Journal Page

The journal page appears on tallyhall.com beginning on the 15th of November 2005. The Wayback Machine snapshot is from January 17th, 2006, so it's possible that earlier journal entries were unfortunately lost with the death of Flash.

The following journal entry data was collected March 2023. Some of the links work to this day, and others require Wayback Machine, so the link needed is provided. If the link is unavailable through either means, the words will be formatted as a hyperlink but lead back to this page.

Journal Entries

Date	Title	Author	Written Content
11.15.05	back from chicago	andrew	We're back from a weekend in Chicago. Good times all around. The Double Door show was a great time and it's always nice to play with Down the Line. Dan from DTL joined us for "Be Born," and we added some new tricks to our live show. The highlight of the trip had to be the hot dogs. They were very delicious. Joe ate two of them. We had to stop him from eating three and the lady behind the counter. He was hungry. Thanks to everyone who came to the show. We look forward to returning.
12.01.05	fire	joe	Today, Zubin caught fire while practicing "Greener." At first we thought he was playing a practical joke, but no. He tried to shrug it off as nothing, although he was clearly embarrased. Rob recommended that Zubin consult a physician. “It’s okay,” insisted Zubin, “I’m okay.” Sure, Zubin, you might be okay now, but what if you catch fire on tour? That would be inexcusable.
12.07.05	TOUR UPDATE 1: LENXINGTON/LANSING	zubin	Last night we played the Temple Club in East Lansing. Although we had a great time, we lost a VERY valuable member of our band: our “anger is one letter short of danger” sign (danger should be pronounced “DANG-EHR”). We miss you sign. We miss you. Come home. Before playing The Dame in Lexington the following day, we enjoyed dinner at a bar called Cheapsides. Our kind waitress used no form of notation while taking our complicated order. With a look of disgust in his eye, Rob said that he disapproves of waitresses who don’t write the order down because they tend to forget the intricacies. And boy were there intricacies. I ordered a burger with fries. Andrew ordered a chicken sandwich with mayo on the side and finely diced pickles. Ross wanted a southwest chicken dish, but wanted the chicken cut up and asked to have toothpicks placed in each piece. Rob asked for a burger, but wanted soup instead of chips. Joe ordered a whale. Good story, eh? Oh yes, we also played a show. People in the south sure are friendly. Thanks for having us. We’ll keep you updated throughout the rest of our tour… Love, -Zubin
12.08.05	TOUR UPDATE 2: PITTSBURGH	rob	SPOILER WARNING: DON’T READ IF YOU ARE ROSS OR ROSS’S REAL PARENTS! On our way out of Lexington, we ate a delicious, nutritious, superstitious meal at WAFFLE HOUSE. Ross recommended it, claiming to have “been there before.” As always, we were suspicious of Ross’s intentions, so we hired a private eye to do some digging. Turns out he was adopted! The meal was tasty, but Andrew’s forehead accidentally popped open. Then, on our way to Pittsburgh, we had a MAJOR EMERGENCY. Find out more there: HERE. The Pittsburgh show was a lot of fun. We now whole-heartedly endorse the Shadow Lounge – a very low-key, comfy venue. The crowd was energetic and friendly; thanks to the TALLY HALL MONITORS that flyered. We appreciate it a ton.
12.09.05	TOUR UPDATE 3: CLEVELAND	andrew	The trip to Cleveland was, well, tricky. We kept seeing signs for a buttermilk pancake. What’s the deal!??! Zubin reaaaally wanted to go. After our experience at Waffle House, it was just too logical that a buttermilk pancake would be delicious. But we didn’t go. Instead we went to Cleveland and played a show. My Kurzweil keyboard broke, so we had to improvise and I played everything on my Alesis Ion. It’ll be fixed by Saturday. Just as we were leaving, two people came in who had missed our set due to snow delays, so we played a concert outside for them. It was fun and cold. We’re now on our way to the East Coast. It’s a long and snowy ride. So far we’ve debated which is better: Panera or Au Bon Pain. I understand that Panera’s menu is generally delicious, but I love the diversity of the latter. And they give you crunchy flavor-filled croutons for free with soup. Panera, do you do that? Gotta go. Have a safe day. -Andrew
12.12.05	TOUR UPDATE 4: NYC	ross	It’s been a great couple of days since Cleveland. On Saturday, we found ourselves in the lovely town of Dobb’s Ferry, NY, which happens to be right near Sleepy Hollow. We played a great acoustic show for students of the high school and had a blast. Thanks to Martin and Jake for putting the show together. We headed into the city after that to play at the Lion’s Den, but not before awarding Al with a trophy for being a “Second Place Tally Hall Winner.” The show at the Lion’s Den was great, and we had a fun time hanging around the village. On the following day, we made our way to Southstreet Seaport to see the “Bodies” exhibit. Andrew had a brief conversation with one of the plasticized bodies, and they both agreed that John’s Pizza on 4th was far superior to Joe’s Pizza on Bleecker. After another show in NY on Sunday night, we’re now off to Boston.
