So… I just wanted to express my excitement.

Some or none of you know that I’m getting married in October to a beautiful girl named Genevieve. I wanted to share this not only because it’s an enormous step in my life, but that it changes Shaimus in some/many ways too.
Without getting into too much detail; the word “commitment” has become more important for me and everyone around my general vicinity. Purpose has been pondered and focus has been sharpened. Ultimately we feel big things are going to happen…
Just sayin. Keep your ears open.

Anyway, Shaimus will have some new songs out very soon actually! COMMITTING to some fresh material.
For now, here’s a take of “Across the Universe” (John Lennon) that I sat down and sang. Me + the piano. I feel like this song captures how I feel at this juncture of my life.

Click on the play button below to hear it:

Across The Universe

Love you all.
-Phil

I’m not much of a painter, but sometimes creativity needs to come out in other ways besides music. I was feeling particularly dark, and wanted to share it without articulating my exact feelings.
I’d love to hear any interpretation if it strikes you.

Hey guys. How was your week? Any birthdays?
Nice.
This week, we thought it would be fun to share a little bit of our ritual before a show. Generally before any show we have some time to get our game faces on and warm-up the fingers and vocal chords. A lot of people think that warming up is just for jazzers or classical musicians, but rock demands a lot of physicality and control… so warming up the chords is essential. I put together a little video so you guys get an idea of what I’m talking about. The first place is in the green room of St. Rocke in Hermosa beach.  The second is at Embry Riddle College in Arizona. Also, you get a sneak preview of one of our new songs “Sick Day.”

SPONSORED BY SHAIMUS

In February, Lou had posted a blog about rating fast food. Well between writing new songs, touring and coffee breaks, the band had the chance to put these fast food joints to the test. The results are in and are anything but shocking:

The obvious winner with an uncomplicated menu and fresh ingredients. Here are some of the reasons we love it:
Ev - “ALWAYS hits the spot when you’re really hungry and doesn’t make me feel nearly as shitty afterwards as almost everything else on this list”
Johannes – “I actually crave this at least once a month.  I’ll go out of my way to get it if the mood strikes.”
Steve - “The best fast food to eat in the summer.”
the list of praise goes on… but only for like 2 more comments.

A classic tie.
For Wendy’s: Cam - “The Spicy Chicken Sandwich is the greatest fast food creation of all time.  Plus they have the best dollar menu.”
For JitBox: Johannes – “Although their diverse menu can be dangerous territory, their spicy chicken sandwich can be one of the best tasting fast food offerings available (if it’s done right).  Also their sirloin burgers can be pretty rockin’ at times.
”

Not the first on anyone’s list except our manager.
Sympathizer: Steve - “I grew up on this stuff. The definition of fast food.”

Again… no strong feelings against the Bell. Just “eh”
Sympathizer: Cam - “ I love every single thing on their menu.  I also eat here the most.”

A tie for mediocrity. BKs $1 spicy chicken burgers are a plus, but have a bottle of Pepto handy. Del Taco’s chicken soft tacos are the best thing on the menu, but the rest of it keeps this joint from reaching fast food glory.

Sympathizer: Phil - “6 dollar burgers are actually pretty good.  The only fast food place that has spicy food that actually has some heat to it.”
Hater: Steve - “Awful. I would skip a meal before I eat there again.”

Sympathizer: Cam - “Really like their breaded hot wings and their sides are OK.  Other than that though…”
Hater: Johannes - “I’ve only eaten there once or twice, and I regret both instances.  I’d rather microwave frozen chicken strips from 7-11, they’d have more flavor.”

Can be summed up with “A meal with risky consequences.” Gross.

White Castle is the obvious black Sheep of the fast food universe. We know, however, relatively little about this joint. It just doesn’t have enough of a presence to be taken seriously in the fast food Olympics.

We’d love to hear what you think. And none of this “ooh Dick’s is the best… What about Sonic??” crap. When they make it out to LA, then maybe will think about it.

It’s been about 2 hours since I wrote the first three words to the first verse of this new song. It’s been 2 full hours and I’m sitting in the same chair, at the same piano, with the very same question playing on loop in my head:
How the hell do I write a song?

