The annual Summer Slaughter tour is hyped as the 'most extreme tour of the summer' and usually has some brutal lineups with a good mix of death metal veterans and metalcore youngsters. The 2011 installment that rolled through Milwaukee was perhaps one of the weaker lineups the tour has pushed out, but some tried and true blast technicians helped save the day from complete breakdown dominance.
Now, I can't and won't attempt to give a complete analysis of every band as I have in past reviews because plain and simple, I don't give a fuck about at least half of the bands on the bill. There were plenty of talented and girted musicians that performed on that stage, but their lack of creativity is something I can't overlook. The metal scene has been flooded with some true sub-par music and I think the tour lineup reflected that.
I walked into the Rave with my good pals Peter and Ben in time to watch Fleshgod Apocalypse crank out about a song and a half. Being 7 beers deep at this point and unfamiliar with their music, I wasn't too concerned I had missed anything. The dudes were dressed up in body paint, suits, and weird bullshit that they don't need, but theatrics help sell it for some bands so w/e. Within The Ruins was the opening slot we had missed entirely, which again, take it or leave it. I would have liked to see if they expanded on their debut album, but the live setting may not be the place for that kind of judgement. As Blood Runs Black bounced onto the stage with plenty of energy but again, standard issue metalcore at its blandest. I saw these guys some years ago at Robot Mosh Fest and busted out my "eh" face. Needless to say by the end of this day I had it down to a science. The absolute worst part of the set was when the band chose to bust out only the "epic breakdown" of their track "In Dying Days". Why not play the whole song? Or is the chance to use "motherfucker" in a breakdown the only redeeming part that kids may find? Signs point to yes. Continuing right in stride was Oceano, complete with tough guy stances, hordes of breakdowns, and encouragement of physical violence amongst crowd members. I had seen and heard enough after a few songs (actually, seeing them set up should've been enough) so I decided to wander around to see what was going on in the other bar areas. Low and behold, I eventually climbed stair after stair to reach an open air styled bar above the ballroom. I was shocked. I didn't know such a thing existed. I always assumed the ballroom was as high as a patron could go, but apparently the Rave staff have been holding out on me or I'm that oblivious. Don't get me wrong, this isn't nearly enough to change my opinion that the Rave and surrounding area should be leveled, but it made things easier to digest. A decent bar, flat screens to see what shitty band you were missing, and fresh air amounted to the one pleasant surprise of the day.
Things finally took a turn for the better when Dying Fetus took the stage in their kick ass 3 piece lineup. This was the second time I had the pleasure of seeing them destroy with 3 members and it blew the 5/6 piece lineups out of the water. They played a good variety of crowd pleasers from across their catalog and brought more fury than pretty much every preceding band put together. At this point in their career, Dying Fetus are a true force to be reckoned with and respected for their contributions to the metal scene. It's always a pleasure to see them tear shit up, which they certainly did.
I had a good idea of what to expect from 6 Feet Under, and I can say that honestly nothing has changed after seeing them live. they've never been a band I've paid much attention to and most likely won't in the future. I don't mean this in the kind of disrespect I have for a lot of the bands on the bill. Rather, this is more of an indifference. It's another notch on the 'ol metal headboard, but nothing too notably exciting. Classic styled death metal in which you know exactly what you're getting.
Darkest Hour were one of the oddest fits i my mind, but they pulled it off a few years ago on the same tour, so what the fuck. I was glad just to see a change in style more than anything else. I haven't really kept up with Darkest Hour since Undoing Ruin from 2005, and since then I've missed 3 full lengths. I figured they couldn't have changed for the worse if they were invited on this tour, but I had my reservations. I knew they wouldn't come out with bass drops and breakdowns, but they one-upped me with their slick elixir of thrash infused metalcore. I'm sure there were plenty of straight brimmed kids in the crowd who hated Darkest Hour, but they provided much needed relief and change of pace. Musically they were on top of their game playing faster than your average Milwaukee metal fan can think, topping off their songs with sweeping melodic solos. Their performance really got me curious about those full lengths I've been missing out on and re-lit my fire of fan appreciation. Hats off to Darkest Hour for playing Summer Slaughter. Hope I get another chance to see them again.
Whitechapel followed with an uninspiring set that I've seen twice already. I saw them on Summer Slaughter 2008, and again with Job For a Cowboy, Cattle Decapitation, and Gaza in Madison almost 2 years ago. If you've seen one of their sets, you've seen it all. I will say that I own and at times enjoy This Is Exile, but I haven't had a reason to buy or listen to anything further, because there's no way it gets better. There's just no way. 3 guitarists are completely unnecessary, I'm still wondering what the bassist does, and the breakdowns have been done before, even if not that low tuned.
The main event, The Black Dahlia Murder, are always fun to see. They've been one of the most consistently energetic live bands I've ever seen, and Summer Slaughter was no different. Their latest release, Ritual, had the band in full on blast mode and the momentum carried into the crowd. I chose to watch from the balcony because I've been in my share of Dahlia pits and I really just wanted to take it all in. Their set covered every studio album and while it didn't uncover every gem, they played to their strengths of fist pumping melodic death metal madness. By now they shouldn't have to close with "Funeral Thirst" but I doubt anyone was complaining.
Bottom line: a lot of breakdowns got in the way of some killer death metal, but those veteran acts made it all worthwhile.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
KEN Mode, Black Goat, The Antiprism @ Project Lodge 7-27
Shows at Madison's Project Lodge are usually pretty entertaining endeavors. The folks who book bands bring in a good variety of underground independent types and the occasional ball crushing metal/hardcore show. Last night was the latter.
I found myself thumbing through the Onion on my break at work this past Monday and discovered a platinum chunk of info on one of the final pages of the AV Club listings: KEN fucking Mode was coming to town. Should I have discovered this listing a day late, my inevitable end would have come today after typing up a shitty suicide blog. I consider myself lucky to find out about it, but borderline pissed since the Project Lodge DIDN'T EVEN POST ABOUT THE SHOW ON THEIR WEBSITE. Even if it was a last minute gig, which I doubt, get your shit together Project Lodge crew.
Anyway, I've been into the band for maybe a year, but kind of off the walls into since their latest, Venerable, came out and I picked it up. The harshed out noise rock meets metallic hardcore barrage is as much refreshing as it is tried and true in the scene today.
I rolled up with some homeboys pretty much in time to see The Antiprism play the last half of their final song. I've seen them before so I wasn't too disappointed. They are a Madison fixture in the metal scene, but didn't strike much of a chord with me so, eh.
