April 30, 2008
Santana shreds!!!
The whole band has been watching this video for days now, and we all think it’s one of the funniest things ever. It’s entirely possible that this is really only funny to musicians, as it is technically “music humor.” But it’s worth watching all the way through, regardless of whether you play an instrument or not. When we watched this after our show last friday, I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face. Some very talented person has taken footage of a live Santana performance and overdubbed some new audio that makes them sound terrible. Something about it being Santana just makes it even funnier. Enjoy.
There’s a whole “shreds” series. I’d recommend checking it out on YouTube if you liked this one.
April 16, 2008
Good shows feel good.
This post is for anyone who hates their job… especially a 9-5.
The monotony of daily task and routine has always caused my worst allergies. My reactions include drowsiness, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, psychotic delusions, depression, and short temper. I’ve in fact found enjoyment in expressing my hatred for mindless routine, so much that I wrote a song about it, “Turn the Other Way.” This is what the music video we shot is all about.
An important supplement to this goal is personal health. Finding a physical activity that you enjoy will sincerely increase the quality of your life. I like to run. Nothing sets my mind free like a good jog. Some people come to life in competitive environments… whatever works, all I know is that getting your body moving and your sweat glands pumping will make your next meal taste incredible (unless you eat your own crap, in which case I can’t help you), and give you an equally rewarding sense of independence from your job.
Hobbies also can’t hurt. If you don’t define yourself through your job, these things will help develop your appreciation for the day to day.
The very very very best thing you can do is play a live show and kick the shit out of it! If you are in a band, all I can say is play as much as possible. Who knows, sooner or later you might get to do it full time, and then you will be freed from the life-draining routine of the “work-week.” In my opinion, performance, whether it be dance or music or live art of some kind, is one of the purest freedoms anyone can experience. It is a very hard thing to do because you are putting yourself and your art in a vulnerable place (at the mercy of the observers), but the reward is truly invigorating, and quite the opposite of the feeling you might experience in your dim-lit cubicle on a sunny Thursday afternoon.
April 5, 2008
Shooting a music video
To say that last weekend’s video shoot was fun wouldn’t really do justice to the experience. The whole thing was so unique to me (and my bandmates) that it’s hard to even really say what it was. Fun? You betcha. We loitered around an office, shot some scenes, hung out with the crew. Tiring? For sure. On Saturday we were there for about 12 straight hours. Sunday was about 8 and a half, but the crew was there for a good 4 hours more than us. Weird? Definitely. I had makeup caked on my face, which is not something I’m used to (I swear). We were standing around in vintage-looking office garb and acting miserable. I use “acting” in the loosest sense of the term.
I guess the only all-encompassing word would be “unforgettable.” I don’t want to give too much away about the video, but we got to do some cathartic things during the shoot that I know millions of people out there would love to do. I was full-on sick with a cold that I caught from Phil (who wasn’t feeling too hot himself) that I managed to forget about when I was on camera, but off camera it constantly reared its ugly head. We got to meet some cool new people in the crew, and were surprised by how many people were involved in the project. Our director, Adam Kerpelman, really put something special together for the video, and we were all very impressed with the project.
So here’s what I feel like I can reveal about the video:
1) It’s for the song “Turn the Other Way”
2) The song is about hating a crappy 9-5 office job
3) The video takes place in an office
4) We are all wearing ties and hating our cubicle lives
5) The plot thickens…
We’re not sure exactly when the video will be complete, but we’re thinking of debuting it in style at one of our live shows. I sure can’t wait to see how it turns out!!!
April 2, 2008
A new song and music video news
As many of you know, we have been holing ourselves up in the studio for quite some time now. There is still quite a bit to be done for perfectionists like us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give you a little something to tide you over in the meantime. Head on over to www.myspace.com/shaimus and listen to the glory that is “Like a Fool,” a not-quite-final recording of some brand new material.
We also just wrapped the shooting of our very first music video for our new song, “Turn the Other Way.” We had a blast at the shoot, and now director Adam Kerpelman has to take all that footage and try to make us look cool. It is an unenviable task, but if anyone can do it, it’s him!
Thank you all for your patience and support with our second recording undertaking… We are trying to make the best possible music for you. Rock on!