Shane Against!

Because This Exists

2011-12-18T01:47:00.002-07:00

I figure in the down time I should start writing random personal shit again. I have been thrown into a lot of public spot light recently and haven't really had a chance say what I want to. I should just keep quiet sometimes, however, that is not the case.

There is a lot that I want to say.

Yellow Journalism Much?

2011-09-15T13:28:00.001-07:00

New political commentary blog is up, and running...

http://theliberalblogger90.blogspot.com/

I'll be posting the political stuff there, and try to keep this blog to a personal blog, an shit talking blog, just for you all to enjoy!

Ten Years Since Yesterday

2011-09-11T19:36:00.002-07:00

Today, we look to the future, while we look the past in the eye. The worst thing we can do is forget. Sometimes our memory is the most precious thing we have, at the end of the day that is all we truly wind up as. Putting up a mental block and try to move on in this case will be something that will do one no good. Keeping these things in our mind, and in our hearts are the best we can do. Moving on and forgetting will do no justice to those who lost their lives.

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was all of eleven years old. I was just a kid that really couldn't tell you anything about who Osama Bin Laden was, or what Al-Quadea was. I was a typical kid, played baseball, and obsessed with the sport. No real knowledge to anything going on around him. That morning I awoke into a very dark reality, and really became conscious of what was going on in the world. No kid at eleven years old should be so aware of the world around them. All of a sudden I was thrown into this mess, and now was living in fear because of what happened. I sit here as a 21 year old, and that fear that started that still lingers over my head.

My opinion on the event stands at this. Now that I have grown up, I feel more empathy for those who were killed. I am also angered that this happened. What it has made is disgusts me on so many levels. We fell into this state of fear, and never left, we started our own religious war on this country, racism is so strong, and the sad thing it is only on this day we seem to stand united. Ten years ago, the downfall of our country started. I hate saying that, but that is what is going on.

We stand ten years apart from this disaster, but as a country we stand the same distance apart. We let this one event change us in so many negative ways. The 2,977 people that lost their lives ten years ago today would be so angered to see what we have become. We should as Americans should not be this way.

I really don't know what to say. This has kind of left me frustrated looking back at this now.

Enough is Enough

2011-09-07T19:05:00.002-07:00

"If you're not angry, you aren't paying attention."-Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

I have been paying attention to politics for the most part since I was 14, but have really started to form my opinion around when I was say 17, or 18, and it continues to evolve. I have some very staunch beliefs, some would be considered radical, but I believe that my radical stance is where we need to go. For the past decade the United States has been dragged right, many political charts will show that, and many will agree, and going further, and further right will not solve anything. Believe it or not, Christians, Jesus was a liberal, he was about helping the poor and needy, and not focusing on the rich. This country has been heading to a upper class rule since the Regan days.

To say there will be a revolution is nuts. I keep hoping for a revolution, but it never comes. It just never happens. A change is started with an idea, that idea has to catch fire and spread. This isn't something that happens over night. This idea that starts out as a tiny spark as someone speaking out will smolder for years until the time is right. This fire will not lead to a revolution, but a change collective ideas. Change the hearts, change the minds of the people. How to do this, you have to show the true downside of right wing politics, and what it can lead to. Totalitarianism, dictatorships, true dark ideas and government.

We are a country of 300 million people, we are a country of people that does not have a majority living lavishly, popular to world wide belief. We are all living on the fringe, most Americans live "comfortably," but that isn't saying much. There are more that live paycheck to paycheck and never really can live life to the fullest, they work 9-5 every day, and function of crappy amounts of sleep, and just live s discontented, but are lead to believe that this is okay. It shouldn't be this way. Our founding fathers would have a fit if they saw how we have gone so many miles backwards where a weird monarchy where the rich influence government so much that we the people really have no say.

Republicans and Democrats are both corrupt, but there is one side that is the lesser of the two evils. Now if the left would plant their feet firmly to the left, we would be a lot better. Here is what I believe in. We are all created equal, there is no one above anyone. Black, white, brown, yellow, purple, we are all the same. Same goes with religion, I have made myself somewhere on the line of agnostic, and atheist because I don't see proof for, or against the reality of god. So in other words, I don't care about if you are Jew, Arabic, Catholic, Christian, Buddhist, or whatever. We are all the same when you look at it. Same goes for gay rights. I don't care what you like, as Robin Williams said "at the end of the day with married couples it is always the same sex." So there.

One part that frustrates me more than anything is the fact these people, these "Tea Partiers," want to run the country on a Constitutional basis when they don't even follow it. They want smaller government, but then when it comes to women, and gay rights they believe that abortion should be illegal, and gay people should not be married. Before you even get out of the First Amendment these wackos can't keep to their beliefs. The only reason why they stand against those two issues is because it is said in the Bible that those are wrong, that breaks the separation of church and state. Need I say any more. The fact that they deny the existence of global warming when there is overwhelming evidence for it. It is disgusting.

This is just part one of a few posts I'm going to make like this. So there is more to come. I don't want to start half-assing what I have to say because I have said a lot so far.

Now We're All Gone

2011-09-03T02:11:00.002-07:00

My mind is constantly running, sometimes I fear that that is a bad thing. I guess it is a good thing to be thinking. Although, sometimes these thoughts just don't make sense. They sometimes seem to escape me before I get the chance to verbalize what is going on in my mind, sometimes it is really interesting. That is kind of what happened earlier. I was thinking about something that I wanted to speak about, but it disappeared as fast as it came.

It went something like this. I think..

The misconception of what happens in a music scene. There are such things as dead scenes, and I was in a band that was trudging through a dead scene. This time I am in a band that has found the scene, and we are slowly, but surely becoming a name for ourselves. It may not be much, but it is starting to grow. It feels as if we are standing on thin ice, and about to break through. We're going to be heading into the studio in about 4 or 5 weeks to record this fucking record finally. I know I have said this before, but this time it is happening. Anyway... With this scene that I am starting to find, scattered yes, but unified strangely. Now there are some down things that I have come to notice, it is kind of weird.

Here is the anomaly. There are a few bands that get frequent radio play on a independent station KWSS often, now I am not saying that it is the stations fault, or problem, but they just happen to be the ones playing these bands. What is going on seems to be is that these bands have formed this weird friend circle, and are really stubborn to let new people in that are in bands, even if you show to be friendly, they shun you quickly. Now I will not name names, but I have noticed this over the past six weeks. It is very unsettling that bands are playing like this. They are non-factors competition wise in getting anywhere, but still. I have been trying to preach unity among the music scene out among the all the alt rock bands, whether it is punk or whatever. Then again the people in these bands are kind of snot nosed, and selfish, so I should need not worry about this. It is just something that pisses me off, especially when you try to make friends with people that are in bands.

I honestly want to get big some day, if you want to call me a sell out, whatever. Reason why, I want to make a difference on someones life that follows my music. I was some wrong way kid not too long ago with a misguided direction, then I really started getting into Rise Against, and bands like that, and it made a change on me. I want, someday, to have someone come up to me and say that my music, and me as a person changed their life because how I handled myself. That is all I want to get out of this, money is a non-factor. Now I know a few people reading this will think I am an asshole, and such, but those people don't honestly know me. I am an empathetic individual, I feel for other people, even though I normally don't say it. Sometimes I feel bad for people, then I realize that they got themselves into that problem. How I handle myself is a whole different story. I am humble, and that is what I want future fans to see me as, and not some ego inflated headed rock star. I laughed the other day when someone said that about my former band, I was like yeah, pretty much.

I should know more about the radio show in the next few days/weeks. Once again I am doing all kinds of media shit, just like high school all over again. If next semester goes to plan, I will start a political talk show like Keith Olbermann. It will be sick. Wow, ADD much, totally different subject from last paragraph. Anyways, that is enough for now.

Walking In The Footsteps

2011-08-27T01:11:00.003-07:00

Word cannot begin to describe how much fun I had tonight at the Marquee Theater in Tempe. It has been something about three and a half years in the making and it finally happened tonight. To say it is the best show I have ever played with Riot Act is an understatement, it was the best show I have every played. In my four plus years playing shows, I have never had such an amazing gig that left me in awe after.

About three years ago I first heard of the Marquee Theater, a little behind I know, but it took me a while to settle into the music scene out here. The band I was in at the time was given a chance to play the Marquee, all we needed to do was sell 50 tickets and they would be more than happy. Our guitar player at the time said it was a bad decision and we didn't do it. That was the only shot I had at it. There were other events that fell into my lap, but were totally missed because they were about 4 months too late.

Anyway... From the stage the Marquee seems a lot smaller. It really does. Same thing with the stage. Certain angles it looks a lot smaller than what it really is. Don't get me wrong it is a big place, but it is one of those eyes are deceiving you kind of places. None the less I had a great time running around the stage and just having fun.

It wasn't just the place that has me in awe, but also during out set I noticed a few people singing along with our songs. It wasn't just our single "On Edge," but also our track "Last Fight" that I saw people singing along with. This is amazing. Something is going right when you start to see that. I can't wait to have a full record out, and people can learn all of the words. Then, that will be an interesting sight.

I have done a little research about the concert history of the Marquee, and there one show that caught my eye. In 2003, Anti-Flag headlining with Rise Against, and Against Me! as their support. Yeah, three of my favorite bands on one stage. I have played the same stage that Anti-Flag has played before, the Clubhouse, but never one with Rise Against, or Against Me! for that fact. Then I thought about it, who else has played here; Bad Religion, Bouncing Souls, Offspring, Street Dogs, just to name a glaring few. I got to walk in the footsteps of my idols tonight. I totally could feel their presents over me.

Now there is this, I just hope that we can go back there and play again some day. It is just a great place to play, and the sound was a whole lot better than what I expected. Awesome night!!!

Another Short One

2011-08-25T02:08:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder to myself that I need to post a political rant blog!

Not Dead, Just Relocated

2011-08-23T23:39:00.002-07:00

Title says it all. Home for the first time in five days. Have internet connection, besides my phone. I will be writing more in Flag this fall, especially if I do get that radio show. I'll probably start a whole new blog for that.

On Edge....

2011-08-19T00:03:00.003-07:00

Riot Act "On Edge" by Riot Act Official

Need I say more. How I spent my last day in Phoenix. Awesome feedback already. Lets hope it stays true.

This Town Will Be The Downfall Of Us All

2011-08-18T00:15:00.002-07:00

This is it. It was months, weeks, days, now just hours. In 48 hours I will be in my apartment in Flagstaff.

I mean, I can even go back almost two years that this has been building up from, but it is now finally happening. To say I am not nervous, or scared would be a blatant lie. I have however been feeling indifferent about everything. When things fell through last year, I was disappointed, and maybe left a lot of excitement there. I think now it is starting to settle in. It has been 11 years, going on 12 now that I have been stuck in this place. To say I had it hard would be a lie too, it has been difficult at times, but I have persevered. There is so much up that I have no idea about. The uncertainty is mysterious, and unnerving at the same time. There are so many positives coming out of this too.

The biggest that I can say I am making is the jump into a real life, if you want to call it that. A step that can take me just about anywhere, and everywhere at the same time. The jump isn't the thing that I am most concerned about, it is about all the "hardships" that I have heard about university life. It is so weird that I have to learn a new town, and get used to all its oddities. I am also going to meet a slew of new people, hopefully, too. I think that is what has me most intrigued.

If there is one thing that has me the most concerned is the chance of failure, and things going horribly wrong. There is so much that can, then again there is so much that can go right. One of those things that has concerned me.

I'm leaving Phoenix in the rearview mirror and not really going to look back. While, yes my band still is in Phoenix, I will be coming down to practice every other weekend to stay up on everything. That isn't stopping me from playing on my own in Flag though. I will be practicing almost non-stop up there.

To those who have doubted me, fuck you. I am done here. I am moving on into another more important chapter in my life. There is a good group of people around me, and a supporting cast starting to form. I am looking forward to the next year, and see where it will lead me...

"Meet me out past the train tracks, I'm leaving, and I'm not coming back...."

From Where I Stand

2011-08-16T22:57:00.001-07:00

A conversation that was brought up the other day about why you want to be in a band. It was really interesting. It is obvious to see when someone is in a band for all the wrong reasons, ie: money, women, material things. Most people dream of being a rich rock star, and I did at one point too, but I have been humbled over the past few years on things, and people that I have met. Not humbled because the dream seems like such a stretch to reach, but to see how people are in the position I want to get to.

It is cliche' to want to be rich, and music famous, but there is so much more to it than that. Sometimes when I say why I want to get famous, a up the punx kind of guy would look at me and think I am nothing more than a poseur, because I stand almost for what those "underground" kids believe in. I want to get gigantic, I would be more than content with being say a Green Day kind of famous, but that is too big. I would take anything that gets thrown into the mainstream. Why you may ask, because I have a message I want to get out. If you are in a band and you want to stay submerged, and out of the spotlight, but say you have good messages, what are you doing. The point is to get it out, and let it be heard. Most of us have strong opinions about, say problems in the world or what not, but so many afraid to vocalize their beliefs. This music is meant to be a conduit for those people do it their anger, and their voice heard.

The ultimate goal for me to get out of being in a band is this, have someone come up to me at some point and say that how I handle myself, and what I have to say in song and voice changed their life for the better. I don't want to be just some material star. To me that isn't what it is about. It isn't about having overly complicated music that has a bland, boring almost self loathing kind of message, but just the opposite. Writing songs that people can make weird connections to, to rally around, to pick them up when they are down. That's what I believe in. Music is the best, and safest medicine. So many people loose sight of that, and I have seen it already along this beaten path.

When this story book closes I don't care how big the crowd, 10,000, 1,000 or even 500 come out to a show every time, I just want it to be heard. Maybe spark the inferno in someone else's mind and let them become an architect to something great. It isn't about self gain in music, and I am so tired of it.

That is where I stand, and what I want to mean someday. Nothing more, nothing less...

You Were Right And I was Wrong

2011-08-11T10:53:00.004-07:00

Feel privileged.

It has been an exiting three weeks. I mean, all that has been happening has been absolutely nuts, from finding different uses for the word "bacon," to near death experiences. Yeah, it has been that cool. I didn't even mention that Against Me! has been part of it twice, well that would be outside of four weeks. So you get what I am talking about.

Here's where I will begin, I start with Andrew Seward of Against Me!, this man made my Warped day that much better, besides from finding out that Jim Lindberg's new project was playing Phoenix, and I missed them last fall at Epicenter Fest. Start of the day, I send a tweet to the guys of Against Me!, and say that I'll be up on the rail, and for them to kick ass. Saw AM!'s set, went ape shit crazy the entire time in the 110 degree heat. At the end of the set, I asked for a setlist, and the roadies said they couldn't do that, so I started to walk away. Right as I was walking away, my brother grabs me by the shoulder, and points me to the security guard, the security guard was holding out a Monster can that was apparently directed to me. Not only that, according to my brother Andrew was saying "Shane, Shane." I was deaf after the show, so I didn't hear it. Shortly after the set I checked my phone and saw I had a tewwt from Andrew that read "Thanks for braving the heat with us today." (check it @ShaneAgainst.)After their set ran into Jay Weinberg, spoke with him for a few, give him one of our stickers, same with Tom Gabel, and asked him about his new label Total Treble. Then during the UK punk band Sharks set Andrew found me again, and we spoke about their set AM!'s future, and just general music. I kind of have an inside scoop on AM!'s new material that they are working on. Gave him a sticker, and told him any time that AM! is in the realm of AZ you can expect to see me up on th rail.

Cool classy guys.

Speaking of my band, how could I have forgotten. Or the narcissism. We've had quite the interesting few weeks together. So much better than it was before. I mean, a lot better.

Since Wes has joined the band we have ordered shirts, and plotted out a possible summer tour, spoken with people about playing Warped Tour in the future, and lined up to go record a single on the 18th. Not to mention we have played the Clubhouse again, and will be playing at Marquee Theater in the next two and a half weeks. Things just keep getting better... As I was typing this blog I was given a strong indication that we will be playing the Nile Theater in October. Also, we are headlining Club Red in Dec 3, which has been confirmed. Not 100% confirmed, but really close to being on the bill. So good thing coming. To anyone that my music career was over, you were obviously wrong. We have only gotten stronger. Not only as band mates, but this time it is feeling more and more like a family, not like it was before.

Flagstaff is a whole different story, I have an address, I have a place to live, now I just have to find a job. Moving out, and getting started with a real life. That doesn't mean that I am done with my band, no. We're playing in Flagstaff Nov 5, so it just goes on and on. If I get that radio show with KJACK things may get really fun this fall.

"You were right, I was wrong. This town will be the downfall of us all"

UPDATE: WE ARE IN FACT PLAYING THE NILE THEATER THIS FALL!!

The Restless Mind

2011-08-08T01:15:00.002-07:00

Warped Tour was today. Saw Against Me! made friends with them too. They are the coolest guys that you will ever meet.

There is so much that I want to say, but sometimes I don't know how to say it. I saw her again at the show. All I could think of when I saw her was the first couple lines of Rise Against's song "Savior." It is really sad when you read the lines on a person's face, or the scars on their body, and you can tell that they are hiding something deep. Something so deep, that if they were to try and fight their demon in them, it would only defeat them. We are a species that is so good putting up facades. I know if I talked to her still, she would love my band. That is why I was so tempted to give her a flyer or sticker, but I didn't want to say anything because what I saw....

Sure enough, as I start writing this, my shuffle puts on "Savior."

Creepy...

It went from that song, to "Kristy Are You Doing Okay?" all day after seeing her. She isn't the only example that I have of a "Kristy," but she is the closest that I have to an almost flawless example of a character from a Offspring song. Just simple eye contact can bring back memories like opening a floodgate. I try not to forgot these memories, but rather keep them safe, so I don't let time fade them like a old photograph. Those who try to force bad scarring memories out will only slide, and fuck up again.

So perplexing. Then again, I may be looking at it as a purely business decision. She likes it, all pieces will fall into place. A frequented ticket sale, CD and merch purchases. Do the whole personable singer who seems like he is a friend, but is really no more than just a singer in a band who wants you to keep coming to his shows. Not how I would run. I'm too friendly at times, I'm too nice and it sucks.

I mean, there was so much that happened at Warped today, it was nuts. Concerts like that make me think, and sometimes thinking is my downfall. Then again, sometimes when my mind gets thrown into motion interesting things happen. Either way.

I shouldn't be awake anymore. I'm tired. This is all too weird.

Rise And Fall (Architects of Disaster)

2011-08-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

“Rise And Fall (Architects of Disaster)”

I’m screaming at you,

But you don’t open your ears

The stubbornness, the ignorance is all you stand for

The writing is on the wall

Are you that blind, am I coming clear

Another turn missed, and there won’t be anymore

The lines are down, not a fucking sound

This fucking mess, is lost its innocents

We can be the ones, to tear it down

Or to make everything anew

Thought it all, with the rise and fall

I’m reaching out to you

I’m reaching out for you

Sometimes it’s that simple

Like its right in front of our face

A puzzle you left unsolved, like a forgotten song

Just let it fester, it’s okay

You are someone I can replace

So many faces in this town, do we really belong?

The lines are down, not a fucking sound

This fucking mess, is lost its innocents

We can be the ones, to tear it down

Or to make everything anew

Thought it all, with the rise and fall

I’m reaching out to you

I’m reaching out for you

The guilty pride, we hold inside

It’s just some false confidence

If you tell the lie long enough

Your true colors will run through

Into black and white, no wrong or right

I’m reaching out, I’m calling out for you

Yeah, we can be the ones to tear it down

Or make everything andew

Thought it all, with the rise and fall

I’m reaching out to

We can be the ones, to tear it down

Or to make everything anew

Thought it all, with the rise and fall

I’m reaching out to you

I’m calling out to you

Ghosts Or Just A Memory

2011-08-02T02:08:00.003-07:00

It's funny about that that thought came back tonight. Every year around this time about what I think about. It is honestly a memory that comes, and goes. We are all entitled to a memory that does that, even if it is a bitter sweet memory. Something that we want to forget, but want to hold close to our heart.

It was three years ago Saturday that I met someone that would so subtly change my life. They way it changed is almost Inception like. Plant a simple thought, or idea and it grows like a disease. There were things so subtle that I did to then to wind up where I am today. There is a lot that she did that kind of shaped how I got to the end of the road.

There is always one thing on my mind about her. As I grow older, and those days just fade into oblivion of what is my memory, I think about her. Not just about what happened, but what happened to her. How her life turned out, how she made it along the way, all the ups, all the downs. Did she get where she wanted, or did she fall? I do wish the best, but I don't know. I think about that with all people in my past and how they have gone, she is just a good example of this thought process that I have. I've already seen how others lives have turned out, and they are total wrecks, and it has only been 3 years since I may have seen them. I guess it doesn't take long to go from having a decent living, to a walking train wreck. So many weird reasons why I make connection to Offspring songs, "chances blow, nothings free, long for, what used to be."

Looking back, there are so many things I would do differently now knowing smaller outcomes. I know if I did one thing her, another person may still have been a bigger factor in my life. Sad, sometimes I think my true opposite number (and I mean it in a good way) may never have known how much I actually felt. There is always one person like that. Three years make a big fucking diffidence. Just look at the politico blog I posted earlier.

This blog only chronicles a third of what has happened. There are so many blank pages that came before this. I wonder what they would have looked like. I'll never know. Certain memories are lost forever, only to be recovered by a faint scent, or a deja-vu happening. Gone. Keeping memories close are important. Sometimes they can help solve problems in your future, or be warnings. They help you move forward. Sometimes people just reside in your memory, and that is where they stay, forever, locked in your mind.

1984 Has Arrived

2011-08-01T11:22:00.003-07:00

Have we been asleep? Have the last 30 some years all gone to the back of our minds, even if we were't alive then. These puzzle pieces do not fit, but we so casually just go along with the story that we are being fed. There is no room for improvement, we are taught that the discontent is the content. Our generation is a generation lost, and no one to stand up for it. I've watched over the last few years how things have gone in Washington DC. Ever since I was 18 I have longed for a true change, what I didn't know. Now I stand here at 21, and I see how dysfunctional things really are. After reading the book 1984 last year, I started seeing way too many connections with modern society, but no one really agreed with me.

