Winning poker tournaments on Christmas Day...

...is a great way to start.

My Dad told me this morning that he wants to celebrate Christmas on January 5th. Its his way of saying he forgot to shop. He's always tried to be a philanthropist.

In related news, I am going to my Mom's now. Two pairs of socks and a Kenny G CD here I come. "He's a great musician, and I know you'd appreciate it!" I do Mom, I really do.

I got the mail yesterday to get my new license, but to my elation I also found another rejection for a credit card, and a nice bill from another medical institute. I am reminded again that I don't have health insurance and should never go to the hospital, and never break a bone.

Did you know freeze-dried coffee has half the caffeine of drip coffee? I started drinking freeze-dried coffee in Australia because it was more convenient. Its nice to know I am not fusing my body with too much of caffeine all day. Maybe I'll calm down one day and use decaf once in a while.

I'm still convinced Karma is on my side from the other night, lets see how things pan out.

They will see us waving...

I am NOT a PC.

So my Desktop computer crashed a few days ago... and it's been my problem to fix for the last few days. If you know me well, you know I'm always fixing something, even if it's not worth it.  

So I had to reinstall Windows XP Home Edition on it. Which I did after I found the right CDs, but not before searching every inch of my room for them. I dusted them off and after like 10 attempts, the status bar just went from 60% to 75% then back to 60%. Too bad MS-DOS doesn't tell you when its rated for finishing a a document so fast it just switches from 60% to 75% and back again huh? So instead of lighting the computer on fire and throwing it out the window, I gave up hope for awhile. I watched some Iron Chef, made some rice and beans, and enjoyed the crazy Moon, Venus, Jupiter setup there was in the sky last night. When I came back the Welcome screen was open with no users entered. I was enthralled.  

So I made a new user, signed in and finally got through to the main Windows XP desktop interface. There was a shitty background and a Recycle Bin and thats it. Oof. Everything I've had since 1998 was on this computer and it was wiped clean because it did an Automatic Update. Thanks Microsoft. Coming through in the clutch. Old papers, pictures, programs, music, and anything else, gone. Needless to say I was pumped.

I pretty much gave up on this computer a long time ago, but I did work for my father on it for awhile because there are better free Web Developers for Windows then Mac (although Dreamweaver trumps them all). When it decided to give up, I also decided to give up on it and give it to my Dad as an early Christmas present. He loves doing nothing with computers, but I don't. Although, he would need internet capabilities on it. All the network drivers were obviously erased and I couldn't connect to the internet, right? I went searching through the files to see if they were hidden or corrupt or anything of use. I looked at the data space left on the hard drive for some reason and it said 20.8 of 55.8 gigabytes were used. I thought to myself 'There is no fucking way that my shit is still on here, but how the fuck does an OS take up 20 gigabytes?' Well I was wrong. After some more searching and uncovering hidden folders, there was my entire User Interface, circa 1998. So I start in on finding my network card which I do find. But since I installed another Windows XP on the computer, it won't read the old files, only the new ones. Cue: Mind blown. I have all the necessary drivers, equipment, and files to run my computer exactly the same as before, but the computer itself won't recognize it because it doesn't think it exists. Microsoft makes money on peoples laziness, and producing seemingly insurmountable problems like this. Too bad I don't have a job and don't have the money to give this problem to someone else to fix this. No more money to you from me, Bill.  

The PC/Windows era is quickly coming to an end. Microsoft will stop making computers and shitty operating systems as soon as people stop buying them. So please, for my (and your future) peace of mind, buy a Mac.

What's on my mind?

http:​/​/​en.​wikip​edia.​org/​wiki/​Quant​um_​super​posit​ion

Readi​ng about​ any part of quant​um mecha​nics is inter​estin​g to me. Half of it doesn​'​t make sense​,​ but the other​ half is mind blowi​ng.​ I think​ I might​ have to re estab​lish my cours​e of studi​es when I go back to schoo​l.​

Rhode​ Islan​d'​s unemp​loyme​nt rate is the highe​st in the US, at 10%. Fuck me. I need a job. I might​ start​ biddi​ng on small​ publi​c contr​acts and just under​sell mysel​f and work super​ long hours​.​ I don'​t mind at all. I shoul​d be worki​ng as hard as my fathe​r and grand​fathe​r did at this point​ in my life.​ I feel kind of asham​ed not havin​g a full time job, and being​ able to take care of mysel​f bette​r,​ and the peopl​e aroun​d me.

