Surrealism

Blargh.

Progressive thoughts

So, I started to write some new music.

I've been listening to Scale the Summit a lot recently. They are an instrumental progressive metal band, very melodic and semi-heavy. Definitely recommend checking them out.

This is harder than I thought. I mean, I understood it wasn't easy, but damn.

Time passes

Wow. The end of the semester is approaching fast. I have one organic chemistry test before the final. Every other class has just finals (English final being a paper). I've had a great semester, minus my roommate situation. But I'm getting rid of him, so it's all good.

We have the university jazz ensembles concert tomorrow. Basically, 2.5 hours or so of jazz for everyone to hear.
First will be the Saxophone ensemble, playing Liza. I'm on Bari sax.
Then, we're joining with jazz ensemble (the saxes and rhythm section) to play Heads Up and Fax about Sacts. Still on Bari.
They'll play a song next.

Then I'm on my EUB for the rest of the night, playing 5 out of the 9 pieces for the Jazz Band. It's going to be epic. I'll have a recording of the concert if anyone wants some of it.
: D


Also, I didn't start with "So," in this post.
Huh.

Well, who knows what will happen?

I have my whole life ahead of me. College is just a springboard into something much larger than what I currently can imagine. I do not know what the future holds for me, but I am excited to find out.

I'm trying it again. It'll work out this time, mostly because we've had time to be ourselves and mature on our own.

: D

Goes over like smooth jazz

So,

I want to do something different besides our usual progressive metal for this summer. With this in mind, I set out to talk to many of my friends who still play their instruments and see if we could play a few jazz shows for summer.

Ideally, I would like to have a decent sized band to play with. Something along these lines:
Rhythm:
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Keys

Horns:
Trumpet 2-3
Saxophones 3 - 4 (Alto 1/2, Tenor, Bari)
Trombone (?)


I've gotten replies from some people already, just to give them a heads up that we were thinking of doing this. It should be epic.


But what to do about the band name? I mean, it's an expansion of MS, but in a different genre entirely. Eh, we'll worry about that later.

Hmm

So.

Should I update more frequently?
Should I find more followers?
Suggestions?

I have a twitter feed.

Be a Man!

So.

I've been at a loss of what to write as of late. School is going well, orgo II being my hardest class. I have a test in it tomorrow, so I'm studying all day today. My grades are decent, but not what I want them to be. I plan on fixing that and will do so in my classes. Again, orgo being my main concern (although I am only going to minor in chem....)

Oh well.
This weekend was...interesting to say the least.

Oh Ultimate

How I've missed you.

About three weeks ago, I hurt my knee by hyper-extending it and bruising the bone(s). Today was the first day since then that I played a game of ultimate frisbee on the quad. I know, I know, typical college post, but seriously, who doesn't love ultimate that isn't in college?

Granted, my throwing sucks now, but I'm running and catching again, which is all I really wanted to do since I've hurt myself. It's a cool 72º(ish) out and it feels great to play.

: ▲
▲ ▲

"Are you going to dance?"

If someone was to ask me to dance, of course I'd say yes.
It's in my nature.

If I'm going to a ball, I'm not going to just mope around and not dance. I will and I will have a great time.

Sup now?

Art: Between the Buried and me

*All images copyright to the artist.

Looking around on the official BTBAM page, there was a section that allowed people to submit their interpretations of the songs from the album Colors (cover art at the top).

I found this interesting...some designs are really good, some are eh.

Album Art

I haven't posted in a while, but I figured I could share some artwork of different bands.

Let's start with Mastodon, shall we?

Happy Birthday Blogspot.

There is a lie on the Blogger logo today. I can only assume it's the birthday of blogspot.

Today is the greatest day I've ever known.

I was sitting outside today, on this beautiful day, reading The Book of Daniel for my English 175 class. I was sitting underneath a tall and old tree on the field that we practice on for marching band (Davis field).

As I sat, I took note of my surroundings. The swaying swing hung from the tree, the earthen patch of ground I rested on, the ants scurrying around and on my legs, the dead tiger butterfly next to me, and the breeze flowing through the living giant behind me. It was a poignant moment for me, as I realized what life and God had given to me.

I felt...blessed.

Well

I've talked things over with her. It might work out and turn out differently than I expected.

Somehow, I knew it would come back to this.

You are not alone.

And some of the things she said really hit me. Maybe it was because I was feeling off or maybe it was because I was really listening. Probably the latter.

I felt guilty.
Because she was right.

About pretty much everything. Like I've made a bunch of mistakes. And I'm really not okay with that.

After that conversation, I thought about all my faults and my fears.

I fear...commitment. She deserves better than that, for what I want is something where I live as a couple and as an individual.

Later, I know I will be accepting of the time needed. But now...now's not the time.


Yes, this is a mirror of what someone else is going through, but it is EXTREMELY accurate as to what has happened recently. I guess life sometimes is like that.

Fuck.

EUB

Jazz band shall be the most interesting and fun class this semester. I'm playing my electric upright bass, so we'll see how that goes. We have another bass player, but I'm sticking with only my EUB. I feel it's more jazzy than a regular electric bass.

I might also be playing sax for a song or two, depending on what happens.

Even when I'm gone

So I added a twitter box onto my blog. It's something that will be there when I'm not actually posting something. A helpful reminder that I am alive.

Speaking of being alive, I was listening to The Colour and the Shape by Foo Fighters the other day. The whole album deals with the entire course of a loving relationship, from start to finish. It reminds me of how mine was. I guess.

Melancholy.

I started writing lyrics for a new song. I don't know how I feel about it yet. I might post them, I might not. But I probably will.

Ultimate Knee Injury Frisbee

You know when you're playing a game really seriously? You're looking directly at the frisbee, about to make a long distance catch and suddenly, you step on an uneven field, your knee bends back, and you have to sit out and be in pain?

You don't know how that feels?

I fucking do.

I don't know what to do.

Really, I have hit a weird point in my life.

I'm not sure what I want anymore.