For those who do not know, 1984 is a dystopian novel written in 1948 by George Orwell. The plot in the story revolves around a man named Winston Smith who is dissatisfied with his current living conditions under "Big Brother." This mysterious figure that is "Big Brother" is a totalitarian dictator that controls everything that goes on on "Oceania." Smith is a high middle class individual, and is forced to work with the government editing news headlines so they read how the "Party" wants them to read. Through out the book, Smith tries to find what is called "The Resistance," which is supposed to be a underground group waiting for the right time to over throw "Big Brother." "The Resistance" however, is not real, just a manifestation created by the "Party" to find outsiders and "cure" them.

Within the last 10 years a lot one sided politics has occurred. This country has been dragged further, and further right by extreme Republican politics. It's not just political agendas that right has pulled at, but also personal vendettas. Need I say more of the abortion rights of women, and the no taxes for the rich. We went from being a country of liberties, and a chance for all, to a country of oppression for the middle and lower classes, while the top two percent can prosper and thrive. It was said it a movie released by HBO recently, "Too Big To Fail," Hank Paulson. former US Treasury Sectary said after being asked about why there were no regulations that could have averted the 2008-present recession, (for good measures I'm going to call it the Depression two, or DII because that is what it is. And yes, I know they said the "Recession ended in 2009, 76% of American don't believe that though.) and responded with "we were making too much money." They may have been making money, the money they were making was off of teh plight of the middle class because of a theory proposed by the banks, which destroyed America, take out a second mortgage on your house because if you house is valued at $500k, you have $500k to spend. Now that planned totally backfired.

There's some build up to my points.

I just spoke of how the top is meant to prosper, now in 1984, those who were on the top had all the opulent things, while the middle and lower groups were to be quenched with sub-standard products and be happy with it. I continue on.

Lets talk tax breaks shall we.

In 2001 President George W. Bush enacted one of the worst policies in the United States history. To shorten the context if of it, taxes were lowered for those making egregious amounts of money. At this point in time the country was sitting on a budget surplus, and small national debt, (all countries are going to have debt, no debt is bad for countries, weird... I know.) That changed, Bush, and his Republican congress went on a spending spree, started two wars that were unfunded, and not approved by the American people. The entire time this was all going on, there was no revenue coming into the country. We shifted from being a exporter, to almost primarily a importer. Simple logic. if you don't make money, you can't spent money. Now these righties believe that they can keep zero taxes fro rich and companies at next to zero, and just cut everything. Even things that this country relies on so much, like Social Security, and Medicare. Economists have said that cutting will not help the country, but rather hurt it. We have been hemorrhaging for ten plus years, and the best answers that our government can do is put a little dot band-aid on a slit throat. They do it over and over again, and get the same results.(Wait.. Is that the definition of insanity? Why yes, yes it is.)

Where we come in. The Resistance.

There is none.

Yes, that is right. There is no resistance to stand up to these oppressive forces. In 1984, everything was monitored closely by surveillance, and resistance was futile. That is what we face today. The generation that has a chance to stand up, and take back what is ours is either too timid to actually stand up, or have been brainwashed that it is useless. I would like to believe that we can make a difference, but so many have been sedated and don't even know it. We are told to accept authority that we are given, and bow to them. We are tackled because we are thrown into perpetual debt because of school. We are told that the discontent is the content that we will have to contend with for the rest of our life and there is little, to nothing that we can do about it. We are bound by what have been told. The television has destroyed us too. If you have read the book, what runs their life? The Tele-Screen. If you include cellphones, laptops, and computers in the television status, they are our Tele-Screens. Don't believe me, think about it. It is a perfect medium for a authoritarian society, like the one in 1984, and our current living arrangements.

Next time you go to think that everything is okay. Realize that you are discontent with the world around you, but too clueless to realize how your mind has been programmed that way. We always talk about being the generation to stand up, and take back what is ours, that is not the case. We will be the ones to sit down, and turn a blind eye to it. Why? It is just how we have been taught, how we have developed as individuals. Can we change it, and take an actual stand, I have no clue. The Resistance that we thought we could be is not true. There is no resistance. We just are somehow going to have to accept the fact that it is over, and wait for the proverbial bullet to enter our skull.

It's Been Forever And A Day

2011-07-22T14:33:00.002-07:00

I inch closer to moving, and it is a place I can't wait to go to. This town has oppressed me for far too long. There is so much that I am willing to leave behind to get a new start. The only thing I don't want to leave is my band here in Phoenix. Funny part about that, they might wind up, well at least 3/4 of the group to Flag by next year. Weird.

This past four weeks has been one hell of a ride. I have felt literally all emotions that I thought I could feel. Right now it is sheer joy, but me a few weeks ago would not have thought that. It has been interesting to say the least. It will make for some very interesting lyrics when we start writing again.

Well, I guess I'll start at the band. This story was very interesting. First off, there were never any glaring visible problems that anyone talked about. Things were fine. Until one night, but no one guessed anything was wrong. Yeah, things may have gone haywire, but that was a personal matter, which I will get to later. I knew something wasn't right on stage. It during the set I kept on being interrupted on stage by Kurtis. We have always done for the most part I lead conversation on stage, and they would butt in when appropriated. I wasn't able to say what I had been saying in show about the songs, which I know people like to hear, he even said at one point, unbeknownst to me about someone "he's fun to drink with." We don't drink, well I don't, and now I know for a fact the band is straight-edge with all members. Then the next day I was being asked to leave the band I formed with my brother, and my brother stuck up for me because what was going on was horribly wrong. So since we were the founding members we were keeping the name, and since for the most part my brother was the main writer, we were keeping the music. Now out of all of this I was called a dictator, and such. Which I found out later that I was far from that. Apparently the second drummer we had was kicked out by Kurtis, and no one in the band had any say, or heard anything of it. So there was the whole mess of that, there is more like how we wanted to be the front man and such. It was a mess. I don't know the entire story because I was left in the dark about this, and just going on what I heard.

Now here is the band now of days, funny I kind of consider this the original line-up. When my brother and I started formulating this we had originally wanted to get Christian on the drums, and Wes on the guitar or bass. So You could say this was meant to be. I honestly like this line-up a whole lot better. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in a band, and had so much fun playing the music. Now I am playing rhythm guitar, and singing. Such an energy release.

Lets tap on another topic, because this I believe is a stem of all of these problems that arose over the last few weeks, my old band mates. Let me say this about them, they are liars, and losers. It was a year ago that I left that band for that reason. Never have I met a group of people sputtering in place and think they are going somewhere. I get them their first show outside of a little venue, and not once to I receive a thanks or anything. It's just funny, even though I am not tied to that band, and I am still getting them gigs because they are so inept to getting their own. They try to act all "tough" and like "bad-ass," and then when they are presented with a chance to act like a tough guy, or a bad-ass in a fight, they back down, and call security because they are too weak to fight, or too afraid. To you sir, you are a fucking coward. They are just bad people. I honestly wish only the worst for them.

Then last but not least, we have the now ex-girlfriend. Sometimes I wish I never called your friend, but we can't change the past no can we. We all make statements about how we hate the past, and never want to relive it, which seems to be a theme on this blog, but of course she had to follow her tracks to the hole she was in. It is kind of comical. For someone to all themselves classy, you actually have to be "class." I don't think smoking and drinking qualify as "classy." I know one girl that I actually can call a "classy woman," but you are not one. Sadly enough by the end I was kind of getting disgusted by you. I guess I should have listened to my gut instincts from the start. Whatever. I did care for you, I did like you, but it wasn't going any further than that. So that's why I am so okay with it. I was over it before it even ended, but I know you were cheating on me. I know it, so you don't have to try and deny it. Just adding against your cause for not being classy. I gave you a lot of things, I was chivalrous, and took you places. You did a lot for me, at times and I think you. When you are a backstabber, you deserve nothing. So when you ship is sinking in the future, I will be sailing different seas, and will only deliver a short eulogy at your shipwreck.

I never understood the Pennywise song "Bro-Hymn" until recently, and now I get it. If you read the lyrics that is exactly how I feel with the people around me currently. I really have a lack of trust for people, I don't know how long that will take to heal, but it will. All that will remain are scars from the days gone by. The scars that we bare is what makes us. From the fights we have lost, and the fights we have won. That is what truly shapes us. We give up, we are nothing, we stand up to something we will only get stronger. I know that my old band mates in their "new" band (more like re-hashes of songs I help write,) and ex are quitters. They will give in to anything.

This may be a month late, but I feel this is the right time to say all this. Think what you must, and take from it whatever you want. I know the people I am calling out may be reading this, these are only words. You had your chance to confront me, and you backed down. Some day these people will wake up and see the disaster that is their life... Yeah right.

Oh, and speaking of seas, and analogies. I am already on a different sea. I braved the storm, and took it head on. From here it is relatively clear sailing. There will be rough seas again, but I am ready for anything.

For David..

2011-07-22T02:36:00.004-07:00

I know it's been a month since I last posted. These are the lyrics I have, and I figured I'd let David learn them for the show, and anyone else who wants to read. There's the set songs, and the few we haven't played yet.

Enjoy..

1. "Built To Fail"

Something that I see every day
So fucked up I can't say
Those unforgiving faces are everywhere
Alert, but not aware
As the surroundings start to close in
Some where we've all been

Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're standing tall

There's nothing for us here
A shell is what remains
All these vices have become amplified
Still can't break through the chains
As the surroundings start to close in
Some where we've all been

Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall

-solo-

Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall

2 "Third Wheel"

It's the place we go, After the lights go out
A cruel nightmare, that no one talks about
To all the broken dreams, that have become your life
It's like searching for an answer, And living on a knife

Unfair letdown,
Reset your dreams

This house you made can't be a home
The innocents we trust, is left all alone (whoa--)
Your heart is with us, though your not here
These words wont reach you, but we'll always be near

The ones you love, can't be trusted
When simplicity is gone, so much for being adjusted
They're breaking down doors, and the scars won't heal
And your parents love, make you feel like the third wheel

Unfair letdown,
Reset your dreams

This house you made can't be a home
The innocents we trust, is left all alone (whoa--)
Your heart is with us, though your not here
These words wont reach you, but we'll always be near

{solo}

This house you made can't be a home
The innocents we trust, is left all alone (whoa--)
Your heart is with us, though your not here
These words wont reach you, but we'll always be near

3. "Turbulence (Amerikan Nightmare)"

To the empty streets, with boarded up windows
Broken dreams that once lived here
Better times that we stop and try to remember
As those memories don't seem too clear
The shouts under a unrelenting sun go un heard
But the mindless still adhere

We don't know what to say
It was going to happen anyway

The American dream, has become a nightmare (whoa--)
Unconscious, and unaware
The promised land is now a waste land (whoa--)
Stuck in the nine to five command

Don't blink, and have no fear this is not a test
Everyone has fucked you over
What you are feeling is called being opressed
Or just your just middle class
We are getting thirsty, and becoming unaddressed
The empty streets are rising

We don't know what to say
It was going to happen anyway

The American dream, has become a nightmare (whoa--)
Unconscious, and unaware
The promised land is now a waste land (whoa--)
Stuck in the nine to five command

The American dream, has become a nightmare (whoa--)
Unconscious, and unaware
The promised land is now a waste land (whoa--)
Stuck in the nine to five command

4. "On Edge"

"On Edge"
All along we'll sit by the fire
While the rest sit and conspire
Behind the scenes, forgetting you and me
Creating the lies that we see

Getting lost, trying to remember
Things haven't been right since September
Just fighting the air that we breathe
It always comes around, it always come around

I'm still hoping for better days (I'm still fighting myself)
The ones we love are so far away (My enemy is in me)

We are standing on the edge again
Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)
This life we had is a mess again
You say it's over, we're asking when?

My head is ringing like a bell
Stuck inside of a prison cell
The circles we ran, and miles lost
We want back at any cost

What's behind the door's isn't the worst
I guess we are just the cursed
Spending too much time on what if's
While ignoring what can be, what can be

I'm still hoping for better days (I'm still fighting myself)
The ones we love are so far away (My enemy is in me)

We are standing on the edge again
Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)
This life we had is a mess again
You say it's over, we're asking when?

We are standing on the edge again
Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)
This life we had is a mess again
You say it's over, we're asking when?

We are standing on the edge again
Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)
This life we had is a mess again
You say it's over, we're asking when?

5. "Exit Strategy"

She said, "I don't know,"
As the ground crumbled in her hand
I think we should turn away

Think back to the better days gone by
All alone we'll sit and wonder why
After these failed attempts to fly
We'll never try, we'll only die

The cold rain will fall again
We now have become a then
Still trying to live out a lie
The one's you can't deny, the ones you can't deny

We can't turn and walk away
This is now disarray
I'll be the one to find
The one you left behind, the one you left behind

All these doors have been slammed shut
An exit not is a lost cause
Looks like we're forced to stay

Like a wall, that you can't break through
This torn heart flutters like a torn page
The wind just won't carry me away
Coming of age, end of a phase

The cold rain will fall again
We now have become a then
Still trying to live out a lie
The one's you can't deny, the ones you can't deny

We can't turn and walk away
This is now disarray
I'll be the one to find
The one you left behind, the one you left behind

Our time has gone to waste
Leaving us without a taste
You reside in my memory
With no way out with no way out

The cold rain will fall again
We now have become a then
Still trying to live out a lie
The one's you can't deny, the ones you can't deny

We can't turn and walk away
This is now disarray
I'll be the one to find
The one you left behind, the one you left behind

6. "Down, But Not Out"

Are we the ones so far away, like a ship drifting out to sea?
Our destination has become unknown, somewhere we can’t agree
The curtains draw, and the lights go out, and we cannot flea
I don’t know where you stand anymore, but it’s just you and me

I know you're still standing alone
But this fuse has already blown

(We are) down but not out
Even though we stand against the odds
Break out, and see what it’s all about
Take a breath and jump into the unknown
(We are) down but not out
You can’t keep us from coming back (hey!)
Break out, and leave no sense of doubt
Take a breath and to the unknown

The road we take has brought us here, nowhere to be found
All these dreams that your tears have long since drowned
Are hiding somewhere in the past, as we turn ourselves around
Like a book with unwritten pages, we can find our common ground

I know you're still standing alone
But this fuse has already blown

(We are) down but not out
Even though we stand against the odds
Break out, and see what it’s all about
Take a breath and jump into the unknown
(We are) down but not out
You can’t keep us from coming back (hey!)
Break out, and leave no sense of doubt
Take a breath and jump into the unknown

(Solo)

(We are) down but not out
Even though we stand against the odds
Break out, and see what it’s all about
Take a breath and jump into the unknown
(We are) down but not out
You can’t keep us from coming back (hey!)
Break out, and leave no sense of doubt
Take a breath and jump into the unknown

Whoa-oh, whoa-oh-oh whoa-oh,
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh-oh whoa-oh,

7. Don't Take Our Voice"

We put to shame all the nay-sayers

Like a door that's been slammed shut in your face

We will not be silenced in this place

They told us to say all our prayers

We only got questions in return

They sit back and watch us fucking burn

I'm not the one to sit back and run away

The bridge's burnt, and there's no where to say

There's nothing left, don't take our voice

We'll play along but never by the rules

They're still trying to pass us off as fool

There's nothing left, don't take our voice

They draw the line just to cross again

Fourteen stand out against the grain

The be the ones left out in the rain

It's the words they won't condemn

When hate has become the norm

We're ignoring the oncoming storm

I'm not the one to sit back and run away

The bridge's burnt, and there's no where to say

There's nothing left, don't take our voice

We'll play along but never by the rules

They're still trying to pass us off as fool

There's nothing left, don't take our voice

Face to face, and eye to eye

I'm not the one to sit back and run away

The bridge's burnt, and there's no where to say

There's nothing left, don't take our voice

We'll play along but never by the rules

They're still trying to pass us off as fool

There's nothing left, don't take our voice

8. "Last Fight"

I know what you’re still thinking
The undertoe has dragged you back in
They brought you to the top
And dropped you like a brick
An awkward silence is all you have left

Another way (Another way)
To be let down (To be let down)
This is the last time, you fight alone

Break through the day (Break through the day)
Just to let go (Just to let go)
Someone tell me I’m okay

This time we live, for what’s ahead
We break out singing (whoa oh-oh, Whoa-oh-oh)
We throw our hands into the flame
You're not the only voice (Whoa oh-oh, Whoa oh-oh

Your scream pierces the cold of night
Still wishing on every star in that sky
You fell to your knees
With the promises you can’t keep
You hit to the ground like the fall leaves

Another way (Another way)
To be let down (To be let down)
You see yourself shatter like glass

Break through the day (Break through the day)
Just to let go (Just to let go)
May the bridges I burn light your way home

This time we live, for what’s ahead
We break out singing (whoa oh-oh, Whoa-oh-oh)
We throw our hands into the flame
You're not the only voice (Whoa oh-oh, Whoa oh-oh)

This time we live, for what’s ahead
We break out singing (whoa oh-oh, Whoa-oh-oh)
We throw our hands into the flame
You're not the only voice (Whoa oh-oh, Whoa oh-oh)

9. "Streetlights"

We don’t know what they’re saying

These voices once so loud have gone

It’s like a song that just keeps playing

The broken message just goes on

I’ve heard this all before

“No need to disobey”

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

To picket lines, and questions unanswered

To the deserts to follow in the lies

I don’t think they get it

Everywhere let our fists fly to the skies

All it takes is one to speak out

Their dominos will cave in

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

We aren’t the chosen, even if we try

We won’t wait for another day

(We have enough now)

I’ve heard this all before

“No need to disobey”

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

These voices once so loud have gone

10. "Only We Know"

There's a time, that I always run to

The lights on, but no one's home

It's a string we always undo

But this time, it's coming back on you

And so, we'll stand together

With these dreams we never had

But are we still breathing?

And though this road we take's to no where

And it may never end

But it's somewhere only we know

It's just a hand, I'm offering to you

You turn your back, and run away

We've seen out best, and worst

You feel the flame, but never stay

And so, we'll stand together

With these dreams we never had

But are we still breathing?

And though this road we take's to no where

And it may never end

But it's somewhere only we know

It's safe to come out of hiding

Under the veil of night we're confiding

We've lost the fight, but not the war

We're still hungry and coming back for more

And so, we'll stand together

With these dreams we never had

But are we still breathing?

And though this road we take's to no where

And it may never end

But it's somewhere only we know

And so, we'll stand together

On these dreams built on sand

But we still breathing

And though this road we take's to no where

But we are on the mend

But it's somewhere only we know

11. "All Or Nothing"

“All Or Nothing”

The words we swallow, always hurt the worse

They leave us empty and never quench our thirst

But it’s the breath that we choke on,

They stood and watched, as we’ve come and gone

I’ve stood back and let this go on too long

We’ll change the beat, yeah we’ll change the fucking song

We’ll find our place, under the sun again

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all we have

We’ll wipe the sweat as it drips from our brow

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all or nothing

The silence is shattered in this empty room

With words that my mind can’t consume

We’ve tried our best, but for what?

This slate is clean, like a blank page

I can’t look back, and waste time on the past

Years have been wasted, and the future’s coming fast

We’ll find our place, under the sun again

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all we have

We’ll wipe the sweat as it drips from our brow

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all or nothing

We’ll find our place, under the sun again

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all we have

We’ll wipe the sweat as it drips from our brow

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all or nothing

There we go. All 11 original tracks, not including the acoustic song. I just want to say this. If you are going to "re-use" my stuff, I will fucking take it back and re-tool it in the genre that it should have been in in the first place. Be more creative. Here are 11 entirely new tracks except for one chorus. What have you done. David, Wes, here be the lyrics you asked for.

I will start writing back in here in the next few days. I have a whole lot of things to say.

Last Fight

2011-06-26T22:51:00.001-07:00

“Last Fight”

I know what you’re still thinking

The undertow has sucked you back in

They brought you to the top

And dropped you like a brick

An awkward silence is all you have left

Another way (Another way)

To be let down (To be let down)

This will be your last fight all alone

(Break through the day) Break through the day

(Just to let go) To let go

Someone tell me I’m okay

This time we live, for what’s ahead

We break out singing (whoa oh-oh, Whoa-oh-oh)

We throw our hands into the flame

You're not the only voice (Whoa oh-oh, Whoa oh-oh

Your scream pierces the cold of night

Still wishing on every star in that sky

You fell to your knees

With the promises you can’t keep

You fall to the ground like the fall leaves

Another way (Another way)

To be let down (To be let down)

You see yourself crash and shatter like glass

(Break through the day) Break through the day

(Just to let go) To let go

May the bridges I burn light your way home

This time we live, for what’s ahead

We break out singing (whoa oh-oh, Whoa-oh-oh)

We throw our hands into the flame

You're not the only voice (Whoa oh-oh, Whoa oh-oh)

This is your chance, gets off your knees

Here’s to the last time, you fight alone

This time we live, for what’s ahead

We break out singing (whoa oh-oh, Whoa-oh-oh)

We throw our hands into the flame

You're not the only voice (Whoa oh-oh, Whoa oh-oh)

A Long Time

2011-06-21T23:52:00.002-07:00

I keep on forgetting I do this. I keep on telling myself I will do it tomorrow, then realize it is the end of the month by the time I finally get to it. Any way, I saw this and wanted to post it to prove that, one I still use this and two I liked this little chunk of opinion.

"You know those embarrassing photos of your parents with the 70's/80's fashions? Parachute pants, disco shit, bleach-blonde fried hair etc.? You know how when you ask them what the fuck they were thinking they say something like "Son/daughter, I have no fucking idea, it was cool then I guess". You'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of a trailer-park that still thinks rat-tail haircuts and def leppard shirts are cool. (in a non-ironic, non-hipster faggot way.)

Here's what I'm getting at, do you people realize that by getting these tattoos that you are forever branding yourself as being a fucking idiot who bought into the stupidest fashion trend of all time? Do you not realize that in 10-15 years, you will be percieved as being "one of those dumbasses that tattooed his whole arm to be cool"?

What you essentially did was the equivalent of having a pair of parachute pants surgically grafted to your ass. You went to the hair-stylist and said "make my hair look like vince neil's....forever" You retards are going to be laughed at and ridiculed for the rest of your lives!

If you don't have any tattoos, or any that are not excessive and not easily covered, then congrats. You might just go through life without being looked at as if you're a piece of shit. I know some are thinking "I don't give a fuck". Well, that works when you're a pipsqueak that ammounts to a puddle of rat's piss, but one day you just might want to be somewhat successful.

