First off, I purchased Construction Time Again. This album features my all time favorite Depeche Mode single, Everything Counts. However the album is considerably minimilstic in its production. It lacks the pop genious of A Broken Frame yet doesn’t capture the dark atmosphere of Black Celebration. But to this album’s credit - it was the first appearance of Alan Wilder as a permanent member and the group’s first use of samples.

Transcribed from Shunt - The Official Recoil Website:

Unlike any other Mode LP, the lyrical focus of ‘Construction…’ centred around popular political concerns of the day such as nuclear arms, global pollution and economic gluttony. The music was given a hardened, more ‘industrial’ treatment thanks to the new sampling craze and use of discarded junk from any source at hand, including the building sites of Shoreditch in East London. The new production team helped to ensure that ‘Construction Time Again’ was eclectic for its time, revealing a new and more thought-provoking Depeche Mode.

Then we have another Never Let Me Down Again single. This one includes The Split, Tsangarides, and Aggro mixes of the single plus two Pleasure, Little Treasure mixes (Glitter Mix and Join Mix). I have always liked the Split Mix, especially its use in the extended version of the video. You can’t get much better than leisure suits, disco dancing, and Depeche Mode. Find out what I mean here. The Pleasure, Little Treasure mixes are decent. Now there is the Strangelove specially-priced maxi-single. Nothing too amazing here, just various mixes of Strangelove and an alternate version of Pimpf, titled Fpmip. The Stripped Highland Mix single includes Black Day, a rendition of the title track from Black Celebration. This version is a slowed down harmonica driven western approach that would make even Johnny Cash smile (or grimmace?) I am pretty much sick to death of People Are People but I had to get the 12″ single, because well… I just did.

FANS WANTED FOR DEPECHE MODE OFFICIAL RETROSPECTIVE DOCUMENTARY

Brown Owl Films have been commissioned by Depeche Mode and Mute Records to produce a documentary film tracing the history of Depeche Mode as told by the followers of the band.

We would like to make contact with fans and admirers of Depeche Mode to tell us about their lives and what the band and their music means to them.

We would also like to hear from anybody who has any personal stories, anecdotes, photographs, personal artwork, scrapbooks, writing, diaries, film or video footage and memorabilia.

If you would like to share your experience of being a follower of the group and would like to be a part of this unique project, please get in touch with a contact telephone number via this email address URGENTLY!

You can contact the fine people at Brown Owl Films by sending them an email at info@brownowlfilms.com

Ahoy! It’s been way too long since last we met. Judging from the sentimental tripe in the blog below, it’s obvious that the last time I posted was in December. In case you hadn’t noticed…it’s April. Quite a bit has been going on with us, as you may have imagined. I will try and post a quick rundown of what’s up (first in regards to the album):

-The recording of our EP is complete.
-There are 7 tracks total (the two on myspace, three more with lyrics, and then two more without).
-The cover art is finished, and the rest is nearly there.
-The album has been submitted to iTunes, and will be hosted by them sometime in the summer.
-The “unofficial” release date (if all printing goes according to plan) will be April 21st.
-The “official” one will be May 7th, and will coincide with our release party in Merritt Island (also a stop on our mini-tour with Bernard).

Phew. Hope that covers that. In other news: we have a shirt design with a Narwhale. It’s pretty radical, and worth attending a show for in its own right. More new designs will crop up once we’ve made the money back from the cd’s inital pressing. Rumor has it a girl shirt is even in the works. Cute.

You may have also noticed a slew of new shows coming up (many tba). As I mentioned above, we will be going on a mini tour with Bernard in May. One of these is the official release date of the CD (May 7th) and I suppose we can count May 2nd in Orlando as another “unofficial” release. Obviously, there isn’t quite an official release. The 7th is merely the day we will play through the EP in its entirety. We probably won’t get to do that again for a long time. It will also be when we handout all of the pre-sold discs (and a bonus poster to the pre-buyers). There may also be root beer. Lots of it. By all accounts, it will be worth being there.

Anyhow, this tour will lead into our appearance on the showcase stage at Cornerstone FL on either the 12th or 13th. We would *love* everyone’s support if you are going to be at Cornerstone.

After that…comes summer. The plan so far is to save money (and practice practice practice) to tour through fall. That means a thinning of shows in the summer to a degree. It also means the refining of some new songs.

I believe that should about wrap it up. I had forgotten how long these things can get. Hopefully you managed to power through it. I mean, there was some really serious info in there. Really, deadly serious. You should maybe…write it down or something. Talk to you soon, chums.

Au revoir,
Jimmie

Now this:

Van Dyke Parks in UNCUT magazine and other news

Salutations, We want you to know that VDP’s first album, Song Cycle, was just voted number one of the Ten Best Cosmic American Music Albums of All time in UNCUT Magazine.

Is this important?

In other news, the Maestro is hard at work on music for a Walter Hill film called Broken Trail starring Robert Duvall and Thomas Hayden Church. Repost with your best Brokeback Montain/Broken Trail crack.

Also, Pitchforkmedia.com reports today that VDP is working on Joanna Newsom’s next record. This is true and he’s having a helluva good time too.

Also, check this interview with the man himself if you haven’t already (includes promises of a new VDP album this year!!!): http://bandoppler.com/0306_F_Van_Parks.htm

Yours Truly…

Two hours later, I sit before a plate of black hasbrowns. Black, but not crunchy. They are soggy and black. The worst of both worlds. Next to these “hashblacks ” lay the partially charred remains of corned beef hash, a few strips of microwaved bacon and the best over easy egg I have ever cooked. It’s kind of a mixed bag.

You know those movies where a dad finds out he has a ten year old son, and then has to meet him and hang out with him for the first time? And then, you know how he doesn’t know exactly how to treat them, but inevitably tries to cook them a meal and fails completely miserably? I feel like one of those dads in one of those movies; minus the newly discovered son. So, I am not gradually realizing that I need my ex with whom I had said son. This meal taught me a lesson not nearly so deep. It’s simple really, and somewhat sad:

I need those Denny’s or IHOP cooks for my midnight breakfast fix. At least until my cooking improves. And I’d better work on that before my mystery child shows up.

Heat Vision and Jack

First off is Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s sophomore album, Liverpool. Last year, when I was working at Play It Again Records, my buddy Erick and I would spend all day going through old vinyl at the warehouse. I was treated to a first class lesson in music mainly spanning the years of 1975 - 1995. We would talk about all genres from Yes to Steve Miller. One band in particular that Erick turned me onto was Frankie. Of course, we have all heard their big hit Relax off their first album, Welcome To The Pleasure Dome. But Liverpool tops Pleasure Dome in my opinion, and it is a shame the band broke up after this album. Instead of opting for the dance approach the band took with their first release, Liverpool takes a rock approach with guitars increasingly present. This is one of the few albums that I can listen through continually and still find new nuances and layers. Every track on this album (with the exception of Maximum Joy, which I feel so-so about) is worth the 6 bucks you would most likely pay for in a second hand record shop.

Next up, the single releases for Daft Punk’s Robot Rock and Technologic. I have to admit I found the band’s third (and probably final) release to be a bit of a let down compared to Discovery, Homework, and even their side projects such as Le Knight Club… BUT these singles were worth the purchase. The Technologic single includes remixes by Vitalic, Basement Jaxx, and Peaches. The Vitalic remix is the best on the release with Peaches following close behind and Basement Jaxx bringing up the rear. I have never been a big Peaches fan, but she does a decent job with the song, giving it a warmer stripped down feeling. As far as Robot Rock goes… I would rather just listen to Breakwater’s Release The Beast, from which Robot Rock’s main sample comes. Although, the acapella on side-b makes it a worthwhile buy. I found the remixes to be a little too close to the original song and long winded. A lot could have been done with the rock elements the original track has and some serious shredding would have been a good order.

