Filter Family, Call to DC/VA Filter Fans, NO LOVE Video/Tour, and more...

Photo by Jason Tatty Tatman

I've fallen a bit behind with my Filter updates, so this blog will be chock full!

First off, I want to give a shout out to my Filter Family! It's been about a year now since Filter started teasing us with youtube clips for the new album, and over that year I've become facebook friends with not only Richard Patrick himself, but also quite a network of fellow Filter fans! I feel like I've connected with some very interesting, great people through one of my favorite bands. The No Love Tour that's going on now, is awesome proof of the connection between us all! I've seen personal pics and videos from fans at the concerts as they go from state to state and I think it's really cool that we're able to kind of follow the tour through the eyes of each other.

I have to give a special shout out to Jason "Tatty" because he's one of the most hardcore Filter fans I've chatted with, and he has had the amazing opportunity to follow the guys for several shows. His daily updates are more entertaining to me than any stupid reality TV shows!

I love all my Filter Friends and I wish we could all meet each other at one massive Filter concert and rock out! But on that note, I do want to make a Call to Arms, so to speak, for any of my Filter Fans in the DC/VA area. So far Filter has not toured the east coast since the first time I got to see them in 2008. I want them back! And I know some of you do too! We need to promote them and back our boys as best as we can to get them here! It's all about promo! We all know how free downloading and mainstream music robs the real talent nowadays, so we've got to support our band! The best way we can do that right now is to request the new songs on the radio. You can also share stuff on social networks like me! Keep posting videos and interviews and everything all over facebook, myspace and twitter, etc.

Here is contact info for 3 local alternative radio stations. There's DC and two in Richmond. I figure it can't hurt to push it in Richmond too since it's close. If you know of any others please share them with me or in a comment on this blog. Request the new single, "No Love" and the first single, "The Inevitable Relapse," and mention to the stations that we have a gang of local Filter Fans who want them to tour here! I'll also list a few venues if you want to try putting a bug in their ears as well.

http://www.dc101.com/pages/contactus.html

http://www.1021thex.com/pages/contact.html

http://1037river.com/inside/playlists.html

http://www.930.com/

http://www.blackcatdc.com/

http://www.alleykatzrva.com/contact.asp

http://www.thenorva.com/contact.html

More NO LOVE Tour Dates:

11/4/10 The Machine Shop Detroit, MI


11/5/10 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI

11/6/10 The Cubby Bear Chicago, IL

11/9/10 People's Court Des Moines, IA

11/11/10 The Venue Fargo, ND

11/12/10 Station 4 St. Paul, MN

11/14/10 The Summit Music Hall Denver

11/16/10 Vertigo Salt Lake City

11/19/10 The Alley Reno

11/20/10 Berbati's Pan Portland

11/22/10 Harlows Sacramento

11/23/10 Starline Fresno

See officialfilter.com for tour info and the store for a tour edition tshirt! Be sure to hang out after the show because the guys have been hanging around to meet the fans and do autographs!

"No Love" Video featuring Carmen Electra!



Filter "No Love" Video Premiere/Acoustic Performances on Noisecreep

E! No Love Teaser featuring Carmen Electra

Submit your Filter concert videos here!

FILTER: Iraq Scene Of The Crime - Part 1

FILTER: Iraq Scene Of The Crime - Part 2

FILTER: Iraq Scene Of The Crime - Part 3

52 Weeks of Cleveland Concert Review

Live from Music City audio interview

mlive article

Nashville Concert Announcement

Revolution Room Concert Review

Uber Rock CD Review

Chicago Concert Review

Sonic Abuse Interview

Patriotism Photos from Iraq

Hard Rock Hideout Interview

Melodic.net Interview

Muen Magazine Interview


Filter Fan Concert Reviews on Ticketmaster



Filter: Fades, Tour, and more little tidbits

Filter released "Fades Like A Photograph" as their first single in Europe. Up next, "No Love!"



I made a few still shots from the video hehe.

Here you can clearly see both extremely contrasting sides of Richard Patrick.

Soft/hard, light/dark, good/evil, yin/yang.

Filter Tour Dates: See officialfilter.com for details. (I still have my fingers crossed for some VA dates soon!)

10/22 Dallas Palladium

10/23 Houston Buzzfest-Cynthia Woods Pavillion

10/24 Tyler, TX The Venue at Down Under

10/26 Fayettville, AR Majestic

10/27 Little Rock, AR Rev Room

10/29 Knoxville, TN Valarium

10/31 Chatanooga, TN Rhythm & Brews

11/1 Nashville, TN Exit/In

11/2 Cleveland, OH The Grog Shop

11/4 Detroit, MI The Machine Shop

11/6 Chicago, IL The Cubby Bear
 
 

My autographed record and keychain!

