Tool - Phoenix, AZ 7/21/2009

Last night Tool played at a moderately sized arena, the U.S. Airways Center, in downtown Phoenix. For a couple days before the show, I had been pretty disappointed and less enthusiastic about the show than in the past. This mainly stemmed from the fact the first two shows played in this tour were short set lists. This also came from the fact the venue wasn't really anything to get excited about and the ticket prices definitely weren't any cheaper. I started to feel that Tool, as a collective, had decided to forgo any over-and-above fan-catering and decided to chose a more closed-up, introspective endeavor. 

That original perception created a bit of a down emotion as I have felt the band's strongest point was uniting so many walks of life into enjoying this same outlet of art.

I decided, that I was happy to have been apart of something while there was something to be apart of. That the Tool that I knew from the beginning had grown in ways I never imagined possible and there is no harm with that. With that, I reserved having any negative feelings on the way to the venue. I was going to enjoy a concert by my favorite musical group, with my favorite person in the world:  Danie.

We have done it several times before. This was Danie's fifth Tool concert and innumerable concert-outing with yours truly. It's funny that we both met from the local party scene but hardly go to those outings anymore. We've been doing the concert thing long enough that she knows I get nervous on the way to a show but I try to hide it. She knows I drink too fast in parking lots to achieve a small buzz without paying a fortune at the venue. She knows not to walk me in front of the merchandise booth. Tool or not, just having another one of these experiences with her made the day and evening a lot more elevated. There's nothing routine about it, just familiar and desirable.

Tweak Bird was the opening act. All-in-all, they performed very well. The drummer had a very meticulous air to him, his methods were entertaining. He was dancing with his arms to be able to hit his cymbals on time--it was pretty insightful. He also was twirling his long hair in a circle while playing, something I hadn't seen before. The songs were long, intricately arranged, and full of cool little synthesizer effects that brightened their stoner-rock sound. There were only two members. Two members with an occasional clarinet/saxophone player.

Took about 45 minutes to set up for Tool. I feel that posting the entire set list is irrelevant. However, they started with Jambi. About halfway through the song, I felt completely at ease. Like hanging out with a friend that you would do more often if your schedule allowed. The band was very energetic and spot on. 

Danie and I's seats offered me a different perspective of the show that I was grateful to have. Could see a lot more detail of the visuals. Some have been complaining that this tour they are using the same visuals as last. This was like seeing those for the first time, and I enjoyed them very much. Lasers are never a bad thing. Unless pointed at your eye.

They played nine songs. Same set list as the two nights prior with the addition of Ænema. It was a good addition, but they were playing so well and I was at so much ease, if they hadn't played it the show would have still been awesome.

Stinkfist was extended (no "White Lines" though), sped-up version of Schism, and Lost Keys was amazing. It was the first time I realized that Justin is playing Frippertronics with his bass during that introduction. I was excited to realize that. That was probably the highlight of the night:  watching Justin be in the zone with those tones.

Danny was spot on. Amazing talent, his hands moving so fast they were blurred but his wrists always seem so relaxed. He played the drum duo during Lateralus with Asthon from Tweak Bird. I've seen these duos with many different drummers and they have always been a treat. It was obvious this was Ashton's first time doing it, he never took his eyes off of Danny--as if trying to learn. The drummer from Messhugah, back in 2002, had been so into it that he broke one of this toms from playing so hard. I think that future shows of this tour will really have an impressive duo. The drummer from Tweak Bird, as I mentioned before, was very intriguing.

Adam's presence was pretty strong. At one point in Lateralus, I couldn't hear him. This may have been from the extra drum set on stage, or poor mixing of the audio--or Adam might have just messed up. That's the only thing I noticed that was out-of-norm from his normal performances. He was dressed very casual, had great posture, and that normal welcoming feel. Maynard, doesn't get as much detail as it was pretty vague, like usual. He didn't sing, "Vicariously I..." at the end of Vicarious, which had become routine. What wasn't routine was the he didn't finish singing anything else after that either. I have a neutral opinion of it. It would be nice to have him more active, but I am sure he has his reasons, and that's it.

