So Long, Later, and Goodbye

So I have a bit of a confession to make. This whole time I've been pretending to write this blog voluntarily. However, this is not true. This blog was born for one purpose only. This whole thing has been a school assignment. Of course, if you actually read this you probably go to my school and thus, you know that this has all been for school. And now that I think about it, if you actually found this blog on your own and you don't go to my school, that's pretty creepy. But anyway, this is my last post. EVER. That's right sucka! I'm done here!

But I still have this post. Dangit. So what to talk about? It seems like this should be the huge finale of all of the posts. Like every single post before this one had no real purpose but to lead up to this one. And that's a lot of pressure! The very fact that I've posted over 50 posts already and now I'm expected to write one spectacularly beast one to tie it all off. It's not that fair.

I guess I do have a little news. I recently started playing ukulele! My friend Katie taught me a few chords and I didn't suck! So the next day I found my families ukulele that's been sitting around unplayed for at least five years. So I got it out, tuned it, fixed it up a little, and then played for five hours straight.

Picture from here

That one above is the kind I have. It's a fluke. So it's pretty much the most beast thing ever. Just saying. It's true.

So that's pretty much all I've got. The end suckas! So when this blog started I wasn't much more than a introverted band geek. Since then I've made new friends, participated in a musical, advanced my musical skill, begun learning ukulele, started singing more, and even started to write a musical! Now, as much as it may seem like it, I'm not giving the credit of all of that happening to this blog. It had nothing to do with it! That's just stupid. Come on son. However, this has helped me look back on this year and see what's happened and how I've changed. So, thanks. Even if this is your first time ever visiting this blog, or your last. Thank you. I'm not necessarily saying I enjoyed this whole experience, but thanks. And goodbye.

Australia Officially has the Best Instruments Ever

So I think we've had enough of my weird emotional rants on this blog. I'm done with those. It's time to get back to the basics. Music. BOOM! We're doing this believe it or not, that title up there actually means something. That's right this is actually a blog about (drum roll please) band! Crazy right. If you go back in time a little bit, there's actually some posts about that.

Ok, I'm joking. Most I've my posts have been about band, but recently I've insisted on making awkward metaphors and ranting about life and stuff instead. So what to talk about? Band? Too general. Trumpet? Too obvious. Seussical? That ended like three months ago. Man I'm running out of ideas... I have an announcement though! It's been confirmed that next year our high school's musical is going to be The Drowsy Chaperone! Now the real question is whether I want to do pit orchestra or actually be in the show. Dang I hate decisions. I'm still not talking about anything specific though. Hmm... Oooh! I got it! DIDGERIDOO!

Picture from here

That's right I'm talking about these crazy suckas! Didgeridoos are Australian instruments originally played by native people of Australia. But they're freakin' awesome! Not convinced yet? Well here you go-

That's right! you can beatbox and play didgeridoo at the same time! BOOM! Done!

There Should be Some Fancy Title Here, but that Sound too Hard.

So last night I started writing a blogpost. It was really deep and metaphorical and crap. I guess that's just what I get for listening to punk rock for too long. Some music genres just have weird affects on my behavior. It's kind of weird really. But anyway, now I'm gonna try to write a blog post. This should be interesting.

So here's the thing. I don't really know what my life is right now. Lately I haven't been sure what to do. EVER! So I think I'n gonna start this post by writing as many things that I DO know as fast as I can.

1. School's almost over (thank goodness)
2. I have somewhat of a social life
3. I've totally lost track of "what means what"
4. I don't know how to explain that last one.
5. I have friends (unless I'm living in a real life Truman Show and everyone's actors.)
6. I'm still a band geek (yay..)
7. My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.
8. Sway is probably the sexiest song in the world. Get over it.
9. I really don't know a lot.

Well that was actually kind of depressing... And I guess #7 might not be entirely true. But it's close.

So here's the thing. I've lost track of what's reality. Basically, take the first line of Bohemian Rhapsody and that's what my life's been like. In fact, once I actually dreamt that something happened and was disappointed halfway through the next day that it didn't actually happen. I kid you not. And now I don't see how I went for even a minute without realizing it was a dream. I think it was more of a not thinking about it problem. I probably remembered it halfway through the day, then instantly figured out it was a dream. Sooooo yeah. That's my weird extremely unspecific story of the day.

THE END

ps. I had a lot of trouble finding a picture for this post. So here's an orca whale being fabulous.