Also picked up quite a few Depeche Mode singles:

Walking In My Shoes 12″ Single
Personal Jesues 12″ Single
Get The Balance Right And Live Tracks
Never Let Me Down 12″ (with Tsangarides Mix)
Master And Servant (U.S. Black and Blue Version)
Behind The Wheel/Route 66 (Megamix)

I have been a casual Pet Shop Boys fan for awhile. I really fell in love in the band with a 45 I bought that included a track called Was That What It Was. This track has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I have even included in one of my mixes before. So, I finally picked up their album, Disco. This album includes some of that great 80s percussion and bass that defines the era for me. You know Dead Or Alive’s Spin Me Round? All those crazy claps, rim shots, and synth slap bass? Pet Shop Boys are all over that tip.

Also picked up was Kraftwerk’s The Man-Machine and New Order’s 1988. I have never been a big fan of the Blue Monday re-release in 1988. It sounds too over produced and I prefer the rough sounds of the original release. But New Order is New Order. You know?

The End

Nick: You are Chris Rae, what do you play in the band Chris?

Chris: I play the bass guitar and sing a little backup.

N: Why the name The Heathens?

C: I don’t know, I think The Heathens kind of came up from bible belt and the south thing. It was going to be Matt and The Heathens, but Matt wanted to be a heathen too so we went with that.

N: In my research I came across another band called The Heathens. Their website had fuzzy dice and a diamond plating background, it looks pretty serious. Are you afraid of any kind of lawsuits?

C: I’m not too threatened by the fuzzy dice guys. I’ve checked them out. They are kind of older and not touring around too much. Hopefully we’ll have enough people backing us. Otherwise we’ll just do the whole Hot Water thing and become The Heathens Music Band.

N: Ok Chris, the banjo and the fiddle. Is this just a gimmick? Why such cheap parlor tricks?

C: (laughs) Well cheap parlor tricks would have been a barber shop quartet. Literally speaking.

N: I know, it just sounded cool when I wrote it down.

C: The banjo was in the band from the beginning. The violin player, Sean Moore, has been a great addition. He also plays a lot of things other than the violin. So I don’t think it is a cheap parlor trick.

N: I’m trying to ask the hard hitting questions here Chris.

C: Well they are hitting hard.

N: I’d appreciate it if you got a little more offended.

C: I don’t get offended.

N: I recently saw your new video for Stickin’ Around. Would you mind explaining the concept and who you worked with on this project?

C: We worked with a UCF film student who is graduating this semester, his name is Ben Piety. John Jones was the producer, he came to us with the idea based on the sound that we have and we kind of just went from there. He walked us through it and it was really well planned out. In about eight takes we were done.

N: Where did you film the video?

C: Little Big Econ.

N: That’s by the park right, with the running trail?

C: It is somewhere between Bithlow and Oviedo. Somebody told me Gary Busy has a house there.

N: I believe it. That’s a pretty wild place out there.

C: He hunts homeless people on four wheelers because he is surviving the game.

N: Wasn’t Ice-T in that movie, or was it Ice Cube?

C: It was Ice-T.

N: My mom loves him on Law and Order.

C: Ice tea tastes much better than ice cube.

N: Can you give a little insight into your writing process?

C: Everybody in the band is a song writer. The first album that we are doing is a collection of songs, 15 tracks. 13 of them were written by Matt. He came up with the rhythm guitar parts and vocals. As the song elaborated and everybody else filled in he went back and changed up his guitar parts to fill out the song a little more. JeffIlgenfritz (aka Mumpsy) wrote two of the songs that will appear on this first album. In the future albums there should be a lot more songwriting. We have a lot of songs on the table, we are just choosing these 15 to be our first album to get them over and done with.

N: I recently conducted an interview with Tallahassee band, Mosey, and I asked them to envision their band as a pie chart. I asked what percent was passion and what percent was teamwork. They said it was 50/50. Can you break your band down into percentages for me? Feel free to add new percentages.

C: I would say ours is definitely 70% passion and 30% teamwork. We are a cohesive team, but we wouldn’t be busting our ass if we didn’t have the passion behind what we are doing.

N: So if you and Mosey were to get in a fight, and passion was your only weapon, you guys would probably win? Since you have 20% more passion than they do?

C: Passion of the Mosey.

N: Good one

C: How has the Orlando scene been to you? It seems to be a pretty tight knit family with Band Marino, Mumsy, and Dodger. How has Orlando been to you guys?

C: It has been really good. Post Records has been a big help. He (Chris Cucci) started by putting out stuff by friends, but he is definitely looking beyond Orlando now. He is looking to get out more albums, a more eclectic mix of things. He put out Mumspy and Dodger but he also put out Watch Me Disappear and The Punching Contest, which aren’t in the same genre. It is good to see a label that is going to remain eclectic and help out everyone who basically needs to be helped out.

N: Are you a big fan of the film Top-Gun?

C: Yeah, people used to call me Maverick in high school.

N: Really? Why?

C: Because it took my breathe away.

N: What is your favorite scene in the film?

C: I would have to say Tom Cruise on the motorcycle. Like yeah, that guy is a badass. He is all pissed off and he races the airplane down the runway. That’s poetic.

N: It is truly Hollywood at its best.

C: I like Over The Top.

N: I am a big Over The Top fan.

C: All the movies from the 80s with top in the name were good.

N: Top-Gun, Over The Top…

C: Big Top Pee-Wee…

N: Big Top Adventure I believe is the correct title. Are you familiar with New Kids On The Block?

C: Yes I am.

N: If you remember correctly, each member had a certain characteristic that made them unique to the band. The cute one, the tough one, the shy one. I was hoping you could give me the attribute to each member of your band.

C: Alright.

N: Chris Cucci.

C: Water.

N: Sean Moore.

C: Fire.

N: Mathew Butcher

C: He’s Earth.

N: Were not doing Captain Planet here Chris, but it is fine. It is completely open to your adaptation. Jeff Ilgenfritz.

C: Jeff would be heart.

N: And ending with you, Chris Rae.

C: I would be wind, because im kind of gassy.

N: Chris Rae, what do you idolize?

C: Um, pizza.

N: Just pizza and nothing else?

C: And nachos.

[Exluded here is a fact sheet I read off to Chris regarding New Kid Donnie Whalberg, this fact sheet informed us he was left handed.]

C: In Sixth Sense, when Donnie Walberg shoots Bruce Willis, does he use his left hand?

N: I don’t know. I have never seen The Sixth Sense, if you can believe that. Somebody ruined the ending for me in 8^th grade (it was actually 9^th). But this New Kids On The Block geocities site I was on was the typical outdated fan site. It said Donnie Walberg was going to be in a NEW film called The Sixth Sense.

C: Yeah, when everybody first started making websites they were like, “get a geocities site and post something!�? So now when you do a Google search you find stuff that was posted 7 or 8 years ago.

N: I had a geocities site, it was a James Bond site. It was all stolen images. You know, guys hammering at rocks.

C: Site under construction.

N: But the site is never going to get finished. You know it is damned to be under construction for the rest of its life.

C: And Angelfire.

N: I had an Angelfire site too.

C: Man, listen to you with all these has been sites.

N: Are you judging me? I am ashamed of those. What are you ashamed of Chris?

C: I’m not realty ashamed of anything, I am a heathen.

N: Good! That’s a good way to end it.

As you can see I am also running a new blogging program. It will take a few days to get everything working and in correct form. Until then…. cheers!

This is an actual official recipe for Wookie Cookies (or, as they’re called in the Holiday Special, “Wookie-ookies”), taken from “The Star Wars Cookbook: Wookiee Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes”:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 375º

2. Put the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Stir with the wooden spoon until well mixed. Set aside.

3. Put the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in another mixing bowl. Using the electric mixer set on high speed, beat together until well blended and creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and stir with the wooden spoon until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips.

4. Scoop up a rounded tablespoonful of the dough and drop onto a baking sheet. Repeat until you have used up all the dough. Be sure to leave about 1 inch between the cookies because they spread as they bake.

5. Using pot holders, put the baking sheets in the oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

6. Again, using pot holders, remove the baking sheets from the oven. Lift the cookies from the baking sheets with a spatula, and place on cooling racks. Let cool completely.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Enjoy! But be sure to hide them from Lumpy…

I remember Daft Punk being in a Gap commercial, but not this one. Juliet Lewis and denim? Could this really get any better?!

