Progress

Had rehearsal tonight and realized that I've been playing the same songs with the Lunds for almost 2 years now. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. But, to drive 40 miles one way, then 40 miles back costs me about $10 a trip, and, to play the same songs over and over gets a little old. So I've been a little excited that Sean has been writing some new songs. He sent me 5 tonight. I'm quite impressed. They're rough; just guitars, vocals and light percussion, but I love where he's going with the songs. Very melodic and catchy. Typical Sean, in my opinion. I think both bros write great songs but I think Sean's are a little more accessible.

Anyway, he's wanting to go in the studio in a few months. It'll be nice to rehearse for that as, for 2 years now, I've never worked on new material with them, other than by myself for the few songs I recorded for Chris.

Wow. Sean has some great songs. There's one I'm listening to now called Sugar that he wrote several years ago. It's actually recorded and done and it KICKS ASS. That will be fun to play live.

Oh. I played at my friend Rob's church yesterday. That was fun. I hadn't played with Rob for almost a year (last Easter). It's so nice to be able to play and just know that the drums are there. Solid. My regular God gig has a couple of kids in it. The drummer is maybe 20-21 and the guitarist/singer is 18. For once, I'm the old man in the band and it sucks. Hell. I've been playing bass for longer than they've been alive! They're not bad players, but they are really just learning the craft of being in a band. It's just not solid. Who knows? Maybe it's me and Rob's history of 10 or so years (on and off) of being a rhythm section. Maybe it's because he's a badass on the drums. In any event, it's always fun to play with him. It's just too bad that his church is 25 miles away. If it was closer, I'd change churches to play with him.

Adios!

Random thoughts and musings

While I waste away my late evening waiting for my wife to be sound asleep before I turn in, I offer the following tidbits:

• I just signed up on a site to track whether or not local stores carry the Nintendo Wii. I was angling for a 360, but figured that I and the kids would interact more with the Wii. Plus, I played my bro's over the weekend and really enjoyed that. I have a buddy who has a cousin at Costco who is keeping an eye out for me. I am a geek.
  
  
• Indy 4 comes out May 22, 2008. Please please please let it not suck!
  
  
• I'm playing bass in a church band. That's weird on two levels. One is that I'm going to church. Second is that I'm playing Christian music. After having never gone to church, I've been going weekly since August (!!). I've been playing bass in this band since November (??). Anyway, both are a bit unsettling. I'm going to church mainly for my wife, but I do enjoy the people there and things aren't as wacky as I thought they'd be. After having played bass for 20+ years, I'm in a situation with a couple of musicians that is uncomfortable, and not because of the music. I've been playing with very competent musicians for years and these guys are adequate, but young and unseasoned and it's really uncomfortable for me to not have a solid drummer to fall back on.
  
  
• I'm listening to Snakecharmer by Rage Against the Machine and DAMN if Tim C.'s tone isn't AWESOME!
  
  
• I'm reading a book by Dan Simmons called The Terror, about a bunch of sailors who get stuck in ice while trying to find the Northwest Passage in the 1840's. It's pretty grim and interesting so far. They are stuck for 2 winters, one of which the temps get to -60F. What the hell? They dress in their "slops" (some sort of hardcore winter wear) and have to perform watches on deck. Now, I know next to nothing about subzero temps, but can people really survive that kind of insanity?
  
  
• American F'n Idol started for real tonight. When is one of these guys going to BRING IT? I mean, every song was a ballad, for cryin' out loud. When one dude brought it, he got slagged. I did appreciate the WA kid singing some Keane. That was pretty cool.
  
  
• I think it's late enough now. Wife should be sound asleep. Now it's my turn.

PS: Happy 2nd Blog-a-versary to me! Two years and going strong!?!?!