Lesson number 1 and some hot jamz

Great first lesson back with Lyman.....as usual put alot on my plate, but im a big boy and hopefully will be able to handle it. Things that challenge always find a way to make you stronger.

New Albums- Marah "Angels of Destruction"
Bright Eyes- "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning"
"Cassadaga"
All three are great picks that i consider must haves now that I own them. If you've never heard of any of the artists get on the ball.

Also if you like Ben Lee and Against Me! you will love Ben Lee Sings New Wave, it is him doing an acoustic version of that entire album and it is great. It's been out for a while and i dk if it is still availble for free in his blog, but it is always worth a shot!

So Far this Week

I like Finale Notepad.....it's cool, and also I wrote 2 new songs!!!! Im exicted about that, hopefully I will actually record them soon....I'll keep you posted. myspace.com/mourningformorgan has all the updates on shows and junk.

Hmmm

Random ramblings sometimes find a way to ramble onto my blog......

Well, I'm now a twitterer too....so if you stalk ppl via twitter I am now someone else you may stalk, although sometimes doing that might not be interesting although sometimes it might be quite exciting. o well whatever your preference i guess.

Listening to the new Marah album, "Angels of Destruction!" these guys are some of the best writers I've heard in a long time....great piece of music!

honesty....please

I started writing a new song late last week, it isn't a catchy type song like some of my recent work.....but i gets a little more honest, i feel like with my life right now i just need to let some stuff out and hopefully this song will help me do so.

The break of playing shows through December is ok, a little boring but ok. I still play some open mic stuff and i hope to more of that soon......but until then I'll keep pressing on and writing this honest song that I started.

PS- Christmas is soon! Don't forget Jesus in all the craziness......remeber if it weren't for Christ Christmas is worthless.

Some of My Faves

Dereck Trucks, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Warren Haynes, Eric Clapton, Adam D, Paul from BTBAM, and John Mayer are some of my favorite living guitarist. If you notice most of my players are bluesy jam band type players or country players. I guess just because of the raw passion they bring to the instrument. I really want to see all of these guys live sometime in my life....ESP Keith, Brad, Warren, Eric, Dereck and John

Writing

A whole lot easier said than done. I feel like i have some awesome ideas but I just cant get them out. Hopefully it will happen tomorrow.........Speaking of which, Nick Hays is playing Ecity tomorrow night and yes I'll be there!

Back at the Parents'

So im back in Starr for the hollidays. It's fun I guess, I mean I love my family but it is so wierd moving back home after a semester. I mean sure I visited over the semester but living back here is always a change lol. O well, it's fun gotta take what life gives you and deal with it. I do love life though, and family.

Something I Needed

The something I truly needed was to play a random open mic night. I did so last night in Anderson at The Corner Bagel Shop. It was truly a fun time, I'm not gonna lie though I got there and saw Ben Coleman and Lee Mcderment listed to play and I got Nervous really quick. The reason was, both of these guys are so good and I had no idea how I was going to follow them. But honestly I wasn't there to impress anyone, I was just there to have a good time and celebrate music.....we all did and had a good time doing so.

And thanks to everyone who came out and played I enjoyed each and everyone of you.

Spilling Something Onto This Blank Canvas

Life is life, you live it and then die........what you do with the time you are on earth is up to you. Not your mother, or your father, but you. Do something that matters, give God glory. But yea thats honestly about all I have to say tonight, short and sweet.

How I Feel (Don't Care if this is Read or Not)

Often I struggle with being arrogant and getting a big head over my music. Then I listen to something like "O" by: Damien Rice, which is an acoustic musical masterpiece and I realize, you know in the big scheme of things I am not that great. You know what.....I don't care anymore. Music is expression and a passion of mine, when it touches someone that's amazing. But my music is my outlet to the world and a gift given to me by God. I am thankful everyday to do this and even go to school for it.

So if I never make a cent playing in a crowded bar where no one cares I will still play. In August Rush the boy says "I love music more than food." To be a great musician it takes sacrifice. Just like being a great Christian, you will probally have to say bye to things you never want to but in the end the end result will be so much greater than if you held onto those things hindering you. I pray almost every night to God....."Make me less, and you more." Even in music I write that isn't neccessarily Christian I want God to be evident in it somehow.......I do what God has designed me to do and I wll try my hardest and do my best to glorify him with it.

If you are a musician don't get too caught up on yourself or your image.........because it can be gone quicker than you can blink. You may think you incredible, but really you probally are not. If you on a major label you have some room to brag b/c now a days not just anyone can make it on a major label as a singer/sogwriter. And I commend you for being good enough to make it and thank you for keeping me in check by being so much better than me.

