These words don't fade

Live TV Show Clip From This Morning (Of Your's Truly)

Storm88000@gmail.com — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:33:50 GMT

http://www.wfmz.com/news/Music-Monday-Jordan-White/-/121458/10033774/-/v2x2fh/-/index.html

Played our new song "Maybe, Amy" acoustically this morning on WFMZ-TV Channel 69 News with my friend Josh Klein laying down some leads. You can play & download the actual studio version of the song via the Player App at the very top of http://www.jordanwhitemusic.com if you're interested.

Thanks for watching & listening :) Comments welcomed of course.

How Embarassing!!

Storm88000@gmail.com — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:59:34 GMT

In one of my courses yesterday, the instructor was showing us a film on religion. This class just happened to be right next to another classroom that was ALSO showing a film, at the same time. But I didn't know this. Read on.

So halfway through it our teacher let our class out for a five minute break. It was a bit warm inside, so I decided to go outside for fresh air for a few minutes. Probably just about 5 minutes total. As I was walking back, quickly up the stairs and to the hallway, I heard a movie playing with the narrarator discussing, yep, you guessed it, religion. So I had a brief shot of panic, thinking I had stayed on break too long and the class began watching the movie without me, and the teacher was going to be pissed. Without thinking I darted towards the classroom where the sound of the movie was coming from.. but after I got about halfway towards my "seat" I realized something was wrong. It was the wrong room. About 30 students who I had never seen before gave me a blank and confused stare, and probably some of them freaked out because I was basically running. If someone came running into our classroom at random, I would have probably been alarmed too.

Anyways, my face turned bright red and I abruptly stopped myself, and mumbled something to myself about the "wrong room".

Ugh.

March Comes In Like a Lion

Storm88000@gmail.com — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:28:53 GMT

March comes in a like a lion
Goes out like a lamb

Let's hope that holds true this year. I just turned on CNN and saw that the tornadoes over the weekened killed THIRTY-NINE PEOPLE. Stunned. Can't believe it. One minute you're sitting in your house, or sleeping in your house, or your office building, the next minute it's lights out. And we still can't predict where they will hit. We can predict when conditions are favorable, but not exactly where they will hit. We probably never will. This spring/summer, I'm going to get that chill down my spine every time I hear the sound of distant thunder. Even if it's just a mild evening storm passing thru. But these last two years with the tornados have been unlike anything I can remember.

I'm pretty sure that Rick Santorum is....

Storm88000@gmail.com — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:39:49 GMT

gay.

Just sayin'

....

Storm88000@gmail.com — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:38:47 GMT

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW THE GIANTS JUST WON THAT GAME

Hello

Storm88000@gmail.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:53:31 GMT

New grad school semester started last week. I like the classes so far. Psychopharmacology (SP?) is quite interesting

Speaking of that, watching Phillip K. Dick's "A Scanner Darkly" on HBO right now - - - - > don't totally understand why they made it semi-animated. I think it may play into the fantasy factor, but I think I'd prefer standard film. I am a fan of Phillip Dick and didn't even know this film came out until a few years ago. So I dunno.

We had a snowstorm in October here in the North-east, and only ONE single semi-storm since then and it's almost February. We received like 3-4 inches in south-eastern PA since that "Halloween storm."

2012

Storm88000@gmail.com — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:31:57 GMT

There is something about a year that is an even number than makes me smile.

Best years of my life: 1998, 2002, 2006, 2008.

Coincidence? I don't know.

Fall 2011 Semester Status: Over

Storm88000@gmail.com — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:38 GMT

I, JORDAN WHITE, PROCLAIM THAT AS OF NOW I AM FINALLY DONE WITH THE FALL SEMESTER.

My Lord, graduate school has so much work. Only a couple more classes before I receive my master degree though. Tonight's final exam, in the course Advanced Social Psychology, consisted of 2 essay questions that myself and the entire class proceeded to answer from 6:30 to 9:15 PM - nearly 3 straight hours or writing, without stopping. Sure, a few people got up to use the bathroom, and 1 or 2 people finished before the class technically ended at 9:15, but when I left, at about 9:10, 80% of the class was still there.

