With that in mind, I would like to say that, Doug Martsch, you have written two of the greatest songs I have ever heard. Those being Dystopian Dream Girl, and The Plan.

Sorry Doug.
-Mike!

11-07-06
Have you fools heard the new PSA that abovetheinfluence has put out? You should. It's comedic/confusing/indie rock hating(?) gold! What on earth are they trying to say? Basically, there's no way to know! It really starts to freak you out when you think about it, huh?
-Mike!

10-26-06
I've never understood why creationists are so opposed to the theory of evolution. Couldn't the big bang, all the associated geological processes involved in the formation of earth and the cosmos, and the evolution of life have been processes controlled by God's hand? First of all, the seven days of creation shouldn't be taken literally, not only because the Bible has passed through the hands of countless subjective translators over the last 2000 years, but also because the earth's rotation and orbit around the sun weren't even set when the creation started, so it would be pretty ridiculous to define a day as 24 hours back then. I'm sure that omnipotent God, chillin' in his heavenly chateau, isn't subject to the time restrictions of mankind, so maybe a day for him was actually 200 million years. Maybe God has a big chem lab, and before he can create the promised land he has let his vial of minerals cook on the bunsen burner, then when's it ready to go he shoots it out a volcano onto the surface.

Isn't it presumptuous of Christians to limit or doubt the ways in which God can work, and dare to call themselves "creationists"? If you believe that God created the earth, and all the evidence that God left on the earth is telling you that he did it a certain way (ie, evolution, continental drift, etc) then why are they doubting it? Scientists have plenty of evidence to support their views, none of which can disprove the claim that God created the universe. On the other hand, creationists have no evidence or basis to dismiss the evidence that scientists have for the theory of evolution and the creation of the earth. This doesn't mean that both views are mutually exclusive (listen to Screeching Weasel's "The Science of Myth" for a tight song related to this). As far as I'm concerned, both sides leave some really deep questions unanswered, questions we will never know the answer to in this life, and may or may not have a chance to learn after we pass on. Where'd all the stuff come from that was involved in the Big Bang? Well, if you were to compromise like I'm suggesting you could say that God created that stuff. But, then you could ask, where did God come from? Basically, there's no way to know! It really starts to freak you out when you think about it, huh?
-Bob

10-23-06
Today I had "Kanashimi no Hate" by this band called Elephant Kashimashi stuck in my head all day. I guess that means it's a good song?
-Bob

10-22-06
Last week me, Matt, Morgan & Max from Pteradon, Nate, Alexxx, and Matt from Taft's Brigade, as well as a bunch of other hella rad dudes went to see THE HOLD STEADY... WHAT A TOTALLY TIGHT SHOW!!! We were all front and center, and all the folks up front were singing along and getting their boogie on. There was this strung out girl who kept on screaming out "OH MY GOD!!!" every 5 minutes, and when she wasn't doing that she was leaning her dead weight on either me or Matt. During The Hold Steady's encore, the guitarist traded hats with this kid in the crowd, a kid who I think was Cory from this band we played some shows with a long time ago called Kreugenpansen's Tea Party. Then, like 5 minutes later, I saw Cory up on stage holding homeboy's guitar! Right then, the singer handed off his guitar to someone else in the crowd, and then he started pulling people up from the crowd on stage. Since I was right in front, everyone around me was jumping up on stage, and I had to jump up to just avoid getting trampled. I found Nate and Alexxx in the back and we put our arms around each other and let out a loud "MY GUYS!!!" We almost fell over and knocked down the drum set, because the 30 other people on stage were getting all rowdy. By the end of the last song, Alexxx and Morgan were standing with their arms around the singer. It was tight.

The moral of this story? Buy some CDs by the Hold Steady, fools!!!
-Bob

10.14.05
So, me and Angelina were driving yesterday and were flipping through the stations on the radio when I heard something that really bothered me on our friendly, Clear Channel owned, local KROQ affiliate. Some DJ (who probably had just recorded his dialouge earlier and wasn't even in the studio at the time) was talking about how much he liked John Peel and how the late Mr. Peel had affected his work in the radio business. Now, I think John Peel was a really cool guy and, judging simply by the calibre and eccentricity of the bands he brought into his studio (even well into his 60s), he seemed to have a fucking awesome understanding of just what made good rock music good rock music. So, this faceless DJ has, so far, namechecked a relatively important and cool person in his chosen field, then he follows up this bit of history by saying, "and so, in honor of John Peel day" (which was yesterday, according to the BBC) "I'm going to play a little known band as well, much like what John Peel would have done." Again, up to this point things are going fairly well; however, the band this guy decides to play is some band called "The Subways," and judging by, a) their name, b) their throwback-y, snotty sound, c) their extreme production value (pay more to make it sound like you paid little to nothing), d) their website (which I have since checked out) and e) the general insincerity of all KROQ DJs, it became painfully obvious that this man was, by no means, doing us the favor of playing some unknown, talented new band but was, instead, just playing another of the shitty soon-to-be-huge "The" bands that is simply trying to cash in on a musical craze.

