(no subject)
Yeah, so I'm going to try to bring this semi-up-to-date.
October 29th saw me traveling with Matthew, Arron, and the two Elizabeth's up to New York City. I was wearing all white, as was the dress code for Hallowmas, and the Liz's were each in white dresses. Matt had on an off white suit. Arron, a t-shirt and jeans. Not everyone pays attention to dress codes. In any case, when we finally got to The Hook, we easily found parking and prepared ourselves (lit a jack-o-lantern, gathered the confetti) before walking over to stand in line. It is in that line that most of us spent the next 5 or 6 hours. See, none of us had bothered to buy tickets ahead of time, and by the time we realized, they had been sold out. There was supposed to be another 150 tickets for sale at the door however. But most of those were given to anyone who traveled very long distances. So we waited. And waited. And made friends with the people behind us, and sang Ren and Stimpy songs, and ate fortune cookies and sugar cookies, and told the bouncers jokes. And kids got busted for underage drinking, and we sat down on some steps only to be told that someone had used those steps as their toilet minutes ago. And some bands came out to keep us entertained and sand Black Betty with a fiddle and drum, and sang us barbershop quartet songs.
Finally the time rolled around when we knew Inferno would be going on stage. There was no music heard coming from inside, meaning the band was setting up. And finally, after waiting in the cold for all that time, the bouncers started letting us filter in. And I gave them my 5 bucks and rushed in, took a long needed piss, and threw my coat in the corner. And after a few moments, The Devil's Ball started being played, and there was much rejoicing. They followed it with the usual Tattoos Fade, if I remember right, and all that waiting was pushed to the back of my mind as I danced and sang.
The night pushed on, and finally they played the Heartattack Waltz. As was usual for these shows, I didn't find myself a waltz partner, and found myself being pushed and shoved by dancers, until I hit the stage. There I sat, trying to gather myself, but everytime I tried to stand, I got pushed back down. I gave up and sat there, enjoying the music, when I looked behind me at the stage, Mr. Jack Terricloth, the singer, was looking down at me. Wrapping an arm around my shoulder, he picked me up and I sang with him, and two others that made it up there. At that point, I was very happy I had not found a waltz partner.
From there, they played Pumpkin Time and lead a march out into the streets where we chanted the song, and a guy was breathing fire, and people held their Jack-O-Lanters high, and smashed them on the sidewalk. Hallowmas was complete.
---
Early in November, I went to see Gogol Bordello at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Before heading in, we sat in the lot at Russ's truck and had ourselves some drinks. It was my first time drinking before a show, and might I say, I had a blast. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type that needs alcohol for fun, not in the least. But occasionally, it does make for a fun time. I totally rocked out to The Scotch Greens and Throw Rag, and after Throw Rag's set, I talked to the singer (which I've done at all three shows I've seen them in) and one of the guitarists I think. Gogol played wonderfully, and toward the end, I found myself in the middle of the crowd, helping to hold up the big marching drum they'd set into the crowd, while one of the girls of the band climbed on top and played from up there. Amazing. Picked up some merch and we headed home. A good night.
---
November 19th, bright and early in the morning, Mr. Matt Goodsell picked me up from my house, and we headed up to the Hamilton Street Cafe. Waiting in line with a bunch of Infernites, we squinted in the morning light, not used to be awake this early, especially for a show. But we headed in and sat down in the little cafe area, not paying too much attention to the opening bands. There were some good ones, but I don't really recall them. Watched Psychomania, which Matt and Dave (who later joined us) enjoyed, but I honestly could not stand them. In any case, Inferno played, and it was a lot of fun. I found myself up against the stage, struggling to remain standing, and helping to pick up mics that were knocked over.