: |

Ice Breaker

I am at a weird stage of life right now. Nearly 20, I find myself in situations filled with older adults around me. Volunteering, working, what have you, there are people to whom I am used to calling sir, miss, Mr. _, Ms. _, or Mrs. _. You know, the formal stuff.

But now, these people are seemingly OK when I address them on a first name basis. It's like a name game for myself, determining if I should call them by their first name or a more proper name.

It's weird.

Egg beater! Chicken! Front, back, side turn!

So,





























































Do the Hustle.

Comission

So, last year at WFU I was supposed to make the sax shirts.

I never really got around to getting money from everyone and finalizing the design on time. It was a great concept, one which I hope to do this year instead.

I just need a comic-esque picture with a lot of creativity drawn and given to me before I leave on August 8th.

For why?

Sometimes, I feel like I need to blog, but I can't think of what to write. I have tons of ideas spilling forth from my mind, yet I don't feel like taking the time to type my thoughts.

I feel...unsure.

Ebb and Flow

So, my friend was right. I have been thinking of my conversational skills overall for some time now. I am a unique case: I would consider myself to be gregarious, but also shy. It takes me a while to feel comfortable around a person before I can open up to them. But, their first impression of me then was misleading overall.

I should play more music. It's universal, and I need to work on my bass clef reading in general. Maybe then I can talk through notes instead of my words. Conjure my thoughts in an altered form.

Conversations with me can sometimes abruptly end. What I feel is not an awkward silence actually is one for the other person(s) involved.

There is safety in numbers though. I see myself as the bassist that I am. I might not be at the forefront of the limelight, but I am missed when I am not there.

Ultimate

The other day, I went to play a game of Ultimate Frisbee with some friends and friends of friends. When I got there, I wasn't sure what to expect. My ultimate playing at WFU was extremely competitive, with a majority of the people wearing cleats, everyone stretching and warming up, intense passes and catches, always running, and high energy.

This was...a little less intense. I was expecting a more laid back and friendly game of ultimate, whereas this was more like a 6/10 on the competitive scale. My girlfriend who came along was expecting a 3/10, which is what was described to me.

She left early, but that's OK. We ate at Fire Bowl for dinner. If we had been on the same team, she probably would have enjoyed the game a lot more. Things just go that way sometimes, I guess. At least she wasn't turned off of the game. But it could have gone better.

It was still fun for me.

Musings on 16-bit

I recently saw a comic relating to the Street Fighter series. I've always been more of a Mortal Kombat fan, but there is one response that I have to SF.


With that, I guess I should note that I still play too many video games. Currently, Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero (3,4,M), SSB Brawl, MadWorld and other Wii games. But I feel accomplished because I did some touch-up painting on my Eldar and Tyranids. Good stuff.

Flawless victory.

To be missed.

So, here I am again, ready for summer. I am now a sophomore going to WFU, which means I am a recent alumni of my high school. Yay. Really, yay.

At the end of year concert for my high school, we had a tradition where alumni will come on stage for the last song of the concert, Stars and Stripes Forever. This means that we all had to bring our instruments with us, so people knew who we were. It was an interesting time overall, for my friends and I were sitting in the "alumni section" of the audience and were able to enjoy the concert in a different way.

We played. It was fun. Not so good, for I believe the alumni saxophones (5 of us) all missed the key change half-way through. It was weird to see all of us who are great to decent players stumble through some parts of a song we've all played. My excuse for this? I was sightreading the Alto sax part.

I want my own bari sax.

After playing, there was cake. It wasn't a lie, and was pretty good at that. I met a lot of people I remember and who I still keep in contact with, albeit 7+ states away from them. It surprised me how many people were like "HEY! I'VE MISSED YOU!" kind of deal with me. I've always seen other recent WHS grads and think "do they remember me? Will s/he talk to me?" I tried to fit that role with everyone I saw.

I still want my own bari sax.

Band

So.

I use "So" to start my posts a lot. I'm not sure why, but it kind of prefaces my life with two short letters. It fits, so I think.

It's summer for myself and my guitarist. We plan on gigging this summer (more on that later). Through my girlfriend, I found a drummer who meshes with us personality wise and music wise. It kinda helps that we all are multi-instrumentalists and understand basic music theory.

We scrapped most of the stuff we had starts as songs and are now moving in a new direction. Think Between the Buried and Me + Dream Theater. That's the kind of sound we want. I'll keep stuff posted.

ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland activates the release of glucocorticoid hormones from the adrenal cortex.

I feel like it's time to do one of those posts that reflects on my freshman year at college. It's officially Thursday morning, EDT, and I have a biology final in 14 hours. Good stuff.

So this year. It's been up and down. I feel like I have a home here at WFU. It's weird though. I don't drink or seriously party, yet I still have a good time and such at college. Huh.

Heading home on Friday morning at 9 am. 22 hour drive. Kinda, because of time change it might be less or more. I'm not sure if we accounted in the time zone the first trip up here. It'll be peaceful way to relax before summer starts.

Band is going to gig this summer. I'll keep stuff updated on that here.

Actual conversation.

On remarking how serious a rabble was forming in my friend's class, I asked him how serious of a rabble we're talking here. I mean, was it going to enough of a rabble to declare shenanigans on the grades in the class?
His response:

Shenanigans? No, we're talking brooms, mops and portable hand vacuum cleaners. I'm not ruling at someone frisbeeing a roomba either.

Had to be memorialized somewhere online.

Dante, Demitri, Pedro

From what I've heard, people either like naming their instruments or they feel it brings them bad luck. I don't believe in superstitions (I am Catholic), but I do tend to name my instruments, based on different criteria. Even if that criteria is just random thought patterns in my head.

: s

V' is for Vorpal

There is nothing important to me,
Nothing left to live for.
Declare a state of emergency,
Because I won’t be around anymore.

You can’t control my life,
You can’t control my destiny.
My body is now undone,
Your medication is my poison.

*Strapped in tight, bound by white,
My captors are tormenting me.
This ****ing cage, my vorpal rage,
I’m monitored constantly.

Time slithers away,
Day to day is but a fluid.
My movements are suppressed,
My dreams no longer lucid.

Save me,
This treatment is no longer pure.
Always deceived,
How can you call this shit a cure?