Don't get tattoos kids.:"

..And All The Sorrow In This World

2011-06-02T01:49:00.002-07:00

For the first time in a long while I was at a loss for words. That never happens. I tend to know how to handle any situation that is brought upon me, but this was something different. Normally when I speak, I can speak from experience, but not this. There are events that the human mind has no idea how to comprehend. Most of the time when we lose a loved one, we know it's coming. A grandparent/parent/brother or sister gets diagnosed with a terminal disease, and is given a time table. When something sudden happens, you don't know how to react, or what to do.

I found out today that a good friend of mine from New York, his father was killed by being electrocuted while trying to fix an A/C unit. The story that I heard was rather sad. Right now in New York it isn't too hot, but mind you I am speaking from a place where the average temperature is 100, and 75 is jacket weather. So apparently, I don't know around what time, he went out to fix it, and he was found dead.

My friend is a tough dude. If I stayed in New York I would be right beside him right now and about to make a jump to the FDNY. So you can see my cards, he is a firefighter. Those guys are tough mother fuckers. I feel as though I should be there right now, is this weird? No. I am stuck thousands of miles away, and been handed a different card. There are times I honestly feel closer to the people I know back in New York than I know here in Arizona. I feel obligated to be there, but I can't. The only thing I can do is keep him and his family in my thoughts.

This set the wheels in my mind into motion. Every time I hear something like this it makes me realize how precious our lives can be. To live is not something to be over looked. Many people say that their lives are so bad, and they wish they were dead, and people kill themselves everyday. Why? I life is honestly worth more than anyone can imagine. That's why politically I am frustrated at why the government will let for profit companies decide whether we live or die. I reject their hand in that, but that isn't the point I make.

It is okay to be scared with what life may bring you, there is nothing wrong with that. The unexpected is what is so exciting. Who doesn't want some excitement in their life. I do have a belief more fate than anything. That everything we do has for the most part been pre-decided, that cliche' "if it's your time to go it's your time." We will never know what is in store though, and I like that unknown. Sometimes I wish I could predict what is going to happen to me, but it is murky pool to look in.

Those who want to waste life, do not deserve life. Live life, don't be stuck wanting on what will never be, or get stuck on what happened. We have control, even though I said I believe in fate, but I believe that we do control out fate though, to a certain degree. To let go and give up is no way to look at life, and just accept. Change fate, and make your story like a unwritten book. Don't let a boring terminal become your life.-SP

Good Bye Phoenix

2011-05-29T01:38:00.002-07:00

It only has been delayed for a few months, but two years in the making, and strangely, I did it.

For me, Phoenix City is going to be in my rear view in a few months, and I couldn't be happier. I finally got accepted into NAU, so now comes a summer of taking a deep breath, and relaxing. Things are about the change rather rapidly.

That's all I have.

My Ears Are Open

2011-05-25T00:23:00.002-07:00

Its is something so subtle that it goes unnoticed. Sometimes you can feel it like jerk from an earthquake, but most of the time the alterations in your personality are so discrete, you don't realize it until you see the past again. When I heard the voices from the past sing to me, I was appalled. My present me would have taken the me then aside and said this, "dude, change your direction now, or you are going to spin out." I would have probably been ignorant to that advice and continued to trudge on in a winless fight. Now I see what a mistake I have made years later.

This feeling is almost of being indifferent, and the fact that it is in the past, I couldn't be happier. I wish I could reclaim those three years of my life wasted, and transplant myself now into my old self shoes. Strangely, a lot of beliefs I had then did transfer over, although not you might think. When you are in a wanna be 80's band, and you can put any of your true feelings in it, you should have walked then. Only one song ever had like... correction, two songs had a "true" feeling in it. Now that I have been released from those chains almost a year I am able to voice what I want to, and say what I want to. No more restrictions, no more being tied to a lie.

It feels good.

The only we learn is from making mistakes along the road that we are taking. It is almost instinctual for us to do it that way. This statement I have made about a million times, "those who don't learn from their mistakes, are doomed to repeat them," I advise everyone to look at their flaws before saying, "this is what they want." Our flaws make us perfect. To be imperfect is what makes the human so perfect. There is no other way, and it is what is so intriguing.

Now here is what I will say for those that have read, and will read this will probably be the most reassuring part I have written in a while.

It is okay to be insecure, and scared about being out done by someone. It happens, there is always someone better than you out there. To say that you are the best is a lie. I mean it is so rare to find someone who would be called the best. There are exceptions, but so rare, so rare. I being a singer, artist, and writer know there is always someone that is better than me. I try not to worry about it, and just try to give it my all, and hope that what I leave on the table people will like, and if they don't accept what I give, their loss, not mine. This problem is one that so many have. We are never sure of ourselves, and it is what tends to hold us back. If we just give in to the notion that someone is better, instead of making it a competition we can relax, and get better at what we are trying to do.

Then I know there are the unmotivated. For you, find something you are passionate in, or something that erks you. For me I have politics, and on many occasions I will speak out about what is going on in the globe. I could speak about what is going on in Missouri, and Oklahoma, but I do not know enough about the situation to feel a true empathetic feeling for them. I feel bad, but I do not feel as bad as if I was effected by it. As to are most Americans, the "it doesn't hurt me so why care." I hope the people get help, I do, but I can't do anything. Those sitting around and wasting their life, why? Life is something so precious, and so short live it.

On that subject, a sudden moment of reality I had last night.

I asked a while ago, why do I keep visualizing myself dying in any situation that I get myself into. Whether it is a car accident, or a freak of nature, I always picture myself dying. Someone responded to me and said that I am probably really depressed, and need help. That is not the case. I am not a suicidal person, and would never want to do it. Now I know some of you are waiting for me to admit to that after reading the first part, not the case. I saw what someone said on a thread where some was admitting they wanted to kill themselves. Here is a paraphraised version of what they said, "you only get once chance at life, and if you want to kill your self you aren't living or doing enough." Then it dawned on me, these thoughts are of fear, not of depression. I am an ambitious individual, and there is so much out there that I want to do, and I have not had the chance to step up to the plate and take a swing. I am just scared of missing out. That is what my death visions are coming from. In other words, I want to live, and I don't want to miss a beat. Makes sense right? Weird, I know, but it is logical.

Anyways, that I believe is my ramblings for now. I will have more as the summer progresses. There will be a lot of down time. I think I will have a lot to say. Stay tuned...

Told You So

2011-05-21T01:57:00.002-07:00

Well the prediction I made all of a day ago, it came true. It wasn't quite how I predicted it, but nonetheless, just as funny.

When I smell a problem, I can laugh at it. Karma has a weird way of playing its self out.

Let me just say this since I now have some peoples attention. Life right now for me, even though I hate sounding selfish, is going really good. I have a great girlfriend, and things for the most part are falling into place. This summer is shaping up to be a very good summer from the start, atlthough not a fast one, but a good one so far. There is a lot that is going to happen this summer that has me excited. The crazy part is I am probably on route to move out within the next three months, finally relocate to Flagstaff. I am concerned about it, the change is good, but there things I am leaving behind I am not sure I want to leave here. I am a two hour drive away, I need to remember that.

Things happening this summer

1. Show Sunday at the Clubhouse

2. California for the 4th of July and Against Me!

3. Recording

4. First headlining show July 23

5. Against Me! again in Phoenix in August

6. Moving.

Those are just the headlines. There is much more that is going to happen. What I don't know. I am debating myself if I want to seek a summer job, or just take it easy. Honestly, I don't feel like sitting around home all week. Although, my fat ass is doing the P90X work out, which I believe I have already lost like 4 or 5 pounds, I just need to eat better. It's a choice I'll make soon. I don't think 500 bucks will last me the summer, so a job would be nice.

I would bitch about this "rapture" thing that is supposed to happen in about 14 hours, but I don't see the need. You've seen my religions stance. I really don't care, and this it is just nuts. I had an interesting conversation today about it. The only answer that we really can't answer is, energy never dies. So there has to be something after death. Is conscious an energy, or is nothing. Crazy thoughts!

Damn, I wish I had more reasons to be pissed off, or some really interesting things to say right now. I don't so I hate to be the buzz kill. I've said this before, when I'm not under a lot of stress I don't write, when I'm not bored I don't write. Right now I write because I am bored. So suck on that for now. later.-SP

Victory Lap

2011-05-18T01:08:00.004-07:00

We'll my seven day stress is now over. I know things all should fall into place. This fall will be very interesting to say the least! My nerves are going to be excited, but really scared about this change. It is going to more than welcomed. So here we go, a summer where I will be taking a victory lap because of this achievement!

Any whooo.

While I am here, I have things to talk about, of course. Mostly music, after all I just did talk personal before, so lets go to what tends to be the norm here.

I'll just say these things straight forward, because I know it pisses them off. I got all the dirt on my old band through a very reliable source, it is amazing what people will say when they are talking to a girl. What I learned was rather funny, and sad. For the most part they are a shit talking band, everyone talks shit behind each others back, which comes as no surprise to me, it was happening before, I guess things never change. They also have mad communication problems, they were trying to tell one member to come to practice while they were on vacation, and they were told this by him many a times. Being in a band requires communication, and if they are having this problem, it will only get worse. The shit talking will become a problem to, especially when one member is intimidated by the others talent, and feels that they were encroaching on their side of the stage during show.

Oh, and lets get to the music.

I learned that they aren't writing anything new. I saw them two months ago, and all the music was stuff that was written back from 2009-2010, apparently they have to sink even lower to steal music that wasn't even written by them, to stuff that was written back in 2008, when only one member was in the band, and that member has no real creative input behind it. Kind of low, right? It's okay, I have MP3's of all the songs they are trying to rip off. It just shows that they are uncreative pukes, trying to rehash old stuff that didn't work in the first place, and what makes them think it will work again. I mean, they lyrics to the original versions of the songs actually meant something, they weren't written just to write meaningless lyrics. The last song I posted, "All Or Nothing," was actually inspired by my girlfriend. Writing a song about a girl doesn't always have to be a love ballad, or sex song, contrary to popular belief. It also can be taken in many different directions. From what I heard their lyrics are whiny, and bland. Hey if that's how they think they are going to make it, rehashing things that didn't work in the first place, go for it. Also, playing the same venue every show will not help.

My band currently has 11 completed original songs (all entirely new), we all get along very well, and our live show has been great now. We practice about 4-6 times a week, and actually went a 10 straight day run recently, and didn't even notice it. Being constant, and making the songs muscle memory are key to the band. We already have had people come up to us, and find meanings in our songs we didn't even know were there, so I guess we can say we are doing something right.

That's it for now. I sleep. Oh, I sleep.-SP

Post Script: Now I am finding out that one member is planning on leaving, and they probably have no clue. As me being a journalist, I have a more than reliable source. My theory is just more right. Creepy. I'm good at predicting things.

All Or Nothing

2011-05-17T23:17:00.000-07:00

“All Or Nothing”

The words we swallow, always hurt the worse

They leave us empty and never quench our thirst

But it’s the breath that we choke on,

They stood and watched, as we’ve come and gone

I’ve stood back and let this go on too long

We’ll change the beat, yeah we’ll change the fucking song

We’ll find our place, under the sun again

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all we have

We’ll wipe the sweat as it drips from our brow

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all or nothing

The silence is shattered in this empty room

With words that my mind can’t consume

We’ve tried our best, but for what?

This slate is clean, like a blank page

I can’t look back, and waste time on the past

Years have been wasted, and the future’s coming fast

We’ll find our place, under the sun again

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all we have

We’ll wipe the sweat as it drips from our brow

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all or nothing

(We rise, we fall)

(We lose it all)

(To stand, again)

(Just to find our zen)

We’ll find our place, under the sun again

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all we have

We’ll wipe the sweat as it drips from our brow

We’ll lose it all, but it’s all or nothing

Band Dilemma

2011-05-16T13:32:00.002-07:00

Well. I hate to get your hopes up, but this isn't a problem where the next step is the band falls apart. No not even close. Just sucky scheduling might suck.

Here's the low down...

Authority Zero is playing Club Red July 2, and we have been asked to play. Here is the catch. Most of us have planned vacations already which we would all be back in town together on July 10. My vacation plans are taking me to Pomona, CA for Warped Tour to see Against Me!, Street Dogs, and Continental, and of course mass beach time. Kurtis will be in the San Jose area to be with family, and Anthony will be in San Diego with his father.

It's not the end of the world if we can't do it, but the exposure we could garner would be tremendous! AZ plays there all the time, but it is just the first chance we saw. We are also working with the guy at Club Red about doing a festival soon, and possibly getting Strike Anywhere, and Nations Afire to do it, but all right now is just ideas, and waiting to work things out.

We'll see how this goes. Fuck you bad timing!!!

Political System Theory

2011-05-09T17:47:00.002-07:00

Political system

A democratic socialist system based off of Marxism, and current American democracy. All people are created equal, but some are higher on a “food chain.”

Public services, like firefighter, police, teachers and healthcare workers, true minimum wage/entry jobs are at the bottom, broken into three classes, Class A, which receives better portioned rations/pay, Class B, which shall receive less than A, but make more than C, and C which makes the lowest, but more than enough to live comfortably. You can go up and down in the pay class.

To fix modern political system, an uprising anarchistic like state must happen to over throw current government. Modern government is broken, and must be fixed. In this government system it is very similar to modern US political system; there is a bi-cameral house and senate, and a supreme court. The president is voted on by the people, there are no parties, just people. Presidential elections are held every four years, and president can be voted in an infinite amount of times. If the president is voted out by the people, a majority vote, ie 51%-49%, he serves a fifth year, and then at the end of that year, an election is held between two new candidates that are picked randomly from a computer. The out going president can be picked again if their name comes up. The government helps prepare the two random citizens for an election. The selected can decline, and another drawing is held to find another candidate. The house and senate is held just like modern senate and house, a citizen will announce candidacy and will run that way. House and senate members cannot be selected for president; they can, however, run if they step down from their political position. They lose their seat, and cannot get it back until the next election cycle, and can regain a seat.

There is no official religion or shall there ever be. All religions shall be tolerate.

English is the official language, although other languages can be spoken and taught.

Metric system is the official system of measure.

I Am Complete

2011-05-04T00:55:00.002-07:00

To those who never had a chance...

Let tell you a jig about song writing. Not a jig, because well I am not going to dance for you. I just completed writing the tenth song for my bands album. Yes, we have a records worth of songs, and yes it is going to be recorded this summer. I know only a select few people actually read this so I figured I'd spill the beans here before we do May 22 at the Clubhouse. Riot Act will be going into studio July 20 to record a ten (10) track record. The cost, not as bad as you would think, we'll leave that out. Recorded by who, someone who saw us in show and is a big Rise Against fan and has a $100,000 plus recording studio that he is going to let us use. networking rocks. Also doing a cover of "Give it All" can turn heads if you do it right.

Anywhoo...

I just finished writing the lyrics for the last song. Here are the lyrics:

"Streetlights"

We don’t know what they’re saying

These voices once so loud have gone

It’s like a song that just keeps playing

The broken message just goes on

I’ve heard this all before

“No need to disobey”

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

To picket lines, and questions unanswered

To the deserts to follow in the lies

I don’t think they get it

Everywhere let our fists fly to the skies

All it takes is one to speak out

Their dominos will cave in

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

We aren’t the chosen, even if we try

We won’t wait for another day

(We have enough now)

I’ve heard this all before

“No need to disobey”

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

(Whoa--)

We stand back, and watch it burn down

(Whoa--)

Our hearts ignite, under the streetlights

These voices once so loud have gone

Now some people think writing ten songs is tough, not really. Think this. If you look at the insert of most bands records they say "songs written between (as an example) June-October 2007." Most albums are written between 3-4 months, and we are doing just 10 tracks, now mind you this we practice around 16 hours a week, on writing weeks we may practice 20 hours a week. Now pro bands will be in studio to write for maybe 40-60 hours a week, mind you we are all students, and not a pro band. So that takes away from that. I find writing lyrics very easy. I learned recently how to more so freestyle write, and as we put it "frickashawna," or basically making weird noises over the instrumental and picking words out of it. Actually, the chorus lines "We stand back, and watch it burn down/Our hearts ignite...." actually came while I was just basically singing gibberish, I wanted to say those words. Same thing with our last song we wrote "Exit Strategy." They come very easy. The instrumentals take about two hours two write sometimes, that is even on a higher side, most of the time the music, or part of is written away from practice. Then we record the instrumental, now with me singing a melody, and I listen to it and write lyrics. Not that hard.

Composing music too isn't that hard. If you are making it hard on yourself, you are doing something wring. Tom Gabel does it best. He'll string three chords together, and make it sound great. It is really that simple. People will say that takes originality out of it, not really. It is also about what is said. To write weird lyrics that don't make any sense, or self centered lyrics are not really that exciting. Give a listener something that they can picture themselves doing. The song that is above is about the rage, passion and emotion of protest against what is keeping you down. It can also be taken other ways if you want too. I'm not saying my songs have to have one meaning. I also like ironic songs. I have one song that is probably going to be the second single that's title is the opposite about what it is about. Then another track, which I believe I have posted here On Edge has about three or four meanings. Look at it politically, or emotionally, and you will find something there. That is what this band that I am in is about. Getting through to the listener to let them know that they are not the only one who's life has been fucked up or screwed over. Most band now a days really do forget the listener. I won't let that happen anymore.

To sum it up. Song writing is easy, adn don't over complicate it. Goodnight.-SP

A Fad...

2011-04-24T12:26:00.002-07:00

What a day for this conversation. The fad that is becoming "religion."

First off here is my stance on religion, I am an agnostic person, but I am pretty close to atheistic at times. I believe that there might be a "higher" power, but at the same time I skeptic. To me there is no evidence of a "god" or any heaven, or hell. I like to look at things in a scientific stance, and scientist do not follow anything there is evidence for, and that is where I am. The belief that we were visited by aliens thousands of years ago is more logical that a spiritual entity.

Anyways...

Over the past few years, spurred on by what, I don't know, there have been kids getting really into religion. I mean like getting silly religious tattoos and such. The sad part it seems more like this religious movement is more of a fad, because one kid gets a friend into religion, and then it spreads like fucking wildfire. Some have no reason, but just a social event and no more. They start believing the drivel that is spoken to them, and start mindlessly following. Then not only that, they start getting pushy about, and force their beliefs down your throat, and will look at you lower if you don't "believe" in god. Same goes with those who follow the dissent to Christianity, it is the same bullshit. You are living your life something that you are even sure if it is real, and you live by strict rules, and miss out on so much.

I believe that humans are meant to live their life to the fullest, and only have to follow laws that make sense, ie laws imposed by governments, but of course we have the right to fight against that. We should not have to follow a poorly constructed set of rules that came from thousands of years ago that are totally irrelevant.

On this Easter I ask you this, are you living your life, or are you stuck attacted to the Bible, and missing out on life as it passes you by. There is a whole arguement that I could make with teh fact how religion should not have any part in government, but that is for something totally different, you'll see that some other time. For now it this is dedicated to all the "Christcore" kids pissing away the best years of their life because of the Bible.

"August Lights"

2011-04-22T00:36:00.001-07:00

"August Lights"
I know they're the same
The line we walked is drawn in sand
As the waves came crashing in
Like a signal that we missed
We just don't under stand
What this is all about
What we were all about

The signals crossed
The light go out (whoa--)
The fading smile
The lights go out

So here we are, brought to shame
I see the fire die in your eyes
This has gone terminal
Have we come to accept the end
We stand miles apart
The void just keeps growing
A facade is what you are
The shell of what is no more

The signals crossed
The lights go out (whoa--)
The fading smile
The lights go out

We'll waste the night until the August light
We're losing grip
We're gone away, no one can stay
We've fallen apart
The glue's come undone, we can't over come
We're still waiting for the August light

A broken heart is what we have
To shattered lives is what remains
We can escape our fate
This is just who we are
It's who we are

The signals crossed
The lights go out (whoa--)
The fading smile
The lights go out

We'll waste the night until the August light
We're losing grip
We're gone away, no one can stay
We've fallen apart
The glue's come undone, we can't over come
We're still waiting for the August light

To The Locals

2011-04-21T23:02:00.001-07:00

Rick Barton said something that is so true about today's music climate. He reminisced about 1980 when he saw the Clash at venue in Boston and it was packed with 2,800 people, and the next night he went back to see three unknown local bands, and there were 450 people there just because. He said now that today people will only go to shows is the headliner is "Green Day, or Dropkick Murphy's," while ignoring the great local talent that a city has to offer. He's right. People are ignoring a local scene that has talent besides hardcore bands. I wish people would listen. The next show my band has is at the Clubhouse with three bands I know, quality acts too! So come out, on a Thursday night, and prove me wrong! The world of local music is full of the next big thing, get there before they get big.

Last night I played a gig with Civet, Continental, and Look Out Look, and sadly there were not that many people there, I mean there were people there, but not as many as there should have been. This isn't a stab at the bands being bad, or unknown, this is a stab at the people that are overlooking local concerts. I have never seen a local show where there have been say, 40-50 people are a venue just because. The closest was Joes Grotto at the start of April, that's a different situation though.

The modern music listener is so infatuated with big radio-pop headliners like Justin Bieber, or Green Day (just saying I like Green Day, but they are a good example.) Meanwhile they will totally ignore a local band who very well may be better than aforementioned musicians, even though Bieber is barely a musician. It sickens me about what people do find good out here. When I told Mr. Barton what was popular out here, the hardcore screamo, grindcore stuff, he had a shiver run down his spine. It is bad. Most of these bands fizzle out in about a year because most have band member problems, or have a shuffling deck of members, and tough to get to know the band because their music is always changing. Also the messages that these bands try and send are disgusting, most nonsensical. I'm going to use one particular local band that I saw recently, Mold Breaker from north Phoenix. One, their music was full if dissonant chords that hurt ones ears; two, all their songs sounded the same; three there, there were no audible words; four, they are a rich kid band who's parents literally pay for everything (the drummer and one of the guitar players father is in Soulfly.) This is what is popular out here. That's not the worst of it.

