Watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The idea of peace. I have a few. Do you guys have any? Let me know.

The city of New Haven is blanketed in snow. The ground is very wet. Looking for some projects to work on. I need something to do.

Old Navy

I'm sick of the mannequin commercials that Old Navy makes. I think it's pathetic that they still use the same theme. I want them to stop. I think I'll write a letter.

I've been reading a book by David Mamet called Bambi Vs. Godzilla. It is about the movie industry. I am also reading a book called A New Life by Bernard Malamud. It is pretty good so far. I would recommend it.

I've been exploring the city of New Haven with my friend Jose Oyola. He is a musician in a band called Prisms. You should check them out. Today we walked all the way from Jose's house on Chapel Street across the bridge into East Haven. If you would like to come exploring with us email us.

JamesNeurath@gmail.com

Read a book dammit.

You never know whats going to happen tomorrow.

As my life progresses I realize that everything changes. Things that make us comfortable are ripped away and sometimes we cannot handle it. Sometimes when people that are comfortable with us we rip something of theirs apart. When these things happen we might think we can't take it and do something embarrassing as a fall back, but that's OK. As Snoop Dog says in Starsky and Hutch, to err is human, to forgive is divine. Everyone makes mistakes and as you get a little older you realize that.

No one knows whats going to happen tomorrow, sometimes space between people is necessary.

I don't regret anything I've done in my life, some of the actions might have been extremely stupid for the situation at hand, but all of my experiences are just lessons.

I'm thinking about hitting the road again. Would anyone like to join me? I'm probably going to take the van this time.

Read some books if you're up to it.

Reading a book

I am reading a ridiculous book called "WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN" Volume four Alternate Americas. It is full of short stories about different events that could have happened in American History and how it could have shaped the country. The one I am reading right now is about a Japanese invading force killing all the native American's and then attacking the Spaniards looking for the fountain of youth. Also in one story it isn't the fountain of youth, but a fountain of manly strength that heals any sexual debilitation you might have. You should read this book if you ever see it in a thrift store. I bought my copy on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, and if that is what if takes for you to read this book you should go to Hollywood.

You should travel anyway. You look bored.


Keep it up.

This city

New haven is chilly. I'm at Joe Joe's cafe on Chapel. I haven't been to many places in the city yet, but the ones I have been to have been great. Joe Joes is a great place where rich Yale kids go because they all live around it in the nice brick apartments that are close by.

Tonight as I was walking around I went to the town green and there were a few people there watching the stage where a young inexperienced guitar player was playing. I didn't stay long, it was kind of an entertainment/rally thing for homeless people. There were tents set up for them and free cloths as well. The people that were there didn't seem to be to interested in anything. I got the feeling a lot of them were doing community service for school.

I'm living in a two bedroom at the end of Sherman near highway thirty four. If you know where that is you should come visit. If you don't you should send me an email and I'll come get you.

I am excited to start exploring the city.


Read a book.

I made it home

So I went from Jacksonville Florida to Washington D.C. I went to the Rally to Restore sanity which was nuts. I saw Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) and R2D2. I learned a lot about myself on this trip and I am happy that I went on it. I am going to tell you some stories about it, but I am busy trying to find a place to live in New Haven. If anyone knows someone who needs a roommate, let me know.

I'm going to watch Jose Oyola tonight at an apartment show in New Haven.

Read a book and always remember where you come from.

Baton Rouge

I am sitting in a coffee shop in Baton Rouge Louisiana. It is kind of right near the campus of LSU. Some friends and I walked around the school yesterday. It was nice. There are green swamps everywhere here. I keep thinking I might jump into one, but then I don't. Maybe if I had someone to jump with.

The other night the people I am traveling with and I stayed in Sam Houston state park. We chased Armadillos around all night with a flashlight. I had a ball.

We are heading to New Orleans. I am going to get a catfish po'boy when I get there. It is like a catfish grinder. I am stoked for it.

Yesterday I had fried Alligator. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Next time you are in the bayou you should try it.

El Paso

Spent the night with some couch surfers in El Paso texas, I had a great time and I really like the people I am traveling with. They are two San Diegans who I met on craigslist. We hope to make it to Fredericksburg tonight and spend the night with one of Dave's friend. I'll update more on on this when I am not sitting on a floor in Mcdonalds.

It is hot here.

Pacific Beach

Dudes name is Catfish.

Slept on this guys floor next to Kris Keyes Aka Nomad who was on a air mattress. I helped them on a music video they just shot for their band called Dive Bomber. It was in a stripper club and now I am just sitting near the beach in San Diego. I got a ride down here from a friend I made on a television set.

Pacific beach is amazing. Full of college bars and thousands of tourists even in October. I watched the sunset yesterday and it made me think of when I was young and in Florida. I was watching a sunset there and tourists applauded at the end. This one was so much better than that though. You need to see if for yourself.

I am reading a few books.

Are you?

Venice Beach

Went to the beach today. It was overcast and windy. A lot of people were still there.

The past few days I've been working on a television pilot. I was holding the sound boom. The sound guy was this old veteran who had just got back from Pakistan shooting a Rambo type action flick.

What ever happened to Matisyahu? He is working on a new album.

I don't know why I just thought about him today and wondered.

More on this place tomorrow.

Los Angeles

I am in Hollywood. It took me two days to get here driving a moving truck for a woman who lived in Portland and wanted to come back to LA. I'll tell you all about that trip someday, but right now I have a city to explore.

I am staying with my friend Ben Goldsmith who is an actor, a pretty good one too. He was just cast as Potsy in the musical version of Happy Day's.

So in final, my hair is long, beard big, and ready to see this little place called Hollywood.

Wish you were here.

