When you call me out I rise to meet you
The only place for me to be is there
All the things I have and want to show you
Anything else would just be unfair
_
Stand up
I’m right here
I’ll take you down
So now
Can’t forget
(Anything else would just be unfair)
I’m gonna bring you around
_
Maybe you think I can be won over
I’m afraid on all accounts you’re wrong
Seems like you just want to gauge my power
Test me now and I’ll show you I’m strong
_
Stand up
I’m right here
I’ll take you down
So now
Can’t forget
(Test me now and I’ll show you I’m strong)
I’m gonna bring you around
_
Famous/Last words
Show you/You’ll see
Waste of/My time
_
All the things I have and want to show you
Anything else would just be unfair
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy 4th Everypeople!
In Honor of July 4th. The Ramones
Note the Mosrite guitar Johnny is playing and the white w/black Precision Bass that Dee Dee is playing. Classic Punk instruments.
Note the Mosrite guitar Johnny is playing and the white w/black Precision Bass that Dee Dee is playing. Classic Punk instruments.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Names
Spoiler alert. My name will be revealed!
When I was born, I was given a Korean name, as I was in South Korea. When I came to the US, my parents gave me a new name. They called me "Alex," but that's actually not my first name.
My mom really liked the name Christian but didn't like "Alexander Christian" so I became "Christian Alexander". My dad really liked the name Damien and kinda snuck it in at the last minute. The name comes from his cousin's son. So there it is. I have two middle names, and go by the first one in most cases. "Christian Alexander Damien". My last name isn't all that important to the story.
Now for the name I have assumed: Damien. You might be thinking, "Dude, it's just your middle name!" Well when it came to deciding on a pseudonym for myself, I suppose it started with the middle name my parents gave me. But I've come to think of it more as a little more sinister. For no other reason than I can. It's ok, I can do that, 'cause I'm a dork. Basically, I set out to find a cool name to call myself on stage. I settled on "Damien Blair" after an afternoon of pretty much nothing but thinking about stage names. I guess I was thinking, "Well Slash is really 'Saul Hudson' so why can't I have a cool name?"
It turns out that my parents didn't want to call me Damien because The Omen had just come out. I fully embrace the irony. Because I can.
When I was born, I was given a Korean name, as I was in South Korea. When I came to the US, my parents gave me a new name. They called me "Alex," but that's actually not my first name.
My mom really liked the name Christian but didn't like "Alexander Christian" so I became "Christian Alexander". My dad really liked the name Damien and kinda snuck it in at the last minute. The name comes from his cousin's son. So there it is. I have two middle names, and go by the first one in most cases. "Christian Alexander Damien". My last name isn't all that important to the story.
Now for the name I have assumed: Damien. You might be thinking, "Dude, it's just your middle name!" Well when it came to deciding on a pseudonym for myself, I suppose it started with the middle name my parents gave me. But I've come to think of it more as a little more sinister. For no other reason than I can. It's ok, I can do that, 'cause I'm a dork. Basically, I set out to find a cool name to call myself on stage. I settled on "Damien Blair" after an afternoon of pretty much nothing but thinking about stage names. I guess I was thinking, "Well Slash is really 'Saul Hudson' so why can't I have a cool name?"
It turns out that my parents didn't want to call me Damien because The Omen had just come out. I fully embrace the irony. Because I can.
Friday, June 4, 2010
short post about me.
It's weird talking about myself to other people. Not so much saying "I'm a musician" but more like saying that "I'm a songwriter" or "I play bass and sing". I never say I'm a singer either. It's always "I sing". Being in a band where I am a songwriter and I am a singer means I have to come to terms with my own shyness and timidness over not just performing but selling myself as well. I have to be able to say "I'm a musician. In a band where I'm the bassist and one of the lead singers. I also write some of our songs." Because I usually feel odd or ill at ease talking about me it's something I have to work on.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
*Jams*
Interesting times are afoot.
The band has new jams that are becoming songs, I've got new guitars that are awesome. My job is giving me less hours which is a) sucky and b) kinda nice (but only 'cause I'm a lazy bastard). I'm really no closer to figuring out what I'm doing long term, but that's ok. I can deal.