After some large pulls from my wine bottle I ventured back into the venue to see Black Goat finish setting up and fire up the smoke machine. Dudes came out in corpse paint, which ruled. What ruled more was one of the guitarists sporting a 2 Live Crew shirt. Fuck yeah. Appearances aside, this band is built for some serious speed. The stark transition from the instrumental opener to 2nd song was like making the jump to light speed. Black Goat could probably do the Kessel run in a respectable amount of parsecs. I was in a short lived band with their drummer, Goatlord, and the man knows his way about a kit. His services are in high demand all over the area. The axemen don't disappoint either, as they shredded their way through the smoky set. On top of this was a shrieking vocalist who, despite his lack of stage banter and presence, completed the aural assault.
A few more pulls later KEN Mode had completed their stage setup and were ready to do their best in bringing the ceiling down. It was quite a change up going from 2 black metal types to the bruising hardcore stylings of those 3 Canadian boys, but a welcome one nonetheless. The group tore up the place with their first couple tracks including 'The Book of Muscle'. By 'tore up the place' I mean I engaged in full on headbanging madness. It wouldn't have mattered if I had brought earplugs because they would have jettisoned my ears due to the force of my overall body thrashing. Note: I've never been a huge pit fan or a hardcore dancer, but I like to show my support by letting music flow through me in jagged ways without getting too fancy or planned. Just let it out, man. Back to the set, which was loud as hell. KEN Mode created a wall of sound with some songs, seemingly ready to overwhelm the senses. They exhibited the ability to be brutish brawlers and precise attackers throughout their set, which ended with monster track, 'Never Was'. They fucking exploded on that song, an 8-minute build up and release of caustic anger and reckless abandon. My body and mind were aching from the sheer abuse I put them through, but it was worth every penny. Toss some killer merch on top of it all and you've got one hell of a night.
For the love of all that is noisy and brash, get out to a KEN Mode show when they roll into your area.
www.myspace.com/theantiprism
www.myspace.com/blackmountaingoat
www.ken-mode.com/
I found myself thumbing through the Onion on my break at work this past Monday and discovered a platinum chunk of info on one of the final pages of the AV Club listings: KEN fucking Mode was coming to town. Should I have discovered this listing a day late, my inevitable end would have come today after typing up a shitty suicide blog. I consider myself lucky to find out about it, but borderline pissed since the Project Lodge DIDN'T EVEN POST ABOUT THE SHOW ON THEIR WEBSITE. Even if it was a last minute gig, which I doubt, get your shit together Project Lodge crew.
Anyway, I've been into the band for maybe a year, but kind of off the walls into since their latest, Venerable, came out and I picked it up. The harshed out noise rock meets metallic hardcore barrage is as much refreshing as it is tried and true in the scene today.
I rolled up with some homeboys pretty much in time to see The Antiprism play the last half of their final song. I've seen them before so I wasn't too disappointed. They are a Madison fixture in the metal scene, but didn't strike much of a chord with me so, eh.
After some large pulls from my wine bottle I ventured back into the venue to see Black Goat finish setting up and fire up the smoke machine. Dudes came out in corpse paint, which ruled. What ruled more was one of the guitarists sporting a 2 Live Crew shirt. Fuck yeah. Appearances aside, this band is built for some serious speed. The stark transition from the instrumental opener to 2nd song was like making the jump to light speed. Black Goat could probably do the Kessel run in a respectable amount of parsecs. I was in a short lived band with their drummer, Goatlord, and the man knows his way about a kit. His services are in high demand all over the area. The axemen don't disappoint either, as they shredded their way through the smoky set. On top of this was a shrieking vocalist who, despite his lack of stage banter and presence, completed the aural assault.
A few more pulls later KEN Mode had completed their stage setup and were ready to do their best in bringing the ceiling down. It was quite a change up going from 2 black metal types to the bruising hardcore stylings of those 3 Canadian boys, but a welcome one nonetheless. The group tore up the place with their first couple tracks including 'The Book of Muscle'. By 'tore up the place' I mean I engaged in full on headbanging madness. It wouldn't have mattered if I had brought earplugs because they would have jettisoned my ears due to the force of my overall body thrashing. Note: I've never been a huge pit fan or a hardcore dancer, but I like to show my support by letting music flow through me in jagged ways without getting too fancy or planned. Just let it out, man. Back to the set, which was loud as hell. KEN Mode created a wall of sound with some songs, seemingly ready to overwhelm the senses. They exhibited the ability to be brutish brawlers and precise attackers throughout their set, which ended with monster track, 'Never Was'. They fucking exploded on that song, an 8-minute build up and release of caustic anger and reckless abandon. My body and mind were aching from the sheer abuse I put them through, but it was worth every penny. Toss some killer merch on top of it all and you've got one hell of a night.
For the love of all that is noisy and brash, get out to a KEN Mode show when they roll into your area.
www.myspace.com/theantiprism
www.myspace.com/blackmountaingoat
www.ken-mode.com/
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
and then La Roux storms back in
so La Roux should have been included in my last couple of end of the year music lists, but i was too much of a shameful dipshit to include them. yet how fitting they find a way to push their way back into the forefront of my life.
i was at work, closing the bar, minding my own fucking business, when some patron just HAD to put 'Bulletproof' on the forsaken jukebox. fuck that thing. straight to hell...if you believe in such a place.
then it all came back and i find myself a slave to those poppy droplets and synthy hooks that fit perfectly in my mouth. yeah, the rest of the singles are great and have been remixed by now, but holy fuck don't ever let go of those original tunes and that androgynous yet immaculate figure in the videos.
i'm off the wagon. one i never really admitted to being on until now. so take it for what its worth. and listen to La Roux already.
i was at work, closing the bar, minding my own fucking business, when some patron just HAD to put 'Bulletproof' on the forsaken jukebox. fuck that thing. straight to hell...if you believe in such a place.
then it all came back and i find myself a slave to those poppy droplets and synthy hooks that fit perfectly in my mouth. yeah, the rest of the singles are great and have been remixed by now, but holy fuck don't ever let go of those original tunes and that androgynous yet immaculate figure in the videos.
i'm off the wagon. one i never really admitted to being on until now. so take it for what its worth. and listen to La Roux already.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Yob, Dark Castle, Indian @ Subterranean
my friends, i have been to some loud shows before, but this past weekend in Chicago may have rocketed to the top as far as my concert going experiences are concerned. volume levels need to be peaking for doom shows to work, and all 3 groups made the floor shake with their thunderous and punishing attacks. and Dark Castle doesn't even have a bassist, so yeah.
my trip down to Chi-town couldn't have gone smoother, despite a few construction hiccups. renting a car with Illinois plates pretty much entitled me to speed like a crazy Illinois person, which i thoroughly enjoyed. The Subterranean is in the Wicker Park hood of Chicago and despite all the hipster connotations that come with that, i came away with a positive feel from the area. the venue itself was one i would love to return to. the actual show room was on the 2nd floor with a balcony and merch area on the 3rd. bars on both levels, of course. what was in those bars was none other than my hometown brew, Point Pale Ale. i think i started to levitate in joy upon my first sip. not that i can't get Point in Madison, it was just a shocking surprise. anyway, the music...
