Casper Is A Real Boy

12:44

When most sleep is when im most productive. Updates to name just a few:
1) New Jack's music
2) New Treaty of Paris art
3) New JM website

Those are just a few things that are in the works for the coming weeks as we finally come off the road. Its been a really long time since ive spent real time at home. I paid rent for an overpriced apartment in Los Angeles for all of last year and spent next to no time in it. Now, I have moved into a much larger place and amd glad to spend every waking moment in it. Even though I have a place to work.... an office... im so much more productive sitting at home on my couch. Maybe I should move my couch to my office and work from there. Anywho, there are lots of updates coming soon. If you ever get a chance to listen to Cannonball Adderly.... It will change your life. Hopefully were seeing an era in music like that of the 40's and 50's where music was not only our livelyhood, but our source of food, and survival. Or maybe its just a sleepless rant. Whatever it is, i love it. In case you didnt know, Treaty of Paris is on tour right now and is getting ready to release what I feel to be one of the best records that I have EVER heard.

Check them out if you get a moment. Its worth the moment.

http://myspace.com/treatyofparis

Whatever and ever.....

So I guess its been a really long time since I posted. Its crazy to think that the last time I wrote, it was near the end of the last proper tour we would go out on for 2007. Now Im working away in our office trying to get ready to release Treaty Of Paris' new record. Weve got some great things up our sleves for the coming year. I heard Andrew working on an idea of a new song and it sounded amazing. I cant wait till Jack's has some new music for everyone! Looking forward to heading to Australia at the end of September as well. But for now, here is what my days usually look like....

The Road To Worcester

After a long great night in Philly at the famous Electric Factory, we once again became a bus and headed down the road. A road that would lead us to yet another city only 5 hours away. Worcester....... that means were far past half way through the tour. February 20th has come and gone and this week ive missed some very important days with my family. Days that ill never get back, but I will try to make up for it at some point. I love my family on the road, but nothing ever beats the family you have at home. With the warmer weather just around the corner, I thought a photo from my home would make coping with the bitter cold a bit easier for everyone as it did for me.

The Bitter Bitter Cold...

With a new tour starting and the West Coast Winter weather that I have grown to love being left back at home, ive found a new love for the bitter cold and warm bunks. This time around, we added a few people to the family, some familiar and some not. All of which have quickly become like brothers. Its really hard to think about how long we have been on tour... I still remember the first time we left.... We picked up and left from Anaheim House of Blues and I really had no idea what the hell was about to happen. Now, a year of touring later..... Im still leaving and not really sure what is going to happen. I know what i have planned, and what might happen. But at the end of the tour, all of the uncertainties that were present in the begninng, will be laid to rest and packed away in the memories of another successful tour.

Looking down at the last blog I wrote, I realize just how much time ive spent working on work and not on keeping up with the things i said that i wouldnt forget to do. All I have to show for it is a busy work schedule for the next month and more "work" creeping up and filling up my arm with ink. That tattoo below looked so funny to me when he did the outline and dark blue color, but looking at it now with all the other colors and hours of shading that he has done, I cant remember what the arm looked like without the color. It hasnt been that long, but I still cant remember what it was like before. Its kind of like my job being on the road.... I know that i had a different life before we left last year from Anaheim, but I cant remember what it was.... Its just different now......

Its Valentines Day and to those that I love... I LOVE YOU.

The Great Wave Of Kanagawa

Just a few short days ago, I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of this year. Whether to spend several hours in a tattoo chair or go watch Tom Petty perform. I think I made the right decision. Before I tell you what decision I made, here are a few things ive been thinking about lately:

1) I love California in the fall for one reason.... 89 was todays average temp.
2) Buffalo Exchange typically has great pairs of Diesel Jeans for uber cheap.
3) Riding a vespa without sun glasses is not a great idea
4) A Cobb Salad must have chicken tenders.
5) Tattoos dont hurt... The anticipation does.

To Rhode Island And Beyond...

Ive been slacking and keep telling myself that I'm going to post here more often.... It doesnt seem to be happening, but I plan on trying harder even though yet another tour is coming to a close. Trust me when I say that there is no place that I'd rather be than working with these dudes out on the road. What most people dont know about me is that i've never been anywhere before I started touring. I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about how my first flight anywhere was home from NYC at the end of Warped Tour 2005. Man I really came to realization that my life has taken a complete turn in the last six months.

If you think that working at a record label is a great job, try quitting it all and going out on the road to see the country. I truly had no idea how much work it was really going to be until I got out here. Our manager Arvis sat me down in his office for several days and gave me as much crash course as he could to get me ready to tour, but nothing could prepare me for what lay ahead. Now here I am sitting in a hotel bed in Chicago, and been on the road off and on since April. What do I have to show for the time that ive been away...? A great appreciation for ALL people who tour, a gnarley scar on my elbow, a black vespa, and close friends which I wouldnt trade for the world.

