Aye aye y'all, an' ye doon stop!

Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself

2005-12-13T22:18:00.000Z

If you've noticed, I've not posted here since I lost my friend to leukemia this summer. I guess since that's the last thing I posted about, I haven't been able to bring myself to post here again. In the past couple of weeks, I've significantly increased my Myspace visibility, and therefore contemplated writing a "Dear Blog" letter here. Instead I'm revisiting my last topic in many ways, and putting this blog to rest. It was started with good intentions and bad timing, and really, I'm more a "post mp3s and photos" type than a "pontificate on the issues facing the modern world in 500 words or less" type. But I think more than anything, I have some stuff I need to get out, and this isn't the place to do it. It deserves more than that.

So, this will be the last post here at djyn.blogspot.com. I've always felt a bit uncomfortable here, especially using DJYN for the name since I don't DJ professionally. To that end, I encourage you all to instead visit my myspace page or my band's myspace page to keep up. And since my opinions--while just as valid and brilliant--don't come out in writing nearly as well as these folks, please check out:
Fancy Robot
Sun Moon Stars Rain
and Casual Asides
I'm sure you will find them all enlightening.

My parting words: Find someone you love, who you think is beautiful in the purest form of the word, who brings light in to your life, and hold them very close to you and tell them that you think that of them.

Good Times, Bad Times

2005-06-22T22:26:00.000Z

I've got more to say very soon, but things have been exceedingly busy and semi-unrelatedly rough. But just wanted to put it out there in the world that everyone should appreciate every moment they've got. Life is a beautiful thing.

Book Challenge

2005-05-26T06:40:00.000Z

The gauntlet has been thrown down (www.sunmoonstarsrain.com), and now I must defend mine own honor in the BOOK CHALLENGE.
Here goes:

Total number of books you’ve owned?

Literally hundreds, although I have significantly less than that now (kids, watch out for the mold).

Last book you bought?

The Princess Bride

Last book you read?

The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem (which may have put me off books for the moment)

Five books that mean a lot to you?

The Story of B by Daniel Quinn

The Complete Sandman by Neil Gaiman

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

The Miles Davis Autobiography by Miles Davis & Quincy Troupe

The Zappa Book by Frank Zappa

Five people you want to complete this survey?

Boofus

Rowlf

A. Dizzle

Dextress

Tha Explora

Gorgeous George

2005-05-24T15:22:00.000Z

Look at that, it's once again been a while. Things are very busy in the land of Glas, but before I get in to that, I'm going to take a moment to heap praise upon my new favorite politician, 'Gorgeous' George Galloway. To my dismay, I found that neither of my good friends more-regularly-updated-and-politically-focused blogs had anything to say about this (lodge your complaint at www.fancyrobot.com or www.sunmoonstarsrain.com and on that note a warm welcome back to the blogosphere for SMSR). For those of you who also missed it, the Yankee senate tried to go after Respect Party MP George Galloway for his 'involvement' with the oil-for-food scandal. As my mates here have said, apparently our senators don't do their homework on foreign politicians (not that this is a surprise, what with non-existent WMDs and all). They chose to drag a serious political firebrand across the pond to accuse him of lighter versions of the same shit the US government has been doing for years. Instead, they got themselves a proper tongue lashing from the anti-Iraq War minister. Now seriously, I don't know what y'all's was thinking, but seriously, this was like the senate trying to call in Jon Stewart for a hearing on his journalistic integrity. News from here was more abundant and supportive of Galloway than anything I saw from the US, and no wonder, as Gorgeous George took the opportunity to point out to the senate that not only is he innocent of the charges being thrown at him, but the US's own leaders are guilty of far worse in the same genre. I'd like to think that this would trigger an increase in public discourse regarding the bad behavior of Cheney & Co., but it looks like the American Media is more than happy to sweep this one under the rug. All the more reason to illuminate the accomplishments of Mr. Galloway. Three Cheers and Huzzahs all around for our man George.
Now for the personal update, I haven't forgotten how to use a keyboard or anything (or for that matter, how to use 'email', although I'm sure some of you are convinced that I've lost my password or something), I've just been amazingly busy in a seriously good way. dBass is movin' along, doing some occasional recording sessions to flesh out the in-the-works demo/EP, and should be doing at least one if not many sessions at the Co.op. No gigs on the horizon there, but once the demo is done that should get better. I mentioned in my last post about this beatbox project. Now it looks like much of that project (excluding the dual-beatbox dependant jawns) is morphing in to a live trip-hop project, for which I will be drumming, along with a fretless bassist, synth guitarist, supa-DJ, Quest MCing, Amy singing, and a string section for recording. Should be a trip, and a unique experience for me to be playing composed music with electronics and things (not much room for my preferred improv). There is also in the works an old-school Studio 1 style-y ska group, led by my good friend Colin. And last but definitely not least is the most 'my' band thing I'm doing, a trio with at least one keyboardist but possibly two. It was meant to be drums-keys-bass, but the bass player has been out of contact for a good bit, so time to move on. Nice to be writing music again and actually have people to play it (one of the first things we've been working on is a tune I wrote about 6 months ago at the keyboard of all things. And it's in 5. Heavy).
Okay, now I'm done with my gloatfest. For the record, I am writing this while 'covering' the keyboard department at the music shop at which I work. If they'd had internet at Guitar Conglomerate, I never would've sold anything.
More to come, including the wayan.co.uk site, the wallsstreetcoop.co.uk site, and possibly metropolitanmovement.co.uk. Keep watching...