Indian was first up and the band i was most excited to see. hailing from Chicago i expected shit to get rowdy, but that was not the case. either the crowd has seen Indian a few times and are already over them since they signed to Relapse, or they just don't get it. i didn't understand how i could be the one rocking out the hardest to another man's hometown doom outfit, but w/e. the dudes delivered the goods and played some of my favorite tracks from their latest lp "Guiltless". i mean no disrespect to Yob or Dark Castle, but Indian was the highlight of my night.
Dark Castle was a complete mystery to me and all i could really expect was extreme volume. what appeared from behind a wall of smoke was a 2-piece group headed by a female guitarist/growler. it took me a few songs to really get into it, but they laid down the grooves thick and i'm always impressed by female metal vocalists who scream better than guys. it's also worth noting that the drummer was pounding a pretty minimal kit, and i love how drummers not just get by, but explode on them.
Yob took full advantage of the building frenzy in the air and rocked right the fuck out. i ascended to the balcony for the final act and was transfixed at times. equal parts doom avalanche and hypnotic groove, Yob were simply outstanding, even with a fill in drummer. they closed with the title track of "The Great Cessation", a personal favorite and excellent way to end one of the most deafening shows i've ever been to.
all in all, a great time. worth every minute of the drive and lack of sleep. plus Madison is pretty nice at 4.30AM. give these bands a try if you like punishing doom and get out to their gigs if they roll your way.
my trip down to Chi-town couldn't have gone smoother, despite a few construction hiccups. renting a car with Illinois plates pretty much entitled me to speed like a crazy Illinois person, which i thoroughly enjoyed. The Subterranean is in the Wicker Park hood of Chicago and despite all the hipster connotations that come with that, i came away with a positive feel from the area. the venue itself was one i would love to return to. the actual show room was on the 2nd floor with a balcony and merch area on the 3rd. bars on both levels, of course. what was in those bars was none other than my hometown brew, Point Pale Ale. i think i started to levitate in joy upon my first sip. not that i can't get Point in Madison, it was just a shocking surprise. anyway, the music...
Indian was first up and the band i was most excited to see. hailing from Chicago i expected shit to get rowdy, but that was not the case. either the crowd has seen Indian a few times and are already over them since they signed to Relapse, or they just don't get it. i didn't understand how i could be the one rocking out the hardest to another man's hometown doom outfit, but w/e. the dudes delivered the goods and played some of my favorite tracks from their latest lp "Guiltless". i mean no disrespect to Yob or Dark Castle, but Indian was the highlight of my night.
Dark Castle was a complete mystery to me and all i could really expect was extreme volume. what appeared from behind a wall of smoke was a 2-piece group headed by a female guitarist/growler. it took me a few songs to really get into it, but they laid down the grooves thick and i'm always impressed by female metal vocalists who scream better than guys. it's also worth noting that the drummer was pounding a pretty minimal kit, and i love how drummers not just get by, but explode on them.
Yob took full advantage of the building frenzy in the air and rocked right the fuck out. i ascended to the balcony for the final act and was transfixed at times. equal parts doom avalanche and hypnotic groove, Yob were simply outstanding, even with a fill in drummer. they closed with the title track of "The Great Cessation", a personal favorite and excellent way to end one of the most deafening shows i've ever been to.
all in all, a great time. worth every minute of the drive and lack of sleep. plus Madison is pretty nice at 4.30AM. give these bands a try if you like punishing doom and get out to their gigs if they roll your way.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
sludge shall flow forth
i am going to Chicago tomorrow. i can hardly wait. normally i avoid the state of Illinois if i can at all help it (sorry extended family), but there happens to be a portal to the sludge dimension i cannot afford to miss.
Yob, Indian, and Dark Castle will be the gatekeepers leading me into the tar-filled abyss. i bought Yob's 'The great Cessation' about 4-5 months ago and am still blown away by it every time it spins. i've been high on Indian ever since my good pal Jarad introduced me to them a couple years ago. they are so crunchy they deserve their own breakfast cereal. for real. Dark Castle i don't know much of anything about, but if they're on this bill they must be the real deal. plus, Crustcake has blogged them up, and those dudes know what the fuck they're talking about.
a show like this is deserving of a spliff the size of my forearm, but i'm a responsible car renting adult now. or posing as one. so with my ear plugs packed i bode you farewell. if the doom doesn't completely swallow my earthly body, perhaps i will compose a review of the show.
Yob, Indian, and Dark Castle will be the gatekeepers leading me into the tar-filled abyss. i bought Yob's 'The great Cessation' about 4-5 months ago and am still blown away by it every time it spins. i've been high on Indian ever since my good pal Jarad introduced me to them a couple years ago. they are so crunchy they deserve their own breakfast cereal. for real. Dark Castle i don't know much of anything about, but if they're on this bill they must be the real deal. plus, Crustcake has blogged them up, and those dudes know what the fuck they're talking about.
a show like this is deserving of a spliff the size of my forearm, but i'm a responsible car renting adult now. or posing as one. so with my ear plugs packed i bode you farewell. if the doom doesn't completely swallow my earthly body, perhaps i will compose a review of the show.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
how i love to listen to dfa 1979 and.....
if the first word that came to your mind was 'fuck', well, i hate to disappoint you but this isn't THAT blog (though it might not be far off in the works). i won't argue that skin on skin contact and dfa 1979 don't make a great pair; that'd just be silly. no, the purpose of this ramble is to pay tribute to one of my favorite bands to listen to and...cook!
let's rewind some years ago when dfa 1979 burst into my world. somewhere in the early college years of '04-'05 i witnessed the duo's performance of 'Romantic Rights' on the Conan O'Brien program and my interest took off from there. i even remember rocking out VERY hard and rolling on the ground at a party while blasting "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine". i don't think many friends claimed to know me that night. i spent the next few years with those grooves on my ipod and they guided me through various situations including jogs, homework, party time, sexy time, and just about every other time i could have had.
