Get a real job

So it's Monday night and another weekend has best. This past Saturday my band played an awesome show in New York City. While the entire night was awesome, I did have one problem with the night; the bartenders. Now, if you know me, you know I enjoy drinks as much as the next guy, so bartenders are usually some of my favorite people, but these bartenders were just terrible. Two 40-something year old women, trying to dress like they were 25 and slut it up with the crowd, ugh, seriously? Come on. Anyway, I am standing at the bar with a good friend of mine, and I order a drink. I have been drinking all night, so I am slowly running low on cash. So after 6 or 7, 6 dollar beers, I decided tipping was over. Now, I am well aware buy backs are illegal, but what bar really cares about that shit? Apparently this one. When I didn't lay down an extra dollar, one of the mid-life crisis tenders had a slick comment. Now, I can understand being pissed if someone doesn't tip at all, but after 7 tips in a row, I felt I was in my right to skip one or 2 tips on my drinks. She then proceeds to tell me that I have to tip, I told her if she's really that strapped for cash, she should dig up a better job than bar tending. Once again, nothing against bartenders, but if you are bitching about a dollar I didn't drop you, I think you need to re-evaluate where you are at with your life.

Besides my run in with the Hitler of Tips, Saturday was pretty amazing. I got pretty drunk, but was still able to rock the bar and enjoy a night with all my friends that were there. I'm not a religious person at all, but the Christmas season always puts me in a great mood. Well, that's about it, I'm going to finish watching this movie and pass out. Have a happy and healthy one!

One more, then I gotta hit the road

Why does everyone freak out every time a snow storm is suppose to come through the area? If you didn't know, I live in lower New York, about 20 miles outside of New York City. This is an area that regularly has snow EVERY winter, yet every year when the first big storm is on its way, people feel the need to freak out. I'm sitting at work right now with an office that is at about 40% attendence because the rest of them decided not to even bother coming in. Listen, if you have lived here for as long as I have (24 beautiful years) you KNOW it's going to snow every year, haven't you gotten used to this fact yet? Fuck. Anyway, snow or no snow, I'm still leaving work whenever they let us head out and going to a party. Why Matt? The weather is bad! Because I'm used to winter, that's why. Get over it, don't drive like a dick-clown, and all will be good in the world. I have to swing by the house first to change and scoop up the half gallon of Jameson I purchased last night, because what fun is a party during the first storm of the year if you haven't got an ample supply of alcohol?

Besides being pissed that people are morons during the winter, I'm doing damn well. Going to Canada in the new year for the first time with two friends from college. I heard the strip clubs are legend up there, we shall see. Hopefully I don't run into some angry men drunk on the street. I've heard a few horror stories of people getting into fights, brawls, and almost being kidnapped while visiting Canada, so I'll have to keep that in the back of my mind while I wander the streets swilled up on fine Canada hootch.

Well that burned a decent amount of time this morning. I think I'm going to have another cup of coffee, listen to Cocktails and Dreams, read up on what kind of hysterical commentary lays in Brendan Kellys blog today, and look out the window waiting for the snow and an e-mail that says something along the lines of 'hey guys, the weather is getting kind of bad, use your own discression when you feel you want to leave today' at which point I will be out of this office so fast it'll make your head spin. Yeah, that's it, happy friday fuckers.

...because its YOUR dog

So I'm on another kick. I have once again decided to go a head and try to start bettering myself again. Usually, being it is December, people wait until New Years to start this kind of thinking. Making a New Years resolution seems to make it so much more of a real dedication to ones self because they can start fresh. I say fuck that, I have 3 weeks to END this year on a good note, as well as starting a new one off pretty well. I'm not talking about anything insane here. I'm not going to solve world hunger, or adobe a baby from an African nation, but I'm going to try to generally be a better person to myself.

Laying off the sauce is always the first one I gun for. I'm a drinker, and I enjoy my cold beers as much as the next poor bastard in the pub, but it really is the easiest thing to try and cut back on if you are trying to better yourself. You save money, cut back on calories, and cut back on being a drunken ass clown in pubic. All of which are things that I would enjoy. It is funny, because a few years ago, I would have never caught myself saying such a thing. I think that my senior year of college, I drank almost every single day. Of course, working at a brewery and being in a band did not help at all. Plus, living in Oneonta, NY was probably the greatest downfall. I had a damn good time in that town, but when you step back, there isn't a whole lot to do but get fucked up, play music, and try and pick up women. All things I was very, very into a few years ago. But now I look at myself, and say hey, I don't need to get tanked on a Tuesday anymore. Maybe I should cut back on the booze intake and attempt to be more healthy, and I'm finally going to make another stab at it. All the other stuff goes with that, eating better, going to the gym, trying to be more productive with my time. Also, being a nicer person. I have noticed in the past few months, I have been a little snippy and negative to people, some very close to me, and I regret this. I like to believe I am one of the nicest people walking the planet, and when I can watch myself acting like a dick head, it really bothers me.