Feder​al legis​latur​e is appar​ently​ going​ to be putti​ng a tax on livin​g anima​ls on produ​ction​ farms​.​ Much like how Massa​chuse​tts has a bottl​e and can fee on alcoh​ol,​ 5 cents​ a can or bottl​e,​ there​ will be a nomin​al fee on every​ produ​ction​ anima​l.​ But I'm not sure if this will affec​t my fathe​rs farm or not, since​ we are essen​tiall​y a non-​produ​cing farm (our cows are pets and they just chill​ till they die)​.​ Wheth​er it affec​ts me perso​nally​ or not, its scary​ to think​ about​ the reper​cussi​ons of this.​.​.​

This will be the first​ Thank​sgivi​ng I am not spend​ing on my farm.​ It ultim​ately​ doesn​'​t matte​r to me, I guess​ it's just the nosta​lgia of the past few Thank​sgivi​ng dinne​rs there​ that is getti​ng under​ my skin.​ Its bette​r off this way I suppo​se.​ I don'​t know where​ I'll be for Thank​sgivi​ng this year.​ 'I'm a loner​ dotti​e,​ a rebel​.​'

I am reall​y glad I finis​hed the Sopra​nos.​ It took a while​,​ and waste​d some of my time,​ maybe​ too much.​ Phil got it, but so did Chris​ and Bobby​.​ Sil is in a coma.​ I had alrea​dy seen the last episo​de,​ but didn'​t know the ramif​icati​ons of every​thing​ that was impli​ed and not. Great​ way to end the serie​s even thoug​h it did leave​ me hangi​ng.​ It wasn'​t as rushe​d as The Wire,​ which​ I'm glad about​.​ But this is the probl​em I have with HBO serie​s.​ They have some of the most magni​ficen​t shows​ ever writt​en,​ with the most intri​cate plots​ and chara​cters​,​ but they end up tryin​g to tie every​thing​ up so quick​ly and waste​ time on seemi​ngly unimp​ortan​t issue​s.​ Who cares​ about​ Vito going​ to New Hamps​hire and findi​ng a gay firem​an to live with for two weeks​?​ Nobod​y did, or will.​ I just hope they don'​t rush Entou​rage off the list.​ I hate that I have such big opini​ons on Telev​ision​ alrea​dy,​ after​ not watch​ing any for half a year.​

But I would​ love to see The Great​ Gatsb​y remad​e with Vinni​e Chase​ as Nick Carra​way.​

I have a few books​ to read tomor​row.​ Until​ then its Dean Marti​n and a glass​ of red.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Just one of those weeks.

'That's why I say if everybody went to heaven

Hey-ey-ey, I believe I'd miss the call

But you see if it wasn't for bad luck

Trying to tell you son if it wasn't for bad luck, now now

Oh, oh, I wouldn't have no luck at all'

Over 700 pictures from tour...

Here's the rest...

The Sopranos.

"You eat steak?" - Tony

"...the fuck you talking about?" - Paulie

"If you were in India, you would go to hell for that." - Tony

"I'm not in India, why do I give a fuck?" - Paulie

"Thats what I'm trying to tell ya, none of this shit means a god damn thing" - Tony

Compassionate living.

It's been a couple of months since I've really ridden on any form of MBTA transportation. I went into Boston yesterday for a job interview and rode the redline in and out from Quincy Adams. I took a train out from Park Street at around 4pm. It was packed with people trying to get home. But no one was talking about their day, no one was talking about their weekends. Everyone had earphones in staring begrudgingly at someone else. Everyone was listening to music. Now I do this too, my Ipod is one of my best friends, I take it with me everywhere. But it was mildly upsetting that not two people were conversing with each other. I know its the Redline, but I figure at least two people can talk briefly about the past election, or how shitty their boss is. Bottom line, there is a lot of impersonality there. There is a lot to be said for that, and the lack of compassion you see from people everyday.

Vote or Die? Choose or Lose?

Every four years we get the opportunity to pick the country's leader. Last election, just over 121 million people voted for either John Kerry or George Bush. Not withstanding the 10-12 million votes for Nader, etc... Children make up around a quarter of the total population of the United States, 24.6%. That leaves around 60 million votes unaccounted for. 

Compulsory voting is a voting system that was adopted in 1924 in Australia. It requires a citizen to vote in elections. In primaries before 1924, Australian saw 47% of people reporting to polls and voting. Since 1924, it has hovered between 94% and 96%.

Some think that compulsory voting is wrong, and it takes away from our freedom to choose, our right to to choose. And that's why we have the ability to use the Write-In format. Mickey Mouse gets over 1,000 votes every year for the American Presidency. You don't have to choose one of the two with the most air time on TV and radio. Doesn't it make sense to use your rights and freedoms instead of just talking about them?

Steampunk

                                          Everyone needs to know about Steampunk.

Yea, I am home.

There's a thousand things I want to do, there's a hundred people I want to see. I have a lot to take care of in the next few weeks. Getting a good job is one of them. Let's see how it pans out.

I went to see my friend last night, he was bar-tending and I ended up staying there pretty late as happens when your friends with the tender of bars. Two of his colleagues from another one of his jobs came in, older gentlemen. They all work at a high end bar/restaurant overlooking one of the best coastlines in Newport. My judgement predisposed me to think they were just normal guys in for a drink after catering to every need of the rich and careless of Newport, so I paid them no mind. I got to talking to my friend about a little of my past tours. The topic picked up the interest of the older gentlemen, I could tell. I was relishing in the glory of telling stories about petting baby lions, foreign currencies, and swimming in the Indian Ocean, until one of them asked what my band sounded like.

'It's like a hard rock band, kind of old school metal, ya know?'

'Oh like the Cro-Mags or something?'

