What an awful note to leave you on!

First off listen to this as you read
(you will have to right click and open the link in a new window)

It's gonna make the whole experience much more exciting.

COMING THIS SUMMER
LOTS OF DISORGANIZED THOUGHTS
BRINGS YOU!

ULTIMATE

KILL FACE EDITION

WITH ALL NEW POSTS ABOUT

HOLDING YOUR SILVERWARE AND WHY DOING IT WRONG MAKES ME WANT TO PUNCH A BABY!

THATS RIGHT

A BABY!

WEEKLY BASS PLAYER REVIEWS (FOR THOSE WHO CARE!)

SANDWICHES!!!!!!

BROADWAY SHOWS I"VE SEEN AND WHAT I THINK OF THEM!!!

UPDATES ON MY LIFE AND WHATS GOING ON (FOR THOSE WHO CARE!)

AND

GUN!

Spare me your negative thoughts and just accept the fact I've stolen at least a minute of your life away haha!

To actually say something,

Sorry I've been away (for those who care) It's been an interesting couple of months mentally that is. The band is fine, girlfriend is fine and life is fine. All thats well and good.

I just had to do some

"arriving"

I'll say this,

Don't be afraid of cross roads in your life. Don't be afraid of having multiple paths to choose from.
Gather all the info you can and make the best decision possible. If you feel like it was the wrong one be patient. It's been my experience so far that whatever path you choose, and whatever path you decide to not go down will have a habit of presenting itself to you again. A wise person said to me.

"You don't have to do anything forever"

Words of wisdom indeed.

Blah Blah Blah

See you soon!

Bitch bitch Bitch bitch Bitch Bitch Bitch

I've always tried to hold back the bitchiness in these blogs and see both sides of things. But after today I decided to let my hair down a bit.
Am I looking for a pat on the back saying it's ok Sam? No
Am I looking for a "well that's all well and good just do what you have to do to get some money and stop your bitching"? No
Am I fishing for compliments or gratitude? No

So I decided to finish early and make my fortune as a working "musician." At first, when I still had money in my account from working my ass off this summer it was an awesome idea

"I'm gonna make it with the band and move and yeah yeah yeah!"

Well things don't just happen, they take time and during that time you generate expenses and you have to live. This costs money, lots and lots and lots of money.

(Now wait Sam you are living at home and don't have to pay rent or anything right?)

Yes dear reader but you see it costs alot of money to ride the train and pay for parking and drive to Queens two now maybe three times a week. This swiftly depleted my funds. Luckily mom has been tossing me some child support money every now and then so I can keep gas in the car, my ass in rehearsal and my self somewhat sane. It seems I have a sort of condition that when I don't have any money I get really really upset.

Does this make me materialistic?
I don't think so

I just want to be able to buy a valntines day card, go out for a slice with my friends, buy a cd for my moms birthday, replace my wind sheild wipers, change my oil, refill the gas tank, buy 99 cent shampoo and conditioner. Ya know the little things in life.

I make a list of what I have to do to get stuff done and find a way to generate money.

Substitute teaching
Stay on top of recruiting private students
and for my back up plan, get all my certification and resume nonsense in order.

Trouble is I plan on moving in a month. But ya know I'll give the sub application a try. I'm filling it out for my district, it's goin ok then I find I have to set up two doctor's appointments for TINE (whatever the fuck that is) and a "Good Health" thing that needs to be stamped or whatever, the way I see it is this shit will roughly take about a month to complete, send in, be processed and then interview me, just so I can maybe get called in.

Last week I emailed thirty something public school teachers about private lessons and ya know two got back to me, one of them saying no and the other asking prices. AWESOME

Now I'm applying for my certification so the 4 years I just spent at school won't have been a huge waste, and oh hey guess what it's 100 dollars for the application for teacher certification, this is on top of the three 88 dollar tests and the 50 dollar workshop you had to take to get there, not to mention the 100 dollar fingerprinting you needed to do as well.

Oh and when I went to go get some wiper fluid for my filthy car today the hood decided it didnt want to latch closed anymore. WHAT?! WHY?! I fillup the tanks, front and back and my hood says "No, you know what? I am just not going to latch, catch, snatch batch whatever it is you want me to do. I just don't feel like it today.