Blaze the Blazer

2005-04-07T17:26:00.000Z

Time went and got away from me again for a bit. I went on holiday (vacation for you readers at home, although I only traveled as far as the West End. It's like spending your vacation travelling from the Village to Williamsburg, only without the L) last week, and kicked it off with a massive party for Dextress' birthday. Many local hip-hop illuminati were kickin' it in the flat, and we instituted a one-night-only Left-Hand Smoke Indoors rule, which led the last half of the arriving partygoers to remark "Smells good in here". The kitties were in full effect for the party too, making them now, officially, Rock N Roll Kitties (they are Louis Garcon and Amorino if I have yet to mention them here yet, and they are cuter than your favorite pet). The rest of the week was spent recovering and saying "Damn, we had a great party" and visiting people who did and did not make it to the party in an attempt to be more social people (not that we're anti-social, but we usually make people come to us since we live on the other end of Glasgow from all our friends). Now I'm back at work, and have since joined(?) another band. This one is called HQAI I believe, although it may be billed as HQAI featuring YN12000. 2 beatboxers (one who also raps, the other who also plays guitar, the H and Q), a singer (A), a champion (DMC Finals) DJ (I) and myself on mixer and Kaoss Pad (and maybe at some point computer, but our first rehearsal found that I was getting more done with just the Kaoss). It's like nothing I've ever done before. Absolutely fascinating. Everyone involved is supremely talented as well. It's great fun. Still searching for more musicians for the (not-)jamband. And a top-shelf DJ who wants to do a gig in Glasgow May 13, paid (~$1000, plus plane ticket). Know anyone?

Ride On The Peace Train

2005-03-27T00:03:00.000Z

Okay, so some of you may have noticed that I've edited a recent post. Some of you may have similarly noticed that I'd gotten a fair amount of feedback regarding said-now-edited post. Truth be told, I never expected to have Glaswegian readers. But since I do, I'd rather not be the source of any ill will towards any local artists (unless someone should personally offend me, in which case, fair game). With that in mind, I'll no longer use the actual names of any artist(s) other than those I'm personally connected with, and I'll try to rein in any bile which may be spewed in the direction of anyone else. To any I may have offended, sorry. I maintain my right to an opinion, but I will not use it to slander anyone. [This post subject to edit at any time ;-)]

Hate Hate Hate Hate Hate

2005-03-23T17:17:00.000Z

Hey everybody, looks like I've been nominated for this year's Hater's Ball. Check the comments on the post below (and Greetings and Salutations to my new readers).

