Athlete

The newest addition to my Kick-ass Bands column, Athlete. These guys opened for Snow Patrol at the Roseland Ballroom last week. They really put on a great show and got me to buy their newest album right away... and I can't stop listening to it. Songs like "Wires", "24 hours", "Modern Mafia" and "Yesterday Threw Everything At Me" just blow my mind. These guys are really good. I'll be buying their first album soon.

I've been waiting for the Radiohead/Coldplay clone bands to start becoming popular and I think it's now starting to begin. This group includes bands like Keane, Snow Patrol, and now Athlete, all which rock. They don't sound exactly like Radiohead or Coldplay, but I would group them all in the same style. Sure beats the teen girl pop craze we had just a few years ago.

...and by the way, Snow Patrol was a great concert. Even though it was the shortest show ever (just over an hour), they still sounded great.

Back in time

During my time off, I actually kept writing a little bit. Here is one piece that I wrote during my trip to California a few weeks ago:

Monday, May 2, 2005

So here I am eating Blackened fish tacos at Wahoo's... and no that's not a euphemism. I'm actually in beautiful San Diego. At times I think I hate my job. Then there are times like this. Times when I get to leave the hell hole that some people refer to as "New Jersey" and spend a week in sunny So Cal at the government's expense (yes, the government's expense, yes I'm getting paid to be here, yes I know I'm a lucky bastard). I mean, is the weather ever bad here? Ever? I mean, I can't walk outside without sunglasses on. Literally, I think I would go blind if I tried to open my eyes outside... I'm trying to tell you that it's really sunny here.

As far as the fish tacos go, I've only got one word... weird. I suggest the quesadillas, they are amazing. I don't think I can ever eat Taco Bell again... ok, that's a blatant lie.


Here I am taking a picture of myself in San Diego. Don't you wish you were there?

I'm back... for a while

This list should explain why I haven't been writing lately. I'm pretty sure this is going to make me sound like a dork, but I then I remembered that I am a dork... so here goes.

1. I started my own softball team, so I'm in charge of setting practices, line-ups, and making all team related decisions. It's amazing how indecisive a group of 16 people can be.

2. I started my own band. Yes, you read that correctly. I somehow got the responsibility of singing lead vocals and playing lead guitar. No making jokes until you hear how much ass we kick.

3. I'm playing my first open mic on Wednesday... by myself. I've played in front of crowds before, but never by myself. It should be an interesting experience... did I mention I'm a nervous wreck?

4. I'm moving into a new apartment...on a lake... Oh yeah, that's right.

5. I'm studying for a mid-term for my grad class. My first online class, which basically the teacher says "here's the material, now go teach yourself". It's loads of fun.

6. I've been travelling like crazy. I've been to Jamaica, California, and New Mexico all within the last month. I may be headed back to California soon too.

7. My boss keeps piling on the work. I swear if he gives me one more assignment before I finish my other work, I think my head will explode.