You know that bad feeling of taking a test when you know time is running out? You keep glancing at the clock, you keep your pen on the paper, writing as fast as you can, thinking as quickly as you can, making decisions as fast as you can - and every minute that goes by everything becomes a little more urgent.

Oh well, it's over now. And almost over with the degree.

Oh and one more thing, if you're trying to quit smoking, try the E-Cigarettte.

2011 Lehigh Valley Music Awards & Controversy

Storm88000@gmail.com — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:24:49 GMT

Like many things in life, the sweet ain't always as sweet - without the sour. I'll get to that a bit later.

The 2011 Lehigh Valley Music Awards that I attended this past Sunday, December 4th were by far THE BEST awards ceremony the organization has ever had, and that includes last year's event when I performed. The show was run professionally and smoothly, although as John J. Moser of The Morning Call ppointed out, a bit too long (at over 5 hours). It was held at the beautiful and state of the "art" (pun-intended) ArtsQuest building in Bethlehem, PA - near the Sands Casino. Once darkness fell, the audience was able to view multi-colored illuminations cast on the crumbling and rusted remnants of Bethlehem Steel through the large windows behind the stage. It sure was something. Personally, I was nominated in categories "Best male vocalist" and "Best lyricist" although I did not come out on top; but several friends did with their nominations. James Supra, who has become something of a legend in the music scene of this area, is featured playing harmonica on a new song we recorded called "Before I Go Out" and he won "Best harmonica player" for the 13th year in a row, among several other awards. Jennifer Miklus, a very talented singer who was once a part of the act Foreplay (which I also played with at different times) won an award with her band "Beyond Eden" I believe for "Best rock performance."

Now, back to my first sentence in this entry. What was sour about the event, you ask? Well, just 2 days before the event was to be held, a war of accusations of embezzlement and misuse of funds erupted, going back and forth on Facebook. It seems that a (former) LVMA board member has accused another board member of misusing charitable donations and profits made from the past Lehigh Valley Music Award events. After this person accused the LVMA board members in public of criminal activity, the LVMA board of directors released a statement. Here is the official response:

"The recent accusations by a former senior committee member of The Lehigh Valley Music Awards are outrageous and completely unfounded and without merit. This constitutes slander, libel and a defamation of character and is in the process of being addressed. The Lehigh Valley Music Awards is an annual event run by a committee whose members (previously known as The Board of Directors) in any given year strive to put forth a show we can all be proud of. From its inception and up until October 18th, of this year, the LVMA event was run under the M.A.P.P.S 501 3c, whose only known Board Member is Ian Bruce and it is that organization that is fully responsible for all accounting of previous events held under that title. We believe these false accusations have been put forth as a result of one of the LVMA 13 committee member’s unwillingness to cooperate in several lawsuits he claims he is filing against former sponsors and others whom we do not agree these suits should be filed against. We find it sad and in very poor taste that he has chosen the avenue he has as a vendetta against this committee member. The current LVMA committee members have been working hard and with full integrity to bring to you a prestigious event designed to celebrate, honor, promote and reward the fabulous musical talent of The Greater Lehigh Valley. We thank you, the musicians, the sponsors, the volunteers, the fans and all who are participants in LVMA 13 and we look forward to seeing you at this years show.

The LVMA 13 committee,

Geno Barron, Lin Bastian, Gloria Domina and Barry Hay"

I have no idea regarding the content the above but I can tell you this: I know Gloria Domina personally, and she has always shown herself to be a wonderful and caring person. When my sister suffered a stroke in May 2010 and was partially paralyzed, Gloria did everything she could to help out myself and my parents, and of course, my sister. Well over a year later when I ran into Gloria at a fundraising event (for the victims of the Allentown gas explosion) she still asked me how my sister was doing. Now this is a woman who has a thousand things going on, and yet she still took the time to ask and be supportive. That's something you don't see much these days.

