Well, I must say it was quite a weekend. Not only did my beloved Atlanta Falcons get their butts thoroughly kicked (and it was all my fault…instead of French bread for my hoagie and Sun Chips, I went with wheat bread and Dortio’s…big mistake…I take all the blame), but Saturday night’s gig was pretty much a disaster. Ready for the story? Here we go…..
I get to the venue around 3:00 in the afternoon to help set everything up. Chris, our singer, is already there along with some dudes from the other bands and other guys who were there to help out in the overall process. With 6 bands on the bill, any and all help would be needed. Everything is going pretty smooth…the PA is set up, then the lighting, and everything is up and running when the doors open. Next comes the part I hate…waiting. I would have to sit through two other bands before we went on, and the waiting drives me nuts. Honestly I really don’t get stage-fright…but when you’ve got a bunch of time before you go on and nothing to really do, I’m one of those types who starts up with the “what will go wrong” stuff. Oh….never did I realize how true my feelings of doom and gloom would be. The first band Skullkin plays with no problems…everything worked fine. The next band started up with their set, and then something happened. In the middle of one of their tunes, the guitar and microphones go out. They stop the tune. I didn’t know what was going on, but I remembered that during setup, there was concern about overloading power outlets so I figured that’s what it was…a circuit blew and shorted out the stuff. The guitar player switches amps out with someone, and they keep going. Even though they were able to finish, I had a real bad feeling that this was a sign of things to come. We go on next…the mighty NoiseCult. The smoke machine kicks in…the lights go down…and we begin to rock as only we can. We rip through “End of Days” and I was having a blast. People were starting to crowd the front of the stage and rock gods were being formed before their very eyes. “End of Days” finishes and leads right into “Evilution”. Everything is going perfect…I have a killer mix in my monitor and can hear everything perfectly…the crowd is really starting to dig it all and groove along….and halfway through the song it happens – my bass and the vocals go out. Don and Matt keep going but me and Chris are stuck. While the other two guys keep jamming, we’re trying to figure out what’s going on. Someone does something…not sure what…and we’re back in business. We decide to kick into “Shattered Illusions” and the crowd is right back into it….a pit breaks out and all is right in the world of rock, but not for long. We get to the solo and the bass and vocals go out again. Don and Matt keep going…someone changes something out and we try one more song….”Broken Pieces”. By now I’m getting just a wee bit ticked off. Halfway through this tune it happens again. Again, we try one more time with “From the Void”…and it goes out again so I was thinking “well…I guess that’s it”. Chris is so pissed off, he slams his mic down on the stage which pretty much caved in the wire mesh on the top of it. I figured we were done and started unplugging everything…I was mad but almost laughing because there was nothing I could do…just one of those things. A few minutes pass and Chris gets the mic working and asks for an extension chord so we can try to route the power to another outlet, but no one offered one up. Granted, one band had left already for another gig, one of the bands had been there since setup and gave up everything they had already, and one was still loading gear in the parking lot…but not a peep from anyone else. Finally one staff dude gets one…stuff is routed to another outlet, and we figured we’d try one last time. We kick into “Noisefix” since it’s our quickest tune and figured if we can get through that we’ll be ok. It works…everything stays on but I know I played pretty crappy because of all the surrounding circumstances. Thinking we might get in another song or two, we try “Shadows of Doom” and stuff goes out again. That was it…we packed up. Of course in between us and the next band everything got fixed perfectly and there weren’t anymore problems the rest of the night. Whatever…I was pretty pissed off, but at the same time I know that won’t be the last time something like that happens.
