6.09.09 The Pourhouse w/ Bryan Buyck & Aaron Buitron- Okay, first of all... Bryan decided last minute to not attend this show. Which, I will say isn't all too beat up considering I decided last minute to invite him. We had always come out with a decent buck and cut even with gas and food but I had forgotten the fact that every time I'd gone out here before this time, I'd taken a pretty broad with me (kayla, rebecca turner). So, this time we had a small loot but some good stories and stories... well, those are just invaluable. One day, I'll tell you the one about the lights... but not today.

5.30.09 Creekside w/ Charley Orlando- Can I be honest with you right now? Charley is someone I have so much respect and admiration for and it is always an honor to play with him. He's just a golden individual, a real treat. And even more so, I feel as though every show I play with him is how I wish every show would go. Not thousands of people, but people with genuine interest and personalities who appreciate music and art. I think I really needed to see some hope and I certainly saw it at this event.

5.15.09 Jake's Grub & Grog w/ Grind- Grind rocks, and not just because that is there backslash on myspace. They do alot of disturbed covers and that sort of thing but they are all pretty chill dudes. Also with P.J. who brought the funk along with him. The negatives of this event? I left my cute little tip jar that kayla made for me at the bar with a bunch of my business cards in it. BUMMER EFF. huh? nothing. but whatever, i'm dealing.

5.15.09 Lake Effect- Oh my goodness! I brought P.J. Legnetto to this event with me. This kid can seriously rock. The show went extremely well, we had a great time. www.myspace.com/pjlegnetto. He is an incredible player and we had a pretty ridiculous night to say the least.

5.14.09 Market Block Party w/ Under The Gun- shouldaa done more covvvvaahhhh songs. but this was really a fun time.

5.09.09 Mac's Bad Art Bar w/ 3 Inch Fury- shoulda done more covah songs

5.01.09 Mosaiqe (or something like that)- terrific shows.... bunch of really great artists including (but not limited to) Jennifer Vermaat, Rebecca Turner, and Brandon Abbott. I really wish I could make it to his event... lawlz. Brandon Abbott posted this event on facebook and invited me... it is a virtual release of his album. basically, between date X and date Y you can download his new cd and pay whatever you want or something but people didn't get it so they kept posting "out of town." and stuff like that. so, i did too, thinking it was funny. then i posted another one the next day. and pretty much every day i send something on there about how i'm too busy to make it to the event. that was the inside joke there. between myself and i, and now you. but seriously, Samraj Ghandi hosted this event and he did a great job, although the last video left me puzzled.

4.26.09 A.C.C.E.S.S. @ Northside Baptist- did he just play apple bottom jeans? yes, yes he did. and you loved it.

4.24.09 Davis College- Booooooooooo Hissssssss

4.19.09 Meridian Baptist Church- Oh mannnn can David Jared lay an egg. What? Amber and Shelly B got on the board to decide what happens at some event the baptist kids do and so we celebrated with songs and coordinated dance moves (just kidding, there were no dance moves. maybe we can bring that girl from the other night next time.) They were really a riot, though. Shelly B was doing this game and hit her head on a fan. That's most of what I remember, honestly.

4.17.09 Edmeston Central Highschool (Zero Gravity Lock In)- First of all, I have a new best friend and his name is Geep. What a great bunch of kids. My friend Levi asked me to come out there and despite my alarm when I pulled into town to discover there's not even a frickin gas station... it was a good time. Except I ripped my pants and had to paint a new pair today, that kind of stunk. 'Cause these don't fit as well as the other ones did and the way I painted them makes it look like someone chopped my private parts off. Don't really want to talk about that. Anyway, Levi did a really great worship set and this girl Michaelina (what a terrific name, right? i was writing songs to it the whole way home. it's like she was named to have songs written about her.) did a beautiful dance. Then we all just played soccer. And I realised how sore I've become from riding bikes and nintendo wii's fit game (which, by the way, told me how overweight i am. awesome.) Really stellar time, though, hanging out with some stellar pizza. One of my favorite memories was me and Geep and Levi and this spanish kid and this kid Corey were sitting eating food and telling jokes and someone tells the black & white & read all over joke. You know, it's a paper. Bahaha. Then, Corey says, "I've got one for you guys." and we're like, "Yeah? shoot..." and he says, "What is black and white and read all over and has concrete inside?" and im like, "I dont know... what?" and he says, "Well, it's pretty much just a newspaper. But, I've actually put concrete pieces inside of it to make it heavier, see?" What?

