Concert: CT Holiday Throwdown, 12/18/10

This past Saturday, I drove up to Danbury, Connecticut, for the "CT Holiday Throwdown"- a concert featuring several New England (mostly Connecticut/Massachusetts/New York) bands, mostly unsigned. The bands were primarily in the pop-punk vein; I'm friends with the singer in one of the bands that played, and so I got a Facebook invite to the show. I checked out the bands that I wasn't familiar with on Myspace, I decided that the concert would be worth the 2 hour drive up to Danbury. After all, I'm on break, so what else would I do?

After filling up my car and putting the address in my car's GPS, I took off. I had Good Charlotte's new album Cardiology on repeat (LOVE that album- go listen if you haven't already), and already knew the first half of the route (I've driven up to Westchester, NY, to visit friends- same route pretty much). The GPS tried to take me through Manhattan, but luckily I'd thought ahead and new that I didn't have to (seriously, driving through the city on the Saturday before Christmas? Um, no thanks).

I got to Danbury a few minutes before doors opened for the show, so I bought an energy drink at a convenience store on the corner. It was pretty cold out, but doors opened at 4:30pm, as promised (it was pretty nice to not have to wait outside for too long). Once inside, I stood around awkwardly for awhile. There were some band members there; for the most part, they were either selling merch or setting up equipment. I knew I'd end up buying a CD (or four), but decided to wait until I'd actually heard the bands to buy their CDs. I saw my friend and he thanked me for coming.

Up first was Brookline Drive. My first thought was that their lead singer, Ben, reminded me of someone I went to high school with. Ben said that this was only BLD's 6th show, and I was impressed- for a relatively new band, they were pretty good, and very together. They were definitely natural performers. They had a fair amount of energy on stage, which was awesome. Three of the members of BLD- and then a fourth- came up to me trying to sell me their CD; I bought it, since I'd liked their set, and I like buying CDs directly from bands, because I know they're getting at least some of the money (of course some of it will be covering the costs of recording and pressing the album, but with an unsigned band, there's not the middle man of a record label). Favorite song: "Aprylle Fools"

Next was Two O'Clock Courage. TOCC weren't my favorite of the night, but they were pretty good nonetheless. I ended up buying their CD (I was on the fence, but it was pretty inexpensive- $3- so I went for it). The album artwork was pretty simple, but I liked it- the cover of the case (a slimline plastic case) was mostly purple, except for a heart-shaped area that was completely see-through. Their songs reminded me of the type that would've been the soundtrack to my high school years (for the record, high school sucked for me). Favorite song: "See You at the Aftermath"

White Rose was third. I've listened to WR before, and love them- definitely one of the reasons I decided to come to the show. They're pretty classic pop-punk (pretty much influenced by the same stuff I listened to when growing up) but young enough that they don't sound like they're stuck in 2002 (not that that's a bad thing). Lead singer Will got really into his performance, really interacting with the crowd in true pop-punk fashion. They covered "Everywhere" (originally by Michelle Brance) which was a pleasant surprise. WR was selling CDs for only $2- with 10 songs on it, I'd say that's a pretty good deal, so naturally I bought one). Favorite song: "Friends"

After White Rose was Follow Your Hero. While I honestly can't recall any of their specific songs, they were pretty good. Three out of their five members dressed in plaid, FYH looked to be a little older (only a few years, but even that can make a difference) than some of the other bands. While they were still energetic, they seemed comfortable and sure of themselves on stage.

