2008 was really fucking crazy. It was amazing at times, and horrible at others. I guess that's pretty standard for every year, but this year the contrasts were huge.

I was in Louisville at the begining of the year. I got to go to one of the best shows ever (Zegota, Mountain Asleep, Delay, and Max Levine Ensemble) and a week later played at an equally amazing show (my band, Python, White York, Halo Fauna, Super Stoker, and Mountain Asleep) at Alex's house. During those few weeks I read alot of great zines. After getting back to Sampa it was soon time for Carnaval and I shaved half of my head because I had gotten accepted to U of L and SCAD. I worked out twice a week. The rest of the semester flew by as I started to love Brazil more and more. Senior trip was awesome. I worked my ass off making my film, but it was worth it. Things were fucking amazing with me and Sara. I hung out with Tony every weekend. I was pretty shocked when Epler left Graded before film fest and graduation. Figuring out where to go to college was horrible, but I was eventually forced to realize the truth. Summer in sampa was fun, I played way too much Pokemon and did too many things I should have gotten in trouble for. Right after I got back to Louisville I left for Berea Fest, which was probably the best weekend of the year. The rest of the summer was spent riding bikes and having soo much fun with all my old and new friends. Breaking up with Sara was horrible, and I felt like absolute shit for all of September, when it finally hit me. My birthday show was great. Seeing Mountain Asleep play every week was kind of like therapy, and discovering Lifetime was also very helpful. Getting my new road-bike for my 18th birthday was the one of the highlights of the year. Way too many parties at my house. Played some great/good/shity shows. Although I wasn't trying to enter a new relationship, I met Rachel and things just kinda happened. I'm glad they did. School was school. I tried to no avail to get the new band started, maybe 2009 will bring me more luck. I continue to feel like shit for breaking up with Sara, but I'm slowly getting over it. Once it got cold, I got miserable. Biking in 20 degree weather at 9am is not fun. But playing a show in Millstadt was amazing. Coming to brazil for christmas was great, but I wish more people from Graded would have been here. Seeing Diego, Bianca, and Gabs was great. Overall the year was pretty awesome, with a few really bad times. I probably forgot some crucial moments, but I do the best I can. But luckily the good outweigh the bad.

I can only hope for such and exciting year in 2009.

I haven't written a post in forever.

Going to U of L has been pretty sweet. I really love the independence. What I don't love is living so far from the campus, but I'll deal with it. I'm really stoked to go back to Brazil for vacation and see all my old friends. Also, if you're in town and I haven't seen you/talked to you yet, call me.

Today is my two-month-iversary (silly, i know) with Rachel. She is so sweet and everything is going great!

I'm playing a show at Skull Alley (1017 East Broadway) on Thursday at 7pm. Surprise me?

I know this hasn't been the deepest or most articulate post, but I felt like I had to do something. Here's a picture.

-mowgs

 

It's a show for my 18th birthday. It's gonna be fucking sweet! There's been a change of plans (I'm not moving to Vancouver anymore) so we're not releasing an EP and the Zine. But it's still gonna be awesome! Wear a super-hero costume and get in for only 3 bucks!
be there!

 I'm back in Louisville! I haven't posted anything cause I've been so busy HAVING FUN. I've been riding my bike every day, and going to as many shows as possible. I even played a show with nick, and got to meet some AWESOME kids who are in a band called Mutiny Amongst Friends. But so far the best thing about my summer was going to berea fest two weeks ago to see some of my favorite bands and hang out with a bunch of awesome people. One of the best weekends ever. 

I don't have a job yet, and I'm always looking for something to do. If you wanna hang out, call me at 593-4314.

Today, after cleaning out my room and getting ready to move (7 days!) I decided to head out to galeria do rock ( a really awesome bunch of graffiti/hip hop/punk/metal/all that shit stores downtown). My mom gave me some money to buy some shirts cause It was probably my last time going there. I took the metro, which was really fun. The worse part was not knowing much about the system and wandering around alot looking for the right track whenever I had to transfer trains, but that was part of the fun. I looped the 6 songs by Algernon Cadwallader on my ipod the whole time. SO GOOD. Once i got there, alot of stores were about to close but I was able to get two cool shirts, a hat, and a DVD about SP graffiti.

It's crazy to think I'll officially be moving from SP in 7 days. It's been really fucking great, and I only regret not getting to know the city better. Here's a list of shit I have to do before I move next week. Most of it is places I have to go. Anything crossed out if already completed.

1. Epic train adventure to Galeria do Rock
2. Go to liberdade for ramen noodles and pirated anime
3. Go to liberdade and eat and Bueno's one more time (Not happening)
4. Eat lunch at Tantra's (Not happening)
5. Eat pizza at Quintal do Braz (Not happening)
6.Party at Sarajevo
7. Go to the studio and record new songs
8. Play shows!
9. Take some good SP photos
10. Go to bendito bar

So......Friday. The fourth of July.