12.13.05	TOUR UPDATE 5: BOSTON	rob	It seems to me that each town we visit has something different and unique to call itself. “Boston” was no exception! Last night we played a fun show at Harper’s Ferry (special thanks to those who drove vast distances…), and today we had a chance to see the city. We ate lunch at a gigantic food emporium called Quincy Market. Everyone had clam chowder except me. I had sushi. At one point, Ross sat down next to a statue and posed as if they were conversing. We wandered around the shops nearby until Andrew’s battery ran out. We carried him back to the van, and now he’s recharging while we drive to Providence. Here’s a butt:
12.14.05	TOUR UPDATE 6: PROVIDENCE	andrew
12.15.05	Where's Tally Hall?	zubin	Before playing our show in NJ, we spent hours relaxing at the Horowitz Manor. And we really needed the rest. The past few shows have been taxing and drama-packed. In the middle of our “Boston” show, an Elmo puppet beat Andrew up, pushed him off stage, and started playing his keyboard. Obviously angered, Andrew responded by throwing “vegetables” at all of us. Ross, who is TERRIFIED of “vegetables,” used his tom-toms as a shield. The next day was no walk in the park either. Joe fell asleep in the van and started snoring. As the once quiet hum began to grow, Rob noticed that Joe was mumbling the word “cheese” with each breath. After three minutes, Joe was yelling uncontrollably. He clenched his fists as his chest expanded, ripping his shirt. I looked back from the passenger’s seat only to find that Joe had eaten half of Rob and was looking at Andrew. I quickly searched around the car for all of the cheese products we had and began feeding them to Joe. He shrunk back down to his normal self after savoring the soft cheddar flavor that is Easy-Cheese. Luckily, we had a spare “half-of-Rob” in the back of the van.
12.16.05	TOUR UPDATE 7: NEW JERSEY	rob	Hello Tally Hall Journal Voyeurs! Our show in New Jersey last night was OODLES of fun. At first, we thought it was just BUNCHES of fun, but things just KEPT GETTING FUNNER AND FUNNER. Then Joe said, “Man, this show is a TON of fun.” But when Ross got the GOODTIMESOMETER out, we concluded empirically that the fun level was OODLES. I was just relieved to know for sure! FUNNER IS NOT A WORD! But, unexpectedly, word IS a funner. Joining us last night was the buxom and talented CASEY SHEA. If you’re not familiar with this guy, you should be. You can check him out here or there, and I highly recommend “Life in a Cube.” Here’s a shot of us with the man himself (he’s to the left of the buxom and talented fur hat (thanks to Jennie (who journeyed all the way from New Hampshire))). Also occurring last night, a young lass named Martha brought a home-made Tally Hall hoodie, complete with “Ruler of Everything” lyrics and an awesome hand-drawn hand drawing. Check it out: Zubin invited Martha to join us onstage while we played “Ruler.” She graciously obliged. As we mentioned last night, the roads were very slick (there was an ice storm), and we understand that hundreds of people died trying to come to the show; to their families, we would like to say – better luck next time!
12.18.05	TOUR UPDATE 8: DELAWARE!!!	joe	DELAWARE WAS FRICKIN' OUTRAGEOUS!!! STUFF EXPLODED!!! ANDREW ALMOST GOT BLOWN UP!!!!!!!!!!!! ON THE WAY OUT, WE DROVE PAST A SHARK ATTACK! CHECK IT!!!!!! DELAWARE = DELAWAWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12.21.05	TOUR UPDATE 9: PHILLY/TOLEDO/DETROIT	rob	It’s 3:46 AM and the tour is over. Just back from the Detroit show, I’m home for the first time in awhile. I’m going to keep this brief, as my exhaustion is slowly taking hold (though I did discover, while cleaning out the van 20 minutes ago, a Halloween goodie bag that we liberated from Andrew’s mom’s cupboard in New Jersey; so the high fructose corn syrup is giving me the energy to get this done (not unlike the story of Chanukah)). Okay. So: Philly was an interesting experience. We were, in general, underwhelmed by the venue and their practices. After arriving, we were told that our set was now an hour earlier, and that, contrary to what they had told us weeks ago, the show would be all ages. Aesthetically, the club was a classic rock/roll dive, which, though pleasing on a visceral level, smells bad. Thanks to those who rocked out – hope you enjoyed the bonus acoustic set outside. Toledo was great in every way. The Village Idiot has great pizza (we tried a Reuben pizza – though on their menu it’s spelled “Reuban” – and it was unique/very good). It was a snowy, bitterly cold night, so thanks to both the fans and the random bar-goers. Tonight’s Detroit show was a blast. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to end the tour. I think we’ll have some video to post in a week or so (taped graciously by Ross’s brother), so I’ll hold off on too much description till then. Suffice it to say that Joe, Zubin, and Andrew are all dead, and I support the use of the Oxford comma. Finally, like most bands, we had a competition to see whose neck skin had the highest degree of elasticity. WINNER: [[[File:122105-5.jpg]]
01.04.06	HAPPY NEW YEAR	joe
