This weekend.

I feel like blogging about my week, but then at the same time nothing really happened this week.  I think I'll push out an essay that I was writing last month, but didn't have the time to finish it all. I have a show to go to tomorrow and I'm pretty hyped up about it, but my stomach is starting to have some issues but I'm still going to go. I'm not going to dance, I'm not going to start a mosh pit, I'm just going to pay my 7 dollars sit down and listen to some bands. Its a "early release party" or whatever and I'm like "What the heck? What is an early release party? There are like 3 bands playing are they all releasing albums?" I dont' think so, but I'm still going no matter what happened because the last gig I missed was some serious rockatude and hell, if this is a folk concert I'll still will be happy to go. I get to see some of my friends that I met this summer (I hope that they are going) and I can be like "how is school? School is a drag for me because I might have too much going on". No lie, I'm only going to school for Guitar club and to keep up my grades to at least a B in every class which is kind of challenging when people call you "sir" and you almost have to beat someone up for calling you "blue lunchbox kid". But I think I'll just have to write about that later.

What I did at band practice: Day 6

It's the last day of camp :'( But I wasn't too sad because we KILLED it at the gig today! I had fun. Trying to dance was my favorite part. The dance party was awesome, and I don't' care if I can't dance very well. I'm very sore right now; its hard to walk, my knee hurts, and my left arm is sore ( I really don't know how I'm typing right now). I think today's high temperature was 104 degrees outside. The church didn't have air conditioning, and the fans weren't helping the room cool down. The theater wasn't too bad because it was dark, but it was still really hot in there. I went through two bottles of water, but everything worked out fine. I was kind of hungry half way though, (I just can't eat one slice of pizza! That isn't possible!) Anyway, I can't tell you what I did on the stage. I was in my own "zen" state and I was just going with the song. You know what? When I'm in my "zone" I just do what I have to do, so it's a good feeling. Heck, I don't' even know when things started. All I know is that we all kicked some butt today and I'm proud of everyone there. This experience was awesome, and I can't wait for next year :)

I'm working on my American Apparel rant for tomorrow. Its going to be epic.

What I did at band practice: Day 5

The last full day of band practice before the big gig! If this was the Friday before any debate meet, I would be wigging out. It's diffrent this time because it isn't my friends basement, or someones backyard birthday party. This gig is on a stage and this gig has bright lights. This wont be a coffee shop, and it isnt'a school band concert. This is legit. I don't know how I really feel, its a mix of hyper and kind of nervous. I don't do too much during the song (wait, I do some playing) but the solo/bridge/breakdown is where it really is at.  If the drummer keeps up, then I'll be fine, if they don't keep up I'll be going on my own beat and will most likely be screwed (but I should be able to fight through the errors). Another thing, if our vocalist forgets the second verse...then we go to the bridge. You know what I do, I'm off in my own guitar world spacing out and focusing on the 2 harmonizing cords that I play, and then its like... BAM! Play the solo! Play it! annd I end up over thinking my simple solo. Ok, enough of me talking, let me do the run down thing:

800-9:ish: Get there and mindless chatter on something that I don't remember (well I really just forgot it, but it should pop into my head later)
10:00-12:00:  Practice #1
1:00 - 5 ish: Practcice #2

Not a lot right? The less stuff we do , the better I feel. But the longer we do it, the more tired I get. Looks like I'm not watching South Park today... Friday 5 will be around later, and I will also update my other blog too.

What I did at band practice: Day 4

We are (semi) famous! Our gig got in a newspaper, so even more people will most likely show up for the show! Like I said, I'm really glad that we are going last. I need to get around my stage fright, but I think I can do that in about a day or two. All of our songs are sounding solid as ever, and my solo keeps changing, but thats fine, whenever I change it, it always sounds better than it did the first time. Everyone is excited, I am too, but yes, I'm kind of nervous. Who wouldn't be? I'm "fine" but I wish it over, but I'd feel even better if it was over.

Here is what we did today
8:00: Arrive at friends house
9:00-12:00: Practice!
12:00: Lunch
1:00-3:00: More Practice
4-15:4:30: Break
4:30-5:00: Even more practice.

We keep doing less and less! That's great. Like I said, I just want this to be over and done with so I can get back to having my "free time" over summer vacation. Oh, we can't decide on what to wear. I'm going to do what I always do: T - shirt, Jeans, and sneakers. They can do whatever they want to, but I already know what I want to do. We will work it out tomorrow.

Yes, I will be posting my "Friday 5" tomorrow, no matter what time I get home.

What I did at band practice: Day 3

So we got something done today! We only have 3 days left until the gig and I'm starting to get nervous. The solo is bangin as normal, and the band is starting to get the songs down like paste on paper. Our band is going last though, so we are not that nervous about playing. Practice today was kind of weird because we spent the better part of an hour "discussing" song structure. I hope that we can actually jam and make our songs "solid" tomorrow, because if we don't, we are gong to be screwed.

Once again, here is the hourly breakdown.

8:00: Friends house
9:00 - 11:00: Practice
12:00: Lunch time
1:00 - 3:45: More practice time.
4:15 - 5:00: Practice with talking.



I might be kicking myself later, but I gave our tab to our band manager. The crazy thing is that they play music, (in a band) and it could be a hit! I might be getting ahead of myself, but its ok. All I care about is getting credit for writing part of it (ie. the solo). If  I get credit, then I'm fine with it.

I think that this is my entry for the day, I got to change some songs around (again). I'll be here tomorrow.

What I did at band practice: Day 2

Day two of band practice, It went by fast so I'm quite happy about that. We got something done today! That's great because we are still writing songs and they don't suck. I have to make up a solo for tomorrow practice, but I should write something good tonight. Heres the rundown of what we did today.

8:00: Arvie at friends house.
9:00: Start Jam session.
11:00: End Jam session. (For Now)
12:00:Lunch
1:00: Songwriting time
2:00-4:00: 2nd Jam session
5:00: Time to go home.

I think that tomorrow should be more productive (musically), but I'm not too sure if we are going to be 100% serious. Well you have to have some fun with your friends right? I have a callus on my playing hand, but I don't think that it will effect my playing tomorrow. I need to bring my effect pedal tomorrow, so I can make my solo even more wicked :)

What I did at band practice: Day One

So not too long ago, my friend called me and said that we have a gig on the 17th of July. I thought that "It wouldn't be too bad, I'll just practice a little bit and just take the rest of the days off until the day of the gig where we can practice more". I just happy that my band mates scheduled practice for all of this week. The bad part is that its 9 hours long. Yes,  think that I will be burnt out by the end of the week. Here is the run-down of what I did today:
8:00: Arvie at friends house
9:00: Talk about song writing. Start to write songs.
10:00 - 11:00: Jam session. Try to synchronize music lyrics and the rest of our music.
12:00: Lunch break.
1:00 - 2:00: Another jam session.
3:00: Break.
3:45 - 4:15: Song writing (again) and Jam session to "review" songs.
4:15 - 5:00: Talk time and then time to go home.
I don't know what were going to do tomorrow, but I'm sure it will be great. I'll tell you guys about it too.  We will (try) to make shirts and things to sell later in the week, so I can't wait for that either.

Be sure to come back every day this week, I'll keep posting about my trials and tribulations.