I was then told stories of seeing the Cro-Mags in '82 and how the Youth Of Today were no better than Verbal Assault live. Making a quick and sometimes harsh judgement is one of my worst qualities. I often speak without thinking and it paints me as a bad friend and ignorant person. I'm glad not everyone is like that, how else am I supposed to know about the Cro-Mags in '82?

Three days, three flights.

Perth is kind of boring. I drove for awhile today in the rental. I haven't driven on the right side of the road for months now. I will be home in less than a week. Three days, three flights.

While I've been away, one of my cousins died, my father almost had to declare bankruptcy, my brother almost quit his job of six years. As much as the real hasn't been a part of my life for the past couple years, responsibility is looking for me and I guess I'm looking for it.

First, I need to shave and do laundry.

Exclusivity is one of the worst traits a human can have. See you soon.

A few things I will miss about Australia.

Ok, so the Red Sox lost...

...so we decided to commemorate it with a trip to the Eureka Skydeck 88. Its a glass case with fogged glass that extends out of the 88th floor of the building, then clears the fog in a second.








The real pictures from it will be up soon.

I still love the Red Sox.

Ed's housemate Amy made these for us.

Lord of the Fries rules.

Brisbane.

We drove from Melbourne, Australia to Brisbane. 24 hours later here we are. The drive wasn't bad. We stopped in Sydney around midnight to pick up some paperwork for the tour, then this morning in Byron Bay for breakfast and a quick swim in the ocean. Carpathian loves veggie food, and so do I. We swam with Blue Bottle jellyfish. Pretty stupid, according to the natives. We survived though. Its nearly 80 degrees and breezy, absolutely beautiful.

Ceremony is playing the next couple days, it'll be nice to see familiar faces.

Nearly 300 preordered ticket sales, should be a good night. Just a few weeks left till cold New England nights.

Two weeks.

We have two weeks left of our world tour. Its weird to think about it
coming to an end. I looked forward to it for so long and now its just
stamps in a passport. I need to upload some pictures before I lose my
camera.

Australia has been wild. Wild shows, wild animals (spiders suck) and
wild food. Byron Bay is absolutely beautiful. The Gold Coast is sweet
but made me hate the bargoing population of the world even more. We
are back in Melbourne at the Carpathian house for a few days until we
set out on the last few shows. Halo and vegie roasts are a must.

I love the Red Sox. Especially in Australia. The smallest TV we
watched one of the Sox games on was a 40inch plasma. We are waking up
at 7am to watch tommorrow.

I can't make up my mind about how I'm going to spend my time/life when
I actually get home. Its a double edged sword. I wish I had more money
and stamina to keep going. The road is endless and dangerous though, I
need some time off I think.

Four more flights until I'm back in New England.

Middle Earth...

We flew from Japan to Australia to New Zealand a few days ago. I'm
sitting in a backpackers hostel in Wellington, New Zealand right now.
The last few days have been crazy. Here it is.

Leave Japan: 8:30pm
11 hour flight
Arrive Sydney: 7:30am
4 hour layover
Leave Sydney: 11:30
3 hour flight, 2 hour timezone difference.
Arrive Auckland: 5:30pm
We got in just in time to catch the sunset from a great viewpoint,
then played a show that night, then made food and chatted till around
3am. Got up at 6am to drive 10 hours to play two shows tonight. Like I
said, its been crazy. But, we did see some amazing stuff today. New
Zealand is where they filmed some of the Lord of the Rings. Its like
Middle Earth. Some of it doesnt look real. Its absolutely
breathtaking. Along the way we stopped and swam in hot springs from
one of the volcano run offs, that filtered into the main glacial run
off. Imagine 80 degree water, then swimming 20 feet away into 40
degree water. My body hated me.

Two more days here, then the last three and a half weeks in Australia.
I need to charge my Ipod.

Pam Beasley

The Office is coming on again. I won't see it until I get back home. What a babe though...

Wind power.

Had a day off today. Went to a beach, a temple and did a little shopping. Very relaxing. Night of the Living Dead in 3D didn't work, so I am watching more episodes of The Wire.

E-mail me. Nickwreck@gmail.com

Nagoya, Japan

There are about 1,500 dvds in this house, but they found the japanese version of DDR with drums instead. Its crazy.

We're only staying at two flats here which is very weird for a tour. Daikes in Tokyo and this spot in Nagoya.

The shows have been small but amazing. Yousekye is king mosh. We played an all day fest sunday and drove overnight to here, so we're all glad to have a day off tommorrow.

Let me explain our lunch situation today. First experience with no translator, so Alex, Hudon, Costa, Briggs and I head to the Curry House. We all order and now we need to choose our spice level. We should have guessed it was crazy when you needed to prove you've eaten an entire plate of level 5 to get to level 6... But we decided to take the easy route and go with a level 3. I got my meal first. It was hands down the spiciest meal I've ever had. I was sweating two bites into it. Everyone was laughing until they got their plates and had the same happen to them. Try ordering more water in another language when your mouth is literally burning. We're obviously going back tommorrow.

My tattoo is infected. Uhoh.

Its been about a month we've been out. Three continents later, we still have 40 days, another continent and two countries to travel too.