*Strapped in tight, bound by white,
My captors are tormenting me.
This ****ing cage, my vorpal rage,
I’m monitored constantly.

[Spoken, underlined words at the same time]
Why the **** are you doing this?
Who gave you authority?
**** these needles, **** these drugs,
Eat **** and die!

*Strapped in tight, bound by white,
My captors are tormenting me.
This ****ing cage, my vorpal rage,
I’m monitored constantly.
Life is hell, death seems swell,
Please just let me be.
Leave my head, kill me instead,
My insanity is no longer ecstasy.




Original. Don't like some of this. Still, this is a good start I feel. Any and all comments appreciated.

I tried to write from the perspective of a delirious mental patient, viewing life now as a prison instead of his treatment. Did I succeed? I'm not sure.

So now what?

As you can see, I've finished my alphabet of songs. From here I'm not sure what I plan on doing, however I do know this:
I won't be doing another alphabet of other band's songs until much later (if I feel like it).

I MIGHT start posting lyrics or poems on here if I feel like it. I'd like C&C on them (for those who do read this blog) and I'll take it into account.

Also, summer is coming up quite soon. I have a week of class left, then studying for finals, and then I'm heading home. My band back home, Mercenary Suns, plans on gigging this summer. I'll post any dates and any updates to our MySpace on here about songs or gigs we have.

Z is for Zero

My reflection, dirty mirror
There's no connection to myself
I'm your lover, I'm your zero
I'm in the face of your dreams of glass
So save your prayers
For when we're really gonna need'em
Throw out your cares and fly
Wanna go for a ride?

She's the one for me
She's all I really need
Cause she's the one for me
Emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness
And cleanliness is godliness, and god is empty just like me
Intoxicated with the madness, I'm in love with my sadness
Bullshit fakers, enchanted kingdoms
The fasion victims chew their charcoal teeth
I never let on, that I was on a sinking ship
I never let on that I was down
You blame yourself, for what you can't ignore
You blame yourself for wanting more
She's the one for me
She's all I really need
She's the one for me
She's my one and only



So Zero is the only song that starts with Z that I have in my music collection that I want to write about. I can't really think of other songs with Z that I really care for, but Smashing Pumpkins are pretty good.

This song is in my least favorite tuning, which is down a half-step. Basically, bands use this tuning to better fit a vocalist's range and normal singing patterns MOST OF THE TIME. I could see this being useful when playing with a big band, where instruments are usually in Bb or Eb, so that the bass and guitar could hit a low Eb instead of stopping at an F.

Zero is a good song, albeit a little short and abrupt, but then again, we are talking about the Smashing Pumpkins.

Y is for YYZ

Y Y Z
Y Y Z
Y Y Z
Y Y Z
Y Y Z
Y Y Z
Y Y Z
...


YYZ is by Rush and is named so for two reasons: 1) Toronto Airport's code is YYZ and 2) the beats in the song spell out YYZ in morse code. It's instrumental, so Geddy has 3 solos, Neil has 3 solos, and Alex has a long solo. Each has their moment to shine.

This is the classic song that a lot of people know Rush by. Things like Limelight, Tom Sawyer, Working Man, etc, kinda get pushed back in favor of this technical and quite challenging song.
Standard tuning is a great bonus to this song.

Basically, if your band can play this song, you are pretty good, especially the drummer and bassist. Although I can play this song, I need to take it under tempo for now. : C
Oh well, YYZ is still one of my favorites.

X-Stream

There is the need for speed
Everything that exceeds
The point of no return
And this one's gonna hurt
All set before your eyes
A human sacrifice
It's time to clear the ramp
Who wants to take a chance

So let's roll
All night long

I like the smell of fuel
I got myself a bruise
The only time it's real
It's when I shift the gears
A few in every town
The death defying clowns
Gather with all their rigs
And kids are burning wheels

Yeah let's roll
All night long
Always pushing it to the X-Stream
Metal

One game to entertain
The gain is the pain
You might crash in flames
Or jump off the planes
The pavement's made of stones
In parts with broken bones
But you ain't out of luck
You live around the clock

Yeah let's roll
All night long
Always pushing it to the X-Stream
Metal

1001...1002...1003...Open

Another world record
And this one missed the curve
What's gonna make me stop
Who's gonna take my guts
One split second and go
One tire had to blow
C'mon and give me five
I died of what I liked

So let's roll
All night long
Always pushing it to the X-Stream
Metal

1001...1002...1003...Open



This song is by Voivod. It's off of GHII as a bonus song. Pretty fun to play. I don't know the tuning. Besides this song being good, it starts with X.

That's about all I have to say.

W is for War Pigs

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh lord yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to poor

Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'til their judgement day comes
Yeah!

Now in darkness world stops turning
Ashes where the bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees the war pig's crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing spreads his wings
All right now!


Black Sabbath is a band that everyone should at least have heard of. If not War Pigs, then Iron Man or Paranoid. Classic metal that everyone can enjoy. At one point in time, this could have been classified as demonic or the devil's music, but compared to some bands out there now, this is nothing. Still, it is a great piece.

War Pigs is interesting because on the same album is Paranoid. Originally, War Pigs was going to be the titular track, but Paranoid took that spot instead because Black Sabbath didn't want to be seen as hating the war going on at the time.

Either way, the song is fun, though I prefer Faith No More's sped up version a little more. (Ozzy's vocals are better).

V is for Viridian

.


Where are the lyrics? Exactly. Viridian is a bass solo off of Colors from Between the Buried and Me. Seriously, go buy the album.

While this is not as technical a solo as other things (such as Anesthesia by C. Burton), it's very interesting and complex, especially with his weird tuning. Check it out on youtube if anything. No lyrics = no screaming if you not into that thing.

Also, it starts with V.

