Nerdcore

The more genuine definition of 'Nerd' is 'Enthusiast' - and now I have back up.

Dude, this seems like it might be a cool movement. I also found the music good on first pass and this documentary I'll have to find to really start diggin in. A few things in my first research - Nerdcore goes close to the soul and root of rap (expressed in this trailer too), however, it totally should spread to the other generes. I say 'close' because the oppression isn't as outright - but nerds are oppressed for sure.

To which I see my second point - Wizard Rock (better spelled 'Wrock') - Music based on the world of Harry Potter. I personally have already one song under my belt (entitled "Chillin' at Hogwarts") - and I must say, our belt, because without my friends this probably wouldn't have happened.

Point three is a small laugh to me because even in the world of Nerd, the rap gets the commercial out first. However, nerds are all pretty open, yet seem quite secretive - because partialy it takes a bit of inner nerd to find where the nerds be at....in this case, I can't think of anyone I know that knows of Nerdcore Hip-Hop; but I live in Ohio, so you take what you want from that. As far as the music itself? Pretty solid. Very old school hip hop. Awesome. So far I've seen a greater range in 'Wrock music' but then this is my first foray into Nerdcore (and it's already put itself in a specific genre of music, while Wrock is really just anytype of music dealing with Wizards and the Potter world...to which we may also now add folk rock).

Again, anyways, Nerdcore seems like a cool movement; at least for some one who finds it hard to come by good, intelligent Hip hop (not rap) these days and with only a few major artists putting that out, we find ourselves going back to the 'old well' often -"we" here being those who appreciate, or can appreciate good hip hop (also called Wisdom rap in some circles). Nerdcore adds a playfullness which seems replete with Nerdom.

Your three take aways? 1) The Nerd is finding a voice 2) Nerdcore isn't a bad option it seems for someone who wants good hip hop 3) you're reading something a nerd wrote about something nerdy in a nerdy way. What's that? You want an extra takeaway? Sure thing, here you go... - Folk Wrock will blast your maroon and gold socks off.

Twenty Five years old.

I remember this from a long time ago. Watching again as someone older now, and even older than he was then is a curious and different set of emotions and appreciation.

Here is the entire conference in order from one to five.

Zimmy

I just miss him today. Been missing him a few days, it's been brewing for weeks and weeks. I started playing because of him you know. An uncountable amount of other people started b/c of him too, and people not even born yet. I see an old friend, but you don't know what I mean, especially if you think you do; really I'm just being private.

The song was 'Don't Think Twice It's Alright'

- and I picked up a guitar and decided to learn to play without a pick (the song is mostly all fingers I think, guitar, voice and words - aaannnd amazing). In fact only about a year ago I decided to start learning to use a pick while playing. It was my own verson of 'going electric'. My own 'Newport Folk Festival' - the little history of ourselves we keep.

I've met people who in trying to find themselves, just found refuge in trying to be Bob

I was guilty of it in my late teens. Luckily, it just didn't work - at all. Bob himself would've hated that (even though he did it with Guthrie). However anyone trying to be Bob, or trying to be anybody will deny it - that's a part of it. It's a lose/lose argument on both ends frankly. In their defense, they actually don't know they're not themselves, I know! I've been there! - But "You don't understand!" - I can almost hear my little teenage boy saying it to me when he's going through this '5th stage of Erikson's development': Identity vs. Role-confusion. They're not faking, they're just not themselves. I'm sad for them b/c I know how that feels, and also that what they really want out of that unconscious mimic isn't there; further, they could have it if they would look at what the more permanent appeal is....

It's a string that runs through all the ones I love.

I suspect it's what sings back to us like a siren in anyone we look up to. "I stand on the shoulders of Giants" - Newton; we all walk around in a world of giants *(especially in developed nations). So when you finally see them in person, the reality of their personhood tugs inside; and the tug is insatiable. It has been to me. What keeps them on stage and me listening? Or them traveling to film in some location, learning horeback riding and fencing while I watch the final work? Them in a cafe day in and day out, or on a beach house writing - and me reading what they put out? To live, and honestly thrive, doing what comes easiest - writing, acting - playing! (easy even when it's hard because that's just the words and work wrestling to come out - and how do we get out of their way is the main issue!).

They do what we wish we could; the true appeal is courage.

That's the line to cross. Logistics, and the thousands of derivatives thereof (for example, emotional and physical, monetary and time-sensitive) - none of that matters, with courage. Not foolishness (Dylan is a child of luck in many many ways) - but the only reason he even had the chance to be lucky? Courage. To truly "Evolve and let the chips fall where they may" - Tyler Durden. To gamble with your life - it's a long shot, but a lot longer if you never pony up to the table; and better to try hard and fail miserably.

