Last Friday we played The Midnight Ballroom in Marshalltown and the show was a blast. Spanish Bombs (announced as spanish flies), Raining Bricks and Old Scratch Revival Singers were also on the bill.
After the show we went to this afterparty at this kid C.J.'s where things got pretty crazy. So crazy that at one point a Marshalltown local decided to jump through the living room window and so he did. He survived without a scratch, but the party ended rather abruptly because of that.
Yesterday we played St. Louis which was pretty crazy. We also got to see The Bronx for free which was not so crazy.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
The Green Limousine
People back at home have been asking what our van looks like, so here's some pictures. I'm always on the backbench, which is also able to lay flat like a bed. Yesterday we had our first show in a while in Chicago, so me and Josh have been laying down almost the entire way.
me asleep (look at my belly, damn american food)
The view from the back bench:
Since we hadn't played a show in a while we were all kinda nervous yesterday, but the show turned out to be awesome! Someone came up to me asking about Zen Arcade which I thought was pretty awesome, it proves there's actually people reading this.
Chicago show:
me asleep (look at my belly, damn american food)
The view from the back bench:
Since we hadn't played a show in a while we were all kinda nervous yesterday, but the show turned out to be awesome! Someone came up to me asking about Zen Arcade which I thought was pretty awesome, it proves there's actually people reading this.
Chicago show:
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Watch out....
or the Marshalltown Penguins of War will come and get you!
They hang out at Kum and Go. They go all out:
They hang out at Kum and Go. They go all out:
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
The land of endless opportunity
Just pour a couple jugs of water in a bucket....
...and out comes a black sleeveless jeanjacket!
...and out comes a black sleeveless jeanjacket!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Remember the Big Gulp?
So here's how I spend most of my days: Reading punk rock confidential, lifting weights and drinking big gulps. (Oh yeah, in between I play music)
Today however, after lifting weights longer than usual the 44 Ounce Big Gulp just wasn't gonna cut, I decided it was time to step it up and get the 65 Ounce:
This drink lasted me throughout the entire day, and all that for just over a dollar.
So yeah, my days are pretty busy and by the end I'm usually pretty worn out. I've been known to fall asleep in front of the TV. Tonight Tyler made me watch Stop Making Sense, that Talking Heads movie but after a while I started to doze off again. I wanted a cup a coffee but after having gotten used to Big Gulps, I was afraid just one cup would be, you know, not very much. Enter The Mega Mug, I will never sleep again:
Today however, after lifting weights longer than usual the 44 Ounce Big Gulp just wasn't gonna cut, I decided it was time to step it up and get the 65 Ounce:
This drink lasted me throughout the entire day, and all that for just over a dollar.
So yeah, my days are pretty busy and by the end I'm usually pretty worn out. I've been known to fall asleep in front of the TV. Tonight Tyler made me watch Stop Making Sense, that Talking Heads movie but after a while I started to doze off again. I wanted a cup a coffee but after having gotten used to Big Gulps, I was afraid just one cup would be, you know, not very much. Enter The Mega Mug, I will never sleep again:
Sunday, May 07, 2006
The Sci-Fi Channel
Just the fact that there is one makes me wanna watch it all day. Right now I'm watching an episode of a series that I think is called "Mutated Spiders From Outer Space Eating Up People Who Crashed On An Island". It's pretty awesome.
The Big Gulp
It's pretty warm overhere, like I hear it is in Holland right now, and when it is warm I get thirsty. So yesterday again I got thirsty and just knew a regular can of mountain dew wouldn't cut it. Enter The Big Gulp.
Now this is a 44 Oz which even ain't the biggest. Biggest I found is the 64 Oz, but I've heard stories of a 100 Oz which instantly made it on my whishlist. A 44 Oz costs 69 cents and costs 99 cents to refill. Makes no sense huh?
Isn't it great to get excited about this?
Places I ate and what I had (don't worry Mom, I eat more than I can handle):
Taco John's - bean potatoe burrito and fries
Diamond Dave's - crab and shrimp burrito, rice, beans and salad
Subcity - cheese sub
13th Street - fish filet sandwhich, fries and cheeseballs
Kum 'n Go (yes that's the actual name)- cheese pepper jack
HyVee - cheese pizza
Now this is a 44 Oz which even ain't the biggest. Biggest I found is the 64 Oz, but I've heard stories of a 100 Oz which instantly made it on my whishlist. A 44 Oz costs 69 cents and costs 99 cents to refill. Makes no sense huh?