01.10.06	EXCITEMENT AND THE BLIND PIG	andrew	Friday’s concert at the Blind Pig was a lot of fun. Devin Davis opened the night with his incredible one-man show. Grand Buffet followed by redefining the meaning of an all-ages concert (and I quote, “!#$(@#*U&$ Grand Buffet you Q@#$*@#&$ fun listening hamburgers”). We played MMMM from start to finish, and we did a great job remembering all the words. The few times we slipped up, we were able to put the microphone up to the audience. Great job audience helping us out. Thank you. The real highlight of the night was actually before the concert. We were doing a photo shoot on our record label’s rooftop when a giant swarm of birds approached the building, attracted by Rob’s blaringly bright yellow tie. As the birds swarmed the area, we all ran across the roof looking for shelter. Zubin trembled in fear and Joe started crying. (re-enactment) Ross would not stop saying, “I don’t want to die.” Rob told him to quiet down but he was in some sort of trance, repeating the words over and over again. It was as if he were possessed. Being the brave one, I yelled into the sky, “Birds, come and get me. You’ve got nothing,” at the top of my lungs. As they came, I smiled, confronting my fears head on, watching the giant birds get closer and closer. The moment they finally reached I could feel something happen, a force like none other, something of a different world. It was magic. I drew a picture of how I felt. Before I knew it, they had passed. Everyone was still freaking out. Rob had peed himself. I stood there, and on my shoulder was a reminder. A plop of bird poop. It was something I’ll never forget. I hope to one day have the fortune to experience this again.
01.16.06	The Night Before...	zubin	In order to prepare for our upcoming tour...I sat on a lemon and thought really hard about my bass parts and vocal lines. I think im ready now.
09.18.06	A WEEKEND OF SHOWS!!!!!	andrew	This weekend we visited three of our favorite cities: Champaign, Madison, and Chicago. Music was played, people were seen, and that’s about it. I’ve condensed the trip into four important moments/observations. 1. Cookies. (missing file) 2. Heinz made mustard easier by giving it a new name. I always wondered how mustard bottles worked... (missing file) 3. Ross read a review in Drum! Magazine and got a little too excited. He played so fast one night that his drum set caught fire and proceeded to explode. A lot of people died. We did not. (missing file) (missing file) 4. Zubin proposed to Rob. The event was re-enacted by our bus friends Jen and Dan. Congratulations! (missing file) (missing file) (missing file) I do!!! (missing file) Jen and Dan pose with Zubin... Thanks to everyone who attended the shows. We had a great time.
10.06.06	PARTY TIME!	rob	(missing file) It was harvest season, and the balloon tree was ripe. With balloon prices soaring, the plentiful crop meant we'd be rich! We decided to celebrate by throwing a party. I concocted a plan: I'd tell all my friends it was my birthday party, and score a load of radical presents. I casually suggested to my family that we should have entertainment at the party. Specifically, a clown act of some kind. "That's a great idea, Rob" said Auntie June. Later, I found Granny Apple and suggested a cake. "I'll walk down to the cakery and buy it. You can trust me. It'll be a great cake, specially designed to fit our clown theme!" She thought the idea sounded delicious, so she gave me a dollar and sent me on my way. I chose the perfect cake, and made it home in time to do some last minute decorating before the guests arrived. People began to file in. Nametags were needed since so many guests showed up. This party was going to be OFF OF THE HOOKS! (missing file) But my devious plot was distracting me from the great festivities; I was too worried to enjoy the party. But when I saw the pile of gifts by the door, I knew it was all worth it. I needed to stash them somewhere until I could secretly open them, so I put them in a sock and acted casually. (missing file) I introduced myself to the clown, and she complimented my midriff. I asked her when the show would begin, and she looked at her wrist. "How about right now, Mr. Rob?" "Sounds good, Clowny. See you on the other side." We kissed long and hard, which was surprising. I walked away. The show started off with a bang. This clown loved sound effects. The show-stopper, though, was the bean-bag-on-the-head dance. (missing file) We were all enjoying the show when I noticed that Great Grandpa Clifford was eyeing the huge gift-filled sock. I was worried my whole plan would unravel because of his incorrigible curiosity, so I kept a close watch on him. He kept staring at it and began poking it. I knew what needed to be done. "Grandpa Cliff, can you help me tie my shoe?" "Sure, kiddo!" "It's in the garage." "The garage? Why do you need me to tie it if..." He was asking too many questions, so I clubbed him with his cane and dragged him into the river. When I finished washing the blood off my fingers, the show was coming to a close, and it was almost time for cake. My mom grabbed the box and took it outside. As she cut the baker's string, I realized that I had made a careless mistake. I had unthinkingly ordered myself a BIRTHDAY CAKE! How could I let this happen? I had to stop her from opening the box! But it was too late. (missing file) All was lost. "Robert, why does this cake say 'Happy Birthday?' Are you trying to fool our guests into thinking this is your birthday party?!?!�" I apologized as adorably as possible. "Oh, you're adorable when you apologize! Don't let it happen again." "Well, what should I do with all the gifts?" "Why, you should OPEN THEM, SILLY!!!" So I did. (missing file) "Has anyone seen Cliff?" asked Great Grandma Sally.