I'll be seeing a kangaroo before I see you.

South Africa in whole, and Japan in part.

So, South Africa was amazing. The people, the shows, the drives, the food, the drinks and the wildlife. Lets do a small list:

In South Africa I:

-ate worms
-got a tattoo
-pet a baby lion
-drank a bottle of alcohol that was surrounded by barbed wire
-swam in the Indian Ocean

There will be some great pictures when I get back. The South African currency is called the rand. 100 Rand is about $12 USD. Everything was pretty cheap, and the money had animals on it. I'm bringing some home with me.

Bloodline LTD was the band we toured with/looked after us, they rule. Check out their new video.

Tokyo has quickly become one of my favorite cities. Everyone is into something. It seems like in the states so many people are just plain and don't have real interests. Whether its jeans or bmx or dogs or cars, people here seem to be much more motivated, its interesting.

Vending machine coffee, do want.

I walked into a Pachinko palor today and immediately lost my mind. Its so loud and bright, just like the rest of Tokyo.

There are a ton people and shops here. Most of them are crazy streetwear stores, it seems like everyone is a shop owner too.

Have Heart flies in tommorrow. We are all stayi ng at Daikes small flat, it should be interesting.

Two weeks, then New Zealand. I'll have more pictures up soon.

South Africa, into Hong Kong

South Africa was one of the best experiences of my life. Internet was scarce so no updates. We left this morning and were now in the Hong Kong airport. I'll do a nice review of ZA when I get time in Japan. Heres a view of Hong Kong at 8am.

Nick

Its kind of a Swiss Alp.

Two more shows on the European tour. I've spent a total of 4 hour on the phone with tmobile to figure out whats going on with my phone, to no avail. Woof.

I've been making mix CD playlists.

You should expect one when I get back. I found out my computer can burn CDs, I'm excited. Guess what songs are going to be on it?

I'll be in Africa in three days, Sean and I have been talking a lot about it. I miss talking to Sean. 

I'm going to live in the UK someday. I'll update better soon. Until then...

'I saw daylights last night and I dreamed about my first wife.
Everybody leaves and I'd expect as much from you.
I saw daylights last night and I dreamed about my whole life.
Everybody leaves, so why, why wouldn't you?'

More?

Four shows in New Zealand added in between Japan and Australia.

Thursday 25th, September
Whammy Bar, Auckland (r18) 9pm
w/ Carpathian, The Chase & Cry Wolf

Friday 26th, September (2 SHOWS)
Zeal, Wellington (AA) (6.30pm)
w/ Antagonist, This City Sunrise
Valve Bar, Wellington (r18) (9pm)
w/ Carpathian, Antagonist, Strangers, Not Quite Right

Saturday 27th, September
Atomic Events Centre, Hastings (AA) 7.30pm
w/ Carpathian, Antagonist, A Black Disaster, Anatomy of a Scene

Sunday 28th, September
Clockwork Studios, Ellerslie, Auckland (AA) 6.30pm
w/ Carpathian, The Burial + Guest

Germany

Europe is Europe. The shows have been awesome.

My phone can send e-mail, but I cant get the internet to work on it. If anyone knows how to configure a tmobile dash for Europe, email me at nickwreck@gmail.com

My phone is going to die now.

I always do this to myself.

'Bad things happen,' you said when I walked you to the porch,
and faced you through the frigid Boston night.
You hugged me as I stood and told me I was a good boy.
'Bad things happen' I whispered back and I said I was doing fine.
I said I was doing fine.

I said I was doing fine.

A backpack, a duffle bag, and a bass guitar.

That's what I'm leaving America with.

I did go out and buy a new duffle bag though, my old one was a little bit too small. The difference between the Large and Xtra-Large was dramatic. I feel like I could fit a few dead bodies in this thing. I got it half off because the girl behind the counter loves musicians. Weird huh?

We fly out of Logan at around 5pm, and get into Chicago O'Hare Airport tomorrow at around 7:30p, and fly the redeye overnight and arrive in Frankfurt at 11:30 the next morning.

I'm ready to be gone for awhile. I'll update as I can.

I guess one more will do.