Zombie Prom

I saw this musical once. Turned out to be pretty good. Here is a picture of a character from it. The singing wasn't bad when I saw it in Cheshire. I found out later that one of my movie friends was in it.

I'm leaving for LA next week.

I'm reading Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut.
I miss some of my buds at home.

I'm going to try to make it to Mexico when I get down to San Diego after LA. Hopefully I don't get kidnapped.

jamesneurath@gmail.com

send me some love.

When you are done, read a book.

LA

Heading south to LA on the twenty ninth.

It rains a lot in Portland. I wonder what LA will be like.

Been reading a lot. Working on Lonesome Traveler by Kerouac.

I don't have balls like that guy. He would just hop a train. Maybe mine will develop like his someday. Who knows?

See you soon.

just sit back

I sit back on my bed. Well my friends bed that I'm staying on. I write and read all day. I look at my thirty five dollar guitar that I bought with Dennis and Eric, I look at all my cloths on the ground. Some dirty from working on a roof. I look out the window and I see Oregon. It's raining lightly and I know later on I'll take a walk in it. I smile and think about the people I love and realize how many people care about me. It feels good.

Little Feat for music and coffee fills my vein.

Next week California and then who knows from there.

I'll see ya when I see ya.

I worked on a roof

I saw this in Portland. I don't know if I agree. We'll see someday perhaps.

So I've been working on a roof. Ripping shingles off and then cleaning them off the ground. I do this for food and a bed to sleep in.

Next week I am heading down to San Francisco. I am going to stay at the Elements hostel on Mission street.

I also am going to try to find some poetry readings to either listen to or read my own stuff.

Oregon is a great place and I hope to come back here again. The trees are thick and old, and the people are warm and full of kindness.

Right now I am going to watch Kingdom of Heaven. It has Orlando Bloom who I can't really get into, but the religious points of view meshing and the well done gore makes the movie great.

I am high on caffeine. Coffee rules men. It torments me and I will let it control me for the remainder of my days living.

St. Helens, Oregon

I saw this dude in Portland. Freakin town is full of wierdos...

I'm still living in rural Oregon. I've been writing and trying to find some jobs. I think I would rather focus on being a writer though.

I just finished the Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. Now I started reading Blue Beard by Kurt Vonnegut. I've already read the first seventy pages today. It flows rather well and it's pretty funny. The book is a fake autobiography from a famous painters point of view.

Still looking for any poetry readings in Portland. I have to get my ass in gear for that.

Might be going down to California soon. Who knows?

See you when I see you.

Coke rewards

I started collecting tops off coke bottles today. They have something called Coke rewards and if you save up enough you can get some junk, or you can help some charities. That is what I am going to do. There are some pretty interesting ones like getting clean water to people in Africa. I don't know if it is a scam, but it's something to do.

I'm almost done with The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. It's pretty long, but entertaining. It's based on the true story of Alexander Selkirk, a man stranded alone for five years off the coast of Chile. It is the same story that my favorite novel Robinson Crusoe.

You should read both of these books.

I'm looking for a job in Portland, maybe a room to live in for awhile.

We'll see.

soup to nuts

While walking around in St. Helens today some asshole comes up to Anna and I and tries to hand us some piece of paper that looks like a fake million dollar bill with Paul Mcartney's face on it. I don't like people that try to give me handbills, I don't remember ever going to anything that was advertised on a handbill.

So he starts off by asking if I had a christian background. I knew instantly I wanted to walk away, but Anna was polite and humored the guy. He went into this whole tirade about Jesus and if we were ready to meet him and be judged. It's none of this guys business what I believe. He then asked if either of us had ever committed adultery. I really wanted to get in his face, but I walked away. I hate people that try to use fear mongering to get you to believe in something. Tactics shouldn't be used at all.

If you ever read anything I write you fucker, I hope you get scared and pass out. Then I'll piss on you.

I'm living in St. Helens right now. I don't know whats on the horizon. I'm gonna try to write something.

Read a book and then keep your beliefs in whatever you believe to yourself.

Read a book though.

St. Helens, Oregon

So I am sitting on my bed in St. Helens at Anna's house. Her family basically let me in the house and don't care whether I live here or not. I don't know what I'm doing yet. I'm trying to figure out whether to find a job here or head down to California.

The weather is more temperate here. The people as well. I'm watching twenty one jumpstreet while Anna is at the gym. I'm gonna try to get some writing done.

On Friday I am going to a cafe called Berbatis pan and watching my friend Shawn and his band Netherfriends. I am excited about that. You should see him if he ever comes by your location.

Portland

I'm sitting in my little coffee shop writing to you people. I'm in a pretty good place right now. Alex and I have been walking around very much. We went on a vision quest last night. That means we kept walking until we were so lost that something happened. Not much really happened, but the walk was good. We met a few interesting people. Out here things go a lot slower. It reminds me of the south. Everyone here lives a little more and cares about people a little more. The journey is a little more important. So tonight I'll probably be in St. Helens with my friend Anna Edington. I hope I'll have some more internet access and I'll be able to write so more about my journey. Anna mentioned something about going to Seattle some time this week. I think I'll try to talk her into it.


Read a book.

Exploring Portland

Made it to Portland Oregon. I saw my friend Anna for about twenty minutes while we took her to the Airport. I haven't been able to write anything because the house I am staying in doesn't have any internet. I am staying with Anna's brother Alex. We went to a place called Rocky Butte yesterday. It was a hike. Now I'm exploring Portland. I think I might stay here for awhile I don't know yet.

Kris Keyes from Dive Bomber wants me to come down to San Diego to see his band Dive Bomber and my buddy Ben Goldsmith wants me to visit him in LA. I don't really know yet. Everything is up in the air.

