| hello xanga. used to write on here quite regularly to distract myself from the harrowing drunk and lonely nights, bored and alone in my shit ass Kalamazoo apartment. but thankfully those desperate years have given way to a semblance of domesticity, and i feel less inclined to post ill-advised rants about the political landscape/womankind/how-awesome-i-am. and, frankly, there are fewer stories even worth telling. sure, i have a night here and there where i wake up on the stairs of the Rosenbaum Building in Kalamazoo laying in my own vomit with my jeans soaked in urine i can only hope is my own, but of late those tragedies are more the exception and less the rule. yay liver! yay still alive! anyway, highlights of the previous year include:
december 2006:
Sweet Japonic throws sold-out album release party at Billy's. many memories of stumbling around Eastown in my younger days add to the sweetness of playing a sold out show at my old hang out. great fun!
february 2007: Sweet Japonic wins Jammie for 'Rock Album of the Year.' many local rock bands are, rightfully, less than enthused, as our album is light rock of the folksy bop kind. but the staff at WYCE likes it i guess. we play like shit at the ceremony, and i celebrate our win by buying the Intersection's second cheapest bottle of champagne.
april 2007:
my last night at Monaco Bay, a bittersweet experience for sure. my last song is 'Sober' by Tool. i take a bow from on top of piano, and 4 years of madness come to an end.
i move to chicago. do not look for job.
Sweet Japonic plays Rock & Reggae Fest in Shepherd MI. festival draws thousands, mostly CMU students, and takes place on an Indian reservation so it's anything goes as far as illicit substances and so forth. needless to say a wild audience to perform for. good times had by all.
join Pistols at Dawn, a chicago rock band, and purchase adorable puppy for Jamie's birthday.
july 2007: jamie's sister gets married with perhaps the largest and most attractive wedding party ever in lovely Petosky MI. play piano for the ceremony out on the pier. many hilarious episodes from the weekend, including getting caught taking a shower in a stranger's hotel room (by mistake, no fault of my own), all bars in the hotel and the 24-hour pool mysteriously 'closing' as the reception ends, and general shenanigans by jamie's extended family and family friends such as the lady who took a dive on the dance floor during the first dance song of the night. the band ended the night with 'doin' the butt' by the gap band, and we were denied entry to all local drinking establishments. a hotel employee remarked that it was the 'worst' wedding they have ever had.
august 2007: Pistols at Dawn release 'War is a Feeling' EP. wish i had long hair or some tattoos, but rock out to the best of my ability.
september 2007: i turn 27. eat at Carnivale, go to blues bar. try not to dwell on fact that K. Cobain, J. Joplin, J. Morrison, J. Hendrix, R. Johnson all died at this age leaving behind recordings that forever changed the face of music while i have done little of consequence.
Sweet Japonic opens for North Mississippi All-Stars at the Intersection.
form Whiskey Heartache with Luke Wilson. acoustic music rocks.
november 2007: audition for Chicago Dueling Pianos, get much needed job.
december 2007: brother gets married in Delhi, India. attend traditional Hindi wedding and accompany bride/groom and family/friends on honeymoon trip to Rajasthan. watch sunset in Thar Desert on New Year's Eve, visit Taj Mahal, see abject poverty for first time.
january 2008: vote in my first primary election. feel patriotic.
march 2008: notice Pistols at Dawn have removed me as a band member on their Myspace page. perhaps due to the fact i havent played a show with them or been to a rehearsal since, well, maybe september...? nevertheless, feel sad as i enjoyed rocking out. then again, also enjoy being able to pay my bills so i guess it's for the best.
notice i have lost 20lbs since i stopped working at Monaco Bay: credit dog walking, slightly less obscene eating habits, and reduced alcohol consumption. yay not as fat!
play Howl at the Moon in downtown Chicago. does not go well, but am invited back as half their staff is sick and they need a fill in. 3rd night there goes a little better.
april 2008: with Whiskey Heartache, sign my first record deal with Stonecutter Records. record EP at Chicago Recording Company (studio that recorded one of my all-time favorite albums: Smashing Pumpkins' 'Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,' as well as records by Michael Jackson, Usher, R. Kelly, Britney Spears, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more.) work with producer/engineer Chris Steinmetz (Lil' John's 'Crunk Juice,' Tori Amos, Suicidal Tendancies, Paul Simon's 'Graceland,' Kanye West, among others). never miss opportunity to name drop! very honored and thrilled to make music here.
Sweet Japonic plays Rock & Reggae again.
may 2008: revist Xanga. shake head at content of many older posts. offer prayers of thanks for blessings entirely undeserved. listen to dog sleeping. |