Isn't it great to get excited about this?
Places I ate and what I had (don't worry Mom, I eat more than I can handle):
Taco John's - bean potatoe burrito and fries
Diamond Dave's - crab and shrimp burrito, rice, beans and salad
Subcity - cheese sub
13th Street - fish filet sandwhich, fries and cheeseballs
Kum 'n Go (yes that's the actual name)- cheese pepper jack
HyVee - cheese pizza
Friday, May 05, 2006
Picture time
Some more up here: Witness
This was on our way to Cedar Falls. It's about an hour from Marshalltown and all the way all you see is landscape like this.
Some more Iowa
And even some more Iowa, it's a big state
This is the set I play in our practice space
This is the practice space where I spend most of my days while I'm here.
The practice space
Me and mimi, John and Angie's dog
This was on our way to Cedar Falls. It's about an hour from Marshalltown and all the way all you see is landscape like this.
Some more Iowa
And even some more Iowa, it's a big state
This is the set I play in our practice space
This is the practice space where I spend most of my days while I'm here.
The practice space
Me and mimi, John and Angie's dog
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
"I'm a mummie"
Yesterday was my first day back in Marshalltown and coincidentally also the first bandpractice with all five complete. Within a few hours we nailed a new song that in my humble opinion is one of the best MLIW has ever written. I will not try to describe what it sounds couse that always looks silly, but I can tell you there's some new and exciting ingredients added to the MLIW sound.
After practice me tyler and jeff went to Cedar Falls where I saw Cam again, and after that we went back to the practice space for music and beers. I would post pictures if my laptop hadn't crashed again. I need to get that fixed soon.
Not much else, we're basically gonna be at the practice space every day so if anyone wants to fly over to hang out don't hesitate. Oh yeah, we got asked to do a couple dates on the Gorilla Biscuits tour this summer, so hopefully I can make it with visa's and shit.
After practice me tyler and jeff went to Cedar Falls where I saw Cam again, and after that we went back to the practice space for music and beers. I would post pictures if my laptop hadn't crashed again. I need to get that fixed soon.
Not much else, we're basically gonna be at the practice space every day so if anyone wants to fly over to hang out don't hesitate. Oh yeah, we got asked to do a couple dates on the Gorilla Biscuits tour this summer, so hopefully I can make it with visa's and shit.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
3 day going away party
Why I even go to hardcore shows in between touring is beyond me. It seems at least some of my friends have some kind of superpowers they use to convince me into tagging along to go see shitty band #285 since past October, and every time I fall for it I find myself hiding in a dark corner near the bar asking myself why I'm there and not somewhere else. So last Thursday DaxMila succeeded in dragging me down to the Joe Coffee show in Haarlem which I genuinely was excited for since I loved Sheer Terror but never got to see the Rev. Bearer in the flesh. And even though I loved Sheer Terror I went in completely blank and without expectations which is the way to live if you never ever want to be let down by anything, so I did not feel anything when it turned out I did not like Joe Coffee's music and headed to the bar and got mad drunk. I must admit there was a slight sense of disappointment that Uncle Pauly wasn't as talkative as he apparently had been other shows on this tour. But whatever, I hung out with some people I hadn't seen in ages which was very fun and interesting. A big plus too was being in an automobile with DaxMila for over an hour again, something which is always quite an adventure. He didn't let me down this time as we headed north to Haarlem by going an hour south first as DaxMila had no clue where he was or where he was going. It was great and we got to listen to a lot more good music this way.
Oh yeah, Bold played too.
Friday my buddies Ivo and Ingie took me out shopping and I spent money like water. A.o. I bought a digital camera and you'll all see the results of that on here pretty soon. I never guessed taking pictures was this much fun! Ivo made me buy white shoes since summer's coming up and white shoes are the big thing this summer (as every summer I guess). He did however give me 30% off discount coupon for which I was and still am very thankfull. Me and my white shoes will be on display on various stages throughout the US this summer, scroll down for dates.