As for Mr. Bruce, who has brought forth the allegations - I really can't add anything here because I've never met the guy. He seems like more of the guy who chooses and wants to run things from behind the scenes, although that's just my assumption. He is very passionate about music and I admit his accusations are troubling to me. As the Vanessa Carlton song "Who's To Say?" - well, who's to say?

But I guess it would make the most sense to talk about what I DO know - and I know Gloria Domina. She has always been wonderful to myself and my family, so here's to hoping everything gets sorted out fairly quickly and it was all a misunderstanding. You see, I have seen the Lehigh Valley Music Awards grow from a small gathering of a handful of people on the second floor of a bar a few years ago to being held at large convention centers with 1,000 people in the audience like this past sunday. It is a fantastic event, it must continue, and I guess only time will tell what happens. So THANK YOU to all who made these events possible!!

Music & Stuff

Storm88000@gmail.com — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:18:49 GMT

It's been nearly a month since I've posted in here - if you read these from time to time, please forgive my absence. Some things have gone on in my personal and professional life, some good, some bad, but the fact remains that there are some people that no matter all the good things you've done for them (examples: putting them in a dozen newspaper articles, making them thousands and thousands of dollars from booking shows, having your parents give them a job when they couldn't find work, picking them up to and from countless gigs) - they still don't give a damn. And then spread lies and badmouth YOU to other clients. No matter how many times I'm asked about the situation, I just shrug. I guess I'll take the high road.

But let me indulge for just a moment. For in this situation, there was a serious discrepancy between what was said and what was actually done. The fact is, for about 90 percent of what went on, if *I* didn't do it, it wouldn't have been done. You see in the music industry, especially at this stage of the game, *YOU* have to make things happen. These people have the mentality that there will be some "act of God" to get them a record deal or put them on a national tour - but we know it comes down to making it on your own. I run websites and I'm on the phone with people all week about booking shows and doing promotions, making business cards and fliers, sending demos and thank you cards to past clients - but instead of doing these things, these other people don't do any of them, and then, to make it even better (or worse) - COMPLAIN how you do it. They complained when my website (because I was the only one WITH a website) was listed on a flier for the band. It's just plain fucking ridiculous. They complained that it was my email address (Jordan@jordanwhitemusic.com) that was listed on a flier, because everyone else had e-mail addresses from Hotmail or Yahoo with a bunch of numbers in it or whatever. Mine was just easiest to remember.

This kind of attitude is absolutely TOXIC to getting things done and progressing. It says 1 of 2 things, quite loudly. #1 is: "I don't know how you do this stuff, so I don't want you to do it" or #2 "I don't feel like doing it." Certainly there are elements of this type of thing going on in all industries, not just in music.

"The truth is, the truth hurts, don't you agree?
It's harder to live with the truth about you
Than to live with the lies about me" - W. Axl Rose

On another note here's a snippet of a new article by Kelly Montgomery:

Time is no stranger to singer-songwriter Jordan White. It takes time to write lyrics. It takes time to write music. And it takes time to record and mix songs. "It's been too long since [I've] laid down any real recordings," he said. For his third EP, due out in early December, White teamed with Dancing Pepper Productions in Nazareth, PA. "Scott Tice, the amazingly talented producer and owner ... just emailed me a another mix of 'Bloodshot,'" White said. The song, he explained, "is a brutal electric number. It's about the bar scene, or at least the way it appeared to me over the past few years. Alcohol makes everything seem like a good idea, but it's misleading."

Working with Tice has been an amazing experience for White because of his attention to details. "Scott came highly recommended from some people in the industry," he said. "Scott takes part in what he calls critical listening sessions, where he devotes all his attention and time to listening to the cuts, and then he waits a few days and goes back and listens again."

Other songs included on the EP are "Maybe, Amy" and "Before I Go Out." "Lyrically, 'Before I Go Out' is a rarity for me because it does not mention anyone or anything specific," White added. And the title of his latest project? "I have no idea," White admitted. One sure idea he has, though, is releasing a full-length album. "I've written probably a dozen new songs in the past year," he said. But without the backing of a label, White will have to wait.