4.05.09 Worship @ Alliance w/ The Lord's House Band- Wow. Is it possible to love anyone as much as I love these guys? I can't remember one of the dudes names and I still think they are just incredible men (and woman) of God. This eventw as very exciting and I hope that we get to do it again very soon. The Lord's House in Utica is a church that is just really moving and every time I am there, I feel like I am close to home (which is as close as I come to feeling home these days). We all had a great celebration, especially considering Palm Sunday was the season of Jubilee and we sang it loud and proudly. We'll still crucify Him by the end of the week.

4.04.09 Safe Haven Cafe in New Jersey- So, I had alot of fun at this event. The Holy Spirit was really leading me to talk about homelessness and this restless sensation that I don't have a place to belong, to rest my head... this sort of thing. After I had concluded the music I thought, well I probably could have played better tonight and could almost audibly hear, "Well, it's a good thing none of this is about the music then, huh?" and with that I went out and started talking to people, my favorites being Pat & Sean who were struggling financially to a great degree (a struggle I am familiar with) and I was so terribly happy our lives got to intersect. God has a funny way about Himself sometime, showing us family in the oddest circumstances. So, while the homeless loved me and appreciated my company, the Christians have notified me I'm not welcome to back there and play because of my lack of maturity in Christ. I will kick the dirt from my feet and move foward.

4.01.09 The Pourhouse w/ Ricky Turner & Loveknot- Can I first of all say that Rebecca and her brother are quite possibly my favorite people ever? Good, then. This was a good sample of what Maran'atah! is going to be like when it is finally established and perky. We decided not to set sound up and pretty much just hung out and played music in the corner- which was awesome except nobody could hardly hear Rebecca because she's a quiet mouse. My favorite part was when we did this song of Ricky's and sang, "Let's start being his body instead of wearing his death bed. Let's start feeding his children, instead of inflating our heads" or something to that effect. He's a powerful writer and you should investigate him right now. And basically anything she does is outstanding and likewise deserves investigation.

3.21.09 Davis College Cafe w/ The One Night Band- Oh my goodness. What an incredible night this was. Friday night I was supposed to drive out to Johnson City to practice with the guys but I was feeling off so I ended up staying at home and painting my clothes and writing this song which we, the next day, worked out and made into a work of art itself. "Tonight We Die" was certainly the highlight of the show. I screamed alot, bled alot, we broke a wireless guitar system and some other things too. It was all very rock and roll. The line up for this event included me, naturally, jon molina on lead guitar, james warren on drums and his brother on bass. also, my heterosexual lover Evan played piano and it seems like saxophone on one song? can't remember. it was incredible, though.

3.15.09 The Lord's House w/ Worship team- OMC (oh my crap for all of you n00b5). This was probably the funnest time I've had playing in FOREVER. I really felt His presence. I saw Him in the eyes of every member and I saw His hand craft a beautiful worship service. People serving God and communing in His awe inspiring love and grace. Wow. Wow.

3.14.09 Mojo'z Cafe w/ Ricky Turner & Loveknot- It must be said that I am in love with Ricky Turner and his sister. They both were outstanding (again). While Ricky was playing, I was jotting down some lyrics that I haven't had a chance to look at even 3 days later but I believe they were good. I laid on this picnic table for awhile, staring up at the sky and wondering about God and music and art and just how everything kind of intertwines and being really introspective and weird so I'm not really sure even now how well I played. People seemed to like the music okay although I was somewhat beside myself. Nate Day did make some terrific KWAZEHDILLAZ (chicken with black bean dip) that were really something else. Oh boy.