Justice (French justice from Latin iustitia, from iustus “just”) is a concept involving the fair, moral, and impartial treatment of all persons - often seen as the continued effort to do what is right.

I believe I will be heading down to Miami on Thursday to see Jutice perform. It is one of four stops on a mini US tour.

23rd of March @ The District, Miami, Florida
24th of March @ Pawn Shop, Miami, Florida
25th of March @ Movida, New York, NY
26th of March @ Asterisk, Brooklyn, NY

Now I am really happy to see hip-hop artists using samples again, but there isn’t much talent involved in ripping off an already established hip-hop song from the past. First I see LL Clool J sampling Afrika Bambata and now Missy Elliot with the Sugarhill Gang. And it really isn’t the artist or producer I am upset with, it is the lame modern hip-hop fans. I am so annoyed with the ignorant hip-hop fans that have no idea or appreciation for the roots of the music they base so much of their lifestyle around.

I just got off the phone with Building The State’s Justin Tzuanos and Peter W. Wadsworth. We didn’t have time to conduct a full interview but I was able to get a few questions in. As their MySpace states, the band formed in late 2002 and their influences include such bands as The Appleseed Cast, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Sonic Youth. As Peter told me, “Pretty much mid 90’s emo bands.” I have no complaints with that! Building The State is a refreshing sound compared to the formulaic rut most bands of the same genre have fallen into these days. Hooking up this time with Athens’ Cinemechanica, Building The State embarks on their third tour since July of 2005. While they have already traversed the Southeast thoroughly, recent tours found the band in the Northeast and Midwest as well. According to Peter, the Midwest has had the warmest reception for the group so far. Of course I had to ask the boys to break their band down into percentages. This time I let them invent whatever attributes they wanted. They returned a statistic of 80% sonic intensity and 20% raw sexuality. To be honest I have no idea what the means, but Peter mentioned something about rock.live.love. Take that for what it is worth, but make sure you come out to the March 17th show at the Vero Beach Jaycees with Building The State, Cinemechanica, and some great Vero locals.

Conducted by Nick Martinolich via telephone on 3/13/06.

PS - Have you noticed this sudden influx of William Shatner? He is hosting several specials on the History channel, Priceline commercials, AND now his own show - How William Shatner Changed the World. But hey, I’m not complaining.

PS - I don’t know what to think of the opening rap, a little bit out there Vito!

01_Tom Browne - Thighs High.mp3
02_Tom Browne - Jamaica Funk.mp3
03_Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby.mp3
04_Edwin Birdsong - Rapper Snapper Dapper.mp3
05_Slave - Feel my Love.mp3
06_Instant Funk - I Got My Mind Made Up.mp3
07_Instant Funk - Bodyshine.mp3
08_Instant Funk - I Got My Mind Made Up (Larry Levan Remix).mp3
09_Kool and the Gang - Fresh.mp3
10_Three Six Mafia - Stay Fly DJICEMICE REMIXXX.mp3
11_Parliament Funkadelic - (Not Just) Knee Deep.mp3
12_The Gap Band - Early in the Morning.mp3
13_Royal Cash - Radio Active.mp3
14_BT Express - Do it.mp3

Download The Mix
His Website
His Myspace

Vito does a great job in mixing in some real classic funk. Something missing from the contemporary dance scene if you ask me.

I now stay up till 3 every night watching a random one of the nine discs of my Alien Quadrilogy set. I really need to get out more.

Some girl stole a Chuck Norris image off my Chuck Norris World site for her MySpace. I showed her. Well, I could have done a lot worse. In fact I didn’t even do anything that cool. But I don’t want to be a massive jerk and put some offensive picture. It is just not my style.

Never the less, buy their records.
ilovem83.com

Nick: Please introduce yourself and what you do in the band.
Mosey: Slate - Guitar/Vocals, Smith - Bass, Reid - Synth/Piano, AJ - Drums

Nick: Mosey, why the name? It seems quite suitable for the music.
Mosey: It’s a name that Smith and Slate kicked around for years and finally when we started writing songs for this band, it seemed really appropriate.

Nick: How many members are in the band and how did you all come together?
Mosey: 4 members, we knew each other from just playing in different bands in the Tallahassee scene. All of our bands broke up around the same time. AJ asked to try out and he was in. We really wanted a good keyboard player so we went to Reid. The four of us had a really good chemistry, so we decided to just keep it the four of us.

Nick: I have picked up some country tinges in your music, care to comment on that and your other influences.
Mosey: We are all southern kids that grew up playing music. Slate and Smith imparticular grew up listening to all kinds of things, mostly blues, jazz, old country, and old soul music. Roots music was very influential growing up and then we got into old emo and indie music. We just try to write completely honest songs and the south is just apart of us.

Nick: Can you explain your writing process? Is it a group effort or the work of a few individuals?
Mosey: Slate usually writes the song on acoustic guitar and then the whole band comes in to arrange the song and change certain things to make it work as a band and really flesh it out.

Nick: Picture your band as a pie chart, what portion of the pie is synthesizer and piano?
Mosey: I don’t know if I can put it into a percentage, but I will say we love the way synth and piano fills up a song and that we are really proud of what Reid does in this band, he’s a very versatile musician.

Nick: What percentage would be passion, and what percentage would be teamwork?
Mosey: It’s definitely 50/50. The passion drives the teamwork I think.

Nick: How is the Tallahassee scene in general and in regards to your band?
Mosey: We are very well accepted and respected here. But besides a handful of people, Tallahassee is a beer drinking town with a football problem. We love our friends that support us here, but besides big shows we are just as likely to get a good turnout out of town.

Nick: How has your reception been while on tour? Any locations in particular that you would like to visit again?
Mosey: Melbourne and Orlando have both been really nice to us. I’ve heard great things about Brandon and Naples. We hope to get there soon.

Nick: Is this March 10th date a one time deal or one stop on a current tour?
Mosey: We are playing March 11th in Tampa and then back in Tallahassee March 13th with Lucero. It’s basically a weekend thing at this point.

Nick: Are you fans of facial hair? I am, but have the hair genes of a 15 year old.
Mosey: Haha, you are like our keyboard player. However, I think the rest of us started shaving around 15. We are all fans of facial hair, but it may be out of laziness more than a fashion statement. Shaving just sucks.

Nick: If your band was really a pie chart, but not a chart at all…. more like a desert pie, what flavor would it be?
Mosey: It would probably have lots of chocolate.

Nick: I noticed a photo of the Lincoln assassination on your MySpace. Any thoughts?
Mosey: I just liked that picture for some reason. When you look at it you might at first think, “they are racist southern idiots,” when in reality we are the exact opposite. Instead of being James Wilkes Booth we are really the other guy pointing and yelling, trying to stop it from happening. I think some people look at southern America in that same light, when in reality the majority of us are against racism and gay hate and things that the south has the reputation of endorsing.

Conducted by Nick Martinolich via e-mail with Slate and Smith on 3/6/06.

Did I mention I am in love?

I am so sorry for not writing for such a long time. Here is what is going on in my life. I am continually working on new Carlo Of Hollywood tracks and perfecting old ones. I am still looking for a singer, but working on my voice every day… so hey you never know. I learned to play the wonderful game of darts the other night. Exciting, exhilarating. I have been feeling kinda crappy though as of late. Sometimes I feel like I’m not where I should be. By that I mean in my life. I have a great responsible job and I am making a lot of connections in music and film. But at times I feel like I am not doing things normal 21 year olds do. Like online banking. But this is all really just my mind making me feel dumb. I thought I would mention it is 12:09 in the afternoon, I just woke up, am drinking diet pepsi… its gross but it was the only thing that looks so-so for breakfast. Living in a house with four guys is great. Speaking of such, we are all reading Phillip K. Dick stories daily now. Met a great band last night by the name of Eagle*Seagull. We are booking a show with them tonight but I have the night off, so I went to see them at the BackBooth. Amazing band, they are gonna go places for sure. I talked to them about doing some documentary filming over the summer on their tour. And on the documentary tip, I have started a new one. Here is an excerpt from a little treatment I wrote up:

THE CONSTANT STRUGGLE
A film by Nick Martinolich with and about the Little Reggies interns.

