So far:
Played a very average show in Shellharbour, got to level 25 with Christian in Zombies, missed out on Jessica Alba’s sideboob, saw the cutest chick at youth and got our first shirt design.
Still have two narratives and an essay to write for next tuesday. Not keen!
Getting my L’s this friday.
Set Your Goals meets Saints Never Surrender
Good fucking shit
Two things can be taken from this album:
1. Singing is not always a feminine quality within a band.
2. Hardcore bands can still make beautiful, beautiful music.
Name me a faggot, a homo, a gaylord, I don’t care and I’m not going to lie; this album is incredibly beautiful. The city of Oregon (CA) is famous for it’s beautiful lakes, beautiful Shakespeare festivals, it’s beautiful Lava caves and now, It Prevails’ second and more beautiful baby; ‘Capture and Embrace’. Upon first glance, an album of such melodic and harmonious intensity is far from expected from men of a such a bold and masculine stature. Having said that, from listening to ‘The Inspiration’ since it’s release in 07, this is nothing more than expected, and absolutely amazing. Let’s face the facts, if you don’t at the slightest like this album then you are a filthy liar.
Moreso than musicians, It Prevails are very much like that of sorcerers, wizards, magicians, or even magical men. Each track is a fusion of different melodic devices and chord progressions which intertwine to create 10 tracks of sheer harmony, similar to a potion of life or something. A major and new ingredient to their formula is clean vocals. I almost peed myself during ‘A Martyr’s Journey’. Last time around we had an introduction to some of the further talents within these individuals as seen in the singing in ‘At Least Understand’, a feature greatly expanded on throughout this album which further compliments the ’singing’ of each guitar. There is a confident balance between both singing and yelling (as dumb as that sounds), and Ian’s aggressive vocals display the band’s more harsh and aggressive roots.
Lyrics are a feature of music in general that needs more recognition and attention. Tracks such as ‘Brothers to the Flames’ show that these buddies really do have something to say. Listen to Ian Fike and he’s going to ask you questions throughout and you’re maybe going to think about these questions. Overall, there is more to each track than an arrangement of pretty notes and chords, and it is obvious the intention behind these has been heavily premeditated.
Whilst upholding their melodic and moderate-tempo’d traits, Capture and Embrace raises the band’s definition to the next level and sets a new height for themselves. Throughout the entirity, one thing is for certain: What these dudes lack in sex appeal they definitely make up for in a whole lot of musical genius and ballsack.
For fans of: Saints Never Surrender, Shai Hulud, Final Fight
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Oh yeah..
Rad weekend. Something about me, I’m always the last dude to arrive at shows. Left school a period early to get to Castle Hill by 430 and still only got there by 5 on account of shitty traffic that loves to get in my way. Actually Christian got there later than me for once, 15 minutes after. Played to about 30 kids on Friday night and it was sweet! A long show, Break Even made it all worth while. New stuff is really fun and something exciting to look forward to.
Cheers to Nathan Smith for these.
Saturday we made the trip down to Picton which was a lot further than expected. Load-in was 4:30PM and we arrived at 5:55, 5 minutes before our set this time on account of streets and roads having the same name and travelling down the wrong one’s. Diaz calls me at 3:30 while I’m still at home (no clue why he got there so early):
Diaz: Hey man where are you?
Jem: Just at home gonna leave soon, you?
Diaz: I’m at Picton.
Jem: (Confused) What’s it like, what’s there?
Diaz: I see… A Liquorland… and a pub. And a big farm.
Surprised there were actually kids there, awesome venue in a indoor football court with a wicked setup. Kids got into it and it was good fun, MJK, HoM and AWC are sweet dudes. My dad is also the raddest dude ever, drove me out, stuck around til the end sitting at the venue couch all day with a bunch of sweaty scene kids all evening and then drove us back. Must’ve been the strangest sight, a bunch of long haired seedy kids with a hundred piercings an ear and then this old scrawny Asian dude reading a book in between. Never take your parents foregranted, they’re the most important people in your life! Well, mine at least. Sam Payne’s a good dude for coming out and hanging too.
Forget to mention that a few days ago I had to cancel the Bushfire relief show I was planning on putting on at St Ives on March 20. Couldn’t find a headlining band after asking more than 20, bit frustrating. Maybe next time.
Looking forward to this weekend.
This DVD has skyrocketed all my ambitions and aspirations. Cannot get over it.