So I haven't done what I said I was going to with this blog for a few reasons. I was supposed to leave New York and take a train to New Orleans and on my way stop back in D.C. to visit a friend and then take the train to Oregon. But, seeing as plans rarely ever work out something came up and I kinda had a nervous breakdown. I called my friend Russ and he got my head on straight. Sometimes you have to go back to the beginning before you can proceed forward. He even surprised me by driving me all the way to Chicago on a road trip with his fiancee Lee. The trip was nice, but I didn't really like Chicago. It's just not the town for me. Maybe I'll tell you more about it someday if you ask me. I'm happy to be on the road again though.

I've been writing and that's what I am supposed to do. Send me an email if you want. Jamesneurath@gmail.com. I like traveling, but I get pretty lonely sometimes. Thanks for reading and I'll start posting some more when I explore some more.


See you when I see you.

Portland, Oregon

New York City.

So I'm in the big apple at a Starbucks. I don't think I am a sell out. I just need Internet and coffee. I took a bus from Jimmy's smoke shop in New Britain early today. It was a good ride. When I cross the country I am going to take trains this time because I don't want to sit on a bus for four days like when I adventured to San Fran last year.

So everyone who thinks I am moving away forever...I don't know. I just got on a bus to the city and I am going to end up in Portland Oregon and see Anna in a few weeks. I don't know if I am going to live on the west coast for long. I just want to see what happens. I did love New Haven when I was living there and I would love to live there again. One of my goals when I get back is to start some kind of band with my afro friend perhaps. Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Steinbeck said that all the plans you make don't matter. What will happen will happen whether you like it or not. I'm not saying I am not going to try to be smart about this. I don't trust everyone I meet anymore. About a month ago I was robbed in Meriden. Some might say it is my own fault, but whatever, things happen.

So I am sitting, writing and later tonight I am going to spend the night in Long Island with my friend Sophia from College. She is puerto rican so hopefully I get a good meal.

Ok. More later.

James From the Road

Trip moved back again!

I want a sail boat. And to escape New York.

The adventure has been moved back due to a helicopter mother who wanted to squeeze her son before he left for his voyage into this land. My parents were at my friends beach cottage but they are back and I am taking the early bus in New Britain for New York City. I'll write about this as much as I can.

I've been thinking a lot about sail boats. I want one. GIVE IT TO ME.

Read a book to.

Trip moved a tad

I leave tomorrow. I'll tell ya all about it while I go. No really. I promise this time.


I leave for the big apple on the morrow.

Trip

I'm leaving on Monday to New York City. More on that later. Today I am going to the Housatonic river to hang out with Johnny Burns and ride Ski Doos. Maybe more on that later. Maybe.


Read a book.

Yeah, I know

So I didn't give you a play by play of the movie. You shoulda been there anyway. The movie consisted of fifteen hour days, no food, laughter, and interesting people met. I'll write about it some more someday. The plays that I crewed for in Cheshire sucked. I met some really important people to me, but I don't want to do children's plays ever again.

I'm watching Predator 2 right now and I am happy to say that. I'm meeting John Dudek later for Coffee and that makes me ecstatic.

This weekend I am filming both days. Maybe you should come down and watch. Perhaps you could be an extra.

I leave on August sixteenth for the west coast. I go to adventure.


P.S. last night Joe Delcegno bought me a shake weight. Yeah he's a baller.

History Channel

I'm watching the secret history of the American Nazi. I have never met a real neo Nazi. Maybe I will someday.

Today is my last day off before I start shooting American Jubilee in New Haven CT. I will give all of you a day by day account of it. When I am done with that movie I am moving to LA California.

I was thinking about life today. Then I took a nap.

I'm almost done reading "On the road with Bob Dylan" written by Larry Sloman. It is all about a reporter and what it was like for him to travel with the Rolling Thunder Revue. If you don't know what that is, you should look it up. Books like that make me want to hit the road with a band. I'm pretty inspired.

Read a book.

New Play

So I started working on a new play. It's called Guy's and Doll's. The town of Cheshire is putting it on and like Footloose (the one I just crewed for last week) I am constructing sets and getting to know general set dressing. It's pretty interesting overall. The director of this play is this old hippie guy that drives an almost exact copy of my dad's pick up.

I've been working for Russ Martin and although the pay is next to negligible I get to go to restaurants with him. Today I went to two. The first was this coffee shop. It had all the knick knacks that my mother would want. I had an everything garlic bagel with pbj. It was fantastic. Then for dinner we went to the Waverly Tavern where we had fried Calamari. I was surprised how tasty it was.

American Jubilee starts shooting on Saturday. Then I leave for the west coast.


Stay tuned.

Crew

I've been working on a play lately. A little play called Footloose! It's a community threater gig I'm doing in Cheshire. It's pretty cool so far. I like being crew.

I'm watching Surf Ninjas.

See you tomorrow.

June is over

So in two weeks I am going to move out of my parents house and start to make a movie with Ryan Casey. I will hit the road after the movie is done. I hope to end up learning some things and making some friends. Hopefully no enemies.

Tomorrow I am going to post a lot of videos and start my youtube channel.

I had a great fourth of July weekend. Rich kids in Niantic, CT have some pretty dangerous yet satisfying illegal fireworks.


I hope to see you soon.

Read a pamphlet and when you are done with that read a book.

Interesting weekend

This weekend I smashed a window on my van, and read Chuck Klostermanns book "Killing yourself to live".

Tomorrow I should get my laptop fixed and I can finally start to blog correct.

Word.


Read.

Howdy

I've been watching cowboy movies all day. I just finished watching The Far Land with James Stewart. He is a rough guy who is always on the run from his problems. It was decent.