The Weather Channel Has Lost Direction

Storm88000@gmail.com — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:54:17 GMT

I don't understand why The Weather Channel decided to name this past weekend's Nor'Easter as "snowtober" - it makes no sense. Maybe if it was Snoctober? Or does that sound too much like "snock" (not a real word) and then "tober." I dunno.

The Weather Channel is mere shell of what it used to be. Let me explain.

Back on September 11, 2001 - I watched The Weather Channel, as I do almost eveyrday. They made NO MENTION of the attacks except for a brief comment that "that's the big news, well, in the weather world anyway" when referring to a cold front or something. Now, in 2011, they have stock tips, news about Lindsay Lohan's latest arrest, and what they call "Weather Channel Social" in which an OCM in what is dubbed the "digital media center" talks about tweets on Twitter and Facebook posts.

I JUST WANT THE WEATHER!!

My prediction is this: The Weather Channel will become to weather like MTV became to music videos, and there will probably be a consolidation of the title of the channel to just "TWC" (much like the American Movie Classics channel became "AMC").

There will probably be some new channel called "TWC -2" where it's just weather or the local forecasts, or both. I know some cable companies already carry some form of that but it's more of just maps and computer-generated forecasts.

Regardless, what was once The Weather Channel, a true blessing for weather-junkies and amateur/aspiring meteorologists has become a joke.

Jackson Browne (10/11/11) @ Sovereign Center (Reading, PA)

Storm88000@gmail.com — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:19:46 GMT

Well, it finally happened.

I was able to see Jackson Browne perform live.

This was not your typical show. Browne performed completely and 100% solo on either acoustic guitar or keyboard, and had no pre-made setlist. The crowd shouted at him in all directions of what to play - he obliged several times but did stick to many of his hits, even playing "Doctor, My Eyes" - a rarity (probably because he got sick of playing it years ago).

It didn't feel like a concert, it felt more like you were hanging out with him in his living room and he was playing songs. Really cool and relaxed vibe. Although he did snap at people for taking his photographs and for yelling their song requests too loudly.

Songs I can remember being played (not in any real order) - Barricades of Heaven, Doctor My Eyes, Sleep's Dark & Silent Gate, The Pretender, For A Dancer, These Days, Late For The Sky, Fountain of Sorrow, Shape Of A Heart, I'm Alive, Rock Me On The Water, The Patriot (played it twice because of his throat), a George Harrison Cover.. hmm. I really wished he had played You're Bright Baby Blue Eyes or The Load Out, although people shouted it he either ran out of time or didn't want to do them. He walked out exactly as scheduled at 7:30, came back for two separete encores, and played until after 10PM.

It was really great to finally see him perform after listening to his music for well over a decade. He's one of the few singers who's voice does not appear to have drastically changed as he aged (listen to Van Morrison in "Gloria" - then "Dancing In The Moonlight" and then anything from 1999's Back On Top to see what I mean, err, hear). Browne's vocals are distinctive and don't sound all that different from the recordings even from 35 years ago. Now THATS something that stands the "test of time."

Michelle Bachmann "Makeover"

Storm88000@gmail.com — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:45:00 GMT

Does anyone realize what an enormous makeover Michelle Bachmann has undergone? Just in the past 6 weeks or so. Looks like a bunch of PR people decided that to better her chances of becoming the nominee they needed to make her more attractive.

She does look better, I admit. But it doesn't change the fact that she doesn't believe in evolution.

Storm88000@gmail.com — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:09:22 GMT

I still believe that there's good in people and purpose in it all

EaRtHqUaKe!!

Storm88000@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:17:10 GMT

Was sitting down just northwest of Philadelphia - and it felt like I was getting dizzy. Like a surge. I was pushed forward, enough to notice, but not enough to really know what happened. You know the feeling when you've been laying down for awhile, and suddenly get up to go get something, like a drink or whatever, and you can a bit dizzy? That's kind of what it felt like. It thought I was just tired or felt woozy.

Then I went upstairs and turned on the TV randomly, and saw "Breaking News" on CNN about a 5.8 - 6.0 felt in D.C. out of Virginia, and it made sense.

