Solution Unknown pics by Joey Mudd (1985?)

U R COOL

Wendy (www.builtbywendy.com) sent me this awesome package. It references a time when she helped me write a breakup letter. That was the opening line!

Expelled angels

"A race against time" is one of the funnier expressions used to describe a movie.

Disguised as sheep

The gun collector was knocking at my door, pissed off because the postman accidentally delivered his mail to me. I shot him from the side.

Cozy cold

Out in the country, far from all, we gather to play in the snow before eating Indian take-away.

A proper blizzard

This is what I've been anticipating-- a day where we can't open the front door from the drifts of snow. Relentless like the falling snow, I spent the hours unburying, sliding, revving, and scraping for some yoghurt. Listened to Dissection's 'Storm of the Light's Bane' and suddenly it made perfect sense-- a perfect soundtrack for a blizzard. And an evening for cuddling up to scary movies.

Lords Of Chaos

It went from muddy green grass to 12 inches of snow in a few hours. I prepared by stocking up on food and candles. Gathered the warm bodies, made an espresso, and waited.

And then the rain froze

The car went straight into the side of the resevoir. My face bounced off the steering wheel. The accelerator pedal was jammed down so we hit the concrete again. Instictively I wedged my toes under the pedal and pulled it free. "Fuck... Fuck... Fuck..." I muttered. "What'd you say? Of all the luck?" My passenger was into rhyming everything. "Shut up!" I replied. Neither of us were wearing seatbelts so I turned to him and said, "Are you alright?" "Yeah but you're kinda fucked up." I looked at myself in the rearview mirror and my face was bloody and puffed up. "I can't open my door," I said "I'll have to get out on your side."

Shield thy pussy

I was at a 76 service station in Climax WY when I realized I didn't know how to get back to the freeway. When lost, I ask myself for direction. I replied by looking at a map.

Wind by the stalkers

The terrifying thing about stalkers is that they are irrational. Their heroes inevitably fall short of the ideal and this, alongside their lack of common sense, makes them dangerous. Privacy, if you can afford it, is the illusion of safety.

Sweet gem

Found this little gem recently:

> p.s. i'm not milking cows, just testing their milk in a lab for bacteria,
> butterfat, etc.

>> Thanks again. Hope your new job is going good. Milking cows all day
>> sounds like a lot of work.

And then it bloomed

After tending to the old shack, I told the pirates they could raid my kitchen. I hid the dog and went out in the Scandanavian rain for a hint of something dull. With an aching head I returned to the rusty lock, restored the dog and fed the kitchen.

Early morning haze

This is a good environment for reading and practicing guitar at 6am. I indulge this isolation by working as hard as possible. But, when time isn't tugging my pant leg, I let the mornings unfold at their own pace.

After a while I stopped bothering

To open the curtains. What was the point? There was nothing out there I cared about. And certainly there was nothing in here to see.

8-string Guitar

Finally I have the tool needed to get started on my next record! Can't wait for Teeth of the Hydra tomorrow, those guys slay.

I will have something to show for it.

I spend at least an hour here everyday, usually a couple of them. Running through scales and exercises, trying to nail the problems to the floor. To regain strength.

Unpacking

Got in my work clothes and spent the weekend throwing out the unflattering parts of my history. It was a cold, sunny day in Kentucky but I didn't see it. I did find an old camcorder and watched some of the funniest Papa M footage I've ever seen. I wouldn't say I was innocent then. But it was a naive and beautiful time before I met certain people I eventually despised.

I also found:

- an amazing David Berman poem in an old issue of The Minus Times
- Yngwie Malmsteen guitar tab/cd
- a photo of me on tour in England without front teeth

Fazing into 2008

I see the holes where the night was once stitched together. Its going to blow out this year- in light and love.

Sick, sleepless, and blurry

Pub-cackles and sports television remind me of the world I still don't reside in. 2007 treated me damn well-- I started the new year loaded, in every sense of the word. I still love my family and hate my enemies, more than ever.

Head O' Snare

I finally got to see "Bride Of Chucky" and laughed my ass off. In the meantime, I continue to get fatter on a strict regiment of bad habits. Part of the Catholic punishment/forgiveness idea is that you constantly have to redeem yourself. This was instilled in me at a young age. So I've been paying for comfort food by carrying heavy boxes down flights of stairs. In the end, who really gives a bleep?

TCB

Finally finished the mastering and artwork for the Dead Child album- a very manly blast of music! Bought a painting by Michael O' Bannon while in Louisville (not the one pictured, unfortunately). And we did a photo shoot where I somehow managed to look shorter and uglier than usual. All in all, a productive week!

Krunk Chalice

We sent Brad this pimp chalice for Xmas with the inscription, "CHEEKS". It's a long story...

White monsters

We were all delighted to raise the curtain this morning to view the white ghosts laying in the garden.