10.08.06	PUMPKIN SHORTAGE	ross	In case you haven't already heard the harvest news this year, I should inform you all that there is a pumpkin shortage. The pumpkin, source of much joy and celebration during Halloween, will not be as plentiful this October. The combination of too much heat, followed by too much rain has brought what CNN is calling a "one-two punch to the pumpkin patch." I traveled to some local farms to see the reaction from the pumpkins themselves. Most seemed to be sad that so many of their brothers and sisters did not make it through the season. (missing file) Other pumpkins were very angry at the loss of their fellow comrades. (missing file) While it seemed as though there was little hope left for this Halloween, I was able to find a town that was unaffected. Maple Ridge, British Columbia If you can't make the trip up there though, and would still like a pumpkin, I would get out there soon, before there are none left. The good news, flu shots seem to be plentiful.
10.16.06	Apples.	rob	(missing file) Since the dawn of time, they have tempted us with their sweet flesh, their crisp skin, and their subtle aroma. From the earliest cave drawings to the height of modern society, apples have been witness to the whole of mankind's evolution. Today, the apple industry boasts gross earnings of nearly $16 million annually, and over $76 billion altogether! As bold in spirit as they are in taste, apples are not afraid of change. A new strain, called Honey Crisps, have taken the apple world by storm, appling up the apple chain at an astounding rate, and out-appling all other apples by a factor of TWO TO ONE! (missing file) Honey Crisp apples were developed by an eccentric but brilliant apple genius at the University of Minnesota. A hybrid strain combining the best attributes of previously existing apples, Honey Crisp seeds were generated and planted twelve years ago. 2005 saw the first harvest of the new fruit. The apples have garnered an unprecedented level of acclaim. Not since the release of colored apples has the apple community been so abuzz with apple fervor. Apple pundits the world over proclaimed the Honey Crisp "'the' best!" (missing file) So what’s next for apples? I asked a local vendor to get the scoop. (missing file) "Kiddo," he said with a knowing laugh, "nobody knows what the apples are planning. Here’s a free pen." (missing file) Also, we're on tour now.
10.23.06	A Night Off	rob	-This journal comes to you in bullet-point format. -It contains words AND PICTURES, like this one: (missing file) -Our tour started in Minneapolis, our nation's leading city. -We opened for teen heartthrob Teddy Geiger. -Teddy was recently declared to be attractive by a number of publications. -These young ladies were waiting outside for the Geigenator.* -* = This nickname was not approved by Teddy Geiger or any representative thereof. -We trekked to and fro across the Midwest. -We passed a boat. -We stopped for lunch in the world's largest truck stop. -I have proof. -It truly was quite large. -It's not only a haven for truckers, it’s HEAVEN for truckers. -I just made that up, but it could really be their slogan. -Here are some of the amenities they offer. -While in Chicago, we stopped into our booking agent's office. -He pretended to look busy while we photographed him. -There's no one on the phone. Just a dial tone. -Now we're in New Jersey. -It's our night off.
10.26.06	Guess Who	zubin	Since we have been touring with The Changes, I thought it'd be fitting to play our old favorite game: +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+?!? Guess Who’s Shaking ?!?+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Rules: One member of Tally Hall and one member of The Changes will shake hands. Disclaimer: One participant was neither in The Changes nor Tally Hall. 1) ??? & ?????? 2) ???? & ??? 3) ????? & ???? 4) Mr. ????????? & ??????
11.02.06	SUMMER REMINISCENCE: DOUBLE-JOINTED FINGERS LOCKING WITH TENSION AS A DIRECT RESULT OF GETTING STUNG ON THE LOWER BACK BY A LARGE BUMBLEBEE WHILST RIDING A ROLLERCOASTER WITH NO EXPLANATION FOR ROB'S GENERAL COUNTENANCE	joe
11.07.06	ELECTION DAY!	rob	For far too long the thrilling, distinguished, and morally defensible sport of DOVE HUNTING has been oppressed by the corrupt dove lovers in congress. Finally, we can end the tyranny. If passed, proposal 06-3 on Michigan ballots will grant us, at long last, a DOVE HUNTING SEASON. VOTE YES ON DOVE HUNTING!