I was invited a while ago to be a part of a thing called "GuiFest" which is a totally awesome show/birthday party for this local indie scene organizer/record label dude/musician who is a really nice guy and booked me my first show in SP a few months back. Of course, I agreed. I got my friend Paulo Park who plays percussion with me in the school concert ensemble, and also rocks at drumset, to be my drummer. We practiced twice, the second time was an hour before soundcheck. During this second practice, I played Blink 182's "Dammit" as a joke, and we decided to add it to the set after practicing it twice. Once we got to the venue (which is on one of the coolest/sketchiest streets in SP, and across the street from a whore-house or "american bar" as they call them) there was a different band doing a soundcheck during our time, so we just hung around and called people to get them to come. We hear the band play (brazilian post-rock a-la explosions in the sky) and feel like we are gonna be COMPLETELY out of place at the show, not to mention we are the youngest people there. This takes a strong hit to my confidence, and during soundcheck, I sing/play like a bitch. After a few songs I decide to get over it and have some fun, and everything got better. After soundcheck (9pm) we walked around the corner to a lanchonete and got a burger, which was the first thing I had eaten since breakfast. Paulo's friends show up with some more drum stuff for us, and a change of shirts for me. We sit around and watch the first band play. Afterwards, we played. It was one of the best sets I've ever played, and even though my on-stage banter was limited by my shitty portuguese, people liked it. And they went crazy for the Blink cover. And nobody noticed I made up the third verse off the top of my head. After I got interviewed for a Sao Paulo music TV show, paulo and his friends left and I stayed with my friend (and fellow band percussionist) Kohei. We watched the same band that I had seen during soundcheck, but they were MUCH better this time. Then I saw my first live rap group, and they were fucking tight. I love rap in portuguese, and everyone in the crowd knew all the words. I was damn tired, and decided to leave cause it was 2am. I walked around the venue looking for the guy who booked the show so I could give him a big hug. I couldnt find him so I left, and he was actually outside doing an interview. He gave me my pay from this show and last show, which was 265r$ (like 130 bucks). This was my first ever "paycheck". I still have to give paulo his cut, 100r$.

Then the worse began. Me and kohei caught a cab. Long story short, it cost me 130rs$. By the time I saw my condominum, I was pissed and tired, and couldnt think of anything else. By the time I walked up the big hill to my house and said hi to my parents, I relealized I had left my guitars in the cab's trunk. Luckily, he had given me his card. I'm still suprised I even took it. I called him and he brought me the guitars, but charged me 30r$ for the trip back.

It was a crazy day, but at the end everything was worth it. I'm going to the studio on thursday to record some new tracks for FREE.

Thanks for reading, if you read this far. And fuck patriotism.

So. I finally did it. I graduated.

It's been like 3 weeks since then, and I must admit, the freedom is beautiful.

For those of you who don't already know, I will be in Louisville on July 15th and will be leaving on August 26th. Somewhere in between the two is my 18th birthday.

So, it's kinda hard to think about what to write here. But alot has changed. I'm really glad to have completed my film, and I'm officially enrolled in the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. I'm really into this Louisville hardcore band, Mountain Asleep. They took my zine on tour with them, and you should download the PDF at our website if you haven't done so yet. I'm working on the next issue, but its moving really slowly. I've had guests in my house since the week before graduation, and tomorrow my brother and his girlfriend leave, and I'm excited to have some space again. I plan on getting alot of reading and gaming done.

Sara left for Japan (and eventually for McGill University in Montreal) and it's really weird not having her here. We haven't officially decided what to do next, but I'm not the biggest fan of long-distance relationships, given how my last one ended. I love her, but my experiences tell me that a long distance relationship like that is unhealthy for everyone involved. Either way, I really miss her.

Now that I have more time, I should be posting more often, and I'm gonna try my usual vacation hand-written journal. This semester I only posted twice, and I don't know if thats a sign that LJ isn't for me anymore, or if it just reflects my situation at the time. Does anybody actually read this? We'll see.

Here's a photo of Sara and I at the Post-Graduation party:

Its been way too long since i've posted here. I've just been REALLY busy lately.

I've started working on my film, which should be done within a month. Get hyped! I've also been acting in alot of plays at schools lately.

Lately its been really hard for me to get things done. When i come home from school (usually around 6pm cause i work out afterschool and edit film) I'm always really tired and find it nearly extremely difficult for me to complete assignments. I usually manage, though, and shit gets done. Still, the easiest of assignments are really frustrating.

I got accepted to University of Louisville, University of British Colombia (Vancouver), and Savannah College of Art and Design. I plan on going to SCAD if I can get a good scholarship. I should find out within the next month.

Me and my friends came out with the newest issue of out zine! You can check it out, and download the PDF, at www.teenagesoup.tk

Also, I'll be back in the states on the 15th of July (sorry for missing the 4th, my entity buddies). Prepare!

Heres a little preview of what is to come from my film, enjoy!

I'm back in Brazil right now.

I could write tons of stuff about my trip to the states, but i'm really tired and I have a film script to write by monday. I will say that Brazil feels like home now, and Louisville seems like a place to visit, and that feels wierd.

I'm still not used to being back.

Im gonna be in town tomorrow.




holla.