What The Craft Fest?

What a strange day. Anacortes is bustling with more activity than I've seen since I've been out here due to the influx of people hitting up the art fair on the streets... I have to say, even though I'm tempted to get some food from these vendors, I don't like the massive amount of people hanging about right now. They're fucking with my isolation! Oh, well.

Went to the dump today in 'Cinnabear', the DoS pickup that's 45+ years old. Hilarious. When you drive that thing around, people think you're crazy and you probably are.

So far, this evening is a bit depressing, as I really wish that I could be at a housewarming back home. I tried to do some recording, and ended up with a new album-version of "Bottlecaps" that I've been working out for some time... it'll be the only familiar song on the new album. However, it's one of those nights where I'm listening to the 5-6 songs I've got and thinking they're all crap. I suppose that's an inevitable part of the creative process, but it's still frustrating as hell.

Going to go figure out what to do with my evening. The night is young and nobody is around... bummer.

Oh, this is happening tomorrow. You should come.

Oh, The Things You Can Do When Your Dog's Leashed To Your Waist

Didn't think I'd accomplish much today, but it ended up flying by and I feel pretty good about it. Fixed the TV so I can continue my Persona addiction (not sure if this is a good or bad thing). Then, got in an unexpected jam session with me predominantly on drums. I, as well as everyone else, was surprised... it's coming pretty naturally.

Closing the evening with some Russian food, a walk on the beach to witness the setting sun, and getting some paint so we can make the gallery look nice for the upcoming installation.

Same Page

Got some promotion done for the 8/8 show here with Rose Melberg. Come out if you can.

Unexpectedly wrote and recorded another track for the album. Basically, my vision at this point is to have an ambient, sparse, "post-rock" vibe without all of the long song business. I'm trying to keep almost everything under five minutes for purely arbitrary reasons, really... I want it less epic and more fluid, if that makes sense at all.

Had a house meeting tonight to establish some roles. Basically, I'm in charge of booking, promotion and the zine library... as expected. I'm really optimistic about what the DoS is capable of while I'm here and keep prolonging my estimated stay time.

Still toying around with doing some academic writing while I'm out here. I've got a couple of different subjects in mind which are all vaguely related to my senior thesis.

For now, though, it's all about this album, finding things to busy myself with and keep my mind off of things.

Professor X Said It Best...

"We're all misfits in this world... but this place isn't just about putting up a barricade and enduring our pain. It's about seizing the day and making our lives useful."

Funny how I'm a big enough nerd to transpose meaning from Marvel Comics to my own life, no?

Got my job interview on today, went really well. Headed straight up that corporate ladder, yo.

Tried to work some more on the set that I'll be playing soon, but found myself distracted with thoughts of the album. Can't quite pin down what I'd like to accomplish first. It changes with the tides, at this point. However, I can tell you that I'm much more excited about the album right now than anything else. I've got a title picked out, finally as well as some context for the jacket.

Now, people from Sweden are here. Talked to one of the foremost booking agents in the Swedish indie scene. It was great. Going to learn some crafts from them and then listen to some of their music that they'll perform for us in exchange for a place to sleep tonight. Very cool.

I'm Going To Make A Salad...! To Share!

What started off as a day of frustration and exhaustion ends with a sense of pride and exhaustion.

Went to a paranormal investigator's house to pick up a dishwasher. Going to try and get him to give a workshop on ghost hunting here. I/we had no experience in dealing with dishwashers or our second project: replacing the valves, etc. on all of our non-working/leaking toilets. After a hell of a lot of back and forth to the appliance store and hardware stores in town, I finally got the dishwasher in! And it works! Totally spent. We've named the new appliance the 'Ecto Trap' after the Ghostbusters containment devices, for reasons stated above.



...and now, dance party.

"My friend the crow is reading my journals; marks with a pen every time he sees your name."

Call On Me. Call On Me. Call On Me.

How is it that every time I head into the living room, this song is playing? Fate, it would seem, that by the early evening I've cycled back to the same state as the previous night.

Did some cleaning today. Dyson vacuums are truly tits. Washed my sheets and was suddenly reminded of the conditions with which I originally received the blanket I still use... I sometimes imagine that voice coming up the echo chamber that is our stairwell.

Discovered that Michael & Michael Have Issues is surprisingly good! It's nice to add another show to the few that I do enjoy.

I realize that I was remiss in doing a proper show review for our concert here on Friday night. Here goes:
Motorbikes played again. I've mentioned them a couple of other times, just do your research, dummy.
The bearded gents from Megafaun delivered what amounted to a low-key Band Of Horses show. Very pretty.
Though you can hear for yourself, Bowerbirds were quite similar to Megafaun with a tinge of a less pretentious Decemberists. That's a good thing.

We've got one of the gals from Lake recording her solo work here right now. She's very nice and sounds good. It's fun to always have new, interesting people popping in.

I'd like not to discuss the particulars of our third attempt at an Indie Street episode tonight, because I'll just get super bummed. So, there.