I don't like Mondays

There is still that leave replacement in Kings Park........................it's money, it's work but it's money..........................I'm really annoyed at my situation, I really really want to move so I can figure something, anything out. This hazy fucking gray period needs to stop.

I'll wait tables, ring up your perscription, book, box of condoms, bag of candy whatever! I just need something to do that actually helps me rather than cost me time and money

(Sam you are being impatient)

I know

Stuff on my mind and hello again

Happy New Year how has everyone been? Hope everything is nice nice. It's been awhile since the last post because i've been doing that thing where I start like two or three different entries and then decide to delete them. I didn't like where they were going so i've decided to go with a summary of everything so far.

One entry was a story about a space cowboy. This was to be a metaphor for my life using people I know as the characters (if any of you remember an away message I had up about "His beard is long and his coat is worn........") yeah that's the one. Although I do have a beard that isnt my character. It's funny even in a story I make up about myself I am not the main character, I always felt more connected with the supporting guys. Donatello from the Ninja Turtles, Tigra from thunder cats, Billy from Power rangers. I never went for the "main" characters. With bands I was the same way, I was never that interested in the front man, always the guy standing in the back. Not so much the mysterious one but the one who's got their own thing going on. The one that you literally have to go out of your way to notice, I like that. That entry might happen soon or maybe I'll make it into an actual story or something (Sam trying his hand at writing......not good)

After that I wanted to have a summarize 2008 entry. I started and it got too in depth so I will sum up 2008 right now.

1.Ended a serious relationship
2. learned alot about myself
3. made an amazing new friend named Maleia who started the thoughts of being a performer in my head (thanks fiend)
4. Decided to not go back to Fredonia
5. completed student teaching
Then in october I met an incredible girl named Karen in NYC. We spent New Years together and I have to say it was the nicest new years I've ever had. For the first time , seriously, I am on the same page, in every sense, with another person. She's so special and I'm really happy to have stumbled upon her. Sorry to subject you all to that but it had to be done.

So the big thing with 2008 was thatI really commited to something for the first time in my life. I'm on the road to becoming a professional musician. Keeping with that train of thought. Through a friend of a friend ...sort of, I got hooked up with an amazing electric bass teacher in NYC. I had my first lesson with him on Friday. I love having one on one lessons it always makes me think of 's Kung Fu masters.

You travel to a remote part of the world and climb a gigantic mountain where at the top you find an ancient teacher living as a hermit. His home is established on a flat clearing of the mountain and the ground beneath your feet is composed of many stone tablets that are perfectly arranged. You see a lone bonzai tree on one end and a small home on the other. Meditating on a platform surrounded by incense and small statues you see your future master. You approach him slowly for you do not know what to expect. On your knees you ask him to teach you. His eyes open and, in this case for me, they light up and he is the friendliest guy you've ever met. (he also happens to have a cool german accent.) His name is Pat Pfeiffer and he is based out of NYC. To give you a brief background on him, you know the "_________for Dummies" series? He wrote the one for Bass guitar, so yeah he's legit. I stepped in and we talked about my background. He then asked me to play for him. Instantly he knew what I needed to work on and what I was good at. I need to have equal strength in each finger on my left hand and to be more aware of the skill and technique I have in my right hand. The right hand is at a sort of "do what comes naturally" level right now and he wants to bring it to the point that I know exactly what I'm doing with it. He said I have a good tone and that I know what I am doing. The lesson that was scheduled to be an hour turned into an hour and a half of very advanced excercises and concepts (this is what he told me) I'm going to go back there soon, even though I don't really have the money to do it, I'll find a way. If I make a few more good impressiosn with this guy he's going to hook me up with gigs and recording sessions in the city for anyone who needs a bass player.

It's funny when you are having irrational feelings and thoughts just try writing/ typing them down. If you find that there is no logical way to say what you mean in your own words then stop. If looking at them and reading them again and again doesn't produce something that makes sense, then your mind has probably worked it out on it's own. If you're feeling inadequete, underappreciated, frustrated with others or just anxious beyond reason, try writing about it. I had a dream last night about people putting me down, trying to make me feel ignorant, not cool, stupid whatever you want to call it and I didnt really want to talk about it to those involved in the dream. I said to myself this morning, just write a blog about it and now at this point it's not a big deal anymore.

