A cookie's just a cookie, but Fig Newtons are fruit and cake

Benomena!
Straight up, last week dominated, due in large part to a little flick I like to call "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." Maybe you've heard of it? Well here's the deal: it freakin' shredded Burt McCracken's face off and fed it to Gerard Way, chopped them both into pieces, and then stuffed them both into garbage cans and left them floating off the coast of Florida in shark-infested waters*. That's how awesome it was.
I know, I know, I had some quibbles with it upon my first viewing, but my faith is now immutable having witnessed it a second time (and ruining some plans in the process.... *tear*) and I swear to you all that this is right up there with "Empire" or "Jedi." Really. I swear.
What can I say about it? Not a whole lot, since many of you haven't witnessed its grandeur and majesty just yet, but allow me to hook up some intense kudos for this film. Standing in the rain for an hour and a half to catch the midnight premiere? Totally worth it, especially because of the various Jedi and clone troopers that decided to check it out as well. Heck, even Darth Sidious showed up. I'm told that at the midnight premiere at Point Cinemas here in Madison that a Wookie was waiting in line. That's dedication. And a lot of hair.
Side note: Wookies rule.
Second, the D.B. Cooper set on Friday night at the SA pretty much crystallized the essence of domination in one 12 minute, sweat- and adrenaline-pumped gig. The opening instrumental smacks mightily of Isis and is quite possibly one of our best songs, and leads perfectly into "Go to Sleep." Yeah, the guitar could've been louder, but... what're you gonna do?
My favorite single moment had to be performing "Future Prognostications of the Rise and Fall of Glam Rock as Seen Through the Eyes of Edward Zalinski." All 4 seconds of it, including Zach's scream. Killa!
Not quite so hot was my high E string breaking during the blast beat part of "Remnants of Shaw," or that my fingers were cracked and bleeding the rest of the night, often on my guitar. Wait, actually, that is pretty cool. Scratch that.
Jon's 7-year-old nephew Christian was there rocking with us as well, air drumming alongside Jon, tatted out like a mad demon biker from the 5th Circle of Hell (the one reserved for the wrathful and the slothful (where else would bikers go?** If you know, please tell me.) Anyway, the show was killer, and Zach had to turn right around and play a Fallen Sparrows set, and his freaking low E string broke amidst the other mayhem and destruction. Oh well. C'est la guerre.
And then there was the orchestra concert on Sunday. All told, pretty good gig. However, I should really think at least twice about playing Beethoven's "Concerto in C Minor" at a moment's notice having never practiced it before, you know... before I actually do it. I also wonder if I should've taken that position from Kevin since he's actually... you know... in orchestra. Oh well.
The 80's medley went along pretty fair as well, but sometimes Wayne Wiley and Christina and Drew and the orchestra and I would wind up playing different tempos or sections, and we'd have to force it to where it should be, often violently. At least you couldn't hear me, more than likely. I played through a PA, basically, and it didn't really deliver a whole lot in the volume department, unfortunately. But the orchestra was the real draw, anyway, so I'm not heartbroken.
Anywho, listen: this is my final week of 3rd semester here at MMI, so I'm at school working on some projects and studying for exams, and then... it's go time.
Scoo-oots!

XOXOXOXOXO
Ian

P.S. "HEY! Got some cwater here for ya!"


*This episode actually took place in the early 70's and was inflicted upon a hapless gentleman who was going to testify in court against Clay Shaw, the man New Orleans DA Jim Garrison is convinced ordered the assassination of JFK. So, I'm not morbid and I didn't make that stuff up. And besides, it'd be sweet if the world was freed from their cruel emo oppression anyway.
** Yes. All of them.