I am not one to identify myself as an atheist, but pretty close. So you can imagine I do not like any sort of religion in my music, unless it is a call out against it. This is another startling popular scene out here, Christ-core. Upper-middle class kids playing drop tuned guitars, all tattooed up and praising "the Lords name" in their songs. What?! What happened to metal being "the devils" music? Its okay, these bands don't last though. Again, arguments erupt, strangely over girls because all of a sudden they have interested females.

There is a scene out here, but it saddens me that no one pays attention to where it should be. The punks shouldn't have to hide at a 21+ venue in Glendale, considering right now there is a great market for loud ear blistering punk music. Why hide in the shadows. The people that call themselves local music lovers don't really come out, no matter what. You know what that means, great venues close, get re-opened by an investor seeing a second chance, and then it closes again, this time forever. It's not just bands that suffer from a stagnant crowd not coming to shows, it is venue owners.

So I ask you this, please come out to local shows, stuff where there may not be a slew of people, but good acts. To follow these popular hardcore bands out here is, no pun intended, but bandwagonism. Come out to a show, and see that there is some amazing things going on, stories being told on stage, blood sweat, and tears all emanating from one stage, and connecting with the listener. The punk rock scene is really a community, and a weird brotherhood (you'll get into a fight with a person, then the next second be joining them in a mosh pit like you've been friends forever.) But people rather go to shows to fight each other.

Next time you hear of a local show, mine, a friends, or anyone else’s, come out and see what is going on. There very well may be the next big thing, and you can say "you knew them when," or liked them when, ect. So my plea stands. Until next time, see you at the show.

Exit Stratgy

2011-04-11T22:42:00.002-07:00

"Exit Strategy"
She said, "I don't know,"
As the ground crumbled in her hand
I think we should turn away

Think back to the better days gone by
All alone we'll sit and wonder why
After these failed attempts to fly
We'll never try, we'll only die

The cold rain will fall again
We now have become a then
Still trying to live out a lie
The one's you can't deny, the ones you can't deny

We can't turn and walk away
This is now disarray
I'll be the one to find
The one you left behind, the one you left behind

All these doors have been slammed shut
An exit not is a lost cause
Looks like we're forced to stay

Like a wall, that you can't break through
This torn heart flutters like a torn page
The wind just won't carry me away
Coming of age, end of a phase

The cold rain will fall again
We now have become a then
Still trying to live out a lie
The one's you can't deny, the ones you can't deny

We can't turn and walk away
This is now disarray
I'll be the one to find
The one you left behind, the one you left behind

Four years, have gone to waste
Leaving us without a taste
You reside in my memory
With no way out with no way out

The cold rain will fall again
We now have become a then
Still trying to live out a lie
The one's you can't deny, the ones you can't deny

We can't turn and walk away
This is now disarray
I'll be the one to find
The one you left behind, the one you left behind

Fight The Past, Embrace The Future

2011-03-29T22:03:00.003-07:00

As long as we go this way, I realize that what is behind, is behind. Those who live in the past have no future, those who have no future are going to go no where. I've been done with my past for about a year now. I just wish I listened to my heart long ago. I guess you could say the theme of my life, and my songs for the most part are just self refections. I just hope that that rubs off on people someday.

I just wish I had more to say. I guess when things are going kind of right it is easy not to really talk about anything... hmmm.

Make It Six

2011-03-21T02:10:00.001-07:00

Six complete originals. Impressive for about eight weeks of work. There are more coming. There are like pieces floating around that will be used. Just wait. They are good.

"On Edge"

2011-03-21T02:04:00.002-07:00

"On Edge"

All along we'll sit by the fire

While the rest sit and conspire

Behind the scenes, forgetting you and me

Creating the lies that we see

Getting lost, trying to remember

Things haven't been right since September

Just fighting the air that we breathe

It always comes around, it always come around

I'm still hoping for better days (I'm still fighting myself)

The ones we love are so far away (My enemy is in me)

We are standing on the edge again

Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)

This life we had is a mess again

You say it's over, (we're asking when?)

My head is ringing like a bell

Stuck inside of a prison cell

The circles we ran, and miles lost

We want back at any cost

What's behind the door's isn't the worst

I guess we are just the cursed

Spending too much time on what if's

While ignoring what can be, what can be

I'm still hoping for better days (I'm still fighting myself)

The ones we love are so far away (My enemy is in me)

We are standing on the edge again

Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)

This life we had is a mess again

You say it's over, (we're asking when?)

I'll see you from afar

But never on the same plain

It's just who we are

No one is left to blame

We'll just fade away

We are standing on the edge again

Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)

This life we had is a mess again

You say it's over, (we're asking when?)

We are standing on the edge again

Right before our eyes we'll (fall down)

This life we had is a mess again

You say it's over, (we're asking when?)

21 Dogs

2011-03-13T02:41:00.002-07:00

They get there late but, never cease to amaze.

Street Dogs showed up late, and were just awesome as usual. Venue was really strange though, small to say the least. Irish band plus Irish beer equals a night full of win.

That is all for now. Yes, I am 21 now, and no I will not buy you beer. Good night world.-SP

All Or Nothing

2011-03-11T02:04:00.001-07:00

"All Or Nothing"

There was a point where the skies seemed clear,

And nothing could get in my way

We would walk stride for stride, and breath for breath

How quickly that could all be thrown away

A unsettling storm's on the horizon

I knew that I just couldn't stay

I could only watch you burn from the side

But it is the heart that we must obey

You can stay the same path, but

I'll walk alone

It is a mistake not worth repeating

It's a dead horse that were beating

I guess that we've grown

And though this may have to sting

I can give it all or nothing

This is the end of the line, where book slams close

But this is where we have to go

So now we stand worlds apart, as the void grows

A fire that we sit and watch all aglow

Nothing can come clear as we have lost our way

It's just what we have to out grow

But it's all for not, we never learned a lesson

We'll repeat and hit a plateau

But I won't stand with you now

I'll walk alone

It is a mistake not worth repeating

It's a dead horse that were beating

I guess that we've grown

And though this may have to sting

I can give it all or nothing

It's coming of age,

As we say good-bye to our youth

We can let it enguld us

Or give it all or nothing

And let it take us down

I won't fall back in

I'll walk alone

It is a mistake not worth repeating

It's a dead horse that were beating

I guess that we've grown

And though this may have to sting

I can give it all or nothing

It's all or nothing,

It's all or nothing

There was a point where the skies seemed clear,

And nothing could get in my way

Paper Heart

2011-03-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

"Paper Heart"

I heard you ran off to the city

Like a fly drawn to the light

Looking for the new start you dreamed

A chance for you to finally get it right

When we never gave what we had a chance

Just let you heart sail off into the night

There is nothing left defeating

And it's only us that's dreaming

So far away

A distance I won't travel

This is where we don't play by the rules

So lets break away

And drift towards the horizon

And leave this place behind

Your paper heart is on the mend

And I know you seem so lost

There's only so much you can give

Until you can will exhaust

Every road you take gets you no where

And you want away for any cost

There is nothing left defeating

And it's only us that's dreaming

So far away

A distance I won't travel

This is where we don't play by the rules

So lets break away

And drift towards the horizon

And leave this place behind

This could be something great,

Or a total fucking disaster,

It's something we should negate

But lets go down in flames

So far away

But is this where we're standing

Or is that void growing close

So lets break away,

And drift towards the horizion

And leave this place behind

Lets leave this place

Lets leave this place behind

United States Of Eurasia

2011-03-10T01:18:00.002-07:00

I see what is going on from the world, sadly from the sidelines. The fact that I can't do much about it really hurts. I recently watched the movie 1984, and was refreshed about the book. Although the movie wasn't as good as the book, it did hold true to the story. The parallels that I see between "the Party," and what the Republicans are doing to this country.

For those who did not read 1984, "the Party" is the group in control of Oceania, they are supposed to be a fascist communist state under Big Brother. Although the story is supposed be about about something the left is big on, it show more of the fascist side. Currently in the United States we are seeing a problem with budgets. Budgets in the some states are fledgling, as is the countries. To combat this problem Republicans are slashing everything. They are cutting education, basic rights, and causing jobs to be lost. We are coming out, all be it slowly, of the recession, jobs are still scarce, but there is signs of recovery.

Now here is the scary part. It is Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is where unions were formed, and the five day work week was first implemented. Currently this state is under Republican control, and what happens, mass budget cuts. According to the governor, basically dissolving unions will take a huge chunk out of their deficit. That is not the case, it is just small percentage of their problem. If I knew more on their problem, I would talk about what should be cut, but I do not. There are other things that can be done to fix a deficit. Anyways, tonight the republicans circumvented a law, and voted to get rid of public worker unions. They did this without the democrats, as a "nuclear" effort as MSNBC has put it, and not Wisconsin's unions are on their death beds. (Don't worrk I'm getting to my 1984 references)

This is only the first state to try this. There are others to follow, Michigan and Indiana are next. Indiana however there is a super-majority there so it will pass easily, but Michigan is next.

Without these unions, big corporations will douse millions on republican, and democrats will not have as much money come election time to run their elections. This would thus create a republican monopoly. A one party system, similar to what "the Party" is in 1984. The republicans are hell bent on seeing that the top 2% succeed while the rest, the proles are left tp toil and suffer. They want to strip liberties, and basically bury us so they can profit. There is no humanity in them. Not only that, they are trying to change history and basically making it seem like the past wasn't their fault, but rather democrats, even though democrats did not have control over the time the budget deficit started surfacing. They want us to forget that it was their fault, just how "the Party" changed the past.

It is scary, and we are turning a blind eye. We look to the sky for answers, but only get more questions. There is no end in sight, and things will only get worse.

PROLES WILL RISE!!!-SP

White Noise

2011-03-07T23:52:00.002-07:00

"White Noise"
We seem to find our way back to this place
Coming in first, but still lost in the race
It's a black lie we can't erase

We feed the flames, with our blood and tears
White noise still streaming through our ears
Gone are all those wasted years

I'd rather take my time, stuck in a photograph
Like a lie that can beat a polygraph
See the distant sun rise just to disappear
While the rest can just cry in fear

Sometimes it seems there's no way I can get away
From what sits right here in front of me
But we won't give up, cause we're here to stay
But that is just to your dismay

You can't leave us out, when we're already in
This is a fight that you just can't win
Go a head and pull the pin

It's all for not, once the tear's been shed
A love lost in fear and dread
Nothing left for us ahead

I'd rather take my time, stuck in a photograph
Like a lie that can beat a polygraph
See the distant sun rise just to disappear
While the rest can just cry in fear

Sometimes it seems there's no way I can get away
From what sits right here in front of me
But we won't give up, cause we're here to stay
But that is just to your dismay

Face to face, and eye to eye
Face to face, and eye to eye

You can't love what is already lost
We'll be bought at any cost
For a line of shame
Or just to place the blame
We'll love what is lost
As we're bought for any cost

I'd rather take my time, stuck in a photograph
Like a lie that can beat a polygraph
See the distant sun rise just to disappear
While the rest can just cry in fear

Sometimes it seems there's no way I can get away
From what sits right here in front of me
But we won't give up, cause we're here to stay
But that is just to your dismay

There be music to this one too....

All Because Of You

2011-03-06T02:13:00.002-07:00

Was thinking a couple days ago, about why I started listening to certain musics, and such. I came to a realization that the main reason that I found my self wading around in the 80's genre was because of a girl sophomore year in high school. Actually more so freshman year, the end of it. During the start of freshman year I was starting to find pop-punk like Green Day, and dare I say them now, Good Charlotte. Just because I was listening to them doesn't mean I wasn't going to eventually wind up at Rise Against and bands like them. I also liked hard rock.

Around that same time I found out about Velvet Revolver, who, back then, I saw more as a punk alt rock band than the classic rock that they were. I was also against screaming in music, then again look at the kids I was around at the time. In 2004/2005 around PV high school there were a lot of these emo/screamo bands, which is a big reason I detested screaming. I gave that stereotype to screaming bands, no matter what. It was the people that were into them too I hated. Didn't help that I didn't know anyone who was into "real" punk at the time.

The first time I remember hearing Rise Against was in 2004, "Give it All." Strangely enough I don't remember having anything against the video, or song, but just Tim's hair. I think if I remember right I actually looked for that video on MTV, or VH1 at like 6am after I woke up. It wouldn't be until 2006 that I heard from them again. I was in a baseball clubhouse and one of my teammates was singing, "We live on front porches and swing life away/We get by just fine here on minimum wage." I distinct memory. Meanwhile I was still really into the 80's stuff like Def Leppard, and Guns N' Roses.

The summer of 2008, they came back again. This time, strangely enough, was because of a girl. She showed me "Re-Education (Though Labor)" and my first instinct was that I liked it. I though it had a good sound, and really liked it. I think it was at this point my musical taste was changing from the 80's rock to a more punk rock, thanks to Against Me!. First found out about them in 2006, after seeing their music video for "Don't Loose Touch," and seeing the album cover for "Re-Inventing Axl Rose" pop up when I would look up Mr. Rose. Then I heard "Thrash Unreal," and was hooked. Saw them with the Foo Fighters at the start of '08, and then again at Warped Tour that year, the start of the change. By the end of 2008 I had downloaded all of Rise record "Appeal to Reason," plus like 10 other random songs of theirs. Nonetheless, I was hooked, finally.

To get where I am now probably started sometime freshman year in high school, when exactly, I just don't know. That seems to be the stem if it all. But what I have now is a realization, and a revitalization of where I should be.

I learned that my 80's rock thing was just a phase, and I was always meant to be in punk rock. After all, I was raised on early 90's alt/punk rock on MTV. As I see people try to bring back the 80's sound that has basically gone extinct. As scientists will say, you can clone something to look, and feel just like something that is extinct, but it genetically isn't the same creature. Same goes for any band trying to bring back that sound. Then again, most haven't heard that before. Just food for thought. I rather be living in today and face my problems head on, than try to hide in the past and ignore the glaring facts.

So what have I learned. Freshman year in HS was more important than I realized, and 80's music is dead. Thank you and god night.-SP

Make No Mistake

2011-02-28T00:38:00.002-07:00

I am quite impressed what has been accomplished over the past six weeks or so. To those that say song writing is a process that takes a long time, they need to re-think their musical approach. In the real world of a band, you are locked in a room with three, four, or maybe five other people for eight hours a day, five to six days a week. What is expected of these "writing sessions" is at least one new song. Mind you this, if the band doesn't have song they have already been working on. Once they do that for a bout three weeks, and have about 20-30 songs they start rehearsing all of them. This goes on for three weeks, then comes the time to pick your best 12-15. Once you have your best twelve, you refine those even more, and make small changes. From those 12-15, you may drop two or three songs because they don't fit, or just aren't as good as the rest. However, save those tracks, they are what become b-side that can come out with a single, or an EP release at a later date. After you have the 11-13 tracks you want the recording process begins. As Bill Stevenson said, "Fuck putting band-aids on fuck ups, lets make that the best part of the song." The recording process goes on for about two eeks or so, then the mixing begins, and this is entirely in th hands of your producer, and mixing engineer. Mixing is done about two weeks later, total time elapsed, three to four months. The album is actually released six months after this process began. Keep in mind, it may be shorter if you have songs written, and don't need the whole lock down experience.

To write a song doesn't take as long as one might think. It may take longer if one wants to get too technical, and make a simple part hard. As I have come to see, all else fails, add a pickslide. Then to argue length of a song is another hassle. I personally write a four minuet songs, well at least the core rhythm part. To go anything over 4:15 can get kind of dicey for songs. The best songs are written in the time frame of 2:01-4:13, anything shorter is a Dead Kennedy's or Minor Threat song, any longs and you get into the realm of metal crap. Length doesn't matter, and having six or seven different riffs doesn't either. Having a intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge riff are all that you need at maximum. Of course, the order can change.

For track listing, and show set lists keep it energized. On an album, and a set list, your first song has to be make a huge impact. I believe that track one/song one, and the last song in a set or album make a difference.

It is simple.. Just remember the KISS motto when writing, and doing music. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID, and good things will come.-SS

The Brutal Honesty

2011-02-25T12:11:00.003-07:00

I haven't written in here lately, why, because I haven't felt the urge to write a lot. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm not in any classes where I have to write a lot. Hence, me not wanting to write, or whatever.

So it might be slow, or it might not.

The world right now is like a tinderbox waiting to explode. There is so much going on, and sooner or later, it will ignite into a conflagration that hasn't been seen in decades. With "revolutions" going on in the Middle East, and the United States about see a class war break out, things are not looking good. The gap between the middle class and those at the top is growing too large, and it needs to be closed. Some of the arguments for why this is being done is just flat out criminal. There is a governor out of control in Wisconsin. It is only a matter of time before blood will be shed there.

For those living under a rock, here is the gist of what is going on. Wisconsin's freshman governor has a bill going through the state congress that will all but dissolve public worker unions. Unions are hugely important in this country. A big reason, it may sound contradictory to what democrats stand for, but it makes sense, is that unions are the main funder democrats for election season. Donations around election time, within the top ten donations three come for democrat unions, the other seven come from corporate right funds. With unions being dissolved that would create a monopoly for election donations. The democrats would stand no chance in elections without union funding.

Unions are more important that just for the election funding, the represent the people in the work place. They are the reason we have minimum wage, safe working places, and important benefits from work. Without these the working class would be nothing more than 1600's peasants, not to say that we aren't heading there anyways.Yes, they get a bad rap when a strike breaks out, but it is to protect their employees when they see something wrong. Unions can crack if they see that a strike will hurt their employees. This time there is no cracking, we crack this time unions are done.

If this bill passes in Wisconsin, it will be the first domino to fall. The rest of the country where there are "budget problems" will try to get rid of unions. It is a matter of time. The party of no compromise needs to make a compromise and scrap this bill. If it passes, and other states their dissolution of unions, there will be a all out class war. Not a civil class war, but one with actual fighting and blood shed on American soil. It will be a second American Revolution. Not an anti-government revolution that the republicans want you to believe, but rather a anti-conservative rebellion.

I have a bigger beef with the conservative movement than I like to show. Most know that I might as well border on a atheist, so I have some really good sticking point about the whole conservative movement. I'll save that for later though.

Sometimes the scariest things aren't what's hiding behind the door, but rather what is on the horizon. Are we facing our end, or is there a brighter future? For now this is to be determined.-SS

Tell Me It's Over

2011-02-16T02:16:00.001-07:00

"Tell Me It's Over"

They say that we're living in a new age

And that we're now turning the page

But I'm still waiting

They said that they had a plan

As glass shattered in their hands

But we're still waiting

Shouts into the night sky

They always seem to be ones unheard

They're still asking themselves why

As their vision goes blurred

Can't close my eyes

And make it go away

Please tell me it's over (Whoa--)

I can't help but see

This dark reality,

Please tell me it's over (Whoa--)

Tell me it's over

Sometimes it seem that this bad dream won't end

I'm tired being the one to bend

But I'm still waiting

It's like a sad lullaby

That goes without a reply

But we're still waiting

A voice of reason goes down

In a southern Arizona town

And there is no one to blame

But the words feed the flame

Can't close my eyes

And make it go away

Please tell me it's over (Whoa--)

I can't help but see

This dark reality,

Please tell me it's over (Whoa--)

Tell me it's over

The answers seem to divide us,

While the questions remain the same

The arguement goes no where

Just tell me it's over

We choke on the words of reason

And relase all those that defame

The arguement still goes no where

Just tell me it's over

Please tell me it's over

Can't close my eyes

And make it go away

Please tell me it's over (Whoa--)

I can't help but see

This dark reality,

Please tell me it's over (Whoa--)

Tell me it's over

*A song of relevance. Based off of two HUGE events in the past 12 months. The Gulf Oil Spill, and the shooting in Tucson. Take it for what it's worth.

Live Action!!! Band's I've Seen Live

2011-02-10T22:40:00.001-07:00

Rise Against 3x's

Def Leppard 3x's

Against Me 5x's

Green Day 3x's

Keane 3x's

Buckcherry 2x's

Papa Roach 2x's

Coldplay 2x's

Street Dogs 4x's

Bad Religion 3x's

Motley Crue 2x's

Journey 2x's

AC/DC

Aerosmith

Nations Afire

Avenged Sevenfold (bought a ticket but didn't watch then, just saw BC)

Foxboro Hot Tubs

Rancid

Billy Talent

Styx

Foreigner

Saving Abel

Anti-Flag 2x's

Aiden 2x's

Riverboat Gamblers

Alice Cooper

Sum 41

Foo Fighters

The Causalities

Die Ignorant 2x's

Van Halen

Franz Fernandad

Live

Cromwell

Collective Soul

Flight From Above

Alice in Chains

Toby Keith

Velvet Revolver

Jimmy Eat World

The Answer

Books and Dunn

Montgomery Gentry

NOFX

Keith Urban

Misfits

The Used

Poison

Cheap Trick 2x's

The Offspring

Dirty Penny

Vains of Jenna 2x's

Iron Maiden

James Blunt

Rush 2x's

Cancer Bats

Andrew WK

Serj Tankerian

After Midnight Project

Black Tide

AFI

The Academy Is

A Day To Remember

Blink-182

30 Seconds to Mars

Casket Life

Flatfoot 56

Continental

Bouncing Souls

Off With Their Heads

Framing Hanley

Transmit Now

It's Alive

Henry Clay People

Starcross

Corporate Limits

Lost In Atlantis

Searching for Satellites

Mold Breaker

Fences

Cheap Girls

Whiskey Six

Blood From Stone

Age of Evil

I have a feeling I am missing a few. Plus I have been to a few local shows. This list will grow!!!

(I did not count shows where I played on this list.)

Adult Time

2011-02-03T23:52:00.002-07:00

This isn't a full blog. I just want to jot this down so I don't forget it as I have been contomplating it for a while.

I need to write a dissenting blog to what the Republicans have been doing in congress lately. While they have called for sweeping change, they have not made any moves to push this country forward.