U is for United

Look around, They're movin inFor a Krown, When they begin
We can do it, we can do itand if they wanna they can try it
but they'll never get me up
and they can get out of hear
Gonna keep on driven never stop

United, United, United we stand
United we never shall fall
United, United, United we stand
United we stand one and all ...Give me love

Don't give in, make a stand, we're gonna win
We can do it, we can do it
and if they wanna they can try it
but they'll never get me up
and they can get out of hear
Gonna keep on driven never stop

United, United, United we stand
United we never shall fall
United, United, United we stand
United we stand one and all ...Give me love


This is a pretty patriotic song by Judas Priest. It's metal, but also melodic and passable for something patriotic if requested. It's a little short, but I like it. Standard tuning again, which is always a huge bonus.

Judas Priest is a great band, and although this isn't as popular a song, it still deserves some recognition. Plus, it starts with U.

T is for Trogdor!!!

TROGDOR!
TROGDOR!

Trogdor was a man
I mean, he was a dragon man
Or maybe he was just a dragon

But he was still TROGDOR!
TROGDOR!

Burninating the countryside,
Burninating the peasants
Burninating all the peoples
And their thatched-roof COTTAGES!

THATCHED-ROOF COTTAGES!

(Woah, this has wicked dueling guitar solos!
It's like, Squeedly versus Meedley over here.
Go Squeedly!
Go Squeedly!
SQUEEDLY WINS!)

When all the land is in ruin,
And burnination has forsaken the countryside,
Only one guy will remain.

My money's on TROGDOR!
TROGDOR!

And the Trogdor comes in the NIGHT!!!


Yes, this is from a Strong Bad e-mail. But it was in GHII, so it's warranted on this list. The main reason I've put this on the list is because my band did a cover of it, except in standard tuning instead of drop D.

What can I really say about this? Nothing. Trogdor is a badass.

S is for Sun of Nothing

Everywhere I look they are there...
what is everyone doing? Going to a home?
To a place that makes us feel warm...
a place that grants us a smile. Seems like a very simple idea,
but not hardly figured out.
I just see faces. Faces staring blank as they go on with the routine.
This routine. Nothing new... its time to go through with this.

A spaceman. That's what they say I am.
Nothing but a spaceman...
always pushing it all away.
Trying to get to that one place I call home.

The journey begins... forcing a new life with the unexplained...
a creeping rush that surrounds me.
Floating.... floating away.
Always pushing it all away.
Trying to get to that one place I call home.
My own planet... I allowed this wish...
unexpected... not knowing why.
Wonder why I question it now? I'm my own planet...
not many can experience this sensation. Loneliness is creeping out...
or in, however you think of it. But it sure is surrounding me.
Maybe all the complaining is an accurance of boredom. I suppose its too late.

I am floating farther and farther away.
I did love, I did laugh, I did live.
(Now I'm my own planet)

A spaceman. They say I am... a spaceman.
Planets everywhere... my own destiny...
I am floating towards the sun. The sun of nothing.
Floating towards the sun, the sun of nothing.
I have become the sun of nothing.
Nothing is here. Memories are not clear.

Floating to the sun... farther away.
I can't believe that's what it has come to...
I never really had it all that bad.
I just looked around and never thought about the blank stares.
They were looking into something much worse than what I thought I was.
Selfishness is a very sticky quality of this species.
Looking around... I don't see any faces...
yes I am lonely. It's to be expected. I'll sleep now


More Between the Buried and Me. Amazing band, really. The bassist uses a 5 string, which normally eliminates drop tuning. But not for BTBAM. They play such melodic and progessive and alternative and I just can't describe what they play, all in really really weird tunings. The tunings are in 5ths or 7ths or something weird, I don't know. I don't know enough theory to say something for sure.

I've not even attempted bass for this one. :*(

But seriously, this is off of Colors, which is basically a 63 minute long song, split into sections. Sun of Nothing is my favorite section on the album.

R is for Run to the Hills

White man came across the sea
He brought us pain and misery
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He took our game for his own need

We fought him hard we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
But many came too much for Cree
Oh will we ever be set free?

Riding through dustclouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom a stab in the back
Women and children and cowards attack

Run to the hills run for your lives
Run to the hills run for your lives

Soldier blue on the barren wastes
Hunting and killing their game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good indians are tame
Selling them whisky and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old

Run to the hills run for your lives


Classic Iron Maiden! I love this song. It's definitely metal, though nothing as heavy as later stuff. I do however, find that this song (standard tuning!) is heavier than similar music in the same time period. It's pretty fast, got a great solo, an amazing galloping bass line, and just fun to play. The drums are killer, but really tie the piece together.

What else can I say other than praise for Iron Maiden? Steve Harris is a beast at fingerstyle playing, which is great because I personally hate picks. 3 guitars actually work for them. And it's just Iron Maiden. Come on, Iron Maiden! Classic metal.

Q is for Quintessence

The demon skin is covered in fine mist
Opened his hand in my hand
Holding my eyes to the future
Hovering above myself
Letting loose the guided
Punching these holes in my head
The space time paradigm

Omnipresence
Primal instincts

Let it go

Calling reason
Finding you
These wild hearts run
Even deeper
Burning through
These wild hearts run

Let it go

Letting me free the quintessence
In fine mist
Opened his hand in center
Holding my eyes to the future
Letting loose the guided
Punching these holes in my head
Losing my skin to the landslide

Omnipresence
Primal instinct

Let it go

Calling reason
Finding you
These wild hearts run
Even deeper
Burning through
These wild hearts run

Let it go

Shield failure
Speed farewell


So this song actually is interesting. It is by Mastodon, off of their new album Crack the Skye. A classic concept album, dealing with wormholes, time travel, and so forth. In all honesty, this is the only song that starts with a Q that I could find that I liked. Crack the Skye is an amazing album, go buy it.

Sadly, I have not played the bass for this song, mostly because it is still quite new and no tabs have been released. I don't have external speakers on my computer, so it's hard for me to isolate the bass, otherwise I might try to learn it. Oh well. GO BUY CRACK THE SKYE.