What A Week

2005-03-21T21:57:00.000Z

Here I am breaking my own tradition. See, usually I follow up being moderately busy with ignoring this window in to my world. Now, however, I am coming off of the busiest week I can remember and posting to the blog taboot (leave it on press, depress, depress). Let's recap my week (so that inevitably Boofus may think to himself "pssh, Wiggy thinks he's had a busy week, well I've had 4 gigs, a recording session, and spent 16 hours in Zen meditation")
Monday - Rehearsal with dBass (www.de-bass.com) to prepare for Thursday's gig. I was the first one there by a good 45 minutes, despite being late myself, and despite the fact that I don't actually "rehearse". [asleep ~1 a.m.]
Tuesday - Last-minute gig with Spanky and Bones from dBass covered in the last post (whoah, I posted in the last 7 days? I don't even remember doing that) [asleep ~2 a.m.]
Wednesday - Day of Rest (don't believe them books, the big G was chillin' on Hump Day) [don't even remember when I got to sleep]
Thursday - Running sound for dBass at the Nokia Raw Urban Music Festival Competition where they was ROBBED! [asleep ~4 a.m.]
Friday - Last-minute gig of the week No. 2, dBass at the Mixed Bizness 1st Birthday Party (was supposed to be Ninja Tune's Skalpel, but they cancelled due to illness "Shit foos, we know you ill, that's why we booked you. Oh, you mean f'reals"). Included in tonight's activities was recording dBass's set, as well as that of Bigg Taj, the baddest beatboxer on earth (last I saw him he did Timberlake's "Rock Your Body", beat, bass, and vocals all at once. This time he did his Portishead impression). [asleep ~3:30 a.m.]
Saturday - Peeps came over for some impromptu groove-dub jamming (dub courtesy of some phatty bo-batty) [asleep ~1 a.m.]
Sunday - First jam with Improv, a bass player I met at work (sold him an upright) who wants to do groovy improv based "jazz" (omigod that's JUST what I want to do! *squeeeeeeeeeal*) [asleep ~12 a.m.]
Oh yeah, and I was working 9-5:30 everyday but Wed. and Sun.
Needless to say, I'm still trying to wake up.
On a finishing tip, I've done two nights of running sound at a pretty serious venue in town, and especially on the second night, I did more work than the people getting paid for it. WTF?!
One last thing, check the rhyme at doublelatteproject.blogspot.com
[Edited March 24th, 6:41 pm]

Straight But Not Narrow

2005-03-16T15:37:00.000Z

Boofus has always impressed upon me the beauty and grandeur inherent in Herbie's "Maiden Voyage". After playing it last night, I think I might finally get it. That was one of last night's highlights, as well as a tight "Well You Needn't", surprising myself with my use of brushes, and a supafunky "Freedom Jazz Dance" with my best impression of Clyde Stubblefield (before starting, Spanky, the alto-blowing band leader said "Well, just play the funkiest beat you know" so hence my slowed-down take on "Mother Popcorn"). It was great getting out and playing (first "real" gig in like 2, maybe 3 years, not to knock that gig Rowlf hooked me up with last spring), particularly in an environment where no one was expecting me to play the guitar (although Spanky didn't know I played drums until he came in to the shop looking for reeds and the subject came up "Wait, according to your CV, you're a guitarist. Um...do you want a gig on Tuesday?" [note: Spanky plays in the 11-pc for which I run sound, a job obtained through presentation of a CV]). The gig went great (even with an older Hungarian man who spoke very little english schooling my ass on swing beats), and good times were had by all. I even got paid (a very measly sum, but paid nonetheless, and I was happy and surprised to get anything at all. A good start on the Glaswegian gigging scene from what I hear). Hopefully more will come of this. I'm going to speak to the guitarist from the 11-pc tomorrow about keyboardists, so hopefully my own band will start cooking soon.
Maiden Voyage. It's on Maiden Voyage, available in a Rudy Van Gelder remaster series. Herbie Hancock. Check that jawn.
It all almost makes me miss all the jazz I've had and lost. Almost.
On the subject, check out www.willrast.com in the music section for some dead brilliant jazz piano.