Along the crooked snow

There were only a few moments, but they lasted forever.

2008 Final Destruction

Here is my hearth, my fire, my sheepskin, my Birman. Been jamming on the rough mixes and plotting 2008 final-destruction-of-all-things-lame. Yes, I am fat and loaded.

Now you've done it

Finished tracking- now you've unleash the fucking mixing! Voted out keyboards, backing vocals, and dense guitar layers for a more natural and badass approach.

Dahm singing

Got to watch Feist from the stage yesterday. She is supremely talented- and a Dead Child fan as well!

A part of me is bummed that this recording experience is over. But at my age you get used saying goodbye to phases of your life.

Gol-dangit

I came in last.

Poor G!

We had coffee, stopped by the hardware store and then on to the studio. Until this...

Real deal

Knocking it out of the park.

More guitar photos

We tune pretty low so setting up our guitars is a real art. Yesterday Theresa, the Slint guitar tech and repair genius at Guitar Emporium, came by the studio to solve intonation issues. Brad is blowing our minds with his ability to get great sounds quickly and hear exactly what needs to be fixed.

The Greater Reality Is Love

Bass bouncing off the walls, deep and present. I look back on the life we've worked so hard to shape and it's more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.

Torn

Between two possible outcomes, I have sworn allegiance to one.

Recording with Dead Child

Tony finished his drum tracks yesterday and they sound amazing. It took one day of set up and tones, two days of tracking. Brad Wood, our producer, and I have been having a good laugh- very often at "Bolly's" expense!

Saved/spent $100

I saved $100 by moving all these heavy boxes by myself. Filled a cargo van twice. Immediately spent $100 on gas for the van.

Axes Bold As F*ck

The thing is, I can shred on them too.

Finally I'm that guy

I always wondered about the guy that always seemed to luck out. When he wanted something it would suddenly appear out of nowhere, free and legit. I always hated that guy, I was so envious. I always on the opposite end. The guy that expected something to be there only to find out it's completely gone.

Today, I'm happy to say, I'm that guy- the OTHER guy! \m/

Dog-sick

I'm feverish and hungry. It's 2am and there's nothing to eat here but half a bag of potato chips. In New York this wouldn't be a problem but this aint New York! Think I'll just pass out.

EDIT: Managed to find some Jello pudding and a raw potato.

DC practice space

We've got about half the album halfway written. Sweating bullets!

My DEAD CHILD rig

- Fender baritone w/ EMG81
- Boss tuner
- MXR gate
- Krankenstein amp
- Marshall 4x12
- Genz Benz 2x12
- Genz Benz 2x12

Guitarded

As much as I hate being away from home it's been amazing to have the freedom to practice guitar again. As a teenager I didn't chase girls or party, I played guitar. Six hours a day of practice was a rip off-- nine hours was a good day. Man, I can't imagine having time like that now! Yesterday I practiced with a metronome for two hours and I already feel more confident in my shred-ability.

Spiritual poser

Somebody forwarded a link to me of a blog entry by an ex-bandmate (guess who). Needless to say I was underwhelmed by the bad poetry, Republican rhetoric, and bogus sensitivity. But what really struck me was what a spiritual poser he is-- I can't believe he's still working that vibe! He drops heavy, loaded words, like the "G" word, because its an easy way to appear soulful. Shallow people have to fake depth, dear readers.

I figured out the code to translate his writings-- replace the words "you" "fans" and "God" with three dollar signs: "$$$". Don't believe his verbal diarrhea-- greed and power are the only motivating emotions that guy has. Unfortunately I had to learn this the hard way...

Capital "d", capital "c"

Writing new jams with the Dead Child crew. Opening for Melt Banana at Headliners on October 29 (all ages, Louisville, KY). And possibly playing our own over-21 show at Uncle Pleasants (with the mighty Dead Sea, from Columbus, supporting). Then it's straight into the studio to record a full length with Brad Wood. Due to come out on Touch And Go / Quarterstick Records. We are behind the wheel, raring to go.

That's right-- raring.

Merrily, merrily

Battling complacency, I knew I wasn't going to miss the songs anytime soon. In an effort to extricate myself from deception, I made a hasty motion towards the door.

Dead Child

We've been trying to develop artwork and musical ideas. A whirlwind photo session generated a couple good snaps- one of which I promptly sent to David Yow. He disfigured our features and sent it back to me. I can't even think about it without laughing out loud!

Then we learned a new song, fisting our way through it suspiciously. Already we are alienating ourseves from every other band.

Again, I mention "Paradise"

He made a list of all the activites he's done in direct sunlight on the back of a detailed pen and ink he'd done as a teenager, under the influence of hallucinogens.

Nothing to see

What should be clear is getting lost in dialect. There was a time when he was my best man. Now he's just a stubborn asshole reaching for my wallet.

Roadburn

Touring is an ill-fitting suit.