Return to the Studio

Back in the studio again, working on the new album. It feels like just the other day we were out in California recording the last one. The whole process is always exhausting but the outcome makes it totally worth the effort. This time is no different, but I feel like it's off to a better start than ever before. Our producer rules and I am excited about all of the new songs. The time at home has already flown by and now I need to start preparing for the Holidays. Right now I'm just focusing on recording and everything else will come second. Off to the Broken Social Scene show tomorrow night, stoked about that.

Propaganda

liars manifesto - new shit coming soon.

buffalo for the day off,  full from cheesecake factory.  avocado eggrolls rule my world.  metronomy - nights out is a great album.  on twitter now, whatever the hell that is.  cnn is repetitive and boring.  i'm home soon.  much of what day consisted of, oh and a lot of work.  busyyyyyyy.  it has instantly become cold and i can't handle the cold.

Halloween 2008

This year our whole band decided to dress up as our favorite cartoon band, "Dethklok" (from Adult Swim's Metalocalypse).  The drummer is known as "Pickles" and was the character for my costume.  Pictured above is the comparison between the actual and what I was able to pull off.  Here is a group picture of the rest of everyone:

Good times!

OBAMANIA

A new president was elected tonight who will hopefully change a lot of things that are wrong with America. I'm from Canada, and while the election doesn't directly affect how my government is run, it will still impact my economy and the way that my country deals with the US. America is not the world, but it's significance and influence still overpowers a vast majority of the other nations.

We had a day off in Virginia today as a result of the election so it was nice to be able to watch the coverage and take it all in. It's especially interesting to be down here in America at this very important time. All of this will be imprinted in o ur minds for years to come. I'll always remember this evening, and the outcome of these events.

Tour is coming to a close in less than 2 weeks after a very successful run to the west coast and back. Warm weather is disappearing and fall is reappearing around us. Leaves are colored again and the nights have become darker. The summer feels so far away now after all that has happened. This year is a flash in the pan, just as any other, but at least it was well absorbed and enjoyed.

I'm happy these days. Things have turned around and I'm feeling a lot more focused in my life. Time off at home soon, even though it will be mostly spent in the studio. 4 days to get everything in order upon my arrival back home and then it's time to focus on music.

Speaking of music, buy the Chad VanGaalen record and anything by Russian Circles. 2008, A great year for music. I already have a hard time thinking of my top 10 records for the year, while about 20 or so stick out in my mind. The Gang Gang Dance record is blowing my mind too. Music gives me solitude and reflectiveness.

Home / Away. Fall disappears.

Japan was great, My Bloody Valentine was great, home is busy.  I leave on Thursday evening and it feels like I just got home.  All of this feels less like time at home, and more like a continuation of everything else.  The cancellation of BroFest was the ultimate letdown which I'm still bummed about.  So much goes into an event like that, and the reward for accomplishing something positive was never achieved.  Rescheduling/re-planning is imminent.

Off to the United States of America for an extended period of time.  Leaving the Fall for the South, and back again for Winter.  I'll be home for a majority of the cold this year, exciting.  In the meantime I'm just looking forward to playing live again.

TOUR DATES:

10.10 - Detroit, MI @ Filmore
10.11 - Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Room
10.12 - Minneapolis, MN @ Epic
10.14 - Denver, CO @ Ogden
10.15 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Salt Air
10.17 - Boise, ID @ Big Easy
10.18 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO
10.19 - Portland, OR @ Roseland
10.21 - San Francisco, CA @ Grand
10.22 - Fresno, CA @ Rainbow Ballroom
10.23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern
10.24 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
10.25 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
10.26 - Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee
10.28 - Tulsa, OK @ Cains
10.29 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
10.30 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunset Station
10.31 - New Orleans, LA @ HOB
11.01 - Tampa, FL @ Jannus Landing
11.02 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock
11.03 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
11.05 - Norfolk, VA @ Norva
11.06 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
11.07 - New York, NY @ Roseland
11.08 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
11.09 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head
11.10 - Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
11.12 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
11.13 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera
11.14 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room
11.15 - Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy

I posted a bunch of photos from my Japan trips.

• Japan Photos (Jan. 08)
  
• Japan Photos Take 2 (Sept. 08)
  
• Hiroshima Photoblog
  

I end with a song by one of my favorite artists, Hayden.

Vending Machines & Osaka

It's 1:30am, I'm thinking about sleeping but wanted to write before I did. This is my second night in Osaka and I'm absolutely loving it here. Besides the fact that I miss home, I'm having a good time. Most of the time when I'm on the road it's for a month+, but this time is a lot shorter. I definitely find that the more time I spend in one particular city, the more I grow to love it (ex. Perth, on my trip earlier this year.. and now - Osaka). This is a great music city, and the shows here are always amazing. We made another stop at Rock Rock tonight - the smallest bar in existence with the most musical history. This is a fun place.

(some photos around Osaka at night)

Japan has such a wide selection of vending machines and they are absolutely everywhere. You name it, size it, package it - anything you can think of, the option is available! I've grown to love the BOSS brand iced-coffee from these machines. It's readily available and rather delicious. Here is a small example of what I'm talking about:

I'm really happy these days and that's a good thing. This year started off a little rough (and extremely busy), but I feel like I'm in a good place now. Off to sleep now, more shopping/walking/exploring tomorrow, and then our 2nd show in Osaka. Tour is almost over! (dreading the long flight home)

Brian Eno:Music for Airports is the perfect soundtrack right now.

I'm also loving The Dodos - Visiter album these days. 2008, great year for music.