Rain

2005-03-15T08:35:00.000Z

One of my two favorite blogs is back (the other one, www.fancyrobot.com, never left).
Go see what's up with E at www.sunmoonstarsrain.com
I have a gig tonight. My first in Glasgow. I'm going to be playing a lot of straightahead jazz. Um.....

Oh yeah, I have a blog!

2005-02-26T07:57:00.000Z

It's been a while since I've posted, and this will be a pathetically short one. Suffice to say much has been churning in the world of YN since xmas and the butter is just about done (I hope). Basic details: I run sound for large band, may start managing them; I play drums in small, burgeoning band that needs a horn player who can write some melodies (know anyone?); I still sell instruments but may be making a slight change in employment and teach guitar instead; I've joined the friendster (damn you Boofus for breaking my spirit of rebellion on that).
Further details to come, likely very soon, as the employment adjustment is providing much material about which to gripe.
And before I forget, positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement in Iraq where there was a weak power structure was bad enough, now you want to get all uppity with the Ayatollahs? Seriously, I'd make a better president. 10 years, it'll happen.

Happy Christmas

2004-12-24T18:57:00.000Z

Okay, me? I'm not a religously traditional celebrator of Christmas. In my former life, we celebrated St. Nicholas Day (a Dutch tradition carried over by my Indonesian side), but not with so much fanfare, and with a complete detachment from any religious significance (due to my Muslim/Jewish background. Strangely, Hannukah never came up...wait, no, I did go over to my friend The Octopus' house for Hannukah dinner a couple of times. Mmmm, latkes...). So here I am in Catholic/Protestant land (the Catholics cheer for Glasgow Celtic, the Protestants for Glasgow Rangers. I like the Rangers cuz they have a long-haired fella on the team, but to avoid any controversy, I claim allegiance to Partick Thistle, the local bush-league team. Y'all just don't know what it's like to be a Football (that's soccer for you fans of the sport with the people running in to each other then taking 10 minute breaks) fan here. Dangerous stuff. One day I'll post about the small riot that erupted at the pub 3 floors below my balcony) during Christmas. Very different indeed. See, I also grew up in a town with many many Jewish folk who made up (and still make up) the bulk of my friends. Later I lived in Portland, the city that doesn't believe in God, and lived generally with a godless bunch, so nothing there either. And now, frickin' everybody here celebrates Christmas. I don't even think you can get Chinese food right now. The upside to this is 2 days off, for Christmas and the subsequent boxing day (which near as I can figure means eat everything in sight aside from the box). Work has improved significantly, and I now enjoy my coworkers more than the bunch at Hideous Villanous Mu-sick. So, on that note, I bid you, my 3 or 4 readers (who by and large will be getting individual notices of Christmas cheer) a very Happy Christmas.
Time for some tacos.

Work still sucks

2004-12-20T19:23:00.000Z

Throwing off the cloak of corporate emplyoment, today I found that...work still sucks. While it irritated me to no end to know that every decision being made around me at HMV or Guitar Center or Illuminations or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was being handed down by very wealthy people in very nice offices far far away from where I was working, there was a certain efficiency and organization inherent to these companies that made it much easier to be an employee (that and guaranteed hour-long lunch breaks). Not so at Biggars, where today I was repeatedly humiliated for not knowing how to do my job, which was not so much a result of my own incompetence, but rather that my employers just sort of plopped me down in the thick of it, with one other guy out "sick" and only the warehouse manager to assist me. And man, let me tell you, people who don't play rock/jazz instruments can be a crabby, self-absorbed bunch. I even had one lady on the phone ask if she could speak to someone who "knows what they're doing". I almost told her to fuck off and that I had been selling instruments for much longer than the fools I worked with, and was similarly tempted to hang up on her, but I just took it. I've never felt so down after work in my life. I even sold well, when the occasional guitar customer came in. But man, horn players and violinists and such can be a crabby bunch. So suffice to say I'm continuing to seek other employment while toughing it out for the meantime at Biggars. Maybe tomorrow, when they'll hopefully be fully staffed, will be better. Maybe not. If I didn't know that this job will still be there in January, I might've gone crawling back to HMV. I'm hoping if I stick it out for a little while, I can use the fact that I am currently employed at a guitar shop to get a job at the one right near my flat, which only sells guitars and basses (and way more of the real shit I might add. Who ever heard of "Westfield" guitars?). Oy vey. I want a new job already. This is a bad sign.

