The Death of Enthusiasm

The Diabetes concert went off nearly without a hitch it seems, despite the fact that:

A) It was twelve billion degrees centigrade

B)The only people there were the organizers and immediate family members of the band

It was pretty cool to be using a real PA system, but I think the audio guy hated us. He asked us what we wanted our "central monitor mix" to sound like and we just stared at him. I mean, we knew what he was talking about but I could not think of one thing to respond with that wouldn't make me sound stupid. Maybe, "balanced"?

Anyways, we played for about an hour up there, which included an encore of the first two songs we played to start the show. (So Dan's parents could video tape them). I know what you are thinking and yes, it was a very classy affair indeed.

Behold the pictures, especially the one where I am letting loose with the shaker.

Labels: concert, music

Most of my "spare" money goes either to the purchase of musical recordings, instruments, or listening devices. Pull up a rock and get ready to hear about some things I've been listening to:

Ryan Adams--Jacksonville City Nights: Earnest country with a dose of symphonic swirls. Not as hook-laden as Heartbreaker and a little long, but still satisfying.

Blitzen Trapper--Wild Mountain Nation: This is a great record. Imagine a drunken Hill-Billy string band mixed with sunny indie-pop. It's eclectic and sprawling, but still focused enough to warrant repeat listens.

OKX--OK Computer Tribute Album: Apparently it has been ten years since the release of of OK Computer and StereoGum put together a free(!) tribute album. Some of the tracks like Electioneering by Cold War Kids add nothing and should not exist, but John Vanderslice's take on Karma Police won't leave my head.

Uncle Tupelo--No Depression: I initially hesitated getting this since I am an immense and very nerdy Wilco fan. I thought somehow that listening to Jeff Tweedy's early songs would somehow taint the way I look at his newer catalogue. I was wrong, this stuff is good, and it belongs more to Jay Farrar than to Tweedy. Punk in attitude but country in content.

Labels: music

So, my friend Dan and I have been playing and writing songs for a while (under the alias State College--see the link) and we have been asked to play at a benefit concert for the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) this Saturday. We said yes because we hate diabetes (especially juvenile diabetes) as much as the next guy, but it is only now dawning on me how serious this is. There are sponsors, T-shirts, and posters--actual bands will be playing! Anyways, we'll play about a half hour set (4 of our own songs plus some covers). If you really hate juvenile diabetes and are going to be in Logan on Saturday morning, stop on by. I'll post some photos after the fact.

Well folks this is it, I have joined the elite group known as "bloggers" or maybe it's "blodgers" I'm not really clear on that.

I figure this way instead of sending random emails to far away friends, I can host a repository of wonderful Chase news and events. Plus, only those who truly consider me their friends will bother to even look at it, truly separating the sheep from the goats once and for all.