Later that night some of our friends threw some kind of squat/ house party where beers and wines were 50 cents. It was awesome and since I now had a camera I took a million pictures of which I will most likely put some up on here. The party had good music, a good mix of people and good drunken antics. Ivo got rowdy and kept sneaking up behind the DJ booth to turn the beat up. I was loving it.
Yesterday was Queensday... I think all I remember right now of that day is that at one point I was convinced The White Suicide Rythm And Blues Collective are the best band to ever come out of The Netherlands and are the future of music in general.
Now please let me get on with packing because my brother is picking me up in a couple hours to drive me through the airport.
Oh yeah, Bold played too.
Friday my buddies Ivo and Ingie took me out shopping and I spent money like water. A.o. I bought a digital camera and you'll all see the results of that on here pretty soon. I never guessed taking pictures was this much fun! Ivo made me buy white shoes since summer's coming up and white shoes are the big thing this summer (as every summer I guess). He did however give me 30% off discount coupon for which I was and still am very thankfull. Me and my white shoes will be on display on various stages throughout the US this summer, scroll down for dates.
Later that night some of our friends threw some kind of squat/ house party where beers and wines were 50 cents. It was awesome and since I now had a camera I took a million pictures of which I will most likely put some up on here. The party had good music, a good mix of people and good drunken antics. Ivo got rowdy and kept sneaking up behind the DJ booth to turn the beat up. I was loving it.
Yesterday was Queensday... I think all I remember right now of that day is that at one point I was convinced The White Suicide Rythm And Blues Collective are the best band to ever come out of The Netherlands and are the future of music in general.
Now please let me get on with packing because my brother is picking me up in a couple hours to drive me through the airport.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Playlist
All good dreamers pass this way some day
Hidin’ behind bottles in dark cafes
what else:
Pink Floyd
Daniel Lohues
Gnarles Barkley
The Streets
Twilight Singers
William Elliot Whitmore
Hidin’ behind bottles in dark cafes
what else:
Pink Floyd
Daniel Lohues
Gnarles Barkley
The Streets
Twilight Singers
William Elliot Whitmore
Monday, April 24, 2006
Finished recording
Today we finished recording. In total it's three tracks and I'm very siked all turned out way better then I hoped it would. Wout the producer (his real name is Jesus and he's always right)really outdid himself. He will start mixing and as soon as I get a rough mix I will post an mp3 here. That might take a while though since I'm leaving a week from now and everybody's got a ton of stuff to do.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Tour dates are up...
... on www.modernlifeiswar.net but since I know you are not gonna look it up there I will post 'm here.
May
05.11.2006 Chicago, IL @ No Exit Cafe w/ Spanish Bombs, Raining Bricks
05.12.2006 Marshalltown, IA @ Midnight Ballroom(in Meadow Lane Mall) w/ Old Scratch Revival Singers, Spanish Bombs, Raining Bricks
05.13.2006 St. Louis, MO @ Lemp Art Center w/ Old Scratch Revival Singers, Step On It!, Spanish Bombs, Raining Bricks
05.18.2006 Quad Cities, IL w/ Dead To Fall
June
06.09.2006 Worcester, MA @ QVCC w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.10.2006 Levittown, NY @ Club Ritual w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.11.2006 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.12.2006 Washington, DC @ The Nation (Side Stage) w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.13.2006 Virginia Beach, VA @ Peppermint Beach Club w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.14.2006 Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox Loandro-Lounge w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.15.2006 Jacksonville, FL @ Thee Imperial w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.16.2006 Orlando, FL @ Wills Pub w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.17.2006 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.18.2006 Birmingham, AL @ Cave 9 w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.19.2006 Nashville, TN @ The Muse w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.20.2006 Memphis, TN @ Rally Point w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.21.2006 Metairie, LA @ The High Ground w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.22.2006 Houston, TX @ Java Jazz w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.23.2006 Corpus Christi, TX @ House Of Rock w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.24.2006 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.26.2006 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.27.2006 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.28.2006 San Diego, CA @ Epicenter w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.29.2006 San Francisco, CA @ Pound SF w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.30.2006 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
July
07.01.2006 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.02.2006 Las Vegas, NV @ The Rock N Java w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.04.2006 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.05.2006 Kansas City, MO @ El Torreon w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.06.2006 St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.08.2006 Erie, PA @ Forward Hall w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.09.2006 Auburn, NY @ Auburn Public Theatre w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
Did you notice I'm hitting up Florida, Texas AND California in the middle of summer?