it wasn't until recently, as in the past 8 months, that i discovered how much fun cooking was with that 'holy shit' bass tone. i've been cooking for part-time work for a better part of the past decade, but only in a couple cases have i been able to exhibit free will with my musical choices. i've had to deal with no control, total control, and teeth grinding compromise, but let me tell you this: if i can listen to dfa 1979 while cooking, can't no dinner rush fuck with me. i find myself in a position now where i have 1 night of 'evan' music in the kicthen because i'm the only one closing. but you'd better believe i cook with a beat in my step and a swing in my hip. though i do wish i could blast some brutality every now and again, i've found a comfort zone thanks to those pink colored elephant dudes.
in honor of cooking and music i've decided to compile some of my other favorite musical motivations whilst in the kitchen over the years.
enjoy:
http://viciousneutral.net/post/423875239/classic-music-moment-dfa-1979-on-conan-o-briens-late
let's rewind some years ago when dfa 1979 burst into my world. somewhere in the early college years of '04-'05 i witnessed the duo's performance of 'Romantic Rights' on the Conan O'Brien program and my interest took off from there. i even remember rocking out VERY hard and rolling on the ground at a party while blasting "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine". i don't think many friends claimed to know me that night. i spent the next few years with those grooves on my ipod and they guided me through various situations including jogs, homework, party time, sexy time, and just about every other time i could have had.
it wasn't until recently, as in the past 8 months, that i discovered how much fun cooking was with that 'holy shit' bass tone. i've been cooking for part-time work for a better part of the past decade, but only in a couple cases have i been able to exhibit free will with my musical choices. i've had to deal with no control, total control, and teeth grinding compromise, but let me tell you this: if i can listen to dfa 1979 while cooking, can't no dinner rush fuck with me. i find myself in a position now where i have 1 night of 'evan' music in the kicthen because i'm the only one closing. but you'd better believe i cook with a beat in my step and a swing in my hip. though i do wish i could blast some brutality every now and again, i've found a comfort zone thanks to those pink colored elephant dudes.
in honor of cooking and music i've decided to compile some of my other favorite musical motivations whilst in the kitchen over the years.
- few instances beat the owner of the joint walking in to me flying around the kitchen listening to Gaza. i think i left that boss confused, frightened, and off balance, though he was able to recognize the same band a few weeks later. needless to say i came away pretty impressed.
- same boss, new tunes. i was playing Psyopus while working through a lunch rush. he happened to stop in to see if i needed a hand. a welcome gesture, for sure. his 6-9 year old son came wandering in and he immediately showed him the door before the tech-death nightmare could inflict serious damage. chuckles were had.
- if i was sweeping the floors when Led Zeppelin came on the radio, you'd better have kept your head on a swivel. the broom would magically be transformed into a guitar and i would mimic Jimmy Page to the best of my youthful ability. He's seriously one of my favorite guitar players of all time and i loved to show it.
- a radio station we used to listen to in a pizza joint would often do 'triple shots' of some legendary bands, 1 of them was Metallica. a coworker and i would have a weekly debate over the best 'triple shot' and if someone had butted in with anything older than "...And Justice for All" material, there were some serious threats thrown about. Also, the debate over being able to listen to only AC/DC or Metallica. serious stuff, i know.
- when 9 o'clock rolled around in a certain kitchen, Pantera came on. it was that simple. you did not want to get in my way while i was cleaning the deep fryers if 'By Demons be Driven' was playing. it was a true safety hazard.
- i used to make a weekly project of portioning coleslaw while listening to David Cross sketches. i'm just lucky i never had to explain some of the terribly funny things he shouts at points in his stand up. i'm also lucky coleslaw didn't involve sharp tools otherwise i might not have 10 fingers.
enjoy:
http://viciousneutral.net/post/423875239/classic-music-moment-dfa-1979-on-conan-o-briens-late
Sunday, January 9, 2011
i'm gonna do so much (bullshit) this year
i'm gonna scream my lungs out in rants and rambles and get bottles thrown at me
i'm gonna make an insane amount of cash of buy everything i don't need
i'm gonna unlock so many weapons and accomplishments in my video games
imma continue to contradict myself
i'm gonna take a picture
i might go back to school and teach them a thing or two
i'm gonna dance in the streets while it's raining
i'm gonna be active and move in sometimes athletic manners
i'm gonna talk to new people and remember their names
i'm gonna find even tighter jeans
i'm gonna roam the wastelands and fashion some yao guai slippers
i'm going to care more about sports than my own well being
i'm gonna get some new teef
i'm gonna get more tattoos and commit to long sleeves at work
i'm gonna get so much sex this year
i'm gonna let myself feel feelings
i'm gonna get 10th prestige and a nuke
i'm gonna talk to you and you'll remember why you don't associate with me outside of fbook
i'm gonna wear my Clay Matthews jersey out of season and tackle random people
imma visit SP and not black out
i'm going to do something meaningful
i'm going to stop making a mess
i'm going to make an effort
i'm probably just gonna continue to be an asshole, but less of one to you
i'm gonna wear more of my clothes or get rid of them
i'm gonna find something to be happy about and ruin it
i'm gonna work on my zombie survival skills
i'm gonna vote with my dollars
i'm gonna prognosticate and procrastinate and prove to myself that there isn't much to get excited about. nothing will ever be as good as it seems because i'm too good at lying to myself. i'm gonna exercise my american right to complain about the comforts of life and cry for someone else to make it better. i'm gonna write a lot of trivial crap this year. cheers.
i'm gonna make an insane amount of cash of buy everything i don't need
i'm gonna unlock so many weapons and accomplishments in my video games
imma continue to contradict myself
i'm gonna take a picture
i might go back to school and teach them a thing or two
i'm gonna dance in the streets while it's raining
i'm gonna be active and move in sometimes athletic manners
i'm gonna talk to new people and remember their names
i'm gonna find even tighter jeans
i'm gonna roam the wastelands and fashion some yao guai slippers
i'm going to care more about sports than my own well being
i'm gonna get some new teef
i'm gonna get more tattoos and commit to long sleeves at work
i'm gonna get so much sex this year
i'm gonna let myself feel feelings
i'm gonna get 10th prestige and a nuke
i'm gonna talk to you and you'll remember why you don't associate with me outside of fbook
i'm gonna wear my Clay Matthews jersey out of season and tackle random people
imma visit SP and not black out
i'm going to do something meaningful
i'm going to stop making a mess
i'm going to make an effort
i'm probably just gonna continue to be an asshole, but less of one to you
i'm gonna wear more of my clothes or get rid of them
i'm gonna find something to be happy about and ruin it
i'm gonna work on my zombie survival skills
i'm gonna vote with my dollars
i'm gonna prognosticate and procrastinate and prove to myself that there isn't much to get excited about. nothing will ever be as good as it seems because i'm too good at lying to myself. i'm gonna exercise my american right to complain about the comforts of life and cry for someone else to make it better. i'm gonna write a lot of trivial crap this year. cheers.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
divots in wax
somehow i always have money to afford new music. that may be the one steady economical trend that has existed over the past decade+ of my life. i have a formidable collection of Radio Kaos receipts to confirm that, as well as shine a light on my maturation in music. i have physical evidence of everything from coal chamber to slayer to elliott smith to eyedea and abilities (and then usually back to slayer). i also still have an odd practice of smelling new cd's when i open them. for some reason a familiar smell takes me back to the joy and stress of buying new music to hide from my parents. some cd's have THAT smell, others don't. even though i was older and didn't have to hide music anymore, when i bought Agoraphobic Nosebleed's "Frozen Corpse Stuffed with Dope" it had that smell. most likely because it's one of the sickest pieces of musical terrorism ever.