Best song of the night:  Flood. The aggression and speed was above what it has been in the past.

It was a good experience overall. I feel a little guilty for having a negative stance towards the show prior to it. I can justify it though as after seeing them 12 times you start to have expectations. When those expectations are kept at bay, its obvious they are a great live band with a lot of history and a love for playing. I have seen some shows were that kind of mentality was missing from the performer. Tool really does go out of their way to make a show for the hardcore fans and the casual listeners. I am looking forward to them wrapping up this tour, recording another album and getting back on the road when they can. It's a great memory for Danie and I to share for the rest of our lives and I know we will have even more memories of Tool to add to that pool later.

"I feel like that is your song right now," Danie's comment on 46 & 2. I agree.

Subconscious Communication - Introduction

This is where I can get to put on my instructing hat. I learn best by teaching. A recent conversation with Khoa helped me realize I am not alone in my deep desire to share knowledge with others in this world, in this time. Lately I have a gone to great extents to organize my creative outlets. The idea was to create an organized method that felt like my own and to have it stand on its own two feet in case there were times where the creative pool was dry and the outlets unused. My little disclaimer is that by no means is this text supposed to convey pompous feeling over my methods. I like to communicate with confidence. I feel by doing so, my audience is more likely listen. I could be wrong.

My experiences with the creative world have always been shaky. For good reason however. The creative world mimics our subconscious brain in almost every aspect. The way I see it, our conscious brain is simply a veil of logic and defined contrast over the chaotic, blended subconscious. I say that reality acts the same over the creative 'realm.' The only thing is when you are awake and alert you are very much conscious--it can be defined by a physical state in opposition to the subconscious and unconscious. Reality is subjective. It may be concrete in the moment but over time it is as fluid and varying as the translucent cloth spoken of above.

Enough of that, the real meat of these posts is about subconscious communication. This is not subliminal, it's not meant to be unnoticed to the conscious receiver; it's communication that is to seat nicely within the subconscious mind. My idea is that if a thought or idea is crafted in the creative world its destination would be somewhere similar. Packaging the bullet of communication in a conscious condom. It has to work in the thin layer before it can dent the dermis. 

Pop culture and its minions do this best. It plays the game best in the receiver's conscious realm because it highlights common ground. Its entire existence is dependent on previous experience. Reworking the ideas. What's hidden within is the real treat.

I have listened to music that is not only pleasing to the ear but is emotionally captivating. I can kick my foot to the beat, feel the edge of the sound on my neck, and breathe the bass line in my lungs. I also get goosebumps up and down my arms with emotional resonation. 

When I look at a Pablo Picasso piece, my initial reaction is, "My kids can do that. What's the big deal?" Then, I opened my heart to the mental environment Picasso was in when he created those pieces and it all made sense. It was innocent and divine. 

What I would like to discuss in a few more posts are the ways I have applied the doctrine of subconscious communication into a positive, progressive method to be applied every day. It becomes an emotional exercise. It can even be frightening at times:  moving the veil to the side, exposing the uncomfortable, the vulnerable. So please stay tuned for the description of these methods and feel free to discuss criticism.

Up

I would like to do something a little less conventional and start this correspondence with my overall opinion:  the movie is good.

Pixar seems to have been dabbling in the arts of subconscious manipulation. The past three Pixar movies I have watched (Up, Wall-E, and Ratatouille) have played intense games with my reflexive emotions. With the first two, I was able to say it was merely coincidence, but with the third my conspiratorial mind starts to kick in. I found myself having to wince, at least three times, during the movie to keep myself from crying.

The movie has a great level of maturity and purity within it. The story is based on a pretty obvious formula and there is no harm in that. It ensures that the attention can be spent elsewhere. Character depiction was beyond amazing. Especially the talking dogs.

Animation is crisp. The vibrancy of the balloons on the house was my favorite. I wasn't able to see this movie in 3D, party because I hate having to wear 3D glasses on top of my regular glasses and Keegan was there. There is no way he would wear glasses and I wanted him to enjoy the movie--which he did.

