OK, real quick…

(Yes, it should be “really quick” or even “really quickly” but who says that?)

If you haven’t read the post “Happenings… and other things,” please do so because the “happenings” begin tonight.

Our friends in the band Pseudo Nein gave Hail the Titans a shout out in an interview with The LIST Magazine. You can read that here.

The Hail the Titans album preliminary mix is done. After some minor adjustments, we will send it off to get mastered. More album news/updates coming soon.

If you have not heard Sigur Ros‘ “Heim” album, you are doing yourself a disservice.

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Ramblings

I set out to write so much here in this space today. I have been pondering certain quotes and thinking of so many people and things that have happened, but each time I tried to actually write out what I was thinking or feeling, it seemed to end up being a series of stream-of-consciousness ramblings that I thought would only make sense to me. And what’s the point of that on a blog? It can work in a song or a poem, I suppose, but seems out of place for this space.

So in light of today’s inability to corral things into a focused format, I’ll keep things somewhat simple.

I’m glad that in light of yesterday’s severe storm system that came through the South, it seems my friends and family are OK. Not everyone can say that this morning, and my thoughts are with them and their families.

Happenings… and other things

First, the happenings:

Hail the Titans is playing some Gulf Coast shows this weekend:

Friday, in Pensacola, Fla. with Mr. Fahrenheit. The show is at the Big Easy Tavern, 710 N. Palafox St. Starts at 9:30. Click here for a link to the event listing on GoPensacola.com.

Saturday, in Ocean Springs, Miss. with Dark Horizon and Sibylic. This is our return to The Squeaky Lizard. We had a great time there in January and are excited to return. Details: $5… 6 p.m… 18+.

If you’re in Montgomery this Saturday, stop by Organic Hippie (Vaughn Plaza shopping center by Head on the Door.) They are having their Customer Appreciation Day, which will include reggae music, fire-breathing, discounts on everything in the store and food from Chris’s Hot Dogs. Starts at 5 p.m.

Now for the other things…

FactCheck.org looked into claims made by Rev. Franklin Graham that earthquakes, wars and famines are occurring “with more frequency and more intensity.” The article is titled “Rev. Graham and the Signs of Armageddon.” Is his statement true? Spoiler alert: not so much.

In sad news, Christopher Hitchens has lost his voice to esophageal cancer. Here is an article from The Christian Post: “Facing Death, Christopher Hitchens Affirms Atheism.” Side note: Is it just me, or do the comments on news stories tend to devolve into pointlessness?

And here is more conspiracy theory talk from “The Donald” in his public embrace of the “birther” movement: “Donald Trump Tells Anderson Cooper Obama’s Birth Certificate Is Missing.”

Randomness 9.0

Um… some quick things…

If you’re into philosophical/religious debates (Does this make me a nerd? I’m actually OK with that.), here is “The God Debate II” with Sam Harris and William Lane Craig. The debate is not just about the existence of a deity, but about morality.

Also, I hate yard work. Allergies, lawnmowers that won’t crank, oh… and poison oak. Yeah… not a fan.

In Alabama, today is Confederate Memorial Day. It’s true. And you thought you had to actually win a war to get a holiday? Well, you could get lost at sea, “discover” land with people on it and call them by the wrong name. It worked for Columbus.

On the Road with Hail the Titans

Here is a little video I put together from some footage of Hail the Titans road trips. Some language rated NSFW. I think the video is mostly in the “PG-13” category (as there was a lot of editing.)

Enjoy.

Familiar Faces, etc.

Last night, I saw the video for “El Paso,” the new single from Taking Back Sunday. While watching the video, I noticed the bassist and the guitarist who was singing background looked different, familiar even.

It turns out I was right, although this news may be old to some of you. Apparently, their original guitarist and bassist (who left TBS and formed Straylight Run) are back. Now, I am interested in what direction that will lead them musically. I thought “New Again” was a great album, and I liked what they did on the “Live from Orensanz” album as well, but with any lineup change, the musical direction can also change.

According to an Alt Press article, the lineup change was announced in March of 2010, so I guess I’m more than a year behind on this.

Oh well, you can see the “El Paso” video by clicking here.

In beer news, Free the Hops is officially boycotting Anheuser-Busch (and their distributors in the state.)

Here is the headline from their site as of this morning: “Breaking: Free the Hops boycotts Anheuser-Busch and their distributors in Alabama.”

Free the Hops is the organization that pushed for legislation allowing high gravity beers to be sold in Alabama. Previously, beer was limited to six percent alcohol by volume.