I'm going to my Dad's artshow tonight in Canton. It is at a place called Gallery on the Green. I will upload a piece of his tomorrow or Monday. I also have to start on my videos of the shows I've been to. I think I might make a youtube profile and put all of them on there and link to them from here.

Tomorrow I am going to be at the Shadow Room in Middletown from eleven to four watching auditions for American Jubilee the movie I am going to help shoot in July.

Now I'm going to buy a car with Dennis. I think it's a nissan.

Read a book er two er three.

Get that bank and get it done.

EYE HATE GOD

Last night my friend Tom the EMT and IIIII went to see this sludge rock band called Eyehategod at Daniels street hall in Milford CT. We got there late and three of the opening bands had already played we saw Nachtmystium first. They were solid stuff, during one of their songs a girl with blue hair giggled while she spilt beer on my. At least I hope it was beer. Eyehategod was good sludge metal. Good stoner stuff. I wanted to interview one of them, but I forgot my FLip. That shall not happen again. Stay tuned for more stuff. Getting into some action.


Dudley.

Tag Sale

Today I was involved in a tag sale. I helped run in and most of the people there got soaked because of the rain. I don't understand why everytime we try and do a tag sale it rains.

The Kensington Field Day was canceled. I was depressed. I am going to make a myspace profile for my music today. I also need to start playing some shows. Not much is really going on in my world, just preparing for the journey. That will be in late August when I am done working on American Jubilee. A film by CT director Ryan Casey. It should be a fun time. We are filming in mid July.

Read a book. I'm serious.

Getting ready

I need to leave this state. The country is calling and I am not answering. Started writing a bit today. It felt good.

I want to create a moving tour of interesting acts that go around the country. American Bard.



Bored.

Read a book.

The Beach

I was at the beach in Niantic all weekend. It was astounding and I wish I had a beach house I didn't have to pay for.

I was thinking about how much I love coffee and how I want people to stop going to Dunkin Doughnuts because they ruin what we could have in this country. Go buy local coffee! Whenever I ask people if they have any local coffee shops they say no. I tell them that they probably didn't look. I am ordering you to look around your town for some local coffee places. Stimulate your local economy and stop the stranglehold that DD has on this country. I don't run on Dunkin. Fuck that. Go help some local business in your town. Or a cooler idea go to a DD and try to play some music in it. See how they react.

Read a book.

This video is from Jose's Taco Hut show. It's Jose and Ryan from Subverso.

jose taco hut

Wow

I just read the review of Subverso's ten inch by CT Indie and I totally agree with Rich P. Here is a video I shot at Jose's house of Subverso playing. We had a great time with Stegosaur and also Netherfriends. Salty Grapes and the Modern dance were there as well. The show at the Taco Hut was decent and I want to start touring.

There was the band Netherfriends. They were a duo from Illinois. There was also a band called Stegosaur from Texas. I helped one band figure out that van's need oil. Also we had a great time at Dempseys is New Haven. The bar bought us kamikaze shots.

The hootenanny on Friday was sweet. Old Hanna did a great show as well as Spitzer Space Telescope. The venue was alright and we almost filled the place up, but next summer I want to do a hootenanny fest in CT.

The boys and I are playing a lot and once we have some stuff together I'll get it up here so you all can hear us.

I also bought a flip camera and filmed all the bands that were at the Taco Hut. When I figure that out this blog will finally have some interviews of musicians and artists.

Hoot Tomorrow

Tomorrow at Five is the first Annual Berlin Hootenanny. It is at the Spartens club on High Road in Berlin, CT. You should bring your friends and some enemies as well (that would make it awkwardly astounding.)

Read a book.

This weekend go to Jose's house and hear a plethora of great bands. I will be there doing interviews and hopefully will post some on here.

Read another book after you read one. Repeat.

Happy birthday to Brian from Subverso. He will be playing with his band at the show tomorrow and all weekend at Jose's house. I am very excited.

Argh

Dio died. Plenty of people wanted to be the first to tell me. I have decided to write about how much Dio meant to me. Let's see. When I saw the Tenacious D movie he sang a song. I thought it was suffiencent. Some one told me that he was also in Black Sabbath. When I was a kid I put Iron man on a cd once.

Bummer man.


Read a book.

More tomorrow.

Colchester, CT

When I was a child I would visit my friend Dennis at his house in Colchester. I hated going there because he used to only live two streets away, but he moved almost an hour away when his mother bought a new house. He was my best friend and I was very upset.

Tonight I went with him and Eric to our old stomping grounds and we revisited...nothing. We went to a dive bar and played pool with this guy Jeff. He took us to some coldasac that supposedly is haunted. Nothing happened and right after that we went to a Wendy's and I screamed that I wanted Spaghetti at the teller at loud as I could. Never eat fast food. After that we went home. Tomorrow we are jamming at Dennis' house.


Read a book.

Someone trying to help

Finally I am impressed and enlightened by someone in this country who is actually trying to help people. Her name is Shay Kelley. If you haven't heard anything about her you should do some looking up because she is someone that I would call a person to look up to. She lost her job and then her house and her car. When that happened she decided to try and help people in this country and after saving up a little cash she bought a truck and helped a dog in need. Then she took off trying to get to fifty states in fifty weeks while collecting two hundred cans of food a week for the less fortunate. I hope to run into her one day and tell her how proud of her I am. There are people in this country that aren't totally focused on personal gain and Shay Kelley is one of them.

Read a book.

Lost ma book

Today while getting my oil changed I left my book at Kensington Auto. I hope I can find it there when I go back tomorrow. It is The Wayward Bus by Steinbeck. The same guy that wrote Of Mice and Men, yes that one you had to read in college. It is good so far. I hope those greasy people didn't destroy my literature.

Read a book.

