maybe you're less than the sum of your parts

After a few months of procrastinating and then multiple trips and phone calls to the hospital, I final got some really relieving news.  I ended up with five different bills from my one amazing visit there.  Although only 2 of them are actually through the hospital.  Luckily,  Wheaton Franciscan has a financial assistance program thats super generous. I got signed up for it a few weeks ago and just got an approval letter yesterday.  Its only for the two bills that are actually from them...but 100% coverage!! Thats $3,850 less that I have to pay...that doesn't even make sense.  How could they ask for that much for so little, and then just say "eh, you don't make enough money, don't worry about it."  I mean its great, but what does that mean?  I called the "companies" for the other three bills when I signed up to see if they'd accept that coverage...two of them do, and the other will take 25% off once they see proof of the coverage.  So thats $1122 total covered on those three.  So it all went from $5550 to around $580 if Im understanding and calculating it all correctly...crazy. One huge thing out of the way or at least significantly reduced.

In the middle of so many things right now...a lot of music, mixing, recording, writing, and projects. Trying to finish a new mix of "it should be" for both a cupboards and sproink compilation that will be going out with their next issues.  Im putting together the compilation for sproink which needs to be ready to go for the chicago zine fest on saturday.  Most musicians aren't the best at being responsive or quick to get on top of things...so Im still waiting on some tracks.  I may put a new song of mine on it, if I have time to record it.  The whole idea was just decided this week, so its a bit rushed and will be an odd mix, but I think thats perfect.  It'll just need the right order and a little bit of mastering.  Have to keep it diy...or at least a little shitty.

Next weekend theres 2 springtide shows and a hey alright show / cupboards zine release. These are the things that keep me going.  Still don't have my piano back from the nerdbomber who is fixing it.  I went in there last week and he assured me it'd be ready...but we decided if its not, we're going to put a hole in his pocket protector so ink will get all over his shirt. That'll show him!  But really, I will murder him. I've been insanely patient and understanding the last few months, but there are some things I just need and refuse to wait for anymore.  Call me crazy, but I fucking need that piano.

maybe a little extreme...but admirable

not very extreme...but admirable

aaaaaaahhhhhhhh 

just dust

i sent an email to gabe hascall's (the impossibles/slowreader) booking guy offering to help set up a show in milwaukee/madison and asking for a physical copy of gabes ep. it didnt seem like it exsited since all i could find was an itunes download, but i offered to send some sort of payment if they had any.

he said theyd love the help getting a show together and that theyre hoping to set something up this spring. i may have also suggested that springtide could open for him...

he send me a link to a download of a new song thats not posted online, and the ep at no charge...nice guy.

high/low

Saturday night we played at the "Thoughts for Food" benefit downtown.  We pretty much had the least desirable location and the earliest time slot, which led to a predictable scenario...its rough, but its still always worth it.  Some people didn't show up or cancelled last second as usual, but this is always expected so its never a big deal. Ill never understand these things.  It went well overall.  I also got to see some people I didn't expect to, and some I haven't gotten the chance to.

I recently came across tickets from when we played for this in high school....then I remembered I had these photos somewhere, which I'm pretty sure are from that night or from one other time we played at the eagles club.  Dirty, greasy hair.  Classic.  When I walked in there on saturday I got flooded with images and memories of it all.

I went to the grocery store and decided to indulge in some oreos...its been awhile.  I was hoping to get about 8 packs.  Luckily, they were on sale...

I've had a clogged ear for almost 2 weeks and its starting to freak me out.  Its somewhat sore to the touch and sounds like theres water in my ear.  Its been a challenge playing the last couple of shows because of this.  

Its 415 in the morning.  Saturday I got to sleep around 5am and yesterday around 6am. I've been on no schedule of any sorts the last couple of months...its all a blur.  I've tried, with no consistency or stability.  I don't remember the last time I was asleep before 2 or 3, or the last time I slept for more than 2 to 3 hours at a time. Assisted insomnia in full force. 

now we take it all back

New Eisley record...finally. Record labels, money and business can be such a huge hindrance to music and art.  A band called "This is Me Smiling" from Chicago just put out a new record about 5 months ago...also after a couple years of 'industry' set backs...(you can download it here for free) and Death Cab is set to release their new record in May.  Good to have a solid chunk of new, anticipated music.

First impressions of the new Eisley, is that its Eisley -  beautiful, smart, and on point.  Its hard not to be biased towards the songs I already knew. "The Valley" and "Ambulance" were already on an EP and are both amazing.  I honestly think every song is strong on its own...but "Watch it Die" and "Kind" stand out to me right now.  There was a clip a long time ago of them recording "Kind" and it blew me away.  As good as this and their last record are, there is something so ethereal about the first one that just isn't their as much.  Maybe thats more of my nostalgia with that record than anything else.  But dammit...they are definitely still keeping it real and interesting, and thats the way to do it.  

jeeeez.... 

This is a song from This is Me Smiling's new record that he posted long before they recorded it, around 2-3 years.  This guy has spider fingers and plays some weird/difficult/impressive chords and patterns...super good song.

Maybe this is a foolish idea, putting something I'm working on alongside these pieces of gold...but I put this together last night.  I've had the very first part for maybe 6 months, the middle from about 4 months ago, and then rest and the end in the last couple of days.  I guess you sometimes have to let things take their time.  It seems like this will end up being a springtide song.  Right now its essentially chunks that may get erased, rearranged, twisted, added to and polished. blahblahblah