Sunday

So yea today was fun/relaxing.......day off at Carpenter's so I checked out Hope Fellowship to hear my boy Wes play. Was very good and I enjoyed it. I got to see some ppl I haven't seen in a while and that was cool. Plus I listened to some good southern rock today, The Black Crows.....I tell you thats just good ole' fashion rock n' roll. All attitude and no flash, I love it.

It seems like I'm lookin for somewhere to go musically, but I don't know where that is yet, when i find out I'll let everyone know.

And the original solo on "Let It Be" off the the album called Let It Be is soooo much better than the solo on 1. Original Beatles is always the most passionate and the best.

Weight Lifted

Juries are finally over!!!! I honestly didn't feel too bad about this year's jury I think I did ok. But it is always stressful so I'm glad it is finally over.

I started off by playing Etude No.1 by Leo Brower and then played two other pieces, but that was my favorite.

Weight Lifted

Juries are finally over!!!! I honestly didn't feel too bad about this year's jury I think I did ok. But it is always stressful so I'm glad it is finally over.

I started off by playing Etude No.1 by Leo Brower and then played two other pieces, but that was my favorite.

Why Does It Hurt?

Why does it hurt so bad when i see you with him? Well thats what my new "Inspiration" focuses on. I try and try but no matter how hard I try........letting go of you is not such an easy thing to do. Does he really treat better than I could? You never even gave me a chance and now perhaps I am too late.

Dang this honestly kills me inside...everytime I think I'm done with you....BAM! I see a picture of you and him, and no I don't think he deserves an amazing girl like you, which really I don't think I deserve you either.....perhaps it is my fault....i just don't know.

Life

The 5 yr anniversary for Danny (see blog below) has somehow been harder than the others. I honestly don't know, I tried going to the grave for the first time since the funeral, but when I drove by I just kept on driving. I couldn't bring myself to go in there, either I guess because 1) Danny isn't there, but in Heaven or 2) Because I just don't want to face the reality that I know is there, that his earthly body is lying underground and I will never see him on this earth again. Granted I did not want Danny to suffer with his cancer anymore, it was killing him and I'm glad God called him home when he did. Watching Danny suffer was a hard hard thing. I honestly don't know how much longer I could watch or how much more he could take.

I still don't understand why God had to take Danny, but it somehow gave God glory and He had a reason for it. It is not up to me to question why (although I often do and it is not wrong) but I need to trust God and have faith in God and His divine will for this situation and for life in general. Danny will never leave my thoughts as long as I walk this earth, but I know i will see him again.

5 years

It's been 5 years today since Danny died. It is crazy how fast time goes by, I still remember Nov 13th 2002 like it was yesterday. Life has changed alot, but the fact that Danny isn't here hasn't. Everyday I miss Danny more and more. I wrote a song about Danny last year and it's up on myspace.com/mourningformorgan if you want to hear it. Danny was the most selfless and honest person I ever knew. I often ask God why he took Danny when he did. God has a reason that I will never understand possibly, but it is all for the enhancement of His Glory. I miss you Danny and will one day see you again.

Things cannot stay the same

Things change and life ultimately always changes. The one thing that always stays the same is God, and for that we should always glorify and honor Him. Because He never stopped loving us we do not have to burn in hell.

My life seems to be drastically changing everyday, I want consistancy but at the same time I don't, because the more my life changes the more I learn about myself and the more I grow into a different and hopefully better person.

Shows still very fun and going great, if you can catch one.....the next one is Sept. 7th at The Black Cow in Honea Path, it's becoming one of my favorite little coffeeshops to play, good coffee and great people. And just a flat out good time.

New Life

So I moved out and back into the wide world of college again for sophmore. Pretty Stoked, I'm ready to get a fresh start and try and forget some people and things of my past. But some things and people are hard to say bye to because you care for them so much.

I honestly feel like I'm giving up, but I feel like every chance I had of being closer is dead and buried. Plus new doors that could be better are opening up. So basically I have no clue what I'm doing but I am going to actually figure something out.

Be Careful

I often pray that whatever God wants to happen will happen with things in my life. Be careful with this though because whatever you think is best is not always what God sees as best. God's way is always the right way considering He knows everything and is also perfect and Holy. Just be careful....I asked God that what he wanted to be done to be done with a certain situation recently and well, it wasn't what I had in mind. God has a good reason for this I'm sure but I just don't see it right now. Gotta keep strong and brush myself off and try something else...patience is key

Waking Up Number 1...Maybe, It's just wishful thinking.

These walls say it's 4am in this room where I'm confined to spend the night alone without you. I can't eat and I can't sleep all i can do is just think about you, and what you do. I scream so loud in my mind for you. You can't hear it but it's bloody loud, for you. I'm like a television on mute seeing my pain in expression but hearing nothing to back it up. Maybe I'm not as close as i thought, or maybe you're just too far away.