Picture from here

To Reno, to San Fran, and Back Again

So I missed another week. Deal with it. IT was spring break, and if you actually think I'm gonna put up posts over spring break then you be crazy bub. That's right, I called ou bub! Deal with it. Anyway, over spring break I went on tour with the varsity jazz band I play trumpet in and we rocked the crap out of it! We left after school got out thursday and drove over night to get to Reno, Nevada. There we played at the Reno Jazz Festival at UNR. To put it simply, we rocked it. Somehow he got put in the "small school" category, and we won overall against all the other bands in that section of the competition. However, we did a little more than that. My band teacher compared to what bands scored in the other divisions and turns out we scored somewhere in the top five of the whole competition, out of 600 other bands!! I think we can count that as a victory.

Picture from here

Region Band

So yesterday region band happened. It was fantastic.

Picture from here

Let me tell you a story. It's a story of trials and challenges, happiness and triumph, and also singing in a bus. 

Once upon a time there was a band. It was called the pchs symphonic band. One day they went to region band festival. They scored a one, A one, and a one minus. They qualified for state. Now let's get to the cool part. 

Ok enough 3rd person. This is getting ridiculous.  Anyway, we left the high school and got on the bus for the three hour bus ride home. Sounds awful right? Wrong. It was amazing. At first it wasn't so great but then we decided to sing thirty versus of "beer on the wall" and then went into singing random pep band songs for a ton of the ride. Finally, we got home. And lived happily ever after.

THE END.

Song of the Week #19

Social Security Fraud and Men in Dresses

Three Words. Cash. On Delivery. Possibly the funniest play I’ve seen in my life. Never mind, THE funniest play I’ve seen in my life. I really haven’t seen many plays though. But anyway, our high school did a production of Cash on Delivery this week and it was fantastic. I wasn’t in it of course, but it was absolutely hilarious! I can’t come up with a very good way to explain the show other than using the exact words of the directer-

Welcome to tonight's production of cash on delivery! This show is a British farce-- and a funny one at that. Since it is a farce, there are some rules in place. All farces must have slamming doors, mistaken identities, several misunderstandings, and (since this is a British farce) a guy in a dress. 

Now isn’t that intriguing? And that’s not even all! There’s also a killer washing machine, someone gets struck by lightning, and the whole thing’s about Social Security fraud! This show easily gets a ninety nine hippopotamus shaped gelatin molds out of one hundred from me! And in case you’re wondering, the one I took off was because the sound system overheated and the “phone” didn’t ring when it was supposed to. Congratulations to everyone involved in this show! It was splendiferous!

Thank You

I just want to personally thank you ever made me have 1234 pageviews. You're my new most favoritest person.

Ain't it perdy?

Jam!

Yesterday was one of the best days of jazz band I think I've ever had. All of the members of the wind ensemble left to go to their region band competition, so the members of our jazz band were left to basically do whatever we wanted. For a while we couldn't play anything because a lot was going on through the band room. However, once they left and Mr. Taylor was out of sight, we cranked up the guitar amps and got ready to play. The rhythm section set up a blues and we rocked solos for the rest of class. Then, halfway through I got an idea. I made my way over to the auxiliary percussion booth and started playing with that stuff. I set up a (rough) beat on cowbell, tried to play tambourine (that was a mistake), and played chimes at times that seemed appropriate during solos (my personal specialty).

Picture from here

So basically, it was awesome. That's about all. It was sweet.

Song of the Week #18

True Dat

WOOOOOOO!!!!

Hey you guys remember that super silly post I did the other day about how much was wrong with me and how sad I was and how I was freaking out!? Well it's all better now!! Why? Because I made it into flippin' Wind Ensemble. That's right! Boom baby biscuit!! I'm so proud of me! However, I still sort of had the most stressful day of my life. I showed up to school in the morning and immediately checked outside the band room to see if he posted the results of our auditions outside on the bulletin board thing, and there was nothing. At that point I assumed they would be up later. Before band, I checked again. Nothing. At this point I was freaking out! What if I had to wait another day? I couldn't stand it.

Finally, to my relief at the end of class Mr. Taylor (band director) said, "Alright, we are out of time but if you need me to sign your registration form, see me in my office." Now I was freaking out even more. What band class I would be enrolled in next year hung in the balance of what he would write on that paper. I was excited but terrified. Quickly, I ran to get my registration form from my backpack, and lined up with the other students. As I approached the front of the line, I got increasingly nervous. Then I finally gave Mr. Taylor the paper not knowing what was to come. Then I saw him lower his pen to the paper and start writing W-i-n-d and then I knew for sure that I was in. And I was really excited. Now I just can't wait to play in the Wind Ensemble next year. Plus, now I have nothing left to worry about. Wait a second.. Finals? WHAT!!!??!?!?!?!?

