21st Century Breakdown

Today I just found out that Green Day has finally released details on when their next album will be coming out. Come May I'll be listening to their new album entitled 21st Century Breakdown. I'm sure alot of people will be trying to compare it American Idiot, but I, for one, will not be. I love AI but I also know that each of their albums have their own distinct sound to it and I'm looking forward to it being different. I've read comments from "fans" saying that they've waited so long for new music by them but true fans like myself know they have already released a new album under their side band Foxboro Hottubs. I'm totally stoked for it and cannot wait. Green Day never disappoints. And by the way, I've been a fan since before Dookie so step off... (not sure if I can pull that phrase off.)

The Decline of Western Televisation

I'm the first to admit that I never would have thought I would be a weekly watcher of One Tree Hill but, hey, it kind of just happened. My girlfriend, Ana, bought the first season awhile ago and the next thing you know I'm Tivo-ing season 6. It's not the best show on TV but it's entertaining. I've invested so much time in it already that I can't just walk away. I'm going down with the ship. Although recently a new character emerged on the show who looked mighty familiar. Why yes, it's John Doe from one of my favorite bands, X! Apparently he's also an actor on top of a musical genius. So if John Doe, the LA punk icon of the 80's, is on the show I feel a little less ashamed watching the show. Crisis averted. Masculinity in tact, although pay no mind to John Doe's mesh shirt above. Here's a clip of X from the punk documentary The Decline of Western Civilization.

We Were A Bunch Of Saps Back Then

I was looking through some of my projects to decide which one I should post for today when I came across some photos and flyers from my old band days in high school. Above is a picture of us hooligans back in the day. That's me, Jess, Sean, Matthew and Brian. We went through 3 band names, a few lineup changes, put out 3 E.P.s, a live album, numerous demos, wrote dozens of songs, played probably 100 covers and was the best memory I had of high school. I think we could have gone somewhere with it. I moved to college, our drummer joined the Air Force, and we all pretty much got "real" jobs. We played punk rock and were heavily influenced by 70's and 80's bands such as Stiff Little Fingers, The Adolescents, The Ramones, The Clash, The Misfits and X. We didn't write aggressive punk rock, it was more musically inclined.

I love music and I love graphic design so as long as I'm doing one of those, I'm made in the shade. Once I figure a way to post some songs on the blog, I will. Below is a flyer I made back when I was 17 before I discovered Photoshop. We were going by The Saps back then.

Paramore

The latest musical ensemble that has found its way to me is the band Paramore. I don't listen to the radio or watch MTV but apparently they are getting pretty big. That's a shame for me but awesome for them of course. I like having those bands no one has ever heard of like they're your own little pet, but oh well. Needless to say they have been playing non stop on a loop on my iPod for the past week. Catchy as all hell with a mix of tempos fronted by a singer with an amazing voice. They have 2 albums out, the latest with 3 singles already and a few music videos to boot. If you haven't listened to them check them out.

Bad Religion

Saturday night I saw Bad Religion at the House of Blues. Such a good show. I've only seen them one time before and they were one of many bands on the bill that night and I was on the grass about 2 miles away with a bunch of pot smoking assholes. Saturday night I was about 50 feet away...with a bunch of pot smoking assholes. Despite that I had an awesome night. They played a mix of songs going all the way back to their album Suffer. My favorite song off their current album is The New Dark Ages tied with Dearly Beloved. Pick it up if you get a chance. Gregg Graffin has got to be one of my favorite lyricists. Either he walks around with a dictionary or he is just that smart.