posted by v.

posted by v.

There will come a day when Bands won’t charge for music, labels become just a hub of ones and zeros to be downloaded and syphoned off to other places on the web then onto the listening device of choice. Casual listeners become fans, and fans buy physical product like deluxe packaged records and concert tickets. In a perfect world talent and hardwork are rewarded and bands grow exponentially from the initial songs given out for free.

How far off of a reality is this?

posted by v.

A year in review, or atleast what it means to me : I gave my top ten records of 2009 and after I typed it up and sent it off I realized i forgot about another twenty records that moved me and shook me and shaped my musical tastes. I contemplated not putting any Paper+Plastick bands in there but I just couldn’t set aside some records i listen to most. For someone who lets music become a day to day soundtrack, i link some of the things I’ve seen and places I’ve traveled with songs or bands.

PUNKSPRING. Tokyo, Japan.
Soundtrack easily was the FLATLINERS since we on tour with them right before we left to go over to play the festival shows. They also played the Tokyo show as well as NOFX, BAD RELIGION, THE DAMNED plus a line up of heavy hitters that i’m not mentioning for space purposes. Playing in Japan is always memorable-the chants – the sing alongs – the silence – the vast cityscapes, the friends we’ve become close to that live there. This time it was old friends meeting new friends- with a backdrop to sea of people inside a massive twenty thousand person venue.

LESS THAN JAKE, SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR. Bogota, Colombia.
Buddy and Kyle were taken down with the swine flu or food poisoning – i was just starting to feel human after my bout with sickness throughout Brazil. i remember listening to LEATHERFACE (mush) through headphones as we travelled through the streets of Bogota. Seemed like perfect match at the time and still does in retrospect. The show we played was electric though, and with a camera crew there to capture our first show there things seemed important and despite the heavy atmosphere in the city the show was fun and seemed at time to boil over in controlled chaos like all good shows should be. This show is bootlegged somewhere, while i never have seen a copy, i know its out there.

WARPED TOUR. Chicago.
An over cast day that turned into a show filled with interesting on stage encounters and ended with almost empty acoustic show. You can tell the days when bands are phoning it in on Warped, the same speech between songs, the same setlist from the day before, play then leave, maybe it was the weather but bands were just not feeling the show – on the complete opposite hand Chris was on fire that day- telling jokes, grabbing people from the crowd, and generally pushing the envelope of good taste usually reserved for Fat Mike. chicago has always been a second home to us and that day felt no different. During that whole tour is was listening to the SHOOK ONES record way to much but that day i switched over to MY MORNING JACKET (z) and had my head living in the past for hours.

LESS THAN JAKE, SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR. Brazil.
I was on a no sleep schedule all the way through Brazil, fall asleep at 3 in the morning and then get up at 5 in the morning to travel to the airport to catch a flight. I was getting mixes for the BLACKLIST ROYALS record that is coming out soon and in my half awake hours i was listening to the song “american hearts” on repeat because that to me was the mix that best for the bands sound and songs – i was trying my hardest to put my finger on what it was that made it magic. still to this day that song does it for me. The Shows in Brazil were fantastic- from small beach town club to big rock clubs. there’s something that always has draws me to Sao Paulo. the art, the culture, the people i have no idea but the combination makes for a city that i’d move to.

SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL. Australia.
Australia is so close to being Florida that i feel equally comfortable. Watching DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN play made me rethink what a modern band should play like on stage. they were monsters- on top of amps, jumping off the side speakers, climbing everywhere, it left me slack jawed. We were playing early on the main stage and leaving early but that tour i made it to BAYSIDE a few times and completely solidified that Anthony writes great songs. Seeing Friends in NEW FOUND GLORY and meeting new friends the BLOODHOUND GANG added to an amazing trip. Soundtrack of the trip had to be SEASICK STEVE. I would just listen to it on repeat at night.

posted by v.

posted by v.

Vinyl Vlog Season Two Episode Six w/Vinnie from Less Than Jake/Paper + Plastick Round 2 from Vinyl Vlog on Vimeo.

posted by v.

posted by v.

posted by v.

waiting for the first and final band practice before we pack up and take the circus on the road one last time this year – a fitting send off from florida is that it is cold, wet and windy.
abit of foreshadowing about whats to come in the next 4 weeks.

posted by v.

With leaving for a month long tour of the United States looming at the end of this week, I’m in my usual crisis mode to wrap up plans and projects.
I just had a milestone for my label paper and plastick with release of my 25th record, I had given myself a huge pat on the back and a pep talk for next year, for someone who swore off releasing records a few years back, I most certainly am eating those words with a super sized drink of ” I told you so” and a side of “damn I’m busy”. If I could give a high five to everyone who’s taken the paper and plastick ride with me I would but I’ll just say thank you.

posted by v.