08/14: Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Area 51 
08/15: Torgau, Germany @ Endless Summer Festival w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/16: Essen, Germany @ Rise Or Die Festival w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/17: Trier, Germany @ Ex-Haus w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/18: Giessen, Germany @ Muk w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/20: Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/22: Orebro, Sweden @ TBA w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/23: Hamein, Germany @ Joch'n'Roll Festival w/ Have Heart 
08/24: Ieper, Belgium @ Ieperfestival w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/25: London, UK @ Underworld w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/26: Stoke On Trent, UK @ Trent Sugarmill w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/27: Leeds, UK @ Rios w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/28: Norwich, UK @ Queen Charlotte w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/29: Karlsruhe, Germany @ Die Stadtmitte w/ Have Heart, Verse 
08/31: Lichtenstein, Germany @ JZ Riot w/ Have Heart, Verse 
09/03: Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa @ Roxy w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd. 
09/04: Boksburg, South Africa @ Black Dahlia w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd. 
09/05: Bloemfontein, South Africa @ Black Dahlia w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd. 
09/06: Durban, South Africa @ Pavillion Skate Park w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd. 
09/07: Kyasands, South Africa @ Tempos Rock Garden w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd. 
09/13: Tokyo Nishiogikubo @ Flat w/ Have Heart 
09/14: Chiba Minamikashiwa @ Club Water and Drunkard's Stadium w/ Have Heart 
09/15: Nagoya Ueda @ The Lights Underground w/ Have Heart 
09/17: Osaka Namba @ Bears w/ Have Heart 
09/19: Tokyo Kichijoji @ Warp w/ Have Heart 
09/20: Niigata @ Riverst w/ Have Heart 
09/22: Yokohama @ Lizard w/ Have Heart 
09/23: Tokyo Shinjuku @ ACB w/ Have Heart 
10/01 Brisbane, Australia @ Princess Theatre w/ Carpathian, Ceremony 
10/02 Noosa, Australia @ J Bar w/ Carpathian, Ceremony 
10/03 Gold Coast, Australia @ Expressive Grounds w/ Carpathian, Ceremony 
10/04 Byron Bay, Australia @ High School w/ Carpathian, Ceremony 
10/05 Taree, Australia @ Taree Skate Center w/ Carpathian 
10/08 Central Coast, Australia @ Oasis w/ Carpathian 
10/09 Newcastle, Australia @ Cambridge Hotel w/ Carpathian 
10/10 Sydney, Australia @ Factory Theatre w/ Carpathian 
10/11 Jannali, Australia @ Jannali Community Hall w/ Carpathian 
10/12 Albion Park, Australia @ Centenary Hall w/ Carpathian 
10/15 Albury, Australia @ PCYC w/ Carpathian 
10/16 Melbourne, Australia @ Next w/ Carpathian 
10/17 Sommerville, Australia @ Mechanics Hall w/ Carpathian 
10/18 Bendigo, Australia @ VRI Hall w/ Carpathian 
10/19 Ballarat, Australia @ TBC w/ Carpathian 
10/22 Adelaide, Australia @ Underground w/ Carpathian 
10/24 Perth, Australia @ HQ w/ Carpathian 
10/25 Perth, Australia @ Amplifier w/ Carpathian 

Welcome to Nevada

I've been driving for a little over 8 hours now. Sacramento to Denver really is a nice drive. I'm about an hour from Utah driving through Nevada, I'll stop at the border and sleep for a little while. The Owen discography is keeping me company for now, everyones been asleep for awhile. After Denver we drive straight back to Boston. We did the same drive last summer so its nothing new. I slept through the earthquake in California this AM. Whoops. I need to go on a run soon.

Riding in cars with Euros.

Its actually a van, semantics. I'm back in the van after some time and confusion. Its been a long couple of days, I'm still confused and a little unsettled, but it will pass with time I hope.

The flights out to California were good, but awkward. Kayla rules. I was on standby and was the last person on the flight, literally. Jetblue has satelitte TV and XM radio on every chair. It was wild. I watched some history channel, sportscenter, and part of Black Knight starring Martin Lawrence, with this 6 year old black kid who was sitting next to me. He loved it. Then he fell asleep on me for a little while. Awwwwwkward. We have a few shows then we drive pretty much straight home. I'm bummin. Oh well, two weeks until I'm gone for two and a half months. I'm going to enjoy my time with the Euros now.

I just got out of court.

I had to stay behind from tour for two weeks to wait for my fathers court date. He was arrested for driving on a suspended license, for not paying a speeding ticket in full. The ticket, I paid for. Being a independent contractor for the Navy, being arrested might make issues with some clearances.

Pursuant to a clerical error, the matter was dismissed within 20 minutes of us being there. 'Its hearsay' was said to me once, then they dropped the case. So, my father is off the hook.

I stayed home for two weeks, missed tour, and Canada, because some clerk somewhere didn't charge my father a $25 fee. I don't even want to get into how upset I am, or how bad these past two weeks were. Woof.

My hand healed OK. Its weird looking, and I'm missing a knuckle. It'll still be taped up for awhile. I was supposed to wear a solid cast for six weeks, I wore a splint for one week and took it off.

I fly out to California to meet up with my band at 6am tomorrow morning, to finish out a tour. The only ride I could find is taking me to the airport at like 8pm. I've sat at an airport for 24 hours in another country before, so 10 hours in America shouldn't be too bad, right?

Really though.

