UPS AND DOWNS
themissiondistrict
Feb 25, 2008
Making a record is a difficult thing. When I first met Dave and Travis and got conscripted into their pop punk band, Full Count, which was really doing well at the time, I felt like I was on the verge of stardom. Just a few months of work and I would have all the fame and fortune I had always wanted. I was on easy street. Unfortunately, that was 5 years ago. Its really hard to believe that much time has gone by, but now as we are on the verge of releasing the album we have been talking about making since those early days, I find myself reflecting on some of the ups and downs I have experienced ever since I committed myself to living out this dream.
Although, it is not purely out of nostalgia that I am thinking about this. I am also jealous of Evan's blog, and the praise it got and don't want to be upstaged by the new guy. Damn-it Evan!
Anyone who plays in a band will know what I mean when I say ups and downs. There are times when you feel completely invincible and that nothing can possibly stop you from achieving your dreams...when everything is going your way and the life of nonstop touring fans, fame and fortune not just within your grasp, its right in front of you, and all you have to do is reach out and take it. And then there are those times when you want to murder the guys you play with with a ball peen hammer and seriously considering going back to school to become and accountant or lawyer or any of those other suit and tie jobs you swore you would never do. When it feels like no matter how good you are at what you do, you can never break through that glass ceiling that is holding you back from accomplishing what you want. Meanwhile you see countless bands who you know in your heart are totally inferior to you who seem to be effortlessly succeeding and living out their dream, while you are at home eating box after box of Kraft dinner wondering when your life is finally going to happen.
Wow that last paragraph is depressing. But its the truth! The last 5 years of my life have been a series of those types of ups and downs. But now we are on the verge of releasing Youth Games, our first album (coming this March 1st on iTunes!) and I can't help but wonder whether we are close to experiencing the last of the really tough times. I mean, anyone who has been following these blogs for the past few months already have an idea of how difficult a process it was to make this album (although it was probably 10 times harder than what you are imagining,) and that's to say nothing of the 4 years we spent writing songs, trying to find a lineup that really clicked, and playing shows before the 8 months we spent making Youth Games.
Now I'm sure you're wondering what the point to all this rambling is. Well I'm not sure that I really have one. But I suppose if I was to try and gleam a point from this convoluted mess, it would be this: this is a really exciting time for me and the other guys in the band. We have collectively expended a whole lot of time, pain, sweat, tears, blood (and let's not forget a whole bunch of money) to bring us to this point, and there is a general sentiment amongst us that we are closer to the promised land than ever before. Now, I'm certainly not being foolish enough to imagine that the tough times are over. I'm sure we will continue experiencing those ups and downs until the band ceases to exist. But I'm at least hoping that the down times in the future won't involve me eating so much Kraft dinner. That stuff is absolutely terrible for you.
Although, it is not purely out of nostalgia that I am thinking about this. I am also jealous of Evan's blog, and the praise it got and don't want to be upstaged by the new guy. Damn-it Evan!
Anyone who plays in a band will know what I mean when I say ups and downs. There are times when you feel completely invincible and that nothing can possibly stop you from achieving your dreams...when everything is going your way and the life of nonstop touring fans, fame and fortune not just within your grasp, its right in front of you, and all you have to do is reach out and take it. And then there are those times when you want to murder the guys you play with with a ball peen hammer and seriously considering going back to school to become and accountant or lawyer or any of those other suit and tie jobs you swore you would never do. When it feels like no matter how good you are at what you do, you can never break through that glass ceiling that is holding you back from accomplishing what you want. Meanwhile you see countless bands who you know in your heart are totally inferior to you who seem to be effortlessly succeeding and living out their dream, while you are at home eating box after box of Kraft dinner wondering when your life is finally going to happen.
Wow that last paragraph is depressing. But its the truth! The last 5 years of my life have been a series of those types of ups and downs. But now we are on the verge of releasing Youth Games, our first album (coming this March 1st on iTunes!) and I can't help but wonder whether we are close to experiencing the last of the really tough times. I mean, anyone who has been following these blogs for the past few months already have an idea of how difficult a process it was to make this album (although it was probably 10 times harder than what you are imagining,) and that's to say nothing of the 4 years we spent writing songs, trying to find a lineup that really clicked, and playing shows before the 8 months we spent making Youth Games.
Now I'm sure you're wondering what the point to all this rambling is. Well I'm not sure that I really have one. But I suppose if I was to try and gleam a point from this convoluted mess, it would be this: this is a really exciting time for me and the other guys in the band. We have collectively expended a whole lot of time, pain, sweat, tears, blood (and let's not forget a whole bunch of money) to bring us to this point, and there is a general sentiment amongst us that we are closer to the promised land than ever before. Now, I'm certainly not being foolish enough to imagine that the tough times are over. I'm sure we will continue experiencing those ups and downs until the band ceases to exist. But I'm at least hoping that the down times in the future won't involve me eating so much Kraft dinner. That stuff is absolutely terrible for you.