Some of my friends have noted that I have had a heightened level of cynicism towards this film prior to me actually seeing it. This is typical of me. I get put off by hype for anything. Especially when the hype is comments like, "Up is the greatest movie I have seen in a long, long time." Everyone is entitled to their opinion--I was just curious if that is the best movie seen in the realm of 3D animated film, or film in general. Were they meaning it contends with films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and/or Shindler's List? Not that I am implying those movies are better than Up, that all depends on what you want out of film. Just looking for that common ground to be able to relate to those comments of praise.

So it was assumed, primarily by Lee, that I would come into this movie with a cynical perspective and rejecting demeanor from the start of the flick. Honestly, I know where some of my weaknesses are and I do my best to counteract them.

I watched this movie with an open mind, and I had a great experience watching it.

Not being an attempt to dismantle a progressively fun, creative movie--there is one thing to be said about this latest Pixar film that is against-the-grain. The movie has no replay value in comparison with its predecessors from the same production company. The characters are neat, but lack any sort of specific mannerisms that would be fun to observe again. Wall-E and Eve, Kitty, and even Nemo had that, "begging for more," effect. The characters in Up do not. The story is also a little too intense to want to pop in the Blu-ray every weekend for the kids to watch while Danie and I cook dinner. In fact, I don't think its a movie I would want to own unless I find poking myself in the eye with serious emotion to become a favorite past time.

Dad's Log

This morning, I wanted to share a current event. Danie left to go visit a friend in Kansas last night. She will be gone until Sunday night. Earlier on in our relationship I would have had a pretty big emotional flip just from being apart from her. Not that I enjoy spending time away from her now, I just want to support her independence from the family as much as possible.

The reality of this importance surfaced last night.

It goes without saying that for her to be independent she had to leave me with all the kids. No big deal. I love the kids and hanging out with them can be as enjoyable as a rock concert (see above picture). One could argue I enjoy it more than the kids. Yesterday, Alex went to spend the night at a friend's house and Mia was stuck home with me to help out with Keegan.

Keegan and I played car versus rubber-duck in the bath tub. Then we had ourselves an exciting sword fight in my bedroom. He's great at blocking attacks and even greater at hitting me with the wooden sword. It hurts. Still.

Play time fun aside, the real meat of importance surfaced at bed time. Keegan is used to Danie putting him to sleep at night. He goes down for naps all the time for the babysitter but will not go down, easily, at night for anyone else. The experience last night was quite the emotional one. He didn't scream at the top of his lungs all night, he tried to plead with me. Tried to pick me up from laying on the bed and kept repeating "Mom. Dad." He really did not want to go to bed like that. Needless to say, he didn't really have a choice in the matter. It was difficult for me only because I wish I could hug him and say, "Everything is alright man, mom will be home in a couple of days--let's sword fight in our dreams."

I feel that its these situations that allow family relationships to really build. I am grateful for the opportunity to help my best friend have time to herself and for me to get closer to the kids and install the level of security they need. I wanted to share these ideas with the supportive audience that you are, in hopes of documenting such an important event in my life.

Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers

Good can come out of bad. After making an awesome dinner with Danie, I decided to play some Xbox Live with Lee. Lee and I have been keeping pretty close since he moved back to Austin and we found that playing on Xbox Live has been our favorite past time. It allows us to do something mindless and chit chat at the same time.

Then my Xbox 360 started to not read any game discs. It was pretty upsetting. In a frenzy I read up online to find that this is a common problem but will more than likely require me sending my Xbox 360 off, again, to be repaired. I am not sure if this "common problem," will be covered under warranty.

Danie, seeing that I was upset, suggested I buy an Xbox Live Arcade game so I could still play with Lee. Reading online, I learned that Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers had just been released. Lee and I have played Magic together for a long time. Since grade school. We both downloaded it after I took a quick look at the trial and we were amazed with what we found.

