11 more days until school is out! I'm very very ready to be out of high school. That doesn't have much to do with the rest of this quote but it felt like a good intro at the time. JMB played a concert at The Point (andrew's church, new crestwood) and it was great to skip the band banquet. Yes, that's right, I skipped my Senior Band banquet. Well, I didn't skip all of it, I actually showed up in time to have my name called and to receive an award... but I did miss the chicken. But anyway, back to the concert! It was really awesome tonight. There are some performances where you go away feeling like something was missing all night, and then there are concerts that you leave trying to figure out what magic just took place on the stage. There were a few moments tonight where EVERYONE was on fire- not just Doug this time! If anyone hasn't heard JMB since we've added Doug Dearinger playing lead guitar, come see us! Doug has added to much to the band and he knows exactly how to make all of us sound great.

Wow, I really need to start making myself post everyday- I feel like I'm letting everyone down. I'm sure that my millions of followers are going nuts since it's been six days since I last posted- sorry guys! I am happy to say, though, that I think my school year is pretty much over. Yesterday, I completed my last AP test (Music Theory, quite difficult) and the !Fly Guys had their last performance and pasted on the dance floor to the next generation, FG3. This week we also had our last Jazz Band performance and Choir's final songs will be at graduation. Since we have already performed the songs we will be singing at our last concert- practice will be a minimum I'm sure. So, hopefully, I won't be doing much of anything else at school for the rest of the year.
A few days ago, I was musically inspired, by a drummer nonetheless, to strive for something better. Mr. Jim Tyler, my eighth grade math teacher and an amazing drummer, did a few performances last thursday during band. I skipped my English class to watch him during the percussion class, then I heard him during Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Music Theory. Since I have left the middle school, he has begun to learn how to play songs on his set. Real songs, not just rhythms, but actual songs. This man has probably 15-20 toms set up in front of him and overhead, all tuned to different pitches which he uses to play melodies and harmonies while still keeping insane rhythms with double bass, snare, and a plethera of cymbals. He made me realize how shallow I was being with my bass playing. I've discovered that there is so much more to be done on the instrument and I'm just a liar if I call myself a bass player but only cover a small percentage of that. I'll keep you posted as I go off the deep end onto the road less traveled in bassdom.

I'm baaaaack! Life has been CRAZY these past couple weeks and I've been constantly kicking myself for my lack of dedication to this blog. I suppose the biggest thing that has happened in the past few weeks would have to be Prom which was last night. Ah, prom... where do I begin? Quite arguably, the largest, most lavish, most expensive high school dance in Kentucky. Franklin County is known practically all over the state for their prom and with a $22,000 bill, it's no surprise. While, the decorations were amazing, it didn't seem any different from the tons of other dances that I've gone to throughout the past four years. Oh, well, it was fun. I must leave now and prepare to go visit my grandparents in Cambellsville- Happy Mothers Day Mommy!

So, I went over to Kelly's today to fix a few of my troubled spots on "Not So Easily Pleased" (from now on I will use the acronym NSEP and everyone will have to keep up). I ended up fixing three songs I think. I showed up about 10 minutes after Josh left, he re-recorded all of his vocals this afternoon. This new album is starting to sound better and better- I'm getting pretty excited about it. And just between you and me, the title track is amazingly tight and funky. At the end of the song in the solo sections that go from Doug to Kelly and back to Doug, the band falls into this groove... ah, you just have to wait and hear it for yourself.
I've decided to buy a new bass. Yes, a new bass. "What kind?" I hear you asking. Well, I haven't quite decided yet. It won't be any time soon, maybe a few more months after graduation (these things cost money you know!) But anyway, my latest and greatest idea has to do with this ebay story called The STRATosphere. They sell Fender guitar and bass parts, mostly Japanese parts from the past 10 years. I am wanting to buy a ReIssue of a 1962 jazz bass body (comes fully loaded with pickups and electronics) and a ReIssue of a 1962 or 1970 precision bass neck (with tuners). I like the jazz pickups and body style, but that slim neck will be the death of me. I've been playing my 5 string much too long to yearn for a skinny neck. I still love my 5 string but there is something super cool about fender 4 strings. Maybe more to come on that later. I will continue my research.