Fav Music: Interpol, The Rapture, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Le Tigre, Vue, Tangiers, The Fever, The Stills, Moving Units, Radio 4, Mogwai, Computer Cougar, Crosby-Stills-Nash-And Young, Buzzcocks, Muse, Von Bondies, The Killers, Gang Of Four, The Clash, Iggy Pop, Ours, Elvis Costello, Green Day, Franz Ferdinand, Chicks On Speed, Joy Division, Pinback, The Cure, The Unicorns, Fugazi, Pedro The Lion, Modest Mouse, Sigur Ros, Nirvana, The Shins, Spoon, The Hives, The D4, Radiohead, Pavement, John Lennon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Neil Young, Sex Pistols, Elefant
Fav Movies: Trainspotting, Boondock Saints, Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Napoleon Dynamite, Someone Like You, Love Actually
Fav BookThe Hipsters Handbook, Kurt Cobain's Diary, The Da Vinci Code, The BFG
Fav Person, Place, or Thing: Hipsters, Cow Tails, Neon nail polish, Crew, Indie Music, Nerds (the candy), Checkered Vans shoes, Les Pauls, Nachos with cheese, Vintage T's, Big sunglasses, Paul Banks and Carlos from Interpol, Ekim, Vanilla Heath Bar Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, Journals, Watches, The Dollar Store, Cheap Accessories, Spin Magazine, Lip chap, Carmex, Clubs, Rock Stars, http://www.epitonic.com (The best website for discovering Indie Bands), Rich coffee, Vanilla Mints, Photography, Toronto, Subways, Big Cities, NYC, Streets, Independence, Sunny Weather Highs 72 lows 64, Pickles, Wrist Bands, Sushi, Eggs-Scrambled with Cheese
...
And this one is certiantly an intresting story, it starts with an ending...
All right, I feel it's been awhile since I last wrote. (Here Fred, something new to read before you go to work :) ! The show at Castaways was an odd one. We played like shit, but the sound dude was really good. Maybe it covered up a bit of the shittiness? I think I'm trying to justify the events of that show. No matter how you cut it, it sucked. Everything you could think of went wrong. My e string broke; Maia's bass went wacky, and well, yuck. Aside from the technical errors, the crowd received it well. We actually got a few really good compliments. One man bought our CD and said we were one of his favorite bands to watch. Johnny Dowd said very little, but to me, meant so much. His minimal words of 'They're good,' sky rocketed my hopes! Wow! To think someone liked it?! Johnny Dowd nonetheless! If it weren't an AIDS benefit show, I would have given the audience back their money!
On other news, Kiev might be opening for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists! I heard very little of it, but if Ted Leo and the Pharmacists decide to play at Cornell, we will be opening! When I heard the news I jumped and cried! Ted Leo/ Pharmacists are one of the many Kings/Queen that rank supreme in the Indie world. Gosh, TLP! Gosh! They're almost like the Bad Religion of the Indie scene. (To put it in a weird perspective...) If anyone has found a Ted Leo/ Pharmacists official website, please 'post a comment' and tell me where I can find it! I've been searching endlessly!
Okay enough said, good-bye!
Oh and listen to Brandtson at http://www.purevolume.com/brandtson If you like chill music, almost like Pinback, check out Brandtson and listen to 'Escapists.' It's going to make you flip!
New everything!
Right after our last gig, our drummer had to go on a vacation for more than a week. Kiev hasn't been able to play for such a long time! But within these empty time slots, I've been able to go out to more shows by myself and start learning new things. Recently I've been motivated to get out there and start focusing on getting our music out. Two nights ago I went to See Spot and walked in on a show. I made friends with Tanner from Monday in London (A rock band from NC) and Steven from Centsless (A punk band from NJ). They individually taught me a few things about touring and shit. Afterwards Tanner and I hung out for the rest of the night and got to know each other a tad better. Then last night I stumbled on a show at Lost Dog and got to know Steve from Fire When Ready. Coincidentally enough, his band played in Buffalo the same time we did. We shared contact info and vowed to do a few shows together. All these contacts so little time! Eventually I wanna start playing more out of town gigs. But with patience and a little lovin', were bound to start traveling.
My blood splattered guitar
I'm happy we played Warped, but incredibly sad at the same time! I have nothing to look forward to! Warped Tour was such a high everything else seems so little in comparison. Even preparing for it was a blast! And now...sigh. Let me tell you the full in-depth story viewed by me.
We arrived in Buffalo the night before and stayed in a Ramada Inn. We slept, woke up at 7 and got ready to check into the production office. Once we got our special purple wristbands we were in! At around 9ish we found out Kiev was playing at 3:25 on the Kevin Says Stage.
