Pictures from the Ours Tour:

credit - Uzi @ www.uzishots.com

For all of the pics he took, check out:
http://uzishots.com/photo/shows/2007/20070223-oaklandmetro/index.html

These are from the Oakland show. I am really impressed by these shots.

This week in music vol. 1

So I decided that I am going to start blogging every Friday about the music I have been enjoying that week. So here goes nothing:

In lieu of my excitement to receive my Clarity LP, I have been listening to a lot of Jimmy Eat World. If I keep up on this aspect of my blog, you are going to be seeing this band’s name pop up quite a bit. Jimmy Eat World is my favorite band of all time and there really isn’t any time when I am not in the mood to listen to them. As for what exactly I have been listening to in preparation to receive my LP, I have been really enjoying Static Prevails. It is the first full length they released after signing to Capitol Records in the mid-nineties. It definitely has a different feel from their work after this, but I still love it. It is extremely gritty, raw and emotional. Tom Linton sings on approximately half of the songs, with Jim Adkins singing the others. I would encourage you to check out this CD. I will warn you, you need to listen with an open mind, if you are expecting the same sound that is on Bleed American or Futures, you will be disappointed.

Secondly, I have really been enjoying Piers Faccini. He is a singer songwriter from England. His music is extremely delicate and well thought. I have been listening to the album Tearing Sky, which is his latest album. I think my favorite aspect of this disc is how he leaves so much room in the production. The drums, guitars and everything are very sparse and simple. This does not make the recording boring, however, it really gives it room to breathe, and let his stellar song writing really shine through.

Finally, I think I am officially obsessed with Black Flag. I know it’s an odd obsession to have, but there is something about 80’s hardcore that really draws me. I am sure some people would consider this music to be completely horrible. To me, it’s not about the recording quality or the song writing. It is about conveying a big middle finger whatever frustrations you may have. The energy that this band is able to convey is simply stunning. Greg Ginn’s guitar tone is insane. It sounds like he has everything at ten and is playing as hard as he possibly can without breaking strings. Anyway, if you ever want to know your roots in hardcore, do yourself a favor and listen to Damaged

Ours show 2/28/07 Review

My eyes were heavy all day yesterday with tiredness as a result of the evening before. I was quite weary all day, and ready to just go home and watch television and take some tums. At about 4:45pm, fifteen minutes before the end of my work day, my friend Dan gave me a call and said that Ours is playing a last minute show that evening. This band is and has been one of my favorite bands for the last four years. My body told me not to cave in and go to the show. Fortunately, I denied that urge.

We arrived at the Walnut Room at 7:45pm and grabbed a drink and a sandwich. I must commend this venue on its impeccable service (my sandwich wasn’t half bad either!). After chilling there for a bit with the boys, we made our way into the actual concert room and secured our seats. We were literally sitting on a table right next to the stage.

The first band got started at around 9 o’clock. I am struggling to remember their name, but they were truly professional. My only complaint was that they did a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Good Times, Bad Times. They pulled it off just fine, I just think that seems a little sac religious. I talked with their guitar player after the show, and he said they were all on 3 hours of sleep because they had to drive through a horrible snow storm to make it in. I definitely could not tell they were tired based on their stage show!

After what seemed like a very brief set change, Ours finally took the stage. I cannot express how in control they are of their show. From the moment the first note was struck on the guitar, Jimmy had hypnotized the audience. He was wearing all leather, which could seem extremely cheesy, but he pulled it off. They started the set with four new songs to be on the upcoming album that does not have a release date quite yet. I won’t go into the exact set list since I can’t remember it exactly. I would say that the hour and a half performance consisted of about 70% new songs and 30% old. Normally, I would be a little disappointed in that breakdown, but this is not the case here. The new songs sounded immaculate. It’s hard for me to express how intensely excited I am for the new album. In case you are wondering, Jimmy hit every note perfectly live. I would even go as far to say that he was better live. The intensity of his voice never ceases to amaze me. For me, the highlight of the performance was when the band stripped everything down musically, and Jimmy sang the standard “Ave Maria” which he tied in with a new song called “God Only Wants”. I felt as I watched this show, that I was watching an opera or a delicate story line put into song. There was not one moment in the hour and a half that I felt bored or lost interest. After the set had concluded, the band spent time with the fans. I spoke with all of the members, and every one of them treated me like I had known them their whole life. They were very personal and fan-oriented. Jimmy told us that his voice was weak that night because of the previous evening and a bottle of Makers Mark. If that is the case, I don’t know if I could handle him at 100%.

To sum up this entry, you need to see Ours play. If you know me, you know that I have been to many shows in my lifetime. I can say with confidence and clarity that this was the best one. I know that is a hefty claim, but I truly believe it. The whole time, I felt like I was watching a piece of rock and roll history unfold right before my eyes. I am tired again today from going to bed late, but I can’t wipe this smile off my face as a result of the performance last night.

Links:

Official Ours Website:
http://www.ours2.net/

Great fan site with a ton of bootlegs and album info:
http://www.killtheband.com/

Dead Format.

