plan

August 23, 2007, 06:35

Ha, I find it hard to believe that these are Polaroids. They’re on Spectra film from an old Polaroid that has an autofocus that works by shooting out sonars at the object. They came out so well. I’m through with 600 film now, I think I’m gonna use my Spectra from now on. You guys might know that guy on the left. His name is Roy and he runs the bar at Walter’s. If you show up early, you can watch him toss stuff in the dumpster. He also plays bass for the Fatal Flying Guilloteens. That cowboy shirt is the only shirt he owns.

A few hours ago I was talking to this kid Daniel Berkowitz. Do you know him? Probably not. But you should. I swear, he’s like the next Jonathan Richman or Jeffrey Lewis or whoever is the eccentric prepubscent-sounding folk-pop artist you kids listen to. If he doesn’t become the next leader of the Modern Lovers then I will personally buy you a Dr Pepper. Anyway, I told him that I sometimes don’t really playing music and I’d rather be doing something else most of the time and he told me that I go through phases. Like when I took a break from music and started making books and CD cases and fixing typewriters and then I came back to music again. I told him I just do whatever sparks the interests of girls at the time. That’s not true but I tell people that sometimes ’cause it makes me feel like a loner…a rebel…

So all you people out there watch out for my next phase! What will it be?! I don’t know, but here’s a list of the possibilities:

-Spelunking
-Pinewood derby racing
-Soapbox derby racing
-Figure-8 race car driving
-Amateur x-ray photography
-Guerilla medical services
-Petty theft
-Gundam model kit building
-Flare bartending
-The study fo the Dewey Decimal System
-HAM radio
-Knot tying
-Exhibition .44 caliber revolver shooting
-Amateur 16mm filmmaking
-Taxidermy
-Shoe repair

511

August 19, 2007, 12:45

Scott Johnstone and I went to see Humanicide’s final show last night at the Southmore House. It was fun and sad. Pretty Little Flower played and I like their shows a lot. Did you know that Scott likes to circle pit?

Everyone left at Waugh Park before we could play. Whoops! I hope Isaac Cuddeback didn’t go because we didn’t play. I would feel bad if he did.

Scott and I drove around to pass the time since we couldn’t play the show and we ended up at the Teahouse. I tried to play cards with Layne and Kate Maddox and Patty but I don’t know how to play any card games so Scott just played. Then we left and looked at records and books but didn’t find anything we liked so we just went to my house and listened to music. We went to the Southmore House later in the evening.

I saw this girl Lauren Smyth outside before the show. I never met her before but I went to one of her shows and I’ve seen her around at other shows. She’s in some of my pictures. I asked her if Isaac was there and she told me he just got off work so he wasn’t there yet. I wish nobody had to work so they could go to punk rock shows all the time. Lauren and I talked about shows and bands and Houston/Kingwood people. She’s nice. She’s moving to Corpus Christi today to go to A&M. I hope she enjoys it. I hope she doesn’t feel like she burned bridges along the way ’cause I know I would.

Later that night, Scott and I were sitting outside talking to some kids about Die, Emperor! Die! and Washington Avenue and Hands Up Houston and the time when Mary-Jane’s, Walter’s, and Silky’s all were open and had shows every night. Then some guy came up to us and was like “WILL SOMEONE TOUCH MY BALLS?” There was only one explanation to this so I asked him “Are you with Jacob Calle and his Scavenger Hunt?” I’ve been on one of the Scavenger Hunts before so this made perfect sense. His team (Team Tits) all yelled “YES! WE ARE! PLEASE HELP US!” and I told them hell no. Then the guy got naked and screamed “THEY’RE JUST BALLS! TOUCH MY BALLS!” I told him to get out of here and we all had a laugh after that.

I should wear my Pokemon hat more often. I got quite a few hi-fives last night because of it. And at the Ben Kweller show, too. Hmm…

510

August 18, 2007, 01:37

Well I just came back from seeing good ole’ Ben Kweller at Walter’s. Who would’ve thought Ben Kweller would have a show in such a small, intimate setting. I got there super early to find BK putting kids’ names on his guest list ’cause they couldn’t buy tickets.

Also, I walked over to the bar to pay good ole’ bartender Roy a visit and it turns out that Roy doesn’t hate me and doesn’t think my music sucked too hard at that one show a few months back and he isn’t always that tough guy that’ll take some kids baseball bat and beat some crazy punk with it. He’s quite nice, nicer than most of you ASSHOLES OUT THERE. That’s a relief.

509

August 16, 2007, 15:48

I’m listening to Die, Emperor! Die! and I’m thinking about everything I know about them. They haven’t been active in quite some time and I think they are a really important band in regards to bands and artists from Houston and I don’t want them to get lost in the folds of history so I’m gonna try to remember everything I know about them. Most, if not all, of the things I know about them are through word of mouth.

I first heard Die, Emperor! Die! back in around 2002 or 2003 when I was still in middle school from the HandsUpHouston (remember them? ha) website. I believe they were playing a show with Stop It!!! and Akimbo. Die, Emperor! Die! started in the early 2000’s when two teenagers, Kirke and Brad, started the band in a bedroom after their previous hardcore band broke up. Both of them attended Lanier Middle School. They played electric shows as well as some acoustic shows at Food Not Bombs with homemade bucket drums and an acoustic guitar. They had releases on one of Houston’s most influential small labels, Friends Forever Records. They had a split tape released with Burned Out Bright, recorded live at the Southmore House. They played at least one show on 1908 Binz St, one of the shows with William Elliott Whitmore. Somewhere in this world exists a master copy of a split 7″ between Die, Emperor! Die! and William Elliott Whitmore. Kirke and Brad were both in 90% of the bands in Houston’s music scene, such as Carter Brown, Treetops, the Ten Speeds, and Rosa. All of their releases are out of print, with exception to a 7″ version of their acoustic CD-r on Adagio Records.

If anyone knows any more details about Die, Emperor! Die! then please tell me! I would like to know as much about them as possible.

508

August 09, 2007, 18:45

The show at Notsuoh last night went incredibly well. It’s amazing to see that many local kids supporting touring bands at a small un-air-conditioned space like that. It was one of the best shows of the summer. Nathan’s leaving for school in Massachusetts and I hope he enjoys it. I never got to know him that well but he’s probably the nicest guy to ever come out of Houston. People are growing up and moving out.

Andrew and Arie and I went to House of Pies afterwards with Eric Pioneer and Aaron Danger and Eileen and Val.