GIF from here 

Song of the Week #17

Well Crap

For starters, if you want to continue to view me in as perfect a form as you are now, I recommend that you stop reading right now. Close out of this window, shut down your computer, and go do something else. In short, right now my life isn't simple. In fact, less than a minute ago I had a mental breakdown and yelled at my sister. Why? Unfortunately for you I'd rather not reveal the reason. Simply, I've gotten a little sick of her getting on my case about everything. And to make it worse she has POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). And that sucks. To be honest, I don't know much about it, but I'm sick of it. Other that the occasional time that my dad forces her to go to drivers ed and the at most two times she goes to church each month, she's at home 24/7. She can't go out to do anything, can't handle anything that's loud at all. I'm not saying this is her fault, as POTS has given her chronic migraines.

But anyway, back to my problems. For another big thing, I'd recommend clicking away now if you have any problem with 1st world problems. To make this as concise as possible, I'm sick of anyone thinking I'm perfect. I'm not! Get that through your head now! This huge obsession in being sick of the world expecting so much from me actually only began yesterday. At my high school there's two concert bands. Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. I'm in Symphonic Band this year (the lesser band) and auditions to get into Wind Ensemble were yesterday. I didn't quite realize how nervous I was about the audition until I started. I played a little too much before going in and some parts were rough and I couldn't quite hit some high notes. As I walked out I felt awful. I was crying inside. And then as I walked out and someone asked me how it went, the person sitting next to them said simply, "He's Sam, of course he's gonna get in!" To be honest, that was my mindset for most of the time going into it. But it wasn't until I walked out and I heard them say that that I ever actually thought "Holy crap what if I don't get in..." The rest of that day didn't go well for me. At least inside it didn't. 

So then I eventually got to today when I had my freak out at my sister. I had a little trouble getting over it after. So I went to my default calming mechanism, music. Once pandora turned on the first song to come on was easily one of the happiest songs ever, Jump in the Line by Harry Belafonte.

Picture from here

You can't exactly be sad while listening to this song. So I guess this does have a bit of a happy ending.

Word of the Day: Splendiferous!

So They Do Follow Music!

Song of the Week #16

Best Quote of all of Ever

Today in geography class my friend jacob came up with the most motivating, inspirational, creative, amazing quote I've ever heard. It was so amazing that I felt the need to turn it into a super fancy background thingy. I'm very proud of it.

Why Laser Tag is the Single Best Thing to Ever be Invented Ever

You heard me. We're talking about something completely random today. I think you can read the title on your own to figure out what it is. And were doing this list style. Let's GO!

10- It has the word laser in it. Pretty much anything to ever have the word lazer included in it is amazing. Try to prove me wrong. I dare you.

9- Enders Game. Ever since I read the book Enders Game I have been fully convinced that a professional laser tag legue would be the simple coolest thing ever. Now I know that that's not what the book's about but in my mind it's the closest thing to it. So deal with it.

Read at Your Own Risk

The True Intentions of Dubstep

Song of the Week #15

Ha! I remembered!
And you all doubted me...

And Then I Slapped Myself in the Face

So I lied! I missed a week! I know I promised that I would post something every week but I just realized on sunday (so technically this week) that I forgot. Not only that but I forgot the song of the week. Dang it Sam! Why have I done this! So here's the deal. Not only did I slap myself in the face (yes I really did) but from now on (or at least for as long as I can put up with) you can comment any ridiculous thing you want ,as long as it isn't inappropriate or pornographic in any way (I'm looking at you Steven), and I will draw it! Now I know I'm not very good at drawing. I'm a musician. So don't get your hopes up for some crazy-good french museum-worthy crap up in here. You aren't gonna get it. But you can have flying robot dinosaurs on stilts, or fencing narwals, or even a platypus. Made out of Jello. On second thought, no you can't. That would be stealing my ideas. AND THAT'S PLAGIARISM!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THAT'S BAD!!! HAVEN'T YOU EVER LISTENED IN ANY ENGLISH CLASS EVER!?!? My goodness you uncultured son of a motherless goat. I already drew the fencing narwals so why would you even want to request that?

Aint they pretty?

And the other two just sound too hard.  PLUS PLAGIARISM!!

Anyway, that's my idea of a punishment for myself. It's kind of more for fun really. But I really did slap myself in the face! Soooooooo yeah. The end.

In other news, I got one of those weird little valentine things that the student council makes you pay for that have the cheaply designed printed card and piece of slightly inedible candy! Frrrrrooooom (drum roll please..) Mattes... Wow I'm popular. But any way, leave all your suggestions for drawings in the comments and I promise I'll be back next week.

The Jon Batiste Adventures Continue!

So I didn't think anything nearly as amazing as the Jon Batiste clinic last week. I was terribly wrong. Quite possibly the only thing that comes close to jamming with Jon Batiste and Stay Human is watching them in concert. It was easily the coolest concert I have ever been to! Not only did we get to move up to row E from row T, but no matter where you were it felt like the band was right there! In fact, at one point in the show, the percussionist was playing tambourine while standing on top of the chair directly in front of me in the Eccles Center. If I wanted to I could literally have reached out and touched him!