though i'm now over a hundred miles away from my beloved Radio Kaos, it's still hard NOT to make weekly trips to what is easily one of my favorite places in Madison, Ear Wax Records. i remember blood rushing to both my heart and groin when i first walked in some years ago, and nearly every trip to Madison involved a stop inside the store. i think Amoeba in LA has a pretty awesome metal section and all, but Ear Wax is top notch because it IS metal. so i do have to go elsewhere to get my indie fix, but i can live with that. happily.
since i've moved to Madison i think i've made 5 trips to Ear Wax, but walked away with only 2 cds. the rest of my purchases have been strictly vinyl, as it has become my preferred format lately. in fact my last 3 visits have been exclusively vinyl, and the online order i placed this afternoon was 3 more LP's. yes, i am totally taking part in the hip reemergence of vinyl. owning a cd isn't what it used to be. ever since i bought a computer, all cds have gone straight into digital form for my ipod and some are rarely played again. you can probably see where one might cut out a step in that process.
now it started out that i would only get really sludgy stoner stuff on vinyl, but i've been expanding on that ever since. im at the point to where i am now buying albums on vinyl that i already own on cd. that's not to say i have a huge vinyl collection because i certainly do not, but i have no qualms about repurchasing music that i like on a different format. i just bought 2 Daughters LP's that i already own, and i plan on buying Gaza's latest once the mighty slab of hardcore is finally delivered on wax. i certainly don't go out of my way to buy stuff i already have, but albums i really like and usually listen to all the way through are strong candidates.
artwork is another consideration that cannot be overlooked. there are some awesome possibilities that the gatefold holds that cd's just can't deliver, the most basic being size. take any album cover you like, now imagine it 6 times bigger. yeah.
to make a final point, buying vinyl is just more satisfying. maybe because it is bigger i feel i'm walking away with something with more meaning attached to it. in the end it's personal preference, and i'm not saying any format is better than the other. what i am saying is that i've found a new way to have fun collecting music.
though i'm now over a hundred miles away from my beloved Radio Kaos, it's still hard NOT to make weekly trips to what is easily one of my favorite places in Madison, Ear Wax Records. i remember blood rushing to both my heart and groin when i first walked in some years ago, and nearly every trip to Madison involved a stop inside the store. i think Amoeba in LA has a pretty awesome metal section and all, but Ear Wax is top notch because it IS metal. so i do have to go elsewhere to get my indie fix, but i can live with that. happily.
since i've moved to Madison i think i've made 5 trips to Ear Wax, but walked away with only 2 cds. the rest of my purchases have been strictly vinyl, as it has become my preferred format lately. in fact my last 3 visits have been exclusively vinyl, and the online order i placed this afternoon was 3 more LP's. yes, i am totally taking part in the hip reemergence of vinyl. owning a cd isn't what it used to be. ever since i bought a computer, all cds have gone straight into digital form for my ipod and some are rarely played again. you can probably see where one might cut out a step in that process.
now it started out that i would only get really sludgy stoner stuff on vinyl, but i've been expanding on that ever since. im at the point to where i am now buying albums on vinyl that i already own on cd. that's not to say i have a huge vinyl collection because i certainly do not, but i have no qualms about repurchasing music that i like on a different format. i just bought 2 Daughters LP's that i already own, and i plan on buying Gaza's latest once the mighty slab of hardcore is finally delivered on wax. i certainly don't go out of my way to buy stuff i already have, but albums i really like and usually listen to all the way through are strong candidates.
artwork is another consideration that cannot be overlooked. there are some awesome possibilities that the gatefold holds that cd's just can't deliver, the most basic being size. take any album cover you like, now imagine it 6 times bigger. yeah.
to make a final point, buying vinyl is just more satisfying. maybe because it is bigger i feel i'm walking away with something with more meaning attached to it. in the end it's personal preference, and i'm not saying any format is better than the other. what i am saying is that i've found a new way to have fun collecting music.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
it's a capital kind of strain
this thing still exists? i thought it would have vanished from the digital realm due to my inactivity some time ago, but it remains. and perhaps more importantly, i remember the password to access it.
much has changed in the near year since my last post. i have finally uprooted myself from my hometown of Stevens Point and been transplanted in Madison. 2010 started off quite rocky, but the year has pulled a severe 180 and positive growth has been reported in each quarter. i am set to end 2010 living the dream i have had for far too long. perhaps living alone in an efficiency apartment wasn't a specific part of that dream, but alas, i'm here. dreaming.
these last 6 months have almost gone by in light speed. i doubt i could recall all the good times had if i tried. and no, not because i was blacked out all the time. though i had my moments. it was a special time and place to be, at least for me. the people i've been fortunate enough to enjoy that time with probably don't know how much i appreciate them. and really, trying to explain it would be so awkward that it would border on insincerity. but as a general shout out into the binary coded world, i want to thank everyone who has helped me live in 2010. i hope you've enjoyed my company as much as i have yours. and believe me i miss it.
much has changed in the near year since my last post. i have finally uprooted myself from my hometown of Stevens Point and been transplanted in Madison. 2010 started off quite rocky, but the year has pulled a severe 180 and positive growth has been reported in each quarter. i am set to end 2010 living the dream i have had for far too long. perhaps living alone in an efficiency apartment wasn't a specific part of that dream, but alas, i'm here. dreaming.
these last 6 months have almost gone by in light speed. i doubt i could recall all the good times had if i tried. and no, not because i was blacked out all the time. though i had my moments. it was a special time and place to be, at least for me. the people i've been fortunate enough to enjoy that time with probably don't know how much i appreciate them. and really, trying to explain it would be so awkward that it would border on insincerity. but as a general shout out into the binary coded world, i want to thank everyone who has helped me live in 2010. i hope you've enjoyed my company as much as i have yours. and believe me i miss it.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
i smell. i have a mustache. i listen to metal.