Recently, they have turned their efforts to legislation that allows home brewing and more brew pubs, which would bring more craft beer choices to the state. According to the article, the boycott “is a direct response to their efforts against our bills.”

[CORRECTION]: Free the Hops is currently pushing bills that would allow for brewery tours, tasting rooms and gourmet beer in larger bottles (22 oz. and 750 ml.), not home brewing legislation. My apologies for the error.

Thank you… and other things

First of all, I want to say “Thanks!” to everyone who came out to the show last night supporting me, Clint Darby, Breaking Aim & The Rhythm and To All My Dear Friends. It means a lot to me, and I hope you all had a great time.

Also, if you haven’t seen it already, Wolfden Productions filmed, directed and edited a music video for the song “No One” from my first solo album “Note from the Georgian Hotel.” Here it is:

And yesterday, Explosions in the Sky (if you haven’t noticed, I’m a fan) posted their entire new album, “Take Care, Take Care, Take Care” online for streaming. It’s on their website (and it’s really good… Originally, I was going to type “really good, really good, really good,” but… well, I guess I just did.) The release date is April 26 (next Tuesday!)

On the last few days… and tonight

Let’s go backwards and start with the “and tonight” part: Tonight, I’ll join To All My Dear Friends, Clint Darby and Breaking Aim & The Rhythm for an acoustic show at Village Gallery in downtown Montgomery. 107 S. Court to be exact. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Also, I just saw where Explosions in the Sky is playing Austin City Limits on June 17. That should be fun.

OK, now for the last few days…

Saturday, Hail the Titans played with our friends Johnny’s in the Basement at the Alley Cat in Carrollton, Ga. The venue, the people, the bands, the downtown area, the coffee shops, the bookstores, the restaurants, the food… it was all great. Also, thanks to our friend Josh from the band Meen (and Can Can) for letting us all crash at his place.

Here is a photo from yesterday that I posted on Twitter:

Caption: In the back of a state trooper car…

Thanks to everyone who was concerned and wanted to bail me out, bake a cake with a file in it and storm the fort. I think it’s funnier to leave this vague than go into details…

Hopefully, I’ll see you at the show tonight!

Interesting, comical and current

Quick post on a couple of current things that, at least to me, are both interesting and comical.

First, Joseph O. Patton of the Capital City Free Press posted a new article late last night. It’s about the recent J. Crew catalog and the outrage over a young boy with pink toenails. If you haven’t heard of the controversy, Yahoo! posted about it Wednesday with a story titled, “Hot pink-toenailed boy in J. Crew ad sparks controversy.”

Joseph’s article (I’m the CCFP’s managing editor, and I know Joseph, which is why it doesn’t say “Patton’s article” right there; and for the record, he makes some awesome amaretto cheesecake squares and peanut butter and jelly cookies) is titled, “One pink toenail over the line.”

Here’s a nice little quote from the article:

“They’ll belittle and condemn pretty much anyone who doesn’t look, talk, chew their food, dress, declaw their cat, worship, fart or vote the way they do. And I’m no Bible scholar, but I’m pretty sure Jesus ain’t down with that….”

The other thing I enjoyed reading lately is a short chapter in Christopher Hitchens’ book God is Not Great. Chapter 3 is called, “A Short Digression On The Pig; or, Why Heaven Hates Ham,” which deals with some religious prohibitions on consuming pork – he calls it “porcophobia” – and some ideas behind some reasonings for it, such as a supposed similarity between the texture and taste of pork and… well… um… a cannibalistic diet. (That was the nicest way I could think to word that.)

And here is yet another reminder of some shows you should plan to attend:

Tonight at Head on the Door in Montgomery, Ala.: Mr. Fahrenheit and …and the Lawyers. No cover. 21+. 10 p.m.

Tomorrow at the Alley Cat in Carrollton, Ga.: Johnny’s in the Basement and Hail the Titans. 10 p.m. (Please tell your friends. This is HtT’s first time in Carrollton.)

Tuesday at Village Gallery in Montgomery, Ala.: To All My Dear Friends, Breaking Aim and The Rhythm, Clint Darby and me. 6 p.m. “Free show with donations.”

A quick update for April 14, 2011

Last night Chris from Headless Dinosaur Recording began mixing Hail the Titans‘ song “three.” That one will take awhile as that is the one with 55 recorded tracks.

Also, the very end of “seven” is a bit different now. Trey added some drum machine stuff at the end… well, “changed” some drum machine stuff at the end. There was some there. Now it’s different. It’s good, though. Promise.

That’s about it for updates, so I’ll refer you to this post from a couple of days ago, in case you haven’t read it: Upcoming events that you should know about. <– Click it.