My favorite blog, Boing Boing unearthed another gem last week. This video (see below) was posted on youtube recently and has quickly become a hit around the interwebs. After you watch it, you’ll realize why.
This blogger recently interviewed the lead singer and has more back story for you to read.
Check it out!
UPDATED: Apparently some people are questioning the authenticity of the video (below). Further information here and here.
Out of all of the Good Night, States members, I believe that it is safe to say that I spend the most time on the internet. Partly because I’m easily distracted by entertainment, partly because I have found a plethora of amazing blogs to read.
One of my favorite blogs is BoingBoing. BoingBoing’s tag line is “A Directory of Wonderful Things” and it is definitely true. You will find many strange and interesting things on BoingBoing that are happening both in the real world and on the net.
Recently, I came across a BoingBoing post that showcased a new video game that is coming out soon. It is called Guitar Praise - Solid Rock. “[Y]ou’ll soon be rockin’ with the best while praising the Lord!” (from the GP-SR website). My jaw hit the floor.
Frankly, I am appalled at the way the “Christian” marketing machine rips off what is popular in the name of having a “sanctified alternative.” Shouldn’t Christians be pressing ahead in creativity (since they claim to have a direct connection to the Creator) rather than reverse engineering products that are popular and marketing them to youth groups?
When you get down to it, is this game instilling any different values than Guitar Hero or Rock Band? Is Guitar Praise truly a “holier” option? Does anyone else have an opinion about this? Leave them in the comments section.
P.S. Look for more of these “Internet Curiosities” posts as I come across things in my internet travels
dear reader,
good morning. by the time i post this, many of you will probably be at work, or on your way. did you forget anything?
i admit to some pretty continual confusion about where all of my gear is (pittsburgh? ramsey? the coat closet?), but that certainly can’t quite account for what joe and i did last friday morning.
we were running pretty late, heading out to the ‘burgh to write “sometimes i see you on the lawn” and finish recording “she wrote a letter.” on our way out we perused our in the impossible tension rig, which in our defense is a pretty intense mix of junk electronics, labyrinthine routing, and recording equipment, and joe asked obligatorily, “do we need any of this stuff?”
“no,” i said, car running and clock ticking. “i think we have everything.”
this is the scene where all the footage is fast-forwarded. (actually, we had a really nice trip. joe drove so i could work on the song a bit more, and later on 28, so i could play him eagles songs on the guitar. although he didn’t know that.)
in fact, everything would be fast-forwarded, AND the screen would be split so you could see megan’s repeated communications with katie white (yeah, katie white!) to secure a piano for recording “she wrote a letter,” of course all while i fudged my way through “the greeks don’t want no freaks.”
so jt pulled up to the bakers’, opened the door, and reached back for his jar of peanuts. i don’t really like the ones with paprika. he got this real slow, deep smile, like he does.
“we are so stupid,” he says. “SO STUPID.” following his meaningful looks to the pile of equipment in the back seat, i get a sinking feeling.
this is the part where it’d cut to a flashback, and i’d see ALL THE RECORDING EQUIPMENT sitting there among the casios in nj. maybe the music would swirl up in dark, forboding washes that make the viewer wonder with a deepening sense of dread, WHO WILL THE KILLER GET NEXT!?
joe, of course, starts laughing. “look at me casually eating peanuts! this is so funny!”
at this point trevor walks out his front door and waves once from the porch. we look at him, and back to the peanuts. joe just laughs more.
“EVERYTHING is funny when you’re so casually eating peanuts,” he roars. “Here, you have to have one!”
“oh, man.” i take one. stupid paprika.
epilogue: good night, states, continued on to a productive songwriting-only weekend, and planned to finish “she wrote a letter” in two weeks. megan caused a miniature explosion that launched a needle into joe’s leg, dan napped a bit in the sunshine, trevor did GNS computer-related stuff that i don’t really understand, and joe recovered sufficiently to consume 1.5 chicken fried rices from tram’s, as did i. flat, gluten-free bread was baked in the meadow where all the characters would eventually frolic unto the forgetfulness of the disrepair into which has fallen their family’s estate and which will certainly be undone by their forthcoming marriage to the wealthy and upstanding Mr. Max Harding; NOT the forgetfulness that leaves you 400 miles from your recording gear.
ps. just a friendly reminder–we’ve got track two of in the impossible tension coming out on thursday. it’s great. for those of you who had a little trouble getting into “arsonist’s blues,” this will be easier. i promise.
pps. a couple of folks have confessed personally to me being behind with the internet releases. i understand, but people, it’s only gonna get worse from here. if you haven’t downloaded “there is a treasure” yet, do it NOW. (please.)
ppps. if you did forget your lunch today, go to franktuary.
pppps. oh yeah, and i beat tetris again. those dancers are awesome.
Google is this band’s weapon of choice. For example, if it weren’t for Gmail’s ability to track email ‘conversations’ and the fact that all 5 members have Gmail accounts, we would probably have a lot more interpersonal issues than we do right now. We also utilize the calendar for scheduling (conflicts) and we share nice spreadsheets of where we want to send press releases to, so that everyone can contribute. It really is a life-saver.
In addition to the aforementioned services that The Google offers, we utilize one other secret, secret weapon: Google Analytics. With Google Analytics, you are able to track hits and other stats for your website. One of my favorite features lets you see the search strings that people used that lead them to your site.
So, to blatantly steal and idea from PittGirl and Land of Yajeev, I’m going to list my top 5 search strings to date (by number of hits). Here they are… (more…)
Here we come!
Northeast Mini-Tour
Wednesday, January 30: Roustabout! @ Bar Bleu, State College PA
114 S. Garner Street, 16801
10 pm, 21+, $3, www.roustabout.net
Thursday, January 31: The Goldhawk, Hoboken NJ
936 Park Avenue, 07030
8 pm, 21+, www.thegoldhawk.com
Friday, February 1: Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington DC
1353 H Street NE, 20002
8:30 pm, All Ages, $10, www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
with Army of Me
Saturday, February 2: The Fire, Philadelphia PA
412 W. Girard Ave, 19123
8 pm, 21+, www.iourecords.com/thefire
with The Codes