Love via Dance Machine went on next. Out of all the bands that went on, I think LVDM probably had the most energetic stage performance. Seriously, these guys jumped around like crazy- they would win the "I Drank Way Too Much Coffee" award if their was one, or maybe the "Invisible Trampoline" award. Lead singer  's hair was completely messed up- my guess was he spent hours fussing with it so it was perfectly messed up. I wasn't familiar with most of their songs, but they had such an AWESOME performance that I had a blast during their set anyway. I would've bought a CD from them, but they weren't selling CDs. They also covered "Teenage Dirtbag", which totally made my night. Favorite song: "All is Fair in Love and Dance"

Weatherstar was one of my favorites of the night. Featuring Cameron Walker on vocals and guitar and Billy Toti on the snare drum, they were definitely the smallest band, but (as they were, after all, one of the "headliners" of the show) they were easily one of the best. Cameron didn't bounce around like an Energizer Bunny, but even though he played the whole show on acoustic guitar, he was very into it. Acoustic music can either be slow, boring, and depressing (i.e. Dashboard Confessional; not that this is a bad thing, it's just a different sort of music); or it can be fun and energetic (on the even further extreme end of the spectrum is Show me the Skyline- arguable whether they count as acoustic, but they're basically dance). Weatherstar was definitely the latter. I bought their CD, and it's probably my favorite of the four that I bought, with simple but sweet melodies and poetic lyrics. Favorite song: "Postcards"

With the Punches played after Weatherstar. They weren't my favorite, but their performance reminded me of New Found Glory (definitely a good thing). The vocals were nowhere near loud enough when WTP was on, but their songs were pretty good nonetheless. While they weren't quite as bouncy as LVDM, they had a certain energy on stage that made the crowd (or at least a few people in the crowd, who I was pretty sure were friends of the band) start to mosh.

The show finished with Phone Calls from Home. It wasn't announced that they were going to be at the show until about a week before; previously, I'd been unsure if the trip was worth it, but once I heard PCFH would be there, I knew I had to go to this show. PCFH began their set with a cover of Akon's "Don't Matter"- a bit of a surprise, but I always like hearing bands cover songs of artists of different genres (like WR's cover of "Everywhere" and LVDM's cover of "Teenage Dirtbag"). PCFH certainly didn't disappoint. Favorite song: "Coming Back to the World"

I love bands that look like they're having the time of their life on stage (I've seen Simple Plan four times, and each and every time they look like they're having a blast, which is part of the reason I love seeing them). I love going to concerts and seeing that energy. When a band interacts with a crowd- like some of the singers at this show, who crouched down at the front of the stage, and had fans singing into the mic with them- it really brings the energy up, and makes it more fun. That's why I love being in the front or in the mosh pit when I go to concerts (there weren't really enough people for a "real" pit but there were some people who tried). Despite the fact that these bands were all either unsigned or on independent labels, the CT Holiday Throwdown was, overall an amazing pop-punk show, with great performances from all.

"Road trips" all across the Garden State Parkway

One thing I love about being home is that I have access to a car, and having access to a car means that I can essentially go anywhere, anytime. At school, I don't have a car, which means I'm restricted to going places that are either in walking distance or easily accessed by public transportation.

Having a car means that I can go to concerts, and not have to worry about which bus or train I'm going to take back (because not all public transportation in Cleveland is 24/7). I love that; sure, it's fine to get out of the venue early and right as the show is ending, but personally I kinda like lingering, meeting other fans and talking to bands.

I've driven to a fair few places in the tri-state area to go to concerts. Most recently, I drove to Danbury, Connecticut for the "CT Holiday Throwdown" (more about that in a separate post)- an almost 2 hour drive. I've driven out to Long Island (Nassau Coliseum) and to various venues up and down New Jersey (PNC Bank Arts Center, The Stone Pony, Starland Ballroom), not to mention driving up to Westchester to meet a friend, where we'd then be driven up to Poughkeepsie to go to a concert.

Driving, to me, is freedom. I love having that freedom. I love being able to decide that I want to go up to Connecticut, out to Long Island, or down to Asbury Park, and just being able to go. While public transportation does go to most of these places, it takes longer, isn't direct (I'd have to switch trains at least twice- not including a subway in Manhattan- if I wanted to get up to Connecticut), and you have to plan a little more. It's a trade-off, of course; public transportation is cheaper in many cases, better for the environment, and there are some places where it just doesn't make sense to drive (if I was going to a show in Manhattan, there's no way I'd drive- parking and tolls are astronomically expensive, plus because of traffic it would take just as long as a train, if not longer).