11.17.06	!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	tally hall	(flash player) (good call speags)
12.07.06	Trip to Los Angeles	zubin	Dear Reader, Few things could top the previous journal entry. So, instead of trying to beat our last submission, I decided that I would just give you the facts. So listen up: On our second trip to Los Angeles, we decided live it up big time. For breakfast we taunted sophistication by eating mouth-watering crepes. They were exquisite. We followed our ambrosial meal with an equally evolved adventure… SEGWAY RIDING! …it just doesn’t get any cooler (or unnecessarily high tech). Love you and miss you, -Zubin
12.22.06	HOLIDAY TIME PIXPLOSION!!!	rob	(this is bora after we got back from THE PRICE IS RIGHT. regretfully, we were not called on down. but bob did commend joe's ability to "ooh." seriously.) (fan butts.) (a little bit of ZOX) (a little bit more of ZOX) (a delightful bunch of hooligans that call themselves PARKER HOUSE AND THEORY.) (this is LUDO at their christmas spectacular. immediately following the taking of this photo, we ran onstage (along with BUILDING ROME, frosty, rudolph, and various other christmastime notables for a rousing end-of-the-night rendition of "frosty the snowman" and the tossing-out of many LUDO-supplied gifts.) (missing file) (congrats, ross!!) (on our way to california.) (the best thing we've ever seen.)
01.12.07	WELCOME TO 2007!!!!!!!!	andrew	First off, happy new year. Now down to business. Yesterday in rehearsal we had a debate. While listening to a certain song, we could not agree on what was being played by the backup guitar. We're not talking about the rhythm guitar. Listen to the single line backup guitar part. Some of us believe it to be one way, while others believe it to be the other. Take a couple of minutes and vote. Which, out of A, B, and C, is the correct guitar part as played in the song? SONG CLIP (flash player) EXCERPT A (flash player) EXCERPT B (flash player) EXCERPT C (flash player) (defunct poll)
01.16.07	ANSWER	joe	Thank you, Bora.
01.30.07	ROSS'S BIRTHDAY 2007!!!	andrew	TODAY IS ROSS’S BIRTHDAY! HE TURNED 7! TO CELEBRATE WE TOOK HIM ON AN ADVENTURE! FIRST WE PICKED HIM UP AT HIS HOUSE! THEN WE COVERED UP HIS EYES! ZUBIN GOT LOST AND HAD TO CALL FOR DIRECTIONS! (missing file) THEN WE SPRUNG THE ULTIMATE SURPRISE ON HIM! CHUCK E. CHEESE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ALL LOST AT THIS ONE GAME CALLED FLAMING FINGER! IT WAS RIGGED! PLEASE ENJOY THIS BIRTHDAY MONTAGE! (flash player) (ps. music performed by the Chuck E. Cheese's Canton House Band and Evan and Jaron)
02.06.07	ZUBIN RECOMMENDS: Part 1	zubin	The internet is a great way to kill some time...and lets be honest, time deserves it. So, to help you out, I've compiled a short list of websites that I find useful: How Stuff Works the news the coolest website (and no, i didn't make it, but i do fully support the soundtrack) DON'T CLICK THIS LINK...IT'S A VIRUS!!!! for when you are bored ...and just in case you need to keep track. Tell dad I say hi, -Zubin
02.12.07	Valentine's Day	ross	It's that time of February again, and sure enough, Valentine's Day is almost upon us. Many often wonder what to give as gifts on this special day and I'm here to offer a suggestion. While the traditional route has been to go with chocolates or flowers, there are new gift ideas every year that provide a novel and exciting option, to give your valentine something TRULY special. Over the years, we've been given the ability to custom build a teddy bear, trap a message of your voice inside a picture frame, and purchase a set of stuffed animals that are magnetically attracted to each other at the lips. This year I present to you, the Love Fish. (missing file) A large variety of tattooed fish, similar to this one, can be found at your local pet shop. My only advice: If you're thinking about purchasing one for the true animal lover, I might urge you to reconsider. Happy Valentine's Day, Love Ross
02.21.07	FANTASY LAND!	rob	Joe and I were on our way to the local roller rink when we happened upon an intriguing storefront. "Let’s have a look-see," I suggested. "Okay, Bobbsey!" Joe said. He put his phone into his pocket, then turned to me. "Sorry, that was Bobbsey McJones. I had to take it. What were you saying?" "Just that we should have a look in that store." (missing file) We crossed the street and entered "FANTASY WORLD." Here are some snapshots we took inside: (missing file) (missing file) (missing file) (missing file) (missing file) (missing file) It was a pretty good store. Joe bought a t-shirt. (missing file) All in all, I give Fantasy Land a B+. The lands were fantastic, but the restrooms weren’t as clean as I would have liked, and the t-shirt design was pretty lackluster. Also, the soup was cold.
