Yep...everything was going great this weekend until late Sunday afternoon. Seriously, nothing could have been more perfect until that unless Jill Wagner came knocking on my door to profess her undying love for me. So what all happened? Sit back...it's story time. But first I do have to write about something that really annoyed me last week. On Monday morning, I had to meet my boss and another co-worker at Panera Bread in Brentwood to interview someone for work. The woman we were interviewing is a strong candidate, but travels a lot with her current job, so our boss made arrangements to meet up there at 8:00 in the morning. I had never been to this place, but had heard a lot about their incredible bagels. And seeing how I'm not going to go out of my way for a bagel, especially in the morning when I'm part of the walking dead, I had yet to go there. I get up a little earlier and arrive. I go in...now remember it's 8:00 in the morning...and it was PACKED with Johnny Businessmen drinking their coffee and working on their laptops. I wanted to scream. There is only ONE reason someone would actually get up early enough to go sit at this place on their laptops while drinking a coffee and such an ungodly hour - self importance. I can't think of any logical reason why someone would do this except to try to look important and follow the crowd of the "movers and shakers" in the business world. I seriously doubt these people don't have an internet connection at home, and they could always go to the office early if they needed to work. But nooooo....they have to sit their sipping their latte's while looking up stock quotes or something else to look like they're really on top of the market. Someone told me that maybe they come up there because things are too chaotic at home with the kids or whatever, and they really need to get some stuff done. Ok, if that's the case then discipline your kids so they won't bug you. And of course while I'm in line to get a Diet Coke for some much needed caffeine, people in front of me were on their cell phones. Oh I know, big surprise. I know, I know, I shouldn't let it bother me...but I just can't stand how in this era of all these gadgets that people have to walk around in public with them like NO ONE else has one. Like when I worked at Comp USA in the mid-90's, and when someone would ask if we had something in stock, they would have to tell me that they were calling me from their car phone and would be there shortly...as if I cared where they were calling me from. Yes, I have a cell phone, and that's because it's cheaper than a regular long distance plan. But I don't walk around through stores chatting away or reading the descriptions off the back of DVD boxes at Blockbuster to someone. And now...back to my story....
Friday afternoon I left work at 4:30 because of a very special event - opening day of "Resident Evil: Extinction". There was no line when I got there. I was able to buy my bladder-buster sized Diet Coke and a bag of peanut M&M's with no problems. I went into the theater, sat in the front row, and the previews were LOUD. This meant I wouldn't hear ANYONE in the theater. Yep, I never heard anyone even so much as clear their throat during the movie because of how loud it was. Now earlier in the day I was online reading some reviews, and when the page listed the movie and the rating, the reason it was rated "R" was detailed - "constant/non-stop violence, language, nudity". So I was hoping the movie would start with Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter slashing up zombies, and then realize that their clothes were too hot and constricting, so they needed to strip-down to continue fighting. Sadly, that didn't happen, but I loved the movie. A Road Warrior-ish world filled with zombies, hot Milla kicking some serious zombie ass, and even zombie birds. Oh I know, sounds stupid with the birds, doesn't it? Well if someone had told me it had zombie birds I would have thought that sounded pretty dumb. But it made sense...the birds would feast on the destroyed zombie flesh which meant they would be infected and become ravenous as well. The movie has no real redeeming qualities to it at all outside of being entertaining as heck...and that's exactly what I was expecting. Guns, explosions, hot women, zombies, blood, it had all the needed ingredients. After that it was on to practice where we tore through our upcoming set twice. Saturday started with a viewing of the new movie "The Condemned". I really thought it was going to be stupid since it starred "Stone Cold" Steve Austin...but it was pretty friggin good. I spent the rest of the afternoon putting new strings on my bass and getting everything ready for our gig at The Gibson Showcase that night. Here was the problem - The Georgia/Alabama game started at 6:45 that night. I HAD to watch this game somehow. So we load in at 6:00 and start getting all the bands' gear backlined on the stage. I asked the sound guy if we're going to do a soundcheck, and he told me that he only does the first band just to get levels up and everyone else gets a minute or two for a level check before they start. This meant I wasn't needed until we went on, which was scheduled at 10:30. The time was 6:50 and I bolted out of there and began doing a VERY fast walk through Opry Mills Mall to get