New Day, New Post

HOLY SHIT WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?! Everywhere my friends, EVERYWHERE. Since I last posted we've finished the Spring Break '08 tour with The Audition, Every Avenue, The Morning Light, and Kiros. Good times, good dudes, a month and a half went fast. I think we're starting to get the hang of the new line up if I do say so myself. We've had some incredible fucking shows, and it's all thanks to the kids that have been going OFF for us. That shit is so heartfelt, you guys don't even know. I don't even get tired on stage anymore, they get me so fucking pumped. To the crowd at Poughkeepsie and Bamboozle: I've never felt more proud to be in this band. It's crazy to think that in a year so much has changed for this band, everything except for you guys. I don't know how many other bands could say that they were gone for a year, came back with a new line up and had the privilege of playing to even more kids than before. Seriously, some of the best days of my life so far, thank you. We're currently on a short headlining run with our boys in Every Avenue, Farewell and Sing It Loud called the "Liver let die tour". This tour will NOT be long enough, and I can already tell that all the bands are our kind of dudes... GAY. Since we went from the studio straight on the road we haven't had any time or breaks to learn more than the 9 to 10 songs we set off with so we've been practicing a new tune some of you might know called "Drop the Girl". Hopefully we can bust it out soon, we just don't want to butcher it before "most" people(singling out the dirty cyber pirates) have heard it. The new record has just gotten done being mastered, shit sounds epic, hope you've got diapers cuz' it's gonna blow your ass out. I can't wait to at least put up a new song for peeps and show them what's up. You're gonna forget about the old record, but no worries, we'll still play all the songs you want, we won't be "that band". It'd be sweet to show you dudes and dudets something now, but that probably can't happen. right? Recent news: We spent a day recording a new cover song with good ol' Mr. Freeman in Boonton NJ yesterday, it's sweet and ultra gay, we love it. I think it will be released with an I-tunes package. Coming up: a few more shows with our Liver boys and it's off to Cali with Set Your Goals and I Am the Avalanche for a few shows before we shoot our new music video in San Fran. Wait for word on that and keep your eyes peeled for some new webisodes in the near future, shit's been hectic, I'm working on it. Until then, check out our dates, hit us up and get stoked.

loves,

Nick

p.s. Wilmington DE, we've got your fucking back!

It's been a hot minute...

since I've posted last. That's my bad, Brad. Just got done eating a Texas shaped waffle at our hotel in Lubbock, Texas. Probably the best way to start your day.. ever. So where have we been? What have we been up to you ask? Since the last post we have climbed the Montgomery Capital Building stairs, raged on Bourbon St. in the amazing city of New Orleans, fought dust bowls and drought in our two day run through the pan handled state of Oklahoma, and kicked an ass or two in Texas. Today is a day off in which we will begin our travel to Arizona. I guess we pass through Roswell, New Mexico on our way there, so I hope we stop and see some ET junk. Bamboozle Left is only a few days away, I can't effing wait to get out to Cali and see our friends. I've REALLY missed that state. Now I'm going to wash down my Texas waffle with some Tex/Mex. Pray for me.

Peace out Florida!

It's been a great few days in Florida. We had a day off yesterday and played put-put at some Congo Adventure place outside our hotel (shout outs to George and Andrea for coming out and challenging the masters). I also caught a lizard finally which I had sworn to do since we entered this "State of Sunshine". Thanks to all the kids who have been more than helpful when it comes to singing our songs at the shows. Your voices couldn't have sounded better and that shit warms the heart. I'm fucking excited to start slipping some new shit in the mix, we just have to learn the songs first. The tour has been fun so far, all the bands (Kiros, The Morning Light, Every Avenue and The Audition) have been awesome dudes, MORE than worthy of raging with the likes of us. We are at The Social in Orlando right now, stoked to play and even more stoked to make a night drive. Shit gets old fast, but it's how I know that we're really on tour, THE NIGHT DRIVES. We can't thank everyone enough for all the support we've received, hopefully kids continue to be as rad as they have been. Check our dates, come out to the shows and show us how your state does it... BRING THAT SHIT.

It's so fucking good to be back,

Nick

THE RECORD

IS FINISHED! It's insane how your life can change in the blink of an eye. One year ago we were touring the UK and Australia (with the bands that were directly responsible for our careers), selling records and headlining a tour. It's safe to say we were in a groove, the groove that bands get into which consists of touring, videos, and recording records. Things were planned out, moves were being made, and it seemed like the only way to go for us was up. Then, like it happens, we blinked and we were back in Ohio getting jobs, missing the road and questioning the future existence of this band. ts was an awful time for us, but at the same token, you need something like that to appreciate the things that have already happened. Five pop-punk kids from the middle of Ohio went from K of C halls covering Juliana Theory songs, to selling out shows in a different country. If it took Colin quitting to get us to realize that, then I thank the powers that be that they gave me/us that chance. We've done what so many would give their limbs for(myself included). I don't even want to think of what our 2nd record would have been like had everything went like it was "supposed to". We wouldn't have wrote the songs that we did, we wouldn't have recorded with Bob(who is going to blow the FUCK UP when people hear this stuff and realize how incredibly talented he is), and we wouldn't have had an opportunity to step back and look at the big picture. What's the big picture? The fact that I have been blessed with friends who I can rely on, depend on, and write music with while at the same time having people who will stick by us no matter what. The kids that leave us comments and messages letting us know they're with us 100%, our label owner Fred Feldman who stepped up to the plate and had our backs through this when most labels would have been sweating pudding, Matt Galle - who has never stopped calling us his dudes, and our families who supported us when most would be begging for us to go back to school. I am so proud of what we've accomplished and I'm happy that everyone is going to get to share the outcome. There will always be people who think we suck or won't listen because "Colin's voice WAS the band", but there is no way that they can turn their backs on these songs without giving us the credit we deserve. WE FUCKING DID IT, we came out with a record that we couldn't be prouder of, and we did it when all there was to rely on was the four of us. HIT THE FUCKING LIGHTS. My goal wasn't to go on a rant, or to tell people how awesome we are. I just think that the people who stuck by us are going to be proud of us, and that makes me smile every time it goes through my head. Our first show back is on Saturday, it's going to be a lot lighter without my guitar, so if we could add some weight by adding a couple of singing kids on my shoulders then it shouldn't be that much different. The old songs are a piece of this bands history, and they mean as much to us as they do to you, so I won't sing them alone. Through out everything that has happened, we've done incredible things and hopefully things will be going as they were one year ago; up. We're just happy to have the chance to.