03.11.07	Headin' South	ross	It's been a while since anyone has posted, but rest assured we're keeping busy. In fact, we're currently on our way to Austin, TX for South by Southwest. (missing file) That's Downtown Austin (missing file) This is the Texas Longhorn Band making an outline of the state during their pregame show (missing file) That's a lollipop (missing file) This is the Hamburgermobile
03.22.07	SXSW 2007	rob	To Susan: FINE. I'll be the bigger person and apologize, if it's going to end this. I'm sorry. There. Are you happy? Call me. To Everyone: Hi! We're back from Texas! We had a wonderful time, and I'm going to tell you all about it. If you're not familiar with the South-by-Southwest Music Festival, than allow me to inform: it's a four-day-long hullabaloo featuring music performances, myriad parties, distinguished speakers, informative panel discussions, the tightest of pants, and a variety of tex-mex culinary offerings. Those making the hajj to Austin include approximately a million journalists/photographers, a billion music industry employees, and a brazilian musicians. Also, there was a pickle. (missing file) We kept awfully busy down there. We played four shows, each of which went splendidly. We tried a few new things, including this: (missing file) And this: (missing file) On Friday, we sat down with Video Hits One. Joe enjoyed a cookie while we highlighted the finer points of our SXSW experience. (missing file) We saw some amazing shows. I don't want to make you jealous, but we saw all your favorite bands, plus Ross saw Kirsten Dunst at a party. I don't want to make Ross jealous, but Zubin got her number. I don't want to make Zubin jealous, but Joe kissed Ross. This is a show we saw: (missing file) After an acoustic mini-set in a city park, we were presented with a delightful diorama by a young lass named Tavia. She crafted us. We were very flattered. Take a look at her handiwork. (missing file) Finally, to top everything off, we had ice cream. (missing file) All in all, it was a very nice trip. If you are wondering how to spend the second weekend in March next year, I recommend you use that time to plan a trip to SXSW the following year; this festival is not to be missed! A very special thanks to Carolyn Wachnicki for the photographs used in this journal. And a very, very special thanks to Carolyn Wachnicki for being a good person with a kind heart and a warm, tender, understanding way about her. Sorry, Susan.
04.30.07	Some Knowledge You Should Have	ross	Hello everyone, we’ve been pretty busy lately, but despite all the hullabaloo, we managed to add a new djembe to our collection of percussion instruments. And for those of you who might like a little more information on the subject, I decided to give a brief description of this wonderful drum. (missing file) The djembe is a traditional African hand drum that has become increasingly popular in western music and culture. It is characterized by its goblet shape, string tuning mechanism, and tightly stretched goatskin head. Some date it back to over 3,000 years ago where it became an integral part of many Western African tribal rituals. In fact, the “dj” spelling came about during the period of French colonization in Africa because there was no hard “j” in the French language. Although it is tempting to pronounce it “di-JEM-bay,” the correct pronunciation is simply “JEM-bay.” As far as the physical drum itself is concerned, there are a few points that should be noted. The rounded body with the extended bottom tube shape provides an extraordinarily resonant chamber. This arrangement is known as a Helmholtz Resonator, and provides an opportunity for the deeper notes to shine through well. The construction method of carved wood, animal hide skin, and string tuning had been fairly consistent over the past few hundred years, but recently, a more modern design became available. The modern drums feature a semi-synthetic shell, and updated drum-key tuning mechanisms. This is the type we chose for our new djembe, mostly because of its durability and reliability in touring situations. (missing file) Of course there are advantages and disadvantages with each style. There are sticklers for the older more traditional design, and others who find the modern to be preferable. Either way, the djembe is a great instrument and we’re happy to welcome it into our family.
05.06.07	Aestavalia & NYC	rob	Last week we traveled to Granville, Ohio, where Denison University hosted the annual Aestavalia Festival. Between the sound check and the show, we had a chance to enjoy the festivities. (flash player) A few days later, we made our way to New York City. Despite the stifling heat, the Knitting Factory was rife with sweaty, dancin' rambunction. We called a time-out midway through the set, though, and had a camp-fire sing-along. (missing file) Special thanks to Jeremy Kittel, fiddler supreme, for supplying the Be Born solo. After the show, we presented the 1st Annual Tally Hall Manager Awards. Congratulations to Ben Sandler, second from right, the world champion! Jamie Kitman, third from left, was runner up. We also presented a trophy to our friend Adina, who has helped us a ton. Al McWilliams is a good guy, too. (missing file) Later, we ate at a diner.