A documentary shot in mini-DV following Lil Nick D’Amaco, Logan Rivera, and Nu Metal Jordan. An honest look at the three teens relationship as they create bands, play playstation one, and collectively get their freedom with Jordan’s procession of his driver’s license. Nobody said growing up was easy, but for these three it’s a constant struggle.

Saturday and Sunday we will be filming. Tuesday I will be accompanying Jordan to get his license. Can’t wait.

Nick

Some would attribute that entirely to becoming wiser. I don’t think I agree. I’m not hyping some kind of generic “Christmas Spirit” propaghanda…Hollywood does enough of that, and completely misses the point. They paint it to be a belief in Santa. That’s all. I paint it to be a belief in innocence, and goodness.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: I hope that tomorrow is a magical time for you, and I think that it can be…if you let it. Maybe things aren’t ideal. They rarely are. But, to fit the theme I have already presented…just think of a happy thought, and you’ll be floating over London in no time.

I firmly believe that you don’t need to rely on nastalgia to enjoy things like a kid would…and that applies to many more days than the 25th of December. Tomorrow is about birth, and change; renewal and hope. Don’t forget that…but also, don’t forget to bring those things along with you.

Yeah, call me cheesy. I’m guilty as charged. Just don’t call me grown up. Have a merry, merry Christmas. We’ll be seeing alot of you next year.

Hope is on the way, and Change is high on her heels.

Jimmie, and A Denver Mile

Ok here is the deal! This FRIDAY is the day before my 21st birthday and we are throwing a party! We have the return of Carlo Of Hollywood with Flashlight Party and kthx. Plus a super sick DJ mix including:

Tag Team
The Faint
Scissor Sisters
VCR
Chromeo
King Kong and The Jungle Girls
Dead Or Alive
The Go! Team
Afrika Bambaataa
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
See Colin Slash
Kix
Freestyle
Prince
Melody Club
The Jerry Lee Phantom
Debbie Deb
Cut Copy
PLUS A TON MORE WILD TRACKS TO GET YOUR BODY MOVING!

Now the party is at Crane Community Center at 8:30 PM and it costs $6. But if you come in the appropriate attire you can get in for $5.

SEE YOU THERE! Bring your friends and best dancing shoes. Any questions call 321-961-3277!

Chuck Norris World

1) Just played a show with Carlo Of Hollywood at the BackBooth. The loss of one of our big local draws and Mae having a sold out show down the street didn’t help. We played alright but messed up a lot. Seems to be a trend with me. No matter how much I practice I just keep forgetting things. Tonight’s set went: First Blood / Some Great Reward / Radioactivity / Hollywood To Hollywood / Tronics / Year of the Gun

2) I am getting a ridiculous amount of Depeche Mode videos for my birthday (November 19th). They are listed as follows:
Videos 86 > 98
Depeche Mode 101
Some Great Videos
Strange

I already own Strange Too. I took it from the Blockbuster I used to work at because it sat by the VCR nobody ever used behind the counter. It belonged to a guy who used to work at the Blockbuster. He would come in occasionally and once told me a story about how he went out with a girl just to get tickets to see Depeche Mode. That is pretty hardcore.

3) I went with Brittney to see Depeche Mode in Tampa. We had seats on the third and highest level. We got up there and nobody was there at all. It was completely deserted so we started our own private dance party. Then a security officer came and told us the floor was closed and he took us down a secret back elevator. Needles to say he hooked us up with freaking awesome seats. It was a sick night.

Earlier that day, Dan I had band practice for the new incarnation of Carlo Of Hollywood. It went extremely well. We are working on some new songs and one in particular samples a great early 80’s song called “Lookout Weekend” by an artist named Debbie Deb. The style of song falls under the genre of “freestyle.” I am becoming increasingly obsessed with this style of music and looking forward to producing some tracks with freestyle elements.

From Wikipedia:

Freestyle or Latin freestyle, also called Latin hip-hop in its early years, is a form of electronic music that is heavily influenced by Hispanic and African-American culture. Freestyle emerged around 1982 and hit its peak in 1989. It continues to be produced today and enjoys some degree of popularity, especially in urban Latino population centers. Another popular modern genre Florida breaks evolved from this sound.

The music first developed primarily in northeastern U.S. states like New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Initially, it was a fusion of the vocal styles found in 1970s disco music with the syncopated, synthetic instrumentation of 1980s electro, as favored by fans of breakdancing. It was also influenced by sampling, as found in Hip-hop music. In the 1990s, the electro and hip-hop influences were supplanted by house music. Freestyle music based on house rather than electro is sometimes referred to as freestyle house.

Jared: Richard?

Richard: I guess it was my idea. It was mainly to avoid confusion with another band, but we ended up just liking it better. It’s kind of exotic, with my love of Swedish psychedelic music.

N: One reviewer has already compared Morning Kills The Dark to Pet Sounds, and your piecing together of multiple recordings is reminiscent of Brian Wilson’s method during the Smile sessions. Is this coincidence, an homage perhaps?

J: I think there are definitely parallels there in the spirit of both records. I think how we came to record in so many locations came more by default - out of necessity.

N: You’ve Got Darkness progresses from dark and complex, to light and whimsical, with a stop at a dub bar somewhere in the middle. Does the song’s unique structure have the six different recording sessions to thank, or was it arranged in its current order from the beginning?

R: That is one that wasn’t as pieced together actually. Jared and I played it in a room together and over dubbed later. The dub thing, I guess I sort of masterminded that. We were trying to figure out a way to segue in the middle. It was just something fun to do.

Kala: That song really came together in the studio.

J: And went through many different phases I think.

N: I noticed the arrangement of the song was quite different tonight, as was the rest of your set. Is that something you typically do live?

J: I think the album version is one version, and with the live show there are no boundaries. We can just do whatever we want to the tune.

N: The album is continually referred to as a bouillabaisse, and understandably so. Was it your intention going into MKTD to produce such a diverse mix of styles?

K: I think it kind of just happened that way, because we are all into different things.

R: We are all into different music. Everybody got to produce their own little sections of songs.

N: Jared, you have said that out of all the albums you have been involved in, MKTD is your proudest. Would you mind elaborating on that?

J: I sincerely believe it is the finest record to date that I have been a part of. A lot of that has to do with the people that helped record it. We just had a really good time, but it was not an easy time. We spent most of the year working on it. And that was east coast stuff, west coast stuff. Friends flying in and flying out. But I think as far as my song writing, I am most proud of it.

N: At the time of this interview, Morning Kills The Dark is four days away from official release. Considering the time, love, and self that have gone into this album, what are you feeling right now? Excitement, anxiety, a little of both?

R: We hope people like it.

J: I would just hope that we can get as many people to take a listen as possible. To come out and say hello at the shows, and see what were going to do to the tunes live.

*At this point Jared turns to Keith, who has been keeping quite*

J: I just wanted to introduce Keith. He has been out with us and really helps take the show up a notch. And were just getting going. I can’t wait to see where the show goes 3 months from now, 6 months from now, a year, by the time we get to the next record. Which we could probably approach by that point, as a band.

N: So the album wasn’t recorded as a band. You played multiple instruments, and the spots were filled in later?

J: Yeah sure, I think it came together, record first and then band.

N: MKTD has received outstanding reviews both online and in print publications. How has the audience response been, to both your live set and the album?

J: Really, all we can go on now are letters. We haven’t really toured the record at all. This is one of the first of few shows. We have got a ton of dates coming up.

K: It has been an overwhelmingly positive response, I think.

N: I have to admit that I listened to the album 4 times through a few days ago at work, and then again during the car ride home.

J: Yeah, we heard. We have to learn it again!

R: We haven’t even tackled all the songs.

