Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

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28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 4

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Thursday, September 16, 2010. 28 years, 51 weeks, 2 days.

When I packed meticulously for our gig I wasn’t considering the half mile walk up slight hill to the trolley.

Well, I was considering it pretty hard when I set foot out the door with my guitar, a canvas beach bag of clothing, a display box of free discs, and a boombox loaded with my voice exercises.

That’s my life. I mused it as I dragged my belongings uphill to the trolley line, and I mused it again nine hours later while singing my vocal warmups in an empty office while rain started to obscure my view of the city.

Backstage @ The Tin Angel, 9/16/2010

It felt a little odd to be singing my silly warmups at the office – they aren’t meant to sound good, and I was nervous that some late-working colleague would think I was actually a horrible singer despite all my crowing about voice lessons. By the end of the tape my voice felt good and sure – a welcome relief after being allergy-ravaged the day before.

Maybe the gig wouldn’t be so bad afterall.

Being me, I timed it perfectly – my voice tape would end and I’d have five minutes to pack up and catch a cab to our sound check at the Tin Angel.

So, of course, literally the second the tape finished our building’s fire alarm began to sound its klaxon. Between ear-splitting rings, a calm voice intoned, “Stand by for instructions. Do not use elevators.”

Do not use elevators. I was carrying 40+ pounds of personal belongings 38 stories above the ground. Stairs were not so much an option.

I sat on the ground in our elevator lobby, festooned with guitar, beach bag, display case, and boom box, as the klaxon rang on. Three minutes. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Surely if it wasn’t a drill I’d be dead by now. [Read more…] about 28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 4

Monday Music: Alexandra Day, live @ Psalm Salon

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Monday here is a little dreary, so I brought you a concert!

Alexandra Day is on my short-list of “must see” artists in Philly, and this Saturday she played her first full-band show in ages.

Alexandra has been an artist I’ll cancel plans to see ever since her album No Castles No Moats was my top LP of 2008 (and not just of local artists). However, my Saturday night outing was unscuttleable – Gina and I were booked to bash through our entire set of songs at Collingswood’s 2nd Saturday.

That meant I was obligated to miss what would otherwise be an unmissable show – Alexandra and her band at PSALM Salon, a 70-seat venue that’s an audiophile heaven.

Luckily, PSALM streams all their shows, which means you can spend your lunch break with Alexandra Day.

Me? I’ll probably save it to savor with a glass of wine this evening

(The only way to reliably keep track of Alexandra’s comings and goings is to sign up for her email list which – paradoxically – only seems to exist in person. I will pester her tonight to ascertain if there’s a digital way to sign up.)

manning the homestead

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I am home for the day, partially to work remotely, partially to host some contractors, a teensy-bit to work on CK, and entirely to go an entire day without having to put on shoes or ride SEPTA.

Not to beat this whole “ten years ago on this historic, victorian-era weblog” thing to death, but ten years ago today I blogged 33 times.

What was wrong with me?! We’re not talking about a special blogathon or anything. This was just a normal day in my life. Most days I don’t even tweet 33 times. Hell, days where I write three blog posts are pretty few and far between. And, now at least I’m a professional and a musician and a husband and a homeowner and all sorts of other interesting things that I can drone on about at length.

Looking back ten years ago today, I did have a lot to talk about. I wrote a song. I was sick. I linked to some other bloggers. My despised roommate moved out. My new (also somewhat despised) roommate was nowhere to be found, so I couldn’t sign a new lease. And I had to move out of my summer dorm room. And I told you alllll about it.

So, what would 2000 Peter be telling you right now about 2010 Peter’s life?

Last night I went to dinner with my friend Mary. I got home really late, but it was still faster than the commute from my office to our old house. I’m presently in my pajamas. I have answered a few dozen work emails. If these dudes ever show up I’m going to have new storm doors that are less sexy than they are expensive (but, still somewhat sexy). After that I will probably scream obscenities at Jillian Michaels while doing 30-day Shred. Oh, and I’ll probably practice bass, because I rehearse with Filmstar tonight.

Altogether, it’s a pretty interesting day considering I’m not going to wear any shoes until at least 6:30pm. But could I possibly serialize it as a 33 post series?

Guest-starring with Filmstar

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Some things I learned about myself on Saturday, while performing my first gig as substitute-bassist with E’s band Filmstar.

  1. I am not actually a bass player.
  2. I am way hotter playing bass than I am playing guitar.
  3. No matter how much I beat myself up about #1, I can’t even pick out most of my flubs on rewatch unless I was making a nasty face while flubbing.
  4. I’m not actually conflicted about Filmstar.

That last one is the big news and the big surprise. When I last wrote last Friday I was wistful, thinking ahead to my imminent replacement in the band.

Before more blather, please witness our first public performance of my current favorite Filmstar tune, “Fall From the Sky.”


(I know, I’m using my first finger for everything. One step at a time, folks.)

Shortly after that performance I neatly resolved my conflicting emotions over a pint of Abita Purple Haze, a rare beer I will stop my life to drink.

Basically, I realized that – though I love both Filmstar’s songs and sound – what I really love is playing in a full, happy, committed band, with a chance to be significant without always doing the heaviest lifting in the band.

I’m incredibly happy to continue to do that with Filmstar as a bassist or in some other capacity, and I let the band know that in no uncertain terms. I do love their songs and their sound, and if I can push that further I’m all for it!

At the same time, I have to find a way to make my own music into something where I don’t have to be the heaviest lifter all of the time. Am I ever going to cede lead vocals? No – dueting with Gina is the closest I’ll come. But having a drummer, or other instrumentalists? Yes, that would take the pressure off of me – the constant beating myself up and assuming I’m not yet ready for primetime.

That’s what I love about Filmstar – that on Saturday I was not sure I was ready for primetime, but they were sure for me, and it turned out I was.

On the way home I asked E if I could be vain for a few minutes, and I put on the recordings of Gina and I playing Arcati Crisis tunes with Chaz on drums last fall. I’m still in love with them – in love with a recording of me almost a year later! That nearly never happens.

That’s what I want. I’ve got it with Filmstar for the moment, and that’s awesome. But this year I’m going to find it for myself as well.

Your Author, Then & Now

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One last 10th Anniversary post…

Your Author, August 26, 2000
Age: 18
Occupation: College Student / Orientation Leader / Barista
Education: One year of college
Residence: Double-occupancy dorm room
Roommate: Viktor, a despicable Eastern European cad
Music collection: about 2,500 songs
Songs written: 100
Girls dated: 0

As a performer: High school and college plays. Maybe an open mic.

Recording rig: Pinhole mic in PC monitor, into Real Producer

Blogging platform: Free account on freespeech.org; Blogger via FTP

Media experience: Hung out at Philly Weekly for the day. Wrote for a little-viewed e/n site (remember those?)

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Your Author, August 26, 2010
Age: 28
Occupation: Communications Account Manager
Education: BA Communications, minors in Theatre & Music
Residence: Single tudor house
Roommate: Elise, charming wife and rock star
Music collection: about 18,000 songs
Songs written: 262
Girls dated: 2

As a performer: A few hundred open mics and a burgeoning number of full gigs; public speaking for groups >4000

Recording rig: Multi-track digital home studio

Blogging platform: Pro account on Dreamhost; installed WordPress

Media experience: Copywriting for local and national publications & brochures; managing multi-platform ad campaigns; brand identities for two non-profit startups; 10 years of blogging