05.16.07	IN THE STUDIO!!!	andrew	Hi how are you? Since we last spoke, many adventures have taken place. Right now we’re in New York City spicing up our album for an upcoming re-release. We’ve been trapped in a studio for the last couple of days with our new friends Chris, Arjun, Mike, and Artie. Good times are being had. We’ll be re-releasing MMMM on Atlantic Records at some point. We all feel that the album could benefit from some studio sharpening. We’re also working on a BIIIIGGGGG project (you’ll see). Over the next month, keep checking the journal. We’ll be posting some studio nuggets. Bye. (flash player)
05.20.07	Getting to Know NY	ross	Today we had the afternoon to do some exploring; I used my time to become a little more acquainted with our new neighborhood. We’re staying in an area of Manhattan known as The Flatiron District. “Flatiron? Why that’s a funny name for a district,” you might say. Quite the contrary, it’s named after the famous Flatiron Building. “Flatiron? Why that’s a funny name for a building,” you might say, but probably only if you had forgotten what you just said a second earlier. The Flatiron Building is actually a very interesting piece of American architecture. It is quite famous for a number of reasons, the most obvious being its unique design. Situated right at the acute corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, the shape of the building resembles that of a shirt iron, or “flat iron.” Equally as significant however is the engineering that went into the buildings construction. Most buildings built in the 19th century relied on stone and brick to support the floors above. The Flatiron was one of the first to be constructed using the steel skeleton method when it was erected in 1902. This allowed it to reach a towering 285 ft, and be considered one of New York’s first “Sky Scrapers.” For the past 100 years, the steel skeleton design is by far the most prominent in any large-scale construction project.
05.21.07	Things That Have Happened	rob	1. We moved into our NYC apartment. 2. We spotted the official Meow Mix Mobile. 3. Ross did his famous Zubin impression. 4.1 Our friend, Carolyn, joined us for Chinese food. 4.2 She received an ominous portent from The Beyond, along with some lucky numbers. 5. We have a van. 6. We went shopping. 7. Ross stood at The Gateway.
05.22.07	What What...	andrew	We've been doing pretty good in the studio. Check below for evidence. (flash player)
05.24.07	NYC: Video Entry 3	zubin	Things are pretty much normal around here: (flash player)
05.25.07	Meet Some Friends	ross	Earlier, you got a chance to meet some of the people (and animals) who inhabit the studio. I figure now is a good time for you to become acquainted with the some of the non-living things. We’ll start with one of my favorites, Mr. Radioking. He’s 70 years old and still sounds great. Love the guy. These fellas aren’t as friendly. They’re rude, obnoxious and make noise all day long. I’ve been staying away from them, so can’t really tell you much. I mean amplifiers, pshh, who needs em. And on the quieter side are these two racks of gear. I haven’t heard a peep out of either one yet. In fact, I don’t even really know what they do. Seem nice though, our friend Chris really likes them. And hey, any friend of Chris is a friend of mine. And last but not least is the heart of the control room, Señor Neve. He might actually be alive to tell you the truth, some parts of him move by themselves. In other news… Andrew has a crush on Cinderella. So does Zubin.
05.26.07	NYC #4	rob	(flash player)
05.29.07	I'M BACK!!!	zubin	In memoriam!?! More like in a space-time vortex. Booyah Rob! It’s more like you're in memoriam now. Anyhow, I should tell you the truth. Instead of dying I decided to ditch the guys to hang out with some celebs. They were pretty nice for the most part. Steven liked some of our videos, others he thought were mediocre to bad: Bono was there. So was “Robin Williams.” This is a picture of Fidel Castro. Other than his bad breath, he was pretty straightforward. Albert was really smart; some of his jokes were kind of lame. ZUBIN: No offense Albie. ALBERT EINSTEIN: None taken Zub. I gave Johnny Depp and Frankenstein wet willies: I think they were entertained. Abe said he was totally drunk and tried to kiss me. Between the two of us, I think he was lying. A few minutes later I saw him having a very lucid conversation with Richard Nixon. Then he came back to me and grabbed my ass and wandered off into another room. THEN he pulled this magical lever down from the wall and thousands of little golden frogs came pouring out and flooded the room while Sting’s “Desert Rose” played over a loudspeaker. One of the frogs turned into THE HULK! (no picture, just trust me)! Just before we were about to drown, the rooftop was torn off and a flying saucer beamed Fidel Castro and me out of the room. And THEN there was a HUGE explosion. IT WAS CRAZY!!!!!! Alternate Boring Journal I went to a wax museum.
06.02.07	Wholesale	rob	Our apartment is on a street dominated by WHOLESALE SHOPS. They're stores that service other stores, selling mostly in bulk, and they require proof that you're a store owner just to shop there. They're usually very specialized. But if you find a store that carries the sort of item you need, you can be sure they'll have all the available options. And for the shopper who's able to look past the allure of name brands... For the rest of you, though, don't worry! Those trusted name brands are here, too. So next time you're looking for that special New York souvenier, look no further than Manhattan's fabulous Wholesale District. Have a "wholesale" day!
06.05.07	A Recent Expedition	ross	Yesterday, our good friend Carolyn took us on a magical journey into the world of psychedelic art. Things started off normally. As usual, Andrew tried on various pairs of glasses. Soon, it became harder and harder to tell where our world ended and the art began. We lost all bearing on what was up and what was down. Before we knew it, we had walked through the doorway to a strange and unfamiliar world. This journal brought to you by... (flash player)
06.09.07	What's the deal?	rob	File:060907
06.10.07	shh, don't tell Rob...	zubin	this-is-the-deal
06.12.07	The Nickens Bobblehead	andrew	Ever wonder who played tuba on our album? YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES. Well, it was the one and only Dr. Michael Nickens. He now teaches at the Thomas A. Edison High School in Alexandria, VA. The Edison Marching Band has created the greatest "Dr. Nix" merchandise available anywhere, the Nickens Bobblehead. From Facebook: "My high school is fundraising and selling Doc Nix bobble heads, so for those of you who know the man buy the bobble heads, they're $10! Go HERE, fill out the form, and send it in!" It's for a good cause, so if you want to help out and add this "once in a lifetime" memorabilia to your household, don't hesitate. Our operators are waiting...