07/27: Santa Barbara, CA @ Earl Warren Showgrounds w/ Sound and Fury Festival
07/28: Newhall, CA @ American Legion Hall w/ Rise And Fall, Blacklisted, Alpha And Omega
07/29: Orangevale, CA @ Orangevale VFW Hall w/ Rise And Fall, Blacklisted, Alpha And Omega
08/09: Boston, MA @ ICC
08/14: Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Area 51
08/15: Torgau, Germany @ Endless Summer Festival w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/16: Essen, Germany @ Rise Or Die Festival w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/17: Trier, Germany @ Ex-Haus w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/18: Giessen, Germany @ Muk w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/20: Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/22: Orebro, Sweden @ TBA w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/23: Hamein, Germany @ Joch'n'Roll Festival w/ Have Heart
08/24: Ieper, Belgium @ Ieperfestival w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/25: London, UK @ Underworld w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/26: Stoke On Trent, UK @ Trent Sugarmill w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/27: Leeds, UK @ Rios w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/28: Norwich, UK @ Queen Charlotte w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/29: Karlsruhe, Germany @ Die Stadtmitte w/ Have Heart, Verse
08/31: Lichtenstein, Germany @ JZ Riot w/ Have Heart, Verse
09/03: Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa @ Roxy w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd.
09/04: Boksburg, South Africa @ Black Dahlia w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd.
09/05: Bloemfontein, South Africa @ Black Dahlia w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd.
09/06: Durban, South Africa @ Pavillion Skate Park w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd.
09/07: Kyasands, South Africa @ Tempos Rock Garden w/ The Vendetta, Bloodlline Ltd.
09/13: Tokyo Nishiogikubo @ Flat w/ Have Heart
09/14: Chiba Minamikashiwa @ Club Water and Drunkard's Stadium w/ Have Heart
09/15: Nagoya Ueda @ The Lights Underground w/ Have Heart
09/17: Osaka Namba @ Bears w/ Have Heart
09/19: Tokyo Kichijoji @ Warp w/ Have Heart
09/20: Niigata @ Riverst w/ Have Heart
09/22: Yokohama @ Lizard w/ Have Heart
09/23: Tokyo Shinjuku @ ACB w/ Have Heart

Ever tried to type with one hand?

Its really frustrating. Fuck Rhode Island. I have to skip some of tour, I'm really bummed out. But I'm glad I have good friends to help me out. In November, I need a band to tour with or roadie for; or a place to live, I refuse to come back here.

Oh yea, and;

07/11: Long Island, NY @ TGIF
07/14: Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti
07/15: Montreal, QC @ Cafe Linco
07/17: Toronto, ON @ Siesta Nouveaux
07/19: Winnipeg, MB @ Sudbury
07/21: Calgary, AB @ RC Legion 1
07/22: Edmonton, AB @ Avonmore Hall
07/23: Vancouver, BC @ The Sweatshop
07/24: Tacoma, WA @ Viaduct
07/25: Berkeley, CA @ Gilman
07/25: Santa Barbara, CA @ Earl Warren Showgrounds
07/28: Fresno, CA @ Knights Of Columbus
07/29: Orangevale, CA @ Orangevale VFW Hall
08/09: Boston, MA @ ICC
08/14: Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Area 51
08/15: Torgau, Germany @ Endless Summer Festival
08/16: Essen, Germany @ Rise Or Die Festival
08/17: Trier, Germany @ Ex-Haus
08/18: Giessen, Germany @ Muk
08/20: Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang
08/22: Orebro, Sweden @ TBA
08/23: Hamein, Germany @ Joch'n'Roll Festival
08/24: Ieper, Belgium @ Ieperfestival
08/25: London, UK @ Underworld
08/26: Stoke On Trent, UK @ Trent Sugarmill
08/27: Leeds, UK @ Rios
08/28: Norwich, UK @ Queen Charlotte
08/29: Karlsruhe, Germany @ Die Stadtmitte
08/31: Lichtenstein, Germany @ JZ Riot
09/01: Richmond, South Africa @ The Bohemian
09/03: Bloemfontein, South Africa @ Andre Hugenot Theatre
09/04: Durban, South Africa @ Pavillion Skatepark
09/05: Johannesburg, South Africa @ Fury Fest

More to come.

Off tour.

Tour was great, simply put. It felt nice to be the headlining band on pretty much every show, and rolling solo and still having great shows. Vindicated, I guess. I'm in Rhode Island. Its the worst. I'm riffing hard and I hope I can meet up with George soon to re-riff and re-record. Its going to be great.

I have two of the worst spider bites I've ever had. Don't forget, I lived on a farm as a kid. I guess I just killed way more back then. I've been itching, I never itch.

I got tattooed in a friends house for $15 last night. Slightly off center, just like me. You'll see it soon. I think I'm going to get another tonight. The dude who did it loves Death Before Dishonor. He rules.

We played a show with this band called Mansions. He was great. I just downloaded the free Doghouse Records sampler. Pretty good.

"The worst part is you don't know it. You're having the time of your life. You used to be young, you used to be right, and so perfect. Well, so was I."

Hum.

Mike Kinlin introduced me to this band a few years ago. I haven't been the same since. Thanks Mike.

Oh I would kill for the Atlantic...

We've been on the West coast for a few days now. California is pretty cold right now but I'm not complaining. The shows have been good and the drives have been short. A real nice change of pace as far as relaxing drives. Our quick run back to Boston starts Monday.

Las Vegas was wild. We all got sunburned, no SPF 35 for us.

I still hate the 101. Even though it smells like strawberries its one of the worst roads in the States.

We are going to be in LA when the Celtics win on Sunday. Good stories to follow I'm sure, stay tuned.

Tornado alley

This is what is looks like after 100mph winds and 3/4 inch hail storms pound your van for half an hour.

