Fissures...a Recap

Last night's Fissures show was incredibly fun and completely surprising in some ways while in others it was entirely predictable. First, the predictable outcomes of the show still were funny. Even though the show was mostly attended by friends, it was that aspect that allowed for the humor to really come through; and my friends were extremely kind and offered immense encouragement. 

The surprising can only be described in that when I looked up and saw me staring back at myself while I was playing, confusion and fits of laughter followed.

It was a long set as the people at the store were gracious enough to allow me the freedom to do whatever I wanted to do. Rick, Robbie, and company were awesome...thanks for putting up with everything. The set was fun with 2 ambient/ noise pieces that clocked in at a half hour then an acoustic song (In Waves, a song from a previous band that I was in called Walk Like Ghosts), another ambient/noise piece that clocked in at about 20 minutes and then two more acoustic songs (awful but heartfelt renditions of Damien Done's "Ass Crack Is the New Cleavage" and the Angels of Light's "The Man We Left Behind"). Rick then gave the go ahead for a closing ambient/noise piece that ran about another 15 to 20 minutes.

All in all it was a very successful night. Thanks to everyone involved and everyone who participated.

Fissures...Tonight

So it is finally here. Fissures first show is tonight. Nervous is the wrong word. Anxious, in a strange way, is the main emotion that I am feeling about it. The venue is a strange way to try something for the first time so we shall see what happens. 

I hope I will have some pictures for those that will not be able to attend.

FISSURES first show...

Here is the simple flier (designed and made by my wife) for the show next Friday.

Anyone interested should come out and say hello.

Yes, Angels of Light

I have to admit straight off, Angels of Light never crossed my path until several years into my fixation with Swans; but in a strange twist of fate, my first exposure to them was through the first album New Mother. Still, their new album, We Are Him, contains one song that I can honestly call my favorite, "The Man We Left Behind". It means a lot to me. Angels of Light has really meant a great deal to me as well as Michael Gira striking out with that group has encouraged me to do the same with Fissures.

Hope to see some people next Friday. 

Weird Childhood Memories

When I was a young tike, I used to watch movies on Saturday afternoons on TV. On one particular Saturday I was entranced by a movie whose title has completely eluded me for rougly 25 years. This movie has driven me almost to the point of madness as I vividly recall several scenes that bring back a sense of wonder and excitement. Now that I have discovered its title, I will be seeing it in the near future, much (surely) to the chagrin of my wonderful wife as it is a cheasy B-movie sci fi  flick entitled Laserblast. 

I understand that Mystery Science Theater 3000 lambasted this movie (I missed it then too); but I do not care. To call this a relief is an understatement.

Now, there is just one more movie from childhood that haunts me. If anyone can drop me a line if they recognize what I describe, it would be greatly appreciated. A scene inolves two rival pilots or something like that where one of the pilots assaults the other pilot and tosses him into a ventilation shaft where he is subsequently chopped to bits. Then the pilot flies the mission...

This is all I remember, but the memory is very vivid and real to me. It is the last movie that I cannot remember the title of and hope to one day find it.

YESSSS!!!!!

As Akron/Family's "Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead" plays in the background, waves of relief and accomplishment splash across my psyche as if I was sitting on a warm beach at dusk as dark water laps at my feet. My latest term of Graduate School is finally complete. I now have, besides a great deal of free time to pursue some activities which I have put off for Grad School, just two more classes remaining for my Masters degree. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Even though they will never know it, and it is completely inconsequential to them, Isis, Nadja, Mamiffer, Everlovely Lightningheart, and KTL all helped me to complete this term without completely going mental.

Last Paper

YES!

I just completed the bulk of my last project for this term of grad school. I am really looking forward to wrapping it up this coming Monday. 

My immediate plans following include: 

prepping my lawn and new gardens for the house

Practicing for the Fissures show

Enjoying some much needed down time

Turning in a bunch of writing to SPB.

Fissures

I am embarking on a new musical endeavor in addition to Gholas in the coming weeks. It is basically going to be my exploration of more ambient and mellow sounding music. No, this will not be pop music at all; but those who know me and my obsession with Angels of Light, Swans, Jesu, and more recently Nadja may recognize those influences. Some random friends and bandmates more than likely will pop up from time to time to join in the fun, but who knows what will actually happen; that is the fun of this.

My first public performances will be happening at the end of this month, actually April 24th; so, it will be a challenge to polish up the material that I have by then. This will be a new experience as I have never stood on my own in music. Keep an eye out for dates and sounds forthcoming. 

Strange trips...

What a weird week, oh how I despise how my weeks are largely being determined by the weird format of graduate school. Frantically scrambling to finish one of my last individual assignments of class, this signals roughly one more week  of this term for me. Then, a much deserved break will be had. Once I am finished, I will look back at the wreckage (nothing bad) of the last 3 or so months and try to make sense of it all since I pretty much put my head down and just barrelled through everything with just this and talking to about 4 people to keep me sane.

Thankfully several records have really been able to keep me contrating on finishing my work:

Nadja- Bodycage

Nadja- Bliss Torn from Emptiness

Nadja- Guilted By the Sun

Nadja & A Storm of Light- Primitive North

Mamiffer- Hirror Ennifer

Everlovely Lightningheart- Cusp

I should really do something about Nadja considering the amount of listening to their records of late. Maybe I will.

My wife has really been getting a bunch done with her tattooing and am really psyched to see where she goes next with it all. Sooner or later, I will post pictures. I promise.

Ah April

March is gone. April is here, and I have a little less than two weeks left of this school term and am definitely getting antsy. There is a ton of work to be done outside the house and all the recent rain is making it even more difficult than usual to get things like seeding and fertilizing my lawn done.

Damn

What is wrong with me?

Other than that, the wife is in full swing with her apprenticeship and might be tagging quite a few more people in the next few weeks. It is pretty awesome that she can do what she does already,  and at this rate she'll be sitting pretty by June or July. 

There are a bunch of new records coming out that I am currently excited about:

Isis- Wavering Radiant

Coalesce- Ox

Nadja- Under A Jaguar Sun

Coliseum- new single on Deathwish

Young Widows- split 7" series

Mamiffer/ Oakeater split cassette (yes a cassette)

Playing Enemy- Here’s To What We Made

Greymachine- Disconnected

Greymachine- Vultures Descend' b/w 'We Are All Fucking Liars (Version)'12"

Jesu- Opiate Sun

Jesu- Heart Ache 2xCD reissue

Jesu- Infinity

Narrows- New Distances

Integrity- The Blackest Curse

So the rest of this half of the year is looking pretty sweet