In other news Burning Down Rome things are going well, we have begun the search for shows. We are booking shows, yes you've heard it right, the sooner we play a bunch of shows the sooner the album will be released (don't ask questions just stay tuned in)

Good Night All,
Sammy

~I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now~
Adventure seeker on an empty street
Just an alley creeper light on his feet
A young fighter screaming with no time for doubt
With the pain and anger can't see a way out
It ain't much I'm asking I heard him say
Gotta find me a future move out of my way
I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now
I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now

Listen all you people come gather round
I gotta get me a game plan gotta shake you to the ground
Just give me what I know is mine
People do you hear me just give me the sign
It ain't much I'm asking if you want the truth
Here's to the future for the dreams of youth
I want it all (give it all) I want it all I want it all and I want
it now
I want it all (yes I want it all) I want it all (hey)
I want it all and I want it now

I'm a man with a one track mind So much to do in one life time (Do you hear me people?) Not a man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies So I'm living it all (yes I'm living it all) And I'm giving it all (and I'm giving it all)

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
I want it all all all all

It ain't much I'm asking if you want the truth
Here's to the future
Hear the cry of youth
I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now
I want it all I want it all I want it all and I
want it now

I want it
~Now~

If you ever need a pick me up or just a "Hey come on you can get through this" moment, seriously just listen to Queen. It's so uplifting and triumphant sounding. This was my song of choice to drive home to on Friday. What a day Friday was, what a week this has been, good lord. So Friday during the first lesson of the day this little girl passes out in class, she falls on her face. Usually we say "fall on your face" in a humorous way but this was quite scary, she was out cold for a good 2 seconds maybe, which when a child is on the floor not moving can seem is a really long time. She snapped out of it and I got her to sit up, she started crying which I was thankful for because that meant she was going to be ok. One of the other teachers came over from down the hallway to see what the loud thud was. Ya know when you fake fall or sort of do a belly flop into a pool? and you always bend your knees or put your arms out, you do something to sort of break the fall......not the case this time, she went down and she went down hard. The nurse came up to calm her down and we dismissed the other students who didnt say a word throughout the whole ordeal. That was an interesting way to start the day. So the day goes on and because of the week, which I'll get to in a moment, I was a little edgy, I sort of had a cold, I was tired of hearing the little shitbags not be able to play mary had a little fucking lamb. But then out of the corner of my eye I look over at the door that has a little window at the top and there I see one of my favorite 4th grade cellists jumping up and down to see into the room. I dismiss the viola group that was aggravating me and welcomed the next lesson group. Kaleigh (one of my favorites) walks in and says " I wish I was one only one in this lesson group wouldnt that be cool?" to which I respond "yes Kaleigh that would be cool' very cute kid, she works hard and she behaves. So after this cello lesson Kaleight comes over and gives me a hug. Not gonna lie little kid hugs are pretty sweet.

So this week was really long and i've been thinkinng too much, surprise surprise, about what I'll be doin with myself after I finish up all of my stuff. Speaking of stuff there is one weke of student teaching left, no more teacher certification tests and then it's just my wintercession course. Then I'm making the big and exciting move to queens. I'm scared to have to literally work for a living but I'll make it. I'm hoping substitute teaching in Queens and Nassau on top of some private students plus any gigs I can grab as a free lance bassist will get me through each month. My decision has now become, while still doing the burning down rome thing,

www.myspace.com/burningdownrome (there it is had to get it in there)

do my best to establish myself in the city as a bass player, make money, live on my own and then for the next school year, if I have to I'll take a real teaching job. I know that I'll be able to make time for everything at that point. Right now I feel like I am in too much of a transitional phase and I want to settle down on my own terms in my own place. Then I'll go after a real teaching job. I was talking with my girlfriend the other night about having so many different interests in your field and how it can be hard to commit to just one aspect of it, we're both sort of facing the whole chase a dream or make money decision. Those two things can often get in the way of eachother and it's difficult to balance the two. But hey that's what it's all about right?


Until next time dear readers,

~Sam

Been a little while

Hello hello hello dear readers how are you?

It's been a little while and I thought I would get back into writing some thoughts....lots of disorganized thoughts......... OH!

To get this out there first

Go to www.myspace.com/burningdownrome
It's a band that I am in and we are getting ready to release our first album very soon.