Everybody hates their job, nobody got any sleep

2004-12-17T23:39:00.000Z

I have a backlog of posts that need final editing to be presented here (namely a rant against Band Aid 20/British pop music, and my tribute to "Ain't nothin' but a G thang", plus an as-yet unwritten tribute to Dimbag Darrell (RIP)), but thanks to popular demand, I've decided to take this breif moment of free time to say:
F*ck you, f*ck you, f*ck you, you're cool, f*ck you, I'm out!
Yep, the time has come for me to escape the bad-music laden world of HMV (Heinous Music Variety?) for the greener pastures of small, family owned, independant, full-range (i.e. pianos, trumpets, guitars) local musical instrument shop Biggars. Got the call Monday night, negotiated Tuesday night (almost getting caught by a coworker), thought about it Wednesday, accepted during my lunch break Thursday, did a large-ish employee purchase Friday morning, came in later for my shift later Friday and told the boss "I have something to tell you that you probably aren't going to want to hear". Thankfully, my contract stipulated that I was only obliged to give 1 day's notice (which said boss forgot in a brief moment of displeasure). Tomorrow is my last day of Britney, Kylie, Natasha F-ing Bedingfield, and all the rest of the pop tartlets that haunt my mind. Starting Monday, I'm one of the good guys again.
Nail in the coffin? Tuesday, before my negotiation session, while at the till at HMV, a woman comes up with the incredible "Songs In The Key Of Life" by Stevie Wonder. In response to my commending her purchase, she admitted that she hadn't even heard of Stevie, and had simply asked another employee to direct her to "that blind guy who played piano".
No more of that, thank you.
Here's to reasonable hours, sundays off, and instruments at my disposal all day long.

Feeeeeed the woooooooooorld....