Let's gamble wisely as much as possible, keep the inside track - stay close to God. That's the difference between Bob and us, maybe not you, but me...for now. He gambled, and he gambled young - when I was young I didn't have the balls, and I may still not; but now, teetering on the edge of adulthood and youth, it's either 'be quiet and let it go' or 'do something'. This desire to live life getting paid to play, and even becoming better at playing by living thusly. To spread that joy if possible and be a beacon of hope and courage for any lost and lonely. "To spread the Gospel, and if we have to, use words" - St. Francis

God's burden is light, and yolk easy to carry (Para Mat 11:30) - so no matter great fail or little win, what matters the gamble? He wants us to be kids and have courage to "deny ourselves and take up our cross", to not "gain the whole world and forfeit our soul" (Para Mat 16:25-26). To admit that our cross might actually be following our dreams.

"I'm walkin down that ol lonesome road gal/ where I'm bound I can't tell" - Dylan [Don't Think Twice it's Alright]

[finger up to mouth; wide, mad eyes] Shhh, listen. [silence] Can you hear it?!

"So you're falling fast for someone but you know it just ain’t right/and will it true but all we seem to do is fuss and fight/and woe some love is all that seems to get you through the night/you'll find your mind is achin’ all the time all the time/you'll find your mind is achin’ all the time

Well I heard it said in order to receive one must give/so in my heart I always did believe that’s how I lived/you came along and you proved me wrong, time and time again/I find my mind is achin’ all the time all the time/I find my mind is achin’ all the time

If you give your heart to one that don't know promise from pretend/you don't need your ma to tell you how this story ends/she'll be fine and he'll be crying himself to sleep again/he'll find his mind is achin’ all the time all the time/find his mind is achin’ all the time/he'll find his mind is achin’ all the time all the time/he'll find his mind is achin’ all the time"

- Ray Lamontagne

---

For Radio version (totally different) - Link here "Achin' All The Time"

If I was only half this talented, well, well [grunts, distortion. Air guitar].

I was thinking the other day about Rock music. I wasn't so into it when I was little-er - but after recording my last album, a couple of songs turned out full on rock. One especially which is pretty much one of the only songs I listen to off it anymore (The vocals need upping and I'll make sure you know when it's up on iTunes).

I wondered what made rock so popular, and I have begun tossing around the idea (nothing formal yet) of the popularity of rock being found in the rockers. It's FUN to make rock music, more fun than ever. A wall of sound hits you and it's overpowering and you think, fuck! I made that! Some good lyrics presented with a howl and it's hard not to enjoy what you just made. It's not the same joy folksy music gives me, it's a whole different thing. It's really like I'm listening to somenoe else, and it's really cool to experience.

If rockers get too far wrapped up in this haze of self-indulgence, I can imagine it spreads and their friends want the same feeling- thus bearing the love of the rocker. I speak from a man and sort of artists perspective, I don't know why women like rockers so much, I feel like after I play they are talking to a song and an image versus just me anyways, and they all seem to think they know you; some guys do this too - maybe they do know me cause it's a very intimate thing I share by letting them watch. But their listening is intimate for them, so eh - other topic.

Anyhow, this rock popular by the fun of making rock is just a theory, un-vetted yet, not what I usually enjoy presenting. Then today, in the web of inters, I stumble across this, and think, hmmm. Maybe there's something to the popularity of rock by the desire to rock so much (which also may be the reason to lead to harder music, i.e. addicts want more and harder drugs - addicted to rock could lead to metal...just sayin). So then Screamo gets born from Metal, and somewhere, it gets too much, and then it goes back to people that should stick their songs on acoustics and not try and impress their form upon the matter of rock. When rock becomes 'pop music' it sucks, but people still buy. Then record companies find a 1000 more acts that try and mimic the sound. Look at the devolution (from my angle) of Sex Pistols and Clash to Green Day and Blink 182 - and it's only gotten worse (though bands like the Black Keys give me a lot of hope for the salvation of good ol' rock!) ; and let's not leave out Zepplin and Floyd, American rock must not be under-rated. Plus, I think it's what bore Punk, which got confused with rock - and further, that American rock was born of folk which was born of blues - and that we can easily trace back to Africa. Or maybe it's just age and this is a protracted way I'm saying, "I just don't get these kids music these days. You see in my day..." - this is very possible and I might dare to say, likely. I still think my rock songs are the balls though ps.

Check out the video below and tell me how badly this guy wants to rock. So much, he somewhere in there, I'm sure believes it's really him rocking...but I can't imagine he knows it for certian. But then again I can't imagine the things I do sometimes.

Rock C-Diddy! Rock!

Listen to Qxyzzy.

Idealists and others of our kind find examples continually where humanity succumbs to transient climates; forcefully claiming those climates as 'reality' and in turn creating a greater permanence of that climate validating their initially erroneous assertion. A slippery slope for sure. So instead of upping our education standards and holding those who will soon inherit the earth to those higher standards, we have things like this happen. I'm speaking of the change in rules that made Scrabble, Scrabble (a word you can now play...)

It's a light-hearted example, but enough to make most of us at least groan; a groan I appreciate, because this lowering the bar is a small shade of a wider shadow - one which speaks to contemporary morality, ethics, the self-esteem of individuals and the self-esteem of humanity as a single, dynamic organism...and all the implications thereafter on our politics and personal lives; which, in the end, are all derivatives of ill harvested spirituality-the source from which we draw our various ethics, politics, philosophies, etc. So basically Satan now owns Mattel is what I think I'm implying - (did that joke translate as funny as it made me laugh?).