I've always thought this but it just popped into my head randomly today. Isn't it funny when people date other people who look like they could be a sibling or the same person only the opposite gender? I find this alot with scenesters. The "I'm so artsy" square glasses, vaudeville type hair and somewhat "deshevled" "raggedy" clothing look. Girls that look like they are a cross between a thrift store shopper and a british poet, and the guys who listen to indie/emo music and steal their thrift store shopping girlfriends jeans and sweaters....yeah they go great together haha.

You get pasty with pasty or goth with goth all sorts of fun little clicks dating with in eachothers social circles.....more power to ya. I went to this ska show at the a bowling alley over break with my friends and of course with todays ska shows come todays "ska scenesters." Mostly punk/ emo kids with an average age of 15. You have the ones who have the same pants, smooshed to one side long hairdo and stylish sneakers as their significant other. There are the kids who like to dress up in suits and two tone things and wear silly hats.

ZING!

sorry had a moment of giddiness.

Anywho enough about the ska scenesters.

Thanksgiving break was really great. I hung with family and got to spend alot of time with my girlfriend. The food was amazing. I ate way too much that whole weekend and am currently trying to eat a significantly less amount in the coming weeks in an attempt to be healthier....or something. My cousin Thomas came and we got to hang out alot. We played mario kart 64 the whole time with my brothers and let me tell you, those were the most intense, brutal, action packed games of mario kart ever.....seriously. Thomas is also a bass player and very much into crazy music. He's just on another level of listening, he gave me lots and lots of stuff to sink my ....ears into. Everything from progressive rock to fusion to math metal to just good old fashion awesome. This is the stuff that you really have to sit down and "listen to" it's an activity, if you let up for a second then you missed something amazing.
My ipod that I am now using after letting it sit in a box for two years is full of all sorts of things.

This week it's been all about:

Opeth- specifically their album Damnation, I highly reccomend. Very mellow progressive stuff.
Michael Manring-Possibly my new favorite electric bass player (watch out Victor)
a bass player blog will definitely have to happen soon.
Spocks beard- a band that jam band fans and prog rockers can agree upon
Andromeda- crazy crazy fast prog rock
Mastodon-sludge prog metal (I say sludge becasue the guitars are so thick and dirty sounding.....like sludge....ewwww)

I made a fun "realization" today. It was an appreciation for truly good songwriting skills. I love prog rock, I do, but I'll be honest, it isn't for everyone and the songs aren't really songs rather than excercises. Sure it sounds cool but you don't appreciate it the same way you do "regular music." It's at times like this you have to tip your hats to the artists who can write a good song and give it something that makes it exciting and special. I was listening to a song by Porcupine tree called "Arriving somewhere but not here" the main melody and chorus is written so well you can hear where it's going to go before it happens, by the end of the first chorus you know the hook and it brings you back . That's why alot of people have heard of Porcupine tree and maybe not all those other groups. There's so much music out there though and you really gotta dig deep for something different. Having said that you should also go here

www.myspace.com/anomalyprog

There will be a new song up there eventually so check it out.

2 weeks of student teaching left!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading,

-Sam

Burning Down Rome

Well it's been an exciting past couple of days.

Shortly after writing the Blog of Truth (parts 1 and 2) We, BDR had our regular rehearsal on Sunday. This rehearsal is always closed out by a visit to Greg house to have a meeting and show him our progress.
"Who is Greg ?"

Greg is a Jazz musician from like the 70's and 80's, a very talented man who now lives comfortably in Rocky point and has a basement Studio. (This is where it all began for burning down rome) To make a long story short Greg heard the original trio and said "This has a lot of potential, I'll let you develop your music and record your full album here, for free" So after a very long process of recording, picking up a drummer (Elijah) and eventually a bass player (yours truly) Greg has taken on a sort of manager role. Last Sunday he gave us the "O.K" to get going on releasing the album ourselves and bring it to you the people, hence all the crazy facebook and myspace activity in the last couple of days.

www.myspace.com/burningdownrome
www.burningdownrome.com
Check out Facebook for the group and fan page and join our mialing list on the myspace

Thanks again to all of my friends who Joined our Roman army and listened to the music it means alot. Now we need to get it outside our circle of friends, so I ask all of you who are reading this to spread the good word of Burning Down Rome because it's gotten to the point that when record companies look at you one of the first places they go is the myspace gay and the facebook gay to see your numbers. Thats's just the game and we appreciate you playing it with us.
"Wait Sam you said something about record Companies?"
Yes I did, all I can do is ask you all to keep listening and keep reading. Look for Burning Down Rome's album before Christmas, we are gonna make this happen and when I say we I don't just mean me and the 4 other musicians I play with, I mean Burning Down Rome. That means all of you who have supported us through the process and are here with us now standing on the edge of the cliff waiting to take the plunge.

