We are officially in the studio recording our demo! Last night was our first night and we saw about four guitar tracks get laid down. Tonight should hopefully finish the guitar tracking and start the drums. Things are going well but we would definitely appreciate it if you guys would still keep praying for us! Thanks!

I’m running! Have a goodnight everyone!

Ben

I really should be working on my paper (A New Stance: Switchfoot Examined) since the final draft is due tonight but I seem to have a mental block. The paper is written and I don’t exactly know what more to say. Or, rather I don’t know how to say what I want to say. I want to touch on Switchfoot’s video podcasts but I don’t know how to draw it in to the paper. Hmm…Well, the paper will work without the podcast. It just might get turned in without it.

I could have easily spent $6000 tonight if I had been given the chance. Haha, yup my brother and I went to the Guitar Center in Harrisburg tonight. Whilst Mike perused the percussion section for a new cymbal (which he purchased – a new 20″ Sabian B8 ride) I got acquainted with the Vox amps. I ran a Gibson SG through a vintage’esqe Vox Custom Classic AC30CC2 30w 2×12 Tube Amp and was pleasantly suprised to find a very rich, earthy tone. The amp was low on effects but that made me even more happy. I am learning that the best effects are offboard pedals, not onboard effects. The amp seemed to be a musical workhorse and I was very impressed with it. The price tag was very large though…Above $1000. <sigh>

I also played with a Roland Juno-G Synthesizer and had fun with the ginourmous amount of samples that were loaded onto the synth! I found one that was perfect for a song I’m working on but alas, the Juno-G is very expensive. $1000 expensive…

I’m happy though! God has blessed me with instruments that work and sound just perfect for where I am now in my life! I’m especially thankful for my band and all the work they have been putting into the demo. Keep dreaming Mike!

Well, my paperastination is over. Goodnight all!

-Ben

I just wanted to take a quick note of everything that’s been happening. Life’s going by so fast I can hardly believe it! I was just reminded yesterday when a good friend called and I found out that I hadn’t talked to her for a solid two months! I totally got caught up in doing life and forgot to do something simple like calling her and talking with her! I’m hoping I’m not flying through life right now.

Ok, let me check my old post and see where I left you all.

A week and a half ago I wrote y’all right after I came home from World View Plus. Much has happened since then. The ever present school load has been (who-ho-ho!) ever present and I’m being challenged in many ways. I’m trying to learn more self-control so I can handle the extra schooling.

My weekends have been full. Last Saturday I went upstate to my Cousin Crystal’s wedding (Go Tim and Crystal!) with Amber and my family. We had a fun time if you don’t count the ride up and down. Haha! My brother’s were pretty whiny and the car was quite loud. I did get to see my older brother Rob there though and it was fun getting to hang out with him for a couple hours! On Sunday, Amber and I visited LCBC (Gi-mungous church!) and went to her Aunt’s house in Gap for lunch. Through a whole messy deal with cars I drove Amber back to York and she got her car and drove back home late that night.

Oh! I forgot to mention that my Anatomy and Physiology class went on a fieldtrip (Yes, they took me too. lol) down to Washington D.C. to see the Bodies Exhibit. What can I say but it rocked! I was very surprised at how cool it was! You should got check it out if you get a chance!

This weekend will be very full with a church retreat, the Chatroom Coffeehouse, the Ichthus Coffeehouse, and a trip out to New Jersey with Amber’s family to a family reunion! I’ll try and keep you guys updated when I get back!

Music

We had band practice tonight and it was weird. We are trying to work out a couple songs for the upcoming demo (Btw, we’re planning on a four song demo being released in December!) and we spent quite a while on This Love I Speak Of. It just doesn’t quite seem to be coming the way we were thinking. I’m at a crossroads on how I think it should sound and the band is too. Frustrations erupted tonight but we left on a happy note.

I’m off to bed! Goodnight everybody!

-Ben

Hello!

I just got back from the World View + reunion this weekend! Good times, awesome people, and some lots of pasta! Lots, and lots of pasta!

The band did a kicking job this weekend and I’m very proud of them! Ya rocked guys! We actually added a few guest performers to our ranks this weekend.