Also - Hurricane Irene may impact this area this weekend. It's getting closer to the east-coast.

Fuel & Buckcherry @ Musikfest - Mini Review

Storm88000@gmail.com — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 05:33:54 GMT

Here's a mini-review of the Fuel & Buckcherry show last night at Musikfest: Fuel is rusty.

True, from the original Fuel lineup, only Brett Scallions remains (vocals) - but this version of the band stopped and started at least 2 or 3 songs, either from tuning issues or whatever else. Scallions got about 20 seconds into playing their hit "Bad Day" when he decided his guitar was too out of tune to continue the song. So he stopped the song, retuned and started the song again.

As a guitar player, I know this happens from time to time - but not usually in front of 3,600 people. He seemed like he sort of didn't want to be there - he only appeared comfortable when he was singing. His voice held up OK.

Now for me this year at Musikfest, I performed at 2 stages that combined only made up about half the size of the stage they were on last night, but come on. 3,600 people were in the crowd. You could almost feel the air go out of the balloon. I really believe that half the crowd wouldn't have even noticed the guitar was out of tune. Being a musician, I noticed it right away, but I figured he was just going to plow through it.

Buckcherry on the other hand were very tight. Josh Todd had lots of energy. Sure I could have done without him spanking himself and talking about women's vaginas, but there's no doubt he's a charismatic performer. The band was tight.

CALLED IT!! (David Akers gets the boot)

Storm88000@gmail.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:40:26 GMT

http://www.loladelphia.com/post/8196154577/the-bad-news-david-akers-is-officially-gone-from-the

After Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers blew something like 2 or 3 field goals in last years playoff game and the Eagles lost, I went on Facebook and posted that he was gonna be "GONE" - and I got a lot of heat for it. People said I was an ungrateful fan, that Akers would play on the Eagles until he retired, that I was nuts etc....

BUT, now we see I was right :)

I knew he was going to get the boot. Sure now he's kicking for the San Francisco 49ers, and plenty of teams would like to have him, but blowing those field goals cost the Eagles the game (well to be fair, their red zone defense also cost them the game and probably 4 other games during the regular season) - and anyone could see his decade plus reign in Philadelphia would come to and end.

Muhaha. I was right.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young "Our House"

Storm88000@gmail.com — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:38:42 GMT

There are great songs that have meanings that are easy to decipher, some that fall in the middle, and those that don't.

The saddest song I've ever heard, the song that consistently finds me in an emotional state, no matter how many times or where I've heard it:

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Our House"

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUADeRYIwW0

At first listen, lyrics such as "our house, is a very very very fine house / with two cats in the yard / life used to be so hard / now everything is easy because of you" - it appears it's a happy tune, as if there's no doubt.

However - this song is about YEARNING FOR, and not what the protagonist already has. He is YEARNING and wanting a stable, domesticated lifestyle. Written by Graham Nash during the grey period between hippie culture (aka "free love") versus the desire for a stable, monogamous lifestyle is excruciating for the protagonist. Per Wikipedia on "Our House": "What is interesting about this song is the underlying complex moral struggle Nash was facing between the hippy era free love mentality and the desire for a monogamous relationship.....this is a song of a man who yearns for stability in his relationship, house-ownership, and family life."

Nash continues: "Once you walked into that front door, everything disappeared ...and then I started to think, you know, God, that's an incredibly domestic scene, you know, here we are, Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash, and I'm, you know, put flowers in the vase and light the fire and stuff, and I thought, but you know, I love this woman, and this moment is a very grounded moment...."

Nash wrote the song about his brief affair with singer Joni Mitchell. Notice I wrote the word "brief". So why am I writing about this?

It's because last year I had a debate with someone who said "Our House" was one of the happiest songs every written, and I said it was the complete opposite, one of the saddest songs I'd ever heard. He said "how can this be a sad song? It's about two people in love with everything going for them" or something like that. But he didn't get it.. I knew it was the opposite, and until today I didn't bother to research the topic until I heard the song somewhere. "Our House" is a great song because it is so painful - the mood it creates, but it's a delicious pain; it keeps me coming back as I search for answers to the questions in the song.