When that was finished, we headed out to the lot to wait for others to join us. For, Inferno was scheduled to play in the same place in another few hours. So Dave went and picked up some drinks (oh lord, two drinking stories in a row. It really doesn't happen that often) and we got ourselves started while we waited for our friends. When they finally came, we headed in, but unfortunately, some of them wouldn't be able to make it in because it had sold out (those of us that had attended the first show had already payed for the second), but fortunately, someone managed to get them in. I wandered, talked to people, got recognized as the guy from Assistant Principals, and waited by the stage for Inferno to start. Ended up talking to this girl, whom I had noticed earlier in the night, and we ended up hanging out the rest of the show. It was the first time I'd had someone to waltz with, which was really cool. We sang and danced, and talked when we could, and kissed, and danced some more. Got her number and screen name at the end of the night. Talked to her online a bit, but the fact of the matter is, she's a bit young and lives so far up north Jersey she may as well be in New York.
---
December 9th: Brunswick party/show with Screaming Females in a house basement. All together, a really fun night. Bonded with this kid from New York about metal bands, discussed the possibilities of another show at the house, and maybe some at Hamilton Street with one of the people living at the house (a thoroughly beautiful girl, might I add), talked about Gogol Bordello with another pretty lady, and had a conversation about random things I can't recall with a red head upstairs. We played quite well, I think, and in my opinion, that show really got all of us back into the idea of being a band. It really helped. And Screaming Females rocked, as always.
---
December 11th, another Inferno show. Not much to say about this one, but it really was an incredible show. I don't know what it was that made it so fun, but it just was. There was a lot of dancing, I grabbed a random girl to waltz with, did the can-can with some people, and generally had a good time.
---
So what has my life been besides shows? Well, in between all that have been birthdays, and movies, and museum trips to see dead bodies. People have come home here and there, and I've gotten to hang out with old friends. Saw Cassie in Wawa, Joe swung in Coneheads. Had a small bit of heartbreak, but came out feeling better than before. Still trying to plan a trip to Tennessee and Alabama, but I need a better car before I can do that. Or at least, get my window fixed. Christmas is fast approaching, and I've barely done any shopping. A note to all my friends: don't expect much of anything from me, and don't worry about getting me anything. I get gifts for my family out of tradition. I prefer random gifts for my friends, no holiday deadlines needed.
October 29th saw me traveling with Matthew, Arron, and the two Elizabeth's up to New York City. I was wearing all white, as was the dress code for Hallowmas, and the Liz's were each in white dresses. Matt had on an off white suit. Arron, a t-shirt and jeans. Not everyone pays attention to dress codes. In any case, when we finally got to The Hook, we easily found parking and prepared ourselves (lit a jack-o-lantern, gathered the confetti) before walking over to stand in line. It is in that line that most of us spent the next 5 or 6 hours. See, none of us had bothered to buy tickets ahead of time, and by the time we realized, they had been sold out. There was supposed to be another 150 tickets for sale at the door however. But most of those were given to anyone who traveled very long distances. So we waited. And waited. And made friends with the people behind us, and sang Ren and Stimpy songs, and ate fortune cookies and sugar cookies, and told the bouncers jokes. And kids got busted for underage drinking, and we sat down on some steps only to be told that someone had used those steps as their toilet minutes ago. And some bands came out to keep us entertained and sand Black Betty with a fiddle and drum, and sang us barbershop quartet songs.
Finally the time rolled around when we knew Inferno would be going on stage. There was no music heard coming from inside, meaning the band was setting up. And finally, after waiting in the cold for all that time, the bouncers started letting us filter in. And I gave them my 5 bucks and rushed in, took a long needed piss, and threw my coat in the corner. And after a few moments, The Devil's Ball started being played, and there was much rejoicing. They followed it with the usual Tattoos Fade, if I remember right, and all that waiting was pushed to the back of my mind as I danced and sang.
The night pushed on, and finally they played the Heartattack Waltz. As was usual for these shows, I didn't find myself a waltz partner, and found myself being pushed and shoved by dancers, until I hit the stage. There I sat, trying to gather myself, but everytime I tried to stand, I got pushed back down. I gave up and sat there, enjoying the music, when I looked behind me at the stage, Mr. Jack Terricloth, the singer, was looking down at me. Wrapping an arm around my shoulder, he picked me up and I sang with him, and two others that made it up there. At that point, I was very happy I had not found a waltz partner.