• Mike Taylor – Bass and amaazing hair!
• Amber Dennis – Backup and Rescue vocals
• Mark Schmoyer – Crazy electric guitar!
• Dan I-don’t-know-your-last-name – Loud guitar!
• Grace Schmoyer – Backup vocals (To cover up my big mouth’s loud sounds.

Mike loved the sound of his drums in the church’s sanctuary. I can’t say I quite enjoyed the bounce back I was getting but maybe with the proper speaker system we could have conquered more of that. We jury rigged our system + the church’s system to come up with the ULTIMATE WORSHIP SYSTEM. T’was de’ bomb. Haha.

Since Mike T. joined us on the bass guitar Jeremy moved to the acoustic guitar and I took up Jeremy’s electric. The combo actually worked pretty well and I think we might use that in the future if we can. The future looks pretty bright but so far away…

It’s been pretty hard getting back into real life (see previous Hard Time post) but I think I’m making the adjustment a little better than the last time. It’s a little weird thinking that in a year I might not be living in this house with my parents. I love my family to death but I am really looking forward to having my own place! All except for the bills that come with that. Haha!

I’m going to get going for today. Have a good day everybody!

Yours,

Ben

PS. Thanks to Kasey Edsall for the photos of this weekend!

Yes!! I think Runaway is finally nearing the end! It originally started in the key of A, then got cut down to G about a month ago and two days ago was tuned down to the key of F. It’s finally inside my vocal range and God blessed me today with an appropiate joyful ending to an otherwise dismal song. Mike banged in a heavy metal drum track (not yet recorded) that matches the song’s mood exactly! Jeremy is still yet to get his hands into this song but we shall get into it next band practice. Drink honey-water first kids! Haha!

As a band, we don’t exactly know as to what genre(s) we are labeled.  Runaway is a hardcore almost screamo-emo song but I want it to be understandable. We work hard on our acoustic songs as well. I try to write a wide variety. Our songs are written about life for the most part. You can section life into different parts or walks but it’s all still life when you get back to the root.

Back to life! Seeya’ll!

-Ben

Wow, tonight’s band practice left my fingers sore! I knew I shouldn’t have played the bass that hard or fast…Haha! It was an awesome jam session even though we didn’t get much in the way of business done. Huzzah for jamming! Jamin came tonight and I would like to personally holla out to a brotha! Yo yo jizzle! Keep it tight man!

I’ve been growing a lot lately. At least, I hope I can say I’ve been growing. This school year feels very different from the others. I think it’s partially due to the way my life is being lived and the fact that most of my classes are outside of the house. I miss some of my friends that went away to college and/or moved on in life. Life is funny. Friends are still friends but they move on. Why does that happen? Why can’t we all hang out forever?

Stars…they’re a sign of an ingenious creator…so huge and bright yet small and humble to us down here on earth. Why do we miss out on these things, people? Why don’t we ever notice these things before we fall into apathy and misdirection?

Love…I don’t understand it. Same with grace and mercy. I can’t seem to get my brain around how they work. My logical brain doesn’t make sense of un-logical love. I’m very happy that we have love though. I’m doubly thankful that grace and mercy exist! Without those three I would be a miserable wretch.

Well, I must say goodnight to yet another late night entry. Goodnight everyone out there on the internet and in your homes/dorms! Sleep tight and enjoy the stars!

-Ben

Well my dear readers, a lot has been happening in my life recently! Life is constantly changing but in the past few weeks it has been a constant blur of new feelings, emotions, and experiences! I’ll try to take a minute and describe how I’ve been, just for you.

Home Life – I’ve had a lot of anger at my parents and I’ve been trying hard to see them as real, human beings with problems that aren’t perfect. I broke the front door’s glass window last week because I was mad. Not a good thing. The ironic thing is that I broke the 2nd door’s glass six or seven years ago trying to “golf” in the front yard. Didn’t work out too well…Haha!

Music Life – My band, noredtape got to open up for Elyon’s Fire at the Chatroom coffeehouse last Friday night! I had a blast and I think the crowd generally enjoyed us. I was suprised that the general consences was that Runaway stole the night with it’s simple (very simple!) chord structure and body-contorting breakdown! I had so much fun with that breakdown! Haha! I’ve always wanted to break out on the stage and that’s exactly what I got to do! Thank you Lord!