to Dave and Busters for the game. I was ready to run people over who were blocking my way while out shopping...like they really needed to be out buying anything. I arrive and quickly move to the bar just in time to see Georgia score their first TD of the game. Oh yeah, excellent timing. The other guys came in and because Tennessee is becoming a Nazi state, the only place you could smoke was if you were sitting right at the bar...no smoking at the tables. This meant they couldn't watch the game with me because there weren't any open chairs. So they went over to the bar at the bowling alley to see if there were any seats. There were, and they got the bartender to turn the Georgia game on. Now I'm not exactly calm while watching Georgia play, especially in a game as big as this one was, but I didn't want to order a lot of drinks since we were playing later on. So I kept downing Diet Coke after Diet Coke. Add to this the fact I was chainsmoking while watching the game because of how close it was, and I was wired beyond belief. I joked with Don earlier that day that the game would probably go to overtime and wouldn't be over when we went on. Well it almost became a reality. At 10:00 I knew I needed to head back just in case any of the other bands' sets didn't go that long or something like that. I get back to The Gibson Showcase, and they have two TV's on at their bar with the game on it. One of the sound guys walked by and said "hey, you guys are on next" so I told the players on the TV to hurry up! The score was tied late in the game and we were about to have to start. The band that was on announced it was their last song...only minutes to go! I turn back to the TV as Georgia is lining up to kick a field goal with about 3 seconds on the clock. Guess what...HE MISSED IT!!!! It was time for overtime and we had to go play. I couldn't believe it, and of course Don is laughing at me. I was so tense and so wired from all the Cokes, the cigarettes, and of course the game...plus the excitement of getting to play this venue, I was bouncing off the walls. I'm getting my gear wired up trying to see the TV on the other side of the room wondering how in the heck I'll be able to play...seriously. We get setup and start noodling around for some levels, and then this guy comes running up to the stage to tell me Georgia just won!!! I was ecstatic...and was still unbelievably wired. Anna from 102.9 the Buzz introduced us...and we brought the thunder! Thankfully I had a way to expel all this pent up energy...haha. Oh man did we ROCK! The soundguy Steve made a CD of the set from the soundboard, and I'm checking it out right now to hear how cool I sounded over and over. The monitor mix was awesome...and our new drummer Ben friggin SLAMMED! We played some brand new stuff, and I thought we slayed. I was telling one of the soundguys before we started that we've been compared to Motorhead, Sabbath, and Slayer. After we got done he was like "man...those bands you said you were compared to is just dead on" and told me just how much we rocked. H evolved it, and the other soundguy Steve told me how thankful he was to finally hear someone play some REAL heavy metal for a change. We get the gear off the stage, and I go outside to smoke and just calm down for a minute. People were coming up to me saying how much ass we kicked, how it was amazing to see a guitar player playing actual solos, and how badass our drummer is. I was ecstatic by how well we went over, and I couldn't believe how many people came up to me to tell us how much they dug it. Now I'm feeling pretty darn good about everything. Georgia won, we rocked, and now it was time to go sit down for a few for a lot of water. The next band, and I don't know their name, took the stage. Me, Don, Ben and several others are sitting in a large booth and I noticed how many VERY hot girls were up at the front of the stage for the next band. I told Don that once again, we have more proof that our music scares chicks because of the sheer power. This girl who was sitting with us goes "no, your music scares young sorority GIRLS...a WOMAN loves your music", to which I had to agree...hahaha. Now I'm not trying to put down that next band at all. The guys could obviously play, it's just that style I don't dig very much. I don't know how to describe it except to say it reminds me of a lot of the newer metal bands I see on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball". Again, not knocking those guys, I just don't "get it"...I guess I'm just a dinosaur. But it was a very cool gig, and did I say we absolutely brought the thunder? Well, it needed to be repeated. I wanted to stay for Skullkin's whole set, but after they played two songs I was about to crash...and I knew I had just enough energy for the drive home. Sunday was a little different. I'm having a good time eating some burgers, watching some football...and then the Atlanta game starts. They are playing better than they had all year...until late in the 3rd quarter. They started getting GASHED on running plays and ended up losing by 7 points. Yep, 7 points stood between me and a perfect weekend. The only thing that could make it end on a positive is if Jill Wagner stops by to profess her undying love to me like I mentioned earlier...and there's still time! Maybe...just maybe...