Reason why I am not writing this in its entirety is because, one I have been sick for the last two days, and have been too lazy to write it because of that fact. So for now I just leave the little blerb about what I will be writing about. That is it..-SS

Third Wheel

2011-02-01T15:33:00.004-07:00

"Third Wheel"

It's the place we go, After the lights go out

A cruel nightmare, that no one talks about

To all the broken dreams, that have become your life

It's like searching for an answer, And living on a knife

Unfair letdown,

Reset your dreams

This house you made can't be a home

The innocents we trust, is left all alone (whoa--)

Your heart is with us, though your not here

These words my not reach you, but we'll always be near

The ones you love, can't be trusted

When simplicity is gone, so much for being adjusted

They're breaking down doors, and the scars won't heal

And your parents love, make you feel like the third wheel

Unfair letdown,

Reset your dreams

This house you made can't be a home

The innocents we trust, is left all alone (whoa--)

Your heart is with us, though your not here

These words my not reach you, but we'll always be near

{solo}

This house you made can't be a home

The innocents we trust, is left all alone (whoa--)

Your heart is with us, though your not here

These words my not reach you, but we'll always be near

Scream Until You're Coughing Blood

2011-01-31T17:37:00.003-07:00

This weekend, has been nuts to say the least.

Lets start with Thursday. Thursday is the last day that I have class for the week, so I consider my weekend starting after my last class that day. Before my first class on Thursday I got a phone call from a strange 602 number, I answered, and sure enough it was X103.9 and they are telling me that I won tickets to see Against Me!. I already has tickets for the show, so I asked around to see if anyone else wanted to go. I wound up bringing six people to the show. Pretty cool. Also, four of the six were seeing Against Me! for the first time. AM! "noobs."

The chronicle that was Jan 28, 2010 started off very good. I woke up around 10:30 in a very good mood. Went to Uncle Sams with my brother at around noon, it was his birthday. So got to heading down to the venue around 2, and was actually expecting to see a line for the concert already forming. I was wrong, we thought we were the first ones to arrive to the concert. We sat around for about 30 minuets or so until two other people showed up, apparently they had been there since 1:30. So we sat around playing our guitars for a while, then around 4 decided to put them away. Wouldn't be the last time we saw them.

Around 5:15 we see a white van arrive to the venue. We at first thought it was one of the other opening bands. It wasn't. It was AM!, they had just arrived. My brother and I walked over to my car to put some stuff away, and said "hi" to James Bowman (guitarist), and Andrew Seward (bassist). Then we saw Tom Gabel (rhythm guitar/lead vocals) and said "hi" to him too. Tom had long shaggy hair, which he is growing out, "for world peace." They went into the venue for their sound check. It wouldn't be the last time we saw then, oh no.

Shortly before the doors opened Tom walks out, and walks by the line that was about 50-100 people long at this point, and we stop him and have a few words with him. It was really cool meeting him. Tom Gabel is no short guy, is is about my hight, I think he is about 6'1, but I was eye level with him. We talked for a few minuets, then he said "I have to go eat," and disappeared into downtown Mesa. Shortly after he disappeared, Jay Weinberg, their new drummer and Max Weinberg's kid, came out. Again we started talking to him. He is my age so it was cool talking to him, actually I am about 6 months older than him, which was weird. The strangest part about this was that no one else in line noticed that Tom, and Jay were outside. No one else moved.

We get into the venue, and got front and center. Best spot I have ever had. The first two bands sucked, the second one ha a guitar player that had horrible EQ's on his guitar to the point I needed to cover my ears. Too much high. That hurts. AM! came on about 10 or so, and they opened up with "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong," which was awesome because me and my brother did the same thing when we did our acoustic show. The set they played was flawless, and almost perfect. Heard close to all the songs I wanted to hear. Just an all around great live show.

Then here is where things started getting really awesome!!!

Right after the set ended, Jordan, AM!'s manager was taking some gear off the stage, and we asked him if we could meet the band and get the setlist we ripped off the stage signed. He directed come around the front of the venue and for us to wait there. We bolted out of the venue, pushing through the crowd trying to get out as fast as we could, which strangely we didn't exactly have to rush out of there. We get to the "backstage" area and wait. Someone suggested in getting my brothers guitar signed, which we had brought. I go running back to the car and grab the guitar. I sprinted back there, but there was no need.

Finally after about 20 minuets of waiting AM! came out, at first we couldn't talk to them, but then Jay started walking around, and we started talking to him. He was teh first to sign my brothers guitar. We talked for a bit, then let him talk to the others. Then we met Andrew Steward the bassist, who is one funny mother fucker, and then James Bowman. James gave my brother a pick, which was gig used, then Andrew who did not want to be outdone by James reached into his pocket and pulled out, as he described, "an American quarter." Not only that, when we first asked him to sign the guitar he said, "hold on, I know something," he preceded to play the opening of "Under the Bridge" by RHCP. I said to him, "ohh I see you are going to give James a run for his money on guitar." He replied by saying, "nah, that's all I know..."

One of the most exciting parts came when we asked Jordan is AM! will be on Warped Tour, he hinted with an optimistic, "you never know." Then when we spoke to Tom again, he confirmed that they will be doing Warped Tour this year. Which now has me excited for Warped Tour 2011!

The guys in AM! were amazing, there is a reason they are AM! is the number two band on my list behind Rise Against. We got a picture and able to have conversations with them which was so cool. It is so rare that you get to meet one of your favorite bands, and get them to do all these things for you. It was just an all around great night. I don't think I could have asked for more.-SS

Better Than The Worse

2011-01-27T02:03:00.002-07:00

Trying to keep true to my self and write. I have this story I want to write. Just too damn lazy to actually write it...

For now something, and me not having the motivation ti string words together for now. This is better than nothing.-SS

The Republican Alphabet....

2011-01-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Most people don’t know this, but in addition to a remedial civics class, Michelle Bachmann also taught a remedial English course. She started with the basics:

A is for Anti-Christ. See B & O.

B is for Barack – Isn’t that an “exotic” name for a President? George, Ronald and Sarah are far more American sounding.

C is for Christ, who informs all of my decisions, including the ones where I discriminate against the poor and sick. Just like He would!

D is for Death panels and they’re coming to unplug Grandma!

E is for Electoral campaign finance reform. AHAHAHAHAAHH! Just kidding! The letter E is brought to you by, well, I don’t really have to tell you that anymore, do I?

F is for Fascism!!! BE READY TO FIGHT THE FASCIST LIBERAL GOVERNMENT AT ANY TIME!!! Nothing bad ever happens when you live your life by this doctrine. And if it does, it’s an isolated incident (see I).

G is for God, Guns & Guts. Everything a population needs to run a country wisely.

H is for Health care reform. Get the guns; they’re coming for Grandma again!

I(1) is for Immigration. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” and I will do everything in my power to disenfranchise and demonize them as a way to maintain the White (not white, White, how many times do I have to clarify that?) hegemony.

I(2) is for Isolated Incident. These unfortunate events that only appear to have been instigated by violent rhetoric are totally unrelated to any other letter in this list (See A,B,D,F,G,H,L,N,O,P,U,X). Unless the offender is a liberal, then it’s MSNBC’s fault.

J is for Jesus. I can never have too much of him in my life. And I want to make sure he’s part of YOURS too, whether you like it or not.

K is for Kansas and Kentucky where evolution is a four letter word. No, seriously, our education system is so bad we can’t spell but wee no wi ain’t relaytuhd 2 no munkey!

L is for Liberal. Liberals hate you and everything about you. They’re plotting to take over the country by force. They also happen to be total wimps and weaklings who hate guns. How are wimps and weaklings without guns going to take over the country? Please see Q.

M is for Marriage between a man and a woman ONLY. Even if it’s Brittany Spears’ 55 hour marriage, it’s still sacred, dammit!

N(1) is for Nazi. Nazis want to destroy America. Anyone who disagrees with you is one of these.

N(2) is for Nig…well I won’t say THAT word about those people or the liberal thought police will come for me but I think you know what I mean (wink wink).

O is for Obama. See N(1) and N(2).

P is for President. 1. The highest office of the land. The most powerful man in the world (for now…Palin in 2012!), deserving of our respect and admiration and love and full support during a time of war. 2. A secret Muslim foreigner terrorist sympathizer that is out to kill you and all you hold dear. It depends on who we are talking about. See O.

Q is for questions. Never ask any. Ever. About anything.

R is for Ronald Reagan. Ronnie represented a righteous religious revival and rapacious right-wing Republican revolution that ruined Russia. It doesn’t matter that, by the time he left office, he was unable to repeat or understand the previous sentence.

S(1) is for Sarah Palin. Sister Sarah symbolizes strength, serenity, sweetness and street smarts. She supports several serious stances on society’s struggles. Which ones? All potential interviewers please see Q.

S(2) is for Science which is Satan’s tool. Again, please see Q.

T is for Tea Party. The Tea Party tactlessly trampled through a thicket of town halls by throwing tenacious televised tantrums about terrible tax increases that never happened. “Alliteration? That one of them fancy college words for taking away my Medicare?”

U is for Us vs. Them.

V is for Voting. Voting is a God given right that we would NEVER think of interfering with by gerrymandering Congressional districts, underfunding voting machines in low income areas, mailing fliers to African Americans with false information, using robo-call centers to convince Hispanics to not vote in protest or anything else you can think of. If you do think of anything else, whatever you do, pleasedon’t suggest it your local GOP campaign headquarters. (1-800-drty-trk)

W is for Wealth redistribution. What goes up must never come down. That would be class warfare!

X is for Xenophobia (courtesy of Chuck Hutchings). “HELLO? WHICH. WAY. TO. THE. BATHROOM? EL BANO? DO. YOU. SPEAK. AMERICAN? Good lord, I hate Canada!”

Y Is for Yesterday when things were so much better than they are today. Women and Negroes knew their place and pinko commie liberals were blacklisted. Don’t you wish we could go back to those good ol’ days? So do we and we’re trying as hard as we can!

Z is for Zero accountability (courtesy of Dave Mann). Words are completely powerless. If words had ANY kind of power at all, our Founding Fathers would have used them to declare our independence or elevated them to first among our rights. So stop blaming every death threat, attempted assassination, anti-government militia and shooting spree on us. It was an isolated incident. They all isolated incidents! See I(2)

Help Is On The Way...

2011-01-20T23:47:00.001-07:00

I thought about this for a second, and kind of drew this conclusion. Why to I enjoy playing punk rock more than playing what I was playing. Here's the main reason. I am playing this style of music for the people that are listening to the songs and finding a personal connection in their meaning. I am not doing it for self gain. I am going to to help those who are in need of a get away, receive that personal relief that they haven't been able to find. It's not about the money, fame, or girls. It to me is about getting a point across, and touching someone musically.

To me it is about being able to tell a story from the heart, and not write some messed up dream that could lead someone down a disturbing path, and become self destructive. Even though those stories that are sung may have a dark meaning, they are connectible and let the listener know that, they're not the only ones who life is fucked up. When I go t shows, I know that some people around me have had it worse, and this is their escape, or their locked door. I want to help those people someday. That is what I do what I do.

Even though the perks that come with it, ie: money, fame, ect.. are good, they are not what I want out of playing in a punk rock band. It not about me, it's about them, the listener, the fan, the one who is feeling strong emotions when they come to see a punk band and want to get away.

That is what I stand for when I hit the stage these days. My aim is straight and true now a days in what I want to do musically. Just give me a course, and I will get there...-SS

A Promise Is A Promise

2011-01-19T00:53:00.002-07:00

I have been in sort of a creative mood lately, and have been spurned on the 36 hours after hearing the new Rise Against song. There is kind of a lot to talk about so I really don't know where to start at one in the morning, but lets see where this takes me.

More talk of the new band that I am doing. Now going on week two, so far so good. Currently at about three songs really done. That number is going to jump very soon though because we do have some uncompleted songs and riffs that need parts. Could be around six or seven songs by the end of the weekend. I have no clue though. I am also going to go after the "fickashawna" method when it comes to the lyrics. I write "Down, But Not Out" after the riff was written, and the song captured the emotion of the song better. So that's what I will do. That doesn't mean I am going to scrap lyrics. If I think I have lyrics that might work, I'm going to try and make it fit. I have a list of song names I want to use though, I found out that having a title first really helps me with a direction of the lyrics.

Should hopefully have a show around the start of March. There are going to be some funky things happening between now and then... Hopefully not permanent though.

Moving on...

Seen some really ugly things with in the family recently. Luckily not my direct family, but rather what my father's younger brother has done lately. My grandfather passed away last April, and was sitting on a worth of about 750k, which is quite a pretty penny. There was no will, so a whole mess of things needed to happen. What wound up happening was this, my fathers brother was given the admin task seeing how him and my father are the only two living children of his, my dad is out on the road for 45 days at a time, and couldn't do these things. So here's what happened. Kind of ugly.

Around October we got a letter from my uncles lawyer asking to "not sue" him after the money is disbursed. It seemed suspicious, but nothing that strange, so my dad asked to see the spending and itemized list just to be sure, again, not something that is unusual. When we got the papers we saw something that was kind of disturbing, we never "officially" assigned my uncle as admin, he was asked to do it because of my father. Instead of doing my grandfathers wishes, and splitting it six ways, he took out a hefty admin fee, which we found kind of offensive. Then after we started questioning, and probing delays started coming when we would get paper work, or requested paper work. There were problems with this... Let me explain..

My uncle first off has NO SPINE, and is whipped around by his wife. (I am going to abuse ad ad hominem here so bare with me.) He has this wife you see, who after her parents passed she snaked her way around to get money from their inheriteness and basically broke up a family. This "bitch" managed to do it again. We can tell she was persuading these messages, and decisions. First off, my grandmother, and grandfather apparently did not like her in the first place, and my uncle got married to her without them even knowing. So you can imagine, going behind your parents back like that will only lead to what came later.

Here is the kicker to it all. My grandfather who spoke to my dad shortly before he did said this, "Do you think he will distribute the money fairly." There was doubt before he died. The fact that someone would do that to their father is sickening. It is gross, and the gluttony that is seen here is disturbing. There is a special place in hell for people like this guy..

That is really it.. It is jibberish, and pointless I know. My advice to everyone. If you have, or know someone who is elderly or sickly, make sure there is a living will. Things like this will never happen if that is the case.. Goodnight...-SS

Down, But Not Out

2011-01-16T01:01:00.003-07:00

“Down, But Not Out”
Are we the ones so far away, like a ship drifting out to sea?
Our destination has become unknown, somewhere we can’t agree
The curtains draw, and the lights go out, and we cannot flea
I don’t know where you stand anymore, but it’s just you and me

I know you're still standing alone
But this fuse has already blown

We are down but not out
Even though we stand against the odds
Break out, and see what it’s all about
Take a breath and jump into the unknown

We are down but not out
You can’t keep us from coming back (hey!)
Break out, and leave no sense of doubt
Take a breath and let’s jump to the unknown

The road we take has brought us here, nowhere to be found
All these dreams that your tears have long since drowned
Are hiding somewhere in the past, as we turn ourselves around
Like a book with unwritten pages, we can find our common ground

I know you're still standing alone
But this fuse has already blown

We are down but not out
Even though we stand against the odds
Break out, and see what it’s all about
Take a breath and jump into the unknown

We are down but not out
You can’t keep us from coming back (hey!)
Break out, and leave no sense of doubt
Take a breath and let’s jump to the unknown

(Solo)

We are down but not out
Even though we stand against the odds
Break out, and see what it’s all about
Take a breath and jump into the unknown

We are down but not out
You can’t keep us from coming back (hey!)
Break out, and leave no sense of doubt
Take a breath and let’s jump to the unknown

Whoa-oh, whoa-oh-ohwhoa-oh,

Whoa-oh, whoa-oh-ohwhoa-oh,
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh-ohwhoa-oh,

^^^This goes with vvvvvvv

Once Again.....

2011-01-15T00:50:00.002-07:00

I broke a promise that I made, and it has kind of cost me.

That feeling of having a small case of writers block is back. I hate when this happens. Everything comes to a stand still and nothing new comes out. Today I finished writing a song, yes, and entire song, and now I need to put the icing on the cake, and that is the lyrics. Now sometimes I tend to over think things when it comes to writing. I'm not exactly sure what I should write about, or what I should say, and how. That part always leaves me clueless. Sometimes it just happens, other times it falls flat. Right now it is falling flat, unfortunately. I'm not saying that I am disappointed with t he lyrics that I have currently, I just discovered that what was written today doesn't work with anything that I currently have. I also am considering maybe shortening the song by a repetition in the verse.

Either I need to listen to more music, or get my mind going again and start writing again, like I am doing now. I have noticed that I haven't been listening to much music lately, and when I had spurts of creativity in the past there was music that was influencing me. I will also, along with writing, will be listening to more music. I have been listening to new bands lately, like Bouncing Souls, and Rancid, so one would think something would come out.

Pushing your mind to write when it has hit a road block can re-activate it. That is what I am trying to do. I just wish I really had something to talk about. I learned something recently, and want to write about that, but I am focused on this song first. The story behind what I want to write is very real. Sometimes I bend the truth, but in every set of lyrics that I write or sing there is some grains of truth, some more than others. Everything, however, is written straight from the heart. When you are not feeling anything, I guess things are kind of bland, and maybe this writers block is good, because that means the lyrics could possibly be bland. This song is most definitely not a bland song. It has a good hook, and could very well be a good single. So I just need to write, or just feel something.

Class starts up again soon, so that might lead to things happening. Seeing new things, and such can get my mind going. Lets see where this will take me....-SS

A Brick Through A Window

2011-01-12T22:34:00.002-07:00

This is the story of my life. I stop writing at times, and then I can't write lyrics. Free writing just keeps my mind moving, and alert. So I stop my persistent writing, and guess what, lyrics don't come so easy. Happens to me way too many times. Now that I have a band, I need to keep writing. This time I am writing music a whole lot more than I was in my past band, so I guess that can count. One song is already done, and the song that we started on last practice I had written about two thirds of the song, it just feel apart because there was a funky intro that wasn't. Still have the riff, and will play with it tomorrow.

I'm just going to force myself to writ in here like I do when I have spurts of lyrics, and such.

That's it for now. I'll be back tomorrow.-SS

This Is A Start

2011-01-09T11:55:00.002-07:00

I was going to make a comment about what happened yesterday afternoon last night, but was exhausted and went to sleep instead. So now that there is some time I can speak.

What happened in yesterday in Tucson was appalling. The fact people lost life for a political reason is disgusting. Politics are mean for a way for the country to govern itself, and these people are elected, but most of all, they are American. Yes, there are some "bad apples" in Washington, but people believing that all government is corrupt is wrong, and yes, there are some corrupt individuals on Capital Hill, but not all. There is no need to shoot someone for a political belief. It is a waste of human life, and not to mention a brilliant mind that this Gabby Giffords had. She was a closer to center democrat, and was always after bi-partisanship. This woman will never be the same after this event. Not to mention other victims of this mindless crime, a nine year old girl, granddaughter of former Mets, Phillie, and Yankee manager Dallas Green, and a federal judge, John Roll. All of which is blood that not need to be spilt, and for what?

This brings me to my main point.

The rhetoric that has been used for the past 18 months during this past political cycle has taken things too far. To the image that former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin posted, which included 20 democrats running for office in 2010 and their districts in gun cross-hairs; to Sharron Angle statement "if we don't get our way, start shooting," and the threats that have been stated by people like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Bill O'Reilly, which have promoted violence too. Yes, there are people like Keith Olbermann and the MSNBC group, but Olbermann came out last night and one apologized for anything he may have said that could have incited violence, and called upon the extreme right three to do the same, and stop with the violent change. This is a start for change in a personality in how we are presented news entertainment.

Why should it be stopped? People that are unstable, like Jared Lee Loughner, start hearing things like that in media and start becoming paranoid about the government. It needs to stop, and news needs to be portrayed as news, and nothing else. He might not be the only one, there could be others out there. Luckily it wasn't someone that was able to get to the president. There are people out there that thought of it, I am sure. The arguments, and false facts that are brought up in the media needs to be stopped. Look what it has lead to. I am not saying that liberal media is innocent, but they aren't as violent as conservative media. In a country that was founded on peace, and a right to voice your opinion, it has gone to the way side. It is depressing to see what has happened.

I am hoping after this incident that we have learned, these are people in congress and politics. They are not animals that we can shoot because we don't agree with them. I hope Giffords survives, but if she does die, she will be the highest ranking official to be killed since 1968, when Robert Kennedy was killed.

Lets learn, and get it right.-SS

Document Of A Dream

2011-01-08T01:12:00.002-07:00

I had the strangest dream last night, and it has kind of left me a little shaken, and curious about it. If there is something I wish I could decipher, I wish I could figure out dreams, because this one was weird. My dreams aren't like a fantasy dream, most of my dreams take place within reality, which for the most part they confuse me. Anyway, enough of the introductory jabber, I'll move onto the main point.

The dream starts as most do, you are in a place you can't describe, and you don't quite understand how you got there in the first place. This one was particular because there were parts the reminded me of my home town in New York, although I know it wasn't. Same sort of atmosphere that my old home town had though. Now one of the first things I remember in this dream is coming across this girl, I say she was about 5'6 to 5'8, and she was trying to kill her self. I stopped her from doing such a final deed, not by talking her out of it, but stopped her physically, and basically pulled her out of a pool she was trying to drown herself in. Shortly after that my mind jumps to i want to say maybe six months into the future. This girl and I have formed a relationship, and we are very, very close. To the point I am holding her in my arms, and she gives me a kiss. Then this is where teh dream starts getting dark.

This scene that I am describing is like a scene in a movie where everything is happy just before the horrible event happens, and the story has it's problem. The dream cuts to a part, where I am not to the girl back at the pool that I rescued her from, but something is wrong, something has happened to her, she is really depressed and crying. Why is she this way, I do not know. Dreams do that to you, no back story to explain it. She ties a cable around her neck that is tied to the fence aroud the pool, she jumps in and drowns her self. Now this is the part that has me shaken, and confused.

I see her take the plunge into the pool, and quickly I jump in, while trying to swim over and save her, something literally stops me and blocks me, and said "try it again, and we will send you... and the location is blurred so I have no clue where. It is an invisible force that I couldn't explain, but this was a note card at the bottom of the pool that I saw. The pool was murkey, but a light from the other side of the pool illuminated, but the girl I could not see. I couldn't stop her this time, and something wanted her dead. I could have stopped her, but I was helpless, and felt listless.

The dream cuts again. I'm on a bus, and I don't know why I ask someone, who in the dream appears to be a friend. Is there any way we can save her or bring her back, and the person looks at me with confusion and tells me that she is gone, and there is no getting her back. There is no helping her now, she has passed. Again, that emotion of confusion and sorrow arrived in my body, and I felt lost knowing that this girl was gone.