What bothers me most about this experience (and what typifies the Live 105 mindset to me) is not that they are playing another of these extremely popular (though extremely shortlived [and awful]) bands, but that they are, all the while, trying to pretend to be your friend while doing so - catering to this generation's current obsession with the "cool" and "underground" by pretending to be "cool" and "underground" and playing bands that are made to sell to these markets. Indie is a ridiculous label to apply to any of these bands (The Killers, The Bravery, The Subways, et all) because they are in no way "indie" nor do they represent anything about "indie" music, much like a few years ago everyone liked "punk" music that was all over mainstream radio, yet lacked all watermarks of punk besides being fast. Real, earnest forms of music that have the general capacity to be good, intimate and personal to people who are willing to seek them out have been blown up to be stadium sized, dolled up and nebulously personal bands that everyone will claim to be their "favorite band" until KROQ starts catering to a new trend in the market.

In conclusion, Live 105 is a terrible abomination and I hereby call for an all out boycott on said station (with the exception of Love Line, which is, legitimately, very clever and enjoyable). Not to sound totally extreme about this, but I think that the lip service and hyperstylized marketing of the station is completely revolting and, so, anyone I meet who agrees with me on this will be known as my friend. Let's tell them to cram their pandering marketing schemes up their collective asses and we'll find better music elsewhere.
-mike!

9-11-05
Remember when Shinobu was arrested on this same date a year or 2 back? NIIICE! Not to mention all the other noteworthy stuff that happened on this date some other years ago... yeessh.

On another note, I just read an article that almost made me cry, and here it is. It's way long-winded and a bit frustrating, but it's heart is in the right place.

In regards to what the article says, there are plenty of great American bands on par with Japan's Sambomaster, but none (save Nirvana, perhaps) have achieved the stratospheric fame they have while being as honest as they have.

Honesty seems like such a strange word to use to describe music, but it's the main thing I find myself saying about music that I like. The best music will broadcast honesty on all frequencies, and it's easy to feel it seeping into your brain. Sambomaster is broadcasting that crap like SETI. Nirvana definitely didn't pull any punches, and while I'm not the biggest Nirvana fan, I have to acknowledge that they were who they were and that's all that they were. Among other things, without warning, Nirvana performed "Rape Me" on national TV, and (I feel stupid even saying it) their singer killed himself, thus making the ultimate statement to complement his music (an albeit stupid move, I say).

Sambomaster's a lot less dreary and more to my liking than Nirvana, but in Japan they're relatively almost as popular as Nirvana was. Sambomaster videos are shown on bigscreens on the side of high-rises in intersections filled with thousands of pedestrians; Sambomaster has done the theme song to one of Japan's most popular anime, as well as one of the most popular prime-time dramas; Sambomaster's songs are in soft-drink commercials. The day I see The Weakerthans, Ted Leo, or November Trials on the side of a building in Times Square, being interviewed by Larry King and blowing his puny brain, is the day that the wonderfully unthinkable has happened in America. I won't explain it too much, since you should read this horribly long article, but the wonderfully unthinkable is happening in Japan.
-Bob

7-10-05
It's 5:30 AM, and we've spent the laziest week here in Texas. I've watched more movies in the last few days than I have in the whole last year. In fact, here's a list w/ commentary:

Dark Water - Not necessarily a knockoff, but a cheap attempt at cashing in on the success of The Ring.
Scarface - Niiice movie. The special features included a documentary about Scarface's influence on hip-hop culture, which was more like a bunch of interviews with people who missed the point of the movie.
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle - Good for a cheap laugh, especially at 4 AM.
Anchorman - Will Ferrell is N.
Kill Bill 2 - Kill Bill is the first American movie to successfully appropriate the best parts of kung-fu and yakuza flicks, and then they combine it with sweet western elements into one awesome package.
They Call Me Bruce - Possibly bad on purpose, I got a kick out of it.
Perfect Blue - I work at an anime rental store and I had never seen this before. I thought it was pretty nice.
The Corruptor - So-so movie, but Chow Yun Fat is mega awesome regardless.
Hard Boiled - Speaking of how awesome Chow Yun Fat is, this movie is the reason why.
Pootie Tang - Comedic genius!
Boyz N The Hood - Pretty good, my 2nd time seeing this.
Boogie Nights - A movie about a lot of stupid messed-up people.
City of God - Totally extreme movie!!! Somehow it balances the intense awfulness of the streets with the the lighter side of life. Highly recommended.

