Relax

Life of a musician.
November 12

Masquerade

Shirt

Their first shirt. With unknown fans in the background.


designed by Joseph.

Committment

Once again, melodies floating from downstairs. I trot out of my cavelike studio and peer into the spotlit darkness of Jeremy's room. In bed, covers pulled high, strumming his six-stringer, quietly singing the lyrics to a new song he is doing for...


...for Digital Broadcasting class. Which Jonny and I happen to teach. So, he spent a large portion of last evening, and well into the night, "doing homework for Digital Broadcasting," which involved him writing music for Project 1.


I do not know whether he finished homework for other classes. But what dedication for Digital Broadcasting. Homework in bed. 


These are the lyrics.

Masquerade

Masquerade, ball room dance

Moon shines like a natural lamp.

Step, step, step (breath). Dance in between. 

Step, step, step (breath). Dance in between. 

 Shivering, reaching for air

Gravity is grabbing me, pulling me under.

Masquerade, Masquerade. 

Step, step, step (breath). Dance in between. 

Step, step, step (breath). Dance in between.

Sleep beneath the surface, rest.

Ignore the flawed, let the soul persist.

Resist the light, dark is calm

Wake with weary eyes, regret weary eyes.

Step, step, step (breath). Dance in between. 

Step, step, step (breath). Dance in between. 

Preview of Rocktoberfest

2nd Street Public Market - "Pendulum Swing"

Mundanities on a Wodensday

He has a black eye, but you will have to talk or Twitter with Jeremy himself to hear the tale.

Do not forget the upcoming concert dates.

And if you have not seen the trailer for Nowhere Boy...go watch it now. Chills and goosebumps and all those tingles you feel in expectation of something great.

Repost

...from Wormmusings.

An edgy band of rocker poppers hailing from the great Northwest. I've learned they are playing two consecutive shows next week end, the 17th and 18th of September. They also might have a new song about WWII devastation debuting on one of these dates. To find out, attend.

For more info, go to colorblindsoldiers.com. 

Blog

How incredibly disappointed I was to check Jeremy's blog tonight and discover...nothing.


That is the news today. Nothing, although he did skip his 7th period class today to hitch a ride to Tillamook.

Bed

Some people watch television before they fall asleep.

Others nod off to a book.

Jeremy is downstairs playing guitar in bed.

Malcolm Gladwell writes about the thousands of hours of practice the Beatles put in en route to revolutionizing rock 'n roll, and the impact those infinite hours of rehearsals and shows had on their ability to (seemingly) effortlessly create and perform an unparalleled string of smash albums and hits. Just the act of taking every opportunity to play and practice and hone their musical skills in every way possible.

Like I said, he's playing guitar in bed.

Again.

Jeremy's blog

Jeremy has a blog now. Only because he was forced to by his 7th period Digital Broadcasting teacher. What a jerk.

You should read it. He writes about Brutus. Not the Shakespearean villain. A dog.

Rocktoberfest

The Soldiers play next month in Rockaway. Read about it here.

Indie rock meets melodic pop, with a splash of psychedelic. The Soldiers will keep you on your toes. Whether you choose to cry wistful tears in the ambiance of your lawn chair, or dance the night away at the foot of the stage, this dynamic foursome provides equal opportunity for both. With ferocious ballads and gentle anthems alike, these musical connoisseurs will indulge you with the unexpected.

Mundane Cannibal

I spoke to Jeremy on the telephone today (he uses one regularly). He was quietly cheerful. Apparently the band practiced, but they did not call it a "Colorblind Soldiers practice," because Josh was gone working. And Jeremy, loyal bandmate, informed me that Josh is an integral "24% of the band."

Also, Jeremy shared with me recently some stories he has uncovered in the course of research for his upcoming musical about a Cannibal. I did not wish to hear the particular story he wanted to share, as I could tell by his grinning countenance that it was going to be deeply disturbing.

My intuition was not incorrect. I managed to avoid wretching, barely. He did not manage to remove his smug smile as he read aloud this awful story. It was horrid.

Will keep you posted on his musical.

Micro News Update, or Lack Of

Josh did not call. Caleb did not call. Trino did not call.

Jeremy called, briefly. I learned nothing of value. There is no news.

Allegedly, they were planning to record with Michael on Friday afternoon. But, they never called to tell me. So I cannot tell you if they did so or not.

Confessions of a Bad Man (rehearsal)

Relay for Life

The Soldiers played at the Relay for Life Benefit in Tillamook this past weekend. It is an event to raise awareness for cancer research.

Allegedly, the band is firmly against cancer, so it was a good pairing.

Two shows: one at 10pm and the second at 2am.

Word is, they debuted a new song. And also played part of the Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams."

Part of? Apparently they didn't bother to learn all the lyrics, or some such nonsense.

Spies say that their stage presence is turning explosive.

Also, Jeremy took a long nap this afternoon, says another spy.

Jeremy M. Long "Untitled" (rehearsal)

Micro News Update

I believe Jeremy was folding laundry this afternoon. I hope he was not matching socks. He is not very good at it, yet.

And that is the news.

Vive

Jeremy just played me a cover of Coldplay's Viva la Vida he recorded.

