We've got you now, We've got you where we want you

March. Doesn't feel like it should be here all ready, but here it is, with spring right around the corner. Today it was 60's tomorrow it'll be freezing again. Such is Ohio weather, ever fleeting.

This week looks like it actually might dole out some free time whereas the last few weeks have been cruel headmasters who won't give more than a smidgen. So what better way to celebrate than a new post? Today was one of those first few days of spring, the kind that taunt you and then leave you, but you know in your heart that they'll soon be back. There's just something different about the air and the world... there's an electricity to it, energy where none was before. Maybe it's just that the long, cold winter is finally beginning to lessen it's bitter ways. Whatever it is, there's a certain type of music that is perfect for driving or walking around on one of these crisp spring evenings. Spring crispness is so much different from autumn crispnes... the fall has that bite to the wind, while the spring has a gentleness about it.

If I seem overly verbose, it's because I've been listening to the Weakerthans, hailing out of Canada, the land of the eternally cold. Yet, their music conveys that sense of spring, sense of renewal and warmth. Maybe they treasure it more in Canada, seeing as it's colder up there, who knows. But, I disgress. If ever there was poetry and imagery in music, the Weakerthans are the one to present it. There is no pretentious bull crap, no over dramatic love songs, no wordy for the sake of being wordy songs. I think these songs rise above that. So, go buy the cd, but listen to this as an intro to the album.

Here's a great track off of Reconstruction site : Psalm for the Elks Lodge Last Call

Buy the album here.

I'm at work, I'm posting, how sweet can it get?

Breathe in, huge breath, exhale... that seemed way to quick. The past two weeks have gone by way to fast with an incredible amount of work/adventure/fun all poured into a measley 14 days. I think this is about the first time that I've had to sit back and actually take a few minutes for myself. Tests and homework can do that to you, I guess. Anyway, I didn't end up going to the Ska is Dead show. I had planned another two posts with each of the remaining bands (mu330 and Voodoo Glow Skulls) but they went by the wayside round about the times my van went by the wayside. This marks the second ska show I've missed while at college, which hopefully isn't a pattern. I haven't been to any kind of concert in the longest time, and let me tell you, I'm definetly jonesing.

Oh yeah, I have the best girlfriend in the world, and I'll put my valentines present up against anyone else that wants to challenge. (And if you're single, I feel bad for you son, but I've got 99 problems and you know the rest).

Lately I've been feeling restless, in that need to be creative/make something out of nothing/write/make music/fun stuff like that. So the listening tastes lately have been leaning towards a harder, faster sound. What better band than Strike Anywhere to give inspiration to make something of this restlessness and turn it into something protective.

Strike Anywhere - Sunset on 32nd Street

Snow, School, Sfun

Getting back in the swing of things at college. One week down,a whole bunch more to go, but I don't really want to count. Trivializes the whole thing ya know? Anyway, prospects are looking pretty good for some creative endeavors that might become available pretty soon. Think along the lines of a comic with live action, hilarious characters, ninjas, fighting, and naked women. (excluding the last one, most likely). This is what college is for though. Forgot the whole system of learning crap. It's about making stuff! Like comics and music to name a few. Not to mention to watch movies, that's definetly a major part of college.

On to the music. There's a ska show coming up on Feb 3rd at the Agora featuring Voodoo Glow Skulls, Mu330, and Streetlight Manifesto. In preparation for this huge events that I'm sure all of you have scheduled for months in advance, I'm going to release a song from each of the artists leading up to the concert.

First up is Streetlight Manifesto. Streetlight formed after the original vocalist of Catch 22 (think Keasbey Nights) broke up with the band. If you were always hoping for a sequel to Keasbey Nights, then the band's debut album is probably your thing. Great ska rifts breaking into fast as hell distorted guitar break downs with horns up the wazoo and Tomas Kalonky's distinctive vocals. What more could you possibly want in a ska band?

Here's a great song off Everything Goes Numb, entitled A Moment of Silence. enjoy.

You Belive In Authority, I Belive In Myself

Second semester has officially begun, so I think it's time I got back to posting some tunes. It's funny that I have more free time now that school's started, although work and hanging out with Elizabeth and friends took up most of my attention. That and I only have 15 hours of school a week, that helps out to. So anyway, my winter break was great, how was yours? that's good, so on to the music, right.

I bought Against Me! Is Never Going Home over break, and it's one of the best music DVD's I've seen. It's not the same as being at the show, as nothing itself except being there can give you that total sense of energy, but watching certainly feels close to the real thing. Lately, concerts seem like they have a lack of energy... maybe it's the band, maybe it's the crowd, I don't know. But Against Me! is bringing back all that is good in music. Passion. When they play, you can feel the songs pulsating throughout your whole body, you want to sing along, you want to grab the microphone and start singing. You want to take a part in something that is greater than yourself, greater than everyone at the concert. There's something to be said for a group of people that can all get in one room, crammed into a small room, with sweat pouring everywhere and body contact that would never be tolerated anywhere else. Maybe it's just that, the total like of pretentions that turn is into assholes in our every day life. A release, from everything else, for at least a few hours where nothing else matters except the music.

Here's a song by Against Me! - Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious...