Ramblings for 2009-05-31

• Grand. Just seriously fucking grand. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-30

• needs a massage. Rock and Roll takes its toll. #
• I don’t even think it’s necessarily confidence. It’s really that I just get distracted from my doubts. ADD does have some benefits. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-29

• This status update is from the future. I know I’m not supposed to reveal future events, but let me warn you away from the Thai food tonight. #
• Red light is on. #

Minutes before they took us back to the asylum.

Minutes before they took us back to the asylum.

Live at the Venice Bistro, May 2009

Live at the Venice Bistro, May 2009

Live at the Coach House, 23 May 2009 (w/Colin Hay)

Live at the Coach House (opening for Colin Hay)

Live at the Venice Bistro, May 2009

Live at the Venice Bistro (May 2009)

Ramblings for 2009-05-28

• Fell asleep very very late last night with complete and excellent exhaustion. Radiohead was playing in the background. Psychedelic dreams. #
• Well, well, well. Did you really think you were going to get away with that? #

Ramblings for 2009-05-27

• It’s kind of like they just moved all the tourists from the Venice Boardwalk to Disneyland and stuck a churro in their hand. #
• I just saw my personal favourite, a mother who had her child on one of those kid leashes. I asked her if it was her seeing-eye human. #
• If you’re so fat that you can’t keep up with the people ahead of you in line, we will cut in front of you (if we can get around you). #

Do You Love Music?

Do You Love Music?

It’s an honest question, do you love music? Chances are you do. Chances are you listen to music every day, multiple times per day. Some days, you might even listen to my music. You probably even have music for different moods, or even better, you might have music that can put you into specific moods. You probably love that feeling when you’re in your car and one of your favourite songs comes on the radio and you reach down and crank the volume knob. You probably distinctly remember some time in your life when you were lying on the floor in a dark room with headphones on and listened to music by yourself. You created your own world with that music, and you loved it.

But the traditional sources for our favourite life enhancement, music, are drying up. The music labels, record stores, radio stations, etc., are all dying and going away. They weren’t able to adapt to new technologies and new business models, so they are going out of business and disappearing. But this isn’t a eulogy for the old music industry, I don’t really care about industries. I care about music.

However, there were two very good things about the old music industry, it was a means for supporting artists, and a means for delivering music to you. The old music industry could turn four talented cheeky lads from Liverpool into a worldwide music phenomenon that created a soundtrack for a generation and songs that will mean something to people for many generations. It could make sure that every radio station in the world was playing Beatles records, and that every record store in the world was carrying copies of these records for you to take home and make part of your lives. So how are artists supported today, and how can the music you love be delivered to you?

Today we have the internet for delivering music to you. You can find new music on MySpace, iLike, Pandora, Last.fm, and tons of other sites that feature music and let you discover new artists. Your friends can send you links to new artists, or embed new music on their own websites, blogs, or social networking profiles. Then you can go to the artists’ websites and buy the music directly from them, or go to iTunes, Rhapsody, CD Baby, e-Music, Amazon, or tons of other sites and download the music from them. That’s how most people who listen to my music have found it, by people like you telling other people about it. Let me take a moment to thank you for that: Thank you very very much.

But how do we support new artists so they can continue to make music that will enhance your life? Well, unless the artist is making meaningless pop music that you’ll forget about in a year (except to make fun of), don’t expect the old industry to provide any support. The new music industry depends on you. Independent artists today depend on independent listeners like you to determine what their music is worth.

If you like our music please pay for it. I’ve made it so that you can download my songs for whatever price you think it’s worth, so you don’t have to pay the old music industry prices. But even though you can choose what you want to pay, I still need you to at least pay something, or I can’t pay my rent and continue to make music to share with you. Independent musicians like me are working all the time, recording, rehearsing, playing shows, promoting, etc. etc. We don’t have any health insurance, and eat so many peanut butter sandwiches it makes you want to gag. We’re not rich. We’re not floating around in our pools sipping piña coladas all day at our houses in Malibu. Most of us, possibly even like you, are just scraping by day-to-day. But, possibly unlike you, we don’t even have a regular paycheck and can’t even collect unemployment. We depend on your support.

So if you love music, please support it so we can continue to make it for you. Thank you.