I considered not going to the concert in Connecticut- after all, 2 hours is a bit of a trek (but it's not the farthest I've driven for a concert; I drove over 3 hours to see Blink-182 in Hershey Park with my best friend). But I do like driving; it's nice to have some solitary time just listening to music and singing along. When I'm driving to the concert, I'll often listen to one of the bands that I'm going to see; when I'm driving home, I'll listen to them again, this time singing alone extra obnoxiously to the songs they played at the show. Or I'll listen to the CD of one of the opening bands that I just bought.

I've also realized that while there have been times when I regretted not going to a concert (for example I kinda wish I had gone to a concert down in Vineland, when I had been spending a week at the shore), there's never been a time when I've regretted making the drive out to a concert. I've yet to be disappointed, but maybe that's just me- after all, I basically live for live music.

Reasons why Fanfic/Netfic > "Real" Fiction

I love writing, and for my entire writing "career" as of today, I've been self-publishing on the internet. I started out by writing fan fiction ("Fanfic"), but while I no longer write Fanfic, I still post things online- it could be said that I write "Netfic" (Internet Fiction). I love writing and reading Netfic and I love reading some Fanfic, and there are some respects in which Fanfic/Netfic is better for both writers and readers:

1. It's free. This is good for writers because other than the cost of a computer, internet access, and a word processor (which, if you're reading this, I assume you have at least the first two), that means it costs you nothing as a writer to get your stories out to people. While I suppose you could spring for paid advertisements, there's also a huge audience if you just advertise yourself, for example via links in your blogs. As a reader, this is awesome because you don't have to pay to read anything! If you see a story that seems interesting, you can start reading it, and if you don't like it, it's okay. Or if you read one awesome story by a certain author and are DYING to read the sequel, then you can read it without having to shell out $14.95 for the hardcover book.

2. It's right there and can be read anywhere. As a reader, it's convenient not to have to physically go anywhere to find something new and interesting to read. It's also nice to be able to bookmark the link of the most recent chapter you read- you can then pick up exactly where you left off at another computer or on another day. As a writer, it's in your favor, too, because it makes it easier for people to read your stories.

3. You get to connect with your readers. All Fanfic/Netfic sites I've seen offer the opportunity for readers to review authors' stories. I've had readers email and IM me, and have become friends with some of them- one of them I've been friends with for four and a half years now, and it all started because she IM-ed me saying she liked one of my stories.

4. There's a huge sense of community among writers and readers. Fanfic/Netfic writers are very supportive of each other. I know that I like writing things my readers want to read; often if I'm at a loss for a name for a new character, I'll ask my readers for their suggestions- I know that as a reader, I get a kick out of having a character named after me, and as a writer, it's fun to do it too. Often, if a writer really likes something he or she reads by someone else, then they'll "plug" that person- tell others to read their stories.

5. Short updates in readable chunks make it easy to read. Most chapters are pretty short- I tend to keep my chapters under 2000 words, and the majority of chapters I've seen are shorter than 3500 words- making it easy to fit reading Fanfic/Netfic into your life, with obvious stopping points. Sure, you can pick up a book and read 10 or 15 pages, but that might not end you at a satisfying place to stop. Personally I try to keep my chapters in the range of 1200-1800 words; a lot of stories I've seen have most of the chapters around the same length- this way readers have a vague idea of how long each chapter will take to read. Plus, not having the whole story at once is kind of exciting- just like watching a TV show, you get a little bit at a time, which (at least in my opinion!) lets you savor it more.

