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.)