We’re fucking blessed to have so many supportive friends who back us up throughout every situation. When we call on them, they will be there and this is one thing I am truly greatful for. Last night was Jack Napier’s last show and also my first night as a youth event organiser for St Ives. We were added to the bill about a week before the event on account of No Love Lost pulling out. Lachlan’s one of our best friends and knows us well so I think he trusted us to fill the position. The show was to raise funds for the CureOurKids Cancer foundation, in memory of Mia Walters who passed away from due to the illness.
I had a rad night and from observing feedback I think everyone there did too. Every band put in 100% with the reaction and turn out from the crowd being one of the best I’ve ever seen at a local show. 320 paying kids, positive vibe, zero hositility, friends and friends just there to show their support and have an enjoyable time: no better way for one of Sydney’s best ever hardcore bands to go out. Huge kudos to Lach for all the effort he put into this to make it happen.
St Ives have some massive things lined up; Bushfire Relief show on the 20th March, Antagonist A.D April 3rd and Have Heart w/Carpathian on 29th May to name a few. We’ve got our goals set and a clear direction of where we want to head and I’m sure with this team the venue will be one of the most renowned by 2010.
Thanks to everyone who came out, had fun and supported Cancer awareness. Last night was a realisation to how many great friends I have and a long breath of fresh air into somewhat an often, stale scene.
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So I’m booking a charity show on the 20th March at St Ives to raise funds for those affected by the Melbourne Bushfires. Take it as a rewarding opportunity to contribute!
Line-up will be announced soon.
My dog got possessed the other night and went fucking insane around the house til 3am. We’re talking six hundred laps of the house dragging her face along the carpet. No clue why, I think she had a messed up dream or is either neurologically ill… Moral of the story is, don’t let your dog watch you play COD5 zombies. I got to level 19 the other day and felt proud.
Smile
Tragedy surrounds each and every one of us. We take each day like any other when there are people just like us suffering from an unfourtunate crisis that seems to occur as a means of natural order. No matter what we do; fight for peace, combat poverty, restore justice, establish democracy or stand for some form of civil right, within our lifetime and many generations to come there will always be suffering. It is a basic part of our natural world and is the inevitable. As wind flows through our planet and trees produce oxygen around civilisation, wars rage on and natural disasters never come to a halt. Day in day out, we are exposed to the conflict that occurs in areas all around us. ‘300 killed in Monsoon Havoc’, ‘Hundreds left homeless as military bomb civilians’, ‘Serial rapist found innocent’. There is so much hate, so much corruption and so much blindness that circulates every city on this earth.
Living in prosperous societies, we perform our routine duties and take foregranted how priveledged we are to have lives such as ours. It takes a disaster on a mass scale to occur on our very own shores to wake us up to realisation. This is life. People speak of this tragedy to be the worst of it’s kind in the history of our nation, ‘the blackest day in Australia’ and our televisions and newspapers tell us the struggles of so many. When situations as negative as this strike without warning, many lose will and many lose hope. Events like these will only make us stronger and bring us closer. Take this is as an opportunity to unite and contribute to those affected, because ultimately, we all are.
Our world will continue to brew disasters and catastrophe to challenge us as individuals and more importantly, as a community. As a fire is laid to rest a cyclone will erupt. The moment a gun seizes fire a car will explode. Seize these as opportunities to raise each other up and extend an open hand and an open heart. Crisis will take away the best of us but shine upon those who strive for others in times of need. Dig deep, people need help. People will always need help. Contribute. Show you care.
“Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment.”
Sometimes doing nothing is a good thing. Felt like a fat shit sitting on my ass all day today so I decided to take Piper (my dog) for a walk with Courtney. Was stinking hot but the weather had relaxed a bit so shit was good. On the walk I found two massive tv’s on the side of the road. The TV in my room is already a decent-sized one that I too picked up on the side of the road a few months ago. Drove down to both sites and picked up the TV’s when I got home. The lady of the second TV told me it worked, got home and plugged it in and sparks started flying out. Bitch. Took it back, stoked anyway. The other TV i got is massive so I’m heaps keen! Gotta sort out a place to put it in my room though ‘cus it doesn’t fit in my TV table…
Folks are in Malaysia for the next two weeks, hmmm.
100% stoked on life at the moment (not because the parents are away), no clue why but everything is spot on!
