Colors

So it turns out I like metal. My musical taste has been slowly growing in the direction of harder music. There has always been a place in my heart for harder music, but it was often suppressed for some reason. Since I didn't have a reason I decided to open my mind and explore the harder side of things. It started with The Used and Story of the Year. I liked the combination of screaming and catchy pop rock music that I was used to. Then I started playing music with Tim, Kiko, and Dan in a hardcore band. At the time I just really wanted to play music no matter what it was. Soon I acquired a respect and growing interest for hardcore music. It went beyond just screaming set to catchy and simple music. Within the genre of hardcore and metal there is so much room for creativity and experimenting. I recently purchased a CD by a band named Between the Buried and Me and it is a perfect example of this. The CD is called Colors, contains eight tracks, and is just over an hour long. Each song flows right into the next in an amazing way so it feels like one long performance which embarks on an epic adventure of intricate instrument work, crazy time changes, and rolling hills of intense growls and soothing tunes. The first track starts off nice and easy with piano and verby vocals. Soon there is a choir of harmony and then into string enhanced speed metal. Track two is filled with pinch harmonics, which I love, as well as a good array of snappy time changes. There is also a guitar part that reminds me of Super Mario. Then into track three we find this awesome tom driven Arabian scale guitar riff. I have no idea how they did it, but track three and four are linked with in insane drum fill. Track four ingeniously brakes down into a sweet, smooth jam. Then back up to speed when track four and five are linked with an incredible guitar flail. Track five has this marching pirate feel. It then brakes down into a laid back bluesy jam before going into a hillbilly jig, then back to the pirate theme. Track six is all about dueling guitars. It also has an accordion part and has a great dynamic between the tones of the two vocalists. Track seven is smooth sailing with really present guitar tones that sound like the guitarists are playing right next to you. Plus the bass player is off the hizzy. Then track eight kicks off with fist pumping chugging. Only to go into insane time changes and some brief math metal moments. Towards the end there is some guitar soloing that puts Dragonforce to shame. The track and thus the CD poetically finshes with a peaceful piano line.

Seriously, if you appreciate or like music at all you have to listen to this CD from start to finish. And if you don't, you will after you hear this. It is also really good skiing soundtrack.

I can now face the day on legal speed (The American way)

In the past when decaf was mentioned I would scoff at the idea. Why did it even exist? It made no sense to me. Now I realize that they had to make decaf because people like me got very addicted or they knew that people like me would get very addicted. I became addicted in every sense of the word. A craving turned into a "need" every day just to not feel tired. And after every cup I felt so good. Maybe caffeine effects me a little more than average, but it definitely feels like a drug to me. When I didn't get a cup for the day I would get a headache. The other day I got the worst headache of my life and it inspired this blog. It's just kinda screwed up. I don't condone or even like the idea of marijuana, but why is one drug illegal and the other not? It just really doesn't make sense. The inconsistency of our society is incredible. I can say that if coffee was illegal I probably would not have started drinking it, but what it really comes down to is our sinful nature and making choices. I knew what caffeine was capable of before I ever took a sip but I still fell into the addiction. Making things legal or illegal isn't the solution. Inward discernment, constant prayer, and taking every thought captive ought to be our daily guidance. Too bad that wouldn't go over well in today's society.

Just one of those days.

Do you ever have those days where you realize where God has put you and that your life is pretty darn awesome. It usually comes around after you've been stewing about how your life is stuck in a rut and will never go where you want it to. I've been essentially trying to work three jobs. I work as a ski instructor three days a week, a prep cook at Michael's Four nights a week, and I try to intern at RadioStar Studios as much as possible any other time I have, which isn't much. This schedule can get daunting at times, but the other day I really thought about it, and those are all really awesome things. I would be blessed to do one of them, but God allowed me to do all three. Not to say that I am content to keep this schedule forever, but this is not too shabby of a temporary plan. All I'm saying is God's got your back. No matter what. And that is neat.

A Pretty Bad Virus

I recently found an episode of The Any Milonakis Show in my itunes. I realized that show was awesome. It always had a guest star and was freakin funny. I always find good shows after they are no longer aired. It might have something to do with not having cable, but I think it's mostly that people watch terrible things on television these days and the shows that are really good don't get enough hype to stick around. Anyway, look up The Andy Milonakis Show and enjoy.

Car chase update

So the story is in the news now, but basically some idiot 19 year old was suspected for armed robery, stole a car and when they tried to pull him over he decided it was a nice day to try to evade. He bailed into the woods and actually got away. But later he checked into the hospital with frost bite and got bagged. I was wrong about the car. It was a Mazda 6. In any event, the kid is only 19 and has already been in a high speed chase. What am I doing with my life?

High Speed Chase

At around 5:15PM last night, I pulled off the freeway at the central Mt. Shasta exit. I turned left to go into town to pick up Rachel. It was mostly dark out as I came around the corner and started up the hill of the overpass. As soon as I came up high enough to see car lights in the other lane, I noticed that there were car lights in my lane. My first thought was that it was some idiot kid racing a friend. I let off the gas just in case, expecting him to slow down and get back behind the truck he was passing. But oh no, that is not what this guy did. Apparently he was going much faster than I originally thought. He gassed it and darted in front of the truck as I slammed on my brakes and turned out of the way. I slammed on my horn and looked to the rear view mirror in time to see him pass the next car. Basically I'm thinking "WTF mate". I Begin on my way again and as I come over the overpass I see all sorts of lights and hear all sorts of sirens. I pull off the road again and a mix of CHP and Sheriff vehicles fly by. There were probably about six in all and they were all going super fast. I was so pumped to have witnessed a high speed chase through little Mt. Shasta. And I was a little happy that I wasn't involved. I'm pretty sure he was driving the car in the picture. I really hope he was just doing it for the fun of it. Cause that would be awesome.

Music sweet music, I wish I could caress

Itinerary for Trevor Scott week of November 9th to the 15th:

Monday Nov. 10: 12:00 PM go to studio and set up for next day recording session. Find out that the group wants to rehearse so set up for that instead. Stay there until 10:30 PM to make sure everything is OK.

Tuesday Nov. 11: 8:00 AM go to studio and set up for 11:00 AM session that should have been set up already. Record Jimi Hendrix cover of Manic Depression for 15 hours. 11:30 PM go home and go to sleep.

Wednesday Nov. 12: 9:00 AM go back to studio to clean up session that should have been cleaned up last night. Find out that they want to do some guitar over-dubs even though I have to be at work in a few hours. They don't seem to mind so record guitar over-dubs from 2:00 PM to 4:45 PM and finish clean up super fast because a REAL band is setting up right after we're done. 5:30 PM go to work and actually get paid.

Itinerary for Mitch Mitchel, drummer for Jimi Hendrix, same week:

Some time early in the week arrive in Portland, OR for the last stop of an 18 city US tour for a Jimi Hendrix dedication type thing.

Wednesday Nov. 12: Be found dead in Portland Hotel.

The group I was recording was put together by a lady that works at the studio doing video editing. She is a drummer and chose the Jimi Hendrix cover song that was played and recorded by Mitch Mitchel back in the 60's. Coincidences are always weird, but this is pretty high up there in my life.