As we crossed the Kansas state line, we saw four funnel clouds kicking up dust to our right, but quickly saw it shift right across RT-35, right in front of us. As most of everyone tried to park under overpasses we moved on. Literally some of the craziest weather I've ever been in. Five seconds later I couldn't see two feet in front of the van and it was so hard to keep on the road that we too tried to get under an overpass and just got nailed by hail for five minutes straight.

We have some of it on video, it'll be up when we get home at the end of the month.

We drove about 7 hours so far today, but we're stopped and about to catch a movie called 'The Strangers' before another eight hours of driving to Denver tonight. Coffee and sunflower seeds here I come.

Backtracking.

So we spent this past weekend in Puerto Rico. It was a clusterfuck from start to finish. Very good road stories and an awesome adventure. The shows were weird and poorly organized. They didn't start until 11pm but thats normal there I guess. I thought it was bad here...

Highlights of the first show included 2 for $5 long island iced teas, and the Celtics game being over before the show actually started. They also play dominos as a bar game there. 

Highlights of the second show included the cop car chase/crash that held us in traffic for hours (on a side note cops there just have their lights on at all times to keep people in check, epilepsy style.), drinking Gasolina, getting the 'worm' from an OG bottle of tequila, the owner of the club SOS, and Asean dancing. 

The Democratic primary was held the day after, so all clubs/bars/venues had to be shut down at midnight. A bunch of cops rolled up at 11:30pm to make sure it was going to plan. I guess alcohol has a lot to do with decision making in PR. Wild place, but terrible soda.

Last, but not least, we got to the Rain Forest. I can't stress enough how blown away I was. We drove around 10km into this dense Rain Forest on the craziest winding Porsche commercial road and walked along an uphill/downhill path for another 20 minutes to the biggest waterfall in PR. Alex and I both climbed into it. None of our new local friends would go near it. It was as Alex put it 'very spiritual'. I have a hard time being of a spiritual nature, but there was something about how loud and abrasive it was, and how calm I felt, as well as not being able to see anyone else while I sat inside of it that made me feel different. I'll elaborate more to people in person. I can't wait to get the videos up.

Hillary won PR, and lost the race the next day. Uhoh.

So, we did break down again. Our rear end went. So as I said before, we got a rental car (CarTour'08) and made sure to get down to Miami after our Atlanta gig to make it to PR. We returned to Alabama yesterday to the Ronan residence. Our van is still not fixed. Hopefully tomorrow. But we did get homemade pizza and the scariest ghost stories from Anita. I also talked with John about farm life in Canada vs. America. Great day.

So I'm just now getting to see the season finale of Lost. Its OK. A lot of stuff I expected. Ben is gone from the Island forever? Hard to believe. Sun is a bitch? Believable. I need to discuss via some message boards soon to get the full info on it.

I will be home earlier than expected. Its cool, I have some stuff to take care of.

Puerto Rico

This weekend started pretty wild. A rental car drive of 10 hours straight to Miami International Aiport. We got to our terminal and heard that our plane had been changed to a different aircraft. We initially thought it was going to be way smaller. Turns out to be a Boeing 777. This thing was massive. No snacks though.

We got to San Juan and met up with our friend Eduardo. He's the dude putting everything together down here. He took us to where we would stay later to drop shit off.

This is my boy Carlton's neighborhood. We stayed here last night. Tons of stray cats and dogs. He takes care of the 'pirate cat'. Its missing an eye and has an 'illness'. I dont really want to know what it is.

Today we drive 3 ours across the whole island to get to the west. They said the shows out there are hit or miss, but who cares we get to check out all of PR.

Were headed to the beach now.

Mr. Transmisson

We have some time to make up their new jingle...

Business as uge

We stayed in New Jersey last night at my friend Brian's house. Its a wild ass mobster house down the street from Master Killa's spot. Mild weather and mild drives makes me a happy dude. So does staying in this house. Time to drive.

So it goes.

First leg.

05/23: Perth Amboy, NJ @ Monroe KoC
05/24: Virginia Beach, VA @ Liberty 4
05/25: Johnson City, TN @ The Hideaway
05/26: Chatanooga, TN @ Buffalo Wild Wings
05/27: Birmingham, AL @ TBA
05/28: Atlanta, GA @ The Treehouse
05/30: Mayaguez, Puerto Rico @ Bunkers
05/31: Bayamon, Puerto Rico @ Iben's Pub
06/02: Clearwater, FL @ 688 Skatepark
06/03: Panama City, FL @ Beamers
06/04: Baton Rouge, LA @ Darkroom
06/05: Houston, TX @ The Junction
06/06: Dallas, TX @ Red Blood Club
06/07: Wichita Falls, TX @ American Legion 169
06/08: Albuquerque, NM @ TBA
06/10: Cedar City, UT @ TBA
06/11: Las Vegas, NV @ 5265 N. Riley St.
06/12: Oceanside, CA @ The Stripline
06/13: Santa Barbara, CA @ Jensen's Main Stage
06/14: West Lake Villiage, CA @ Kung Fu Corner
06/15: Irvine, CA @ Hellfish Warehouse
06/16: Tucson, AZ @ The Living Room
06/17: San Antonio, CA @ The Crossing

'If I'm not your kind then don't tell a soul
I'm not the one who hates bein' alone so c'mon'

I have no peace of mind right now. Its almost like I always need to find a problem and not fix it, just to let it eat away at me. It feels weird to be so enveloped by something that I know can't change. Maybe with time; right?