Ever seen the Seinfeld where he reserves a rental car and the car isn’t there for him to pick up? This week, Grand Theft Auto – San Andreas came out for the PS2. Oh man, have I been looking forward to this…so much so that I put $5 down to hold me a copy for when it came out. Well Tuesday someone told me it actually came out a day early, so I called Gamestop and said “Yeah, I just wanted to verify that my copy was there” and gave my name. This chick finds it, and says “oh, you only put $5 down…because of the demand for this, we may have to start selling the copies that only had $5 put down on them”. WTF? Wasn’t the purpose of putting $5 down to hold a copy??? So I tell chick, “I don’t think so. I put that down and was told that $5 would guarantee me a copy when it came out, that was the purpose of doing that…so one would be held for me”. She saw my side of it and said “it will be here when you come by”. What the heck? Isn’t the point of reserving a copy to make sure it will be there when it comes out…or does that make too much sense? And I have to say, GTA did not disappoint one bit. You know that feeling of comfort you get on a cold winter night when you’re indoors wrapped in a thick blanket sipping on hot chocolate with the little marshmallows in it? That was how I felt after busting into a crack house, capping off the dealers and saving my homies who were addicts. Gotta get the gang back together…awwwwwwwww yeah! I am feeling like a gangsta biatch! In fact, just slipped out to the hills and did my first B&E baby...just gotta duck five-0 and make it back to the hood and fix the crew up...even though Evil's car blew up! I made it home and then I crashed out, thinkin' 'bout my all night death bout...then something woke me up from my dark sleep...the sound of f#ckin police when they're tryin to creep...broke through my door without a f#ckin warning...looked at my watch it was six in the morning....hell yeah.
Need a new horror movie to help set the mood for Halloween? Go check out “Saw”. Now my loyal and faithful readers know how much I hate going to theaters…and due to my pseudo-celebrity status…I didn’t have to. I was able to get a copy viewable at home and I must say this movie rocked! I have never seen such inventive ways to kill people…like someone took pride in their work, you know? Now it wasn’t the greatest movie in the world, but here’s what I truly dug about it – the dudes who made it strived to create something new. In this day and age of “horror” movies starring the latest teen sensations, this movie really tries to tell a great story and really sucks you in. I don’t know if it’s as “disturbing” as a lot of people have said (or maybe it’s because I’m such a sicko it doesn’t phase me…hahaha), but it does have it’s moments on the creepy scale. I highly suggest it…go see it…now! This one could definitely become a classic. It's just so refreshing to see people make a movie that really strive to make a good film versus a cash cow, you know? Awwwwww yeah biatch! Wait..that was the last paragraph...I need to stop. I can't help it...it's how I grew up...being cradled to sleep by gunfire each night...gotta represent!
And finally, I can’t wait for next Wednesday…I really can’t. Why? Because this friggin election will be OVER and I can get on with life! I keep telling people how sick I am of politics and everything, yet I constantly hit “refresh” on www.drudgereport.com or www.newsmax.com about every 5 minutes checking for the latest political happenings. I listen to nothing but Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity on the radio every day at work where this time last year it was nothing but my heavy metal CD collection or sports talk radio. I’ll be at work now getting mad when someone near my cubicle is talking because I can’t hear what point Rush Limbaugh is talking about. And I have become so pathetic, I actually tape “Hannity & Colmes” at night if I’m at band practice or whatever. Did you read that? I ACTUALLY TAPE A NEWS COMMENTARY SHOW THAT RUNS NIGHTLY! What a loser! What happened to me? I mean I’ll show up for band practice and be like “man…did you see the news report where blah blah…blah blah blah…”. It’s all I think about and I want my life back. Honestly, what will change over the next few days? It's like I think I'll miss some big announcement. I think most people have known for a while who they were going to vote for regardless….which leads me to something else…the polls. How could the polls honestly fluctuate like they do? If you are sitting there only a few days away from the election and are undecided…just stay home because you are obviously an idiot. If with everything that has gone on over the last few years, you are sitting there going “well, I’m just not sure who I’m voting for yet” you probably don’t have the mental capacity to figure out how to cast your vote once you get to the booth. Serious, just stay home. But you know what the worst part is? I have a really bad feeling that this election will be one gigantic mess. I have a feeling after Tuesday all the talk will be