Anyone who reads this, we're jamming in Murfreesboro next Friday night. I can't remember the name of the club so check out www.myspace.com/noisecult.
Oh, and last Sunday was a cool night. Don was going out of town for a few days for a job and dropped off the final mixes of two new songs to Aljon. That's the guy who hosts the local buzz on 102.9 here on Sunday nights. I stayed up until about 11:30 before it came on...and I was floored. The tune was "Wasting My Time"...the one I wrote the music and words for. He gave it a great intro saying how much he dug it and couldn't wait to hear more. When the song was playing, I was thinking to myself "dude...here's a song where you wrote everything...and it's on the radio". Now I did get airplay with a Christian metal CD I did a few years back when I lived in Texas, but it was a syndicated show that didn't broadcast in Austin, so I never got to hear it. It was pretty unreal to hear something I wrote on the radio. Some may not think it's a big deal or whatever, but it my world it kicked MAJOR ass. Plus, we'll be guests on the local buzz Sunday night October 7th to promote the Overkill show...so tune in! Man, do I just completely rock or what?
Ready for some DVD suggestions? Watch "Death Proof"...KICKS ASS! Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike who stalks his victims and kills them using a 1970 Dodge Chevelle. The car chase scene over the last 20 minutes or so of the movie is SUCH a throwback to some of those 70's movies. It was awesome...and had some quality Tarantino dialogue in it. It's like one review I read about said, Kurt Russell should get an Oscar nod for his role...he was THAT good. I also checked out "We Are Marshall". Yeah, not exactly a "feel-good" movie, but I guess it would be hard to make a movie about an entire college football team dying in a plane crash and not have it be a wee bit depressing. However, do not let that deter you from watching it. I love watching true stories and reading biographies and so forth because I think there are so many amazing stories about people's real lives. To me, the overall theme of the movie was that we all have a life to live. No matter what happens, no matter what tragedy you experience, no matter what obstacles and roadblocks are in your way, you still have to get up the next day and live. Not to get too deep here, but most of the characters in the movie felt guilty about wanting to move on and live their lives when such a horrible tragedy had happened to the area. It just really showed that when something happens that you had no control over, that you don't have to sit around beating yourself up and feeling guilty for wanting to move on after a normal grieving process. What's a normal grieving process? Heck, I have no idea...but there does come a time where someone has to stop feeling guilty because they might actually enjoy something and feel good about their life. But enough on that.
Guess what? The trailer for the "Iron Man" movie came out this week, and I can say that I am VERY excited. When I heard Robert Downey was playing Tony Stark, I was kind of like "hmmm...I don't know about that"...but after watching the trailer I have hope. Plus, the trailer actually played the song "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath...like I even needed to say who did the song...hahaha. A bunch of terrorists are standing there with guns pointed at a steel door...Iron Man comes smashing through...and that distorted Ozzy voice blasts out "I AM IRON MAN" as the song keep going and he kills a bunch of terrorists. I am quite intrigued. So this means next summer I have this movie, the new Hulk movie, the new Batman movie, and RAMBO too look forward to.
And finally...no...Jill Wagner hasn't stopped by...but something better happened. MY VAN HALEN TICKETS ARRIVED!!! Yes, I'll be heading to Indianapolis in a couple of weeks to see the mighty Van Halen!!!! That's the REAL Van Halen with David Lee Roth in case you didn't know. Hey, women come and go, but the memories of a kickass concert last forever!