tuesday nights have meant quite a bit to me over the past 3+ years as i've been djing a noise/hardcore/metal show on 90FM WWSP. lately, as ive been trying my best to stay away from over consumption of alcohol and mindless exhaustion of my paychecks, tuesday nights have become more important and entertaining than friday nights. im losing the desire to surround myself with drunken nonsense, though i still have my moments.
though music has been of utmost importance to me for many years, im finding more solace in it lately as i try to stay focused on finally leaving my hometown. while i still have my nostalgic moments and memories attached to certain albums and songs, they are serving more and more as motivation rather than artifacts to keep me content with my current situation. i certainly dont look forward to the last tuesday night i will have in the air chair, but i am working on making it happen sooner rather than later.
i've been slowly and sluggishly making trips into creative endeavors i haven't made in quite some time to keep me occupied. i'm drawing with colored pencils in a journal fashion. an animated entry of whatever's on my mind every so often. i figure i don't write in my journal enough so i thought drawing on a semi regular basis may stimulate some new ideas. im still messing around with my drum machine and in garage band. i am lazily compiling lyrics for a maximum carnage themed project that may take a lifetime to complete given my sloth like tendencies. and to make matters more complex i've decided to dig up my father's old guitar and see if it still works with a friends amp. if it does, who knows what sort of improv noise is coming. if not, oh well, it was worth a shot.
of course all of this is dependent on how much time i spend with my ps3. but one thing is certain: i've been really into pantera lately.
though music has been of utmost importance to me for many years, im finding more solace in it lately as i try to stay focused on finally leaving my hometown. while i still have my nostalgic moments and memories attached to certain albums and songs, they are serving more and more as motivation rather than artifacts to keep me content with my current situation. i certainly dont look forward to the last tuesday night i will have in the air chair, but i am working on making it happen sooner rather than later.
i've been slowly and sluggishly making trips into creative endeavors i haven't made in quite some time to keep me occupied. i'm drawing with colored pencils in a journal fashion. an animated entry of whatever's on my mind every so often. i figure i don't write in my journal enough so i thought drawing on a semi regular basis may stimulate some new ideas. im still messing around with my drum machine and in garage band. i am lazily compiling lyrics for a maximum carnage themed project that may take a lifetime to complete given my sloth like tendencies. and to make matters more complex i've decided to dig up my father's old guitar and see if it still works with a friends amp. if it does, who knows what sort of improv noise is coming. if not, oh well, it was worth a shot.
of course all of this is dependent on how much time i spend with my ps3. but one thing is certain: i've been really into pantera lately.
Friday, March 6, 2009
march moustache
march has rolled around all too quickly, but with London clearing up and allowing some sunshine through for a change im not complaining. i even decided to give my tight jeans a rest and wear shorts today to appease the sun. as for the moustache im now sporting, well i have no explanation other than looking creepy is a fun hobby i exercise every now and again. onto London then....
i left off with premonitions of cannibal corpse and karaoke, both of which rocked with great vigor. i am well on my way to being recognized as a bar star for my stunning renditions of Queen songs. i did take a break this week however, as i came down with cold like symptoms. im over the worst thanks to rest, pills, and vitamin c (thanks Kirsten).
Over the past few weeks i experienced the wonders of the London Eye, eaten some most righteous kebabs, wandered Hyde Park, and got my ears cleaned out by the noise rock group Young Widows. In a most decadent display of debauchery i visited the HMV Forum this past sunday for the Church. this holy ceremony only takes place from 12-4pm on sundays, and was one of the wildest experiences of my life. i dare not disclose details, but i do believe that the extreme circumstances led to my feeling ill.
work has been work and i'll leave that at that.
tomorrow ill be paying a visit to Bath, then on to take a look around inside St. Paul's Cathedral on sunday. loads of pictures will follow.
in disappointing news, i did not act fast enough to secure tickets to see Animal Collective, as they are now sold out. another time and another place i suppose.
the Packers are laying low yet again in free agency, but should be able to add some real talent through the draft, so worrying wont start for a while yet. were I in Ted Thompson's place i wouldnt have let Chris Canty sign with the Giants. but now that he has, make a run for Igor Olshansky!!! in addition, dont let Mark Tauscher walk via free agency! i havent been able to predict draft strategies after i made the right call with AJ Hawk, but i dont think the Packers can let BJ Raji or Brian Cushing fall past the no. 9 spot. theres my two pence.
and of course, the boys in red, the Badgers, are poised to make another March Madness bid and show that defense is important come tourney time!
i left off with premonitions of cannibal corpse and karaoke, both of which rocked with great vigor. i am well on my way to being recognized as a bar star for my stunning renditions of Queen songs. i did take a break this week however, as i came down with cold like symptoms. im over the worst thanks to rest, pills, and vitamin c (thanks Kirsten).
Over the past few weeks i experienced the wonders of the London Eye, eaten some most righteous kebabs, wandered Hyde Park, and got my ears cleaned out by the noise rock group Young Widows. In a most decadent display of debauchery i visited the HMV Forum this past sunday for the Church. this holy ceremony only takes place from 12-4pm on sundays, and was one of the wildest experiences of my life. i dare not disclose details, but i do believe that the extreme circumstances led to my feeling ill.
work has been work and i'll leave that at that.
tomorrow ill be paying a visit to Bath, then on to take a look around inside St. Paul's Cathedral on sunday. loads of pictures will follow.
in disappointing news, i did not act fast enough to secure tickets to see Animal Collective, as they are now sold out. another time and another place i suppose.
the Packers are laying low yet again in free agency, but should be able to add some real talent through the draft, so worrying wont start for a while yet. were I in Ted Thompson's place i wouldnt have let Chris Canty sign with the Giants. but now that he has, make a run for Igor Olshansky!!! in addition, dont let Mark Tauscher walk via free agency! i havent been able to predict draft strategies after i made the right call with AJ Hawk, but i dont think the Packers can let BJ Raji or Brian Cushing fall past the no. 9 spot. theres my two pence.
and of course, the boys in red, the Badgers, are poised to make another March Madness bid and show that defense is important come tourney time!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
amsterdam, bruges, live music
im a little closer to saying ive seen enough after this past weekend. Amsterdam was not a big surprise regarding what to do, but more so on the historical side. sure the lure of sex and drugs was enticing and marks an historical date on my timeline, but the city has so much to tell in its architecture, canals, and art, among other things. i managed to get a glimpse of both worlds, as my trip included a canal tour, a tour of the heineken brewery, an art museum, cheese, clogs, and windmills. the other side included a walking tour of the red light district, the most bizaare sex shops ive ever seen, coffee shops, and Oxford Collapse playing a gig at the hotel i was booked in. i decided to leave my camera in the room as i a) didnt want to be the annoying american taking pictures of a night on the town and b) would rather not chance a facebook scandal. the only pictures i took while actually in amsterdam were of the open air courtyard at the hotel. it was a calming place when i wanted to escape people and just listen to tunes.
