My adventures since October/2001, when I left Diadema/SP. After nearly 6 years in Germany I moved to the area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Divirta-se ! Have fun !
O Remmelento Humano
Mariluca
Tierra Kanatas
Ezkía y Carlos (panita/hdcp2605)
Fernando Lui e banda
Palavreiros
HI
Played with my colleagues at that party. Look at this.
We have been to Washington DC for the second time during the Independence Day weekend (July 4th). The city was bustling. We saw the fireworks near the Obelisc, visited the little town of Annapolis, Maryland and some museums in DC.
I saw Cavalera Conspiracy this thursday in Philly, in the same place I saw the Breeders a few weeks ago. Many open acts delayed the main concert which ended at 1pm ! What a week I was having at work ... I think i just needed some escape from reality. Iggor and Max played several classics by Sepultura. I managed to stay right in the first row. Max saw me wearing the yellow brazilian t-shirt and smiled.
I am heading to Virginia (in the area of Washington DC again) next week, and to San Francisco in 2 weeks. Soon it is gonna be exactly one year since I came here. I am thinking of an historic post or something. Stay tuned.
Rock on!
"WHEREVER YOU ARE...
Iron Maiden is gonna get you, no matter how far..."
That’s just what happened last week. Iron Maiden became not only the first band that I saw in 3 different continents, but also the band I have seen live more times. 1992 and 1996 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2006 in Stuttgart, Germany and last Tuesday in Camden, NJ, just out of Philadelphia.
I had tickets to see REM in Philly on Wednesday, but I gave up when I got to know Maiden was gonna play one day earlier. Sold the tickets in the Internet. They would be the first band I would see in 3 continents, but… Maiden won the fight.
The concert was just awesome ! Only classic songs… Well, it took me 3 days to recover my voice and neck from this concert. Enough said. Look at this, from Youtube:
Opening song - Aces high
Giant Eddie - Iron Maiden
I bought a ticket to see Linkin Park in the same place Maiden played but the tickets got lost in the house. CRAP !
Breeders: very interesting concert in a small venue in downtown Philly. Probably the worst band I have ever seen, technically speaking. Very primitive players, they play chords that for years I have refused to play for being so simple and common. The few guitar leads are as raw and sloppy as possible. Still the band is pure fun. Recommended !
Still talking about music, we are going to play at a party this Saturday. Not a concert really, the band still sounds pretty rough. It is gonna be a rehearsal with guests. Set list:
1. Neil Young; Rocking in The Free World
2. Eva Cassidy’s version of “Take me to the river”
3. Lynyrd Skynyrd; ‘Sweet Home Alabama”
4. Beatles: "Ticket to Ride”
5. Matchbox 20; “3Am”
6. Beatles: "Saw Her Standing There”
7. Beatles: "Daytripper”
8. “The Rolling Stones; “Brown Sugar”
9. Chuck Berry; “Johnny B. Good”
10. The Black Crowes; “Hard to handle”
11. Fuel; “Shimmer
12 “The Rolling Stones: “Jumping Jack Flash”
It seems the damn business trips will be back soon… There is New Jersey in the second week of July, and San Francisco in the third. There we intend to stay over the weekend to visit friends and get to know the city.
Bye
PING
Anyone there ?
The news:
- we have been to Washington DC two weeks ago during the Memorial Day. This is the day where they celebrate the soldiers who died in the uncountless wars that this country participated. DC holds a parade with motorcycles from all over the country. Thousands of them packed the city that weekend. Apart from that, DC offers great museums and parks and everything FREE !
- the band now has a name - Knockabout. i am not sure what it means, but you can look up in the dictionary. it has a couple of meanings. we trying to get a real singer now, and we got our first gig. It will be on June 28th in a party. I WILL BE BACK !
- spent my birthday a little ill wandering on the streets of New York City. It is so nice, it seems you always find something new. The best finding that day only makes sense to brazilians:
em nova iorque os caras tem num pequeno parque proximo a times square uma estatua de jose bonifacio, doado pelo governo dos estados unidos do brasil. a estatua fica numa sombra, debaixo de uma arvore. eu quis tirar uma foto mas ia ficar esquisito porque nas 2 vezes que passamos por la tinha algum mendigo almocando ao pe da estatua. fuleiragem !
- as a birthday gift i bought myself 2 cds: robert johnson and memphis slim. i am starting to dig that kind traditional blues.
- concerts: The Breeders this sunday, maybe REM on the 18th. In July there is cavalera conspiracy and Linkin Park. I might go to these ones too.
rock on
LIFE GOES ON
Disney was nice, Sea World was even better. These folks know about entertainment. Their sense of fun might be tasteless, unuseful or alienated, but it is fun.
I am still playing with those guys I mentioned. The band still sounds quite rough. We are improving though. Just a bunch of guys who wanna have some fun playing their favorite tunes. That is it.
I feel bored and upset sometimes. How come I came to live in a place where the regulation regarding alcohol are so archaic ?
There is no alcohol in supermarkets. A separate store sells wine and spirits. Beer ? You have to go to a third store, that only sells beer and they only sell packages. You can't buy 5 cans just for the evening. You have to buy a package of 24, and they do ask to see your id. Ridiculous !
During a trip to Chicago in February I went to a pub and ordered a beer. When I showed my driver's license the attendant was in doubt, because she had never seen a driver's license from Pennsylvania before... Who is worst ? Chicagoans, who ask for your id when you order an innocent beer or Pennsylvanians, who seem to rarely order a beer ?
This pic was actually taken in California early this year, not in Florida last month
UPDATES
Here is what is going on:
- no nightmare business trips in view
- I jammed with some guys 2 weeks ago and they loved my playing. I am not quite sure where it will go but I will give it a shot. Maybe the last one…
- My guitar developed 2 cracks on the top ! I am trying to find out why and what to do
- Joe Satriani gave a workshop in the nearest Guitar Center last Thursday. The shop was packed, I could barely see his head. I have no clue about the colour of his guitar, I just saw his head sometimes. Funny guy though.
- I had friends at home last weekend. I finally went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and climbed those stairs imitating Rocky Balboa… hahaha… this country is a joke. There is even an statue of Rocky Balboa in front of the Museum ! We also visited the Amish Country, what is about one hour drive from here
- Since about 1 month and half we have a cat at home. Someone was giving him away in the Internet. We call him Bento (Benedict, in English) because we consider him a monk cat. He is a monk because he has to live indoors, has no sexual life (we are gonna have him neutered in a couple of days) and has to obey our discipline
- This weekend I am flying to Orlando for 4 days. Guess what I am gonna do… Disney and Sea World are waiting for me ! Tuesday is Sheila’s birthday and this trip is her present
LIVING ON THE EDGE
I am back from one week in Bogota’, Colombia, right when they were about to go to war against Ecuador and Venezuela. What that place is about:
- FARC
- drugs
- beautiful women
- good food
Played with a drummer once, everything was fine but suddenly the guy lost his job and gave up the project. The search goes on… I need something to relax and forget my problems. I am having a tough time at work, not sure what is going to happen… I am not happy, that is what I can say right now.
Ok, folks let’s move on ! bye !