The lyrics are not about what IS, they are about what WERE or what COULD HAVE BEEN.

The beautiful harmonies in the song haunt you; and the lyrics end with "I'll light the fire / while you place the flowers in the vase / that you bought today" - and it sums it all up. Fire's go out, flowers die. Graham and Mitchell soon parted ways. And maybe he felt one way when he wrote the song, but now it's all about reflecting and what is no longer.

It is the saddest song I've ever heard, still to this day. I love it, it's fantastic, it's amazing, but it is so sad.

My Wikipedia Page Entry

Storm88000@gmail.com — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 07:23:04 GMT

So after some recent press coverage last week I received a few e-mails asking something like "why isn't there a Wikipedia page on you or something?"

Well the answer is, there IS, and it is right here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_White_(musician)

:)

Florida May Have Too Much Humidity

Storm88000@gmail.com — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:55:06 GMT

Oh, I have no idea.

Stabler Arena - 9/10/11 show links

Storm88000@gmail.com — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:40:35 GMT

The Morning Call: http://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2011/06/american-idol-runner-up-emo-band-more-set-for-show-at-stabler-arena.html

Tickets go on sale July 5th at 10AM: http://www.lehighsports.com/chrystal_bowersox.aspx

:)

Lymph Nodes & FreeCreditReport.com

Storm88000@gmail.com — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:55:57 GMT

Swollen lymph node. It comes and goes. I have been on a 6 day anti-biotic since I last wrote here, and I believe they helped. I have had a persistent swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck, about halfway between my Adam's apple and my right ear. It hurts sometimes, it swells sometimes, sometimes I feel nothing. Now it's bothering me again after a fairly steady decrease in size.

So I was just booked to perform with the Canadian band "God Against God" on Monday July 18th @ 9:30 PM at Kildare's in Manayunk, PA (which is right outside, or basically IS, Philadelphia).

You may not have heard of the band God Against God. But if you live in the United States, Canada, or possibly Australia, and have a television, then I can ****GUARANTEE**** you know their lead singer. GUARANTEED!!

Who is he or she, you ask?

Well, HE is the gentleman from the infamous, long running, or as I put it at last night's show, "ubiquitous" FreeCreditReport.com TV commercials.

If you're still not sure who I'm referring to, just click this Youtube link, refresh your memory; then come back here and say out loud:

"OH.... NOW I REMEMBER!!"

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tloVHJtrJ_k

His name is Eric Violette. And from what I have heard, his band is very good.

I have attached the promotional flier here so you can see it:

Eric is closest to the camera. And you can see my mug up in the center & right side of it. So, now you know.

If you live in the Philadelphia area and want to come to the show to say hello and meet everyone, including Eric, who, if you watch as much TV as anyone I know does, has graced your TV screen probably some 200+ times, that would be awesome. :)

Just reply here or e-mail me at Jordan@jordanwhitemusic.com (website is of course http://www.jordanwhitemusic.com ) - or you can always just come to the show on July 18th, of course. It's all good.

There is a meet & greet at 8PM.

Well, sleep time. Hope to see you/talk to you soon.

Swollen Lymph Node :( :(

Storm88000@gmail.com — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:26:22 GMT

Last weekend at my friend Laura's wedding (which was awesome and on the beach in Belmar, NJ) I noticed a small lump on the right side of my neck. It's just underneath my jaw line, about halfway between the center of my throat and the bottom of my right ear.

It's visually noticeable if you compare the left and ride sides of my neck, and I can feel it. It hurts a bit. It's tender.