Here is the link to take you to where you can pay whatever price you choose for our music:

http://www.sjatr.com/products-page/main/mercy-mp3s-pay-what-you-like

Or if you would like to order our CD, please go here:

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

All the best,

SJ

Ramblings for 2009-05-26

• 26,200 points on Buzz Lightyear Space Rangers. Ace. #
• There are hardly any lines today at Disneyland. I’m going on Space Mountain ten times. #
• Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me. It is very difficult for me to follow the Disneyland rules. I’m going to get kicked out at some point. #
• Hmmm, at Disneyland today. #
• Oh man, when all was said and done I probably could not have said a worse thing. But it’s true, and my neighbours can testify. Laughing now. #
• I have no idea how this happened. Well, I guess it could have been a mix of impatience, infatuation, and intoxication. New song. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-25

• Surfing in San Clemente, old stomping grounds. The water is still cold. Thanks for the quick trip Kelly (and Bastard). #
• Advertise Your Business Here #
• Doesn’t this thing ever turn off? #

Ramblings for 2009-05-24

• Just got home. What a great show. Hung out with Mr. Hay after the show for a while. He’s just a class act. #
• Our show is over now. Great. Colin Hay is playing now. Fucking hilarious and sounds so good. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-23

• Scrounging around, wondering what to have for lunch. Duh. VEGEMITE SANDWICH. Of course. #
• The gods are laughing today, and this time I heard the joke. I have to admit, it is pretty funny. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-22

• The studio is ready, I’m supposed to record vocals. Sorting wires instead. Pro-cras-tination: sung to the tune Anticipation by Carly Simon. #
• A car with a saran wrap window just drove off with my baby. #
• There must be something wrong with me. I’m not taking any perverse pleasure in seeing that an ex-girlfriend’s ass has gotten fat. Sigh. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-21

• I’m opening for Colin Hay (Men At Work, Garden State) on Saturday in OC. Hit me up if you want cheap tix. He’s a really great performer. #
• A.P.B.: My skateboard is missing. Last seen at either the Otheroom, Nikkis, or the Townhouse. Landyachtz, red and black tribal pattern. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-20

• Are there any cute girls out there that want to help us sell CDs at our show with Colin Hay on Saturday? #
• And now for my next trick… #
• The earth is just cracking its back a little. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-19

• Street cleaning at 11am. Left my car until 10:59. Parking Nazi was at the corner waiting, salivating. I drove off, middle finger raised. #
• It’s a trick of my insanity. Thank you for not taking advantage of it. I mean thanks for trying, but failing nonetheless. #
• Ok, I finished up one track. Come on over and have a listen. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-18

• It’s time to make a new record. Let’s git er done. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-17

• The evidence has been disposed. I apologize to those who would rather sleep at 3am than listen to revellers on the way to the beach. #
• Grey. Great. All the UV, but none of the satisfaction of full sunshine. #
• Some stickers need to be placed above petty short people to stay alive. It’s like guerilla marketing evolution. #
• Slowly. Don’t startle it. There will be howling later. Wakey wakey, dearest Venice friends. Yes, it’s a torch. #

Ramblings for 2009-05-16

• Saint John and the Revelations is currently looking for a new singer. Our current singer is moderately horrible. #
• This is all your fault. And I can’t thank you enough. #
• I put up a bit of a fight, but in the end I let the sunshine win. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-15

• Thanks to all the folks that came out for my Venice Bistro show. It was really great to pull a good crowd out on a Wednesday night. #
• Elf needs food, badly. #
• Success #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-14

• This status message is 404. Please contact the server administrator. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-13

• Tea Time. Roots Reggae. Lovely folks on a warm Tuesday evening. #
• Progressive initiative: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8046970.stm #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-12

• My empire is expanding. It’s time to upgrade my flag. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-11

• Playing Galaga in Eagle Rock. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-09

• Don’t mind me, I’m just taking the Earth for a joy ride. I’ll bring it back in one piece. Mostly. #
• Playing tonight at the Hot Topic in Tustin. 7PM. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-07

• POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS #
• Sacajewea. Need I say more? #
• It’s definitely time for happy hour. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-06

• It’s such a beautiful day. I opened up all the windows. Then contemplated knocking down a wall or two. Then I just settled on going outside. #
• I like how it’s different every time. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-05

• Please wait one moment while this status update loads… #
• I just washed my hands without drying them. I’m such a rebel. #
• I will have to pass on the late night soirée, it’s time for much worse mayhem. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-04

• Sparks. Dangerous but lovely sparks. Wait, should this be making sparks? #
• Having a good laugh at myself. I don’t know what all the fuss was about. #
• I opened the plane’s passenger door on a flight to Miami. 2 Swedes and a Finnish girl are asking me how my kayak works. Lovely at the beach. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-03

• Sweat. All over. Good. Breeze. #
• Flying kites at midnight. #
• Ha! Is that the best you can do?! #
• If you’re going to let it all slip through your fingers, at least try to not get it on your shoes. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-02

• Settling in by a window with the kindest breeze for the nap to beat all naps. #
• I’m glad you liked that. Come back soon. #
• Venice streets are being abused under the drunken soles and high heels of First Friday revellers. Catch up chums. #
• I’m crossing the borders of my good sense and I don’t have a passport to get back. #

Twitter Updates for 2009-05-01

• I’d be embarrassed too. #
• If this was your Twitter post you’d already be home by now. #
• Down and dirty. Up and clean. Meanest old woman I ever done seen. My engineers are working on a solution. Escape. Pronounced ‘ess-kop-ay’. #