"...and every drop of sweat that we've bled has been worth it, 'cause we earned it"

- COUNT IT

Things Rick Astley would NEVER do:

Pray for Mojo...

Yeah, so the myspace should be running properly within the next few days, we'll also have our new dates for anyone who wants to come and see us lay the smack down. I feel like I might be getting sick, and we have a lot more vocals to do so I'm headed to bed early. Until then...

yup.

SNOW DAY!

Blizzard came last night around 3:30 and we woke up to a little over 6 inches of pure white snow, which was honestly the most perfect packing snow I've ever encounted in my 20 some odd years on this planet.  We weren't able to make it to the studio, so we got our very first snow day.  We went out and built igloos, made snow angels, ate yellow snow, all the good stuff.  Bella was loving it, we were blasting her with snow balls.  If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend pelting a dog with snowballs.  It's pretty therapeutic, and the dog seems to like it just as much.  I haven't played in snow for a while so it was effin' sweet.  Played some Halo, will probably play more, and then enjoyed a dinner of potatoes and eggs.  I don't know if anyone knows that italians eat other things besides spaghetti, but they do, and potatoes in eggs is right up there with pizza... some of my favorite food ever.   Unfortunately it makes bathroom trips a tad messy.  Shot gun effect, EVERYWHERE.  I'll keep you posted on how I turned the bullpen bathroom into a crime scene.  CAUTION!!!

Alrighty so here's the deal.  We've started bustin' through the vocals and adding lead guitars here and there.  There are going to be a WHOLE LOTTA strong songs on this record.  It's an amazing experience when you actually hear a song that you wrote come alive and play out how it was in your head.  We had a big decision to make when we were looking for producers for the next record, and I couldn't be happier with our choice.  I'm a high stress dude, and making a record is a high stress project, so when high stress meets high stress, it gets hard for me.  With as much pressure that we have on everything right now, it's pretty amazing that I haven't been cracking.  It feels good to work with Rob and know that we trust him and his opinions.  There are no bad vibes and things have been going more smoothly that I would have thought possible.  I'm excited to get this shit on the road.  Snow storm tonight, we'll see if we make it to Boonton in one piece huh?

Tonight, Tonight!

Tonight's the night everyone will know.  It's about time right?  Yeah, feels good to be a band again, it'll feel even better to be out on the road, and it will feel EVEN better to play some nintendo 64 when we get to The Bullpen.  Bout' to crack open a big ol' can of Mario Cart WHOOP-ASS on Samuel.  Why you ask?  BECAUSE YOU CAN'T F****ING HANDLE ME; THAT'S WHY!

I'ma Warrio, I'ma GONNA WINNA,

nick.

Things You've Never Done

Shyeeeeeah-yeah!  Sitting at the bullpen watching Lost.  Samuel has decided he wants to get into it, so we've been watching the whole show from episode 1 to get ready for the new stuff.   Shit's intense, I'll give it that.  Recording went well today, laying down some guitar tracks, a blizzard just hit Jersey so I don't know if we'll end up in the studio tomorrow.  The roads are terrible and all the schools are cancelled for tommorow.  It was like 50 degrees like a week ago, wtf?  Speaking of WTF, I'm not buying this whole "invisible robot monster pulling up trees and pulling John Lock down a hole" bullshit.  I think the writers just wing it as they go.  I'm intrigued.... continue Mr. Abrams, continue.  

4815162342,

Nick

Rub a dub dub bitches!

So this is my first blog for the new record.  As of right now most people don't know that we're even in the studio right now, so I figured I'd have something for peeps to read once we've announced this.  We've already begun the actual recording process, we finished pre-production last week.  Pre-pro is the worst part for me, so I'm glad it's over with so we can get on to the real deal.  This is the third day for drums, and probably the last.  Nate's been killing it and Rob's been bringing those drums alive like a mad effin' scientist.  Tomorrow is our day off so I think we'll rage at the Bullpen tonight with Sammy, Bella, and David Morgan Awesome.  I've gotta party up while I can; once the vocals start, I can't drink any alcohol because it dries out the vocal chords.  Omar's playing "Call of Duty 4".   He's been on this shit since yesterday, his brain is mush and he looks dead in the eyes.  Whatever it takes to secure our liberty and freedom, right?  I'm working on our announcement vid now, I think most people will be stoked.  If not, tough; it's OUR band.  Anyways, if we stop now, the terrorists win.

I do whut I WAWNT, 

Nick