Blog By James

A piece of equipment has been released that I NEED! OK, I don’t really need it. But I would really like to have it. If everything works out, I’ll post details on said must have equipment later.

In order to combat GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), I have created a rule that simply states that James CANNOT buy any new gear unless he sells something first to pay for it. Below are the items I am selling on Craig’s List. If you know anyone who needs super fantastic modeling, effects and/or looping equipment, I would appreciate it if you could point them my way. Thanks!

Line 6 DL4 + EX-1 ($125)
Line 6 Bass Pod XT Live ($190)

So most of you lovely people have heard me talk about the band I am playing in (besides my working with Melborne), and that I have rehearsals on Mondays in Finksburg at Ryan’s, new gear I’ve purchased to use in the band, or my frustration in finding a band name, etc. It’s been so long now that some of you may actually be questioning whether I am in a band at all. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t blame you.

Well I am absolutely thrilled to say that we have decided on a band name, are in the middle of recording demos for a full length album, and are well on our way to establishing a web presence. Crazy huh? You may be thinking to yourself, “Yeah that’s nice James but can you show me the money?”. We are hoping to have at least one demo ready to post on the internets in the next week. I’ll be posting again both here and the band’s site once I’ve uploaded it. Although our sound may not be for everyone, I am very proud of what we’re doing and look forward to having you guys hear it finally.

The band name “Throwing Heads” is a reference to Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” and is part of the “What’s This?” song performed by Danny Elfman as “Jack”. Both Ryan and I are big fans of the film. Although NBC was our original inspiration for the name, we like that the name can have multiple meanings and references for different people. For example, I like that it can also be a reference to “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” where no matter how many times Rosencrantz flips a coin, it always lands on heads.

The website is currently under construction but we’re adding information and changing things everyday. Along with getting the music up on the site, our plan is to add photos and also get some video clips up as well. Here are the domains we have registered:

http://www.throwingheads.com/
http://www.throwingheads.net/
http://www.throwingheads.info/

Our MySpace page is here and I’ve also setup a Facebook page here.

The continued support of our families, friends and loved ones has been amazing, especially since nobody has really heard anything up to this point! I am so incredibly excited about getting out and playing some shows with this band.

OK so I’ll be back with more later…

The office door closed early
The hidden bottle came out
The salesman turned to close the blinds

A little slow now, a little stout
But he’s still heading down those tracks
Any day now for sure
Another day as drab as today
Is more than a man can endure

Dreams flow across the heartland
Feeding on the fires
Dreams transport desires
Drive you when you’re down

Dreams transport the ones
Who need to get out of town

The boy walks with his best friend
Through the fields of early May
They walk awhile in silence
One close – one far away

But he’d be climbing on that bus
Just him and his guitar
To blaze across the heavens
Like a brilliant shooting star

The middle-aged madonna
Calls her neighbour on the phone
Day by day the seasons pass
And leave her life alone

But she’ll go walking out that door
On some bright afternoon
To go and paint big cities
From a lonely attic room

It’s understood
By every single person
Who’d be elsewhere if they could
So far so good
And life’s not unpleasant
In their little neighbourhood

They dream in Middletown…

-Neil Peart