To be thankful

Here's a list of what I'm thankful for. I do this every year.

My friends. You guys are awesome. Super Great Disco Party Biblioteca.
My family. Thanks for supporting me in the stuff I do.
My band. Thanks for bringing the RAWK.
My last band. Thanks for the good times, even if it ended suddenly.
My job. Thanks for giving me money in exchange for the stuff I do.
Foo Fighters. Thanks for being my favorite band. Still.

In particular, thanks to Mom for giving me $20 whenever I go home, Jackson for helping me through a tough day, Xander for being a kickawesome roommate (and for the porn), Jessamy for being a kickawesome quasi-room mate, Chris and Kendra for being cool band mates, and Matt for starting the BAMC.

All right. I'm thankful for these things and others. Time to go eat some good food with the family, get through a weekend at work, then ROCK THE FUCK OUT AT THE GIG AT KIMOS ON WEDNESDAY! It's the first show RUN AMOK has played in a year y'know. You should come and see us. December 1st. 9pm.

What does he waaaaaant?

I haven't forgotten about the blog I promise. I've just been busy/haven't been arsed to write anything recently. There hasn't been much going on as of late. But here we go, some stuff that has been happening in the past few weeks:

Saw Godsmack at the Fox Theater in Oakland. Kickass show.

Saw Chris's new band HELL FIRE at the Red Devil Lounge

Got a gig for RUN AMOK for Dec 1st at Kimo's

Got a sweet rehearsal space.

Got a new cell phone.

Sold some guitars.

Finally saw the Scott Pilgrim movie

I'm going to try to blog more. Be sure to check out www.BAMCSF.com for the Bay Area Metal Coalition, and my new blog at eyesearsandfingers.blogspot.com

Just a Quicky

If you need to get away from it all and just be alone with your own thoughts, the here's what you do:

- Pick up your portable music player
- Walk outside
- Get on the most crowded muni bus you can
- Turn your music up loud
- Block out everything else

Zen and the art of coming out

Nothing so pretentious, I read it on the back of a comic book I think. Now on to the post!

Today is National Coming Out Day. Part of a larger National Coming Out Week. Or maybe it's stretched to a week in order to further celebrate/raise awareness. In any case, I encourage all my readers (all 5 of you) to declare to the world something you have kept secret, in honor of those who can't. Something that is a part of you that you can't change. My declaration? I am unabashedly into Kink, Fetish, and BDSM.

A few weeks ago, in light of the recent suicides by many Queer teens, Dave Navarro, guitarist of Jane's Addiction sent out a public message encouraging people to get help if they are contemplating suicide. He urged them to keep on living because there is so much to live for. By killing yourself, you rob the world of one more open minded individual. I totally agree with him.

I'd be lying if I said I've never thought about it. I've been depressed to the point of thinking about it, but I've never taken any action. I know that the hard times will pass, and that not only do I have myself to think of, but all the people who love me and care about me. I couldn't do that to them.

I'm not famous or well known, but I hope that anyone who reads this will find some comfort and maybe some meaning from my words. Don't give up. Don't give in to Hate. The world is kind of a fucked up place. Always has been and won't change anytime soon. But there are good people in the world, you just have to find them. Taking your own life won't stop the bullies or the haters. It will make them pause and maybe think, but it won't make them stop. Always remember that no matter who you are or what you are going through, there's someone out there who can relate, and moreover someone who is willing to help.

And so I repeat: Don't give up. Don't give in to Hate. You are stronger than Hate. I believe in You.

We're living free on stolen time (on stolen time)

Figure it's time I get back to bloggin'. I'm actually now a contributor for the Bay Area Metal Coalition, which I just launched with Matt Morales. Yes, the guitarist of Run Amok. I should also mention that Run Amok has reformed! We jammed this past Saturday and it rocked. I'm totally stoked we're playing again.

But anyway, The BAMC has been created as a way to make up our lack of promoting ourselves last time we were a band. We're going whole hog and trying for a revolution here in SF. I have no idea how far we'll go, but I'm looking forward to the journey there. Tell your friends (Freeze Ray: Stops Time).

I now work in the paint department. Not too sure if I like it more than the garden department where I was previously working, but I may have to give it the edge. There's less to maintain, there's usually something to do, and making paint makes the day go by quicker ('cause I don't think about how bored I am). All in all, could be worse, I suppose.

I bought a new bass recently. An Aria Pro II series PE-200. It's a Japanese made copy of an old Gibson bass from the 70's, The Ripper. It's got a pelham blue finish that's seen better days (awesome), a chunky neck that's not too wide (sweet), and controls that I still haven't quite figured out. It's got tone to spare and MOJO for days.

Xander interns at a feminist art gallery in SF called Femina Potens, which is owned and operated by Adult movie star and bondage model Madison Young. When I found out, I was very intrigued, plus I'm a fan, so Xander went in and got me autographed porn! Madison even signed the sleeve, not the plastic, so it won't come off from *ahem* repeated handlings.

And of course, Run Amok. We have a new logo (made by me), some new jams that will become songs, and a renewed sense of purpose. Check us out yeah?

"Plus - A Music Project" or, "Getting High With A Little Help From My Friends"

So I have an idea for a new project and I've already started to work on it. I am going to write some new songs, both by myself and in collaboration, and then I want my friends to perform on them. I want to write a song for each person who wants to do this, and then have said person sing or play an instrument on the track. I think that'd be awesome, as I could flex my creative muscle and try to come up with diverse ideas. It would also give me the opportunity to work on my mixing and editing skills, while figuring out what I can and can't do with my limited means. Get the most out of my equipment y'know?

So, anyone who's reading this that I know personally who wants in, contact me somehow (email, facebook, comment here, etc.) and let me know how you'd like to contribute. I'll write a song for you or we can write one together. It'll be fun I promise.

-- Damien

End of Days

The Band imploded. That how I feel about it anyway. Shit got too real. I realized that there was a whole mess of Bullshit that wasn't going to get fixed anytime soon. Kendra quit, and so did I.

It sucks, but my minds made up and I'm not going to change it. So now what? Now I look to the future. Here are my plans for the coming months:

Keep working - I've got a decent job and I don't want to lose it. having money is awesome. I'm going to have to cut my hours a bit when school starts, but that's ok, as long as I get steady work/paychecks.

Start a new music project - I was thinking about starting a side band, and now perhaps it'll be my new thing. My idea is for a stripped down, low fi sound. Dirty and nasty and heavy but with a simple set up. Probably only a three-piece setup. I'm thinking The Black Keys meets The Clash.

Writing/performing - with my lack of band, even if I form a new one, I still want to continue to write and compose. One of the best things about Lunate Sigma was it allowed me to write at my own pace and I think I actually came up with some cool stuff. I'm going to continue doing that, band or not. Maybe I'll try to find some open mics or something, just to get out there and perform.

School - I'm really going to try to throw my full weight into my studies this semester. I've been slacking lately, and I want to be able to support myself with my art. The only way to do that is to learn all I can about it, so I can apply it to the real world. Also graduating would be nice.

Interning - The guy who's engineered all the recordings I've been on asked me if I wanted to work in his studio for an unpaid intern kinda deal. I was going to ask him the same thing, so that works out. I get to learn about it, then apply it right away (hopefully), which is great for me.

Finances - I really need to stop buying things. It's becoming a problem.