I must say it was really special to go backstage. We were around some of the coolest looking people. There was a huge tent where you could get food and water and shit. It seemed to be the hang out joint. You could see all the band members. New Found Glory's dude, Thursdays' dude, Taking Back Sundays' dude, and Yellowcards' dudes...I would be more excited if I actually knew their music but I'm not too familiar with those bands. The best part was being able to look at Benji from Good Charlotte and giving him the death stare. The stare of 'You pussy.' Each member of Kiev gave him the stare of doom. But I got the chance to trade a few kind words with the Drummer from MeLee. A fun band. Check them out.
The Performance: We get on stage and prepare to rock out. While we sound check a small crowd already forms. The crowd was mix between, people we knew, a few other bands, and random people. I think the most rewarding part was to see faces we never saw before! It was like 'Wow! People are taking time to listen! Sweet!’ We rocked hard for 20 min, so hard I cut my finger while playing. I never noticed it while I was performing but afterward Sylvie’s little sister pointed it out. I had blood all over my guitar, strings, forearm, hand, palm...everywhere. It was most righteous.
Afterwards people came up to talk to us. This woman named Gina asked if we wanted to play some clubs in NYC (knitting factory). A man from Santa Barbara named Beau said he was interested in working with us. This woman named Michelle said she was organizing a Vans Girls tour and might want to book us. So many people. I can't comprehend it. My minds going to blow up.
The most satisfying part of the whole thing was saying Thank you to Greg Graffen from Bad Religion. I was sitting next to Jim Catalano (The Ticket) and Greg stopped to say hello. Whoa. So cool.
Enough ranting...I forgot a TON of details...but my minds going to combust.
God I wrote a lot...yuck, I apologize.
Warped Butterflies
Okay, I just got home after a hectic rehearsal and I need a drink...a big one. I mean it was all for the better (Parents running around, people clueless, what needs to be packed, details...blah blah blah) we packed our equipment car and got a few things out of the way. But it was stressful none the less. There were people coming in and out and ahh! Our roadies from Courtland/surrounding Ithaca area brought recording stuff and recorded our rehearsal!? Isn't that loyalty? I must say, they are some dedicated people! We also invited Park Doing to come and listen to our set. He gave us a well-needed pep talk. Park is our producer and moral support. He keeps our heads on our shoulders! Let's see, what else needs to be said...My thoughts are pretty scattered due to the running around I still have to do...Okay I just remembered to pack a shit load of things...better write it down before I forget.
WARPED TOUR 2004!!!
I think the Wownet show was a success. A good breather before the 'Big One.' Before we went on we promised to perform as if it were Warped Tour. (Sorry, it’s all I can really talk about, asides from Warped we've got nothing.) So, We rocked out, and it was received well. Yes, it was the last London Dispersion show. With that I realized one thing. Well let me tell you the background first:
Kiev's first show was also London's first show. I remember Kenny asked if his band (London) could play when I told him we were hosting a show at Wownet. I said 'yes', and it was the beginning of a new bond!
And now their last show was with us at Wownet. Oddly enough I put the strange coincidence together. Wownet is where we both first started and ended together. (Kind of)
That's why Kiev is so sad to see London Dispersion disperse! Not only are we going to be short a talented band, Vish and I are both losing 'Significant Others.' Vish has the magnificent guitarist Colin, and I have the tall, Irish bassist, Mike.
But asides from that, it was a splendid show. Our next stop...warped tour...bring it bitches!
London Dispersion + Kiev = International brothers.
Headlines
Tonight is our last show with London Dispersion! Wow, summer is coming to an abrupt end! I never thought this day would come! (EMO) But, it's our last show together, and it's terribly sad. I know for a fact Kiev is going to miss London dearly! It's kind of funny. We always thought London was our big brother for shows. Every time we hosted a show, they would be invited, vice versa...London Dispersion, We will miss you!
Switch topic to the Ithaca Journal! Jim Catalano interviewed us and did an article about getting on Warped tour. It was short and sweet. One thing I swooned over was the quotes from Greg Graffin. He was talking about how he'd like to see us get better, or something on the lines of that. It was nice to hear from the man himself. I took every word to heart. Aside from the sketchy picture of choice, the article was pretty good and made us feel more comfortable with the thought of Warped tour.
Come with me, dance with me...
I see London, I see France, I see Taylor's underpants! I woke up today with no clean laundry and had to dig in my drawer to find some clean undies. And what did I find? Grandma undies! The ugly, white, baggy panties your Grandma wears to cover up her potbelly. They were huge! Why were they in my drawer? I couldn't give you an answer if I wanted to. I guess it's God's little way to tell me to do my laundry. Well, glad to get that off my chest, moving on... Ah yes, Kiev. I suppose the gig last night at CSMA was a rude awakening. It wasn't a complete disaster, but there were a few mistakes. Now the idea of Warped tour got a little scarier. Icky. I smell bad; I need to hose myself down. Desperately.