P is for Police Truck

Tonight's the night that we got the truck
We're goin' downtown, gonna beat up drunks
Your turn to drive I'll bring the beer
It's the late late shift to one to fear

And ride, ride how we ride
We ride, lowride

It's round-up time where the good whores meet
Gonna drag one screaming off the street

And ride, ride, how we ride

Got a black uniform and a silver badge
Playin' cops for real, playin' cops for pay

Let's ride, lowride

Pull down your dress here's a kick in the ass
Let's beat you blue 'til you **** in your pants
Don't move, child, gotta big black stick
There's six of us, babe, so suck on my ****

And ride, ride, how we ride
Let's ride, ride, how we ride
Let's ride, lowride

The left newspapers might whine a bit
But the guys at the station they don't give a ****
Dispatch calls "Are you doin' something wicked?"
"No siree, Jack, we're just givin' tickets"

As we ride, ride, how we ride
As we ride, ride, how we ride
As we ride, ride, how we ride
Let's ride, lowride



Dead Kennedys. Classic punk rock. This song is more of a parody than anything, and is quite humorous. It's got a great groove, really fun to play, and is from the 80s. The bass is not that complex, but it is interesting. Older Punk's not really a genre for very technical playing (bass wise) though, so I can't really complain.

DK was known for being political and quite outspoken in their views, both onstage and off. This is no exception.

O is for One

I Can't Remember Anything
Can't Tell If this Is True or Dream
Deep down Inside I Feel to Scream
this Terrible Silence Stops Me
Now That the War Is Through with Me
I'm Waking up I Can Not See
That There's Not Much Left of Me
Nothing Is Real but Pain Now

Hold My Breath as I Wish for Death
Oh Please God,wake Me

Back in the Womb its Much Too Real
in Pumps Life That I must Feel
but Can't Look Forward to Reveal
Look to the Time When I'll Live
Fed Through the Tube That Sticks in Me
Just like a Wartime Novelty
Tied to Machines That Make Me Be
Cut this Life off from Me

Hold My Breath as I Wish for Death
Oh Please God,wake Me

Now the World Is Gone I'm Just One
Oh God,help Me Hold My Breath as I Wish for Death
Oh Please God Help Me

Darkness

Imprisoning Me
All That I See
Absolute Horror
I Cannot Live
I Cannot Die
Trapped in Myself
Body My Holding Cell

Landmine

Has Taken My Sight
Taken My Speech
Taken My Hearing
Taken My Arms
Taken My Legs
Taken My Soul
Left Me with Life in Hell




One is off of ...And Justice for All by Metallica. It is one of their great songs, second to Master of Puppets and probably Orion. Honestly, it is a good song. It's NOT the end all and be all of Metallica, but I have someone who will argue that it is.

One is about a war victim, based on a book, of which I can't remember at this moment.... Either way, it's Metallica. Enough said.

N is for Needles

I cannot disguise,
All the stomach pains
And the walking of the cranes
When you, do come out
And you whisper up to me
In your life of tragedy
But I cannot grow
Till you eat the last of me
Oh when will I be free
And you, a parasite
Just find another host
Just another fool to roast

Cause you
My tapeworm tells me what to do
You
My tapeworm tells me where to go
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey

I cannot deny
All the evil traits
And the filling of the crates
When you, do come out
And you slither up to me
In your pimpin majesty
But I cannot grow
Till you eat the last of me
Oh when will I be free
And you, a parasite
Just find another host
Just another stool to post

Cause you
My tapeworm tells me what to do
You
My tapeworm tells me where to go
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tape worm out of me...

Im just sitting in my room
With a needle in my hand
Waiting for the tomb
Of some old dying man
Sitting in my room
With a needle in my hand
Waiting for the tomb
Of some old dying man

Cause you
My tapeworm tells me what to do
You
My tapeworm tells me where to go
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey



I decided not to censor this song, because censorship of free speech is a violation of our Constitution. Plus, ass is now used regularly on the radio and TV, so it's moved to a lesser curse, such as Damn.
Anyway, System of a Down. Drop C tuning. Yuck, but awesome. Needles is off of my favorite album, Toxicity. Serj is amazing for playing and singing and just being a badass in general.

Toxicity was one of the first metal / thrash albums I heard and I fell in love. SOAD are great, though some of their newer and inbetween songs are just meh. Oh well, I still love them.

M is for Muscle Museum

She had something to confess to
But you don't have the time so
Look the other way
You will wait until it's over
To reveal what you'd never shown her
Too little much too late
Too long trying to resist it
You've just gone and missed it
It's escaped your world

Can you see that I am needing
Begging for so much more
Than you could ever give
And I don't want you to adore me
Don't want you to ignore me
When it pleases you
And I'll do it on my own

I have played in every toilet
But you still want to spoil it
To prove I've made a big mistake
Too long trying to resist it
You've just gone and missed it
It's escaped your world

Can you see that I am needing
Begging for so much more
Than you could ever give
And I don't want you to adore me
Don't want you to ignore me
When it pleases you
And I'll do it on my own
I'll do it on my own



Muse is a phenomenal band. Seriously. I love this song, from their album Showbiz. It's one of those hidden gems from earlier Muse (after Absolution...which spawned Hysteria).

Honestly, the basslines that Muse use are incredible. I strive to emulate such complexities in the music that I write and I feel that I succeed. This song is in the key of A, with FCG as sharps and it really gives the song a very sorrowful and haunting tone, which is perfect for the lyrics.

L is for Limelight

Living on a lighted stage
Approaches the unreal
For those who think and feel
In touch with some reality
Beyond the gilded cage.

Cast in this unlikely role,
Ill-equipped to act,
With insufficient tact,
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact.

Living in the Limelight,
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem.
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation,
Get on with the fascination,
The real relation,
The underlying theme.

Living in a fisheye lens,
Caught in the camera eye.
I have no heart to lie,
I can't pretend a stranger
Is a long-awaited friend.

All the world's indeed a stage,
And we are merely players,
Performers and portrayers,
Each another's audience
Outside the gilded cage.


I had to get to Rush at some point. Limelight is one of their great songs, off of Moving Pictures (probably my favorite album from them). Little known fact, Neil Pert is the lyricist for Rush. But Geddy is just a better singer and great bass player.

Limelight is a great song by Rush. It is a classic song for those who actually listen to Rush and not just YYZ (which is hard...but great). I don't know what other praises I can sing for this song, it's just that good.