No matter how much planning you put into a tour, you will always have more to think about. Im learning to keep focused on the day at hand and that you cant fix tomorrow without making today smooth. Weve had our hard mornings and late nights, but at the end of the day you have to remember that everything will work out. There have been times where Im more stressed than I think I can handle, then I remember what it was like working 50+ hours a week at a desk job while going to school at Pepperdine. FUCK THAT. Ive never been happier wearing the same pair of pants for 4 days and taking a shower every few days.... Attractive imagery right?

I know this..... When Andrew promoted SOCO/ Jack's Tour Manager into the office and I heard that he was moving into the office to manage his day to day business decisions, I hoped that I would be in the running consideration for the job. I spent hours hearing from Lally that I could do it..... but I wasnt sure. I knew the kind of shoes that Id have to fill, and I hope that im able to get there one of these days.

So I guess the whole point of this blog that ive yet to get to is this..... Im so incredibly stoked to be doing what im doing with the people that im with. So Arvis, not sure if you will find my blog but..... thanks for this opportunity. I know that there are far more qualified people out there that could do this, but you were willing to give me a chance and for that I am in debt to you. Since im a cheap ass here is a picture from the road to keep your cubicle warm...hahah you know I love you

Not To Chilly For A Vespa Ride

Yesterday,

I arrived in Milwaukee, WI and the ground was covered in a shiny film of watery spots. I had heard that it was a terential downpour the night before we had arrived and all I could hope for was a semi dry day to go for a ride on my newly purchased black Vespa. As we unloaded the truck at the show, we carefully unstrapped our "babies" to see if they had been damaged in transit from Tulsa, OK. Aparently they had been packed nice and tight by Micah and O'Toole. THANKS DUDES! After fueling up my 2 gallon tank, I headed down to Wallgreens and then back to spend the rest of the day at the venue getting ready for a nearly sold out show. I cant wait till I get home and can get this thing on the open road for a bit of distance.

Anyways...here is more of what I learned in the last few days.

1) White Castle..... Not so good for you.
2) Buffalo Wild Wings..... GREAT FOR YOU.
3) Tomorrows meet and greet password has to be Pete Rose.
4) Making websites arent so hard if they are simple.
5) The shower at The Vernon Manor Hotel has semi hot water.... but really cool room.

Out for now.

Splash Of Cold Water To Wake Me Up....

Thats what it felt like when we got up a few days ago to leave for tour again. So far.... everytime ive packed my bags to leave for tour, its been an exciting day. This time was no less exciting, just felt like I had so many loose ends still left to tie up but no time. I had splurged and made the purchase of a brand new Vespa LX 150 but wasnt able to pick it up in time to take it with us on tour. BOOOOOOOOO.

So here we are on a day off an hour before we leave to go to play in Tulsa and some of us are nerding out in the hotel room on our computers. Last night at Stubb's was amazing.

Things to do in Austin:

1) EAT AT STUBB'S
2) Check out the local music scene
3) Eat at Taco Cabana

Things not to do in Austin:
1) Wear Red when Texas is playing UOH.

Anyways....In case some of you have missed a show on the tour, or cant make it, I wanted to give yall a tease of what you will be seeing! Have a safe night and its time to head down to the bus and get some rest before the show tomorrow. Gnight!

Heart

Casper

We Meet Again... RVA

So its been along while since ive written here. Quick update on whats gone down.... We are just about done with this tour and what have we learned?

1) We love Atlanta and Richmond
2) Ill never own a machine that runs on Windows
3) I love Steak And Shake
4) Taco Cabana sells margaritas on tap!
5) Stinky tour clothes need to be left UNDER the bus.
6) T-Mobile is not known for great nationwide service
7) Verizon... Great Nationwide service
8) Partys are much better when there is an open bar....and when they are sponsored by target!
9) If you dont make it to bus call, you will get grease spotted.
10) Internet service on the bus is not a privelage... its a MUST!
11) Showering every 3 days isnt so bad....
12) Showering once a week... still not bad.
13) Hotels dont have a 13th floor.
14) Taking on the phone in Canada costs ALOT.
15) Bars that stay open till 7 am breeds bad news.
16) Dance parties are amazing.
17) Making Puma happy is a must.
18) Dont go to a Mac Store... you will spend all of your Per Diems on shit you dont need.
19) Fork bracelets attract LOTS of attention
20) Dr. J's "To The Dome Son" Shirt is Priceless....

Currently listening to:
Inkwell

STL Not ATL

Its been a few days since Milwaukee and weve had some great shows. Cleveland was AMAZING! We went out to a show on our day off and went out with some friends to a little dive bar in the city. We finally met up back up with the OAR dudes and it was fun catching up with them. Puma and I are hold up right now in our hotel in St. Louis, MO. I am excited for the band dudes to be at home shooting the video for Dark Blue. I still dont really know the whole concept of the video, but from what ive heard, it sounds epic.

We spent some time watching tv in our hotel last night drinking Schlafly Rasberry beer... It was quite nice.. No Red Stripe or anything, but quite tasty!

Enough of the rambling on... Ill spend some time sleeping... then back on the road.

C