Everyone's on about the swine flu, but I read an even more disturbing piece of news yesterday. Creed is getting back together. Goddamn, do I hate Creed. No, not nearly as much as my special hate, Journey— if I was forced to choose between having to listen to either Creed or Journey... bah, I'd probably jam a few Q-tips into my ears and welcome the lifetime of silence.

Anyway, Scott Stapp didn't get the memo that nobody likes Creed. In fact, this is the best thing Scott Stapp will ever be involved with: http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/Scott_Stapp_punked. Living in Florida for quite some time does have its benefits, and one of those is the ability to say I have a friend who went to UF that can vouch for this story's authenticity.

But fuck Creed and fuck Florida, I really want to talk about Boston here. Went to TT's last night, because it seemed that's where everyone was gravitating to post-Rumble. Jen and I got there early enough to catch most of Goldcure's set. They were actually really, really good. They're currently on tour from Austin. Please check them out if they're hitting your city. I spoke to Adam and Craig a little, and they mentioned they're working on a Boston date for mid-late July. Pleasant surprises aside, The New Collisions were the band I was there to see. I'd seen the name bandied about everywhere (and it turns out our friends Alex Stern and Zak Khan are playing in the band). It's really great, energetic, and dancy stuff. I really enjoyed it a lot and hope to see more of them. Jen grabbed a CD of theirs, which I will yoink from her.

I think the only negative thing I can say about my evening was that the rum and Coke I ordered was awful enough to keep me on water the rest of the night. Guess I should've gotten a beer.

Before leaving, Jen and I must've said good-bye to everyone at least four or five times— and then stayed an additional 30 minutes talking to everyone.

Between the pretty good day I had enjoying the nice weather and the evening at TT's, I gotta say yesterday gets an A- from me. Not a bad deal.

Except for the Creed shit, of course. In fact, to counteract this unfortunate news, I'm just going to post links below for things the people I saw yesterday are involved in. Please visit and support these guys. (And because I'm a softie, if I missed someone who was there, let me know and I'll post it.)

Enough of my blather for today. Got a list of things to do a mile long.

Henry

PS: FYI, I've been posting vids from tour every few days on our video blog. I can never not laugh at that drive-thru one. Ridiculous.

The New Collisions
Goldcure
Muy Cansado
Anngelle Wood
Boston Emissions
Shawn "Sixx"
Melody Matters
The Luxury
The Lights Out
The Motion Sick
Boston Band Crush
Ryan's Smashing Life
Joe Harrington
The Sterns
Boston Rock n' Roll Social
TT the Bear's Place
Gunpowder Gelatine
The Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra
Rachael Wilcox
The Middle East
Illus Rock

It is hotter than hell right now, but it beats the cold so I'm off to enjoy the day. On the nice air-conditioned train right now, once again trying to update from my phone.

After rehearsal on Fri, we headed out to the Middle East to catch the last night of the Rumble. Again, saw a bunch of people there. Everyone, really. The whole experience has been so much fun. The kids from Boston Band Crush were on Boston Emissions for the post-mortem on the Rumble, and they touched on the fact that this is the most— I don't know... Happy? United? Huggy?— the Boston music scene has been in years. Let's hope this lasts beyond the Rumble. We've got a good pond over here.

Saturday, Jen and I got up bright and early (aka 10am) to record a few tracks with Dan Daskivich in Somerville. We got a lot done and even took time to head outside and enjoy the nice weather for a bit. Anyway, we were really happy with the session. Hope to post tracks soon. Again, too soon to say one way or the other, but I think Aloud may have something out soon... ish. Probably.

Maybe.

Had a very productive band meeting yesterday followed by a productive video meeting for Fan The Fury. Annie (Chris helped with the steaks) made an awesome steak salad, which surprisingly proves that you can win friends with salad; as long as your salad has beef.

Heading into a tunnel, losing reception.

Talk soon.

Henry
via phone

Day was off to a poor start. Jen (particularly) and I had been sick all week, and Saturday was no different. En route, we hit major traffic on 93 due to a traffic accident. A stretch that normally takes us 10 minutes took us 45. Next on the list of fail: forgot our keyboard stand at the rehearsal space, which meant we had to add yet another stop.

Still, we only managed to be about 20 minutes late and got to check fairly quickly. I think this is the biggest place we've played so far. Probably mentioned this before, but the theatre really is like a baby Orpheum Theatre. A bit intimidating, to say the least. The kids from the School of Groove bands, who were opening the night, were hanging around while we were setting up/checking. When I say kids, I really mean kids— like age 12-14. Talked to one of the dads after our set about what a trip it was to see these kids onstage. Took me back. I didn't get any names, but there was a girl playing guitar, couldn't have been older than 12, who could fucking SHRED. No exaggeration, no euphemism. She put people thrice her age to shame.

(Got to use the new keyboard at this show, and it did marvelously. Half the size as the other one, and it sounds twice as good. Me likey.)

Since soundcheck was so early in the day, the four of us had nothing to eat and were in search of grub. We had to settle for IHOP (Boston, you know the one I'm talking about.. the one in Brighton, off Soldier's Field Road.. late enough that it's the only thing open in the area, early enough that the State Police weren't on premises to bust drunk teens).

Anyway, great, great thanks to all the bands. And to Dave Crespo for having us on board for this. We all had such a blast doing this thing. Video of the show was taken, and I'm sure it'll be up soon. Probably.

As fun as the Regent show was, I am bummed (we all are, really) that we had to miss Harris' last show (with the attached Scamper reunion) which happened to be on the same night.

What this means is that I have no choice but to declare this last show/reunion invalid.