I cannot explain this dream. There is no resemblance to it. I'm not grieving over a lost girl, wanting someone back. It is confusing. I hate when your mind plays tricks on you like this. Some people have fearful nightmares, I just get these realistic dreams that have really depressing outcomes. No horror,no blood, no guts, or whatever, just a miserable ending that I can never explain.

Sometimes I wish that the whole Inception thing was real, so you can construct dreams and such, and piece together meanings. Nope, not the case. I'll just continue wondering....-SS

New Beginings

2011-01-07T22:46:00.002-07:00

I haven't been talking much on here. One there hasn't been much going on so why really say anything. Things have made a big turn today. After an interesting 72 hours of really strange events; I now have a band. It really came together as quick as a hurricane. Literally. My brother had been talking to has been talking to a guitar player for a few months, strangely enough we had met him at the Green Day concert back in August. Apparently he knew a bass player, and had been playing in a band for a little bit. Then last year at PVCC (2009), I met this guy who was a drummer in my music business class, who was in a band at the time, and we would talk about our bands, he contacted me last night at around 2:15, and we started lining it all up today.

This afternoon we all got together, and jammed, and it all came together. It was a lot of fun, something different than what I was doing. I like the guys in this band, and they are a whole lot better than my former mates personality wise, which I believe is the most important part. Not only that, I really like the sound of the drummers drum kit, and his skills. Young, drivern, and frustrated is the best way to describe us.

That's it for now...-SS

Don't Give Up

2011-01-04T13:47:00.002-07:00

Figured I'd start the new year with some lyrics... I wrote these a few days ago, just haven't felt like posting...

"Don't Give Up"
All those left behind
To all those still outside
Waiting for the unknown
To all the broken hearts
Torn into a million parts
Don't give up

Thrown out without a thought
Like walking to the gallows
Awaiting the end that is your fate
To give in is what we've been taught
But to give up is where we stand
Trapped in a world consumed by hate

When a house is no longer a home
Where your bed is hell on Earth

All those left behind
To all those still outside (Whoa-oh---)
Waiting for the unknown

To all the broken hearts
Torn into a million parts (Whoa-oh---)
Don't give up

No way to break the curse
When the door slams in your face
Any hope you had has slipped away
I only think it gets worse
When your heart is the one to blame
All you can do is call "May day"

When a house is no longer a home
Where your bed is hell on Earth

All thoes left behind
To all those still outside (Whoa-oh---)
Waiting for the unknown

To all the broken hearts
Torn into a million parts (Whoa-oh---)
Don't give up

{solo}

But to give up is where we stand

All those left behind
To all those still outside (Whoa-oh---)
Waiting for the unknown

To all the broken hearts
Torn into a million parts (Whoa-oh---)
Don't give up

A Eulogy For 2010

2010-12-31T00:19:00.002-07:00

I purposely waited until now to post a new blog so I can finally say this.

Dear year that was 2010:
You were an asshole at times, and other times you were interesting, to say the least. To watch you go does not bring me any remorse, but a sigh of relief. Not because I am turning 21 in 2011, but all that has happened this year has opened my eyes, and ears to so much you could not comprehend. If anything I can say about you twenty ten was that you were a year or learning from mistakes.

So much has happened this past 365 days. Lets see. Start off with the big changer, I quit my band. One of the best decisions I have ever made. Yes, I may not have an outlet for the lyrics I am writing right now, but that will change. If I did not get out of there I would be going no where, and arriving there very soon. I was criticized because the former band members thought I was a problem, when I can clearly see now that they are in denial and need to wake up. I was doing everything for that band except holding the guys dicks when they urinated. Since I have quit and made that change, I have taken a sort of straight edge approach. I honestly do not find alcohol that appealing. I can have a drink, and get a little buzzed every once in a while, but it isn't me to drink at the same place every weekend. Not only that I am moving on with life, and pursuing things that are greater than what I once imagined. Possibilities are endless I have come to see.

The year of the punk concert. Who have I seen this year:
Against Me!, twice, July 27, and Sept. 26 (Epicenter 2010)
Bad Religion, twice Nov. 9, and Sept. 26 (Epicenter 2010)
Rise Against, Sept. 26 (Epicenter 2010)
Street Dogs, Oct 9
Green Day, Aug 30
Warped Tour, Jun 29 (Sum 41, Andrew WK, Riverboat Gamblers, Causalities, ect.)
Bouncing Souls, Nov. 9 with Bad Religion
Anti-Flag, Jan. 25
Street Dogs, Oct 7
Nations Afire, July 20

I went to eight concerts this year. I know I am probably miscounting, but that is a pretty close estimate. I saw two shows in California, Nations Afire, and Epicenter Fest, and a few local shows. The theme to you 2010 was punk bands. Every second I loved it. Wouldn't trade it for the world. It was appearing to be a slow year, then the last push made it all worth it.

A change in hair tastes also came about. I went from long wanna be 80's hair to a much more refined look, that I personally feel is more me than what I had. Staring in July right after I left my band, I decided it was time for a change, and cut most of may hair off, but left some length on top and not much. Then recently I again changed it, and went really short, which I like, and again feel it is even more me. This will be changing though. I will go through times where I decide to grow my hair out for 3 months, and then go short again. I like change. I was going to dye it black, but decided against that because my hair is dark enough as it is.

With the passing of the year I believe that I have matured in a way that was unexpected. I think some where back in June my mind finally said, "common asshole, it is time to get off your ass and grow up." For once I listened. I really have a changed view with things. I have come to learn, and love who I am and be okay with that. That is something that is important, I guess. I have a direction that I was lacking December 31 of last year. Last December things looked really bleak, and as if it was only going to get worse, but then things changed about three or four days before the spring semester started. A second chance you could say.

There have been bad times, like after my doctors appointment, when my doctor decided to really berate me with bad news I already knew. Then that was all turned around more recently. No worries there. I almost killed myself this year back in January when I drank about 2/3 of a bottle of Jack Daniels in about 35 minuets, highly advisable not to do that again. Worst night of my life. Actually, I take that back, there was a night in 2008 that was even worse, but that is a whole different story.

Lets talk about where I really think the year changed for me. In April, my grandfather passed away. Unfortunately I wasn't as close to him as I really should have. Strangely enough, when he passed, I had to go back to New York. I left Long Island ten years ago this past June. I thought back then it would be great, but I was wrong. I met up with people that I haven't seen in almost ten years, and it was amazing. If I could pin point one exact moment that everything turned around, it would have been then. That week in New York made me realize where my heart really was. I think things changed there, and that is what made this year what it was.

2010, you were up, and you were down. Tears were shed, and laughs were over abundant. You are going, and I have no remorse that you are gone. Like I said, you were an asshole at times, but then again you were cool. I am over you.

2011, you are fucking mine.... Watch out...-SS

Whereabouts Unknown

2010-12-27T00:31:00.002-07:00

It is the cost of what is defined as a sellout. If you ask me a sell out is someone that will change their tastes to fit a mold. Basically, by criticizing a specific band, and being adamant about how they "suck" then going back on that quote all of a few years later and worshiping their music. Why, because you want to fit in, not because you have a choice. You give up on what you truly stand for just so you can be something else. It is funny, there are too many people out there. I know I am not one of them; I have never gone out band bashing, then changed my mind about them. Well, serious band bashing, I didn't like Rise Against in 2004 because of Tim's weird, jewfro looking thing.I was 14 and ignorant, I thought they were something else. That is just simple. Don't make your self something that you are not.

Now onto a totally different subject.

It is about twelve days or so until I will be gone from Phoenix. In that time I will know my living quarters finally. Hopefully, as early as tomorrow I will know what is going on. Then come Friday I will be going out to get a new wardrobe for the most part, considering it is about an average of 42 degrees in Flagstaff come January. Meanwhile, it will be 42, in Phoenix it will be about 63, which is on the cusp of shorts weather for some people.

I have my room to clear out, I have stuff to take off my wall, I have things to pack up. It is so weird that this is actually going to happen. That is the part that has be freaked out. Something that seems like it is going to work. Normally things go terribly wrong--which I am still waiting for in a way-- just like my sport teams, see the New York Giants today.

For now, my whereabouts are unknown, and I don't know when I will be coming home, but it's alright...-SS

Turbulence (American Nightmare)

2010-12-25T00:33:00.002-07:00

"Turbulence (American Nightmare)"
To the empty streets, with boarded up windows
Broken dreams that once lived here
Better times that we stop and try to remember
As those memories don't seem too clear
The shouts under a unrelenting sun go un heard
But the mindless still adhere

We don't know what to say
It was going to happen anyway

The American dream, has become a nightmare (whoa--)
Unconscious, and unaware
The promised land is now a waste land (whoa--)
Stuck in the nine to five command

When tomorrow means nothing
And we can't live for today,

Don't blink, and have no fear this is not a test
Your government has failed you
What you are feeling is called being opressed
Or just your just middle class
We are getting thirsty, and becoming unaddressed
The empty streets are rising

We don't know what to say
It was going to happen anyway

The American dream, has become a nightmare (whoa--)
Unconscious, and unaware
The promised land is now a waste land (whoa--)
Stuck in the nine to five command

When tomorrow means nothing
And we can't live for today,

In a Dick, and George dream
Where the top two percent flourish
While the rest fail;
We will not fail
We will not fail

The American dream, has become a nightmare (whoa--)
Unconscious, and unaware
The promised land is now a waste land (whoa--)
Stuck in the nine to five command

When tomorrow means nothing
And we can't live for today,

The Overwhelming Excitement

2010-12-21T23:09:00.002-07:00

As Christmas fast approaches I find my days here dwindling. I will leave this place soon, I kind of hope I am not missed here. Wait, let me rephrase all this. This is all in regards to me moving to Flagstaff come January, not me killing my self. Even though my little preamble sounded like I was talking that way. Just playing with double meanings. On a serious note..

I am very excited to be moving. As I have talked about before, I have a place to stay all lined up, now it is just getting it solidified. Before I can start signing up for classes I have to have a place that I know I will be living at. A simple possibility isn't going to work here. I do not need to be living out of a car for four months. Even though the challenge would be weird, and neck pain would ensue. I haven't quite started packing my bags, but I have been very tempted to start clearing off my walls in preparation. Not yet though.

The sheer fact that this is actually going to happen has been interesting to say the least. I have been begging for a chance to change my surroundings, and this chance I did not want to pass. Another semester at PVCC and I would have been forced to kill myself, it has been that bad. Now that is all about to change. I'm going to leave this town, and not looking back. I have full intentions to leave Phoenix for the last time with "Audience of One" by Rise Against blasting in my car. "And we ran away..." That like is all I need for this moment.

Moving will being so many new chances, it really will. I am getting out of the house, and have no right to complain about anything anymore about living at home. Yes, I don't have a job, but I will find one when I get up there that is my mission. I have taken time off from working, and looking so I could focus on school. Now that I have the school part out of the way, and once I have established my self in Flagstaff, I will find a job. Right now it is looking like I will be up there for four months, then come home for the summer. That might change though. I have a friend who might look into getting a house, and I would want to get in on that. I joked with someone who will be coming up to NAU come fall by saying kegger every Friday, just call be Bluto.

Speaking of summer in the previous paragraph. I have an epic summer of 2011 that is taking shape. I hope none of my friends from New York read this. I am spilling the beans here. Next summer I will be going back for two weeks. I will come back to Lawn Guyland for two whole weeks. That is intense! It will be great, there is so much that I need to do there that I didn't do when I was there in April for a week. This time it will be on much different terms, and no need to have that whirlwind of emotions. Two weeks, damn. So much can be done!

There are some other things going on that should be coming together within the next eight or so days. I have been sworn to secrecy though with those. The time will come and I will talk about what is going on.

That 65 day counter is dwindling down quickly!-SS

I Love The Cold

2010-12-18T21:13:00.002-07:00

It is about 36 degrees outside my window! Sweet! In Flagstaff again. Second time in six weeks. This time checking out apartments, and living quarters. Things were looking really shitty at first, like I might not actually be going to Flagstaff this spring, but I found something that looks promising. It isn't, unfortunately, a studio apartment, or a one bedroom, but will do the trick. It is what is known as shared living. Basically you are put up in a apartment with three other roommates, and you pay for just the room, even if one ditches, no one has to pay the full rent. It is about one and a half miles from downtown, I believe they are called the Highland Village Apartments, I don't remember the name exactly, but I have paper information.

It has been an ugly day out, fucking weather, how does that work? Something I don't get to see all the time, so I has been very interesting. Snow was on the ground, which was really cool because I haven't seen this much snow since 2002, so it's been a while

Moving out, and moving on.

I have a good eulogy for the year that was 2010 I will deliver next week. It will be interesting. It is almost a direct quote from someone else, but I'll make it my own.-SS

Built To Fail

2010-12-17T23:12:00.004-07:00

"Built To Fail"
Something that I see every day
So fucked up I can't say
Those unforgiving faces are everywhere
Alert, but not aware
As the surroundings start to close in
Some where we've all been

Only hell can ensue
I'll find a way to see this through

Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall

There's nothing left on the inside
A shell is what remains
All these vices have become amplified
Still can't break through the chains

Only hell can ensue
I'll find a way to see this through

Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall

Still fucked up, and waiting for nothing
Like a question with no answer
Why am I waiting
Why are we waiting?

-solo-

Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
We're built to fail, cause every time we slip and fall
Whoa-oh-oh oh--
You can't curtail, through it all we're still standing tall

Nights Underground With Shane Strychnine

2010-12-15T18:56:00.003-07:00

Kind of a cool ring to it huh?

I want to outline something that I have been talking about for the past eight weeks. Seeing that I want to get into broadcast journalism this is right where I want to go. My intentions are to start a radio show on KJACK come the fall of 2011. It isn't that hard as it seems. NAU students can make pitches to the radio station for radio shows they want to do. I have full intentions to do that. Of course I need to get some expirence broadcasting before I make a jump to actual AM/FM radio. Luckily, I saw something that reminded me of where I can get that expirence. Just need to find out how much it is going to cost me, because I am going to need to buy some equipment so I can do the show right.

What is this show going to be?

The Underground will be a show that features local, unsigned bands, and major bands being played over the same hour. I will only be spinning punk/alternative bands. So some no-name band from Podunk, NY can get their first airplay along side the likes of Bad Religion, and Rise Against. With the major bands, it would be obscure songs that the mainstream fan would not know. With the music I will also ad in some political commentary, ala Keith Olbermann, Rachael Maddow. The show will focus for the most part on music though. I also will interview bands, over the phone or in person and play those interviews on air. I want to give honest bands a chance. Even though no one may listen to the show, it will be a huge boost of confidence for the band. The big step will be making a pitch to KJACK and getting it on AM/FM radio.

While in Flagstaff, I noticed something. There aren't any alternative/punk stations. That made me think about this show. Then I heard that NAU students can make pitches to the radio station. It will work up there because the market is not flooded with that genre of music. It is lacking that edge. I heard one classic rock station, about five country stations, and two or so religious stations. There also was two oldies stations I heard. This show will be targeting the college students, and high school students that may have the same taste in music.

Segments that I may do, interviews (hopefully with major artists when I make a AM/FM jump.), a entire show every two months where I play songs that I do not like, but everyone else likes, special comments regarding politics, thoughts on movies and other things like this. I will think of more when the time comes. This is just in an infant process. This has been stirring in my mind for about eight weeks. Hopefully this will actually work.

Until then, it is just a dream, and a idea. It's an idea that can make a change.-SS

"Captive"

2010-12-14T23:25:00.000-07:00

“Captive”
Are we the waiting, like names on a list?
Drawn out, and predefined as our fate is sealed
I’m getting fed up with all this obstructive behavior
Looking to the horizon, there is no fucking savior

And we crash
Through the sky
Never stopping to ask

My hands are shaking as the air turns dry, still black and white
As the fires burn and the sky goes black as night (black as night)
We’re all held captive, but we’ll never die, never die
Fix these broken wings and leave this place behind

I will see you sitting from afar
In times of madness, creating a scar
I will not off you my sympathy,
As you have already spoiled mine

So, where do we go, cause I don’t know
I don’t know

And we crash
Through the sky
Never stopping to ask why

My hands are shaking as the air turns dry, still black and white
As the fires burn and the sky goes black as night (black as night)
We’re all held captive, but we’ll never die, never die
Fix these broken wings and leave this place behind

All that I am, all that I need
I will leave this place
All that I am, all that I need
I will leave this place

Stuck running in place
Under a dry and relentless rain
Words said I can’t hear
Then she will disappear

This is all I can give
It’s not really that much
I am a flawed symmetry
Please put me out of my misery

I wait for the sky
To come and swallow me
And take me from here

And we crash
Through the sky
Never stopping to ask why

My hands are shaking as the air turns dry, still black and white
As the fires burn and the sky goes black as night (black as night)
We’re all held captive, but we’ll never die, never die
Fix these broken wings and leave this place behind

I will leave this place
I will leave this place behind

Legitimacy, Right This Way

2010-12-12T18:34:00.002-07:00

For the first time in about 7 months I was able to be on stage, and it was a great feeling. It did set my mind to ease about what I should do. Musically I am going to continue to write easy acoustic stuff, and go abroad and play that, but at the same time actually form a band and play out with that. It is an interesting scenario, but will take some time. Currently I have three originals, plus about three covers that I want to play live, I'm going to focus more on writing, and start playing out as early as next week.

As for the band thing, it is starting to come along. I have my eyes out for a bassist, and a drummer, while my brother and I met this guy at the Green Day concert in August, and ran into him again at a PV football game, and he plays guitar, and him and Evan have been talking. Now it just comes to the fact of finding the rest of the band. The second I have all the pieces in place, I will start looking for shows. Although I will wait on the shows until there are 6 or so songs written. According to my brother he is got the whole song writing thing down. He has one song I heard him playing, I really liked.

Then next weekend, oh it never ends, I am going to Flagstaff looking for apartments. I can't believe that it has been 65 or so days since I first mentioned that this is actually going to happen. Now it is only a matter of time before I have my own place in Flagstaff. I'm leaving Phoenix, and not looking back. That does in fact mean my band will be playing in Flagstaff a lot once it is formed, because I will be up there, and have a place to rest and all that. No need for a hotel, or anything. It will be a really good fit.

So much is going to happen in the next three weeks. This is intense..-SS

Culture, and The Anarchy

2010-12-11T00:48:00.002-07:00

"Culture, and the Anarchy"
This argument is about nothing tangible,
But this is where I stand (whoa-whoa)
Amongst the stoic and silenced millions
Hopeless and without a prayer
We fight like rebels, but with no cause
To prove a point no one likes,
Maybe the underprivileged will rise up
And take back it all

This is argument about nothing tangible
But this is where I stand

Where Do We Go From Here

2010-12-11T00:14:00.002-07:00

Playing a show for the first time since May. Oh, this will be interesting. I have never actually played a concert where I sung, and played an instrument at the same time. To be truthful, I am a little nervous, because I do mess up from time to time. I feel confident about what I am playing though. The feeling of being stage, especially when you know what you are doing, is one of the best you can have. I have written three songs, the new one I will post lyrically here after this blog, that I will be performing, meanwhile my brother who wrote two will be playing those. He kind of sings out of key, that's why this I have view as more of a fun thing, and to get back out there kind of thing. I am hoping that it works.

Been kind of in a writing funk lately. Not surprised, I had a good run from like Sept through October of writing new lyrics that were very high quality. Don't get me wrong, the stuff I have for tomorrow is good, but it isn't as full as the other stuff I have written. That is why it is an acoustic show, and not a full band show. Not only that, I know I have been neglecting writing here. Why? I don't know. Maybe it is the fact I have nothing interesting to say right now. Even though I did write a nice entry the other night. Then again, I felt like writing.

I don't know. Something will hit me again, and blammo, I will have a huge blog spurt like I did in October. For now I just give you this, half ass bullshit!-SS

A Nation Built This

2010-12-08T00:12:00.004-07:00

There is a terrorist group in this country hell bent while holding this country hostage. The creepy part about where this country is going, it was predicted by what Oceania was in George Orwell's "1984" was. Right now the United States is in the pre-history kind of phase, where the dreaded "capitalists" rule everything. Which is very, very true right now. Who is running the country, who is in control of everything, big business and capitalists. Do not let the Republicans fool you. They are not for the middle class in America, they are only in it to line their pockets. How can this been seen, just look at how they fought for the extension of the Bush Era tax cuts, while holding unemployment insurance hostage.

What was the Bush Era Tax Cuts, they were a sweeping tax cut in 2001 and 2003 that are set to expire at the end of this year. The Democrats were pushing very hard to let the tax breaks end for those making more than $250,000, while keep them for everyone else. A rebuttal from Republicans was that those who make that much are small business owners, and low taxes will make them want to hire.

WRONG!

The right is so far out of touch. It is simple economics. Demand creates jobs, there is no written rule because a company is making money they have to hire. The only way they will hire is if they are facing a demand that requires them to hire, in the United States currently there is no demand. So what does the tax cuts really mean, they mean this. The rich will keep on getting richer, and the middle and lower class will be left behind. Hence the Marxist, and 1984 reference. Extending the breaks is a horrible idea. Probably one of the worst that can be made. An old cliche' comes into view when this is brought up. In 1999 the economy was not lagging, it was growing and jobs were abundant. The George Bush wins the 2000 election, and right away implements the tax cuts. What happened next, the country only slipped, a budget deficit was opened, and a massive debt was created. The cliche' in question is, "if it not broke, don't fix it."

What is in this country's future is quite bleak. As mentioned with 1984, and Marxism, eventually there will be a class war. When, that date is currently unknown, but it is coming. There is a point where the middle class and lower class will rise. The "prole's" will rise, and they will take down the current government eventually (Oh god, I feel like I am writing in that diary Winston Smith owned.) The government will not go first, it will be the take down of the extreme upper class. It is a really scary prediction that George Orwell wrote about in 1947. The prediction may be 25 years off or so, but it is starting to take shape. This tax cut extension is exactly what could be the spark that ignites a fire.

Of course, what happened, the passive president that Barack Obama is let himself get bullied around by Republicans. This is where I start throwing I's and you's in. If he continues to go any further right, he seriously might as well call him self the dying breed that was "moderate Republicans." As a registered Democrat I will not stand for the Democratic president going so far right. My views on him have turned lately. I was excited about what was happening earlier this year, but this really angered me. You are a Democrat, act like a Democrat and stand on the left please, not the right. I did not vote another George Bush into office.