K is for Killing in the Name

Killing in the name of
Some of those that work forces,
are the saints that burn crosses

Now ya do what they told ya

Don't you die or justify
You're wearin the badge, and your chosen white
You justify those that died
By wearin the badge and your chosen white

Some of those that work forces,
are the saints that burn crosses

Killing in the name of...

Now ya do what they told ya

Your under control
Now ya do what they told ya

Those who die, are justified,
for wearing a badge and their clothes in white
You justify those that died
By wearin the badge and your chosen white

Come on...
**** you, I won't do what ya tell me...

Mutha ******



This is a classic and great track by Rage Against the Machine. Tom Morello is great. I mean, his wah-pedal use is as prolific as Kirk Hammet, but in a good way. RATM has always been quite political in their views and lyrics, this being no exception. I don't feel this song to be sacreligious, but it definitely makes a statement.

Rage plays a lot of Drop D songs. I am a metal head, but I prefer standard tuning. I feel that E standard just makes for heavier songs. Sure, you are hitting lower notes, but it's just not the same. : s

J is for John the Fisherman

When he was young you'd not find him doing well in school.
His mind would turn unto the waters.
Always the focus of adolescent ridicule,
He has no time for farmer's daughters.
Alienated from the clique society,
A lonely boy finds peace in fishing.
His mother says "John this is not the way life's supposed to be."
"Don't you see the life that you are missing?"

And he says...


When I grow up I want to be,
one of the harvesters of the sea.
I think before my days are done,
I want to be a fisherman.


Now years gone by we find man that rules the sea.
He sets out on a dark May morning .
To bring his catch back to this small community.
He doesn't see the danger dawning.
Four hours up, oh the ocean swelled and swelled,
The fog rolled in it started raining.
"The starboard bow." "Oh my God we're going down!"
The do not hear his frantic mayday.

And he says...


When I grow up I want to be,
one of the harvesters of the sea.
I think before my days are done,
I want to be a fisherman.
"I'll live and die a fisherman."
Calling John the Fisherman..



Primus does not suck. In recent years, Les has stopped asking people to refer to the band with that euphemism and instead just cheer normally. Whatever. Listen to the man, he taught himself bass and is amazing!

Les is one of my idols of bass. Considering I can play almost all the songs (not any of the 6 string ones) including ones with an upright (hurray for my EUB), Primus is one of my favorite bands. I'd love to see them in concert, mostly because you have no idea how zany and awesome they will be. Primus pretty much sums up my thought patterns and life, in the best way possible.

I is for Iron Tusk

Straight line
Feel it burst liver and lung
Long and strong
'Til she spills her black blood
Center down
Vast the head body and tail
Shatter life
Physeter catodon
Culture vulture
Elephant graveyard
Culture vulture
Engage monster
Wreaking vengeance
Assault with all martial rage
Sail on

Another Mastodon song on this list. I know, I know, I love Mastodon. And I will continue to gripe about them playing D standard. But it's pretty heavy and they are really good.

This track is off of Leviathan, one of Mastodon's great albums. It deals with Moby Dick, but transforms the white whale into a great sea beast, a leviathan, something to fight and split your lungs over. Really, listen to this album.

H is for Hangar 18

Welcome to our fortress tall
Take some time to show you around
Impossible to break these walls
For you see the steel is much too strong
Computer banks to rule the world
Instruments to sight the stars

Possibly I've seen too much
Hangar 18 I know too much.

Foreign life forms inventory
Suspended State of cryogenics
Selective amnesia's the story
Believed foretold but who'd suspect
The military intelligence
Two words combined that can't make sense

Possibly I've seen too much
Hangar 18 I know too much.

One of the first songs I played on my Yamaha. I love Megadeth, although I again hate dropped tuning, this time in Drop D.

I guess I should not complain that much, mostly because this is a beastly song. It starts off at a moderate tempo, completes the verses, and then just breaks down into awesomeness. I've covered it before in our band, though we joke and call it "Hangar 9," because the second half of the song is just to hard. 9 guitar solos makes it very taxing on our guitarist. Plus, it's freakin' Dave Mustaine.

G is for Gunslinger

Yeah, you've been alone
I've been gone for far too long
But with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

Never let it show
The pain I've grown to know
’Cause with all these things we do
It don't matter when I'm coming home to you

I reach towards the sky I've said my goodbyes
My heart's always with you now
I won't question why so many have died
My prayers have made it through yeah
’Cause with all these things we do
It don't matter when I'm coming home to you

Letters keep me warm
Helped me through the storm
But with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

I reach towards the sky I've said my goodbyes
My heart's always with you now
I won't question why so many have died
My prayers have made it through yeah
’Cause with all these things we do
It don't matter when I'm coming home to you

I've always been true
I've waited so long just to come hold you
I'm making it through
It's been far too long, we've proven our
love over time’s so strong, in all that we do
The stars in the night, they lend me their light
to bring me closer to heaven with you

(Bring me closer)

But with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

I reach towards the sky I've said my goodbyes
My heart's always with you now
I won't question why so many have died
My prayers have made it through yeah
’Cause with all these things we do
It don't matter when I'm coming home to you

And with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

Another A7X song on this list. This one is very interesting. It surprises me how many semi-romantic or religious songs Avenged sings. M Shadows is really an amazing vocalists, as is all the members singing harmony.
When I saw them live in Asheville, this was the song they came back out to (after Synyster had a solo) and it really was powerful. Lighters and cellphones were abound in the air as the members slowly came back out. Synyster led the song in the intro, the Rev joined, then Shadows and Vengence, and finally Johnny came out to play.

The melody on this song is interesting. Almost all of A7X's music is in drop D, and this is no exception. The guitar has a very pretty and melodic intro, followed by very passionate singing. Things turn heavier when Johnny finally enters and drives the song forward.

I definitely recommend listening to this one if you haven't.

F is for Fade to Black

Life it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free

Things are not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this can't be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filing me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now He's gone

No one but me can save myself, but it's too late
Now I can't think, think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death Greets me warm, now I will just say good-bye

So this is Metallica's Fade To Black. Interesting song indeed. It's one of their more melodic and not as thrash metal songs.