So yeah, I say, start on your resolutions now. Get the jump on those and you'll start your 2009 off right. As for me, I'm off to try and be a productive musician and write some songs, and drink some more Green Tea.

West Coast

1,300 people. That's how many people were standing in front of me when I walked out on stage at Oregon State University on Friday night with Cloud 9. As soon we set foot on that stage, I had a new respect for all musicians who do this night after night. The overwheeling feelings of joy and fear hit with the same intensity, at the same time, and for the first time in a long time, I was honestly freightened to be on stage playing music. Before this, the biggest show we had played had been maybe 100-150 people in a bar. Standing up in front of almost 10 times that many people and knowing that we had a job to do was a very strange feeling. But as soon as we kicked into our first tune, and everything went off without a hitch, I knew that the entire weekend would be fine.

We played, finished up our set, which ended up being the best one we have played to date, and headed back to our merch table to hang out. We had people come over to buy some merch, ask for autographs, and just hang out with us, which is honestly my favorite part. People who buy a shirt, or a CD, are awesome, because it provides the band with a little more cash to put towards these trips, and other expenses. But when someone comes up to you after a show, and tells you with a straight face that your music made their weekend, or cheered them up (both of which happened Friday night) it really sticks with me and reminds me all over again why music can be something more than notes and beats.

We ended up hanging out with a decent size group of kids from OSU both Friday and Saturday night. They showed us a great time, bought us drinks, and were just all around good people. I don't think I could have asked for Cloud 9 to have a better weekend away from home for the first time. Next weekends show is down in College Park, Maryland. Hopefully we get to meet and hang out with another amazing group of people and enjoy other weekend of doing what we love to do together.

Until next time, I am a Beaver Believer!!!

Monday, bloody Monday.

Another Monday is upon us as we head back to work after the weekend thinking about the fun that was had. Monday always is a weird day of the week for me. For those who don't know, I work your average 9 to 5 during the week, wearing a shirt and tie like a good little American. But on the weekends I'm usually off to another city/town with the Cloud 9 boys. I always thought that being in an active band was kind of funny, because you see the same people day in and day out at work, but they have no idea on the weekends you go out with your band and band up dancing on a bar until 3am with your band mates.

With that said, this past Saturday was probably the best Cloud 9 show we've had since I joined the band in April. We played up in New Paltz and the entire night was insane. The bar ended up packed to gills, the Halfway Crooks did a bang up job, and of course, Cloud 9 was in top form (with help from a lot of drinks before hand, and a little thing called Molly). I don't remember much after our set because I found our we had a band bar tab, so I completely indulged in what they had to offer. The rest of the night was filled with antics, dancing, and my band mates meeting some very interesting (and whorish) woman in town. I woke up on Sunday morning with the worst hangover I've had in the past 6 months and wouldn't of had it in any other way. The only down side to the entire weekend was stepping in a giant puddle on the way home in my brand new shoes.

All in all, the entire weekend went off without a hitch and it was definitely the best show yet. 3 more weeks until we go to Oregon to open for Eve 6, so we just need to keep our chops up.

Well, that's it for now, so until next time...

Here's to a long life, and a merry one
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer, and another one!

Hang over, Shmang Over

It could be the constant battle against my liver, or maybe I'm just not drinking as much as I once did, but I realized today that hangovers are becoming something of the past for me. I haven't had a good, day-long, hang over in a while. Oh well, it's pretty awesome, just kind of strange. ANYWAY...

So, last night I went to go see Flogging Molly for free, which was amazing, because they are one of my favorite bands these days, and the fact the show was free just made it that much better. It was out on Pier 54 on the west side of Manhattan. A very fitting venue for a band that signs about sailors and old drinking tales. Needless to say it was an awesome show, and it reminded me why I love Flogging Molly so much. They are one of those bands that always seem to be in a great mood, even when Dave King goes into this talks about the battles in Ireland, and how there is finally piece, he has always seemed optimistic about it, and about life. Everytime I see them, they give it their all, and seem to be having nothing but fun playing there music. It's a good reminder of why I play music in the first place, as some bands I go see get WAY to serious during their set, and it is kind of a turn off.
Tonight also starts a weekend of good times with good people. Tonight is my ex-roomate/good friend Dan Black's birthday, and I'm sure we are going to go out in grand fashion and get a little banged up. Saturday we will be celebrating two of my friends, Jon and Rob's, birthdays. As negative as I am about birthdays (woooo! I didn't die this year! Let's party!) I can't help but go to every single party I'm invited to. Oh well, it will be good drunken times in good ole' New York City.

Well, that's about it, I guess I should re-fill my Mug-O-Coffee and get to some work.
Until next time, Champaign for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends.

Friday, I'm in love.

