In My Mind

I grew up going to school at an orphanage. The kids there were taught to treat each other as brothers and sisters being that most the kids came from broken homes and torn families. There new found family at the orphanage saw no color and taught principles of love and kindness. My family always taught me that you can't judge people based on anything other than what they do. I realize lots of times how blessed I am to have had good people and parents help me.

One thing that always has struck a nerve in me is racism. I remember growing up seeing the KKK actually march through downtown. Racism has to be one of the stupidest things a person has ever thought of. Having many discussions with people about the issue I realized that lots of people have a different look on things. For me, anytime I've ever heard the word "nigger" it's made me angry. That word sparks meanings of hate. There are people out there though that believe it's a word that means things that it doesn't. I've heard, "a white person can be a nigger." Well, that doesn't make any sense. The word actually comes from times of slave trade when the word was used for black people; derived from the Spanish term negro, meaning black.

I was pretty shocked when I saw the video of Michael Richards (aka Kramer) going off using the "n" word. He has some real demons to battle if he attacks somebody that way. I'm suprised and upset. I dont' think I'm gonna be able laugh at reruns of Seinfeld anymore.

Begin Again

A lot of time has passed since I last wrote on here. I've been writting (not as much as I'd like), but never the less here and there. There's alot that I'd like to say and only so much of it is worth while. I'm trying to be objective in my thoughts and on paper. Soon, I plan on starting to place together a book . It's about the life of a wanna be musician.

Since my last post, I have moved to Charlotte, NC. Of course, it's very different from Charleston,SC. Moving here makes me realize how attached to the Holy City I became. I remember growing up in upstate SC it was like Charleston was the place to be. I mean, it was like the one cool place in the state. Although, as I get older I appreciate other parts of SC as well. Anyways, Charleston was an adventure. I think, I learned something..... I know I learned alot. It was tough, but hey if ya wanna play, ya gotta pay. Charlotte seems to be more of a corporate city and it is. There's a few venues here. I haven't really found much of a punk scene here, but I guess that's kinda how it goes everywhere. It's not like Charleston was the mecca. Charleston, however has a real homey feel to it. It's a cool little place that I grew very accustomed to; from passing out in my room behind the recording studio to the smell on King Street.. I'll never forget it.

Most time recently has been spent working and getting moved in. I'm looking forward to getting a new project together. Everything is new again in the Queen City. Along with that comes all the new tasks at hand. I've got some new songs that are slowly coming along, in between my time behind the front desk and mowing the yard. However, I'm looking at attending some more classes at community college. I'm thinking of going into electrical engineering or something along those lines. I want to do something that will help me get my own business going. I'm looking at getting another recording studio running. That's what I love to do.

Tubeular

The Leather Jackets recording is taking more and more time. Not time really spent on recording either; mostly time trying to get to that point. It's mostly just hurry up and wait type of ordeal. For some time now we've only had a practice space that allows us to rehearse 2 days a week between the hours of 4pm and 6pm. Thanks to the Days for allowing us to use there house when they're not in. Drums, bass, and one guitar track are all finished. I started the second guitar track and the Soldano amp kept getting lower and lower. Not only did the Soldano magically go out, but so did the JCM 900. Wow. Devin and I order new tubes for both amps this week. Recording should resume soon. It's never gonna get easier. It's always gonna be an up hill battle. Between not really having a place to practice, the amps going out (in the same week), and the van getting stuck it's tough. I'm still in search for a new place. We're actually gonna open a studio there. The rent is gonna be hefty, but if we can record bands then that will definitely help pay the bills.

Master Bates

The Vents six songs for the split on Whoa Oh Records were mixed and mastered this past weekend by Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana. They sound really good. Devin and I have listened to the songs so many times, it can get hard to be objective and take a step back and listen to yourself. That's ultimately what we must do though. We're all really happy with the songs. I'm not sure if the other band for the split (the Teen Sensation Glasses) have finished their songs yet. I think they have and they're in the mastering phase. I'm really glad The Vents songs are seeing some light. The art for the split cd is being done by Dyna Moe and you can check out her stuff here. It's great to be on a label with some really good bands. I think Whoa Oh Records has lots of potential. On top of that, Jonnie Whoa Oh is a really awesome guy to work with. The split cd shouldn't be too much longer in the making.

