Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?

If you pressed me, and I had to answer, I would say that ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance’ is my favourite movie of all time. It’s just fun. Anytime it comes on one of the movie channels I’ll stop and watch it. It has some of the best lines, and even though I know the outcome, I keep hoping that they’ll make it through. Part of me actually imagines that they do make it out since we never see what exactly happens at the end. 

Anyway, Paul Newman is truly an inspiration. He took his celebrity and used it to do very noble things in this world. We are in desperate need of more people like him. 

RIP Mr. Newman.

Mercy Is Now Available

Comrades,

Mercy is now available. Thank you for all of your feedback and encouragement over the past few months.

I’m very pleased with how it has turned out, it is also my first full-length album so I feel like I have accomplished something pretty good.

I think you’ll really like it too. Please order your copy and spread the word. I’m not a rich rock star and this is my only source of income, so when you order a copy it really makes a difference. I’ve also made sure to keep the prices down so that it’s affordable for everybody.

CD: $9 http://www.sjatr.com/products-page/cd/mercy/
MP3: $5 http://www.sjatr.com/products-page/mp3/mercy—mp3s/

Thank you very much for supporting independent music.

Cheers,

SJ

PS. We ship all around the world.

A Little Excited

I am very excited actually. I just heard from the factory that we will be getting the ‘Mercy’ CDs shipped to us on Wednesday. Which means I’ll be sending out copies for all the pre-orders on Thursday, so If you pre-ordered a CD you should expect it soon. Phew. 

Now I must think how I should celebrate…

SJ

Tomorrow Is Like Christmas For Me

I get my CDs from the factory tomorrow, and I can barely maintain my sanity. My friends are probably getting tired of me talking about it. lalalalalalallalala.

It’s like Christmas for me though. I’m going to put my jammies on in a bit and see how long I can stay up waiting for Santa. Hmmm, anybody know if I can get a Christmas tree in September in Southern California? Maybe I’ll just put Christmas lights on my pile of books.

tick tock tick tock tick tock.

sigh.

oh oh oh, if you want to help me while I’m waiting, make sure to order your copy! 

http://www.sjatr.com/products-page/

…

Ok, I’m getting tired of waiting. The tracking status says the CDs are somewhere in Philadelphia. How long does it take to drive from SoCal to Philadelphia? Maybe I could just pick them up?

sigh. 

ok ok ok.

Happy September Equinox!

I would have said Happy Autumnal Equinox, but I have too many friends on the other side of the equator who would have corrected me faster than you can say vegamite sandwich.

October 3 @ Room 5 in Hollywood CA

Room 5
Friday Oct 3
10:30PM
143 N. La Brea Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028
Ages: 21+
$10.00 cover
Live Music All Evening

It’s Good For You

photo by Mark Okoh

Stuck In The Middle With You

photo by Mark Okoh

No, I Don’t Own A Razor

photo by Bruce Buckley

Yes, I Need A Bookshelf

photo by Bruce Buckley

Pro-cras-tin-ation

photo by Bruce Buckley

Swimming In Shadows

photo by Bruce Buckley

I Lost My Tea Cup

photo by Bruce Buckley

My New Rickenbacker Guitar

This is not my favourite tea cup, but it gets the job done.

Photo by Jenn Hart

‘Parallax’ Demo

‘Too Soon’ Demo

To Let You Go – Lyrics

i walked outside there was nowhere to repent
been gone too long with darkest intent
i don’t know how
i don’t know how

maybe here i will make my last stand
i’m taken hostage there are no demands
i don’t know how
i don’t know how

it wasn’t peace just a ceasefire
we’re burning love down, down to desire
i don’t know how
i don’t know how

to let you go

Mercy – Lyrics

if you disappeared in an endless night
mercy
but you’ll signal again just to spite
mercy

end this hope once and for all
let me forget how to crawl
blindfolded against the wall
mercy

have mercy, have mercy, on me
have mercy, have mercy, on me
have mercy, have mercy, on me
have mercy, have mercy, on me

break all the mirrors
mercy
don’t come any nearer
mercy

there have been so many names
give up on trying to blame
take the pictures from the frames
mercy

have mercy, have mercy, on me
have mercy, have mercy, on me
have mercy, have mercy, on me
have mercy, have mercy, on me

Part Of Me – Lyrics

thank you for not sitting too near
how can something so dark make it all so clear
they’re all waiting for you
go on they’re waiting for you

part of me knows it’s wrong
maybe it’s just wrong for part of me
part of me knows it’s wrong
maybe it’s just wrong for part of me

when your north wind blows down again
will i give up this foolish campaign
i was waiting for you
did you know i was waiting for you

part of me knows it’s wrong
maybe it’s just wrong for part of me
part of me knows it’s wrong
maybe it’s just wrong for part of me

Sky Lights Up – Lyrics

a threat, liberation, settling a score
the lies you don’t believe anymore
what happened to your esprit de corps
this is the war to start a hundred more

one more hill, one more home
one more kill and time to atone
the sky lights up and the city prays
freedom is won this way

no cameras on you when you return
can’t cause too much concern
but you’re here now a simple job to do
it’ll never end, but you’ll see it through

one more hill, one more home
one more kill and time to atone
the sky lights up and the city prays
freedom is won this way

and the bones in the street must be the freest of all
no fear of you behind crumbled walls
no higher love to pursue
sometimes you wish it was you

one more hill, one more home
one more kill and time to atone
the sky lights up and the city prays
freedom is won this way