N: The friendship the four of you share obviously shines through on MKTD, with band member names being mentioned numerously through out. Where do you plan to be in the next few months, and even years, as a band and friends?

J: I would love to pay tribute to the Rolling Thunder Review Tour, and get everybody out on the road.

R: I think with the friend thing, ideally we would love to take it even further. Have a posse with us.

N: An entourage?

R: Totally.

K: Lots of people up on stage singing.

R: It’s a big task to undertake.

N: Now, you said the next album could be done relatively soon?

J: There is definitely plenty of material, as far as songs to choose from. But I think we should get out and support this record first. Since no one has really heard it.

R: Plus it helps to play all those new ones live. You find out ways to approach them and they will evolve too. When we go to record them, it will be so much easier. Rather than having to figure out arrangement on the spot in the studio. But that has its fun too, you have got to keep a little bit up to chance. It’s great to live with the material for a long time.

J: Which is different from how we made MKTD, where we just went in with skeletal version of the tunes, and really worked them out on the spot.

N: Would you say there are portions of the songs, dropped in the studio, which will never see the light of day?

J: There are definitely parts of songs that we did drop, and different mixes. Some of the songs have gone through half a dozen mixes before getting to that final version that is on the record. And as we’re working songs from the record into the set I think a fair starting ground would be what’s on the record, and go from there.

*Jared turns to consult Richard*

J: I think we may use that as a foundation. You start with, “we know it went like this at one point…”

R: I mean, were not precious about anything.

J: That’s what makes it most interesting, I feel.

N: How long has the band been together?

J: 6 weeks.

N: That’s as a full band. As the concept Biirdie, how long?

K: Maybe like a year.

J: A little more than a year. Soon after the three of us came together and met for the first time.

N: How did you meet our buddy Keith here?

K: I knew Jared. We actually went to Kindergarten together. We were in a band the last year of high school and the freshmen year of college. I have always respected Jared’s songwriting, and he’s somebody I have wanted to work with again. He asked me if I wanted to be a part of the band and I was more than happy to come down and join these guys. I think there is a great camaraderie, being that we are all pretty tight.

J: And Keith can play anything you put in front of him. So he is not a bad guy to have around. And he sings like a bird.

R: … and runs like a bird.

J: I didn’t mean that to be a pun though.

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www.flyawaybiirdie.com
Purchase Morning Kills The Dark at Lumberjack Distribution

I promise more updates soon!

Carlo Of Hollywood - Year Of The Gun (with New Order - Blue Monday interlude)

So about this show, we kinda sucked alot. We only got to practice for three hours the day of the show due to everybody’s schedules. So I am sure we goof up alot, but who cares… if you don’t like it turn it off. I just brush my sholders off.

PS: Yeah, and I know… shut up at the beginning. I sound like an idiot and a prick. But it’s just an inside joke with my brother and I. Please don’t hate me.

Carlo Of Hollywood - 4/16/05
001/002/003/004/005/006/007/008/009/010/011/012/013/014

In other matters - DEPECHE MODE, DEPECHE MODE, DEPECHE MODE! Seriously, I have been going crazy for these past few days, listening to the band non-stop. AND I MEAN NON-STOP I was a casual fan for awhile, I had Singles 86 - 98, then Singles 81 - 85. Then I took this old Violator era video from the backroom of the Blockbuster I worked at. Needless to say, my love for this band has been ever growing, and has just recently accelerated. I am afraid of getting in too deep, because I am sure by the end of the year I will manage to accumulate every remix/single/b-side and outtake. And I don’t know if I have time for something like that. But I have no self-control so I am sure I will just consume, consume, consume.

Last night, Jimmie and I stayed up late drawing really sweet tattoos on each other’s arms. Jimmie donned the “Sweet Jet Action” tat. While I was given the “So-Cal Kuztum”. Totally rad dude!

March 25th/26th

We had the battle of the band sign-ups at 5:30 AM. So a bunch of the bands were camped outside in tents. While inside, Carlo Of Hollywood jammed it up.

March 28th
Stopped by the Social to see Travis’ new band Inkwell. And my all time favorite Orlando band and coolest friends Band Marino played. That band only has up to go. Went dancing at the Back Booth with like three of the hottest ladies ever. (Marina, Tara, and Brittney) As you will see, this week shapes up to be an indie rocker expose.

March 29th
Carlo Of Hollywood had its first show. Followed by a sick dance party.
The Carlo set went like this:
Carlo Of Hollywood - Hollywood to Hollywood (with Kraftwerk - Radioactivity intro)
Carlo Of Hollywood - Reach For The Best
Carlo Of Hollywood - Year Of The Gun (with New Order - Blue Monday interlude)

March 31st
Spent the day with Brittney. We went thrifting, ate a BBQ lunch with her parents, made a sick muscle tee with a Keytar on it, and then got Sushi. Oh, and I jumped over a pole at Wal-Mart with jean cut offs.

April 1st
Ran the Defiance/Action Tour at Screamers. I went to this real great show at Wills afterwards. It was with a bunch of bands from a label called Anticon. It was all electronic loops and white guy hip-hop.

April 1st/2nd
After the Will’s show I went to Dan’s dorm. Dan and I hung out in Orlando all night and stopped by friends’ houses. We smoked cigars and talked about the old movies we used to make.

April 2nd
Ran Against All Authority show in Vero Beach.

April 4th
I had to wake up at 5:30 in the morning to go hang dry wall with Josh. We arrived at the home owner’s townhouse on the beach at 7 am. The guy came out of his house in boxers and a robe. He looked just like Alfred Molina’s character in Boogie Nights. This particular gentleman was an artist. He paints big marijuana leaves and such. The type you find in head shops and at flee markets. Hey kept saying “all right man!” all day.

You are the epitome of everything evil in this world. The crazy frog moped noises you created at the tender age of 17 have led me to insanity. I have considered committing suicide and leaving a note explaining the messages hidden within your “ring tone.” Drastic times call for drastic measures. I put ring tone in quotations because I can not imagine anybody using this as a ring tone. But according to this article, it is the number one selling ring tone of all time. So I now must write another letter.

Sincerely,
Nick

—————————————-

Dear Crazy Frog Ring Tone User,

You are a massive tool.

Sincerely,
Nick

Link!

STAR VALLEY ‘82
By: Randall Sowa

In 1981, Sowa and a fellow employee of Air Service International began work on Norider Helicopter shirts. Screened at a friend’s house, and dried in his mother’s back yard, these shirts were soon being sold independently in Star Valley, Wyoming just in time for the summer seismic contract season of 1982. It was modern folk art, and the young changing culture of the Eighties snapped it up as their own. In part one, Sowa recalls the origin of the Juggies and what exactly it took to be one of America’s pioneers.

In the oil and gas exploration business, aka “seismic”, the prospectors are known as Juggies. This name deriving from the geophones, or “Jugs”, that they spike into the earth with. “Portable” jobs can not be accessed by four wheel drive vehicles so the helicopter industry becomes the prospector’s pack mule. With that connection, a difficult earth-bound job is given a high octane shot of fun. Let the hovering begin.

Being a Juggie in Star Valley, Wyoming during the 1980’s was nothing less than knowing, without a doubt, that you were working in the belly of the seismic beast, sharing in a historic time and place with dozens of other crews and hundreds upon hundreds of hard-core, uphill lugging, dynamite sniffing, half crazed nature freaks with a passion for most things loud, dangerous, and beyond convention. These guys rode helicopters to work each day. In the mountains, the LZ’s are not plentiful. The winds forever changing and blowing up your ass when you could honestly use a little headwind, and the odds of cheating death are definitely in the favor of the dealer.

The thrill of the Juggies dangerous choice of summer employment was notarized by the fact that they were getting paid to work outdoors in some of the most inhospitable terrain along the Western Overthrust. Where they neck-rolled 90 pound cable on 60 degree slopes, enduring the elements from dark-thirty to dark-thirty every day that was suitable for flying. They played with explosives and prima-cord, challenging the afternoon thunderstorms. They boarded helicopters by leaping from boulders in river canyons to the skid, a maneuver called a “toe-in”. They slept on the rocks, waiting on temperamental computer malfunctions in the Doghouse. In the course of a few weeks each would either bond an adventurous respect for their pilot’s abilities, or be placed with a driver who didn’t jive with the chemistry of the day and spend the contract being more scared than thrilled. The characters came from all walks of American life.