3.13.09 Worship @ ATG- Did this seriously even happen? Because I don't remember it.

3.07.09 Shamballa Cafe w/ Ricky Turner- Can I just say first off how much respect I truly have for Ricky Turner (www.myspace.com/rickyturnermusic). I just think the kid is outstanding and his music reflects that. I was reading along with Les Feldick today in Hebrews where it says to glorify the Architecture and not the house. This show was really great, especially considering Rebecca Turner (www.myspace.com/lovetheknot) was also in attendance playing her incredible original songs. I played a kind of heavy set. I mean to say, there was a piece on abortion and I just felt a little dimmer than I usually feel, I guess. The week has been somewhat discouraging on many fronts and tonight all of that kind of caught up with me as I played. Probably Silver was the most difficult song to muddle through to which I had to fight my frustrations in singing those lyrics I wrote on valentines day a year ago. These stupid elixir strings were finally stuck on my guitar only to prove the point that Elixir strings are GARBAGE. I buy first act strings usually, because I am a musician and don't have sponsorships or anything like that. Of course, it should be noted that even if Elixir paid me- I would not use their shoddy strings with their whiney tones and their lubricated texture and their Constant Breaking! Alas, it was a great night and I met MC Tots (Michael Heagerty) and then he and the turner kids made casserole with me and bryan. what a gnarly night.

2.27.09 Lost Horizon w/ Township Rebellion- I don't know if you are a Rage Against The Machine Fan, but if not- you should become one immediately. I was pretty nervous opening for Township (a rage against the machine tribute band) and Ayurveda (this wild progressive group from Ithaca... www.myspace.com/ayurveda), considering I was just kind of standing there with my acoustic guitar playing folk tunes. Apparently it went over pretty well. People really seemed to enjoy my conglomerate set of which I remember nothing save the first song (Waiting For Tomorrow). My method was movement. I've been trying to move alot lately (which was easy to do on this large, incredible stage that Porcupine Tree and numerous other acts have performed on. I made some friends.

2.13.09 Funk'n Waffles- This was so extraordinary. All week I've been feeling crummy about 4:37 and so many people showed up at this event. It made my heart do an uncomfortable dance. Cool things- making fun of Joaquin Phoenix, playing Hero by Enrique Iglesias and dedicating it to Mark Manansala, playing I Want To Know What Love Is and dedicating it to Jeremy, etcetera. Not so cool things? Batteries dying in my acoustic guitar and ending with the song "Just Leave" which just left me with this horrible feeling in my heart and in my stomach, like reliving the my darkest moments. I don't think I will play that one anymore to be very honest. As for Six Chasing Seven- they were phenomenal. I couldn't help but move my head from side to side. There was also this great group called No One Left But Us (or something to that effect) and they were also really great. I should mention especially that I had for the first time in my life waflles with fried chicken, hot sauce, and syrup. It was incredible. I melted a little.

1.09.09 The Lord's House- Stellar, honestly. I had such a good time out in Utica with the people of The Lord's House. Jim's fiance` invited me to come out (they're getting married- her and jim) and so I did. I even played shoddy bass for their worship band which I should note was possibly more fun than playing solo. I wrote some pretty passionate songs on stage. I danced some. A little dancing.

1.03.09 Shamballa Cafe w/ Closer Still- The show was alot of fun. Sold a few CD's, talked with some cool people. Closer Still played really well and i wasn't particularly bad either. I hope by the end of the year I can do this full time. I am marrying my cause, to spread the love of Christ and His truth throughout every place in the surrounding region. I'm pretty sure I pissed Closer Still off at this show bad mouthing their homestate. So, I did issue an apology letter featuring some random positive things about Ohio. Not sure if they got it.