Also, tour has been pretty awesome so far. Some bands that've blown me away at our shows were Turkish Rocket, Shortwave Sweetheart and The Satin Hooks. 2 more weeks to go! Hooray for cancelled shows!
-BOB

4-2-05
Mike totally erased my update on the front page, and then wrote about our lack of updates recently! HAH! Muy ironic my amigos. Regardless, here's what I wrote (excluding what I wrote and then Mike re-wrote):
Here, and here also, and here again, are people talking our hella old Going Steady cover. As the days pass, I totally feel all embarassed about it with my funky Japanese pronunciation and all, but it's all crazy. Can't be more awkward than making phone calls to English speakers in Japan only have to their phones answered by Japanese speakers (twice today!). Now we just need blogs to start reviewing our hastily recorded Frank Black cover, saying that our pronunciation isn't nearly as weird as his.

In other news, the movie ONG BAK is incredible. In further news just reported from my brain to my fingertips, the recordings I did with November Trials last night are probably the best work I've done. I'm muy hyped for the Shinobu/November Trials split.

In further deep thoughts funneled from the depths of my brain, I wonder what languages will be like in 100 years. With all the internationalization going on due to global communications, and more and more people immigrating all over, I bet languages are going to start mixing around. Whenever I speak now, I always have Spanish and Japanese words flowing around in my brain waiting to come out with my usual English. I'm totally gonna stop resisting, which means I'll be saying "totemo" and "muy" all the time as well as who knows what else.
-BOB

1-16-05
Man, the new Ging Nang Boyz albums are amazing beyond belief.
-BOB

10-19-04
uhhhhhhhhh, weakerthans on december 3rd and 4th. eastside can eat a fat dick. in yoooo mouuuth!
-jon

10-19-04
video games are very N.

games currently playing / replaying: final fantasy vii, (thanks to this dos box program i found): indiana jones and the fate of atlantis, out of this world, kings quest vi

i also just found a site with all these online ebgames coupons on it and i just bought final fantasy legend ii and final fantasy adventure (original gameboy) for 20 bucks.

i'm pacing around my room in scared anticipation for: star wars: knights of the old republic 2, gta: san andreas

thoughts on recent to semi recent games i've played: doom iii: sort of a dissapointment, really monotonous, prince of persia the sands of time: pretty tight, but too easy, star wars jedi academy: tight!, star wars knights of the old republic: this game was so fuckin n, max payne 2: almost as good as the first one, and still hella good

current arcade games that are still fun: bust a move, super puzzle fighter 2, street fighter 2 turbo, marvel vs capcom (the first one, everything after is way too much and ridiculous).

NES games that are totally tight: ninja gaiden 1-3, crystalis, super dodge ball
-jon

9-28-04
Jesus Christ I hate you so much.
-Matt

9-26-04
Today, September Twenty-Sixth, is a day that will live in infamy. The guy from Trapt is the closest thing to a god I have ever encountered. Their new screaming guy is very N, too. Jesus Christ. Seriously, today was probably one of the best days in my whole life. The guy has rebellious hair. "The only thing better than rebellious hair is a rebellious song, which I am about to sing...This song is about being headstrong. So I guess the hair is ironic." -The guy. It was one of the best songs I have ever heard. Los Gatos is truly the greatest city I have ever been to.
-Mike

9-26-04
Today, September Twenty-Sixth, is a day that will live in infamy. John K. Samson is the closest thing to a god I have ever encountered. Their new bass player is very N, too. Jesus Christ. Seriously, today was probably one of the best days in my whole life. Samson has a beard. "The only thing worse that a bad beard is a bad guitar solo, which I am about to play.... This song is about being usefull. So I guess the solo is ironic." -John K. Samson. It was one of the best guitar solos I have ever heard. New York is truly the greatest city I have ever been to.
-Matt

9-18-04
Karaoke is so niiiice! Highlights from last night include:

Avi doing Michael Jackson's "BAD"
Me, Jon and Dan doing both "Jeremy" and "Better Man" by Pearl Jam
Destroying my throat on Nirvana's "Territorial Pissings"
Mike's rendition of Sinatra's "That's Life"
China and Haruka's duet of Hikaru Utada's "Automatic"
as well as plenty of bad 90's alternative songs, and some bad attempts at doing Usher's "Yeah" and Tatu's "All the Things She Said"

