Sickening...

This will be short and off topic from the blog, overall. I hate the idea of a plan for my life that is beyond my control. I really do. I know it to be true, as a christian, but I still don't like it. Im not sure why I have to be happy about that. I have seen people follow Christ to the ends of the earth only to die. I would rather that be the case. At least your dead at the end of the day. Go to heaven, be happy, ect. However, I hate being dragged along the path, unhappy, lonely, cold. It sucks, and I see no redeeming qualities to it, other than a growing skepticism towards all of this. Goodnight everyone, and Merry whateverthehellyouwant.

Maybe I should do heroine? Could make a good book I suppose.

Just returned from a failed attempt to go see Emery play at the Boardwalk. I showed up to find it sold out. Which, of course, sucks big time. So I resolve to sit on the deck of the venue and listen from the cold. I lose out on the crowd experience and energy, but honestly, you can hear the band much more clearly from out there; Whether or not thats a good thing... However, the same bouncer who wouldn't let me in now starts telling me that I can't hang out in front of the bar either. What the hell? Its a parking lot! I just needed to unwind after a weird day and listen to some great music, but no. Asshole. Im having a weird day today. I just finished reading "The Heroine Diaries" By Nikki Sixx. Fantastic book and would be a great read for anyone. However, it is especially good for those struggling with serious (or minor, whatever) drug problems cause he really fleshed out the mental and physical ailments that come along with major abuse. Something is bothering me about it though, I somehow still find so much draw in that whole scene... Not the image of curled up naked in my closet with a broken needle jammed into my penis (read the book, you will get it... for better or worse. Im gonna go with the latter). However, the whole idea of living the dream of music so completely and living it with no limits. I tour right now (which you know if you are reading this blog) and its so hard on me to be away from home like that, and being away THAT much would be awful. But all the same, I love the idea of being able to let your dream and passion be so consuming... I think that is the name of the upcoming college trip... I should probably go to that. This might be a sign, or something far less fetched. All the same, today I seem to be on edge for no apparent reason and suddenly have a strange desire to buy a gun and chill in my closet. Im not really sure why I am having these thoughts, or better yet, why I am letting you read them.
But whatever, just one of those days.

P.S. Go buy the Endeverafter album Kiss or Kill. Its one of the best debut albums I have ever heard, and certainly the best one to be released so far this year. You will prob recognize "I Wanna Be Your Man" from the radio, and the rest of it from your wildest dreams. Hell. Yes.

Tour Blog 2-2-08

Hey all! Video Blogs are upon us. Here I am getting all tech savvy and whatnot. Anyways, I decided to restart the tour blog thing (as explained in the video) and I'm not really sure what I am gonna do with all this. I wonder who will even see this, really. Anyways, check it out, tell me what you think and give me any suggestions for what you think this should entail. So... yeah, take care and a VERY belated happy new year. Can't wait to be home in my own bed.

A Post Script that apears above...

Today is December 1st, so the Christmas season is finally upon us! Don't get wrapped up in the materialism of the season and just enjoy it for what it is... Take care all

Music Today..

I think that one of the main problem with music today is that the general populace doesn't take music seriously enough. The most popular kind of music is hiphop and when you ask someone why they enjoy it, 9/10 times you will get the answer "it has a good beat" or, "its fun to dance to." I think that people don't appreciate true songwriting for the most part anymore. I'm not saying that nobody respects it, but I do think that it is overlooked in favor of something being "catchy." People call bands like the RJA or Green Day the best band in the world because they can write a simple 5 (or 3) chord progression song with some shallow statement to be made and peopel latch onto it. I have immense respect for writers like Josh from Showbread or Ryan from Demon Hunter. I am not saying they are best lyricists ever, but they write profound, important lyrics that are more than just a cheesy cliche and really explore aspects of life, morality and faith.
Possibly my two favorite lyric writers today are Davey Havok of AFI and Stephen Christian of Anberlin. If anyone who happens to come across this blog listen to either band, they will know what I am talking about. Havok writes, in my opinon, amazing and honest lyrics that are wrapped up in brilliant metaphors. Christian, however, goes for a much more straightforeword style of writing and combines it with melodies that absolutely floor me everytime I hear them. Songs like Dismantle.Repair. and Fin are excellent examples. He deals with such heavy issues of faith and doubt and reality that it honestly just blows me away.

Anyways, there is a short, less than thouroughly thought out analysis of modern lyric and song writing for today. I might come back and edit this up (assuming I can do that on here, Ive never tried). Anyways, for anyone who might see this, Go listen to the aforementioned Anberlin songs and remember, anyone can program a beat, few can change your life lyrically.

Welcome to the Kafka Project. I'm not sure how many people will ever see this blog, and for that matter, how many people will actually care what I have to say, but welcome all the same. My name is Mark and I am a music major. I play guitar and music is my life. Ill be talking about music, shows, guitars, and basically everything else in that field. Theres a good chance I will end up moving into philosophy or literature from time to time, but who knows. Feel free to comment, or to ask me anything. Let the project begin...