"No Love" video shoot

 
Blabbermouth.net announcement
 
Reflections of Darkness interview
 
Review/Pics of Filter show in Iraq
 
Pics from Filter concert in Balad
 
Rock.com album review
 
Reflections of Darkness album review
 
Sound Sphere interview
 
Rock.com Sunset Strip coverage
 
Nuclear Blast Filter store
 
Germany RP Interview part 1
 
Germany RP Interview part 2
 
Germany RP Interview part 3
 
Germany RP Interview part 4
 



2009 Flashback: U2 Concert, Bono said Fredericksburg

I was reminiscing about one of my all-time favorite bands, U2. I finally got the amazing experience of seeing them in concert right around this time last year. I remembered I wrote a funny little story of my concert experience, so I thought I'd do a little flashback here and share it on my blog! Enjoy!

U2 Concert: Bono said Fredericksburg (October 2, 2009)

Yes, Stacey and I went to see U2 play in Charlottesville and Bono knew we were there haha. There was this whole spaceship theme b/c of their outrageously cool stage setup that resembled a spaceship or UFO. And maybe 3rd song into the show Bono was saying how they built the spaceship to travel to many different places and randomly said "VRE Fredericksburg." Stacey and I "Woo"ed like maniacs and surrounding concertgoers probably thought we were nuts haha. And then I had my own personal second "Woo" moment when Bono was talking about the band members. Since we were at UVA he was saying what they were in college, and how if they hadn't started U2 The Edge would still be in a lab, Larry (the drummer) was a jock, and Adam the bass player was apparently a ladies' man and Bono said the reason Adam said he played bass is b/c "girls love bass." And I squealed haha and Stacey laughed at me. Oh yeah, and Bono was a college dropout hehe.

So more details...first of all we only saw the last song Muse played haha but I heard the 3 songs that I knew from outside the stadium during our 2-mile hike from the cash parking lot haha. I was glad we didn't have any trouble getting parking though. Our seats were almost at the top of the stadium so seeing the band up close was not an option ha, but I expected that b/c we got the cheaper price range of tickets. And the 360 stage was awesome and made up for it. We could see everything on the circular screen that was in the middle of the spaceship-like thing. Stacey will give me her pics later so you can see this crazy thing. And they also had a circle shaped catwalk around the stage so they could go around closer to the audience. If I could have afforded the tickets for down there I'm sure that would have been awesome. Plus it was kind of nice b/c there still open seats where we were so we had plenty of room to lounge instead of being packed in like sardines. Oh yeah and a moth flew up my pants haha. Stacey thought I was imagining it b/c I thought something was crawling up my leg but then it would stop. Then it got above my knee and I was like ok, something is in my pants seriously! So I rolled up my pants leg and a moth flew out. Just another highlight of the night haha.

The only songs they didn't play that I would have liked to hear were "Desire" and "Pride In the Name of Love." They played all the other great ones and some new ones. I have to say they did a good job of mixing up the songs to cover some from all their eras. I was pleased. "Where the Streets Have No Name" hit a heart string with me for some reason. But Bono also led into that song with "Amazing Grace" so I think that build up and then going into that awesome guitar anthem of "Streets" just hit me. And then of course, "With or Without You." I was in the zone during that one haha. And he had this crazy mic during that song that looking like a steering wheel with a mic in the center and it had rope lights going around it and it was hanging from the ceiling. He even held onto it once and spun around in the air. And during that one he also had lights hooked up to his leather jacket. That stage screen was really cool for visual effects too. For most of the show it was just at the top in the middle above them showing them up close and random effects like a normal concert. But then it expanded down and enclosed the stage and it was projecting them from inside onto the screen with added effects. It's hard to describe but it was really cool. And the frame of the stage was 4 huge legs that looked like an alien creature's legs or something and on top was a rocket-looking thing that had lights and stuff all over it too. That also changed along with the other visual effects. The stage also rotated where they were so they faced every angle of the crowd at different points. It was definitely the most innovative stage setup I've ever seen.

And Stacey made me laugh b/c at one point she said, "I don't think I realized how crazy Bono really is." Everyone knows his lovey-dovey persona and his reputation for trying to change the world, but witnessing it first hand it was kind of funny. They had some revolutionary moments incorporated into the video excerpts inbetween songs and one song they did a whole feature on this woman in Burma who's been on house arrest so she won't get elected into some political position. (Sorry I forgot her name and all the details Bono). I don't have a problem with all of that, I know some people get annoyed by that stuff. I personally found Bono's hippy ramblings entertaining. I mean he sounded like he was tripping on something the whole time haha. Tripping on love I guess. But I have personally always thought of Bono as someone I'd like to give a big hug if I ever met him ha. He just seems like such a good soul. And I've always loved his lyrics, obviously from posting them on my status all week. What was funny is before they even started we were looking at that crazy stage and I said it looked like a spaceship or rocket or something (we didn't know the theme beforehand). And I was like, ya know, Bono could be an alien. So Stacey and I have decided that Bono might well be an alien haha, and after witnessing him in person it only confirmed that theory even more.