How – Lyrics

how did i end up here
how did i end up here

these are not my arms, this is not my blood, these are not my bones
how did i end up here
this is not my cross, these are not my fears, these are not my tears
how did i end up here

how did i end up here
how did i end up here

this is not my pain, this is not my bed, this is not my life
this is not my rage, this is not my hate, this is not my hurt
how did i end up here

but this is my soul, and this is my spirit, and this is my hope
that’s how i’ll leave here
this is my faith, this is my courage, this is my strength
that’s how i’ll leave here

I Know – Lyrics

cry wolf, cry all night
with darkened dreams that you set alight
i know, i know

burrow down deep inside
the cold dirt laughed but at least you tried
i know, i know
i know, i know

i know how you’ll get free
carried on my back, on my back
i know how you’ll get free
dancing on my back, on my back

dirty hands, i planted seeds
you sang to weeds, ate the hand that feeds you
i know, i know

story time, it was all untrue
a lie for you, and one for me too
i know, i know
i know, i know

i know how you’ll get free
carried on my back, on my back
i know how you’ll get free
dancing on my back, on my back

cry wolf, cry all night
with darkened dreams that you set alight
i know, i know
i know

Gods Among Men – Lyrics

i miss you before you’ve gone
erasing these images so poorly drawn
waiting to hear about somebody’s happy tomorrow
bravely wielding hope that i borrow

if i could’ve made these ropes disappear
i would have reached out and pulled you here
if i’d latched on, dug in, didn’t let go
i wouldn’t miss you so

we were gods among men, all over again, now it’s time to go
we were gods among men, all over again, but now it’s time to go
we were gods among men, how could we begin, we should’ve known
we were gods among men, how could we begin, we should’ve known

i could wait for you at the edge of the wrong ocean
willing the world to break the laws of motion
the sky as my witness, the sun hanging high
did i really have to try

we were gods among men, all over again, now it’s time to go
we were gods among men, all over again, but now it’s time to go
we were gods among men, how could we begin, we should’ve known
we were gods among men, how could we begin, we should’ve known

Victory Tree – Lyrics

shall we try this again
you whisper in the dark
there’s fear when you touch my face
that you haven’t left your mark

you are free you are free you are free
letting go from the top of your victory tree
you are free, you had your way
sailing across your blackened sea

the same pulse that breaks your bones
rushes your hand to throw stones
you sacrificed the whitest lamb
to hear its heavenly tones

you are free you are free you are free
letting go from the top of your victory tree
you are free, you had your way
sailing across your blackened sea

shall we try this again
again and again
shall we try this all over again
again and again and again

you are free you are free you are free
letting go from the top of your victory tree
you are free, you had your way
sailing across your blackened sea

Hear Me Now – Lyrics

if i just lay down on the floor
and hope i can’t fall any more
i look up in this dark room
it’s feeling like an ancient tomb

i’m not apollo, not some pretty greek god
not that new town in the desert with the old west facade
i’m real, i’m here
you might have to ask for something when i should just volunteer

but know this, please hear me now
you won’t find a truer promise, or a stronger spoken vow
know this, please hear me now
you won’t find a truer promise, or a stronger spoken vow

you might turn and walk away
i might curse up something mean
you can wash my mouth with bitter soap
and i’ll try to keep it clean

they never engraved us on some far-flung satellite
but we can launch and leave this far behind, let the sun re-ignite

i’m not apollo, not some pretty greek god
not that new town in the desert with the old west facade
i’m real, i’m here
you might have to ask for something when i should just volunteer

but know this, please hear me now
you won’t find a truer promise, or a stronger spoken vow
know this, please hear me now
you won’t find a truer promise, or a stronger spoken vow

Shhhhhhh

Shhhhhhh

I Ain’t ’Fraid A No Ghost

Weird train of thought:

I was thinking (again) about the high likelihood of there being a Ghostbusters 3 movie

I twittered that I Ain’t ‘Fraid A No Ghost

Coincidentally a large billow of steam from my tea on the windowsill comes floating by my face

I initially thought that it was perhaps a ghost

I realised that I was indeed not afraid of it

Perhaps I would make a good member of the Ghostbusters team.

Back To School

Alright, you’ve got your new clothes. You have new classes. Hopefully you have some attractive members of the opposite sex (or same sex, if that’s what you’re in to) in some of your classes. But do you have the new Saint John and the Revelations album?

No?! Oh dear. That’s ok. We can fix that very easily, and for a very nice Back-To-School price.

You can click here to download the MP3s from ‘Mercy’ for only $5.

Cheers,

SJ

Old School

Every muscle in my body is sore. I played handball today for a couple of hours, it was immensely fun. Not professional-little-blue-ball-and-gloves-handball, but rather elementary-school-big-red-rubber-ball-handball. 

I need a full-body massage and about a day in a hot tub. Unfortunately I think a couple of hours of playing Mario Kart is about all I’ll be able to manage.

Sometimes The Clothes Do Not Make The Man

My neighbours are up tonight (Sunday) having a party with loud music. I love the activity actually and I’m glad I don’t live someplace quiet and boring. But my other neighbours are really hacked off about it and they’re yelling and probably calling the police right now.

Anyway, they were just blasting George Michael’s ‘Freedom’, and I was considering his struggles with the public image of him and the law etc., and then his lyric ’sometimes the clothes do not make the man’ came up in the song. It might sound cliché, but considering his life he really summed it up nicely. Especially since this is from the man that also gave us the lyric ‘wake me up before you go-go’.

I don’t know what I would have been thinking about if they had decided to play ‘I Want Your Sex’.

‘Black Venomous Snakes’ Demo

Ack! Not So Close

photo by Mark Okoh