In retrospect, the place didn't have enough rap (No "Baby Got Back", what's up with that!!!). But still, karaoke is so tight! But sort of expensive...
-BOB
9-17-04
Sigh. She's married. In loving memory of our relationship.....
"We were as good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good..."
-Matt

Email your votes to shinobuband@yahoo.com and check back in a week for the semifinals.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!
-Bob and Matt

8-23-04
Here's a totally awesome mix-tape I made a few days ago, including some tight discoveries I made in Japan.
-BOB

8-14-04
Let's talk about tour so far:

$1600 for new van transmission. Ug.
2) I nearly ruptured my eardrum and am now on vicadin for the next week or so. Ug.
3) We played with the worst band in the world tonight. A band who stole our spot on the bill then told everyone at the venue to go to their party before we bagan to play. There were 6 people left watching us. Ug. Oh yeah, and they also lied about a massive tour that they're supposedly going on. We checked those dates. They don't exist.
4) No more sunglasses that I had owned for less than a week. Ug.

Good things, however:

We'll see about the rest of this! Huzzah! Niiice!
-mike!

#1: The fact that I am only one degree away from playing with fucking Snoop Dogg! Tonight on David Letterman I saw Tom Malone (of Blues Brothers fame) playing this tight repeated lick in a harmon mute behind Snoop, Warren G, and, maybe the tightest of all, NATE DOGG! I have played with Tom Malone. I traded blues choruses with him. His card is in my wallet. Speaking of wallets, I cleaned mine out today. Gotta get rid of those old pictures. It's one of those things you just have to do. Purging myself of the past makes me happy in a sort of melancholy way. Man, that was long. Anyway, N!

#2: Shinobu. Bob because he is N at getting the Japanese hookups. Mike because he puts up with all my bullshit and somehow makes me feel better about being the way I am: retarded. Jon because he is the most fucking ridiculous no limit soldier I will ever meet. Plus they are all really, really good looking.

#3 Christmas (and Nate). Of course the season makes me happy. But the band! Oh my Lord! They are really gonna be something.

#4 All of my tight friends. Nick for being a BP. Tim for being "ridiculous". Mike Jones for trying convince me I'm the money. Hm... shout outs. I'm so cool.

There are really only two things bugging me right now. First, my fiance'e got mad at me and married her 40 year old bass player. Still, I have a feeling things will work out. Second, the new Punk-o-Rama 9 (or whatever number they're up to) is an injustice to society. I think we all know why.
-Matt

7-28-04
Oh man. Good stuff is good. The rest of it sucks. Anna Karina is really pretty. J'adore Mineta Kazunobu! We love you Mineta!
-Mike

7-21-04
Today I lost my virginity to a guy named Somasndrmr. My pinky time virginity that is. FUCK LIFE! On another note, "I should have been a girl with the way I can dance, my moves are amazing" God Bless Hawksley Workman. "For him and the girls" is perhaps the best album I have ever heard.
-Matt

7-21-04
Niiiice, i ended up getting a sabian pro sonix ride for 78 bucks. not too cheap, and not too expensive, just like how i like my bitches. i update this thing a lot.
-jon

7-19-04
Today I lost an ebay auction for a cymbal to a guy named "togetherwebleed." FUCK LIFE.
-jon

7-16-04
Also add a ton of jump kicks and rebellious hair.
-mike

7-16-04
Mike! you forget to mention the jump kicks.
-jon

7-16-04
God! I hate retarded pop-punk-goes-screamo bands! I'm going to stab everyone!

A Recipe for shittiness:

2 to 3 verses of minor chord arpeggios with insincere lyrics/delivery
3 to 4 choruses of sing-along-able pop punk resilience
Far Too Many bad metaphors and references to "darkness"
Two Jiggers of screaming
A dash of asian guy (not Jon, he works out)

Boil unnecessarily long in predictability and overused conventions and - Voila! - you have a really cool new band that's good and cool and creative and cool. I love people!
-mike

7-14-04
gah, i've managed to crack all my cymbals. shitty sounding/thicker cymbals here i come! also, i was driving on 1 from halfmoon bay to santa cruz the other day, whata gorgeous day.
-jon

7-6-04
whatever dawg! i view 'Me and Jesus Don't Talk Anymore' as just a toned down / more abrassive version of 'what if god was one of us'.