my camera got plenty of action in Bruges though, as the parts of the city i wandered in were absolutely beautiful. i was only allowed about 3 hours in the city, but that was enough time to grab some gummi crocodiles from a confectionary shop, eat a lamb gyro, enjoy a cool duvel, and chillax with a voluptuous mermaid. time well spent. i hope i can do it all again before Amsterdam is shut down in the coming years.
in other news ive been fortunate enough to get out and see some live music. on the 17th i strolled over to soho to see Women. the venue was Madame JoJo's and it was underground, small, and quite intimate. Women played a good set, with multiple songs turning to white noise for a climax. tonight ill be paying the Forum a visit to see long running death masters Cannibal Corpse. i havent seen them for close to 5 years, so im pretty pumped. and of course after the gig ill be returning to ISH bar to tackle some Queen in karaoke.
my camera got plenty of action in Bruges though, as the parts of the city i wandered in were absolutely beautiful. i was only allowed about 3 hours in the city, but that was enough time to grab some gummi crocodiles from a confectionary shop, eat a lamb gyro, enjoy a cool duvel, and chillax with a voluptuous mermaid. time well spent. i hope i can do it all again before Amsterdam is shut down in the coming years.
in other news ive been fortunate enough to get out and see some live music. on the 17th i strolled over to soho to see Women. the venue was Madame JoJo's and it was underground, small, and quite intimate. Women played a good set, with multiple songs turning to white noise for a climax. tonight ill be paying the Forum a visit to see long running death masters Cannibal Corpse. i havent seen them for close to 5 years, so im pretty pumped. and of course after the gig ill be returning to ISH bar to tackle some Queen in karaoke.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
let there be rock
just finished my pseudo-sushi lunch and i have some time to get a blog post in during my break. today is great so far. i spilled indie tracks all over the airwaves this morning, the sun is actually shining today, and i got the cool kids in my ears. word.
last week i went down to Proud Camden to cover "AC/DC: Let There Be Rock" for Invincible. i highly advise you to check out the Proud website, www.proud.co.uk. this was the premier night for a new exhibit of rare and unseen photos of AC/DC from the 70's. they were all courtesy of Phillip Morris and the collection was quite amazing. I arrived on the guest list and helped myself to a bunch of free beer while i mixed and mingled with the crowd. i took a bunch of pictures and wrote up a review for Invincible. after 3 hours of chatting, interviewing, drinking, and taking pics the tribute band Dirty DC took the stage. im not much for tribute bands, but they pulled it off. i stayed for 3 songs then booked it. the gallery up at Proud Camden is everything from sweaty live debauchery to smoky candid studio shots. really intimate stuff that helped me realize a bit more respect for early AC/DC. select pics are up in facebook.
in other news, im booked for Amsterdam and Bruges this coming weekend, and lots of live music in the near future including: Viatrophy, Young Widows, Fleet Foxes, Cannibal Corpse, The Cure, and Crystal Castles.
last week i went down to Proud Camden to cover "AC/DC: Let There Be Rock" for Invincible. i highly advise you to check out the Proud website, www.proud.co.uk. this was the premier night for a new exhibit of rare and unseen photos of AC/DC from the 70's. they were all courtesy of Phillip Morris and the collection was quite amazing. I arrived on the guest list and helped myself to a bunch of free beer while i mixed and mingled with the crowd. i took a bunch of pictures and wrote up a review for Invincible. after 3 hours of chatting, interviewing, drinking, and taking pics the tribute band Dirty DC took the stage. im not much for tribute bands, but they pulled it off. i stayed for 3 songs then booked it. the gallery up at Proud Camden is everything from sweaty live debauchery to smoky candid studio shots. really intimate stuff that helped me realize a bit more respect for early AC/DC. select pics are up in facebook.
in other news, im booked for Amsterdam and Bruges this coming weekend, and lots of live music in the near future including: Viatrophy, Young Widows, Fleet Foxes, Cannibal Corpse, The Cure, and Crystal Castles.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
i am evan's superbowl blog post
as promised i will retell my superbowl night and my opinion on the outcome. the night began at 7pm with a beer pong tournament at the ISH bar. i teamed up with my roommate Nick and we volunteered to play in the first game of the 8 team tournament. what was unfortunate about this is that the table was 3 tables put in a row, making the completed table a good 3-4 feet longer than a standard pong table. the cups we had to use were smaller than your standard 10-12 oz cups as well. nothing about this says reguation. but thats what we had to work with. the game ended up taking 35 minutes due to the near impossibility of hitting a shot. Nick and i ended up losing by 2 cups and proceeded to walk away with bruised WI reps. fittingly, after our game the consensus was to remove the shortest table to make the game more manageable. not expecting to lose that early, i found myself with 3 hours until kickoff and no desire to watch that much pregame analysis. the group of WI students/interns played a few rounds of flip cup with our left over pong cups, but one can only play it so much. i made a dash for my room to get some food and less expensive drinks, returning in time to miss a good chunk of the national anthem and see the opening kickoff.
i'll say right away that im not a fan of either arizona or pittsburg. and i dont revert to an NFC team just because the packers play in that conference. i was pulling for the steelers for the fact that they have an outstanding defense, and i greatly appreciate any good defense.
watching the defensive player of the year, James Harrison, return a pick for 100 yards was a dream come true just watching. i honestly thought after that the cardinals were done. that was a tough blow to take right before halftime, but credit their desire and passion to play for not bowing out. it's hard not to love a reciever like Larry Fitsgerald. he doesnt boast or talk trash or make everything about himself. he's a true team player, and is fun to watch. im sure he'll get a ring at some point in his career. by the time the fourth quarter rollled around it was 2.45am in london. i was crashing pretty hard, even nodding off momentarily. but thankfully i was awake to watch the magnificent final drive by big Ben and the steelers. there's nothing more that can be said about Santonio Holmes' td catch that hasnt been said already so ill leave it there. this was a fun game to watch, debatable as the best ever, but needless to say at 3.30am when the final whistle blew i was ready to get to bed. and thankfully due to the massive amount of snow that was coming down, i got to sleep in the next morning.