Movage

Lots of stuff going on as usual. I moved in with my friend/drummer/co-writer/brother Devin McCurdy on the 20th of last month. Things are going real good. I applied at about 9 jobs and got 5 offers back so far. I've never had the problem of choosing of which job to take before.In the past, It's always been apply at 10 jobs and none call me back. Things are looking up though. I went to interviews and everything and took the first offer from Comfort Inn in Mt.Pleasant (right over the bridge from downtown Charleston). I'm an auditor. It has its ups and downs. Good thing is that there's not much (if any) business after 11pm (when I come in); so I don't have to deal much with the public. Another good thing is that I have alot of time to do whatever I want in the confines of the lobby. The bad side to the whole night audit thing is that the shift is from 11pm-7am. I can't sleep in the day too easily and I've never really been able to do that. At the hotel I was auditor at in my home town it would get crazy cause there was only two audiors and sometimes I'd be working a 3-11 shift and the other auditor would call in sick and then I'd end up staying from 3pm in the afternoon till 7am the next morning. I did that time and time again. I'd end up staying up for 24-30 hours and then sleeping for like 6 hours and getting up and trying to do fun things (like eat, go running and play guitar) and then go right back to work. I guess being an auditor for a hotel is a trade off. You work ungodly hours and can't really sleep, but after about an hour of doing the audit you have the rest of the night to yourself. I've got to get myself on a day time schedule. I want to get sleep at night and be able to do things in the day time. I always feel alot better when I get a good nights sleep and wake up early.

We're getting ready to book alot of shows too. Everybody in (this side project we're working on) the Leather Jackets work day jobs. We'll all have basically the same open time slots and therefore be able to do weekend shows out of town and week night shows in town. There's lots of bands coming through town and SC in the next few months. We raided Jordans (bassist Vents/ drummer TLJ) parents house Sunday and Monday. We spent all Sunday taking equiptment over and basically getting everything set up. Then we spent all day Monday recording drums. The house is really cool. The drums are sounding really good and haven't been edited yet. The downstairs room is the live room. The ceilings are pretty high and slanted. It sets for a really good sound. Jordans room (upstairs) is where we ran all the control equiptment from which is really cool cause we've rarely been able to have the controls in a different room than the actual mics and stuff. This helps because the live room or recording room doesn't pick up all the noises that come from people or whatever running the controls. This recording is gonna be the best thing we've ever personaly done. We should be doing the guitars soon, then bass and then vocals.

We've been searching for a place to set up an actual studio. We found a really cool place and are gonna meet with the realastate agent tomorrow at 5pm. It's 11oo square feet, two offices (one with sheet rock) and a 14ft roll up door. Fingers crossed.

P.S. We're all Going To Hell

The Leather Jackets are gonna be at Cumberlands on King Street downtown Charleston, SC on Thursday Feb. 24th. Also playing are Grey Goose and Telegram. Show starts at 9pm. We're playing first.

The Vents are on a compilation cd with some other good bands and friends. It can be purchased here.

It's Valentines Day, I Must Be Lonely

I went to a show last night at a place above a restaurant. I went really early and just kinda crashed on a couch in this venue called the Living Room located downtown Charleston above this restaurant. Met some new people and everything. There's all these valentines day balloons and stuff everywhere and I started noticing couldn't help, but notice that I'm alone. It seemed like every person there was with a date except for a couple loners like myself. Ran into my old buddy and room mate Couch. He's doing a zine and was interviewing some bands and stuff for it. I felt a burning in my throat and I know I'm getting sick. I watched the first band play. They're called MotorMouth Mabel and they put on a good show. Reminded me at times of the Pink Lincolns and along those lines. They did a couple covers; one by a band called the Dicks and they did Skulls by the Misfits. I bailed out after they finished. The walk to my car was cold. I went by a bar where my friend Tres works to talk with him for a second. Tres and I go way back. All he does pretty much is drink and work at the bar; which, I guess go hand in hand. It's funny and sad though kinda. He offers me a beer. I don't think I'm gonna drink anymore though. I'm kinda sick of alcohol and seeing what it does to my friends. I go home and pass out.