I'll add more later today, I have a psych test and lab hw to do.

slight break in alphabet

So last night I drove 2.5 hours (one way) with a friend to go see Avenged Sevenfold in concert. Needless to say, it was intense. We were on the floor and there were pits everywhere. I'll have a full post later about the experience.

E is for Everlong

Hello
I've waited here for you
Everlong

Tonight
I throw myself into
And out of the red, out of her head she sang

Come down
And waste away with me
Down with me

Slow how
You wanted it to be
I'm over my head, out of her head she sang


And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang


Breathe out
So I could breathe you in
Hold you in

And now
I know you've always been
Out of your head, out of my head I sang


And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang


And I wonder
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when


So this is Everlong by the Foo Fighters. I honestly love this song. Except for the fact it is in drop D.

This is from the Color and the Shape album, which is basically dedicated to explaining an entire relationship with it's ups and downs. I find it to be not only touching, but strangely romantic and haunting.

The guitars, bass, and drums are amazing in this song. It is almost constant playing for the guitar, a decent, but slightly hidden bassline, and a killer drum beat. It is not as metal as the previous songs (except maybe Aqualung), but it is still an amazing song.

D is for Down with the Sickness

Drowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
It seems what's left of my human side
Is slowly changing in me

Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes (oh no)
There is no turning back now
You've woken up the demon in me

Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
You mother get up
You *****r get up
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me

I can see inside you, the sickness is rising
Don't try to deny what you feel
It seems that all that was good has died
And is decaying in me

It seems you're having some trouble
In dealing with these changes
Living with these changes (oh no)
The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me

(And when I dream)
No mommy, don't do it again
Don't do it again
I'll be a good boy
I'll be a good boy, I promise
No mommy don't hit me
Why did you have to hit me like that
Why did you have to be such a *****
Why don't you,
Why don't you **** off and die
Why can't you just **** off and die
Why can't you just leave here and die
Never stick your hand in my face again *****
**** YOU
I don't need this s***
You stupid sadistic abusive******g w****
How would you have to see how it feels mommy
Here it comes, get ready to die



So, obviously, I had to censor this one. This is a classic by Disturbed, a nu-metal band. I like this song a lot, but it is in C# standard...(it can be played in drop D if needed). Either way, it is a fun song to play.

Disturbed often has violent and repressed lyrics, and this is no exception. If you've ever heard them, you should know what to expect. The gutteral and melodic sounds coupled with the interesting riffs really make this song catchy (if you like metal.) Personally, I do.

C is for Circle of Cysquatch

Elephant spirits
Tower of ivory
Story of ancient deities
Seizure of the fleece
Protector of its place
Fly through dreamscapes
Of valleys gullies and spires
Herd across suicidal slopes
Changeless moonshines
Circle cyclops image
A race of one-eyed beings
All feared and shunned
Rakshasa demon
Seizure of the fleece
Protector of its place
Eyes all around you
Enter the labyrinth
Visions of the hunted
Beware the birchmen
Incisors thought to be
Skulls of us
Our release


So this is Mastodon's song off of their Blood Mountain album. I choose this one (as opposed to Colony of Birchmen) because I like it a tad more. Also, it's not in guitar hero/rock band which is a plus.

The vocals for this song are interesting. They aren't full on screams and growls, but they are still very much metal. About halfway through, "Eyes all around you", the vocals switch to a voice box like sound. I can't really describe it other than oscilloscope.

I really like Mastodon. They are a good metal band. Other than the fact the bassist plays in D standard, which requires me to drop all 4 strings down a full step. Oh well. If I get a 5 or 6 string, I won't have to do that anymore. : D

B is for Beast and the Harlot

This shining city built of gold, a far cry from innocence
There's more than meets the eye round here look to the waters of the deep.
A city of evil
There sat a seven-headed beast, ten horns raised from his head
Symbolic woman sits on his thrown but hatred strips her and leaves her naked.
The Beast and the Harlot

*She's a dwelling place for demons, she's a cage for every unclean spirit every filthy bird
and makes us drink the poisoned wine to fornicating with our kings.
Fallen now is Babylon the Great.

The city dressed in jewels and gold, fine linen, Myrrh and pearls
Her plagues will come all at once as her mourners watch her burn.
Destroyed in an hour
Merchants and captains of the world, sailors navigators too
Will weep and mourn this loss with her sins piled to the sky
The Beast and the Harlot.

*

The day has come for all us sinners,
If your not a servant you'll be struck to the ground.
Flee the burning, greedy city,
Looking back on her to see there's nothin' around.

I don't believe in fairytales and no one wants to go to Hell,
We've made the wrong decision and it's easy to see.
Now if you wanna serve above or be a king below with us,
Your welcome to the city where your future is set forever.

*


This is the second letter of the alphabet. It's an easy way for me to write every single day. This is probably the first metal song I learned on my bass. In fact, it was my old Yamaha that I played. Thankfully, this song is is standard tuning. I must say, I appreciate guitar hero for opening my mind and ears to different music. It's one thing that I can play guitar hero well; it's a special thing that I can play bass well.

The Beast and the Harlot is a good song. I like the lyrics and vocal harmonies of a7x a lot, mostly because all five members will harmonize while playing their respective instruments (singer, guitars, bass, drums). This song is more science fiction than some of their other works (Almost Easy, Gunslinger, Bat Country, etc) but it is still a good song IMO.

A is for Aqualung

Sitting on a park bench
eyeing up little girls
with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Feeling like a dead duck
spitting out pieces of his broken luck.
Sun streaking cold
an old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
the only way he knows.
Leg hurting bad,
as he bends to pick a dog end
goes down to a bog to
warm his feet.
Feeling alone
the army's up the rode
salvation a la mode and
a cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend
don't start away uneasy
you poor old sod
you see it's only me.
Do you still remember
December's foggy freeze
when the ice that
clings on to your beard is
screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
with deep-sea diver sounds,
and the flowers bloom like
madness in the spring.