2004-12-01T14:40:00.000Z

[I started this one a couple of weeks ago and haven't had time to finish it until now. Ignore the directly-work-related stuff and focus on the points about British pop music]
Oh dear god, make it stop.
Last Monday I got to work, and here in the UK that means it's time to start pimping the new Band Aid 20 "Do They Know It's Christmas" single. Now, I'm not THAT old, but I do distinctly remember this the first time around. So, admittedly, the first playing of the new version was...intriguing. Oh listen to Chris Martin's understated, um, understatement leading things off. Ah, and that must be Dido in the follow-up spot. And playing the role of Simon LeBon, this time we have Robbie Williams. And then, um, um, ummmmm, some female pop singers (Sugababes I'm later told. Sugababes. Who comes up with this shit? And what, were Girls Aloud busy? Thank Britain for Led Zeppelin and Radiohead. Fuck 'em for Pop Idol and everything that looks or sounds like the Spice Girls/Sugababes/fill-in-obviously-attractive-but-lacking-in-talent-girl-band-name-here). So all in all, the first listen through indicates a more subdued entity overall, with typically tasteful Nigel Godrich production. That was the first listening. Then there was the next 3 hours straight. 3. Fucking. Hours. In my past I've listened to the occasional song on repeat (usually in the interest of transcription). But 3 straight hours of an all-"star" remake of an all-star charity single, and fuck it, I'm ready to let Africa starve. It got to the point where all I had to look (listen?) forward to was Dizzee Rascal's 4 lines in the midst of Justin "I'm Better Than Bono, Oh Wait, No, I'm In The Effing Darkness" Hawkins' wailing. In contrast, we've also been playing the (UK only) DVD of Live Aid, which includes the videos for the original DTKIC as well as our (that is the American) sister song, We Are The World. Man, Quincy got his ass handed to him on a plate by the "I Don't Like Mondays" guy. Seriously, how can Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, et al. sound so much worse than Paul Young and Boy George (well, we did also have Cyndi Lauper, which docks us a few thousand points).
This all leads to my current commentary on the state of pop music (I actually mistakenly typed "poop music" here, maybe I should have kept it), particularly here in the British Isles. I was discussing today with my Malaysian coworker Jigga the differences between American and British music. He was inquiring as to which I liked better, and I responded that I don't have a preference since it's very apples and oranges. Americans seem to strive for innovation and breakthrough, while Brits honour and perfect upon musical history. I added, though, that British crap is far worse than American crap. Sure, we've got our pop crap, Britney and Beyonce and whatnot, but seriously, you Americans reading this have got to thank, well, not god, but somebody, that you have what you do. The aggressive capitalist market in the US seems to filter out the REALLY bad. I mean, sure, Ashlee Simpson made a record, but so did JC Chasez and Joey McIntyre, and neither of them is making another (Justin Timberlake can keep making albums as long as he likes so long as they maintain or improve upon the quality of Justified). Here, though, is a whole 'nother story. On the plus side, there's Robbie Williams. That's right, the entire plus side is the British predecessor to Sr. Timberlake. On the downside is every-fucking-thing else. Take, for example, the aforementioned Girls Aloud. 5 girls who sing bad lyrics (or, alternatively, Chrissy Hynde's good lyrics badly) and sound like one girl singing bad lyrics through Pro-Tools. Seriously, say what you want about Destiny's Child, but at least they sound like 3 people creating harmonious crap. Girls Aloud could just as easily be one person (maybe plus some dancers). Why why WHY must there be another attempt at the Spice Girls. We did that, it sucked then, it sucks now. And now, after further research, I've discovered that Girls Aloud is a manufactured band, meaning they were assembled through the tv show "Popstars" which is like our "Making The Band" but without Puff Daddy and all the fighting. Surely the British industrial complex deserves better.
Then there's the UK answer to Ashlee Simpson, Miss Natasha Bedingfield. Granted, she's from New Zealand, but she wouldn't be famous if it weren't for the UK. It makes me wish this island would sink (well, not really, maybe New Zealand could sink instead). Dear god, make her stop RIGHT NOW. You missed when you put her brother in a car wreck. It was Natasha you meant to get. (her brother, Daniel Bedingfield, is a similarly talentless hack who was recently in a car wreck) Natasha's M.O. seems to be yelling (yelping?), in something close to the key of her backing track, the. most. insipid lyrics since Right Said Fred (and without the cheek I might add). Try this on: "Read some Byron, Shelly and Keats, recited it over a hip-hop beat...I know I had some studio time booked, but I couldn't find the perfect hook..." All in a pained dog-having-its-tail-trod-upon yell, on top of a syncopated beat that would only be considered hip-hop should the world never have been graced by Grandmaster Flash, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and pretty much every other respectable hip-hop beatmaker (hell, Li'l Jon would be ashamed of this). It's so wretched I can't even begin to describe it in accurate detail.
It's not all bad here though. That Franz Ferdinand tune "Michael" is groovin' in a sleazy, Stones-y sort of manner. In fact, I've grown to actually like one HMV favorite, th Scissor Sisters. Oh wait, they're from New York. And my old bandmate/roommate has been on about them for months. So I guess they don't count.
AAARRRRRRRGH!
I'm so looking forward to a job where the only music being played is dependant on me having an instrument in my hands. On every level really.
Pop pop goes the weasel, the weasel.

His Master's Voice

2004-11-22T22:25:00.000Z

I got me a job. At the HMV. For the xmas season. About time.
I had a very good interview at about 6:10 p.m. today. They called me to offer me the job at about 6:45. My favorite part? Getting to use my standard line:
Them - Where do you see your career going?
Me - Well, should Rock Stardom come knocking, I'm answering.
I also got an email back about a--no--2 gigs (with the same person), one playing upright bass in a live hip-hop band, the other running sound for an 11 piece soul-funk-hiphop-other band.
I gotta say it was a good day.