On a minor note, I got the recording back from Josh and we sound pretty bad. My voice sounds like a dead raccoon being swung against a barn door…Yeah, it was pretty bad. Haha! I can either stop singing and let that get to me, or get voice lessons and work hard at improving. I’m going to try to improve. That’s my goal.

Personal Life – Well, that’s personal! Actually, I’ve had so much happen I can’t even think it through enough to type it down. Haha!

Well, I’m going to get going so I can give a certain young woman a call before I go to bed. Goodnight and God bless!

In Christ,

Ben

I need to do some random typing. Life is closing in and blogging should be the perfect medium to get it all out of me.

We recorded Chicken Wuss last night at Josh’s house. I personally do not like the song very much but apparently a lot of other people do so I am outnumbered but that’s fine. I’m glad somebody likes it I just don’t understand why. The chordage is strong (except for the D but hey) but my voice is very weak and piddly. I have to admit it is the first song I know of that has belly drum in it (Yeah baby!). I guess I am just embarressed to hear my voice doing that. Ya know what, go listen to it at http://www.purevolume.com/sophisticated. Let me know what you think of it in the comments section. Thanks.

My violin lesson today did not go to well. I haven’t practiced nearly at all and Mr. Steinbaugh is giving me some very boring practice pieces that make logical musical sense but sound horrible to listen to. That’s part of the reason I don’t practice as much. I wish he would give me some real songs that sound cool and that I would play.

I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my ordered 80 gig hard drive (Western Digital). It should be here today and the suspense is killing me. I want to get it so I can reinstall windows and get back to normal.

Dude. Elyon’s Fire is killing me slowly by not releasing their CD!! Ahhhh! Release it you guys! Please!! Ve beg it of you!! You must appease the masses!!

I do not enjoy school yet this year. Mom has changed the entire schedule dramatically from last years. I am a little apprehensive of a Worship in Drama course that I am taking at LBC this semester. I don’t know what to expect at all. That all goes down tomorrow over in Lancaster.

I need sleep. I am very tired. I don’t know if it is a disease or if I’m doing something wrong or what. I’m even tired when my adrenaline is high. I think something is wrong with me. It doesn’t help that I don’t actually fall to sleep until 11:30 every night almost but still, I think there is something more.

Well, even in this gripy state of mine, I still love the Lord and I want to try to live His way. ‘Tis very hard with all that is going on but I will try. Amen.

Ben

Mike, Jamin, and I performed at The Chatroom Coffee House Open Mic Night under the band name, “Sophisticated” two weeks ago. It was fun and I learned a little about stage handling and performing.

In other news – I shall be going into the studio tomorrow night to (hopefully) record a song or two. I believe Jamin and Mike shall be coming with me and I hope they will not be bored. Recording can sometimes be a very lengthy and drawn-out process of meticulous precision. (That means that the artist is very picky!)

I am currently listening to Gavotte en Rondeau by Bach performed on the classical guitar. I like classical guitar and would someday like to explore that region of the guitar. It has a very technical acoustic feel that sounds like it would take quite a while to master.

I hope everyone is doing well! I just started school today and am already quite overwhelmed by the large amount of work that is in hand for me this school year. I wish ye all well and may God bless you and your kin!

In Christ,
Ben

The show last night at the Chatroom Coffeehouse went well. Mike, Jamin, and I played under the alias, “Sophisticated” and had a good time. We need more practice as a band but for a first time it went pretty well. Amber, April, and Christen came over from Lancaster to support us (thanks you guys!) and the home crowd was quite supportive. Elyon’s Fire played and did a great job. Those guys can really rock!

Today I was planning to go help Jeremy fix the fuel line on Andrea’s truck but he called and said not to come due to certain circumstances he had not planned on. I am planning on going up to BJ’s later today for his end-of-the-summer party which should be great fun! I’m not sure if I’m picking Jamin up, but if you need a ride man, I’m going right up 74 past your house so I could pick you up in 30 seconds or less.

I notice WordPress has integrated a new auto-save mechanism in their WYSIWYG editor. Kudos and huzzah!

The other day I randomly designed an album cover for a non-existent band. T’was fun and it helps keep my design skills in shape.

What do you think? Comments, questions?

Well I’m off to Jeremy’s. He called me and told me to come now. Seeya!

Semper FI!

Ben