PS. It also reminds me of The Apology of Socrates, where he asks, "Who is skilled in this kind of excellence? That of a man and of a citizen?" - who will train people to be people?! Us! And we're just greasing the bar to keep slipping lower. We may argue that this 'lowering' is (from a wider angle) the pendulum swinging and a renaissance of sorts is brewing amongst the quiet few who walk along laughing through the boisterous masses - but that is a vein I do not care here to follow.

I think this video puts it pretty darn nicely.

Yahtzee!

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To Boldly Go, Where No Man Has Gone Before

I do not understand my love of the Trek. But dudes, misses-es, I love it – you don’t even know. On any given week, in my outbox, you will see a Star Trek something sent to another Trekkie friend. I have opinions on the Trekkie versus Trekker debate – and even know such debate exists!

During the second to last Trek movie (the one before the update) I worked at a movie theatre and wanted to get a position as ‘Chief morale officer’ on an imaginary ship some Trekkers were a part of. I spoke with their Captain and Commander and decided the commitment was too great at the time, I took that shit serious (as much seriousness as in the picture above I guess). 'Chief Morale officer' because I, a) wanted ‘Chief’ in my name somewhere since Captain and Commander were taken, and b) Nelix from ST: Voyager had the title, so it was legit– that’s how low I was willing to go – Nelix!

I watched it from back when I lived in Canada, I remember Picard really well, and all of them really – Data, Gordi LaForge, Worf; I think I had some kind of attraction to Counselor Troi – yeah, I’ll admit it. Though she probably knew being an empath who can even sense your emotions through screens (watch any early episode - also, watch those for overacting at it's finest; ps. she created the accent for Tori, she actually speaks a few different languages!)

In High School, or 8th grade, I took the little money I’d make and purchased a fleet of starships for myself. They were awesome and I wish I had them today. So awesome. I had all the different ‘Enterprises’ – Borg Cube’s, Romulan Warships, Ferengi Vessels – it was so balls. The battles in my bedroom were amazing, and those were maybe some of the best Trek episodes I was ever a part of...the ones I made up in 8th grade. Maybe it was around then I sort of forgot how to play properly (something I'm learning now again fifteen years later!).

Deep Space Nine was too dark for me, and I’m not sure why I never got into it, but now DS9 is like this untapped reservoir of Trek for me. I got into Voyager when it was on, and it took a bit for Janeway to grow on me. Tuvok always reminded me of my step dad and I always figured I could dress as commander Chakotay at a convention (which is kind of lame, so I still force myself to at least appreciate the character).

I actually feel sheepish b/c I’ve never traversed the Trek Galaxy with Kirk’s crew, not the original, and so I can’t claim full Trek-dom, but that’s awaiting me too. I guess Next Gen. is what really got me. I have no idea why. I love the sounds, the technology; I remember going to the bookstore in Jr. High and High School and just posting up in the isle (sitting on a seat of sorts, it didn’t really have seats b/c it was in the mall) and reading about the science behind the Trek universe – Okandy? I can’t remember the authors, but they were married and I thought how cool to be married to a nerd. I used to check their books out of the Library and get utterly lost in them. I could tell you the in’s and out’s of tri-corders, the theories behind warp speed, the mathematical equations to get to every warp speed (it’s one equation) and then how that equation could tell you about the ships. I was in it man.

I could write more but I could also probably keep going; I mean I'm a nerd (a modern term for enthusiast) so of course I could keep going right? Posters, movies, the events, the marathons, the amount of time my friends and I bonded, and laughed, and laughed at ourselves, and laughed at the ridiculous plots and laughed at how much Riker stared at Picard – then finding ourselves arguing over why certain plot points couldn’t work referencing prior seasons and plots that were incongruent, then discussing how they could be congruent because of other plots or involving the movies, then arguing the time line, finally laughing at what we were doing, then going back to the debate. Soooo there’s that I guess. I’ll go live long and prosper now, boldly going where no man has gone before...except for the millions of other people like me and my peoples pictured affectionately above.

I want to go to there

"Dare to wear the foolish clown face" - Frank Sinatra

Share Our Paper Hearts

"Don't the flowers at your feet smell sweet? Well it sure smell sweet to me. And don't the moon way up high shine bright? Well it sure shine bright to me. And don't the water on your lips feel good? Well it sure feels good to me. And don't the lips on your lips feel good, well it sure feel good to me."

- Devendra Banhart [Canela]

You May Be Blue - How is Vetiver SO good!?!?

you may be blue/ but you dark my day/ throw shadows my way/ break my mind/ while you say that you've been treating me kind/ who are you foolin'?/ my time with you/ beat a thorn-filled path/ blood filled where we passed through/ blood red with wrath/ you all knew that we'd be fine/ find by nothing at all/ i know my way/ and it won't be long/ you're gonna wake one dayto find me gone/ and there won't be nothing but goodbye/ nothing nothing but goodbye