N?
-jon

7-4-04
'Me and Jesus Don't Talk Anymore' is one of the best songs I have ever heard in my life.
-mike

6-9-04
this whole emo bullshit has killed romance. sincerity and honesty does not exist anymore. damn, everything doesn't have to seem like a bad poe rip off. whatever gets the chicks i guess. good luck with all that.
-jon

6-7-04
god i'm kind of old!. 20's 4 now.
-mike

5-26-04
god i'm so old!. 40's 4 life.
-jon

5-25-04
It's hella Jon's birthday, ya dig? Happy Birthday Dawg.
-Matt

5-17-04
John K. Samson is the greatest lyricist of all time. Just look at "Aside" and "Watermark". Anyone that doesn't agree with me has something wrong with their Medula Oblangata.
-Matt

4-07-04
WHEN IS BOB GOING TO SHUT THE FUCK UP?
-JON

4-06-04
WHEN IS THE GING NANG BOYZ ALBUM GOING TO COME OUT?
-BOB

3-28-04
Songs currently being obsessed with (by me!):
Modest Mouse - Trailer Trash
Van Morrison - Caravan
The Pillows - Little Busters
Black Flag - TV Party
Built to Spill - Reasons
The Polyphonic Spree - Light and Day (Reach for the Sun)

nice! our show last night was kinda nice! lots of pleasant fellows watching us! matt was way late! nice!
-mike

3-2-04
last night my friend and i were leaving denny's and we saw this totally pissed off guy like come up and side kick the phone off of the receiver on a pay phone like as hard as he could. that sort of sums up all the negativity i feel like i've been surrounded by this whole week. also, i've been thinking over the past few days whether i like the Back to the Future version of "Earth Angel" more or the Penguins version. any thoughts?
-jon

2-26-04
In addition to my previous statement, here are some rappers I think are cool at this moment: Aesop Rock, Sage Francis, Charizma, Ugly Duckling, MF Doom.
-BOB

2-26-04
Because I honestly believe there are good artists to be found playing all genres of music I have resisted making blanket statements generalizing any particular type, but freakin eh... Mainstream rap these days is the worst music on earth.
-BOB

2-18-04
I no longer support Burger King in any way. I used to be down, but not anymore. Too many disappointments.
-Matt

2-16-04
Badigley, Cooper and Jake are tight.
-Mike

2-02-04
Dude. Life is one big tired fest, especially when you can't find a good jacket or calendar. However, after discovering a TIGHT "Great Golf Courses" calendar ON SALE, life is new school slice. Also, Shinobu's chick magnet ability is also N.S. Slice.
-Matt

1-30-04
Yo, what's shakin' my fellow Americans? I'm totally hyped for our shows this weekend and about playing all the new songs in front of a crowd. I'm also hyped about tight stuff that is tight. Tight like an orangutan's stamp collection. Here is a list of things that are making me happy right now: daydreaming, hamburgers, sleep, having a clean bedroom, school, music and getting back my Hard Boiled DVD.
-Bob

12-27-03
Man, over this break I will at least finally come up with a part to play in tomorrow's here. i also haven't practiced on my drumset by myself in a year, explains a lot of things doesn't it. niiiiiice. man, my uncle got me a gift certificate to the gap for christmas and i was there yesterday in valley fair looking for a pair of khakis, and then i hear the weakerthans being played over the gap radio. nothing is sacred anymore, and that doesn't only apply to music. free show tonight suckers.
-jon

12-03-03
In response to my previous statement "I hate stoners" I would just like to clarify that the stoners I'm referring to are the stupid kids who show me their stash of weed and smile like I give a crap. I don't give a crap. You are stupid stoners. Go home and listen to some more Slipknot and contemplate the values in wearing unwashed black clothing and growing a dirtlip.
-BOB 11-30-03
So bored!!! Adult Swim, save me!!
-BOB

11-30-03
Man, I hate stoners.
Only 10 days till the Iden&Tity soundtrack comes out!
-BOB

11-09-03
I swear, the collective of musicians who make up the bands Fruity, Going Steady, School Jackets, Snotty, Boys Now, Young Punch, Your Song Is Good, etc. are absolutely amazing!!! Similarly the Slow Gherkin, Huxtables, Good Night collective is totally tight as well. Just you all wait till the Phat 'n' Phunky collective rises up to take over the music industry!!
-BOB

10-31-03
Dude. There is a CG Garfield movie being made and Bill Murray provides the voice of Garfield. I also recommend that everyone go to http://www.iden-tity.com and watch the trailers for what will most certainly be the best movie of all time. Citizen Kane, Seven Samurai, Apocalypse Now... nawww Iden&Tity will be the most important movie in cinema history.
-BOB

