The last couple weeks

Find it hard to believe tonight
In this curiously well kept house built before I was born
This year we're gonna stamp out that sorry feeling

-Modern Baseball "Wedding Singer"

The last couple of weeks have been both boring and interesting depending on the day.

I've started a new part time job, working for a design company and trying to pursue my goal of becoming an Audio Designer.  I feel a little overwhelmed and I hope that it all works out ok.  Sometimes I feel like I don't really know if I'm understanding everything, but I'm hoping it will come with time.



On Halloween, I went and saw The Appleseed Cast at The Bunkhouse Saloon in Downtown Vegas.  It's right next to my favorite record store in Vegas, 11th Street Records.  As Sarah was still out of town at the time, I went by myself.  I dressed up in overalls with a bowtie and orange colored flannel (like a classic nerd), and I wasn't sure if people knew I was dressed up or not... Needless to say I wasn't feeling super confident.  In the end, I had enough Hamm's that I started not to care by the end of the night.

Glass pools opened up for Appleseed, and I enjoyed their set.  The entire band was dressed up as characters from Stranger Things, including the singer (a larger red-headed man) dress as Eleven.  They were really tight and together, and I enjoyed their set quite a bit.  I wonder how they got the opening spot for Appleseed, if Bunkhouse or the band booked them.  It's a personal goal of mine to one day open up for a band I love and respect as much as Appleseed Cast.

Appleseed played a short and sweet set, ending with three of their best songs:  Forever Longing the Golden Sunsets, Fight Song, and Steps and Numbers.  Forever Longing... is one of my all time favorite songs, and I had quite an emotional moment hearing them play it for the first time.  I feel like they are such a talented and underappreciated band... and it just reminds me of how unfair life can be.  Why can this band, who writes such beautiful and thought provoking music, not be bigger?  I hope that they make a decent living on their tours, as they absolutely deserve it.

The day after Halloween, I got hooked up through a friend to go see Brand New at the Cosmopolitan.  Modern Baseball and The Front Bottoms opened.  This was my second time seeing both Modern Baseball and Brand New.  I first saw Brand New way back in 2004 when they opened for Dashboard, and it's incredible to see how much bigger their production has gotten over the years.  I was impressed with their dynamics, and how Jesse had a lot of emotion while singing all the songs throughout the night.

There was a moment during their song Millstone, where some drunken bafoon was being beligerent and messing with people.  Jesse straight up stopped the show and told the guy to get the fuck out... It was a little strange, and honestly kind of killed the mood of the pit afterwards.  I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but apparently the guy really needed to be told according to what I was reading on Reddit.... so I'll let it pass.

I moreso wanted to talk about how different Modern Baseball was the second time around.... I had never heard of them until July 2015 when they were the opener on the Say Anything "Hebrews" tour.  I was immediately taken by their honesty, energy, and just how much fun it looked like they were having.  They played at Hard Rock Live on the strip, to a crowd of maybe 300, compared to the 3000+ at the Chelsea.  The bigger production, along with being way far back in the crowd, made them feel less special to me.

They've certainly gotten better as musicians and songwriters, but I feel like some of the magic is gone.  There was something about seeing them perform that made me think, "this isn't about making money, this is about having fun and bonding with the best friends you've ever had."  This feeling of camaraderie is something I've literally looked my entire life for.  I've never had anyone with the same musical goals and interests as me that has wanted to be in a band with me.  I've had close friends and played music with them, but I feel like our goals were always different.  I long for what Modern Baseball had, and I wonder if some of that has been lost as they've started to get older and get bigger.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with making money off of your music, but I feel like if your ideals change because of it, it's not great.

I just hope they are all still as close of friends as they were before, because brotherhood like that is completely priceless.

Goodbye

Where you gonna look for confirmation?

And if it's ever gonna happen

So as I'm standing at the station

It might be over soon

Bon Iver "22 (Over Soon)

...And the wind was blowing but the air was fine.  What a night to be outside, enjoying the not too warm feel of fall.  Drinks were flowing, downtown at the park with festive ciders and ales.  One of those moments where you remember that you like going out, and you're enjoying your time together.

That's when the call came.  She was gone. And with her, that happy feeling that life was ok.

Like the weight of water when you go down too far, the water pushing down on every inch of your body at once.  That's how it felt when we heard the news that Grandma had passed.


I've never met a family that was as close to a grandparent as Sarah's family was.  Her Mom and Dad would visit her numerous times a week.  They would help with making sure the house was in perfect order: cleaning around the house, making the backyard look perfect, fixing the coffee pot (amongst everything else that Dad would find to fix...) Many days were filled with watching football or playing cards or any of the other games they liked to play together.  Grandma was more than a family member, she was a best friend to both of them.  This friendship has been passed on to Sarah and her siblings as well.

So much of Sarah's personality and the way she thinks about things, and the things she likes has come from Grandma.  Sarah wanted to take up a new hobby, and Grandma immediately gave Sarah her entire cross stitch tools so she could start right away.  Grandma would make the most simple, and yet incredibly tasty food you would ever try.  That's another trait Sarah has (maybe unknowingly) acquired from Grandma.  Lastly, I think Sarah has learned from her Grandma how to Love so fully and completely, that you always will know where you stand with her.  Sarah would not be the amazing person that she has grown up to be if she didn't have Grandma.  Thank you Grandma, for helping Sarah be all (and more) that she can be.

Sat on your roof, young in 82
How you remember is how it remains
Turn down the lights so now I can die
We'll always remember how it remains
-The Anniversary "Emma Discovery"

Hey everyone.  I wanted to take a little bit of time and introduce myself.  My name is Dan.  I'm a coffee snob, vinyl enthusiast and huge Nintendo Fan.  I hope to reveal more about myself as my blogs go on.

I wanted to start this blog to start documenting.  History is something I find very important. Whether it be the history of how our country came to be, or who has won the last 50 Super Bowls.  I have been reflecting on my life and have realized that even though I am constantly researching past history, I have nothing to show of my own  If I was to die tomorrow, what would my legacy be?  Any music that I've ever written will be lost.  Any trips I've ever taken have only been documented in a few pictures for social media.  My memories only live inside my head.

This is why I'm starting this writing exercise.  I'm not really sure where it's going to lead, or what topics I will talk about.  I suppose this will just be a glimpse inside my mind; the weird and thoughtful, what music I have been listening to, what games I'm playing, what emotions I'm feeling.  I hope you read it and if anything, will laugh at my sometimes ridiculous antics.

PS I've always thought that sharing your favorite songs with someone is a really good way of getting to know someone on a different, more organic level.  This spotify playlist is a small glimpse at some of my favorite bands and my favorite songs from those bands.  Maybe this will help you get to know me a little bit better.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading.

Nintendo Man Dan

https://open.spotify.com/user/1241768980/playlist/2nsMwEUE0TFPFi2LvfigKq