The sun is lower in the sky. Somewhere in a green park lined with oak trees a man is showing his 3-yr-old son how to put your fingers over the seams of a baseball. A runner is on mile 25 of her first marathon and has never been closer to knowing the limitations of the human body. Somewhere in the Amazon Rainforest, a scientist stumbles over the botanical solution to cancer.
In Vancouver, Apolo Ohno just tied Bonnie Blair for the American with the most medals for winter olympics. A mile above Tennessee, a couple is having quiet, awkward sex in the lavatory just to join the club. Next door, my neighbor is getting high and watching a poker tournament. In my fridge, food is getting and staying cold.
And In my room, I’m sitting in the same chair, at the same piano, with the very same question playing on loop in my head:
How the hell do I write a song?
…

…

…Oh well… I’ll just write something stupid.

Click on the play button below to hear it:

BumBumBum

Since Shaimus formed as a band, I’ve always found it hard to define or describe to someone what we sound like. There are few comparisons and references to other bands that feel right, making it hard to find the stylistic anchor that defines us. Our songs are not raw or ironic enough to be indie. Song-to-song, we’re too capricious to be a mainstream pop band. We are an independent group without the support of a label or hair stylist, or the force of an “extroverts-for-introverts” street team.

Up until recently I haven’t seen this as a challenge or even remotely as an issue because we’ve been having the time of our lives creating and recording and playing shows… all the stuff that you think a band needs to do. And now, faced with the next step, it feels as if we’ve hit a wall. What do we do? We go on tour and start pwning noobs obviously. But how? Where does the money come from to fund all this? What does a band without a stylistic niche do to market themselves? Who do we hone in on, who do we exclude? What would The Jonas Brothers do?

Well we have a lot of ideas, but it would be awesome to get some real feedback from some real people. Who do YOU think we are? And how can you help us take over the world?

Always love,
-Phil

We are so excited to have our song “Like a Fool” in Rock Band 2! Since November 4th (the RB 20 free DLC release) there has been some great feedback from all the players who were kind enough to post our song and write comments on YouTube. There were some colorful comments worth reading.

Here’s what Like a Fool looks like in the game:

We’re looking forward to releasing “Like a Fool” and 9 of its brother tracks on our newest album, “The Sad Thing is, We Like it Here.” Johannes is wading around in the final mixes currently, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. Each version of the songs sound closer to perfection. Just for a timeline: it’s been almost a year in the making. We’ve been through a lot of readjustment as a band, settling in LA, finding our venues, finding our musical identity, and getting to know each other better. I can’t say too much about the album just now, but I will tell you that the process of making it has made us a stronger and better band. I’m proud of the work we’ve done… I’m bursting with anticipation to have everyone hear it.

For the immediate time being, enjoy this video that made me laugh more than that time I saw my dad face-plant in the driveway. This dude Harry Hey reharmonized segments of John McCain and Sarah Palin’s speeches. It’s genius.

always love
-Phil

Today is August 6th, 2008 which would have been the 39th birthday of the late Elliott Smith. For those who don’t know Elliott Smith, he was a musician, song-writer/composer, phenomenal arranger, and an inspiration to a lot of people. Including me.
Elliott had a way of capturing the essence of the Beatles without sounding like a clone or a copy-cat. I suppose it was his musical choices and the sound of his voice that really made him stand out from the rest of the music at the time, which in the 90s was primarily the growing grunge trend. You can tell by listening. He was a smart guy, and a pretty deep thinker. Probably a pretty tortured soul as well, at least as his lyrics and death would portray.
When I first heard Elliott Smith, I played his records on repeat until my girl at the time got jealous of all the listening I was doing to him instead of her. My respect for his music grew profound when I tried to play it.
I was really sad and confused when he died in 2003. I truly felt like I was supposed to see him live, but that chance was taken from me, like he wasn’t done contributing. Regardless of the tragedy, he left us with some great music, and the knowledge that creativity lives on through bravery and sacrifice.
I hope you get a chance to listen to Elliott Smith at some point. My favorite albums include Either/Or and Figure 8. Below I perform one of his songs entitled “Everything Means Nothing to Me” that has ironically been very meaningful to me.

Happy Birthday Elliott Smith.
You are missed.

This post is for anyone who hates their job… especially a 9-5.