06.17.07	BOB HAWLEY'S FATHER'S DAY RIDDLE	joe	If a brick weighs a pound and a half plus a half a brick, how much does a brick and a half weigh?
06.22.07	An Alternative to the Cornbobber	andrew	Buy One Now! (thanks leigh...)
09.16.07	GUSTOUR BEGINS!	rob	As I write this, we're barreling down the highway from Los Angeles to San Diego with Andrew at the helm. Bora (our friend/associate/amateur physician) just called him a Fuddy Duddy. This is what Bora looks like: (missing file) Our tour with the kind-hearted gentlemen of Guster Band USA is undoubtedly underway. We began at the beautiful Warfield Theater in beautiful San Francisco. Part of what makes beautiful San Francisco so very beautiful is that it's home to this row of Victorian homes: (missing file) The Warfield is aN historic building. For example, its basement housed San Francisco's most infamous Prohibition-era speakeasy and Jerry Garcia (notable ice cream diplomat) considered it his "home venue." It was recently named the best concert venue in the world by someone, probably. Here's a view from the balcony: (missing file) San Francisconians are nice people. (missing file) Our second show with the American Guster Revue was last night, in Los Angeles. If you've never visited L.A., you haven’t been to that city. (missing file) By the way, this is what Ross looked like while we were sound-checking last night. If you were wondering what Joe looked like while he was sound-checking, then this is the perfect picture for you to see right now. (missing file) Here's where we played last night: (missing file) Now I'm sitting in the San Diego House of Blues dressing room. Tito, our tour manager, is looking at a spreadsheet. Joe is not.
09.18.07	Who's Excited?	ross	(missing file) ZUBIN IS!
09.20.07	ASSORTED ITEMS	rob	(missing file) Wyoming is a beautiful state. We drove through it today. (missing file) Guster. (missing file) The off-season. (missing file) This is a poster that Denver's Fillmore Auditorium made for tonight's show. (missing file) Extreme close-up. (missing file) Ross. (missing file) I bought this for a dollar in San Fran's Chinatown. (missing file) This soup was tall.
02.29.08	PHOENIX	rob	We left Ann Arbor on Sunday and began our long trek west-ward. Along the way, we met a man that crafted guitars from strange objects. (missing file) Our usual vehicle wasn't available, so we rented this one. (missing file) Then it broke. (missing file) With the help of some friendly Missourians, though, we got back on track. Then this happened: (missing file) ADVICE: If you ever decide to start a sandwich company, I urge you to get a little creative. (missing file) In New Mexico ("The Land of Enchantment"TM), Zubin did not get to buy a license plate keychain. (missing file) We arrived at the Phoenix Ramada late Tuesday night. ADVICE: If you ever decide to open a hotel, I urge you to spring for two different paintings. (missing file) The next night, we performed.
03.01.08	SAN DIEGO	rob	Last night we performed at a club called Beauty Bar. (missing file) It was located in San Diego's Vietnamese neighborhood. We found a supermarket nearby, and decided to explore the cultural differences between this one and more Americanized grocers. (missing file) The term "chicken finger," for instance, was used in a different, more literal sense. Another product we were unfamiliar with was pickled pig ears (Piggles?). (missing file) You might think that Vietnamese cuisine is more diligent than ours in utilizing every part of the animal, but take another bite of your hot dog and think again. (missing file) As recipes can vary, this grocer provided both fresh and cooked blood. (missing file) We even found pure kra-chai: (missing file) And for dessert, a variety of festive offerings were available. (missing file) Also: (missing file) After our perusal, we returned to the venue for sound check, then performance. (missing file)
03.02.08	LOS ANGELES	rob	Everything seems to go our way in Los Angeles. (missing file) To begin with, people turn out to our LA concerts wearing their Rock Pants. (missing file) THANK YOU to everyone who helped make last night's concert the heavy favorite for Best of Tour. (Provo, UT: That's a challenge.) (missing file) But our Los Angeles luck didn't end there. After a hearty Farmer's Market lunch, we spotted a BONA FIDE CELEBRITY: (missing file) We didn't have our Wayans Brothers Guidebook on hand, but it was definitely one of them. (missing file) We were also ranked #1 at IN-N-OUT Burger. Thanks Y'Kimia! Also, this was weird: (missing file) Thanks, LA citizenry. You guys are nice. It made up for the traffic, almost. (missing file)