Another week gone by, and all I have to show for it is an empty bottle of Jack Daniels and a room that needs a cleaning. Oh well. Besides that today has been pretty killer so far. I got to work late, so that means that I don't have to be here as long today, our company decided to go buy a ton of beer and have a little get together in the court yard downstairs which means we can leave work early, and my two favorite web comics (My stupid life and Questionable Content) were really really funny today. All in all, this is the best Friday in a while! I have to be locked in a basement all night writing and recording the new Cloud 9 album, but I'm sure that will also be fun as this band can do nothing productive without a healthy supply of drinks and other substances.

Saturday is also looking awesome, as me good friend John is finally 100% better after a 6 month battle with a non-functioning kidney which was the cause for us to cancel our trip to Montreal back in Feb. Everyone is super stoked he is finally better, so we are going out for drinks Saturday afternoon/night to celebrate. Chances are high that I will get way to smashed, but hey, all in good fun, right?

That's about it. I've been feeling really great about life recently and everything is rolling along pretty smoothly lately, almost as if I was bound to fail at something soon, but fingers are crossed. I'm going to eat the other half of this amazing chicken salad sandwich and lister to The Fullblast while I get mentally prepared for the events of the weekend.
Until next time, Slainte!

You mean I gotta drink this coffe hot?!

Another day, another lunch break spent hanging around town and doing a whole lot of nothing. But I had an interesting thought today. While I was ordering my pizza (which was awesome, if you were wondering) I called my friend Mike in Cloud 9 who is the one who books our shows and handles setting up practice. I asked him if it was cool if we ditched practice tomorrow night, because my girlfriend was up for the week and we want to hang out on Friday night and go out. He said it's fine, because we ended up canceling the show we had booked on Saturday night, so we didn't really have to practice. Needless to say, it made my day a little better, but I also sparked a thought...

I find it really crazy that I actually felt good about not having to go to band practice. You fight so long to find/start a band to play with as much as possible, but it seems once you have that set up, you tend to get a little lazy in wanting to do it all time. I know every musician goes through it, because you just get tired of playing after a while no matter who you are, I just realized today how crazy it is to put so much effort into something, then kind of bitch about doing it later down the line. Meh, food for thought I guess.

Anyway, besides that, the day is awesome. It's a nice hot one, and I think tonight calls for a few drinks with Jenny and some people across the river. So, on that note, I'm going to go brew up a fresh pot of coffee and find some online racing games to keep me sane until 5:30 Until next time, bottoms up, tops down.

Less Talk, More Rock

Yup, another week at the job. I find posting during work is becoming to best time to write because A) I sit all alone now that my friend quit working here and B) I just need a break from this very boring day.

Anyway, nothing amazing going on. I saw the Dillinger Four on Sunday and had one of the best times at a concert I've had in a while. The place wasn't that big and I got to talk to the guys before their set as they wandered the venue. It was amazing to finally get to see these guys after listening to them for years. They put on one hell of a show, I got kicked in the head, it was nothing but a good time! It was one of those nights that remind you what drew you to this kind of music when you were 14-16 years old, and also proves that no matter how old you get (I'm now at a staggering 23, and the D4 guys have to be close to 40 these days) it is music you can continue to love.

That's about it. Cloud 9 is booking shows for the rest of the year now, and we might have a few big ones lined up, so keep your eyes and hears open everyone.

Is it Friday yet?

Well hello world...

Well well well, look who decided to actually start posting again.  Yup, it's me, and hey, this is kind of fun again.  I figure it's a good time to get back at this thing being that I actually have semi-interesting stuff to vent out.  So, with that said...

I joined a new band, it's called Cloud 9, and it's awesome.  We are a hip-hop/rock cross-over thing, and I've been having an awesome time.  But for some reason, I can't shake this feeling of being a "sell out" in one form or another.  I mean, what is a sell out?  Someone who makes music for the wrong reasons, right?  But I love this band, and it's really want I want right now, but for some reason, I still feel like I've abandoned all that I was raised on.  With Nice Pipes being very inactive, and me leaving the other band I started for Cloud 9, it's the first time in my life that I am not involved in any kind of punk/hardcore band, and it's kind of a weird feeling.  Slowly but surely I'm getting over it.  Just something different I guess.

Besides that, everything is actually going really well lately.  I decided to get back to the gym, and I've been feeling really awake and healthy lately.  Summer is finally upon us, and my buddy had a summer kick off bash which was nothing short of awesome.  There are tons of awesome concerts coming up this summer, 2 of which involve the great Dillinger Four, a band who I have loved for years, but never had the chance to see live.  The first show is in July and the second will be in October with NOFX.

All in all, I must say, life is good right now, hopefully this keeps up all summer and beyond.  Oh well, and I'm still with my amazing girlfriend, who I give a lot of credit to because she has stuck around longer than any other girl I have been with.  So go Jenny, you are a trooper.

Until next time, beers up, hoes down.