My obsession with vinyl seems to never cease. There is just something about opening an LP for the first time and looking at the oversized twelve by twelve artwork that is satisfying. From the first crackle of the needle touching the grooves, to the sound of the tone arm moving back into its return position, the process of listening to a record is unlike any other format. There is something about vinyl that commands your attention. When I put a record on, I feel the need to focus on what I am listening to. Collecting records makes me feel like a little boy again. It makes me feel like I am vesting stock into rock and roll history and truly supporting the art. To put it simply, records are just timeless and classy.

Today, I ordered the one record I have been wanting for the past 3 years: Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity 2x12LP. This is my all time favorite recording and not I finally own it in analog format. This particular record has never been repressed. It came in several different color combinations, the one I got is grey marble. Even cooler, the packaging is still sealed, so it’s like I am back in 1999 buying it from my local store. Anyways, tickle me pink.

I need to update my recordnerd account, but if you want to check out my collection, here is the link:
http://www.recordnerd.com/lists/joshmickelson

Baldey Spears photoshops! lol

Another insane article:

By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA, Associated Press Writer

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala - A 330-foot-deep sinkhole killed at least two teenagers as it swallowed about a dozen homes early Friday and forced the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people in a crowded Guatemala City neighborhood. Officials blamed the sinkhole on recent rains and an underground sewage flow from a ruptured main.

The pit emitted foul odors, loud noises and tremors, shaking the surrounding ground. A rush of water could be heard from its depths, and authorities feared it could widen or others could open up.

Rescue operations were on hold until a firefighter, suspended from a cable, could take video and photos above the hole and officials could use the documentation to decide how to proceed.

The dead were identified as Irma and David Soyos, emergency spokesman Juan Carlos Bolanos said. Their bodies were found near the sinkhole, floating in a river of sewage.

Their father, Domingo, was still missing, according to disaster coordinator Hugo Hernandez.

4am at the Grocery Store

World's Tallest Bridge

This is seriously mind blowing:

Construction of the Millau Bridge in France

The Millau bridge over the River Tarn in the Massif Central mountains is more than 300m (984ft) high - taller even than the Eiffel Tower. With its concrete and steel pillars soaring high above the morning fog in the Tarn Valley, the construction makes a spectacular sight.



Construction began in October 2001 and was intended to take three years, but dragged even longer because of weather conditions. The bridge was built by Eiffage, the same company that built the Eiffel Tower.













A complicated system of hydraulic rams was used to slide the vast bridge deck into place. It was provided by Enerpac Hydraulic Systems - the company which also "lifted" Golden Gate Bridge off its foundation for better cushioning against earthquakes. Here is a diagram of pushing the bridge's deck:




The deck was pushed in two sections from both sides of the valley. Each push cycle lasted 4 minutes and moved the deck section 600mm a time.








From both sides of the valley the metal sections of the bridge are assembled, lifted slightly and then in an elaborate manoeuvre pushed into place on each of the seven supporting pillars. The architect, Norman Foster, said the bridge was designed to have the "delicacy of a butterfly"

links

PS: I updated my links. Any other blogs I need to be checking on a regular basis?

I call you back to the place beside me.

So I have been getting all caught up on the “Lost” dvds. I just finished season 1 last night, and let me tell you, I am super excited to start on season 2. I will say that the cliffhangers get a bit annoying, but it’s a great story line that has kept me entertained through the whole thing.

Reality is really starting to set in about that fact that my close friends Olivia and Josiah are moving in a few days. I am seriously going to miss them. At the same time, I am excited about their future, and truthfully, it gives me hope for my own. Some day, I will be with the one I love and pursuing my life’s dream!

Mark, Sean and I started a new song last night. I really like our initial progression. I think we need to figure out a more structured way of writing, so we can get these parts together, but I am super excited about our start. I must admit, my head was not in the game last night. I drank an Old Guardian from Stone Brewery on an empty stomach and it went to my head a bit…haha.

Wow, what a nice long weekend! It was great seeing my friends Chris and Thomas. They are such awesome guys. We all got together and had a few beers on Friday night which was a blast. The night ended with Chris and I covered in sharpie marker and I had a "confederate" mustache.…haha. It’s nice to let loose every once and a while.

In other news, there is this girl named Bethany that I have liked for a few years now. I am not sure if it was my own self-esteem, or being afraid of the fact that she lives in Ohio, but I never told her. Yesterday, I finally sat down and wrote her a letter explaining my feelings. I put it in the mail box this morning, and I am super nervous about it, but I couldn’t go on any more with out telling her. Anyway, we will see what happens! Give me a prayer if you think about it! Hahahah. Pray that she wants my hot bod! (jk)

Have an awesome week.

-J

PS - Listen to some Bonnie Prince Billy asap. He is way too good.

God is Love and Love is Real

This week has been interesting. I have been really sick the past couple of days, which is no fun. Not only does the physical part of being sick suck, but sitting around the house and doing nothing for 2 days straight really wears on me mentally as well. I came into work today, even though I am still not 100%, but hopefully I get through this soon. I watched the following movies over the past 3 days:

The Departed

Black Dahlia
Crank
Shawsank Redemption
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Silence of the Lambs
Jesus Camp (again)

In other news, my friends Chris and Thomas are in town from L.A., so I will be hanging with them all weekend. Good times will be had by all!

I hope you all had a great Valentine’s Day. I know a lot of people like to hate on this holiday, but I think it’s a good excuse to let your loved ones know how you feel about them.

My Evening

my Evening