I was never a great Magic player. I knew the rules, enjoyed the art, and had fun playing. Never took it very competitively. Lee was a different matter. He would spend hours on end fixing up his deck and seeking out cards for quick-kill combos. To each his own.

This game caters to the hardcore and the casual.

It's the first time I have played a software-based Magic game that cut off all the right amount of fat and preserved the nutrients of the game play itself. The interface is beautiful, the ambient music is essential, controls are easy-to-pickup, and the timing system is amazingly helpful.

Everything you would want to do in person, can be done on this Xbox Live edition: look at your opponents cards, view their recent discard in their graveyard, cast instants, look up rules--everything. Both Lee and I could not stop commenting on how much of a rewarding investment this game was.

The game seems to limit you to pre-made decks, which I find to be an easy way of solving the big problem of including every card created for the offline game. In my mature years of playing Magic, I preferred to purchase pre-made decks so I wouldn't be forced to invest time and money in building a collection... again. So far it seems you can unlock more pre-made decks, more cards for those decks, and eventually be able to download cards and decks that weren't there from launch.

The developer took one of my favorite Xbox Live games, Uno, and combined it with one of my favorite trading card games.

Review of Brave New World

There is a possibility that nothing can be said, that has not already been said, about a novel published in 1932. However, I got to experience Brave New World just this past weekend. 

Taking into consideration I am late to the party of this text, I'd like to explain how my reading of it came to be.  I have always been facinated with dystopian settings. The setting has been what is most important to me, more than the actual story. My imagination likes to run free in the settings, asking questions and picking apart images.

Brave New World is a great example of how a story can make a dystopian setting come to life in ways my imagination never could. 

My favorite aspect of the novel is the writing style. When I attempted to read this in the past, the writing style put me off as being too "doom and gloom." After looking at it so more the writing style really conveys some great imagery of this civilization. Very sterile and systematic.  Early on, the book has a section where there are four individual scenes simultaneously playing out, jumping from one to the other  after short sentences. It requires some reading endurance and I did get confused once or twice but overall the effect was priceless.

Like I mentioned before, the story was quite a suprising treat. Originally my impression was the entire novel would be just a visual tour of the civilized world. The characters really started to shine after the first couple of chapters. Not that they are entirely likeable characters but they made the story seem fresh. The conflict changes from Bernard's desire of acceptance to John-The-Savage learning to accept the reality of civilization. A world that is not the dreamy utopia he had imagined as a child. The Savage is not introduced until about halfway through the story. Thus, the novel (from my limited education on dramatic structure) is unorthodox in story telling. It was done nicely but makes some of the other character's purpose as trivial as life before Ford is perceived by the Controller. Especially Lenina. 

The meat of meaning and philosophy shines best with John and Mustapha. I really enjoyed reading their opposing view points up until the discussion of religion. It just did not seem to fit the rest of the story. It's my opinion that Huxley included it because he had created characters that could debate the subject matter, standing on their own feet. He really proved how capable of a writer he was. Nevertheless, the religion explanation I think could have been sacrificed in order to have a discussion of other ideas left unexplained. What were the islands like that Bernard and Helmholtz being sent to? What governmental power sat over the Controller? 

Brave New World aged wonderfully. I am not put off by its predictions nearly as much others might have been when it was published for the simple fact much of these ideas of genetic engineering and population control already seem to be in place (i.e. http://tinyurl.com/lykvyx). However, the honesty in the language and the story structure itself surpass some recent stories by a landslide. 

I suggest if you have not read this novel, you do so. If you have already read it, like many of my friends, reread it and discuss it with me. 

initiation

Hello world. 

Blogging and my personality seem like they would be best friends from the start, but it really has been a challenge for me. I've always loved communicating, especially to that masses, but it was not until recently I decided to forgo that anxious feeling I would get when it came to publishing (in any format).

This first post is really only going to benefit those of you who have had the fortunate opportunity of having this blog promoted to. By the time this blog takes off, this post will remain simply as a memory--most likely ignored.

With that idea, it's not in my intention to share any deep agenda; I will let the agenda play itself out through the proceeding posts. 

Thank you all for your interest and support!