May
05.11.2006 Chicago, IL @ No Exit Cafe w/ Spanish Bombs, Raining Bricks
05.12.2006 Marshalltown, IA @ Midnight Ballroom(in Meadow Lane Mall) w/ Old Scratch Revival Singers, Spanish Bombs, Raining Bricks
05.13.2006 St. Louis, MO @ Lemp Art Center w/ Old Scratch Revival Singers, Step On It!, Spanish Bombs, Raining Bricks
05.18.2006 Quad Cities, IL w/ Dead To Fall
June
06.09.2006 Worcester, MA @ QVCC w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.10.2006 Levittown, NY @ Club Ritual w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.11.2006 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.12.2006 Washington, DC @ The Nation (Side Stage) w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.13.2006 Virginia Beach, VA @ Peppermint Beach Club w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.14.2006 Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox Loandro-Lounge w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.15.2006 Jacksonville, FL @ Thee Imperial w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.16.2006 Orlando, FL @ Wills Pub w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.17.2006 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.18.2006 Birmingham, AL @ Cave 9 w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.19.2006 Nashville, TN @ The Muse w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.20.2006 Memphis, TN @ Rally Point w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.21.2006 Metairie, LA @ The High Ground w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.22.2006 Houston, TX @ Java Jazz w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.23.2006 Corpus Christi, TX @ House Of Rock w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.24.2006 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.26.2006 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.27.2006 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.28.2006 San Diego, CA @ Epicenter w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.29.2006 San Francisco, CA @ Pound SF w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
06.30.2006 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
July
07.01.2006 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.02.2006 Las Vegas, NV @ The Rock N Java w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.04.2006 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.05.2006 Kansas City, MO @ El Torreon w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.06.2006 St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.08.2006 Erie, PA @ Forward Hall w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
07.09.2006 Auburn, NY @ Auburn Public Theatre w/ Bane, This Is Hell, Outbreak
Did you notice I'm hitting up Florida, Texas AND California in the middle of summer?
Recording day 2 and 3 and more
So we did all the drums and guitars, tomorrow is all the rest and then we should be done. The closer this comes to being finished the more nervous I get to actually let people hear this stuff.
Yesterday I finally saw the white suicide R&B collective for the first time and as expected it was awesome. The peak of the evening was Riza giving me his Suicidal Tendencies sweater. I'll be wearing that one all summer.
Today was annual camo pants day. It was fun.
Yesterday I finally saw the white suicide R&B collective for the first time and as expected it was awesome. The peak of the evening was Riza giving me his Suicidal Tendencies sweater. I'll be wearing that one all summer.
Today was annual camo pants day. It was fun.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Recording day 1
Yesterday evening we set up and mic'ed the drums. tonight We're recording drum parts. The way we are approaching the songs is really interesting and things are looking to turn out gritty and raw, the way I like it! I changed the name from Zen Arcade to Het Zen Orkest, which translates to The Zen Orchestra. But it sounds better in Dutch and makes more sense since we sing in Dutch.
Also booked my ticket yesterday, I'm flying out May 1st, I'm superexcited since we're gonna spend almost a full two months on writing the new record. Ofcourse with a month of touring in between, I'll post those dates on here soon.
I fixed my laptop. Now I'm looking into digital camera's. Anyone got any advice?
Also booked my ticket yesterday, I'm flying out May 1st, I'm superexcited since we're gonna spend almost a full two months on writing the new record. Ofcourse with a month of touring in between, I'll post those dates on here soon.
I fixed my laptop. Now I'm looking into digital camera's. Anyone got any advice?
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Zen Arcade
I just got word I got a couple studiodays next week so finally I'm gonna be able to record some of the songs I've written over the past year which didn't fit the bands I was in at the moment. I asked my bestest buddies (who're all in incredible bands of their own) to help me out and decided to call it Zen Arcade. I'm pretty siked I finally get to make music with them again plus it's just an incredible line up with their history. If we're ok with the results I might post an mp3 on here. beware, we sing in Dutch.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
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