling Stars
-Guiltless
-Stuck In My Head

May 24th @ R Bar
-Falling Stars
-Without You
-This Happens
-Consider Me Gone
-Destiny
-Stuck In My Head

June 13th @ Goodbye Blue Monday
-Who We Are
-Not That Bad
-Saturday Night (The Misfits)
-Don't Look Back
-Six Degrees
-I Feel Fine (The Beatles)
-Destiny
-Guiltless
-Stuck In My Head

June 14th @ Crafty Records BBQ
-Without You
-This Happens
-Don't Look Back
-That Girl
-Walk Like An Egyptian (The Bangles)
-Consider Me Gone
-Roots Radical (Rancid)

June 25th @ Lit Lounge
-Dark Side
-Without You
-Don't Look Back
-Attitude (The Misfits)
-Falling Stars
-All My Best Friends Are Metalheads (Less Than Jake)
-This Happens
-Destiny
-Faith (George Michael)
-Guiltless
-Stuck In My Head

July 4th @ Goodbye Blue Monday
-Dark Side
-You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC)
-This Happens
-Leave Me Here
-Faith (George Michael)
-Destiny
-For The Longest Time (Billy Joel)
-Stuck In My Head

September 13th @ Knitting Factory (Belated Birthday Party)
-The World Should Revolve Around Me (Little Jackie)
-Without You
-Dark Side
-Ride The Wave
-Consider Me Gone
-Out of Ideas
-Don't Know Why
-Leave Me Here
-Get Ready (The Temptations)
-Destiny
-This Happens
-Stuck In My Head

October 10th @ Red Star Bar (MEANY Fest)
-So What (Pink)
-Dark Side
-This Happens
-Consider Me Gone
-Leave Me Here
-Maybellene (Chuck Berry)
-Without You
-Stuck In My Head

November 8th @ Passout Records
-Leave It Alone (NoFX)
-Without You
-This Happens
-Consider Me Gone
-Build Me Up Buttercup (The Foundations)
-Dark Side
-Try So Hard
-The Freaks, Nerds & Romantics (Bouncing Souls)
-Destiny

December 12th @ Trash Bar (Graduation / Holiday Party)
-This Happens
-Consider Me Gone
-Skyscraper (Bad Religion)
-Dark Side
-Without You
-Out of Ideas
-Modern Love (David Bowie)
-Destiny
-Stuck In My Head

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Track Listing for that Free CD that we all love so much!

So, it turns out that CD that I've been giving out doesn't have track names or anything on it. Hmm. So, for anyone interested, here are all the names of the songs. The album itself is called "Part iV: A New Hope":

1. Without You
2. Dark Side
3. Destiny
4. Stuck In My Head
5. Consider Me Gone
6. Adaptation
7. Leave Me Here
8. Not That Bad
9. This Happens
10. Don't Look Back
11. Half Here
12. No More Jealous Girlfriends
13. Out of Ideas
14. Don't Know Why
15. Falling Stars
16. Try So Hard
17. Guiltless

Someday I'll put up lyrics too... although I think if you go through our old blogs a lot of them are there... could be wrong though, but I think that may be true. :)

Thanks everybody! Talk to you soon!