Don't Stand So Close To Me

2004-11-21T21:32:00.000Z

[in a divergence from standard operating procedure, very few names are changed in this post]
Okay, so the plan was to sit down at the iBook, think about my current infatuation with the works of Dr. Dre, and write a post about his genius. Instead, as I tend to do quite frequently, I sat down and looked up some of my history, namely my old guitar teacher Jerry. He used to co-own a store called Bethesda Music. He doesn't anymore (sold his share years ago), and thank goodness for that. See, thinking about him, I thought I'd also look up Bethesda Music (they used to have a website, so I thought I'd check to see if they still did). This is what Google had in store for me:

Bethesda, Maryland
... G. Scrivener also ordered Fritts name to be listed on the Maryland sex offender's ...
A Bethesda music store owner will serve 18 months in prison for victimizing ...

Ah-wikka-wikka-wikka-WHAT?!
Sparing you the further details, my first guitar teacher (who I ditched for Jerry), Mr. Carl Fritts, is a very very bad man. This makes now the third teacher I've had (that I know of) who is a very very bad man. Jim Misenheimer (who I thankfully only had to suffer one semester of Stage Design in high school with, as he mostly taught choir) was one of the others, the third being my old English and DRama teacher, a fan of TOM-foolery, who was known to BOGARt the white powder, but he was never formally charged in any way, so far be it for me to name names on someone who's never been, um, caught. All three of these men were also teachers of the arts (Misenheimer and Number 3 using their positions as directors of plays and musicals to take advantage of young girls' desires to gain significant roles. The performing arts were a big deal at my high school), which makes the whole thing just that much more creepy to me.
Basically, I wanted to take this opportunity to say
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?
I mean, seriously now, this shit just ain't right. In the cases of Carl and Misenheimer, both had their 10-year sentences suspended down to 18 months in prison, which I can't even fathom since in both cases they were only being charged in regards to one out of many many victims (in Misenheimer's case, many parents were unwilling to allow their children to be involved in the case, due to his exalted status in the community. No, seriously, mufukkas was trying to help this sicko out. I even seem to remember something about some parents banding together to try and get a legal defense fund going). Lock these fuckers up and throw away the key I say. Nothing they could do or say justifies them being given any lenience in their sentencing (both did also plead guilty). Release some weed dealers to make room for them if necessary.
I gotta say, the thing with Carl hit me a little harder, just cuz I never had any idea. With the two school teachers, everybody knew about it long beforehand. In fact I was shocked that no one else from Misenheimer's history stepped forward, not to mention that no one lodged similar allegations against Number 3 (well, not that shocked. Would you want to be known as the girl who slept with the teacher for the lead in the show?). I'd always known Misenheimer and Number 3 were sleazeballs. I caught Misenheimer in the act once, and I was friends with people who sold coke to Number 3 (students again). But Carl always seemed on the level, if not a bit childish. I wonder if the other people at Bethesda Music had any idea. I certainly didn't.
Shit, seriously, why y'all gotta go and give us artistic types a bad name like that.
Keep it in your pants, hands to yourself, and stay out the kiddie pool.
So in closing, a big FUCK YOU to Carl Fritts, Jim Misenheimer, and my high school english and drama teacher.
You sick fucks.

I've been found out!

2004-11-20T01:23:00.000Z

I knew I couldn't keep this a secret for very long. My dear friend Elephant has discovered this little window in to my soul. We went to school together. He says I've always been better than him at math. Well, he's always been better than me at writing, so go read his blog at www.sunmoonstarsrain.com especially his story Johnny Zap (which I have yet to read but I have no doubt it's brilliant). Past my bedtime now, more words tomorrow, including an essay on the cultural significance of "Ain't Nothing But A 'G' Thang".
Drop it like it's hot.