10-30-03
Sup dawgs. Everyone should come out to our show on Saturday and buy our CD. Also, everyone should go see Hepcat on sunday night. Also, everyone should REALLY go see Molotov Nov. 22 at the SJSU event center. I will be there crapping my pants in excitement. Ahoy! I've finished reading the Great Gatsby for the 3rd time in my life and it is good. If anyone wants to recommend or lend me some good books please do so. Orale. Jaa mata, amigos!
-BOB

10-21-03
Max Payne 2 is so cool!
-Jon

9-20-03
Man!, a week after we got arrested I totally got arrested again. This time they totally rough housed my friends before putting handcuffs on us and making us sit in the back of a police car for an hour. morale of the story, it's not ok to hang out with 2 old friends at your old elementary school in cupertino late at night, otherwise 7 cop cars (seriously) will roll up and totally rough house you, cuff you and take mug shots. and then they'll release you after realizing u didn't vandalize or break into anything, make you take a breathalizer test which you fucking passed, and then threaten to put you in jail for trespassing / prowling. i'm such a crook.
-Jon

9-17-03
I really enjoy watching bands who genuinely look like they enjoy performing their music and enjoy being in the band. I mean people don't even need to be going crazy on stage, I just like it when it seems like people are genuinely having a good time. As of now, I totally enjoy being in the band and I hope that doesn't go away. Or if it does, I hope it's not for an extended period of time. In other news, The Weakerthans are a really good band.
-Jon

9-03-03
Yup, recording was totally good. thanks to mike for insisting two days before recording that we should record bass, drums and guitar live. fucking kill you, luckily it went really well. i also learned that hate actually does improve performance. niiiice.
-jon

9-03-03
Man, I fell asleep at 10 PM and woke up at about 3:30 AM and now I can't go back to sleep. We just recorded with world famous producer Zack Ohren again today, or yesterday, whatever. We got 3 songs done: "Baby Baby" (our tight Going Steady cover), "Not Gonna Happen" (our own tight original masterpiece), and an acoustic version of "You Won't Last". WORD! These are definitely our best recordings yet. Also, despite the fact that I can't sleep right now, I'm still dreadfully tired and partially delirious. Word. Who cares? Nobody, but it's 4:28 and I have nothing else to do to kill time.
-Bob

8-24-03
in response to bob's previous post: hahaha, that's what u get for talking to assholes on the internet bob. p.s. i'm going to fucking kill you for jumping through my drumset on thursday, although it was hella tight at the same time. in other news, final fantasy III is totally the best rpg and video game ever, it's good for taking breaks when you're sitting in front of the computer all day making webpages for people.. nah, it's not.
-jon

8-23-03
I don't know what people have to prove when it comes to music. Mainstream, sellout, underground, popular, unknown... it makes almost no difference! All that should matter is the music itself! I hate the Strokes' image as a band, but I'll be darned if I don't genuinely like their music a whole lot. And as much as I appreciate the hard working, independant ethics of your average punk rock band, I can't help but find punk music to be as boring as shopping with a girl. It should be all about the music. Ska, punk, indie, pop, metal, folk, grunge, classical, hip hop!!!! I could scream for days!!! Why are people so snobby?!?! There is good music in all genres. A friend of mine put it best, "There are only two types of music: Good and Bad." Anyway, I just got in a stupid argument with some music snob and it really got me worked up. I'm going to go drown my sorrows now in a bottle of Fanta.
-Bob

8-14-03
I have succumb to the devil's temptations! In other news, tour was totally fun. Because I have nothing else to write about, here is a list of artists whose CDs I have bought lately: Fishbone, the Beatles, Beck, the Hives, Cafe Tacuba, the Weakerthans, Aesop Rock, the Lawrence Arms, Why?, and Short Round (split with the Sidekicks). Hipsters take note, check out those eclectic tastes! Huzzah! Well, it's back to the world of boredom for me! Huzzah!
-Bob

7-25-03
Here's what I'm reading right now: Maison Ikkoku (romantic comedy that takes place in an apartment building), Preacher, assorted Batman, Initial D (don't let yourselves get suckered in to it!) and that's it for now. I'm updating this for the sake of the loyal readers who I know check this everyday. I like cats, they are nice. My neck hurts because my pillows fell off of my bed last night. I had to play with a different bass at our show last night and I'm so insecure about that kind of thing because I've gotten totally used to my own messed up bass. I'm excited for tour in a week or so. My budgeted money for food is quickly depleting and the power went out at my house yesterday preventing me from using the microwave to cook the frozen dinners I had. This is likely the most entertaining one of these rants you've read! The new Rx Bandits album is amazing beyond words. Almost as amazing as their last album. It sucks to be bored because eating is the easiest thing to do when you're bored, and I can't afford food. Keep an eye out for Shinobu to start flooding the world with new gimmicks. That's what we excel at. Or that's what I excel at. Word to yo mama.
-Baughb