It is sickening to watch this. The worst about it I am sitting in one of the most conservative states in the country, Arizona. I have no choice but to abide by the outrageous republican rhetoric. I agree with none of it. These conservatives on capital hill do not care about the small guy at all. The Democrats aren't the best, but they are at least trying to. These past couple of days they haven't tried.

Something needs to be done. I don't know what. Two years of gridlocked government might show the country how messed up the Republicans really are. I cannot believe what I am seeing in my government. It is said in the Declaration of Independence that is a people come under fire from a unjust government, they have the right to revolt. The Repub;licans need to be taken out, and these Democrats need to take a stand, other wise us "prole's" will rise up. Watch.-SS

Lying In The Wake

2010-12-07T00:29:00.000-07:00

I would like to sit here and write something. Just got done writing a 1,500 word essay, again. I have something to say about the Bush Era Tax Cuts being extended. I also have a song brewing in my head. Just don't feel like writing anymore.-SS

New Rise Against Material (New Record 2010/2011)

2010-12-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I am not breaking the news that new material has leaked, but I do have some info on their new record. Rise Against played a secret show Saturday in Pennsylvania where they played a set that included three new songs. I'm going to hold the titles until later. From what it looks like the show was in some tiny venue, and no one knew about until the last minute. Maybe even played under the name "Old Bananas," which they have done already this year.

Now it is later. The new song names are...
"Turbulence (State of Fear)"
"Grey Minds"
"Future We Steal"

Here is what I believe the songs will sound like.
"Turbulence (State of Fear):" I believe will sound something like "Collapse (Post-Amerika)" did. Although I believe this song will be a lot more like "State of the Union." In other words expect a song that is more along the lines of hardcore, something the band got away from on "Appeal to Reason."

"Grey Minds:" The title sounds to me something like what "Audience of One," or "Amber Changing" was. I am not sure with this one. It could also be an very aggressive song too.

"Future We Steal:" I can hear something like "Ready to Fall" for this song. At the same time I am getting a "Re-Education (Though Labor)"/"Give it All" vibe from that song title. I have a feeling that this song will be the big hit for them off of this record.

There is a big downside to what this record might do to them. They have this record and another record left on their contract with Interscope/Geffen, which is a very big label. This record that is expect I believe in the window of March-June will be one that makes them rock n' roll legends. Rise Against is someday going to be bigger than Green Day is. It pains me to say that, and to have to see them play at places like Cricket Pavilion, or a Dodge Theater. That's the way it goes though.

What do I expect the new record to sound like. I expect it to sound a little more like "Siren Song of the Counter Cult ure" meets "Revolutions Per Minute," but a more radio friendly version of those two albums. It won't be in my mind as soft as Appeal was. I see a hardcore song coming, especially the b-side that was "Grammatizator." Also, I am not sure how much Chris Chass had written for Appeal, listen to his new band Nations Afire (amazing by the way.) and listen to the EP, and don't tell me that it doesn't sound like Appeal Rise Against.

These are all just guesses. I wish I had the true answers, and could hear the music., I think it will only be a month or two before something is heard. Until then we wait.-SS

Somewhere Between Happy, and a Total Fucking Wreck

2010-12-04T13:42:00.001-07:00

I kind of been neglecting this thing again. I do that from time to time. Too busy with writing for school, and it has literally made me not want to write extra. This semester I will have accumulated over 10,600+ words for all the writing projects I have done. That number of course is just the bare minimum that I counted. I don't remember exact word counts, I know I went over the necessary number of words on some work. This semester can't be over soon enough. At least I fought through it and didn't give up because I did not like how an instructor was teaching a class, and yes I did have that problem with my English class, but I have made it though.

I'm going back up to Flagstaff on Dec 18 to check out apartments, and I should be moving into that apartment hopefully no later than Jan 8th or 9th, I need this change. Living in Phoenix for ten years straight is a very, very tough thing. It i boring, and normally too hot to do anything. Although right now is the exception to that statement. Flag is cold, but I'm from New York, and the weather there is almost identical, just minus the humidity.

There is a show tonight that I am hosting. I do that from time to time. As I have said before, I was known on the scene more than my past band was because of the things I do, and the things I stand up for. Getting paid, which is great too. Saving up to get a Epiphone LP Special Edition Silverburst, my dream guitar. Actually, the dream is the the actual Gibson version, but I don't have $4k to make that happen. I help it last week, and it felt like sex in my hands. The asshole that used it before me was playing in drop tuning, so I didn't feel like retuning it. In my opinion you don't need to tune a guitar lower than Eb, and every now and then D is exceptional, nothing lower, and no drop tuning.

Also, I'm doing another show next week, that I am playing in. This is something I am good at, so why not do it, and make some much needed money.

That's really all I have for now. I need to get back into writing more like this, and more lyrics will appear.-SS

Special Announcement

2010-11-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well. First off I feel like delaying it. Wait till the end of the blog to make my statement. It's nothing major, so don't get your hopes up.

Well actually I lied. Here's the announcement. I have full 100% plans to do the PF Changs Rock n' Roll Marathon. Now I have wanted to do this for about 4 years, but have gotten sick every time I get ready for it. I'm tentative to announce it because, well. I'm hoping history won't repeat itself.

There it is. That's all.-SS

Lets Make Everybody Sing

2010-11-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

"Lets Make Everybody Sing"
It doesn't matter, who you are
The reason's we have all the same
It's about the music, not about the fame
Don't try to be a fucking star

We sing like no one is listening
And dance without fear,
Only we get what we're saying
Coming in loud and clear

It's not about the sale at the door
Or the friends that you call fans
It's about the memories that you make
And the message you try to send

With a sound we raise so loud
That can be heard everywhere
Without a reason, without a cause
There's no need to care

We sing like no one is listening
And dance without fear
Only we get what we're saying
Coming in loud and clear

A Million To One

2010-11-26T19:37:00.001-07:00

It's not exactly what we had planned. The route we take may vary, and we wind up somewhere we did not expect. It's weird where we can go. We could travel a million miles to end up back at the starting line and wish we never left. Even though the sights along the way were tempting, but that temptation would have lead into a dead end.

We may meet a thousand people, but all it takes is one to change our lives. Just because they aren't exactly what we wanted, doesn't mean that they are best for you. A life time of searching can come down to all of one second, a glance, an awkward stare that turns into something more than you could have imagined. It is so weird, but when it hits you, you know it.

The life that we want, a fast paced life, living on the run and doing the most sometimes isn't what we really want. Sometimes sitting on front porches is all that we need. Watch the sunset every night, and waste life away. Hopefully not alone, the feeling of being alone is almost worst than the feeling of death.

Just keep that in mind as you walk around in your life. What we picture ourselves sometimes isn't the best. It is what we become that could be the greatest thing of all. Don't waste a single day. Live for now, don't worry about tomorrow. Take a chance for once, and breathel.

That is all.-SS

It Never Ends

2010-11-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

I'm good at some things. Well it isn't really good because I'm kind of using it in the wrong way. I am good at pissing people off. Not all the time, just when I want to. Unfortunately I believe my efforts are wasted this time. The target audience this time are really a bunch of nobodies, poseurs an "wanna be's." The thing is I have gotten attention, and didn't even need to do much. Obviously people are giving a shit about me. Why? I have no clue. It is quite comical if you ask me.

Lets see, because I posted the original version of a song, people got their panties in a knot. I have no intentions of using it as a song of my own. It is a cover of my band Ripp Tyde, if anything use it as a cover ala Green Day covering Operation Ivy's "Knowledge." I wrote half the song, I have half the rights. Simple as that. I suffered through a music business, and did pick something up and there. I know artists rights, and all that stuff. You write lyrics for a song, you are a major contributor to the song, it's 50 percent of a song if you look at it. It is a major part of a song, and I had no help writing lyrics, or have I really ever split a song with someone. Even though I have re-organized lyrics into a different song structure that were not my lyrics.

If you want to try and use legal action, go a head, piss money away that YOU DON'T HAVE. You talk is a lot bigger than your bite, so I have absolutely no fear. Not only that, there is no money involved. When it comes to music business, money has to be involved before your legal action will be taken seriously.

The other day I was talking about the fact that I have been playing in a band for three plus years, and I mentioned the genre that I played. The girl I was talking to laugh, and said this, "We're you popular?" I responded with a laughable "No." She then just said, "See.." Then I went on to explain what my current ambitions are musically, and she seemed more interested, and tol me that I am better off to follow that than what I was doing. Then tonight I was talking to some people that were at last years Christmas show, and they said we sounded generic and 80's. That was then, and the music is still the same. So you can imagine. I only wish I listened to my gut in 2004 when I first saw Rise Against on MTV, and things might be a little different now.

Please take this into consideration. I was the face of the band, I was the one who got some notoriety. There is no popularity for me, other wise I would have found a band. I am recognized for what I did, and who I was. When I explain my current position, everyone that I know seems to believe that I am better off. I have been told they can't wait to hear what I will come up with in the near future, and that when I left, the band lost it's heart and soul and was meaningless.

Say what you want. I really don't care. If anyone is actually reading this because they want to see what I am up to secretly, congrats, you have no life, or I am showing you lyrics, it is a whole different story.

I think I'll post some more songs. Just to piss them off...

Once again... "Good night, and good luck."

I Won't Take It, Or Leave It

2010-11-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

Each day passes, and impatiences grows. I just hate waiting, especially when something this big is waiting on the other side. My mind cannot rest at ease until I know what the hell is going on. So I just sit here and wait, and wait some more. Even though I may ask, "what took you so long," but better late than never bodes very well with me on this subject matter. Until then, I shall just turn up some Bouncing Souls, and keep waiting.

That is just what is going on with that for now. The waiting game continues, now it is some time for some commentary that I have always been known for. Don't be quick to judge, when something is out of place, I will argue about it. Even if it seems totally non sequitur.

I have recently heard my former band mates "new" songs if you want to call them that. I'll start with the basic gist of what I heard. Garbage. Not only that, I have heard some of my lyrics, and melody in one song they have posted. I have the original recordings of it, and lyrics saved on a server (yes, that stands up in a court of law, they are time stamped.) That's only if they ever make money off it, which I doubt they will. Then I saw a title of a song that I write three years ago. I really find it funny. The fact that they have to pick off of stuff that I did while taking part of the music. To me it shows their lack of creativity, and it is really sad. They think they can pass mutton off as lamb. It doesn't work.

There is something that I have found funny the entire time I was in the band. The fact that Shawn could never get over the joke that Aneurysm was. He really liked to live in the past with that band. I would always hear him screw around with the guitar playing songs from that band. That was three years ago, and that band is long dead. He likes to live in the past, and I really find it funny. 2007 is gone, and never coming back. The fact that he and the band would take a song title from a song I wrote in 2007 and use if for a "new song" of theirs is really sad, and uncreative.

Wait, it doesn't end there. They are using songs that had lyrics already, and not writing new original material. That was a reason I left, the writing process was too drawn out, and we would go months without writing new material. It is an excuse that they are making for writing new songs. When in fact, the songs that they are posting are not new, and not new by a far stretch. I have recordings for all but I think three of the old songs we wrote. Laziness persists with that band. Meanwhile I have been writing new lyrics (see this blog), and writing music too. I have one song posted on this site, and my myspace, and I have a new song I am going to record sometime this week. It is something, but it is better than what you got. If it didn't work the first time, what makes you think it will work a second time rehashed.

The lyrics that they have thrown over the material are straight up shit too. The style that they are trying to do, isn't conducive with the lyrics that they are writing. You want to be 80's but writing crappy half-assed Metallica lyrics. Remember this the kids that liked hair metal back in the day, hated thrash kids, and vice versa. It still stands true today.

My advice to bands that are out there today. If you have a member leave, and decide to branch off into a new project, don't rehash the songs that you did in your former band. That is like saying Rise Against started out by claiming 88 Finger Louie songs were their stuff. It is okay if you cover your old stuff, but putting new lyrics over the song will not work. Be original, obviously these jerks aren't original. At the show on Dec 11, I might cover some of the stuff that I did then, but I won't turd on what has been done.

Originality, learn it, and become it. Meaning, find it, and embrace it, don't forget that what you stand for, and what you portray is more important anything. Lyrics are just as equal as the music, if not greater, because what does the crowd sing back to you when you are on stage?

That's if for now... "Good night, and good luck..."-SS

Impending Strike

2010-11-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

Something totally off topic on what I normally talk about. I just felt like stating my peace with this after reading a new article.

If you flashback to 1994, if you remember, or look it up, Major League Baseball went on strike in August of that year. The NFL is facing a lot of the same situations that MLB was facing. There is issues with player salaries, overall labor, and season length. Although season length was not a problem from MLB, it is a very big one for the NFL.

The players are saying that they are underpaid. I think with every sport, they're all over paid. A complaint they have is that they put their life on the line every day, well, so do police and firefighters, and they get pair a fraction of what NFL players get. They have no right to complain, playing a sport like football is a choice, they didn't have to play. They could have paid attention in high school, or college. This is the life they chose.

Baseball wanted a salary cap in 1994, now that the NFL doesn;t have one, the NFLPA doesn't want it back.

Make it simple, my mind is running in other places, and my fingrs don't want to type. There is a strike coming for the NFL, and it will hurt the sport. I will laugh.

Road Less Traveled

2010-11-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I have actually written a song from head to toe, well I have finally done it. I have more coming too which is the best part! Writing acoustic punk is amazing! Anyway, here is the first song that is now in my repertoire, I posted it as "The Torch," but had a change of heart after thinking about it. I switched some lyrics around, and came up with a sweet version. Here it is, "Road Less Traveled," the first one of many from Shane Strychnine.

Don't Bury Me... I'm Not Dead Yet...

2010-11-15T17:03:00.001-07:00

I have been really neglecting my blog lately, and well. I finally have some reason to write. I forgot to write about the Bad Religion concert last week, and don't feel like going back to talk about just cause. Or maybe I will, I don't know.

I just have a lot of worry in my heart.

As I sit patiently waiting for a letter from NAU to tell me my fate, whether I got into the university or not. I am honestly scared of that letter. I want it to reach me, but at the same time I feel like it is better that I do not know. I know I am moving to Flagstaff in January no matter what the outcome is, but I feel going up there to go to a community college is a step sideways, and a half step back. Why? My experience at community college has been a horrible one. The nagging pressure of trying to get accepted into a university, while feeling pressure from the community college. I rather feel pressure from the university to survive there, than try to survive on both levels.

When I went up to Flagstaff last week I had a vague idea about what I wanted to do. It was a cross from sitting it out until the start hiring firefighters again and lurk on the college level, or throw darts in the dark at a major. That weekend changed my mind. I know exactly what I want to do, and where I need to go. Another semester at a community college will, I believe, hurt me, and hinder me in getting where I want to go. Like I have said before, it has hurt more than it has helped. PVCC has been crappy with advising and helping me. I went for help about 18 months ago, and they only screwed me up, and got me all spun around. About a year ago I finally spoke to someone and they helped me out. It only took three semesters to figure something out.

If I could speak to the admissions at NAU, and plead a case I would tell them this:

I have been a student toiling around the community college level for the past two plus years, and it has not helped me out at all. I have tried options to get me somewhere, but those paths they gave me only led me no where. Recently I came up to NAU to check out something for a concert me and a friend were planning and got a brief tour around the campus and fell in love with it. Then I decided to try to get to NAU. Now this is the end of 2009, and I had a very rough end of 2009. I was in the hospital for a few days, and was diagnosed with Mutiple Sclerosis, and haven't let it change my life in drastic ways since. Then with the turning of the year, I re-took a placement test that I thought I flunked after high school, but had only missed by three points, I retook and scored very well on. I then went on to figure out what I needed to do to get to NAU.

Not only was I having trouble figuring out what to do, I was in a band that was skewing my mind and detracting me from what I really wanted to do. This past summer I cleaned up my act. I ditched my band full of losers, and righted my life and got on track. This past semester I figured out what I needed to take to achieve my goal, and have been chasing after it since then. I have made poor decisions in my class choice when I first got into college, I wanted to go into music business, but the instructor and I never saw eye to eye on what was going on the curriculum, and there was Macro-Economics which I honestly did not get, and one class that I took in 2009 that I missed too much time to be able to recover from.

These past two semesters I have figured out what I need to do, and I have gotten things on track. I hope that my past mistake will not effect my future in trying get into a university. Everyone is allowed a second chance, and I believe I have been getting that the past 13 months or so.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's something I would say, even though I don't believe it would help.

Until I get that letter, I will wait in anxiety, and hope.-SS

The Torch

2010-11-15T01:11:00.001-07:00

"The Torch"
The silence is shattered with an echoing guitar
Though this message may not reach you
It's just enough to know that you're not alone
The storm on the horizon you fear isn't that far
And the torch that you hold is fading fast
This has become something we've outgrown

There's so much out there that we're over looking
Giving up on chances that we never had
When we say "we're okay living this way."
Do we really mean it?

She stopped and she told me, to keep on going
Even though she got left so far behind
It was something that was worth repeating
A memory will burn in my mind forever
Like a scar that never wants to heal
An example was set and mind was made

I gotta get the fuck outta here
Get me the fuck outta here

There's so much out there that we're over looking
Giving up on chances that we never had
When we say "we're okay living this way."

Do we really mean it?
Do we really fucking mean it?

From Flagstaff With Love

2010-11-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

Up in my hotel in Flagstaff, AZ. The second time I have been here this year and the fifth or sixth time I have left Phoenix for a extended amount of time. Let me tell you, it is great, Getting out of a hell hole that is Phoenix. Took a tour of the campus, which I kind of did last October, and saw all the stuff I knew already. I like the campus, very relaxed environment. Also, took a look around at an apartment, and have an idea on how to possibly make it work. So thus far it appears to be all good.

Now the next big hurdle is getting accepted into the school. I heard an adviser say that they normally accept students with 24+ transferable credits and a 2.0 minimum GPA. After this semester I will have 26, two above what they will accept. My GPA is ober 2.0, it is probably closer to 2.3-2.6 by the end of the semester. According to what that guy said, I should be in. Now it's just a waiting game. About two weeks to be exact, then I'll know my outcome. I don't want to be a Townie.

I like it here. It will be a fresh start. New beginnings..-SS

Shipping Off To Bahston

2010-11-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

Day 1:

What is that supposed to mean? Here's what it means. I'm sitting about 65 days from moving up to Flagstaff. Here's the gist of what is going on today. I am going up to Flagstaff to check out apartments, and get acquainted with the town and the school. I had to run over to PV to get my transcript, because apparently NAU is notorious for fudging up getting transcripts. So I talked to the lady at PV and her's what we did. I received a transcript to take up to NAU, and she mailed one out. In other words they should get the damn thing. I have been tired of getting letters from them saying they need my transcript. I get it turned into them, and play the waiting game... Stressful...

I have something really interesting I want to talk about, but not for this blog. I was walking home and thought of this. "A tap on the shoulder can change the outcome of ones life." Just think about that for a while. The next blog I will write will be based off of that thought. It ties into to what is going on today. Which is really isn't good, but what it made me realize is good. Trust me...

I have a lot to say right now, but just don't believe it is right for this blog. Until later-SS

Election Day Massacre

2010-11-02T22:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, the joke is over. Where the hell is that Ashton Koljack guy. Am I watching an episode of "Punk'd" on MSNBC. I cannot help but sit here and shake my head. This is a awful night, and who is to blame, those who did not go out to vote. That and the political pundits on Fox and conservative networks. This country has been moving forward the last two years, why do you want to go back. Who was it that caused this mess that we are trying to climb out of? Yeah, that's right. The republicans. They have no idea what they want to do to this country. Lawrence O'Donnell said it best, "they want to run this country into the ground." Now that they have power what will do? It is like when the Joker in Dark Knight described him chasing a car, "I wouldn't know what to do it I caught one." The republicans just caught their car, now the party of "NO" will become the party of "HUH?"

There is something sinister brewing with the republicans. There has been a lot of legislature that the democrats have tried to pass. Democrats have said they want to build jobs, and see the economy grow. They have tried to get this passed in congress multiple time. Now that the republican have power they are going to try and make themselves seem like the white knight? This doesn't add up. They want to repeal health care that people are still very misinformed about. Is it a crime for you government to force you to make the best for your self? NO! For the love of god no! What the republicans are after is power!!! They want to turn this country into a authoritarian state. Just look....

-They want to privatize the VA Hospitals
-Get rid of social security
-Get rid of minimum wage in thus making the job market uncompetitive and let companies pay you as little as possible.
-Want to cut taxes for the rich, and continue the "trickle down" effect
-Give breaks to big business, and big oil
-Make America a secular state. (An official religion country)
-Change our text books (ala 1984 to read what they want us to know)
-Allow deregulation to continue on wall street
-Destroy health care
-PRIVATIZE EVERYTHING!

They say they want a smaller government, but the last point is kind of alarming. A small government is one that republican like, where a lot of things go unnoticed and it is a very very free society, it's comparable to a controlled anarchy (talk about a contradiction.) This set of far right conservatives aren't so far right. They want to privatize everything. What does that mean, you have to pay someone to get something like VA care. It goes from the government, and money goes straight into someone else pocket. That person that person that is running a private organization has the right to refuse anyone. That is the exact opposite with what the current health care system.

Can you imagine if you are sick, and there is a cure, and easy cure. This sickness that you have if you don't get it taken care of can kill you though. The cure is expensive, and because you have insurance you will be able to live. What the "Obamacare" has promised that a health care provider can not drop you because you are sick. They could do that. Now they can't. Without this health care initiative the insurance provider could have dropped you, and you die. Those days are over. They want to change that.

I am not a man of religion, if anything I kind of find it stupid. Why? It restricts us from living a full life. Religion has chains that slow us down. Another thing that they have preached is to make this country a uni-religion state. More than likely Christianity. Just take a good hard look at Sarah Palin and something she said, "we all need to get more god in our life." It appears to me that she will be running in 2012 for president. There are dozens of religions in this country. There is no way you can say that your religion trumps all.