Maggot John lived in a converted post office delivery truck, complete with the steering wheel on the English side. He took his name from a notorious Missoula, Montana rugby team of which he was a lifetime member. He generally slept in the National Forest down along the Snake, a few miles outside of town.

Myc

The ex-marine helicopter mechanic slept with his dog, Bogart, in the back of a 1972 Chevy Blazer, calling it the mobile doghouse. Bogart was born in Iran and had traveled in the Blazer from New England, to Central America, and all the way North into Canada, with stints on the West Coast of California and the desert of Arizona. He was a road dog and the ex-marine driver was a road scholar.

Ed The Surveyor

Ed the surveyor, and his four man crew, were from Conrad, Montana. A lively, good-natured, and hard partying group who knew each other well. Hell, they knew each other’s parents, grandparents, and entire history all the way back to the days of covered wagons and pioneers. Needless to say, Conrad is a small place. They were comfortable with one another, their habits, their predictabilities, and the simple fact that each day’s adventure usually delivered them to a local town bar shortly after dark. They seemed to be on a perpetual post-high school field trip. It was the days of cassette tapes and Ed always had tunes in his 1970 Mercury Marquis. Due to the Marquis’ weight (nearly that of the Seventh Fleet), and her well-worn shock absorbers, the car was known by all whom she transported as “Scrape”. Scrape had a great selection of tunes that spread a non-traditional music culture across the High Plains of John Wayne’s wild west. Due to an unfortunate alcohol addiction from a young age, Ed would often be late for 7 AM “office call”. But his buddies didn’t mind, this was a part of knowing Ed. Fortunately, everyone lived in the same old hotel along the main drag and pulling Ed from his warm covers was what buddies did.

Mike was a large, young, and happy Irishman who had an addictive smile and a deep love for his cocker spaniel puppy. He liked rum with a splash of Coca Cola as well, but not nearly as much as his dog. One particular morning the cocker spaniel jumped from the first floor roof of a hotel because she saw Mike walking towards town without her. The love was reciprocal. The two were like Burns and Allen.

Packy

Packy was a Visalia, California native. A second generation misplaced Okie thanks to the great depression of 1929. Packy had seen a lot of seismic action and had worked for a basketful of companies but mostly enjoyed screwing with the minds of the French who had a sizeable presence in the oil exploration business. He generally slept in a tent and carried all of his worldly possessions in a 1968 Ford Falcon known as The High Plains Drifter. Like everyone else, Packy enjoyed his music. In his opinion there was nothing better than Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane” full tilt on headphones, under a star infested Wyoming sky, with his feet near the fire and wrapped in a hard-worn dirty orange down parka. Or Van Morrison nailing “Wild Night”. Pleasures are easy when you live a simple life.

Vic

Vic slept in an empty U-Haul box truck behind the Conoco, where the helicopters roosted each night. He’d lay cable all day, party with buddies at night, then finish the day cooking on a backpacking stove, listening to music the whole way through. The U-Haul was a comfortable home, compared to the often unfavorable Wyoming weather just outside the truck’s aluminum skin. Each morning Vic would roll up the back door of that great orange container, breath in the pre-dawn chill, and try to make the only cafe in town before the first-light rush would hit. The rush at the cafe often depended on the success of the previous night’s partying.

America needed oil and the big boys had government money to go looking for it. Star Valley was one of the hot spots with competing crews ’shooting’ line upon overlapping line, summer after summer, with guarded data dissected and scrutinized by geologists as though it were a National Security Confidential file. Expensive numbers. Seismic companies were of all flavors. Huge outfits like the French CGG, and SPX, all the way down to smaller mom and pop companies like Rocky Mountain Geophysical, which was run by an energetic, sawed off dynamo co-owner named Shorty.

The whole industry was in motion at all times. Forever moving to the end of the line. Moving base camp, new LZ’s each day, new motels, new campgrounds. Living in the city park, behind the bar, or in the motel parking lot. A day off to wash clothes and party in the sunshine was a rare luxury. We worked dawn to dusk. Miss morning call and you are down the road. One strike and you’re out. Guys would show up for morning assignments in all states of ill repair. It seemed, if you were half-cocked, could walk, and see relatively straight then there was never a problem. Notorious Juggie bars like Jeeps in Alpine Junction, Wyoming; Pioneer in Choteau, Montana; Railhead in Montpelier, Idaho; The Mint in Townsend, Montana; or The Rusty Nail in Red Lodge, Montana all had a tolerance for the rowdy and predictably wild nights that summer seismic seasons provided. Every night was a Saturday, and the only trouble was knowing when to realize last call.

A twenty-two man jug crew was average for a portable job. They were tough individuals, mostly in their early twenties, often wiry, industrious, and self sufficient. Since the largest part of their days required dealing with an out-of control production quota, time was of the essence. Sensitive equipment had to be repaired with elk shit and a Swiss Army Knife. The crews faced elements of nature that were forever inventive. Snow, rain, and 80 degree heat all in the same afternoon. Not to mention the wind, and the dangers of crossing the rivers. Or having a chopper pilot dispatch a cable bag from the carousel at the end of a hundred foot longline and watching the orange weighted bastard slide 400 feet down slope, knowing that the next half hour would be hell as you had to mule the bag back to where it started its journey.

At daybreak, if it wasn’t raining or windy, the lucky minority got to fly to the ‘line’. Few things are as breathtaking as lifting off from the morning staging area, whether it be in downtown Afton, Wyoming or from the ‘office’ motel parking lot on the edge of town next to the Raven Drive Inn. All sense of the prior night’s alcohol and sleep abuse were now vaguely recalled as the helicopter rose like a yo-yo on a magical string to the top of the first ridge for a view as unbelievable as yesterday’s unbelievable view. The feeling of being in those canyons, cheating the ever changing winds, and hovering on a thread day in and day out enforced a bond on each seismic crew that surpassed anything an employer could ever mandate.

Crews that were comfortable with their pilot often requested, and were given, some of the best rotor rides that Shell or Texaco money could buy. A hard driven crew never lacked testosterone, opinion, or attitudes, but an able mountain longline pilot could hush a load of passengers, so that humility and respect of the fearful edge is all that could be heard in anyone’s headset. Silence swallowed in gasps. Silence being the whine from the transmission, the whop from the main blades, the insidious roar of a turbine, and the constant motion of the lateral vibration. Their hearts were alive and pounding blood from toe to temple. And then someone would break squelch over the intercom and say, “Bitchin’, righteously bitchin’.”

The long low angles of morning sun would strafe from ridge to ridge, leaving the dark green shadows of deep canyons cold and damp until the mid-day sun would force steam from the mossy deadfall. The view from those heights seemed to stretch all the way into Colorado. Then the machine would drop down into the forest to a hover hole where the dream portion of the day would end.

Front crew laying out new cable, phones and sticks; head linesman troubleshooting two miles of evolving cables; powdermen stringing prima-cord and placing dynamite; shooters making the shot ‘hot’ and then violating the earthly quiet with a 90 pound blast that would thunder through the backcountry, ricocheting from ridge to ridge, trying to find a way out of the canyon and down some river valley to finally dissipate in a fifth generation farmers alfalfa field. There’s the backcrew picking up the equipment, loading it in bags while the runner carries them all to one location. He would then call the chopper in to fly it all forward on a 12 hook carousel. And then there’s the trashman, cleaning up the un-natural debris of destruction as the observer orchestrates the production from the recorder or “doghouse”.