7-12-03
I see the craziest accidents everytime i drive on 17 (which's way too often now b/c of summer school). there was like a 10 car accident today!
p.s. ppl who get dui's are fucking morons.
-jon

7-11-03
If any of you, for whatever reason, are in the So Cal / Arizona area during early august we're going to be on tour with Balzac d'berzheraq and may be passing through your town. Check the shows section soon for info. Have you read Akira? Wow.
-Mike Balzac d'berzheraq

7-8-03
I spend so much time on the internet doing nothing productive. All I've done today is look at girls on hotornot and play music maven. BORING! nyuk nyuk nyuk. On another note, sliding down those concrete slides was fun. I have fat scrapes all over my arms and many holes torn into my pants.
-¡BOB!

7-8-03
GAH! everyone i meet is the same. people drive me crazy. i think what makes me even more sick of myself is my ability to fake acknowledgement of whatever bullshit they're saying.

Also, way too many seemingly normal people do too many fucked up things. i absolutely hate how everyone needs to learn things the hard way. if you know it's wrong don't do it, is your life really that boring?

haha, the funny thing is we were sliding down cement slides on mcdonalds trays last night, and totally hurting ourselves in the process. where would i be without contradiction?
-jon

6-28-03
"Disposable Parts" by Enon is the perfect music when driving by yourself at night.
"28 Days Later" is also a really cool movie.
-BOB

6-20-03
PS: I'm actually pretty happy about things right now, just cynical at the same time. Eh? Everyone should go see November Trials play. Shazam!
-Bob

6-20-03
I'm sick of shallow appearances and behavior. I'm sick of people doing exactly what they pretend to be against. I hate being such a cynical jerk. I wish there was something I could do.
-Bob

6-11-03
What is this, Diaryland? (hold for applause) Happy Birthday Angelina.
- mike

6-10-03
wooo, finals are over. i'm sitting around in my underwear, i just bought a whole pizza for myself, and i got tons of ripped video games i didn't have time to play before. i'll be back in a few days suckers.
-jon
6-7-03
I am bored out of my mind working at Rapid Fire where I will work a lot this summer. Ugh... this does not bode well for me. Dismemberment Plan is playing tonight, good stuff... Everyone should listen to the new NOFX album as well Sage Francis. Good Stuff.
-BOB

6-3-03
i either got a zit or a spider bite on my ass.
- jon

5-27-03
woo, i think i'm still sorta sick from sunday. i am now 21, which means i am now "in" with my ability to buy alcohol for the high school girls and freshmen in college, niiiice. ugh...

- jon

5-19-03
You need to see the new Matrix if you haven't seen it yet. Also, you really need to play Enter the Matrix when you get a chance. it's like a suppliment to the movie, made we want to go out and watch the whole animatrix series. the game's like max payne, but cooler. only complaint is the length and difficulty of the game, it took me like one night to beat it on hard. the ai was pretty stupid in some parts of the game as well and the asian guy is portrayed as some harmless ho bag, it's like they put vince in the game (bam!). time to beat it with naobi. woo, i got no life.

- jon

5-12-03
For $16:

Either/Or - Kierkegaard
The Book of Evidence - Banville
Notes From Underground - Dostoyevksy
The Beautiful and the Damned - Fitzgerald
This Side of Paradise - Fitzgerald
The Last Tycoon - Fitzgerald

I am lucky.
-Mike

5-06-03
So here's my review of the may 3rd brainwash show. We had played in Santa Cruz earlier that day, at an outdoor aids fundraiser event. not many people showed up, and our performance was a bit shakey and we played with reggae bands (it's santa cruz, c'mon). bob and i overheard some dude talking to some other guy about the event, one of the guys asked what kind of bands were playing, the guy said "a bunch of reggae bands......and some whiney punk band." bob and i got a kick out of that. we left from santa cruz after watching break from society. vince and i went to eat asian food while mike and bob went to help out at a cd packaging party.

we all met up in san francisco, a little before 7. people had already started coming in to get good seats (for julie plug i presume). by the time the first band performed (second string heroes) the cafe was packed. all the bands performed well, we had a tight light electric set, it was a really positive experience. we met some really nice people that night. definitely a different crowd, 20 something year old asian people mostly, which was a nice change of pace from community centers. fuck the kids, that's my new motto. i kidd, i kidd.
p.s. good night were awesome that night. just really solid musicianship in the sense that they have a really good feel for their instruments, have an awesome groove, and just have a presence about them. good night definitely have their own style of music which i can appreciate.