nothing but lawsuits and recounts…I have a bad feeling that this thing will drag on for a while. Never in my life have I seen a Presidential election like this one, and I’ll be glad when it’s over. There is quite a bit at stake this time, the world is a much different place then it was 4 years ago. I could sit here and go on and on about why I’m voting for Bush versus Kerry, but what’s the point in laying out debating points? Haven't we all heard enough negativity in this campaign? I'm tired of it. These last few weeks have turned into "this guy does this wrong" and vice versa. I'm tired of the negativity big time. So here's what I want to do...I don't think it's any secret I'm voting to re-elect George W. Bush, but now let me explain why...and in doing so I can guarantee one thing - I will not mention John Kerry or John Edwards. I'm not going to sit here and praise my guy while dogging the other...I am going to explain exactly where I'm coming from when I cast my vote...and to me it wouldn't matter who the opponent was this year. I generally believe most people are full of crap...one might even call me cynical...just a tinge anyway. Generally I live on the principle that most people are full of it until they prove me wrong...may not be the best way to do it, but it gets me through the day. I'll be honest, I really didn't know much about George W. Bush when he became President in 2000....but several months later I found out all I needed to know. September 11 changed me, and it changed the world we live in. Much like December 7, 1941, it was a defining moment in our history. Bush took a stand and I bet 9 out of 10 people you talk to would say going into Afghanistan and getting rid of the Taliban regime was a good thing. The division comes when Iraq is mentioned. To me, the number one thing involved in this election is national security...everything else is an afterthought because without national security nothing else matters. I mentioned I'm cynical and it takes a lot to earn my respect. Well guess what...President Bush has earned my respect. In fact, if there is anyone walking this earth that would be at the top of my respect list, Bush would be near the top along with my dad. Bush may not be right all the time, but what I admire is that fact he will take action...he will take a stand and see it through. I admire someone for taking a stand even if I disagree...because when they take a stand they are being honest about who they are...regardless of whether or not I agree...because then you know where they are coming from. Simply put...I believe in my heart that George W. Bush is honestly trying to do the right thing when some want to view the world in shades of gray instead of black and white. I truly believe that when President Bush speaks...he is speaking the truth and doesn't sugarcoat it...which pisses a lot of people off. I truly believe in my heart that going into Iraq and removing a ruthless madman was the right thing to do...and it amazes me whenever I hear someone in the armed forces echoing that thought when this war is not supposed to be the right thing to do. I truly believe in my heart that we are safer now then we were...and the thing about it is that we don't know how many attacks have been foiled because it would be a breach of intelligence and expose the way we get information. I honestly believe President Bush is trying to do the right thing...and especially when he has been surrounded with piles of BS since he took office...the guy has had to make some EXTREMELY difficult decisions. We all make mistakes..no one is perfect..we can all second guess things once something is done...but I am so thankful we have a President who is willing to take action. It bothers people some that Bush openly professes his faith...but you know what? George Washington said "it is impossible to govern men without God and The Bible". The term "separation of church and state" has lost it's meaning. I respect our President...something I haven't been able to say in a while. I think it's awesome that me...one cynical dude can have so much respect for the leader of the country I live in. I could go on and on...but that's why I am voting for Bush on November 2. All I ever ask from people is to be honest about who they are...let me know where you're coming from and even if I disagree...I at least know who you are. One of my oldest and best friends won't be voting for Bush this coming week...but he has his reasons...and even though we disagree I do know where he is coming from so I respect that. I hope everyone who can votes this week...this is one of the most important elections in history. All I ask is this...look in your heart and recognize what really matters to you and vote honestly. Don't vote because you're against something...vote because you are FOR something. All votes count...2000 showed us that...do it. That's it...I'm out this week sportsfans...I think I'll play more Grand Theft Auto....AWWWWWWWW YEAH!!!!!!!
Seriously...the heart of the man I'm voting for is shown here....check out this photo and the link below.