Best. Summer. Ever.

Okay, so I'm obviously neglecting this whole blogging thing. I have a few excuses, although none of them are really good ones. My primary excuse is that I simply have no clue HOW to write about what's going on with me -- I guess "straightforward, say what you mean" just doesn't seem to do my insides justice right now. I want some poetry, some gravity or something. Unfortunately I feel thats something I'm unable to execute.

So, in the meantime, while I'm figuring out how to say all the things I don't know how to say, I'll just say what I mean. Luckily, right now I have plenty to talk about. I just got back last night from seeing the Smashing Pumpkins in Asheville. Holy sweet Lord. Definitely one of the best concerts I've seen in quite a while. They played for 3 hours and 20 minutes with only a 10 minute break and covered a very good mix of songs, including lots of new stuff. One song in particular (one of my favorites of the show), Billy informed the audience had been written a mere two days ago! I think he's going through a "down" period right now, as a lot of his new material seemed particularly melancholy, very acoustic and paired down. Although, its not like Billy hasn't written about infinite sadness, so the songs may have seemed sadder simply because they are so new, and he hasn't had time to craft the instrumentation. A single acoustic guitar always makes songs seem more empty and lonesome to me.

I got a bazillion pictures of the beautiful Billy Corgan, as I was only about 6 feet from the stage, which I hope to upload soon. My buddy Alex brought his camera and did an AMAZING job recording most of the show -- both the video and audio are stellar. I hope to link to some of the recordings soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

This summer has been quite possibly the best summer ever. All I've done is hang out with my friends, go to concerts and festivals, chill with my family and go to work when I feel like it. The concert line up for my summer has been ridiculous, and is as follows:

• Ratatat
• SOJA
• Asheville Music Jamboree (which included Michael Franti, Keller Williams, The Avett Bros., Donna the Buffalo, D.J. Williams, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, The Bridge, and about 15 more)
• Abbey Road Live (playing all of Sgt. Pepper's, including a SITAR)
• Smashing Pumpkins
• Disco Biscuits/Umphreys McGee in Raleigh
• STS9 Re:Generation (which will include FIVE sets by STS9, Benevento-Russo Duo, Dubconscious, Telefon Tel Aviv, and about 10 more)
• AllGood (with moe, Keller, Franti, Claypool, STS9, Steel Pulse, Soulive, Lotus, B-R Duo, P Groove, the Bridge, SOJA and many many many more)
• SOJA (my last night hangin' with y'all!!!)
  

*Sigh* If only every summer could be this awesome...