The small western towns were bristling. Rock City, Wyoming became Rocket City and was forever changed by the onslaught of oil and gas. Its traditional valued lifestyle busted at the seams as the wild west came alive within its streets. There were interminable fistfights, shootings, lack of housing, lack of water, dirty politics, topless clubs, abundant drug trafficking and lots of money rolling in. I must not forget to mention Gillette, Wyoming; or the tiny town of Kemmerer, Wyoming, with its two motels and 30 knot constant winds; Big Pine; Pinedale; and Smoot with its sole campground at the base of an awesome mountain over-run for the entire summer by young men and a few women all working on seismic crews. There were mostly tents but, not uncommonly, there were a few individuals who would dump a camper off the back of a pickup and plug in a power cord, a water hose and build a fire ring in front of the door for when company came to party. Which was fairly constant and always after dark and being in Wyoming there would generally be fireworks involved.

There was one individual, in fact, who was mentioned in a Rolling Stone article of the day. He bought an entire bedroom and living room of furnishings in Rock City, hauled it out to the prairie near the rig on which he was employed and set it around on the open ground and lived there until it was time in the Fall for the snow to blow and college to begin. He drove off and left the wretched mess to the prairie dogs and antelope, never thinking twice that the whole idea might be just a little odd.

A young man, hard-working as a basic bust-ass laborer, could easily clear 50 thousand 1980 dollars a season. That is if drugs didn’t complicated the equation. Juggies themselves were a basic cross section of young post-Disco America who didn’t work on rigs and, therefore, generally made minimum wage. The Seattle Grunge era had begun, English Punk was on the charts and ‘alternative’ was the young non-status quo. The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Misfits, The Clash, Iggy Pop and similar groups came out of the basements and into a quasi-mainstream listening audience. Stevie Ray Vaughn was re-defining East Texas Blues to a generation that didn’t listen to John Mayal or Eric Clapton.

And these guys, hauling dynamite from the Moab desert mesas and canyons up the spine of the Rocky Mountains all the way to Pole Bridge, Montana were a microcosm of this change in societal attitudes. A mix of individuals as diverse as the layers of the Grand Canyon, joined in a non-organized brotherhood of impossible living and working conditions, coaxed by a few incentives in the form of ’shot bonus’, per diem, and the radical fact that they were active and equal participants in some of the least regulated and most thrilling helicopter operations that have ever existed on the North American Continent. A time and place where a soaking wet bone tired ex-city dweller from Minneapolis could end the day’s work with a hammerhead stall over the A&W Root Beer Stand. Or a pair of Bell Long Ranger Helicopters could blow out of Townsend, Montana in tandem formation just above the deck of the main drag, as the local Highway Patrolman jots down their tail numbers. The guys flying always got the loudest last laugh.

Randall Sowa is the founder of NoRiderShirts.com and a former Juggie. This is what he has to say about his online store:

“Throughout the 1980’s NORIDER Shirts serviced helicopters on various seismic campaigns up and down the Rocky Mountains, and in 1982 began selling original limited helicopter silkscreen shirts from the back of a 1500 gallon, F-600 Jet-A fuel tanker. This collection of shirt-art was an instant hit with the Juggies, especially on payday. And by a stroke of inconceivable fate with the instant popularity of the movie, Napoleon Dynamite, this screen collection of vintage art has been pulled from obscurity and onto the backs of helicopter aficionados and young movie junkies from New York to San Diego. The address is noridershirts.com. The Internet has replaced the F-600 tanker. Go figure.”

My current, yet fleeting, backlash at all things UCF is making it very hard to make the right decision. My web design, promotional, and writing ventures keep expanding. Not that I am jumping the gun and saying that any of the recent events are my big ticket to fame and success, but they are definitely teaching me a lot. So my immediate reaction is to drop the school books, pick up the camera and hit the road. Maybe make a stop in Las Vegas, searching for the American Dream, while on my way to Hollywood. Once in Hollywood I would be able to spend every day playing synthesizers, riding my bike to the store, and wearing little clothes as possible. I would pick up a bad, yet radically hip, habit of smoking. I would grow my beard. Not enough to be a burly man by any chance, but enough to say, “I’m a rugged man who doesn’t know where he’ll be tomorrow.” And let me tell you, it seems that is the best kind of man to be! So what am I really trying to say in all of this? College is for the birds, and the life of adventure is key. But my mother didn’t go to college, work full time, and raise two kids so I could run off to fulfill a pre-mature career. So that’s why I am staying here, in sunny Florida. I’ll give this college deal one more year, and then we will see what’s up.

On Friday we are having the 80s prom. I have had my ear to the street and the word is, this dance is going to be huge. But hey, its free and everybody likes to party. I am going with a little more of a formal suit than I have in the past. I am passing the rolled up sleeves and pink tie for something a little more sophisticated. The suit is very early 80s, with 70s wash over still running strong. But I got this sweet cell phone so I can make calls if I have to.

Also, Amy and I have been working on moving some of my songs over to the keyboards and such. Micro KORG + Juno 2 = Carlo Of Hollywood.

Enjoy

Anyway, we had a big party at Josh’s house after the show. I was wearing the blue lounge suit from Halloween, and this time I had my dress shoes. Josh and I had a dance off to Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body.” His album sucks, but that song is great. We went back and forth quite a few times. Josh had some smooth moves, but I honesty don’t think he took it as seriously as I did. I was clearly winning until he pulled a move from Napoleon Dynamite. At that point I just gave up and let him win. I couldn’t counter an attack like that. I spent the rest of the night playing Halo 2 with Dan, err… I mean MC Kool DC. I am very unimpressed with the game.

Tonight we celebrated my turning 20. I got a CD player for my car, so I am pretty happy to be back in the 21 st century. Then James and I tried to add guitar to one of my dance songs, but it’s just not working! The guitar sounded silly, so we scrapped that idea. We began work on our Reploid Metal project tonight. I think it’s moving away from metal and more to just weird emotional music that makes you feel like your floating in space. So I am anxious to see where this project will take us.

Tonight we had a show with Tokyo Rose and In Passing. After the show we hung out at our friend’s house with the In Passing dudes. They are pretty cool guys and they happen to play good music too. So you should all check them out!

Tomorrow we have got the Seventh Star show and a party afterwards. If anybody wants to come party with us feel free to drop me a line, 321-961-3277. There will most likely be boxing and spontaneous dance parties in the living room.

Sunday James and I are recording one of my dance tracks and beginning work on our new genre. We changed the name to Reploid Metal because it rolls off the tongue better. I think we are going to shy away from using any lyrics in our songs. We will still have a narrative written out to accompany album. That’s the way we roll because were too indie for our own good. So that means we will probably release it on a rare red 7′. It’s going to be a concept album about an android realizing he has no soul. So we will see how all of that goes.

Things haven’t been making much sense. Girls tell me I’m pretty, cute, and the sweetest boy ever. They tell me I am everything rolled into one. And one girl even had a dream about making out with me and stuff. Go figure that one! But I still keep losing with the ladies. I met this amazing girl, and we both like each other a lot. But for reasons, that I totally agree with, I don’t think well be together. This is starting to get pretty depressing, as I watch it work out for everybody else so easily. It also sucks turning 20 this month. I don’t talk to any girls at BCC because most of them are lame and the only people I am around are teens at shows. Not that shows aren’t an amazing place to be friends and hang out with awesome people. I just need a social scene with girls my age. I don’t really want to go to Independent Bar or that crap. All the girls in Orlando and at The Social are so fake. Everybody is trying to impress everybody else by being so freakin original. But nobody is original. I realized that a long time ago. I can’t wait to get to film school and be artsy and smoke cigarettes with people feigning intellect. But what I must realize is that even the realization that everybody is the same and not special, doesn’t make me special or different. Which deep down I want. We all want to be unique. But I am not unique. I am like a million other people out there. People who like synth pop, art, and want to go to film school. I come across them everyday. This website isn’t even original. I am sure somebody else does the same thing, but better. And that person probably gets all the chicks too because he wears tight pants.

So James and I are going to start a metal band. We originally planned on calling ourselves Rush Jet, and we were only going to cover Mega Man themes. Incase you don’t know, the Mega Man games are about as metal as you can get. See for yourself. We decided to scrap that idea and be original. We are both big fans of Dragon Metal, such as Blind Guardian. But we want to do things differently. So I present to you, Robot Metal.