cheers
i'll say right away that im not a fan of either arizona or pittsburg. and i dont revert to an NFC team just because the packers play in that conference. i was pulling for the steelers for the fact that they have an outstanding defense, and i greatly appreciate any good defense.
watching the defensive player of the year, James Harrison, return a pick for 100 yards was a dream come true just watching. i honestly thought after that the cardinals were done. that was a tough blow to take right before halftime, but credit their desire and passion to play for not bowing out. it's hard not to love a reciever like Larry Fitsgerald. he doesnt boast or talk trash or make everything about himself. he's a true team player, and is fun to watch. im sure he'll get a ring at some point in his career. by the time the fourth quarter rollled around it was 2.45am in london. i was crashing pretty hard, even nodding off momentarily. but thankfully i was awake to watch the magnificent final drive by big Ben and the steelers. there's nothing more that can be said about Santonio Holmes' td catch that hasnt been said already so ill leave it there. this was a fun game to watch, debatable as the best ever, but needless to say at 3.30am when the final whistle blew i was ready to get to bed. and thankfully due to the massive amount of snow that was coming down, i got to sleep in the next morning.
cheers
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
the london experience
wow it has been an interesting and fun time so far. the recent snow fall crippled London on monday, and it was hell getting around. reports estimate that the country lost 1.7 billion pounds due to closings all over. most of the students/interns enjoyed a snow day and made snowmen. i made an afternoon trek and then called it quits to spend the rest of my day relaxing and writing in my journals. this city is not designed to handle snow at all. honestly the snow fall was pretty weak compared to what wisconsin sees on a regular basis, but then again 8 million people in one city compared to 5.6 million in WI does make a difference. enough about weather though.
i did a little more sight seeing last week at the Tower Bridge. pictures are up on facebook. the tour of the bridge was very modest with my international student id and i was able to see the most advanced warship in the world docked on the River Thames. it's pretty badass and if it's still around i might go take a tour of the inside this coming weekend.
in other notable news, i found my flash drive that i thought i had lost, so cheers to that. i bought a new pair of jeans after discovering a hole in my favorite pair. also found an excellent organic cafe to eat at in camden (another small reason camden rules).
this post is getting ever so long so ill wrap it up with tonight's plan of attack:
tonight im covering the unveiling of "AC/DC: Let there be rock" which is a new exhibit at Proud Camden. you can check out the website here: www.proud.co.uk ill be mingling and taking pictures for Invincible and possibly doing a write up for the next issue of the magazine. while not a huge AC/DC fan, im still stoked to be able to attend a premier event for free. makes me feel fuzzy inside. thats all for now. ill check back in soon with my belated superbowl analysis and an overview of tonight's experience.
cheers!
i did a little more sight seeing last week at the Tower Bridge. pictures are up on facebook. the tour of the bridge was very modest with my international student id and i was able to see the most advanced warship in the world docked on the River Thames. it's pretty badass and if it's still around i might go take a tour of the inside this coming weekend.
in other notable news, i found my flash drive that i thought i had lost, so cheers to that. i bought a new pair of jeans after discovering a hole in my favorite pair. also found an excellent organic cafe to eat at in camden (another small reason camden rules).
this post is getting ever so long so ill wrap it up with tonight's plan of attack:
tonight im covering the unveiling of "AC/DC: Let there be rock" which is a new exhibit at Proud Camden. you can check out the website here: www.proud.co.uk ill be mingling and taking pictures for Invincible and possibly doing a write up for the next issue of the magazine. while not a huge AC/DC fan, im still stoked to be able to attend a premier event for free. makes me feel fuzzy inside. thats all for now. ill check back in soon with my belated superbowl analysis and an overview of tonight's experience.
cheers!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
having a punkgasm on the tube
a couple days in to my internship and i've gotta say it's very exciting and fun. oddly enough, im enjoying the morning and evening commute on the tube, rail, and bus. diving into the daily grind in a foreign country just has an exhilarating feel. plus listening to the mathy grooves of don caballero helps. i can see how London would depress and wear on it's people but by the time i get remotely close to that i'll be back in the states.
i had an interesting night on tuesday sharing stories and discussing cultural differences with some mother sons of London herself. apparently there's nothing a cold pint cant bring together.
im off to watch some real football tonight at the ISH bar. photos are up on facebook if you have it. more to come in the following days.
i had an interesting night on tuesday sharing stories and discussing cultural differences with some mother sons of London herself. apparently there's nothing a cold pint cant bring together.
im off to watch some real football tonight at the ISH bar. photos are up on facebook if you have it. more to come in the following days.
Monday, January 19, 2009
tomorrow the fun begins
well actually i've been having fun since i arrived in London, but tomorrow (tues) i start my internship at Invincible Media. I'm quite excited about it, as I'll be getting some great exposure and experience in my field of study. I think getting accustomed to morning travel will be the most exhilirating part. I'm used to rolling out of bed and walking a few blocks to class or work, but now i have to hit the tube for a couple stops and do some real navigating. guess im ready to do some growing up finally. and growing out as well as i already love this city. I've never really liked big cities though i havent been in many, but London feels great. somehow ive been able to wake up at 7.30am and function. and actually want to function.
earlier tonight i attended an italian dinner at ISH that had a roman twist. the movie gladiator was screened during the pizza and pasta dinner and to top it off there was jousting in an inflatable gladiator arena. delicious food and a fun atmosphere.
tomorrow is also a big day around the world as Mr. Obama takes his seat in the oval office. the press is just as big here in London as in the states and Obama's wax statue debuts in the wax museum tomorrow. even though i didnt vote for him im still happy to see this day finally come. it means a lot of things to a variety of people around the world and im getting a much better sense of that overseas.
tomorrow will be an exciting day all around, so remember where you were and what you were doing. cheers from London!
earlier tonight i attended an italian dinner at ISH that had a roman twist. the movie gladiator was screened during the pizza and pasta dinner and to top it off there was jousting in an inflatable gladiator arena. delicious food and a fun atmosphere.
tomorrow is also a big day around the world as Mr. Obama takes his seat in the oval office. the press is just as big here in London as in the states and Obama's wax statue debuts in the wax museum tomorrow. even though i didnt vote for him im still happy to see this day finally come. it means a lot of things to a variety of people around the world and im getting a much better sense of that overseas.
tomorrow will be an exciting day all around, so remember where you were and what you were doing. cheers from London!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Test
Hi, this is Evan Clucas. This blog will be used to recount my time spent in London and Europe for my final semster at UWSP. I leave tomorrow, January 16, and will return on April 27. I'll attempt to check in with this blog as often as time allows so keep checking it out periodically to see what I've been up to. Or at least what I feel comfortable publishing on the internet....
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