Shoeboxes

I had the privilege to see David Ramirez play at the Ghost Room in Austin a week or so ago. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten chills from a live performance, but David’s was the exception. I found this video and thought you might like it. He’s got a ton of other videos that you should check out.

Hotel Cafe 10.6.10

Hey everybody,

I’ll see you in LA next Wednesday!

Wellwisher Lyrics

A Narrow Place

I feel like I’m in the middle of a war. And I feel like I’m being led to the wolves. And the War’s between the water and the well. And I don’t know whose side I’m on. I say I’m strong, but honest to God I’m not. I don’t know of an easy way out. And I’m finding it’s hard to help myself. Even with all the courage that I show, I’ll still be waiting here alone. I say I’m strong, but honest to God I’m not. I say I’m strong, but honest to God I’m not. It’s a tune I’ve taught myself. It’s a terrible one, but this isn’t what I want and it’s hard to sing out. All the water’s going to dry up soon. And when it does this well is just a tomb. All the water’s going to dry up soon. And when it does this well is just a tomb. I say I’m strong, but honest to God I’m not. It’s a tune I’ve taught myself. It’s a terrible one, but this isn’t what I want and it’s hard to sing out. I say I’m strong, but honest to God I’m not. It’s a tune I’ve taught myself. It’s a terrible one, but this isn’t what I want and it’s hard to sing out.

Southern Light

All this time has taught me that I am a weak wall, crumbling. And long ago, on another day, I was different then, standing straight. And all my humble dreams are small cracks in its seams, oh. I’m under a southern light. And I’m looking at the other side. All this seems like a melody. I don’t understand what’s happening. A chorus line or a symphony in a brilliant cathedral, whispering. And all my humble dreams are small cracks in its seams, oh. I’m under a southern light. And I’m looking at the other side.

Brothers

Oh, there’s a fire where this city was. And it’s grown since the last time we were here. Come out, come out from where you’re hiding. And call everyone that you know. Don’t save yourself. If you’re going down, then we’re going down, as brothers. Like one thousand cords, spinning around one of their own, as brothers. Oh, you’re a long way from home. And we should have told you it’s a long way alone. All of us here, want to rebuild what your city was. Oh, don’t save yourself. If you’re going down, then we’re going down, as brothers. Like one thousand cords, spinning around one of their own, as brothers. If you’re going down, then we’re going down, as brothers. Like one thousand cords, spinning around one of their own, as brothers.

On The Other Side

On the other side I hope all is calm. On the other side I hope all is bright. On the other side I hope I am able. On the other side I hope I am strong. Because enough is enough. On the other side I hope all is calm. On the other side I hope all is bright.

Texas Pigeons, American Socks, French Toast

Although I hear Fall doesn’t officially begin until the 22nd, this was one of the first days I could feel the season starting to arrive. For once it was cool enough for me to sit outside and enjoy a delicious cup of Fog Cutter Blend coffee from Austin Java, and enjoy it I did. I also enjoyed the following scene that took place at the table across from me.

Someone left a plate of French Toast on a nearby table (most likely not foreseeing the metaphor that that small act would birth). I sat and I watched as the toast sat there, patiently waiting to be nibbled. A moment later about five hungry pigeons descended onto the table to do just that. As the pigeons nibbled and pecked at the toast, a gathering of smaller birds arrived only a few feet away, eyes wide open, lustfully watching the pigeons have their way with the poor, sweet bread.

Every once in a while one of the smaller birds would muster up the courage to fly up to the table to try and grab a bite. Each time this would happen the ravenous pigeons would flap their wings and scare off the little guy. But, if one of the small birds ever did get a morsel from the pigeons, he would always share it with his friends (something none of the pigeons were doing).

As I sat and watched this unfold, I couldn’t help but think that there must be some sort of metaphor or life lesson I could learn from the scene. Over and over again the same thing would happen. A small bird would fly up, the big and tough pigeons would flap their wings, the small bird would fly away; but that tenacious small bird would always fly up again, grab a small bite, and bring it back to his friends.

What could all this mean? What was the natural world trying to teach me? Big, tough pigeons controlling the delicious toast and keeping it all to themselves; ignoring the smaller, weak birds struggling just to get some bread for themselves and their friends?

As I was sat there, deep in thought, attempting to figure it all out, a women walked up and scared all of the birds away and took their treasured French Toast. She was wearing socks that said USA in bold letters on the sides.

I still never figured out the metaphor though.

FREE EP

We’re about to head out on tour with a band from the Atlanta area called Death On Two Wheels. We both wanted to do something special for this tour so we each covered a song by the other band. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to Paste Magazine for hosting the songs!

The War Between The Water & The Well

. . . I’m about to go on a journey . . .

Barack Obama Kicks Ass!

I heard this on the radio this morning on my way to work . . .

. . . enjoy

Party in the USA

For those few of us who still remember when Tuesday nights we’re special . . .

Thanks to Mr. Anton Dang for sharing this with me.
Check out his really, really, ridiculously good sounding band HERE

The Rocketboys Are On Tour (part 6)

It’s a beautiful day here in Orlando, Florida. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining. I’m sitting in a really great coffee shop called Stardust Video & Coffee drinking my second glass of their delicious sweat tea (they have also got some great hummus, hmmm mmmm).

Earlier this afternoon we recorded a couple of stripped down songs for Relevant Magazine. It was pretty fun. The room we recorded in was really tiny, and had a weird slant on the ceiling (right above us was the ramp of a parking garage, and periodically cars would drive overhead and we’d have to wait to record).

. . . Intermission . . .

Ok, now I’m sitting at the Peacock Room, where we’re about to play a show with Louis DeFabrizio (of Gasoline Heart). He’s moving to NY tomorrow, so this is kind of his “going away” show, it’s looking like it should be a good show already. I’ve already seen a Rocketboys shirt, and talked to a couple of people that are here just to see us. So that is pretty cool . . .

. . . Intermission . . .

BEACH DAY 2010 Part 1

. . . Intermission . . .

Ok, so it’s been a couple of days since I’ve written anything, and I have more stuff to tell you, but I’ll leave you with this for now.

Before you go, I want you to watch a little video.

The Rocketboys Are On Tour (part 5)

You know those old Southern houses? The ones with the the really big front porches with columns, and really high ceilings? Well, I’m sitting in one of those houses right now in (The Red Stick, thanks James) Baton Rouge, LA.

So far this tour has been going really well. We had a really surprisingly good show in Hot Springs, AR. Let’s talk about it.

We played once in Hot Springs a couple of years ago, and it’s gone in the record books as one of the worst shows ever. We played at this place called The Attic, in the middle of the dirty ghetto of Hot Springs. We show up and the owner makes perfectly clear that there will be nothing provided to the bands (including  water. really? Not even free water? Come on!).  The show starts and there are about 16 people there. But, that is including the bands. I think there was 1 person there that wasn’t in a band. At one point The Rocketboys went onstage to sing with our friends Ethan Durelle and there were more people on stage than there were in the crowd (if you can call it a crowd). The whole night was just really strange and awkward and dumb.

But, this latest time we played there, we had a great time. There was a great crowd, the owners were super nice and treated us really well. They actually bought one of our Vinyls for their son’s 12th birthday (which is in 8 years. they’re building up a pretty sweet collection for him).

Anyway, I’m going to start eating this delicious Cajun food.

I’ll leave you with this picture of The Rocketboys delivering the news in Topeka, KS several months ago.

Stay classy everybody . . .