I just finished Assassin's Creed II. Finally. It was a really fun adventure. Got a little repetitive by the end, but the story was so good that I didn't mind. The story of Ezio Auditore De Firenze was exciting and well told and the continuing story of Desmond Miles continues to escalate in scope and stakes. The conspiracy thing and the "origin story" thing are both pretty cool plot elements. The final scene as Desmond is one of my favorite parts of a video game in a while.
The band has a new song that came from some lyrics by Kendra called Smoke & Mirrors and music by me called S&M (which I think actually does stand for Smoke & Mirrors, not sadomasochism). We started playing it yesterday and after working through it once or twice, Jim started playing this tom based beat during the verses and I changed up the playing pattern and we had this awesome, explosive song.
Kendra and I also took some time and reworked Latin to better include her in the song. We've got a duet thing going on right now that I think sounds pretty sweet. We thought briefly about changing The End, but we both agreed that it's fine the way it is. Which is good, 'cause I really didn't want to change it.
I had my "New Hire" Orientation for Home Depot the other day. I've been working a month already, so none of it was particularly new, but it was a decent way to make four hours of pay.
Today I visit my folks in Seb and possibly see to getting my Bass head checked out.
The band has new jams that are becoming songs, I've got new guitars that are awesome. My job is giving me less hours which is a) sucky and b) kinda nice (but only 'cause I'm a lazy bastard). I'm really no closer to figuring out what I'm doing long term, but that's ok. I can deal.
I just finished Assassin's Creed II. Finally. It was a really fun adventure. Got a little repetitive by the end, but the story was so good that I didn't mind. The story of Ezio Auditore De Firenze was exciting and well told and the continuing story of Desmond Miles continues to escalate in scope and stakes. The conspiracy thing and the "origin story" thing are both pretty cool plot elements. The final scene as Desmond is one of my favorite parts of a video game in a while.
The band has a new song that came from some lyrics by Kendra called Smoke & Mirrors and music by me called S&M (which I think actually does stand for Smoke & Mirrors, not sadomasochism). We started playing it yesterday and after working through it once or twice, Jim started playing this tom based beat during the verses and I changed up the playing pattern and we had this awesome, explosive song.
Kendra and I also took some time and reworked Latin to better include her in the song. We've got a duet thing going on right now that I think sounds pretty sweet. We thought briefly about changing The End, but we both agreed that it's fine the way it is. Which is good, 'cause I really didn't want to change it.
I had my "New Hire" Orientation for Home Depot the other day. I've been working a month already, so none of it was particularly new, but it was a decent way to make four hours of pay.
Today I visit my folks in Seb and possibly see to getting my Bass head checked out.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Swayed
I revisited Green Day's American Idiot the other day and I forgot how much I like it. I can say with no apprehension that it's a good album in the story it tells and how it tells it. Back when the album first came out, I was less kind to it, but mostly because I was too easily swayed by other's opinions.
Back in high school I was totally a follower. I liked what I liked sure, but I also was totally into whatever my friends liked. This went double for a few specific girls, but it was true in regards to my male friends as well. No one in my social circle were huge fans of Green Day to begin with, and when the new album came out I liked it, but came to "dislike" it once I found that my friends didn't really care for it. This happened with a lot of stuff from those days, and I have to wonder what I would be into now if I didn't put so much stock into my friend's opinions.
These days I try to keep an open mind, and when a friend weighs in on something, I try not to hold that to whatever that something is. So I can say I like American Idiot (I'm not a big fan of the videos that accompany them aside from the Holiday video), the Smashing Pumpkins had some Metal in them, and I am completely justified in liking whatever the hell I want.
Back in high school I was totally a follower. I liked what I liked sure, but I also was totally into whatever my friends liked. This went double for a few specific girls, but it was true in regards to my male friends as well. No one in my social circle were huge fans of Green Day to begin with, and when the new album came out I liked it, but came to "dislike" it once I found that my friends didn't really care for it. This happened with a lot of stuff from those days, and I have to wonder what I would be into now if I didn't put so much stock into my friend's opinions.