6. Well-organized websites mean you can find exactly the type of story you want to read. I know that bookstores are organized by genre, but I'd have to say that most Fanfic/Netfic websites make it easier than most bookstores to find what you want. On many websites, you can select the fandom (if you're looking for Fanfic) that you want to read from, and what characters you want to see in the story; and then you can choose if you want a short story/one-shot, novella, or novel length; a genre, such as angst, drama, comedy, romance, or horror; a rating (which might be Everyone/Teen/Mature, or G/PG/PG-13/R/NC-17); and any "warnings" (i.e. contains foul language, death, drug use, etc.) that you do or don't want to see in the story. There's also usually a search function, enabling you to type in keywords you're looking for in the story, title, or summary. This makes it so easy to find something really catered to what you're looking for. If I'm in the mood for a fluffy, light-hearted romance with a guarantee of no death or cursing, then I can find that.

"There She Goes"

I finally published the prologue and first chapter of a new story (There She Goes) on Ficwad.

A few years ago, when I first started writing, I wasn't very self-conscious about what I published- I pretty much just posted everything I wrote, even if I only had a chapter or two. I also didn't tend to think ahead much.

Now I write a little differently. I've already written over 6000 words of There She Goes- a few chapters worth, at least. Before I posted, I wanted to have an idea of where the story was going and how it was going to end. I didn't originally post it when I first started writing because I wanted to know exactly how the story was going to end, and what was going to happen and when.

But I realized that in the past, the only stories I've ever finished have been ones that I've published online. Posting chapters as I go only forces me to write now and edit later. I can always post a rewrite if I so choose. But by putting up what I have on Ficwad, it makes me just write and not think too much. The story has only gotten a few reads so far, but I'm hopeful that by posting it on some other sites (considering Ficwad is kind of dying and stories that aren't fanfics don't get much traffic) I'll get more reads and reviews.

I think I've found a happy medium now. By having a little bit of the story written out, I have an idea of where it's going, even if I don't know how it's going to get there or where it will end; but I'm still able to plan and change things as I please while I'm writing, and posting gives me incentive to write.

(Click to read There She Goes...)

Swimming & Lifeguarding

When I was a little kid, I loved to swim. I still do love to swim.

I took swimming lessons growing up- going to the YMCA on a Saturday morning and swimming was always fun. I tried basketball, soccer, and softball, too, but I was never any good at any of those (and thus they were never much fun... gymnastics and cheerleading are a whole different story).

I went to day camp (starting when I was 3 or 4 until I was 8) and then sleep away camp (starting when I was 8 and continuing till I was 16) and always went swimming. Most of the time at camp, there'd be the option of swimming lessons or recreational swimming; even when I was old enough that I no longer had to take swim lessons, I continued to do so, just because I liked it. I remember going to the pool after day camp was over in the evening, and going on weekends, just to goof around with my friends.

In 9th grade, I joined my high school's varsity swim team. I had never swam competitively before, and while I was never any good (as in- save for county championships senior year- I tended to come in last place), I could swim well enough to race. Swimming is such good exercise, and I loved being able to completely escape from everything during practice. If you're a runner, you might listen to your iPod while you train, but if you're a swimmer, unless you have one of those fancy waterproof MP3-player things (I've seen and heard of them but never knew anyone that actually had one), you're pretty much in your own mind. When he had long endurance sets, I'd pick an album- any album, but it had to be one I knew well- and get every song, in order, in my head. During my races, I remember feeling like all that mattered in the world was my race- the lane of the pool I was in, swimming the race I was swimming, was all that I cared about at that moment. Any worried I had with school, my social life, or my parents completely disappeared.

I taught swim lessons at a day camp for two summers, but now I just lifeguard. I lifeguard an average of four days a week at school; sometimes I'll see people I know from class or my old dorm, and I've even seen one of my professors (yeah, it's kinda awkward), but mostly I don't know any of the people I see (although I do recognize people, since the same people tend to come on the same day and time every week). It's so weird being around the pool so much without actually swimming. I miss swimming, but at the same time I'm glad I'm not on my college's varsity swim team, since I wouldn't be able to do anything else.