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April 30, 2006
The Weather Man
Kristi and I rented The Weather Man tonight. Great, in a really dark way. Definitely my kind of movie, emotional honesty and weird humor. Like Garden State for grownups. I played at Twiggs last night, my last show for a couple weeks. In some ways i'm glad, because i can focus on planning upcoming tours and getting a good tan. But in other ways i'm bummed because i'm in the groove of playing right now. Back to topic #1. As i browsed through the dvd's at the rental store tonight, i couldn't help but notice the abundance of horror films available. By abundance i mean that there were a lot of different movies to choose from, and there were multiple copies of each. It seems like these movies aren't like those we grew up with. It seems like they're... sick. Like sadism has become okay, even cool, in america. So as i'm thinking about this, wandering through hollywood video, i realize: i've picked up quite a few of these titles, just to see how sick they really are. hmmm....
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 12:53 AM | Comments (1)
April 25, 2006
Circle K
I'm pretty sure i can get everything i need at circle k. Neil Young is playing on conan right now and he still sucks. I'm sorry, i just don't get it. I almost dropped my computer in the toilet today. At the request of my lovely girlfriend i will spare you the details. Thank you to everyone who has been coming out to shows lately, both here in so cal and elsewhere. It means the world to me. I'm trying to write these days and am a bit disoriented at the moment. So i have a little tape recorder in my car that i sing into. I often go for a drive just to sing. I'm sure i look completely insane. But i gotta get down, you know? Anytime someone rides in my car i become completely terrified about fifteen minutes into the ride, when I realize that the tape recorder is in the glove box. My self esteem is being protected by an inch of beige plastic. But most of my friends are polite enough not to get all up in my business. Don't worry, i've found a new, much less obvious spot for my little black analogue box. Don't even think about it Richard.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 01:29 AM | Comments (1)
April 18, 2006
Dirty Clothes
After a week of playing in smokey bars, clean and dirty clothes all gather together in your bag under the "dirty" category. It's all part of the charm i guess. I'm sitting here in panera in the bay area of california and have that bittersweet feeling one has at the end of a tour. Part of me, a very large part of me, cannot wait to get home and kiss my girlfriend and feel clean and warm. But there is that other part of me that wants more adventure. But that's what the rest of life is for, right? It's been a good trip, all things considered. Last night was so wonderful, with the boyz and I making some great new friends in Medford, Oregon. God bless America. Mike and I have often "Tag-teamed" the shows, both of us sitting on stage, trading off playing tunes, and i really like doing it a lot. We're pretty musically different and i think it just works. For those of you just tuning in, the Mike i'm referring to here is Mike Marion. Listen to his music and leave him saucy comments at www.myspace.com/mikemarionband.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 07:13 PM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2006
Here i am
As i write this i'm driving to portland. Well, i'm not actually driving, i'm in the passenger seat. So i guess i'm riding to portland. This tour has been great so far. Two nights ago: Santa Cruz. I'd never been there before and enjoyed myself. Lani Trock opened the show for us and did a hell of a job. Last night: San Francisco. Wow. Shows like that make guys like us realize what it's all about. Made some great friends and played to a very attentive audience. The Lisa Montes band opened last night and made us feel warm and artistic. Great stuff. We also want to say thanks to Philip Wang for taking care of us in san fran. California has been wonderful and now we venture further into the pacific northwest. To those who've come out to the shows: THANK YOU! It's amazing how life on the road disables most of one's normal day to day activity. Especially on a day like today, with about ten hours of driving. for us to dive into. So i bring books that i never read. I have had Me Talk Pretty One Day in by bag since i was on the road last august and have read about one chapter. But these car rides are so beautiful, reading just doesn't tickle my fancy. And so here I sit, driving through the beautiful wet green. It's pouring and we're listening to zeppelin, who i don't really like. But they're perfect right now. Tomorrow is Easter and I think we're going to go to Imago Dei in Portland. This is Donald Miller's church, and he is a hero of mine.
and now here i am after the show, having a somewhat surreal experience. We found this great 24hr coffee shop called the fireside coffee lodge. If you're ever in portland, i'd highly recommend it.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 12:45 AM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2006
Sideways
Every time i drive up the central coast of california I believe in God all over again. It's just so beautiful. Ok, here's the skinny:
2 nights ago: USD. This show inspired me more than I have been in a long time. Everything just went the way it was supposed to, and then some.
Last night: Santa Barbara. How can you not have fun in Santa Barbara? We'll call the show "Intimate", meaning that there was a small "crowd". Played with Noah's Fortune, who made my want to move my hips.
Later tonight: San Luis Obispo. This town, oh this town. The Frog and Peach is one of my favorite venues to play. Last time i played there was insane. I know a lot of people use that word hyperbolically, but this night was actually insane. 'Nuff said.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 06:07 PM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2006
Certain things make me want to do certain things
Certain people and certain things make me want to live in the altruism of youth. But I cannot, because I have crossed the line. I've eaten the fruit. I am a man and I am aware. Do you know what i mean? Sometimes i hear a song and want to cry. Sometimes I get a call from an old friend and i feel completely lost. And there it is again, my need for salvation. Because whatever i had my hope in broke up with me and i'm still not over it.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 04:03 AM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2006
Sometimes
I go "home" on myspace and there are no new messages, no new comments, no new friend requests. "this must be a mistake" think I and click home again, knowing that a mountain of work awaits me, what with answering all those messages and leaving witty comments on all my new friend's pages. But again i find the same old messages from eighteen seconds ago. Old news! Now is one of those times. And so here i sit, watching Conan. Kris Kristofferson is playing and he sucks.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 01:24 AM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2006
ah
It's 2 in the morning and i'm wide awake. My mind is running as fast as it ever has. Once again i find myself comforted and terrified by my thoughts. Once again I am trying to keep my eyes on the prize as it moves further and further away. I think Fiona Apple and I would get along. No, not like that. I think we'd have some interesting conversations. I downloaded her iTunes special thing which included a pretty lengthy interview with her. So girl makes a demo tape and gives it to essentially one person and signs a record contract. While she was telling the story of making the demo i was hoping to hear her say "no one liked it and i played starbucks gigs for years". But she didn't. Anyway, i'm really looking forward to this baby tour i'm embarking on next week with the marion brothers. Most excited about seeing portland and seattle again. And ashland. And of course san luis obispo.
completely unrelated: Has anyone else seen the billboards that say "childhood obesity - don't take it lightly."? Come on. Seriously.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 02:11 AM | Comments (0)
April 01, 2006
The Definition of Insanity
For as long as I can remember my dad has told me that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I think by this definition we're all insane in one way or another. In my life this truth is most evident in my repeated trips to Modern Cut. For $9.00 you can get your hair cut by the nicest women Vietnam has to offer. I know, 9 bucks! However, there is a catch. These women have absolutely no idea how to cut hair. I mean they make Donald Trump's stylist look like a fashion god. Over and over again I walk into modern cut, feeling certain that this time will be different. But it always looks like hell. And now, after yet another trip to a woman who's name I could never pronounce, I have what appears to be the beginnings of a mullet. Oh, modern cut, why do you hurt so good? Oh don't worry, i'll be back.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at 01:26 AM | Comments (1)