A do-over will be arranged for a later date.

I have spoken.

Henry

Hell of a week. Very tired. Went to a few Rumble shows (including last Sunday's). Wish I could've gone to last night's show, but I was on Twitter/Facebook trolling for updates like no one's business. The Lights Out really tore the place down and won their night. Prelims are over. Semi-finals next weekend. Wildcards announced tonight on 'BCN. They deserve props for this year's Rumble, a lot of good bands. After all's said, done, and bitched about, the music scene in Boston is pretty damn awesome.

I'd also like to acknowledge my friends in The Luxury, The Motion Sick, The Lights Out, and Thick As Thieves for a bang-up job and kicking ass. (I'm sure, in usual Henry fashion, I've forgotten someone. If I have, I owe you a beer.)

Wildcard bands are announced tonight on Boston Emissions.

I'd write about it all in more detail, but again, Boston Band Crush has more info on it than I could possibly be arsed to remember and put into writing. I've been doing our taxes for the last few days and I'm fried, okay?! (Seriously, Massachusetts, between this bullshit with the MBTA and making filing my state taxes more complicated than filing my federal, you can eat my poo. You're lucky I like living here so much. LUUUUH-KEEEEEEY.)

Next year I'm going to H&R-fucking-Block.

Apart from going to Le Rumble on Friday and general tax malarky, Jen and I bought a new keyboard. A few keys on the one we've been using for the last year are busted, and we were looking to replace it anyway. Picked up a Nord Electro 2 for a good price. The thing is half the size and sounds so good. I think I'm in love. Goodbye, Casio.

Off to do some writing, maybe make some lunch.

Henry

Went to the first Rumble show on Sunday. It's much nicer when you're not actually playing it, if only the stress factor is pretty much gone. Our friends over at Boston Band Crush have been pretty awesome about the post-show videos and such.

(For those outside of the New England area and have no idea what the hell I'm talking about, check out the Wikipedia page on it here.)

I have to say, as much as I'm loathe to participate in contests and battles of the bands, etc. etc., I realize every year how neat the Rumble actually is— and considering this is the 31st year WBCN's been doing this, they must be doing something right. Seriously, just in the one night I got to see a bunch of people I hadn't talked to in months or years, and everyone is in a good mood. Anyway, it's a nice little reminder that Boston really does have such a great fucking music scene. I'm supremely glad I moved here years ago.

Took a pass on yesterday's show because I needed to recover. I went a little overboard on Sunday and needed a night in to recover. Heading out tonight to support The Motion Sick. Will probably be updating the evening's events on my latest obsession, Twitter (www.twitter.com/aloudonline, for those keeping track). Speaking of, Jen's finally gotten a Twitter account too over at www.twitter.com/Jen_delaOsa. Please bother her.

Spent a lot of time in Harvard Square last week doing this and that. Hung out with Jen and Dave last Saturday, went to a book sale over at the Harvard Bookstore and picked up a few things. I got a book called Madame Bovary's Ovaries that supposed to be about applying the theory of evolution to literature. (Of course, we must also respect the opposing theory that concludes a bearded man in the sky created books out of tree bark and elf sex.) The other two were Obamanomics and The Latino Threat. I decided to start heavy with The Latino Threat. It's written like a college paper, like Lies My Teacher Told Me, which
I like because it makes me feel smug and smart. Madame Bovary's gonads will simply have to wait.

Also reading V For Vendetta. Alan Moore is amazing, and if you have neither read that nor Watchmen you probably should. It will blow your mind. Also plowed through League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which isn't quite as philosophically challenging, but is a real fun read. I hear I'm to avoid the corresponding film at all costs, and I will oblige. (Martin, thanks a ton for lending these to me, btw.)

Still writing and demoing a few times a week. May go into the studio this month to record a couple of tunes, very toe-in-the-water. We've yet to reach the all important quality control "Kill Your Darlings" stage in which we summarily line up 70% of whatever we've written in front of a firing squad and kill kill kill.

Should start getting ready to head out to the Middle East for the show tonight. If you're there, come say hi. Chances are I will not bring my glasses and will miss you completely. But Jen's pretty good about wearing her contacts so... y'know, as I've said before, please bother her.

Henry

(Oh yea, and Sox opening day is today.. blah blah blah blah blah.)

Just figuring out how to blog from my phone, so this could be a total disaster. Not sure if I (and the general populace) should brace for the worst.

Picked up the new U2 record at Newbury Comics on Tuesday. Neither disappointing, nor their best. The beginning and the end are pretty solid. Problem is, like most of us, the middle's a little flabby and could use the exercise. Use of Apple terminology in Unknown Caller made me cringe. Breathe is probably the best tune on there, and along with Cedars of Lebanon would rank it with the best U2 songs. Going to give the new Metric album my ears next. We got compared to them when we released The Sooner It Comes, but it took Jon to finally turn us onto Metric while on tour. So far, good shit.

Heading out to John Harvard's to meet up with Jen and Liz for food. Might hit up the KID:NAP:KIN show at TT's later tonight. Their bass player Jamilla's last show with them.

Been spending a lot of time out in Cambridge, actually. Tuesday Jen and I met up with Annie, Chris March, Jon, and Ryan Lee at River Gods. It was a good time, and we may or may not have discussed a video for Fan The Fury...

Alright, you win, phone. Writing on this thing is giving me a headache, even with T9. Let's hit send and see what happens, shall we?

Henry

PS Saw three other people ferociously typing on their phones. I'm not one of those people am I? Figure I'm safe until I spring for a smartphone...

Currently listening to:
Fantasies
by Metric