Goosebumps, from fingertips to shoulder blades. Incredible. Will post soon, after clearances are signed from Jeremy and Mr. Martin.

Forest Dwelling Animals

Animation

Leviathan Chat

Dudes of Cool, 3/4

Where should Brian May fall on a World's Greatest Guitarists of All Time List? It is heartwarming to listen to the band debate the merits of Sergeant Pepper vs. Revolver, or sigh in unison at the recording experiments of Muse, or groan at the latest Jonas Brothers magazine cover. I remember in 2006, when they were each attempting to coax a semblance of melodic structure from their respective instruments. There have been galaxian leaps of improvement for each of them, but to hear Josh then...and now: it is beautiful.

Right now, there is a little boy - or girl - out there, being born, who is someday going to say Josh Pryor is one of the most shredding guitarists ever. Maybe even better than Brian May.

As an aside: you know what? Fan though I am of Mr. May, I would rather hang out with Mr. Prior any day of the week.

Except Tuesdays. I would reserve Tuesdays With Brian.

Almost Not Winning

Jeremy: 18 last night, in a win. Though they almost blew it at the end.

And probably 35 rebounds or so.

The Trio / Birthday Song

Etymology

Just got off the mobile celly with Jeremy. Had a game. A win. Scored seventeen. Do not know if he had any three-pointers, flagrant fouls, or dunkie-swishes.*



Also informed me that he spoke to Caleb a short while ago, and that he was to convey that Joseph (my name) is on the short list for names he will give his children.



I plan to hold him to that.



What an honor. A rockstar wants to name his sometime-in-the-distant-future child after me. Not Thom. Not Fred. Not Paul. But Joseph.



I will hold you to it, Caleb.



A HELPFUL ETYMOLOGY OF BAND MEMBER NAMES



Caleb. In the Old Testament this was the name of one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Israel. Of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the promised land. also see: Caleb Followill.

Josh. Was (also) one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan by Moses. After Moses died Joshua succeeded him as leader of the Israelites. There is no record of how co-spy Caleb felt about this. see also: Josh Davis, a.k.a. DJ Shadow

Trino. I have been unable to locate etymological information yet, and it is Jeremy's fault for not answering his phone so I could find out the roots of Trino's name.... I will say that Behind the Name.com (my plagiarized source for the rest of this) says that Turin means "victory mood" in Sindarin. and is featured in Tolkien's the 'Silmarillion' (1977). But of course this is irrelevant, as it is Trino we are researching. Please advise, Trigger.

Jeremy. Yahweh has uplifted. One of the major prophets of the Old Testament, author of the Book of Jeremiah and (supposedly) the Book of Lamentations. He lived to see the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in the 6th century BC. see: Jeremy Irland.

Heh heh.

__

*a sports phrase coined by Mr. Kit Houghton, a musician himself. thank you.

Strummer

A random note: is there a more striking band description than their self-created MySpace tag?

Sound clashed into music and we appeared amidst the confusion.

Okay. So it doesn't give a whole lot of information about the music. Or band. But it is vivid, exciting, and ... concise.

Dudes of Cool, 2/4

Trigger : an event or thing that causes something to happen.

Skin-pounding metronomic heart. Quietly, noisily, steadily marching the Army through one melodic gem after another. Epic heart/subtle charisma.

Dudes of Cool, 1/4

I like to be around people who get excited about discovering new things. Who do not disguise their excitement underneath a veneer of detached hipness. I like Caleb's enthusiasm. He is himself. It is hip.

Caleb on the Phone

Just got off the cellular telephone with Caleb. He is rushing to read this blog, so I am hurriedly writing this.

We chatted about their new song (Cannibal's Lament), the Beatles remastered albums (has been studying), and the band's desire to perform a new cover of Corey Hart's classic freshly entitled Pink Glasses At Night.

(Mr. Hart's original version below)

He also caught me up on other band news: Josh ditched him to go to a movie (Blindside). Trino just got his license. They are drinking great amounts of coffee.

I then handed the conversation off to Jeremy, who was standing eighteen inches away from me. They are now having a private band conversation that I am not privy to.

It is a pleasure to hear joy in people's voices, like Caleb's.

Four Man Army

In his second occupation as high scoring high school hoops superstar, Jeremy dropped 15 against Vernonia in a win tonight.

In a double dose of good luck, he was also able to beat Portland's prolific automobile thieves to his car keys. Which he left on top of his car. During the game. Chalk one up for the good guys.

MySpace 10,000

Close to 10,000 views on MySpace.

Make your voice counted.
Colorblind Soldiers on MySpace

...And one billion starts to look pretty close after that first 10k.

Best Friends

Eminem + Moms over 40

Stat Counter

Just set up a visitor counter today. So pay little attention to that "1" at the bottom right now.

Nietzsche

Laying around, conversing about Nietzsche with a group of scholars, and Jeremy.

Can anyone name two books Nietzsche wrote? I asked.

Jeremy jumps in.

Yep. Origin of the Species and...Case for the Creator. Yep. Co-authored with Lee Strobel.

False.

Goals

I spoke to Jeremy this morning, and he will be speaking with the rest of the band about their goals over the next decade.

They will be posted later today.

Merry New Year.