Robot Metal: A type of heavy metal music which talks about mechanical beings such as androids, replicants, cyborgs, and kidbots. Its themes may be interchangeable from band to band. Some bands argue the moral issues or robotics, while others defend it. Often times, the topic of a robot’s soul is contemplated. And the ultimate question is asked, do androids dream of electic sheep?

Taken from Repo Man (1984)

Otto and Miller in vacant lot under bridge

Otto holds up book he’s about to throw in burning garbage can. Book says “Dioretix: The Science of Matter over Mind. By A. Rum Bi…”

Miller: A lot of people don’t realize what’s really going on. They view life as a bunch of unconnected incidences and things. They don’t realize that there’s this like lattice of coincidence that lays on top of everything. I’ll Give you an example, show you what I mean. Suppose you thinking about a plate of shrimp. Suddenly somebody will say like plate or shrimp or plate of shrimp out of the blue no explanation. No point in looking for one either. It’s all part of a cosmic unconsciousness.

This is me. I tried to make a stupid face for my student ID. This is the face I made in all of last year’s Christmas pictures. The face my mom gets mad at me over. The H stands for Honor Student. The Mike stands for money. And the D is for Diamonds.

James’ outfit was totally rad. He was dressed up as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ vigilante friend, Casey Jones. I must say that his costume was much better than mine had been a few years earlier. I was going for the theatrical adaptation of Casey Jones, with a vest and jeans. James on the other hand went with the traditional version of Casey from his debut in 1985’s TMNT: Raphael #1 comic. Plus James has the long hair which gives him extra cred. Now that I have proved my complete lack of girls I will continue with the story.

We sat around and drank a lot of root beer, even did root beer bongs. The party picked up a bit when our cousin Ben arrived with the Fun Police. By Fun police I mean Shaun in a cowboy hat and small child’s armor breast plate reading “SWAT Special Forces.” At this point I decided to set the party in real motion by throwing off all of my clothes, with the exception of my boxers, and putting on the Casey Jones hockey mask. I ran into the front yard yelling like a crazed man. The guys decided it would be great to leave me locked outside, so they did. Soon my brother was in the same boat as I was and we snuck around the house peeping in windows. James retrieved several bottle rockets from within my car and snuck back through the garage. Luckily he had a key, so re-entry was no problem. I was crouching outside the front door, still half-naked, holding a stuffed chicken. I was waiting for them to unlock the door, my moment to attack.

When the door was finally opened I stormed inside the house and was barraged with fireworks. What followed was a spectacle of hisses and pops as we lit off bottle rockets inside the house. 10 minutes later, black marks covered the hall walls and we were cleaning up broken glass by the front door. We had thought it was a good idea to break bottles in the foyer, with little consideration for later arriving guests. However the bottle rocket war was far from over. We soon took our fight to the streets. As we drove down an empty road in suburban Orlando we launched bottle rockets between our two cars. Finally we were forced to get serious. With the running of a yellow light, James pulled away from us and into the refuge of a gas station.

Like a pack of wolves, John, Shaun, and I circled around back and lingered in the adjacent shopping center. The details of the following hour are too meticulous to explain in great detail, but I can sum them up for you. The battle involved many heated moments. At one point I dropped my two soldiers off to hide behind the entrance sign of a nearby neighborhood. As luck would have it, James pulled up on me as I was circling around and I was able to lead him right into our ambush. The guerilla attack was not as successful as I had hoped and the battle soon poured back into the streets. As we roared down another road the calculated attacks continued.

As I stated earlier, we kept no secrets. I told her about the letters, the meaning behind the songs on her mix cds (yeah I am hopeless), and the all the events that tore me apart during the past three years. She spoke of the times she cried on the floor, her parents wondering what was wrong. She told me about the “Nick Box” that contains every thing I ever gave her, or that slightly relates to me. We talked about sex, kissing, and relationships. And while I spent the later half of our conversation going over every minute detail on the progression of us, I could tell she was listening. Listening so intently to words I couldn’t believe I was saying. We both spoke as if the people we mentioned were not us. As if we were talking about some sort of strange romantic comedy where the boy doesn’t get the girl but somehow it all ends happy anyway. And it did end happy. I left her car feeling more alive than I ever had before. More in love than I ever had before.

But it wasn’t love like it had been earlier. It was a different love. A love that supersedes those of any romantic nature. It has gone past that and into something I don’t understand at all. Maybe this is what love really is. I thought it was true love before, but with that I could explain it. I could explain the pit in my stomach and the want to scream, yell, and cry all at once. However for these feelings now, I can not convey them with any words. Only those who have experienced such a moment will be able to relate. For the rest of you I feel sorry.

John and I quite enjoyed ourselves on the Fire Ring. (That’s that big ring with the cars that go back and forth.) After awhile the ride gets kind of un-fun as you think about what it is like to fall from a building. I was also afraid that a kid might throw up in front of us when were on the incline. We would have been helpless to defend ourselves as the vomit spread like a shotgun blast over our surprised faces. This would have undoubtedly caused a chain reaction, resulting in all of us throwing up on each other. After the ride John exclaimed that, “this is the best night of my life.” I agreed, but when I did I almost slipped on the walkway and ate it. After the Fire Ring we enjoyed the huge slide. It was pretty dope and only one ticket. (On a side note: Tickets were a dollar each! I could never afford a fair every week.) After the slide we decided to take it easy in the bingo room. A nice older man named Dick assisted us with the rules and playing cards. Dick said that we looked like we were there to win and we whole heartedly agreed with him. I was one I-27 away from a bingo when some guy next to us called out bingo and enthusiastically held his card up.

John and I decided to blow that popsicle hut and experience some more rides. We proceeded to one ride that simulated flight with a hand glider, a three man hang glider that is attached to a huge metal frame with which 10 other hand gliders are attached. We tried to pretend like we were super man and keep a straight face the whole way through, but I just couldn’t do it. After the hang gliders we rode the slide again. This little boy with a mullet was scared to go down the slide. I could relate with him. I was scared of quite a lot of things at that age. Actually, to tell you the truth, this event was the first fair that I had ever gone to where I rode the “scary�? rides. When I was younger I was a real pansy. John and I offered to go down with him but he still declined. We should have grabbed him by the arms and forced him into growing up and stop being such a sissy, but his parents were at the bottom and I doubt they would have seen the positives in our actions. John and I raced down the slide at warped speeds. When we reached the bottom a lady told us that we were the champs. And to tell you the truth, we felt like champs. John and I hi-fived many times throughout the night.

At one point we were walking by a game stand and the attendant pointed out that we were wearing really nice blazers. I enjoyed the compliment, even though I think he was just trying to coax us in to playing his game. It worked. I sat down to play and handed the man a dollar. He told me that it was actually three dollars to play. Three bucks?! But there was a catch. If I won I got to pick any prize I wanted. So I played, I won, and I rocked. I chose a stuffed animal prize so that I could give it to this girl that I have been interested in as of late. Needless to say she really liked it and told me that, “I’m the sweetest boy ever.” I thought about pulling a Brodie and telling her, “I’m all man lady.” But it would have ruined the moment

After sharing a funnel cake, John and I dipped out of the fair. One volleyball game and a traffic ticket later (John got it, not me!) we found ourselves at Applebee’s with my brother Jimmie and the rest of the band, A Denver Mile. It was strange because everybody from their old band, Mach Orange, was present at this dinner. I feel like everything that has happened over the last four years has come full circle. We are all happy now. Mark is married to Meghan, with a baby on the way. Joe and his girlfriend are back together. Ricky is working at the pizza shop again. And most importantly John and I are friends once more. I felt like Friday night was redemption between John and I. I finally let go of all the anger I had held up inside of me for the last few years and forgave him. Things are so strange right now. I feel that I am generally in a good mood these days, contrary to about a month ago. I am looking forward to many more good things happening as winter comes. I have a whole lot of vests that haven’t even been rocked yet.