Also, try peace. It's a nice change from what most people are used to.

People! Slow down.

I've tried to be patient with the people in this state and thier horrid driving. Please stop cutting me off so you can speed to a red light thirty feet away. What ever happened to compasion for your fellow man? Where is the love? When did everyone stop helping everyone else?

I walk around this town and I don't see any one helping anyone else. It does always make me smile when I do.

Read a book.

Haiku contest coming up.

Come see me at the First ever Berlin Connecticut Hootenannay on May twenty first. It will be at the Spartens club on the Chamberlain Highway. I will be playing some of my solo stuff and also reading some poetry. You should come and bring some of your poetry.

Help some one you don't know. You might get something better back.

SHOTS!

Yeah so the other night myself and Dennis St. Pierre walked to a bar in Meriden called Shots. It used to be called the alibi. The place was pretty chill and I was comfortable. There was a talkative man who was very colorful with his speech. He mentioned that his wife loved when he drank Guinness with a raw egg cracked inside of it. That would always make him perform better in nocturnal activities. He used a few different words though. That got me intrigued so I will be performing this experiment (probably not with any nocturnal activities though) and I will post the photos of the experiment.

Also I have decided to have a haiku writing contest for my blog. I would like you to write some and when I have the contest to send it to me. The winner gets some of my poetry. Basically everyone wins. Also, I will post the winner on here.

Read a book people.

Boycott Kindle to.

Many,

Many exciting things have been going on in the past week. I will tell you about them tomorrow when I recuperate from them. I went to a free Mastodon show, a free Tobacco show, and then the CT new wave film fundraiser was tonight. I went gallivanting all over New Haven in search of beer and interesting experiences. When I get some sleep I will tell you all about them.

Read a book.

P.S. When I leave in June I will visit anyone that wants me to. Please comment if you want my friends and I to visit you. I'll be your friend forever. No really.

Comin down the pipe

Lots of things going on in the world of this man. This is a picture of myself working of the set of Sensory Perception, a film being made in CT. I am operating a jib with a camera on the end of it. I was exhilarated.

This weekend is a trip to New York to see a man named Tobacco who plays in a band called Black Moth Super Rainbow. I love the city so it should be an enjoyable time. I am going to Ryan Casey the director of Crushing Pennies. If you like independent movies, look it up.

The day after that will be a trip to New Haven for the CT new wave film mixer at the Artspace. There will be drinks as well as various demonstrations in making film. I will be getting my "patootie" kicked. It should be a fun time.

Today the boys and I played in the park in Meriden. A man with a child walked up and told us that our music soothed the child. It was inspiring to calm down another human being with my music.

Casino

Here is a picture of a very serious dog.

Went to the Casino today. It was amazing how people throw away their money. The bright flashing lights and warm happy toned atmosphere. It's just so crazy how everyone there thinks they are going to win anything. If we could harness all that lost money towards something else maybe something good could be done in this country. No one seems to care.

What a hoot.

Started planning the Berlin CT Hootenanny today. I spoke with the lady at the Spartans club that my dad used to be the president of. We are going to have some bands play and then the general open mike kinda concert with everyone that wants to perform. More details to come late.

The boys and I have been playing tunes and are rarin to go.

Now I am going to watch some intervention.

An American Bard Project

The project is starting. I am preparing songs for some local concerts that are coming up and I am putting together a hootenanny for late May. It will be in CT.

I have a show on May 23rd at Joses house in New haven and another show one June 9th in a field in Berlin.

My band and I leave mid June for the West Coast. More updates to come soon.

Read a book.

Oh I didn't go to the Tea Bag convention in Hartford because I realized its a joke.

A sad joke.

Money isn't everything

I have been driving around this town doing that hand out the window thing. The air makes the hand move. It is enjoyable.

On Friday I am going to make fun of Hooba Stank at the Casino. It's free and I think I might bring legos. I will then throw them on stage in jest of the terrible band performing.

Next Thursday I will be going to the capitol Hartford to the Tea Party protest. I will try to get some interviews with some tea party ers. Maybe I'll bring my guitar.

Read a book.

King Dub

Here is a picture of Stylin Bruce Lee. Good work.

What have I been doing lately? I don't know. I've slept a lot. Today I woke up at two.

I have been working at the Remington building going thru film. I threw away Monty Python and the holy grail. An original copy from back in the day. It was to warped to save. I was sad.

I have to write something for Inkwell Press. It is a review for Subverso, Brians band. I think I'll do that tomorrow.

Right now I am drinking beer with my friends. I'll write some more tomorrow.

READ A BOOK. NOW! @ your house, or somewhere else.

Guitar center and mas films

Tomorrow I will be working with the film again at the old remington building in Middletown, CT.

Today I woke up at noon, mmmmmm. Then the gym was great. Some muscle head got very upset when he couldn't dead lift a lot so he screamed an obscenity and scared everyone in the place.He apologized very loudly and was quite embarrassed. Now I am sitting with Joey D in his basement updating this blog.

After the film job tomorrow I will be going to guitar center to hopefully buy a new acoustic - electric guitar. If you have any advice on that feel free to send it my way. Also if anyone wants to go I will be going around five. I have room in the van.

Today I jammed with Dennis and Eric. We have some good things in the works. I am very excited about this summer. You should be to.

I am thinking about organizing a hootenanny as well for sometime this summer. It will be presented by The Family Chomp and I want to get as many acoustic bands as possible. I want it to be at the Spartans club on the Chamberlain Highway. If you are interesting in helping me organize it or playing an acoustic act at it send me an email at JamesNeurath@gmail.com.

Read a book.

REEFER MADNESS

The other day I went with Russ Martin to the Remington Building in Middletown. I did not expect anything like what he told me on the phone. He mentioned that we would be sorting film. He didn't tell me how amazing it would be.

