On the road again, and again

I've been playing in the same band for six years now. This means six falls, winters, springs and most notably summers of sweaty practices and concerts. Every so often we gather up enough new material, energy and money to go on an excursion in the name of friendship and feedback.

A couple of summers ago me and the troops set out for our second U.S. tour. As accomplished as that makes us sound its really more of a self organized slew of shows spanning the nation. We would spend days driving, evenings listening to local bands from New York, Illinois, California, Florida or wherever we were tearing it up before we went on, and late nights hanging out and partying with the local showgoers.

It's always fun to use an excuse like art or music to make friends with perfect strangers from different areas. It's also really touching to see how young people all over the place are willing to lend a hand booking a venue or putting up a group of strangers for the night. Especially when our van dies for good in their driveway and we have to haunt their living room for a few extra days before we can rent a u-haul.

Either way the experience of traveling with a few of my closest friends and letting loose every night for a month or so is not one I will soon forget.

The Runaways

Featuring Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart and directed by Floria Sigismondi The Runaways film does a great job of getting to the nitty gritty of the rock n roll lifestyle all the while sporting great photographic work.

Opening with a graphic shot of future lead singer Cherie Currie transitioning into womanhood, The Runaways Film makes it clear that it isn't afraid of getting its hands dirty. As band producer Kim Fowley, Michael Shannon relentlessly reminds both the bandmates and the viewers what rock n roll is about, and catchy riffs is not in the top 3.

Kristen Stewart did a surprisingly good job portraying a headstrong Joan Jett, and could be taken very seriously all the way up until a scene featuring her in Jett's signature pink shoulder padded dress jacket. Personally I found Fanning's portrayal of Cherie Currie to be a little too much at times, flickering in and out of believability.

If it wasn't for the thoughtful cinematography, I'm not sure this film would keep as many viewers so interested after an hour in. Benoit Debie can be thanked for some of the gorgeous shots found throughout the film.

Overall The Runaways does a pretty good job bring such a stale subject to life, and any fans of old school Rock n Roll will probably enjoy the refrences and atmosphere.

Ponyo

I recently recieved the film Ponyo via netflix and watched it with a few friends over the weekend.
I've always been a fan of anime films but usually the kind geared more towards older viewers. Ponyo is an animated film much like a Disney movie but in a style made popular by anime director Hayao Miyazaki. Personally I thought it was a gorgeous film with a cute original story. The voicework for the American dub was done by some popular American actors such as Liam Neeson and Tina Fey and even though it was a childs film I loved it.

News Release

Blast From the Past

Salem, NH (March 7, 2010) – Southern New Hampshire’s “Time Tones” are very pleased to announce their debut performance on Saturday April 10th at Salem High School.

This unique musical project has been kept under wraps since the end of tryouts over a year ago. The members of the band were chosen through a tediously thorough audition process, requiring participators to have both musical and acting skills.

The band plans to play two shows in one day, the matinee show beginning at 3pm and the late show starting at 8pm. Although the band can be booked to play songs all from one decade their debut performance will consist of three sets ranging from the fifties through to the seventies.

The event will take place at Salem High School, in the town where most of the band mates live and practice.

Tickets will go on sale this Saturday March 13th and all proceeds will go to the Salem High Senior Class fund!

Sincerely,
Adam Meran
Time Tones Manager

The Time Tones

Looking to add some originality to your party? Wish you could hear the tunes from the 50's, 60,s or 70's live and on stage?

The Time Tones are a five piece group of trained actors and musicians who have practiced tediously to bring you realistic reinterpretations of classic 50's, 60's, and 70's hits. With a catalog of over 150 songs and counting, "TNT" is one of the most diverse cover bands to date, not including some originals written in the vain of their favorite acts.

Depending on your preffered theme "TNT" is prepared to give you an experience you'll never forget, even if its a blast from the past.

The Walk

"Walk" by artist Lisa Rae Winant

Image used by permission of the Artist

12 x 24/Oil on Panel

He absolutely hated walking. It reminded him of when he was younger and his family could only afford one car. Luke was forced to walk all over town, to his friend’s houses, the movies, anywhere worth being. He once walked all the way across town to meet a girl because he was too embarrassed to admit his lack of vehicular access.
He took another glance behind him, hoping his shitbox car was only fooling with him and would start back up on its own. The lifeless headlights stared back at him blankly through the thin mesh of falling snow, its engine still crackling and popping from his fruitless attempts to start it up.
On the bright side it wasn’t nearly as cold as the previous evening and this delay gave him time to think of how he would break it to her, “Her” being his girlfriend of nearly a year and a half. Things hadn’t been at their brightest over the last few months and he felt his decision was long overdue. It would’ve been a long walk the rest of the mile and a half to her house if he didn’t have so much on his mind.
The door bit at his knuckles as he knocked on it, reminding him what the current season was. His lips quivered, subtly mouthing the lines he had come up with along the way but the door swung open before he could finish the first verse. Although they were now face to face she didn’t seem to notice his lip sync routine.
“Jesus Luke! What took you so fucking long? Did you walk here?” is what he thought she’d say. The alternate version, “Jeez Luke, come inside it’s freezing out there,” threw him off a bit. Not that she was a total witch, but their most recent rough patch had been full of resentment, he assumed his tardiness would’ve worn at her patience.
Between shutting the door behind him and blowing on his hands Luke began “Yea my car…”, but his lazy drawl was hastily interrupted, Ashley had been aching to say something.
“Listen, I don’t think we should go out tonight,” her voice was softer than usual, as if she was speaking to a child or making a new acquaintance. Luke was about to agree, a similar line was to be the opening of his “break up” speech, but Ashley’s pace did not slow.
“Things have been rough lately, neither of us has been very happy; I mean you’ve noticed right?”
Luke hesitated, half preoccupied with his jammed zipper and wondering where this was going. “Yea I mean, I’ve felt the same way.” As the words left his mouth he felt a sort of fluctuation of senses, primarily touch. First heightening, he felt as if he was just noticing the presence of his skin and fingertips for the first time, then drastically dulling, the tips of his fingers sensitivity reducing to that of the skin of the elbow. Yea he knew where this was going.
It was a long walk back to the car.

The whole Haiti situation.

Besides art and music etc. There aren't a lot of things in the world I am super passionate about. Politics make me gag 90% of the time and I typically approach a lot of the topics mentioned in mass media with a sort of skepticism which unfortunately melts into apathy.
One thing I can say is that my attention (like most Americans) was caught by the recent tragic events in Haiti. I was particularly interested in learning about what other countries (besides the U.S.) did to help. Haiti shares its island Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic which is from where my family originated. From what I've heard and experienced DR isn't the wealthiest of countries but it was good to hear how much effort they put into helping and comforting the Haitians.

Hospitals were opened and medical teams were sent in to Haiti all for the people at need. Personally it was exciting and reassuring to see that people from all over the world still have the decency to help out when others are caught in desperate situations. Obviously the nation of Haiti is still in need of much help and has a lot to work towards before it's back in shape, but the fact that help came quickly and from every direction says something positive about our priorities as fellow human beings.

That's all i guess, just a little pride in my fellow man for a change.