Picture from here

And then we had a love riot. It was great.

What's that? You don't know what a love riot is? Well let me tell you. In the words of Jon Batiste (or at least how I remember them) a love riot is a huge group of people that basically has a riot but with all positive energy. And trust me, there was a lot of energy. And a lot of awesome music. And not really a lot of people. That was pretty nice though because if there had been a lot of people I probably wouldn't have gotten about a foot away from the band. So if you learned nothing from this blog post (which you probably havent. I didn't.) then just learn that no matter what, never miss out on a chance to see Jon Batiste and Stay Human in concert! It was one of the two best experiences that I've had in the past month involving melodicas.

What's that? You don't know what a melodica is either? Wow you're uneducated. No offense but you seriously have issues. Like you haven't even lived yet. But if you must know then I'll tell you. Basically what a melodica is is what happens when you combine together a piano, a harmonica, and a Dr Seuss book. 

Picture from here

It's basically amazing. Heres a video of an old guy with a swagalicious hat playing pink panther on his melodica.

This is my new favorite person.

Song of the Week #14

Song of the Week #13

Jon Batiste is HERE!!

I had most likely the best experience of my life today. An amazing jazz musician named Jon Batiste is in park city this weekend and every member of the band program was invited to do a workshop jam session thing with him! It was absolutely amazing. The coolest part was that we basically made up original songs on the spot. It started out with just one theme. Then we added different parts to it and made it totally awesome. It was so much fun and the best time of had in my life. Plus tomorrow I get to go to his concert in the eccles center.

Image from here

More than anything this experience has opened my eyes to the possibilities of musical collaboration. There was at least a hundred students there at the time and they were all playing. And it actually sounded good! That's just the power of what happens when an amazing musician and a group of other musicians gets together. We made something incredible from a bunch of individual little things combining together and creating art! There's a video out of the same thing he did with the students here last year. I'll make sure to post one from this year if there ever is one. But for now just remember that if you ever need something to make your day, music is the answer. Trust me, that was proven to me today.

Then Tech Rehearsal Happened

As a write this blog post, I am stuck in an extreme marathon rehearsal for our school's musical. Ok I lied. I wrote the first sentence in the rehearsal. After I finished that I was much too busy with singing, dancing, and trying to figure out how to keep my hat on my head. So now I'm writing the rest in front of the TV, at home, at 9 o'clock. I can still tell you about my five hour long tech rehearsal though, so let's get started.

As the name would imply, the tech rehearsal's main objective is to add all of the technological stage and sound details. And what does that mean for me? Waiting. A whole lot of waiting. You see, when the cast isn't taking up time running through our scenes and music, the stage tech crew fixes things, practices scene changes, and overall tries to make the show better. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that that process is easy. In fact, I'd probably never be able to do it, but to say the least, it can take a long time.

Tech rehearsals aren't all sitting and waiting before you run on stage and sing your butt off though. In fact, it's the only time I've seen someone walk down a hallway with a giant bag filled with bagels. A lot of bagels! Like thiiiiiiiiss many! (you couldn't tell, but my arms just extended about five feet). Plus, I got to wear a green Phantom of the Opera mask. For a little while, before we decided that it shouldn't be in my costume. I'm still sad about that though...

Image from here

Song of the Week #12

Song of the Week #11

If you read my Big Bad Voodoo Daddy entry you definitely want to check this out. If not then listen anyway, because it's freakin' amazing.

The Big, the Bad, and the Voodoo Daddy

So it's been a while. You may have noticed I've been a bit inconsistent on how often I put up posts and I've even been late on a few songs of the week. However I promise that that is all going to change. From this point on out I aim to post at least one proper blog post a week along with my song of the week every friday. Sound good? Though so.

So what have I been up to that's been keeping me from posting as often as usual? For one thing, Christmas! The holidays weren't the easiest times to post stuff here so I'm sorry about that. But not only did Christmas keep me from posting but something absolutely huge happened. I saw Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in concert! I was in shock for about a week, which is the main reason I couldn't post about this until now. It was so awesome that I had amnesia and forgot the whole concert! Fortunately, I remembered how awesome it was a couple weeks ago but I was completely unable to put it into words until today.

The members of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy pretty much the most famous people in the world to me. If you aren't familiar with them, check out this weeks song of the week because I'll be putting up some of their stuff. Once the musical part of the show was over and everyone went into the lobby, I met up with some of my friends and we got all of their autographs. It was pretty much the coolest day of my life.

Picture from here

Song of the Week #10

Sorry this is super late-

*GASP!

The same time this song comes on on pandora:

This ad appears on the side:

Coincidence? I THINK NOT!!!

Song of the Week #9