At nine thirty in the morning I stepped into a door labeled Circus Tech. I don't really know what is technical about a circus, but it was an interesting door. After some dilapitated stairs I went up to a warehouse floor much like the one we filmed the Sensory Perception bunker scene last October. There were pallets and pallets of film. It turned out to be the personal collection of Elvin Feltner. Bitchin name.

Turns out he has a huge collection of 35mm and 16mm film that has been decomposing for years. Russ and I went thru about three pallets of them throwing out so many that had turned to vinegar and had become warped. I had been going thru a lot and was wondering why so many said "bridge" on them. I thought it was a tv show about bridges, but there were so many. When I asked what they were the lawyer that represented him said that Elvin had once owned the rights to film the national bridge championships. Yeah, the card game. People used to watch that on television. Riveting in my opinion

After throwing away lots of bridge I freaked out when I saw what was underneath all of them. It was an original 35mm copy of Reefer Madness made in 1936. I picked it up and when I showed it to the lawyer he almost went as crazy as me. I was so excited I was almost giddy. It takes a lot to get me giddy.

I held Reefer Madness in my hands. In my hands.

Read a book.

Today

So I slept twelve hours last night. I don't know if that is a good thing or not. It just happened.

I want to tell you about a band I listened to today. I was happy about it. They are called Slightly Stoopid. They entertained me and you will love them. Or else.

Go to this website - http://www.slightlystoopid.com/ss.php?skin=2

Tomorrows adventure takes myself and Russ Martin (one of the people I work on the movie with, he used to drive Steven Seagal around) to the old Remington Warehouse in Middletown to rummage around some film archives.

When I experience it, I will let you know what it felt like.

Read a darn book.

A new week

My friends and I had a great time at Eli's the other night. We had Jalapeno poppers roulette style. You get about ten of them in a basket and one of them is injected with extremely hot sauce. I was lucky and didn't get one.

My friend Andy got his ass kicked when he got two hot ones ( they throw and in an extra for giggles sometimes) in a row. He loves hot food, but he got burned with those poppers. St. Patricks day was interesting. I drank some beer and sang some songs on a street. Also ate some corn beef and cabbage.

Last weekend I went to the Webster at saw House of Pain. Yeah that's right with Everlast. I didn't know that he was the lead singer of that band. The show was pretty good. Most of the people there were drunk and fat so the pit was kinda sad. Lots of sweat.

So I have decided to ask this question. What was the last book of poetry you read ? Also what did you think about it? If I like your answer I will be sending you a book of poetry. Hopefully you have read a book of poetry lately.

This week I have some things in store for you so stay tuned.

Read a book.

Eli's

Myself and some of my friends are going to Eli Cannons tonight in Middletown for a little pre st. Patricks day celebration. Everyone that reads this should come and meet us there. I'll even let you buy me a drink. I bet you will enjoy it. They have lots of shenanigans and the wings are pretty sweet. Also, there are always televisions playing something cool like the original Clash of the Titans.

Just go.

Read some books.

Metlife blows

If you didn't know a few months ago I was rear ended by some jerk in a truck and was pushed out onto the Berlin Turnpike. If you don't know what that is...well you probably do if you are my readers. One of my goals is to get some readers who don't know what the pike is.

So my beautiful buick was killed and with one check I got from metlife I purchased a well used tour van from a crook in Rhode Island. I'm keeping it together for the California trip I am planning this summer, but it gets expensive. I received a little letter from Metlife saying that they changed my case worker a third time. I guess some lay offs are abound at Metlife. I just want my check for my bodily injuries and my pain including suffering. With that I'll pay to get to the sunny shores west.


So today was a slightly lazy day of gym and then buying a new phone from Big John. If you don't know him, well he is pretty big, it even says so on his name tag.

I'm gonna go write now. I hope you are doing something like

READING A BOOK

My nearly broken nose

Here is a picture that I took of a sidewalk in front of the Gratedful Dead house in San Francisco.



Friday night a bunch of my buddies and I went up to Worcester Mass to see Dillinger Escape plan at the Palladium on Main street. We all crammed into my tour van and were stoked. I was so so stoked I could barely drive. However, when we got there the guys wanted hot dogs so we stepped into this little hole in the wall hot dog place next to the Palladium. One of the bands that was playing that night was in there. They are called Iwrestledabearonce. They were quiet, but laughed when the television had a show about people having capibaras for pets. If you don't know what one of those are you need to do something about it.

Later, we went into the show and the first band up was called Animals as leaders. I thought they were very talented musicians, but were pretty boring entertainers. After them were Iwrestledabearonce and my friends and I moshed pretty hard during their set. I am not the biggest fan of metal and I wouldn't say this band was amazing, but I did have a great time. The lead singer girl even wore a furby outfit.

After that it was a metal band called Darkest Hour. I also didn't think they were that great, but I crowd surfed for the first time and I was impressed by how strong the fans were holding me up. Sadly for me, when I jumped back into the crowd from the stage that I had been thrown onto I was dropped flat on my back.

To the crowds delight the next band was Dillinger and I really couldn't give you a definitive opinion of them. The pit went crazy when they started playing and the bouncers really couldn't do anything to calm it down. During the second song I was popped in the mouth and had to leave with a bloody nose. I was lucky and didn't lose any teeth. My buddy Chuck lost a good chunk of his front left one.

Overall I enjoyed the show, but I don't think I will be going to a metal show for awhile.


Read a book.

THE Family Chomp

Here is a picture of a great man.