Thanks again everybody.

This Blog has been edited for confidentiality purposes.....;)

The Blog of Truth Part 2

"So wait Sam, how can you not be going back to Fredonia?"
"What are you gonna do instead?"

Well dear readers here is how it's all been going down.
Over the summer I was on my way to the studio my brother recorded his band in. His P.A system was there and I was borrwing it for the "Semple 21st Birthday Ska Show Bash"

We threw a Ska band together to play for my buddies birthday, it was Awesome!

Upon entering the studio the Sound engineer said "hey Sammy come listen to a ruff mix of one of the songs off the album" I was very excited to hear this, my brothers band had worked very hard on this and he asked me to play upright bass on one of the songs.
So he played me a song and I was floored, I couldnt beleive what I was hearing, my brother's vocals sounded incredible and the structure of the song was so well crafted, it was a pop tune, but it still had substance and wasn't obnoxious. This really had an impact on me and it got alot of different gears turning in my head.
The idea of me playing bass for this band had always sort of been in "Joke Status." I'd always say to myself "hell by the time it's all ready to go I'll probably be out of School anyway."
Well I kept thinking about this and eventually to make a long story short I took my brother out to lunch at Diner and over some chicken fingers and onion rings I said "Look I want to do this Roman thing but I need to graduate and get my schooling out of the way first. Matthew responded "We were gonna ask you eventually but I'm glad you came forward on your own" And Then

So there it is
Burning Down Rome

After a years of being conditioned to succeed and make everybody proud and fight the good fight that is Music education I had my first real open quesitoning of whether I wanted to do that or not. Sure I've always had the dream of "Rockstardom" But now that dream has pretty much become a reality.

www.burningdownrome.com

Go there if you have questions
The album should be released before Christmas
It's a pop record but it's got, as I said before, "Substance" the tunes are catchy and the message will sell.

Enough about that though. Matthew suggested I look into the possibility of finishing up my degree and transferring my credits off campus, so I could be closer to the band.
So I looked into it...
As a music ed major I need 120 credits to graduate....after student teaching I will have 118....my last real requirement is an American History class...

So now there is alot of money to be saved...
Don't get me wrong there was a whole other life wating for me back at Fredonia, there was a pretty girl, a beautiful apartment, amazing music and paying orchestra gigs. But this was a shot at something....this was a risk. I've never done anything off the "designated path" It's the first time I ever decided to really "believe in something."

I've learned alot this past semester. Student teaching has gone really well so far.
I now know that
I can teach
I like to teach and that
I want to teach.....eventually.
I can't see myself having a Career with a capitol "C" by this time next year, absoultely not. I'm young, I'm reckless I want to do crazy things!
My brother said to me "Don't let anyone take your twenties away from you" I now pass that advice on to anyone who is panicking about the future, now that the "layed out path is ending." Do what you want, make a decision that is risky, take a chance on something, or someone. I also would like to mention that I've met someone, without being ridiculous and stupid all I will say is that we met in New York City and that she's awesome. If you want details ask.

So the plan is this, while Burning Down Rome continues to rehearse, get the live act together and work out the logistics of releasing the dam album I will

Finish Student teaching
Take last two teacher Certification exams on December 13th
Take American History Course at Suffolk Community College during their "Wintercession"
Save Money
Move to Queens or Brooklyn with Matthew

At this point in Time I would like to thank you all for reading and address the Fredonians now

I love you all. College has been truly amazing, I've had experiences that I will carry with me forever, good and bad. I will remember so many things and each and every one of you will be on my mind and in my heart. I know we are getting sappy here but I'm finally ok with the decision I've made and I know it's the right one. Fredonia was an amazing experience and although it is sad to close this chapter early I know I'll never forget any of it.... seriously
I'll be keeping in touch with all of you and I hope you do the same.


Peace and Love,

~Sam


P.S,

See you in May at graduation class of 2009!