This is the picture I took yesterday to see how different I look when I get back. I will be taking pictures and posting them here every so often, in different countries, etc. I hope you don't mind the self aggrandizement.

'Your first sin was the lie you told yourself'

My good friend Jeff told me to look into a band called The Gaslight Anthem. He was really right in saying I'd like it. I think Asean is already psyched that I have this band on my Ipod.

Paraless

About a month ago my friend George and I had a talk about music. We decided we could write a great album together. Since both George and I are touring road dogs, when George was done with school I was to move into his soon to be vacant apartment with him, and riff as much as possible.

As an aside, George and I have pretty similar tastes in music. Denali rules.

So the time came around when Providence College finals were over, Providence's streets were littered with more beer cans and police cars than usual and George was done with school. I got to George's apartment at 11:30pm two days ago.

We wrote and recorded five songs in this two day span. Our days consisted of literally riffing, getting coffee, riffing and sleeping. At one point we riffed for 8 hours straight and didn't even realize. We used one Gibson Les Paul, one Indiana acoustic, and GarageBand 3. We have not added bass guitars or any vocals. Most of the drums are looped and already made pieces. If its this good now its going to be amazing soon. George named it 'Paraless' on his computer.

If you're wondering what the band sounds like, take all the best parts of Pelican, Crime In Stereo, New Found Glory, Paramore, The Foo Fighters, and Jimmy Eat World and you've got it. Wild right?

So it's almost 8pm on Thursday and a new EP later, we are ready to celebrate. The Office and Lost are on TV tonight. Sometimes there are good things in Providence.

This rules.

Don't ask if I'm ok, just live your life and let me sink.

I've got to stop watching horror flicks...

I'm currently watching a French flick called A l'interieur which translated means 'Inside'. Its about a pregnant woman who is in a car wreck which kills her husband, then she is stalked by a crazy lady who wants the baby and just kills everything she sees. Its wild. Her gap tooth is consistent with that of Michael Strahan. I guess I watch these out of habit for what I can take mentally. Oh the pregnant lady just got her hand nailed to a wall with scissors. 

I have about three weeks until I leave for tour for roughly five months. I'm very excited to hit the road again. It's almost been a year since we toured the US. 

I saw a television show called Backstage Pass on the Fuse Network the other night. Right now they're following NOFX on international tours to the Eastern part of the world, i.e. China, South Korea and Taiwan. Fat Mike said only three US punk bands have ever played South Korea, and mentioned Ensign. I'm not sure when this was filmed, but its obviously a lie. Either way, I'm can't wait to experience it first hand. I just got a bunch of Airborne to keep the SARS away.

The crazy lady must have seen Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2, she just put a stick of some sort through a dudes eye. I don't really like her. I do however like Bruce Willis. He was great in The Jackal. 

Living in Newport for a few months after I had moved away, has shown me how much I don't belong here. I need to be near Boston, and my friends. Everyone here is overwhelmingly fine with a mundane lifestyle. There's no spontaneity. It always seems its everyones big day out anyways. Its kind of like they've never made it past their grocery store or liquor store. There's no drive or motivation I guess.

My fathers PSA test came back from an initial 9 to a 1.3. This basically means his cancer has subsided and he will be fine. This is great news; not only for him but for me as well. I'm not a necessity here anymore. So when I do get home in a few months I finally have options on where I go and what I do. Its nice to know my father did notice I took a big step as a person to move home and live with him and his wife, whom I loathe. Thanks dad.

Crazy lady is cutting open the other lady with scissors to take the baby. Tight.

Its a nice enough day out right now. I'm going to go on a run.

Europe so far...

Europe is cold and deary. We didnt see the Sun for like 4 days in a row already. It has been good so far though. Some sold out gigs, some crazy Germans some BSB-ing... and very 28 days later-esque hostels. I even got a prostitute who looked like a vikki secret model to flash me while I ate fallafel in Hambug. Yep. Were in Finland now. After the 16 hour ferry, we got in at 9am. Its now close to 4pm and the gig doesnt start till 10pm. Oofies. The sun doesnt get above the 7am angle at all this time of year. Its very hard to get accostomed to it. Everyone is sick, and its freezing. Tomorrow we will be in the artic circle. So weird.

I feel so disconnected on this tour. No driving, just sleeping and watching movies. Someone else does all the worrying. We dont have to find places to sleep, or places to eat. Its like its not real. I feel like weve been out for a month already. We still have almost a month to go...

Not having a phone is insane. I get so nervous, and its disconcerting to say the least. Im doing better now, but I take pictures of everything. In the week and a half Ive been gone Ive taken close to 200 pictures. Theres going to be a great shutterfly or photobucket when I get back.

Im going to grab another cup of coffee.

Catch you on the flip.