These days I try to keep an open mind, and when a friend weighs in on something, I try not to hold that to whatever that something is. So I can say I like American Idiot (I'm not a big fan of the videos that accompany them aside from the Holiday video), the Smashing Pumpkins had some Metal in them, and I am completely justified in liking whatever the hell I want.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Booze, Bands, and getting sick
Well now. Where to begin? I guess I should start with last week. Last Friday the band and I headed to San Jose to record our 2nd set of tracks and our first with Kendra. We spent three days recording drums, guitars, bass, and vocals and just hanging out in the studio and shooting the shit when we weren't working. Sunday we wrapped up with the promise of finished tracks within the week.
On Monday I had to leave musicland and go back to the real world. Work was looming over my head and I wasn't looking forward to it. Ultimately though, things were alright. I finished the last of my computer training (so I thought anyway) and when I went down to the floor I felt a little better about it. So that was cool.
Wednesday I had work, then band rehearsal, and then I hung out with folks for a Cinco De Mayo party. There were margaritas involved. I got really drunk.
Thursday I woke up with a hangover and I still had class and then plans to jam with Matt and Max (RUN AMOK). I pulled myself out of bed and was able to do all of it, but may have over exerted myself at the jam.
Friday (yesterday) was the final round of the Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands at DNA Lounge. I woke up achy and with a sore throat. Still, I got to the studio, we loaded up, and we got to DNA. We got all set up, I took a nap in Jim's truck, and we went on at around 9:15. The audience seemed to like us, and we rocked pretty hard, but when I got off the stage, I crashed big time. I had used up pretty much everything I had on stage. Now I was all achy again and we still had a few hours to go before the judging. Ultimately, we came in 4th place.
After the judging I got a ride back to the studio where my car was waiting. Sarah came with me on the drive home, and I tried to sleep as soon as I got in. See, I had work today at 6am. I was feeling really sick, so I knew I wasn't going to make it, but I still had to call in to let my boss know. This happened at 5am. Until then I tried to sleep. I thought I'd just fall in bed and lose consciousness, but I actually couldn't fall asleep from 12:45 when I got home all the way to 5 when I had to call. I finally slept for a bit after that, but I was kind of a mess.
Now I'm getting a bit stir-crazy from just sitting in my apartment all day.
On Monday I had to leave musicland and go back to the real world. Work was looming over my head and I wasn't looking forward to it. Ultimately though, things were alright. I finished the last of my computer training (so I thought anyway) and when I went down to the floor I felt a little better about it. So that was cool.
Wednesday I had work, then band rehearsal, and then I hung out with folks for a Cinco De Mayo party. There were margaritas involved. I got really drunk.
Thursday I woke up with a hangover and I still had class and then plans to jam with Matt and Max (RUN AMOK). I pulled myself out of bed and was able to do all of it, but may have over exerted myself at the jam.
Friday (yesterday) was the final round of the Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands at DNA Lounge. I woke up achy and with a sore throat. Still, I got to the studio, we loaded up, and we got to DNA. We got all set up, I took a nap in Jim's truck, and we went on at around 9:15. The audience seemed to like us, and we rocked pretty hard, but when I got off the stage, I crashed big time. I had used up pretty much everything I had on stage. Now I was all achy again and we still had a few hours to go before the judging. Ultimately, we came in 4th place.
After the judging I got a ride back to the studio where my car was waiting. Sarah came with me on the drive home, and I tried to sleep as soon as I got in. See, I had work today at 6am. I was feeling really sick, so I knew I wasn't going to make it, but I still had to call in to let my boss know. This happened at 5am. Until then I tried to sleep. I thought I'd just fall in bed and lose consciousness, but I actually couldn't fall asleep from 12:45 when I got home all the way to 5 when I had to call. I finally slept for a bit after that, but I was kind of a mess.
Now I'm getting a bit stir-crazy from just sitting in my apartment all day.
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