Don't Fence Me In

So I watched this movie recently called "Exit Through The Gift Shop", a film by Banksy.  Here is the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHJBdDSTbLw

This is a really good movie even if you don't like documentaries.  It's really bizarre though, because I don't know what to think about Mr. Brainwash.  I can't decide whether he is real or fake.  He's probably real because he's now had two successful shows but I hope he's just some creation of Banksy's to show how stupid people are when it comes to art.  I mean, I'm not saying I'm some big shot art critic, but some of the stuff MBW makes his trash and he doesn't even make it!  He describes it to someone who makes it in photoshop or crafts it out of metal.  He does nothing then sticks a $10k price tag on it.  Unlike Banksy who actually makes his art and makes a statement, whether it was his drawings on the wall in the Gaza or his little stunt at Disneyland, he's trying to say something.  MBW is just trying to make a buck it seems by copying others.  While its great that he wants to pay homage to these artists, he hasn't really done anything.  People like Banksy or Shepard Fairey have worked for years to get to where they are, and this guy just manufactures some alter ego out of thin air, uses his contacts in the street art community to build cred, and sells trash to rich dolts. 


Anyways!  Enough talk of him.  Watch the movie though, it's good.  It's March and I only have 2 songs finished and like five that are started and I can't finish.  One I finished two months ago that sounds like "Pop Tune #1" by Chris Potter, or at least it has the same feel and the other that sounds like...I dunno really, lets say Pat Metheny like all my other tunes?  Of the ones I have started, I'd say only one is even close to being done and it's the one I just started a few days ago.  I think my problem is that I'm trying to hard to create something that's totally different, when I should just be trying to make something which sounds good and it will probably have my sound in it.  I dunno.  April is fast approaching.  I only hope I'm ready.


I love Louis Armstrong.  He's actually like one of the best things ever.  Here is some Louis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ebEEe8VEw&NR=1&feature=fvwp

I feel it closing in, day in, day out.

So not much blogs lately.  I know what you're thinking "but Jamie you said you were going to update your blog all the time!"  Well yeah, I said that.  Blogs are hard and I'm lazy.  I'm sure you've been just waiting on the edge of your seats to hear what's going on in my life.  Well!  I just had an amazing house guest for the last week and I am extremely sad that she's gone so now I will probably mope around the house for a few days because of this, but I think that in the next few weeks I'm going to get a lot writing done to not feel so sad and also to get these things done.  I've got to write at least two more songs by April.

April is coming really quickly and I really can't wait.  I probably should get in contact with the studio and confirm that we're coming and confirm with the guys the dates that we are going.  It's going to be amazing to rehearse all these tunes that I'm writing with the great musicians I will be playing with.  Hopefully there will be time to get everything to sound like I want it to but I think with the guys I'm using everything will turn out just fine.

Writing is becoming a little easier these days out in the country, but I'm still not making the progress I want to, despite my best efforts.  This may be because I was layed up for a week with my ingrown toenail surgery and then had most wonderful house guest for a week but regardless!  I must get more writing done.  Inspiration is all around here so hopefully i can draw from some of it.  Anyways!  Back to it.


When my beautiful and wonderful house guest was here, we watched "Control", a movie about Ian Curtis of Joy Division, a wonderfully made movie.  Here is a song by Joy Division which I enjoy dedicated to my lovely house guest whom I miss terribly. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRnWYALFPCw

Next post:  "Exit Through the Gift Shop" (A Banksy film) and Mr. Brainwash and photos of my house.

I suck at blogs

So apparently I suck at blogs as my blog title says.  I haven't updated in a week and I've actually done some stuff worth blogging kinda.  I'm confirmed moving to the country in about two weeks which is quite exciting.  It means several things.  One:  a car.  Awesome I can get around by myself which is quite necessary, especially when living in the country.  As much as I appreciate my mom lending me her car whenever I need it, I hate having to ask for it so though this car technically won't be mine, in that I won't own it, it will mean I won't have to ask me mah for a car when I need one.

Two:  I'll have no rent, only money to be payed due to car and the other sundry expenses associated with living, but no rent and hopefully no student loans.  All the expenses will still likely be less than I am paying now and if it is more the difference will be negligible and I will have a car and live in the country, so I win.  This leads to three:  I will live in the country.  Can you say awesome?  I sure can.  This should hopefully inspire me to do more and better writing.  I'm assuming it will.

On the subject of writing, it is the end of the month and i haven't finished a tune yet.  Sigh.  I guess I shall have to double my efforts and finish two songs in February, the shortest month of the year.  Sigh again.  Well, I am 55% done of one tune which I enjoy and very much in my head sounds like Kenny Wheeler but that may be a bit of hubris on my part but we shall see. I shall try to more regularly update my blog, but considering I have only one reader, I dunno if that will happen.  I leave you with Chick Webb.  MMMmmmmmm BIG BAND!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh_ilbCryhQ&feature=player_embedded

Transcribing is wicked, music is hard

Finished a transcription today.  First one in about 8 months so I'm pretty stoked.  Thats not the main concern of this post however.  The most important thing I've done today is started another song for my album.

For those who are unaware I will be leading a band in a recording in April which will feature all original works (probably).  To do this, I must write four tunes, one a month, until then so I can have enough original works.  Writing has been difficult for the last few months having only one and a half full songs and about seven random ideas.  I've found I can't get my ideas developed enough, but I think now I finally have something I can work with which will become a good tune. Hopefully it will develop quickly because I have only six days to the end of the month.

In other news I'm no longer sick.  Also, Ricky Gervais is hilarious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwH0HfbYHlM&feature=player_embedded

Deal with it

Also I know my title is kinda lame, but it's all I can think of.

There's a first time for everything.

I never thought I would have a blog, but here it is!  I think it will be good motivation for me...somehow.  Anyways this is a lame first post because I am sick and need rest.  Here's the song my title is from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y

Also, kitty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2XID_W4neJo