So the winner of this weeks question is Joe G. from Chadds Ford PA. His blog can be found here--->http://pansymeliketoday.blogspot.com/. I wish to see him again soon because when the Subverso crew went up to his house to play it was such a great time. His basement was alive with up and coming musicians and his father showed me a video of himself catching a big fish. The prize that Joe will be receiving is a surprise for him only and the only way to win is to keep answering questions!

It is starting to get warmer here in CT and that is a sign of the summer coming. I am excited about sandal weather and more bands to see. The American Bard idea of mine is just starting to get formed into something fluid and you will all be in on it if you keep reading my blog.

I also want to talk about The Family Chomp. It is a collective of artists in CT that make art and music and want to share it with you. We are going to have a contest soon for any band that enters has a chance to win a free CD cover art from Andrew Mckinnon -> IIIII.

CT Transit

Today I stood in the cold to try and catch a public bus at the end of my street. I stood on the Chamberlain Highway for thirty minutes. No bus. I was disappointed. However, I will try again when it gets a little warmer. I also am going to try hitchhiking. I don't believe that it is as dangerous as everyone says it is. My father tells me all the time about how much he did it when he was my age.

Not much going on besides practicing music and living off the government. So I want to start a new segment. It is called Wednesday question time. I will ask a question and if anyone can email me the answer they win a prize. The prize is a surprise, but you will enjoy it I promise.

This weeks question: Who wrote the original novel Frankenstien?

Please email me some answers soon.

LIsten to some new music

http://www.myspace.com/thefamilychomp

Go there and you will see what needs to be seen. As well as hearing what needs to be heard.


Also try reading a book and telling me what you thought about it.

In Stead

I wrote this today with my buddy Andy.

Choking Dog

There aren't many more things scarier than when you walk into a loved ones house and their dog is choking. It makes one scared stiff. However, when the trouble is over and the coast is clear there is an overwhelming sense of forgiveness to life and one goes back to thinking everything in life is fine, and we will never lose the ones we love.

This weekend I had a great time going to see Kris Keyes band Crail. If you like rock check them out. I certainly had a great time. Kris looks great in a pimp outfit. I was his roadie for the show, but I didn't do much. All I really did was drink beer and after a bit I went outside of the club to hand him his microphone. He wanted to start singing from outside which was interesting.

At the show we saw another band that impressed me called Superbug. They did some great covers and their bass player had a bright gold jumpsuit on. All he needed to complete the outfit were some roller skates. Worcester was a great time and I hope to go back there sometime soon.

If anyone wants me to come and see their band and talk about them send me an email to Jamesneurath@gmail.com.

Later this week I will be buying a CD and reviewing it. If you would like your band reviewed send me an email.

Also I will be posing a philosophical question sometime this week. Both of those will become weekly posts.

Read some books and tell me about them.

snow way

I have spent almost all of today sitting on my couch in front of my computer trying to find ways to get paid to be a writer. It is extremely difficult so far. If anyone out there needs a professional writer on staff let me know.

Know let's get serious. I have been reading this book lately and wanted to tell my readers about it. It is called Tripmaster Monkey - his fake book. It's by Maxine Hong Kingston. It is a piece of fiction about a young hippie who wants to put on a play about his Chinese heritage. It is a brilliant piece of work and I wrote Mrs. Kingston a letter and I am waiting for her answer. When I get it I'll post it on this blog.

Check out TheFamilyChomp.com.

Read some poetry. If everybody bought just one of my books (when I write one) I could buy my mother the convertible she deserves.

Hippism

A lot of people around me call me a hippie.

Others call me worse things. Others call me James.

However, if you think that being a hippie is wrong. I don't really care. Lately, I am striving not to eat meat. In a world where the human race can sustain itself without killing other creatures I think it is imperative that such practices of killing innocent beings should be stopped.

For a healthy tip, next time you want a snack go to your local grocery and get some ripe fruit. It usually isn't even that ripe because in huge, over priced grocery stores where the workers barely make anything they are not properly trained in fruit and vegetable care. Also the fruit will be marked down to a large degree. So get off your ass and stop killing cows. It's healthier, trust me.

Read some poetry as well boys and girls.

2 Ton Stomach Bug

I have been on my couch for far to long with a stomach virus and that makes me upset. Why can't my health be perfect at all times? I also had to miss John Dudek read his poetry which is always a bummer. However you can see his band 2 Ton Bug, which is a delight.

GO HERE - http://www.myspace.com/2tonbug.

Uh as well as you should check out this band called Wild Beasts, they can breathe under water. NO really they can. Basically they sound like a chill David Bowie getting some work done.

Read a book and get back to me.

Rad

This is my future.


If you are bored you need to check out Rad-dudes dot com. It is a perfect combination of everything that makes us wish we lived in the 80's. The best part about it is that it's free. You ever think about how much the internet would suck if we had to pay for it?

Go to the CT new wave film collective mixer tomorrow night at the Bristol Historical society. It will be perfect.

Andy's art will be up and it is an open bar.

oh my lord...
read a book.

CT new wave film mixer

That's me on the set of Sensory Perception. I had a beard then. I kinda have one now. That shot was in a bunker. Yes. A bunker.

If you have anything to do on Saturday, cancel it. Then get in your car and go to the Bristol Historical society. There you will enjoy an open bar, free food, and brilliant networking among the new wave of CT film makers. There will be trailers, film discussions with directors, and other topics all having to do with the film industry creating a new movement in CT. Also Andrew Mckinnon my great friend is showcasing some great works of Art. Also Linda Gin

I worked on a movie filmed in CT called Sensory Perception, check it out here - Sensoryperceptionmovie.com

Not much else going on around CT. I'm just fiddling with this here guitar and reading.