These are the lyrics to Jethro Tull's Aqualung. I've decided to start writing about pieces of music that I like, are important to me, or just plain interesting. Starting with A.

I first heard this song on RB2, but I fell in love with it. It is about a homeless man and what has happened with his life; Aqualung is a reference to the sounds he is thought to make as he breathes. The music is sad, somber, and beautiful. It emphasizes a more acoustic feeling mixed in with accented electric guitars.

The thing I note about this is how I feel we should help the poor. We've all had bad times, and this song shows how bad things can be. But we should be optimistic.

Tech-Savy

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Ryphr

Mortality

In the past 24 hours, I have been informed of first the death of a friend at Wake and my Uncle in El Salvador. Neither of them had any real symptoms. My uncle dropped dead after playing racketball (which he plays....played everyday) while my friend (only a year older than me) died for undisclosed reasons as of late.

I am not that affected by death, and I'm not sure why. I understand we, as living things, can and will die. It's part of the natural process. Circle of life. Death. I am sad that I can no longer see these people and sorry that I can't live more times with them, but I've moved on. While I think of this, the only really affected thing would be my actions. My work ethic actually went up some, due to having a test and a lab today...and 2 tests, a paper, and a lab report due next week. : \

I pray for the souls of Eric Marinoff and Julio Gomez.




On a long enough time lime, the survival of the human race drops to zero.

Update

Fixed some links on the side bar. Also made minor changes to "Posted by" "# Comments" and "_ said..." : D

D & B

So here is the lowdown of some things as of late:
I was trying to start a band up here at WFU, but things weren't looking so good until I responded to a poster looking for people who could play metal. Only two people responded to the poster, a guitar player and myself. But, I met up with the drummer (the vocalist was out of town for this weekend) today and I must say, it was awesome.

We started off just chilling and looking for a place to practice. For some reason, the band hall won't let private groups (including those made of only students) use the band room...so we scoped out the basement of one of the psychology building. It was quiet, no one studied on the floor above us, and it was as soundproof as we could get it (carpet, spacious enough to diffuse the sound, and underground) and we plan on using it eventually. After looking for other places, though, we ended up chilling and headed over to Scales so D could play drums while I played my EUB (for space reasons, the practice rooms in Scales are tiny. My Ibanez would not do well in the small space).

This was the first time I've done a drum & bass combo. It was, to say the least, interesting and awesome. D was using a kit all the drummers could practice on (he is in jazz band up here), but used his own double bass pedal and sticks. It was interesting, for instead of normally laying out a bassline and providing the foundation for a guitar or singer, we were able to improv. Our playing could be described as providing the foundation, rhythm, and melody at the same time. It was constantly changing and was unlike anything I've done musically. We started off pure metal, then shifted to a metal-jazz fusion, and then into jazz. Finally, we did a quick cover/rendition of Run to the Hills, called it a night, then got Cookout.

What I learned:
It's hard to find people who like the same style of music as you up here. Most people are indie and alternative lovers up here. If not, they can't play guitar and like rap or something. While I enjoy these genres, it's not my primary interest.
D and I mesh well musically. We've both played instruments for 8 years, so we know what we're doing. We are not BSing ourselves into thinking we are amazing for being able to play Sunshine of your Love. It's a good song, but 1) we don't play that kind of music and, 2) frankly, we are so much better.


Great Success.

Shoes.

Sigh.

So today I was in line at a WFU basketball game and I went to go get some oreo ice cream at half time. While waiting in a long line (causing me to miss playing the fight song twice), a young boy and what I assume was his brother were in front of me. The boy, being a boy, was looking around him and happened to look at me. At this point, his mouth is slightly open and he is blatently staring at me. I can his gaze for a second, but I look away as he does.

Now, about a minute or two later, I notice he is staring at me again. My arms are crossed and I look him directly in the face. We have a face off for about 30 seconds. I conceded and go back to my musings. He continues to stare for another 1 minute, then looks and whispers something to his brother while still looking at me. I'm still just standing there waiting to eat ice cream. His brother says something and tries to discreetly look at me.

It's at this point that I'm thinking, why are these people staring at me? I mean, I am more of a minority up here than blacks, but why am I ostrasized? I do know that I haven't shaved for about 2 weeks now and haven't gotten a haircut since August something, but still...

Oh well. I have decided to take double bass lessons in the summer and join jazz band.

So....

I haven't posted in about 4 months. A lot has happened. Over the course of a semester, I've come to love WFU. It's a great place, minus the workload. In fact, tonight is nice. Very nice in fact that I don't have homework. Sadly, my armies were left home, cast aside in favor of what is going on now.

But onto the good news. It is my second semester now. I have gotten used to what I am expected to do and how to maintain my grades. College is good.

Friend-wise, I lack the strong friendships I have at home. But then again, I've known these people for less than a year; my friends from home have known me since 2nd grade.

Enough of these musings, I must move forward with this "blog." I have yet to speak of any musical achievements since I last posted, of which there have been many. First and foremost, I now own 4 basses. I have a Yamaha passive 4-string (see previous post...somewhere...), but it was not doing much for me in terms of sounding good. My pride and joy has to be my active 4-string Ibanez SR530 (Dante). He has always sounded good and is primarily my metal and rock bass, but I needed some changes of pace.
Birthday came. Along with my EUB. EUB, of course, being an Electric Upright Bass. Think orchestral double bass. Now take off everything except the fingerboard, bridge, and strings. Make the entire neck an active pickup. That's my EUB. Mostly jazz and smoother music.
Christmas. Ibanez acoustic bass. Sounds phenominal and very melodic.

I should post some pictures...eventually.
Other news:
Bands.
For now, I am in an as of yet unnamed metal band here at WFU. It's nothing serious, just 5 guys (vox, drums, me, guitar[s]).
Mercenary Suns. My friends back home are a trio of musicians. All of us are multi-instrumentalists, thanks to WHS band. Hopefully we can get a gig over Summer break.

That's about it for now, but I hope to get some painting done over Spring break which is in 3 weeks.

Oh, check out MS. http://www.myspace.com/mercenarysuns
We only have one track up right now, and it's synthetic because we need better recording gear.