Highlights of San Francisco:
Bob almost getting stabbed by a bum with a fuckin crocodile dundee knife
hellllla gay people dawg

- jon

5-02-03
Everybody go see the X-Men movie!!!! AAAHH!!! And that Famke Janssen.... rrrrrau.
-Bob

4-30-03
U wanna see pretentious, go read vince's profile............BAAAAAAM!
-Jon

4-30-03
"Electroclash" is not a genre. It's hardly even a word. Justify listening to Fischerspooner by saying, "I like them even though they're bland euro-dance music," or something to that effect. Don't buy into the hype machine! On an unrelated note, Shinobu now acknowledges their music as "Fortebang," so you should throw this word around a lot, since it totally means something, and all. Also, you have to pay us if you say it. We're not pretentious!
- Mike

4-29-03
Ever notice how many asian kids are into ska?? too many.
- Jon

4-27-03
Well last friday's show was a complete bust for me. I booked this show in Tracy like a month and a half in advance, and we were up till 3 in the morning the night before burning cd's to give out and make flyers to advertise our other nearby shows. So we stop off at center before the show to pick up strings, sticks, etc. Then we leave seperately from there in two cars, mike and bob in bob's. me and vince in my car. maybe about two exits down on 880 i hear this scraping noise coming from my car. i pull over because i thought i might have had a flat, although it didn't really feel like it. one of my fucking shocks fell out of my car, and was hanging out and scraping the ground. the most frustrating thing was i just had the shocks replaced the week before. i had to get the car towed back to the place that was supposed to have fixed my shocks, so they could replace them. no show for me and vince, but i hear mike and bob played well by themselves. whata suckers.
p.s. hearing about how other bands have problems within the members because of chicks is fucking lame. so that's pretty much why bob's all about the dudes..........BAM!
- Jon

4-7-03
It's like 1:30 AM, and the whole day right before now was pretty freakin tight. I won't get into everything that's making me happy now, but it's been a good day for me nevertheless. I think I represent the whole band when I say "kudos" to White Light Motorcade for not being rockstar jerks and for being real nice to us when we were offered the chance to open up for them on the final date of the ill-fated Advance Warning Tour. The three other insta-hype bands who were to supposed to headline the show were too busy stroking their egos to care about screwing over the rad folks at KSCU. WLM were cool and still rocked the show hard, almost as hard as us (haha). Anyhoo, I'm riding the coolest driver's high. Wahoooo!
-Bob!

4-5-03
Wouldn't that be gross if some dude like put your right hand in a deep fryer until it was like fish and chips and then put some tartar sauce and ketchup on that mother fucker and then made u eat it?

4-2-03
Hail to the Thief!
-Mike!

3-29-03
I think that Mike posted the wrong date on the post below. Y'know, I just want it correct for the sake of posterity.

So, 3 months late, is a list of CDs from 2002 that rocked me hard. (in the order I remember them as I type.)
Ska Ska Club - Sound Connection EP
Slow Gherkin - Run Screaming
Hot Hot Heat - Make Up the Breakdown
Common Rider - This Is Unity Music
Gogol Bordello - Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony
Going Steady - Doutei So Young
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Jackknife to a Swan
Short Round - Language (my favorite of the year)
Cafe Tacuba - Vale Callampa
Thrice - The Illusion of Safety

That it for now. I'm sure I forgot a whole bunch. Poop dee doop.
-BOB

3-19-03
I'd like to raise my glass to those who are intelligent. The Onion, for example. I usually like to remain the one who does not get involved, but i'd just like to take this time to say, boy, they're really accurately depicting us as retards over this whole war issue - and they're clever, to boot! Wow, everyone of their articles this week are really insightfully hilarious. I'm especially fond of the point/counterpoint. Operation: Piss Off the Planet, indeed!

Who's this band The Vives I keep hearing about?
-Mike!

3-19-03
Man, two days into recording.. and it sounds so good! i don't think i've been as happy with recordings as i am now. and how awesome the studio is too, all i do between playing music is play 8 bit nintendo games. how tight. btw, i never really get bored when i'm by myself. everybody's always complaining how there's nothing to do. there's all this stuff that i want to do when i'm by myself, but never have time for b/c i should either be doing hw or practicing music. i think i'm weird. whatever, hella don't give a fuck.
JON