I think that's all I have to say. If I had to describe experiencing U2 in concert in one word it would be SURREAL. That's how I felt from start to finish of their performance. Between the sound of their music and all the visual stimulation, it felt like I was tripping with Bono on all that lovey-dovieness too haha. I was right there with him. Oh and one more point, Bono is the frontman so he gets the most attention but I love U2 for the whole band. Adam Clayton has made some of my favorite bass lines EVER, The Edge's guitarness just speaks for itself, and you can ask Stacey about my steering wheel drumming along with Larry on my CDs in the car when we were waiting in line to get into the show haha. I really love this band and sharing an evening with them was a thrilling lifetime experience for me. I LOVE U2!

A Taste of West London

If you're like me, it's hard to find NEW bands out there who really catch your ear. A few days ago I had one of those rare moments of listening to the radio and hearing a new song by a new band that amazed me. I've been known to call the radio station before to find out the source of a song I don't know, but it's been a long time. I broke down and did that the other day.

DC101, one of the best radio stations closest to my vicinity, played "Little Lion Man" by Mumford & Sons. It sounded Irish to me, but after doing online research, I discovered that they are from West London. I then found several videos on youtube, which are below.

I will be buying their CD from amazon.com and they are touring the U.S. soon. I unfortunately did not see any dates near me, but I'd love to catch them sometime. My description of their sound is Coldplay meets Dropkick Murphys.

mumfordandsons.com

So look, listen, love!

This time, it's personal...

I've been thinking a lot lately ("dangerous pastime, I know" to quote Beauty and the Beast haha). I've realized that my social life is lacking and 50% of it is my own doing. I think I've become more timid as I've grown up. I used to be so much more bold. I would go to a local concert and think nothing of it. I was there for the music and ignored any social awkwardness.

As years have progressed in my life, so have betrayals, criticisms, negativity...After much self-analysis, I've come to the conclusion that as a form of self-defense and preservation, my instincts have been to avoid such things. The way to avoid them has been to cut myself off from those places and people in which hurtful events have occurred. This town isn't super small, but it's small enough that you can run into ghosts from your past pretty easily.

But in an attempt to get myself out of a recent slump, and with the much-needed encouragement of a friend, I did take one chance last week. I went to a drum circle, in a place where a previous heart breaker of mine used to practice with his band. I was hesitant to go there because of the memories that building held for me. But it's a stupid building. His band no longer practices there, that band is no longer together. The building is owned by different people and houses a business. But for that stupid reason, I was afraid to go in there. I was afraid to face any memories it might stir up in me.

But I finally broke down and did it because I really wanted to try this drum circle. I played drums in high school marching band and it was the most fun part of high school for me. I haven't played drums in TEN years and I forgot how good it made me feel. In this drum circle, you just beat fairly simple, repetitive rhythms on a djembe of your choice from the shop with your hands. I did it for two straight hours. My hands were numb but I didn't care.

That experience made me realize something huge. I have been avoiding going out in the local music scene to protect myself. But in doing so, I've been eliminating one of the things in my life that brings me the most happiness. I have a bass guitar closed up in a case that I haven't touched in years. I used to go play and sing at open mic nights. It was one of the most courageous, emotional things I have ever done in my life. And I've been neglecting it.

Sure, there are a few other factors, working, trying to pay bills, daily stress...Sometimes at the end of the day, I just want to come home and relax, or I can't afford to go out. But I could still go "some"times. I don't have to go every night, or even every week, but a few times a month would even be an improvement. So that's a personal goal for me. I need to bring music back into my life.

Another one of my positive endeavors is writing. I have slightly gotten back into that from starting this blog, to writing a music review for the paper, to recently writing in a journal again. Just writing personal stuff like this is good for me. I think it helps me gather my thoughts and deal with problems better.

Now I'm going to do a positive exercise for myself. I feel like my self-esteem has lowered, and some of that is because I've listened to the negativity of others in my past. I need to let go of their dumb criticisms of me and focus on compliments I've received.

To keep this simple, I'm going to state some physical compliments I've gotten from people in my life. Maybe another time I'll focus on other things. The physical features I have been complimented on the most often, are my hair and my boobs. The funny thing is, it's usually females that bring up those two points the most (no pun intended). But envy is probably a high compliment when you think about it.

A lot of women have envied my natural hair color and also the softness of my hair. Then I've gone and dyed it shades of red and purple at times haha! And the boobs, well that's pretty evident. But to any smaller-chested, envious women out there, I would gladly share some with you. I actually wish they were at least a cup-size smaller! So don't be too envious! Don't envy neck, shoulder and back pain, paying an arm and a leg for decent bras (which you have to order online because your size is never in stock in stores), OR the stereotypes that come along with having BOTH blonde hair and big boobs. But I was going to keep this positive...So, I do like my hair and my boobs. There we go.

A few other positive physical traits of mine are my smile and my eyes. I don't know if giggle is considered a physical trait, but I have been complimented plenty of times by both males and females, on my cute giggle. I've been told by both guys and gals, that I have beautiful eyes. And I've been complimented on my smile the most often by men. The funniest physical compliment I think I've ever received, was the one time a guy told me that I had hips like an underwear model. I still find it hilarious, because I in no way look like any type of model! But I guess I do have very sharp angles to my hips, and that's what he meant. Just don't look for me in any underwear ads because that will never happen!