I gotta get me a job

2004-11-16T14:14:00.000Z

I meant to post this yesterday, but stress got the better of me.
I've just had an interview today with a local music store. This is the 3rd time I've gotten past the first step (dropping of a CV, british for resumee) with a music store. The first was at a large west-end chain where I could barely understand the manager I was interviewing with (to the detriment of my employment prospects). The second was being asked to fill out an application at the Sam Ash of Scotland (which has since purchased the aforementioned west-end chain). No word since, despite a follow-up email from me.
So today was the third. At the guitars-trumpets-pianos-no amplifiers shop a hefty walk from my flat. I spent all of yesterday stressing about it, mostly because I saw it as a step down from the other two shops, as well as my prior employer (that big Guitar Chain in the states). Now I am still stressed because, while the interview went well, I fear I am 1-becoming too much of a capitalist and 2-too high on myself as far as my employability and social worth.
All this ignores the fact that I need a damn job. I have the studio, but we need some more mic stands and a cable snake (loom in British) to be band-ready. And, like it says in the profile, I have more plans for bands than actual bands (Mike Gordon of Phish in an interview talked about being a kid and generating all these complicated plans for clubs, but never actually executing them. I know how he feels). My better half has also been writing quite a bit of music of late, so I'm feeling some pressure/jealousy. But all that aside, I mostly spend my days posting to message boards, chasing down groceries (y'all in the states don't know how good you have it that the grocery store doesn't sell out of things regularly. When our local store runs out of potato waffles, it's like a week before they refill), and making tea. I'm realizing how much better I feel about myself and the world when I have a job. It makes me miss working at Guitar Chain. I always miss the people (some of them), but rarely the actual job. Now, I miss the job.
Why can't someone just give me money to make music all the time? I'm good for it.

Always happens in 3's

2004-11-14T15:04:00.000Z

So I originally planned on starting this blog on the 2nd, but found myself deep in the bowels of depression since then and ultimately unable to come up with anything to write beyond the title of "Fook yoo ye fookin' fook" (directed at John "Eddie Munster" Kerry. The other guy's been the target of my bile plenty enough, but the punk bitch sissy quitter has been the one getting my feathers ruffled of late). But today is different. Today I am feeling more committed to living up to the job description I use on my tax returns ("Musician"). Today I feel hope, and appreciate my fortune of not currently living in the Fourth Reich, I mean, the US. And today, I must tip my hat and observe a moment of silence for a great warrior in this fight for freedom who has been taken from us far too early. No, not John Peel. He was on the old side, and plenty has been said in his honor already. And no, not Yasser Arafat either, although I have always admired him, and strongly feel that the Palestinians have every right to their own sovereign state. But nothing I could write about him would beat the work of journalists at the New York Times or the Beeb. No no, I am paying tribute here to the third man to fall in this ever predictable pattern of three great losses at a time.
That's right, it's time to pour our 40's on the ground for a man who went by many names.
Dirt McGirt.
Osiris.
Big Baby Jesus.
Mr. Jones (usually followed by "...you're under arrest").
And most famously, Ol' Dirty Bastard.
For those of you who don't know, ODB died suddenly at a NY recording studio last night, while finishing up work on his Roc-A-Fella comeback album. There's no official cause of death, but you gotta figure some hard living and the rock took it's toll on the 35 year old rapper. Much like the sad death of Layne Staley, this is likely the last nail in the Wu-Tang coffin. Sure, they could go on, but it's just not the same without Dirty. Gone now is one of the most genuinely wacky, truly independant, and creatively talented MCs of our time. How many rappers would you have to combine to get one ODB? You'd need the flow of Busta, the lyrics of Doom, the rap sheet of DMX, the zaniness of Flav, and the combined insanity of the entire Dirty South just to come close. He was one in a million, and he will be sorely missed. If you'll excuse me, I have to go find a copy of "The Return to the 36 Chambers" to throw on the 12's.
"The O.D.B. couldn't have possibly committed all those crimes.
Coolio did some of that shit." -Chris Rock