Now before you get too worried, I don't think it's a tumor, nor do I believe it to be anything that serious. It popped up overnight and by the third day it was at it's biggest, now it's shrunk a bit but is still there. For those of you not exactly sure what a lymph node is or does - there are a ton of them throughout your body and they are a function of the lymphatic & immune systems. The "nodes" or "glands" sort of act as a "filter" of things like foreign bacteria and such that get into your body. So apparently I have some sort of infection. The weird thing is, I don't have any other symptoms. No cold or flu symptoms. No fever, no cough, nothing you'd normally associate with being sick. However, one thing I DID notice - the last two days I have woken up in bed with a really sore back. I have no idea if the two are related or not. Using a heating pad for a while took the back pain away.

I have been taking an over the counter anti-histamine; about 20 minutes after I take them the swelling goes down a bit ----> reaffirms my belief it's not a tumor and not serious. I hope. I am getting anti-biotics on Monday in case it's a bacterial infection.

One more thing: Tara from our band has some swollen lymph nodes behind her ears so it's possible I picked up something, but it may just be a coincidence.

I've researched this plenty on the web, but anyone reading has had any personal experience with this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Stabler Arena

Storm88000@gmail.com — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:43:55 GMT

A great thing has happened this week.

One of my life-long things, a "dream" if you wish, is coming to fruition.

Backstory: I saw my first concert EVER in late 1997 at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, PA.

It was the band Live.

I felt the electricity in the air. I felt the anticipation. And all that went with it.

And I said to myself and those with me that, while pointing to the stage that "one day, I'll play up there."

And now, it is happening.

I will be opening for major names in the music industry, in an arena that holds up to 6,000 persons. For me, this is the culmination of all I've worked for up to this point.
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and to all those who believed.... thank you.

"Ain't it fun" - Stiv Bators

PokerFace on "The Colbert Report"

Storm88000@gmail.com — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:38:18 GMT

PokeFace, the band that is hosting the July 2nd "Freedompalooza" concert event in eastern Pennsylvania (which we are playing at) was just mentioned on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" (on 6/7/11). The mention is a pretty big deal - "The Colbert Report" last time I checked was in the top 20 ratings for cable television programs at that time slot.

Colbert spoke in his usual sarcastic tone, but did not praise, nor criticize lead singer Paul Topete's comments regarding President Barack Obama. He read a quotation.

Now, I have known Paul Topete for over a year and I got to know him during the enormous media mess that occurred last summer & fall when the main newspaper for Easton, PA - The Express-Times, wrote an article that "controversial band Pokerface would perform at Congressional candidate Jake Towne's fund-raising concert." (The article title was something like that.)

You see, after Pokerface, we were the "other" band scheduled to appear.

Due to the media's interjections that week, PokerFace eventually pulled out from performing at Towne's fundraiser. I remember it all quite clearly. After PokerFace was out, we were the main band left. The headlines in the area papers were things such as "PokerFace Will Not Play For Towne" and "PokeFace Backs Out of Concert" etc. - so I had to do some damage control because a lot of people thought the ENTIRE concert was cancelled, which it wasn't. I even called the editors of several newspapers, The Express-Times included, and asked them to publish the next day that the fundraising show was still on, just PokerFace & Towne had decided that it was a better idea to not continue their association. Wow.

I haven't exactly steered 100% clear of controversy myself - I've had my say in things - (a lot about the most popular show on television) but PokerFace had a decade plus of this sort of thing, which was new to me. I had never performed at a concert to raise funds for a politician. It was a learning experience. In the end, Towne lost the election to incumbent Charlie Dent and nothing changed. Towne ran a great campaign, but he was an Independent and was backed against the wall by the Republican and Democratic machine. He still won a decent percentage of the vote.

So now we get to earlier tonight. Stephen Colbert quoted Paul Topete regarding President Barack Obama. Let me go on record and say that Paul has shown himself to me as a stand-up, good guy. I have never heard him utter a questionable remark, I've played several shows with him, and am of course looking forward to the "Freedompalooza" concert on Saturday July 2nd.

Here is the Youtube video regarding the event if you'd like to watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXR9l9PvavI

There are several bands playing and we are mentioned at the :31 second mark.

Paul Topete is an artist and he fronts a very talented band, PokerFace. Stephen Colbert may have just given the "Freedompalooza" show a shot in the arm, with such national attention. We shall see.