The funniest thing I have heard this past year is that the democrats are taking away our freedoms, and we are becoming a socialist state. First off, I can still buy a gun, I can voice my opinion, and so on and so forth. WE HAVE NOT LOST A SINGLE RIGHT SINCE OBAMA CAME INTO OFFICE, AND WON'T. I don't see any signs of socialism coming anywhere, but I am from the republicans. The darker side of socialism though. I can still say FUCK, I can still listen to the bands I want. Please tell me what rights I have lost.

I found this little slice of knowledge hysterical. The republicans want to cut more corporate taxes. I just wrote a paper where I talk about how cutting taxes will only lead to a prolonged recession. It happened in Ireland (read the blog below). To stimulate job growth, you just can't cut taxes more and more. Eventually you will loose revenue, an the government makes no money for basic services. Small business will not hire because of low taxes. They will hire only when there is a demand for the product(s) or service they offer.

Of course theses conservative idiots want to continue the an endless war, and want us to live in fear. It is scary that American have missed this all. Since when was it bad to be able to be an intellectual and be look down upon. This country was founded on smarts and free will. This political party is missing the point. Not only that they are missing a point of something they are preaching. It is really bad.

This country is going down. Just look at the model that is Arizona. Republican house, senate, and leader. What has happened here, massive budget deficit, and things are only getting worse. There is a lot of ad hominem going on here. They want to focus on "protecting the border" and playing the race card and wasting tons of money on this. Meanwhile our schools out here have fallen all the way to the worse in the country. There is no sign of this getting any better out here. Still they waste time not keeping an eye on what is going on. Correction... The republicans playing the immigration care is ad populist, it is preaching to a large crowd. It's actually both, anyway. Nonetheless the are out of touch of what needs to be taken care of. Someone once told me to take care of number one at home first before reaching out to fix other problems. That you could argue is immigration. Lets fix instate problems before we worry about something that is on the fringe.

The next two years in this country will be rough. Nothing will get through in congress, and nothing will get done. In 2012 we will loose our president, and we will see what has happened in Arizona. Just on a much larger scale. What the Americans did today was disgusting. they voted with the media, and not with what they truly believed in. OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES PEOPLE!!

That is all... "Good night and good luck..."-SS

Recesion: A Blame Game

2010-11-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

“You’re approved!”

Something many Americans heard in the 2000’s when looking for large loans to buy a house or a car, even though they could not afford the loan. A storm was growing on the horizon over the past decade, of course the average American did not see this. This brewing storm was the impending “Great Recession,” as coined by many media outlets. There is a long list of why this happened. The average American does have some blame in this, but not much. The policies that former president George W. Bush and his republican constituents set up laid the foundation for the collapse in 2008. Of course, both parties have blood free hands, the democrats are guilty too, but the burden and more weight fall on what Bush and the republicans set up.

Let’s take a trip back in time. The year is 1999. Bill Clinton is president and there is a balanced budget, a republican congress. It is October 22nd in the early hours of the morning. An embattled Clinton, who recently survived an impeachment from congress, comes to an agreement with republicans what is called “Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999.” This act “…(did) away with restrictions on the integration of banking, insurance and stock trading imposed by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933,” which set into place after the Great Depression, and set up the staging ground for America (McLaughlin WSWS). The legislation that the Glass-Stegall Act enacted was described as a “the center pillar” of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal by Martin McLaughlin in his story “Clinton, Republicans agree to deregulation of US financial system.” Now in congress they are arguing over how to re-regulate everything.

It may appear that Clinton was responsible for this mess that bubbled to the surface recently. Remember this; he had only so much control in legislature. The House of Representatives and Senate at the time were both controlled by republicans, 55-45 in the Senate, and 228-206 in the House. Not only that, Clinton was feeling pressure from the impeachment trial that occurred earlier in the year.

Strangely enough, republicans had a chance to stop this all. A bill was in the works just prior to the housing market crash that started in 2007. The bill was meant to regulate Fannie Mae, and Freddy Mac, both of which are government run programs that take care of home buying, and both of which fell hard in 2008. This regulation bill made it out of senate committee, but never was brought out on the floor. Arizona senator John McCain signed onto it, but was a step too slow. The market had started to fall. During his 2008 run at becoming president, McCain used an excuse that this was blockaded by democrats, when in fact it never actually reached the house floor. The democrats never got the opportunity to take a chance to stop it from passing, or pass it (factcheck.org). Once again this proves that republicans missed a chance to stop, or fix the problem.

Another thing that was at the root of this recession was dredged word, “outsourcing.” A Bush adviser, Dr. Greg Mankiw, had “suggested outsourcing could eventually help the economy” (Cook, Nyhan) Now looking back at what Mankiw said has proven very wrong. In a country that is job hungry, Bush and his staff watched as jobs leave the country and did nothing to stop them. John Kerry, who was running against Bush in 2004 said, “He would tear out every page of the tax code” that promoted outsourcing jobs. He also called CEOs that did send jobs overseas “Benedict Arnolds.” The stance of democrats was obviously to keep jobs inside the country, while the right did nothing to stop them from leaving. Leaving many Americans unemployed, and despite for work. Hence the term that is thrown around a lot these days, “jobless recovery,” do the lack of jobs in the country (Simpkins).

Along with the lack of jobs, there was a lack of tax. It was a belief was had that the lower the taxes in the country the more companies would hire, and keep jobs in America (Mason). This however proved to be a huge fallacy. Just because a business had next to no taxes to pay, and might be able to make a more of a profit, doesn’t mean that they will be hiring droves of employees. The whole game of business is to make the most money as possible, and if you are staffed well enough, and making a huge profit there is no need to hire more and lose money. Even if people say, “you’re making so much money, hire people,” it is all business. They have no right to hire anyone. This tactic has run its course already, in Ireland.

Cutting cooperate taxes seems like it may work, but republicans are wrong, so wrong. There is an eerie shadow that is following the United States, and that shadow being Ireland. Once again McCain is the subject of controversy, he suggested to fix America to “do what Dublin did” (Zarroli). What did Dublin do? In the article by Jim Zarroli titles, “Debt Crisis Casts Spotlight on Ireland's Low Taxes,” Zarroli depicts a tale of how Ireland used a corporate tax reduction to entice business to come to the country. Sounds good right? Then Zarroli tell how that all back fired when the housing market crashed in 2007. With credit markets dried up due to banks collapsing, Ireland had no way to borrow money to help them. The country realized that it needed to raise taxes, even though Zarroli said that many “do-gooders” decried they can’t afford taxes. Similar to what is going on in America today. To simplify it, taxes are needed to keep things moving. Even though it may seem logical to make a move to cut them, jobs aren’t going to come back because of tax breaks.

The article on Factcheck.org also called the recession as “collective delusion,” and basically called Bush ignorant for not watching what was going on, and missing the bus. The delusion was pushed forward after September 11th and really sent the snowball down the hill. In a Bob Burnett article he says how Bush told Americans to “go shopping” after the attacks, “Rather than call on our patriotism…”Bush preached to “consumerism “rather than doing something else productive. With the credit crisis that happened, this appears to be a leaping point for it. Americans go out and spend mindlessly because it is what the president told them. Not only did Bush seem to preach to the wrong crowd, he was rarely there. He was notorious for taking vacations to Camp David. He abandoned the American people as the world around them started to crumble.

There was something despicable about Bush though. Bush was described as someone who was looking for “What can I get out of this,” rather than what I can do to fix any mistake that is presented (Burnett). There was a feeling around him of more of a “self interest” aspect that Burnett would go onto say. Not only that, the poor decisions he made. One could look no further than the war in Iraq, when America needed to be in Afghanistan looking for who actually attacked the States.

In American history there seems to be a wave of job creation, and massive expansion during times of war, see World Wars I and II. With taxes so low this country has not been able to afford what is going on. The two wars make up a very large part of the budget deficit, and big add-on the national debt. As seen with Zarroli said with how Ireland for the most part bankrupted itself, how could America afford this? The original estimates for the war according to Joseph E. Stiglitz of the Washington Post it was supposed to cost “50-60 million dollars” to fight. Unfortunately that was greatly under estimated. The war in Iraq has cost close to three trillion dollars, and continues to get higher. How can anyone blame democrats for such a high deficit when there is a war that has cost three trillion dollars?

This storm that was brewing came together at just the right time. The housing market collapsed, banks lost control of themselves, and the deficit reared its ugly head at just the right time. If one or the other happened at a time this country could have handled it. This was not the case. It all crept up on this country like a lion freight train, but the republicans who had power during it refused to stop, or put a valiant effort out.

The finger has been pointed all over. Currently the democrats are being blamed for what has happened. Why, because they are in power, and it’s easy. They are not as innocent as they say they are. Democrats do have some blame on their shoulder, as seen by Clinton not putting up more of a fight to stop sweeping deregulation in 1999, and seeing work that FDR and Lyndon B. Johnson work get thrown out (Ferrira). Current president Barack Obama has a chance to fix what has been made wrong. Not only that he has his “Herbert Hoover” like FDR had when he took over during the Great Depression. It appears that there has been some slow progress fixing things, but again now there is that storm brewing with the 2010 election. Can this recovery continue, or will a double dip recession be the future this great country faces.

(This is my essay for ENG 102. The ()'s are for citations that I am not including because it is just a blog.)-SS

Historia Calamitatum

2010-10-30T00:47:00.000-07:00

Watch this, and once again, I am asking everyone that can vote to vote on Tuesday. There is a storm that is on the horizon is these crocks get into office. If you think things have been bad now, they will only get worse after this election if there is a mega shift. This country was hurt greatly from 2001-2008 by less extreme policies that were set into place. Can you imagine what is going to happen if my extreme policies get thrown into place? They say they want smaller government, but they want to privatize EVERYTHING! You know someone that goes to VA hospital, collects social security, needs health care. They want to take that away. I am someone that has been effected by the health care bill (known to the Tea Bagger/Republicans as Obamacare,) as to have most of you. You under 26 and don't have your own health care, guess what, your parents can cover you until you find a steady job that has health care. Pre-existing condition, I have one, insurnce used to be able to drop you, now that can't.

I am making an appeal to everyone out there. Use your minds, be smart. This country was founded on freedoms and rights, and we are about to watch a lot of them be taken away. I'm not saying go out and vote Democrat, Green, or Libertarian (Rent Is Too Damn High is acceptable,) but just vote. Don't just vote because your friends, parents are voting, use your opinions, use your ideals.

I do not like one thing that anyone has been saying from the right, ie Quayle, McCain and Brewer. It is scary. They believe in the all mighty dollar and neglect people who have to fight to get by. It is disturbing, and no one is seeing this.

Take what you want from this. (Copy and paste in your browser, and watch.)
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39875964/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/

So again, Tuesday, be smart. Think, show your voice and let it be heard. We will not go backwards, we want to go forwards and get better.

"When the air that we breathe becomes air that we choke..."

As Keith says, good night, and good luck....-SS

On A Side Note

2010-10-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

I came across something yesterday that made me raise my eyebrow. It was something kind of annoying if you ask me. The way you treat people reflect the kind of person you are. If you are going to treat people like crap, you too shall be treated like crap. I believe in fairness, and respect. Even though we may resent a person for certain reasons, we don't need to call them out for every little flaw that they have, especially if they are a friend. Friendships are key in moving in life, and if you want to burn bridges in friendships go ahead and do it. Connections lost will be the price that you have to pay.

What I saw was a note from a facebook page passed along to me via a friend. This note was rather disturbing, they said they were offended by it even though they were directly not named. The contents of this note was the write calling out all their friends for not supporting them. Meanwhile this person has no ground to stand on. Not once have they supported their own friends. This person chooses to neglect the needs of other when asked, and as karma would prevail this person receives nothing in return. Still the complaints continue.

This kind of behavior is really offensive. When things don't go your way, what right do you have to blame it on other people. When all your problems are caused by yourself, accept the blame and improve yourself. As of right now, you have no redeemable factors. I will never step on the toes of a friend like this person has in order for a personal gain. I rather climb somewhere with someone than alone. I believe that with someone by your side you really can do what ever you want. Back-up is a great feeling.

Another subject this person brought up was, lack of support for their band. When I was in a band, I pushed really hard to get my friends to come out to a show. Most didn't, and I really didn't mind. To me they just might have not found the music interesting, and may not have been entertained by it, so they choose other things to do with their money. Local shows are way too expensive for what they are. In all reality I don't want to waste $20 bucks to see a local band. Everything is out in Tempe, which is 26+ miles from my house. So figure gas, plus a ticket.

A local show doesn't really look good if you have only friends at it. It's looks good to you that there's people there, and okay, you brought 20 friends. That doesn't mean that people will stay to see you. Most local shows people leave after the band they want to see is done. There is no scene out here. Bringing 20 may sound like a big number to a show, but that is a very poor outing in all reality. Promoters want 40-50 to make sure that the venue is pleased (alcohol sales, vending sales), and also so they can make a buck. When all of their are your friends it is very noticeable. They tend to look disinterested and bland. Especially if they are there just to be there and haven't really found a liking in your music.

It is really this simple. There is no reason to bombast your friends for not supporting you when you don't support them. It is sad that you do that, this isn't the first time either. I know how your relationships have gone, and you treat them like shit, which is wrong. Eventually you will have burnt every bridge, and there will be no way back.

What I suggest this person does is, wake up and get their life together. Dropping out of college, and sitting home smoking weed all day is no way to live. This person is really a sad individual, and I know if they read this they will have stuff to say about me. So be it. Let them have their say. I know I am better than them, and this person does not deserve the little loyalty that they have received through the years.-SS

Survive

2010-10-24T21:54:00.001-07:00

"Survive"
Now get up, and wipe the dirt off your hands
I don't need to hear it all again
We've been down this road, lets not go back
There is nothing left to console
Give in, or get the fuck out of this place
No one fucking understands

(Did you cry?)
As you watched the walls fall around you
(Ever ask why?)
You know we knew it would die from the start
(Did you cry)
Holding onto what anything left of a crumb
(Did you try?)
To save a flame as you sputtered out of control

Oh this angst has been killing me
Burnt out to a degree
We're both still alive
All we can do is survive

We can crash and burn, and die in the flame
All you can do is point fingers
I never have tried to say that you're the one to blame
But it's not that far from the truth
I think that we've lost this race
It's time that I leave this fucking place

(Did you cry?)
As you watched the walls fall around you
(Ever ask why?)
You know we knew it would die from the start
(Did you cry)
Holding onto what anything left of a crumb
(Did you try?)
To save a flame as you sputtered out of control

Oh this angst has been killing me
Burnt out to a drgeee
We're both still alive
All we can do is survive

{solo}

Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh Oho-Whoa-oh oh
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh Oho-Whoa-oh oh

(Did you cry?)
As you watched the walls fall around you
(Ever ask why?)
You know we knew it would die from the start
(Did you cry)
Holding onto what anything left of a crumb
(Did you try?)
To save a flame as you sputtered out of control

Oh this angst has been killing me
Burnt out to a degree
We're both still alive
All we can do is survive

Never Cease To Amaze Me

2010-10-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

It always comes down to one thing. What is that one thing, we never really seem to know. It is something that gets in our way, or decision that alters what we are currently doing and where we'll go. I believe that every decision we make should lead to the best, nine out of ten times it does. There is always that one time that we do something so stupid we have to go back to square one. The fact is amazing. I can't wait till I really get hit with a dose of reality and see how I will handle it. That time is drawing so near as I prepare to move out. I made that decision that believe will help me.

My time line until move out starts in a few weeks. It all starts in November when I will be out searching for a car, I have an idea of what I want. Of course I need to pick what is going to be best for the environment. November also brings up the whole going through the room and getting rid of stuff I do not need any more. Then probably right after the semester ends I start packing all my stuff up and prepare to enter a life I have never known. I'm excited to do something awesome.

Another move I made was I left my band, if I'll say this until I vomit so be it. It has been one of the best decisions I have made in a very, very long time. Yes, I am an unemployed singer/guitar player/lyricist, but my life quality has greatly improved. I don't want to be something I'm not. I am not a druggie, I am not a fake individual even though I put up a facade while I was in the band. I just want to be who I am. A down to earth, chill dude with a lot to live for and has great ambition. I will not be thrown into a scene like that again. Then again, that scene is dead.

One of the small bands that was leading the way in that 80's glam revival has apparently lost it's singer. Which I find hysterical, one because he sucked, and two because it is again a sign of the times. I talked to the guitar player when I saw them in November of last year, and he was telling how he was getting into, drum roll please, Rise Against.

Wait...

An 80's glam revival guitarist was getting into Rise Against, this is blasphemous according to their scenes standards. Punk rock shouldn't cross that glam line. It was, and I have a feeling that this change of influence may have lead to the demise of this band. Or the singer just realized he sucked.

These people that are so tied into this glam rock revival need to see what qualifies for a real singer. First off you have to be able to sing acoustic, and not have the same voice you do with an electric band behind you. It doesn't sound good, and straining to hit that Vince Neil high not is not really cool anymore Modern music has gotten sick of people trying to do that. Honestly, I hated doing that when I sung, I like screaming, but I hate singing high. I'm a tenor, not a alto or anything above. I'm not operatic either, and would never want to be, they sound like shit.

I'm going to be me, sing with heart soul and emotion. If you don' like that, well then too damn bad. I will go else where. The guys that sing like I do, the heart and soul guys, tend to be better off. They don't kill their voice, and the emotion in the song is so much better captured. Just look at Strike Anywhere, and Thomas Barnett.

I would rather be a loser, than a fake popular. I want to be me, and not some falsely advertised person. It is tough to find people that are that way these days. I know a few, but they are so rare. If you will give me your heart and soul, and your real individuality, I will give you my all and my heart and soul in return.

Tonight we drink to those who are real, and who are living with a purpose. We mourn the loss of those who have been sucked into society of today. To them we say good-bye, and to the new individuals we shall meet along the way, we toast to clear skies ahead. Goodnight..-SS

Ten Commandments For Punk Guitarists

2010-10-22T17:30:00.001-07:00

Treat your guitar like shit and it will respect you.

To get that mean fuckin' low end and still retain some highs in your sound, use only Gibson guitars. SG's and Les Pauls are the ultimate punk rock tools.

Use only downstrokes. Downstrokes are the key to unlocking all punk rhythms.

Plaster your guitars with stickers to prove that you're an individual. Remember, being uncool is cool, so one Van Halen is worth three Sex Pistols stickers.

The Marshall JMP 100-Watt master volume head is the Holy Grail of amps. Other people get all hot and bothered about what kind of speakers and cabinets they use, but that's all bullshit. You can plug the JMP into virtually anything and it's going to sound wonderful.

No open tunings. Grunge is not punk rock.

Don't be self-indulgent. Limit your guitar solos to eight bars or less. Otherwise, you're playing metal.

Never, ever play a show with a cigarette hanging out of your mouth. It's incredibly painful when a stage diver pushes off your face and smashes the red-hot cherry into your cheek.

It may be punk to be fucked up at your day job, but when you take the stage you should be straight. It's hard to play music with intensity and speed when you're drunk.

Do not stack Marshall cabinets. That's not punk, it's arena rock. The Ramones are the only band exempted from this rule.

Retro, Smells Like Shit To Me

2010-10-18T00:31:00.000-07:00

Is there any hope for anyone of us to start living in the present. I mean politically, pop culture wise too. I mean you have republicans wanting to live in the past and try to revive Regan's corpse for shit's sake. Then you have music culture, look at Lady Gaga, do I sense a little bit of Madonna in her. Just a little bit. Original thought has gone out the window, this society has gone to one mass, and lost it's individuality. I'm curious to look back at our kids will think of our generation. There isn't a music movement and culture that is making this decade memorable, it's bland. I'm still hell bent on a punk revival in the next five years, especially with bands like Rise Against rising up.

I see it all over the map, kids thinking that the 80's were a good time. The music was sometimes good, but it was shit for the most part. The fashions sucked, hair was even worse, and of course we had Regan. One of the worst political times in the country. Why do bands try to find something that is dead? It's like beating a dead horse (no Guns N' Roses reference). So why try? If a band wants to do something that is retro, inject some life into it. Mix in the flavor of what is going on today, same for politics. I don't want to hear about something that was relevant about 25 years ago.

Now this is non sequitur about what I actually wanted to talk about tonight. I just don't think it is appropriate to talk about what is really on my mind. It is better off left unsaid for now.

"Hang tight, this one is still for you." Good night-SS

Afterglow

2010-10-18T00:19:00.001-07:00

"Afterglow"
We are part of the young, and young and restless
Never knowing what true honesty means
Watching the future pass, hopeless and so breathless
This shout rings out into the night
Like a gunshot breaks the painful silence
But it always go unheard

The greed for love and lust,
Takes us no where, and spits us back

The faster we fall, the faster we fall
It's the pain in our hearts
That chases us all
The faster we fall, the faster we fall
Still stuck miles apart
In for the long hall

We fall,

It's the lie that we are led to believe, we're nothing
When we have come to trust anything
Even the ones you love can not be trusted
The pain always weighs out your pride
There is no where left to hide*

Watch it all turn into dust
As your everything turns black

The faster we fall, the faster we fall
It's the pain in our hearts
That chases us all
The faster we fall, the faster we fall
Still stuck miles apart
In for the long hall

It's the mistakes that we refuse to remember
As we watch the fading ember
Caught in the afterglow
We fall, we fall**

{solo}

The faster we fall
It's the pain in our hearts
The faster we fall
The faster (break)

The faster we fall, the faster we fall
It's the pain in our hearts
That chases us all
The faster we fall, the faster we fall
Still stuck miles apart
In for the long hall

It's the mistakes that we refuse to remember
As we watch the fading ember
Caught in the afterglow

{outro solo}
We fall, we fall
We fall, we fall

*Line screamt.
** Just second "we fall"

A Novel Idea!

2010-10-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

My dystopian novel idea...

Story is set in the near future say maybe 40 or 50 years. It is a pre-WWIII society that is introduced. US and the EU have joined forces to form one giant nation, (not all of Russia joins, some parts go back to Communist like government circa 1955,) and the government has a massive Christan influence as seen in the extreme right of today. Certain rights have been taken away and such, massive privatization, religious restrictions. The world in the story is turned upside down when we are attacked by a rogue middle east country which forms a modernized version of axis-like powers.

Just use that as a trailer for what else I will add onto. Just a basic plot outline. Unlike in 1984 the war is real, and we have to face a change and take a look at our mistakes we have made, and realize the monster we have become.