Philly description

After about three hours we made it to Philly during the day. It was nice to make it to the city with some daylight. If you ever go on long trips my advice is to leave in the morning so that when you get to your destination you have some daylight to find your way around. When we got there we had about eight hours till the show so we decided to park the van on 23rd street near Drexel university and the train station.

We wanted to find some place to get some interenet connection, I don't really remember why. It was so cold in that city while we walked around. It was beyond annonying. It actually hurt to tramp around. The boys and I then went to an underground CD shop that was pretty good. There was a decent amount of vinyl there. Especially ones with spandex clothed people. mmmm.

After that we just walked slowly down extremely cold streets until someone with an Afro (Jose) said we should find the love statue. If you don't know what I am talking about, look up at the top of this post. It is small and pathetic. I didn't enjoy it.

However I did enjoy meeting Rocky's statue. It isn't at the top of the stairs anymore, now it is on the bottom right.

I touched his abs.

More to come on the description of the show in Philly.

READ A BOOK !

and learn your goddamn language

In Depth Tour Description

When we left Ct I was so stressed out because of the van. I thought at any moment it was going to break down. I had ripped one of the captains chairs out to make room for the drum set and the amps.

After leaving Berlin we went to New Haven and Jose's apartment. When I got there I thought that I was going to have a heart attack. After a few minutes there we went to Sam Ash guitar store. I love music stores and really wanted to buy something, but all I wanted to do was get to New York. There is something about starting such a big trip that makes you only feel comfortable after putting some distance from your home. It is some kind of mentality that if I break down one thousand miles from my house at least I made it this far, I didn't just break down two streets over from my house.

The drive to Brooklyn was filled with my nervous laughs at the guys genuine jokes. They were just starting a music tour and all they had to do was enjoy the ride. I was sweating scared, and was dreading any snow that might fall. The forcast had called for a little and my van is not a snow vehicle.

When we finally got to Brooklyn I was very relieved, but we didn't know where we were staying that night and that was starting to get to me. The guys set up in Zebulon, which is a hipster little place that of course I felt under dressed in. I was the only person in there with a t shirt on, and of course it said something that people would look at with a wonderous stare. "Limp Biscuit is better than anyone, ever."

A beer later Andy showed up with Micheal Amenta and it felt like a little relief to see them. The whole trip I wish Andy Mckinnion the painter was with us. He is fun to have around.

After the guys played a pretty good first show some of us started walking and went to a Vegan restaurant. It was another little hipster place, although this place was a little grimier. I had a veggie burger about the size of my cell phone. Amber Sanchez showed up and because she is our friend from high school and a good person she let us stay with her and her boyfriend.

I slept on the couch and the guys slept on the ground. Ambers fish swam happily above my head. The next morning we left for Philadelphia.




Read a book.
Money saved for Cali Trip - $107.21

A long time coming

So this has been a crazy trip. It gets hard sometimes to find internet access. Especially when Ian Quincy Young needs to check his myspace account for three hours. (He takes extremely long showers as well.) So I am in Washington D.C. right now in a lawyers house named Omed. He is Persian. We stayed here a week ago, it seems like thirty years ago. I am so exhausted and we are going to get some D.C. pizza. I will describe all the craziness when I get back and dissect everything.

I drove seven hours the other day from Savannah to Blackburg VA.

Also, we met a few great americans along the way. More on them when some pizza is in my body.

The word You'll is fun

Guess where I am. In the woods in North Carolina. It is a nice house that some guy that played in a chello jam band is letting us stay in. Two nights ago we went to D.C. because the first North Carolina show got canceled. Instead we sprinted around the monuments at ten pm. Lincoln is a nice one. I am surprised we didn't get picked up by the secret service. Then we went to a German restaurant and listened to an older woman named Sylvia play the Floridian while we ate spicy sausages. It was a great time. After we had given up finding a place to stay and were just going to stay in the van. However we met these two random Persian lawyers and they let us stay in their amazing apartment and even took us out to dinner. I would write more but I am sick and need to hit the road.

More later.

Chapel Hill is a nice place.

Sitting in the kitchen

So, on tour with the boys from Sub verso. Here is what has happened so far.

We went to this hipster little place in Brooklyn and the guys played in front of a packed house. It was dark and they made some cash. There was a couple from Holland that bought a vinyl. I would love to do a tour in Holland.

Um, we stayed at Ambers house and watched the snow fall. Bagels in the morning and then off to Philly. When we got there we found that the guys were playing in a smoky fun bar. The toilet stall had two seats in one stall. It blew my mind. The sound guy almost deafened Ian Young the drummer and we met a guy named Bernie from a really heavy band that wanted us to stay in a warehouse that he was squatting in. We almost did, but instead we went to some random drunk girls packed house. There were a lot of people there and we didn't get to sleep till around four in the morning.

There was a creepy guy in a red scarf that kept creeping around. He looked like an awkward Jesus.

I am tired and miss Dudley.

More to come. Now I am sitting in a kitchen in Chadds Ford PA with an over protective father making sure everyone at the show doesn't flush to much toilet paper in his toilet.

This Thursday

When the Thursday of this week comes I will be on my way to Brooklyn, New York with the band Subverso (thesubverso.com) They are playing at a club called Zebulon at 258 Wythe Ave. We are all taking my Adventure Van. It will be her maiden voyage and it will be fitting that the first destination will be New York City. That place always seemed to me to be the most important place in the world. Whenever I am there I wonder how I am not there all the time.

However, it smells better where I live.

So I will keep you all posted on how the trip goes. Anyone have any ideas? Email me some and if I find them funny I will respond.

Jamesneurath@gmail.com

Current money saved for this summers trip: 100 dollars


Oh hey, read the book Shogun by James Clavell. You will be astonished and thankful you most likely will never have to commit Seppuku. There is always a chance though.

J. R. N.