From there, they played Pumpkin Time and lead a march out into the streets where we chanted the song, and a guy was breathing fire, and people held their Jack-O-Lanters high, and smashed them on the sidewalk. Hallowmas was complete.
---
Early in November, I went to see Gogol Bordello at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Before heading in, we sat in the lot at Russ's truck and had ourselves some drinks. It was my first time drinking before a show, and might I say, I had a blast. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type that needs alcohol for fun, not in the least. But occasionally, it does make for a fun time. I totally rocked out to The Scotch Greens and Throw Rag, and after Throw Rag's set, I talked to the singer (which I've done at all three shows I've seen them in) and one of the guitarists I think. Gogol played wonderfully, and toward the end, I found myself in the middle of the crowd, helping to hold up the big marching drum they'd set into the crowd, while one of the girls of the band climbed on top and played from up there. Amazing. Picked up some merch and we headed home. A good night.
---
November 19th, bright and early in the morning, Mr. Matt Goodsell picked me up from my house, and we headed up to the Hamilton Street Cafe. Waiting in line with a bunch of Infernites, we squinted in the morning light, not used to be awake this early, especially for a show. But we headed in and sat down in the little cafe area, not paying too much attention to the opening bands. There were some good ones, but I don't really recall them. Watched Psychomania, which Matt and Dave (who later joined us) enjoyed, but I honestly could not stand them. In any case, Inferno played, and it was a lot of fun. I found myself up against the stage, struggling to remain standing, and helping to pick up mics that were knocked over.
When that was finished, we headed out to the lot to wait for others to join us. For, Inferno was scheduled to play in the same place in another few hours. So Dave went and picked up some drinks (oh lord, two drinking stories in a row. It really doesn't happen that often) and we got ourselves started while we waited for our friends. When they finally came, we headed in, but unfortunately, some of them wouldn't be able to make it in because it had sold out (those of us that had attended the first show had already payed for the second), but fortunately, someone managed to get them in. I wandered, talked to people, got recognized as the guy from Assistant Principals, and waited by the stage for Inferno to start. Ended up talking to this girl, whom I had noticed earlier in the night, and we ended up hanging out the rest of the show. It was the first time I'd had someone to waltz with, which was really cool. We sang and danced, and talked when we could, and kissed, and danced some more. Got her number and screen name at the end of the night. Talked to her online a bit, but the fact of the matter is, she's a bit young and lives so far up north Jersey she may as well be in New York.
---
December 9th: Brunswick party/show with Screaming Females in a house basement. All together, a really fun night. Bonded with this kid from New York about metal bands, discussed the possibilities of another show at the house, and maybe some at Hamilton Street with one of the people living at the house (a thoroughly beautiful girl, might I add), talked about Gogol Bordello with another pretty lady, and had a conversation about random things I can't recall with a red head upstairs. We played quite well, I think, and in my opinion, that show really got all of us back into the idea of being a band. It really helped. And Screaming Females rocked, as always.
---
December 11th, another Inferno show. Not much to say about this one, but it really was an incredible show. I don't know what it was that made it so fun, but it just was. There was a lot of dancing, I grabbed a random girl to waltz with, did the can-can with some people, and generally had a good time.
---
So what has my life been besides shows? Well, in between all that have been birthdays, and movies, and museum trips to see dead bodies. People have come home here and there, and I've gotten to hang out with old friends. Saw Cassie in Wawa, Joe swung in Coneheads. Had a small bit of heartbreak, but came out feeling better than before. Still trying to plan a trip to Tennessee and Alabama, but I need a better car before I can do that. Or at least, get my window fixed. Christmas is fast approaching, and I've barely done any shopping. A note to all my friends: don't expect much of anything from me, and don't worry about getting me anything. I get gifts for my family out of tradition. I prefer random gifts for my friends, no holiday deadlines needed.