'Rado bra

I don't know how to type out phonetically the sound that people sometimes make when perhaps referring to, or impersonating a burn-out, hippy, but if I had to try, it would go something like this... awh-awh-awh-awh-awh-awh Note how there is only one "w" within each 'syllable' which denotes the definite break in between the continuous repeating sounds; also which signifies short, swift, sounds strung together... i guess you have to make fun of a stoner or hippie to know what I'm talking about... this sound usually comes at the end of what seem like sentences, but which usually aren't.

Anyway, that whole rant really had no point. I've never met anyone who actually makes that sound other than someone who is making fun of a stoner. nevertheless I am in rado, and it's been surprisingly nice outside. I actually haven't been wearing a jacket, because while it is slightly nippy, the sun has been shining unobstructed for the past two days since I've been here. sucks that I'm leaving tomorrow morning. but I do finally have a show to play at UC in Boulder, a town which I have never visited, and my friends tell me it will be a place where not only I will be accepted (especially 'cos of the beard) but that will be accepted by me as somewhere I would feel comfortable.

otherwise I've just been crashing on my friends couch, playing Beirut, which is 'beer pong' where I'm from. there's this bar in town that has beirut tournaments every single tuesday. this is actually the third time I've participated in my career. the first time was i think in '02, maybe '03. my friend and I were partners, and we were drinking quite heavily before the tourney started. for those who don't know... this is a drinking game... so anyway, it's two game elimination, and we lost our first game, so we thought, shoot, we're not going to get very far. but we ended up getting to the semi finals. we were later disqualified and escorted out of the bar because I threw up in a nearby garbage can. welcome to greeley, jim.

let me also state that there are usually at least 20 teams, usually 30-ish or more, and last night there were over 50 so we went 3-1 last night, and there were so many teams left that they are going to finish it off tonight, so we're going back. not as drinkers, but competitors. lat night was fun though. the only problem is that there was just way too much consumption going on. first we went to this little italian place and ate too much, I had this huge mixed drink they called a bazouki or something like that... maybe bazooka... and then we went to another bar, had another drink and shot, then started drinking at the bar where the tourney was...

and that was after the guy at the door took my ID and said it was a fake, even after he pulled out the ID manual for every state ID in the country. he put them up side by side, and said, "this is fake, I'm keeping it" this was also after he asked me to show a second form of photo ID, and I pulled out my old WMU student ID, which has my photo (although not as clear as my driver's license, and he said it wasn't me. Then in a miraculous change of heart. he just all of a sudden admitted that he was wrong after like 10 minutes and he just said that a lot of people come into this bar in greeley, colorado with fake Michigan IDs... ridiculous. However, I wasn't bitter because as I stated to him, I used to check Ids at a similar bar at "WESTERN MICHIGAN WHERE I JUST SHOWED YOU MY ID FROM" and I understand that the bar could be shut down if you let under-agers in. so i told him I understand... (and that he's in for a surprise once he starts up his car later... ) well I thought about saying it at least...

anyway I don't mind going back today to finish our march to the top of Beirut dominance, because they have hold 'em poker at this bar on wednesdays, and I think it's free, so that's right before the beirut thing anyway... so why the hell not?

anyway... I use the word "anyway" and the ellipse alot... see... I should try to cut down... for anyone wondering what my new year's resolution is... you've found it... see...

JJJJAAAA

1 to 2

holla'atchaboy!!

The thing about the midwest is... well... the weather sucks... it's cold, snowy, windy... I walked about 4 blocks last night to this restaurant/bar to get some eats after my show and I wasn't that cold, but my ears were freezing. they were catching wind like the sails on a boat. that was most definitely not wicked...

anyway the chicago show was great. I got to see some friends whom I had not seen in such a long time. one is married now. he used the word, "wife," and I thought he misspoke, but it was not an error. they all got caught up on the new disc. that's how long it had been, Chicago used to be Low Carb-less, but now they're swimming in it. afterward we all crowded the new bar at the UG and had some cocktails, I sat with my pal Stolie, and we talked about a lot of music jargon, most of which the average reader wouldn't understand... words such as: guitar, singing, money, bullshit, Portuguese, camping... yeah I know what you're thinking, what the hell language were these two speaking in, well I warned ya. we alsy fantasized about our futures, and writing songs, and travelling, and hopefully our dreams will come true. I decided that her dreams would come true if I gave her a loan, and she's so sweet, that if I had the money, I might give her some...

then I bounced the next morning heading to MN. I bitched at every 80c toal booth (there were at least 5) from freakin chicago, which is near the border to WI, to the state line... made it to Winona, nice and early. I found out that the acoustic cafe has the wireless internet now, so since I'm a junkie with my wicked laptop, I endulged.

there's a lot of love in winona, MN. I started playing there a couple years ago, and I don't even remember how I stumbled upon the place, but I'm sure glad I did. there's this certain group of wicked people who come out every time I play there, and not only that, but they always bring at least one friend with them who has never heard me play before. they're really up close, personal, and all that. they even shouted out their first request (for one of my songs!) so that was nice. I tried to play 'comfortable' for them, cos I know these two babes really like it. and I busted out my new alicia keys song, which has been almost as much of a hit live than the original... well...

so that was cool, a great time was had by all, and afterward there was the usual signing of someone's arm, a girl's purse, and some posters, photos, hugs, and all kinds of affection. like I said, there's a lot of love going around in winona. and I wanted to hang out in town for the night, but my friend, G, told me that she'd be up late in st. paul, so I made the couple hour drive and she left the light on for me like Tom Bodette...

I've been sleeping in this little room, which isn't even a room, there are no vents, and it's cold outside, and the walls are thin, but they gave me like 7 blankets and comforters, so it actually is quite comfortable, especially with the wicked air matress that I'm dreaming on...

last night I played here in town at Ginkgo... it started out pretty empty, but sure filled up quick about half way through, and I met some cool peeps who bought cds, and very much appreciated the stickers I offered them... oh, by the way, the chapsticks are a hit. I've already run out after like 3 shows, so I'm, screwed, but so are these peoples lips. I might have to send out for some more from the box at home...

this is my impression of that one song, "back to one" I think it was brian mcknight or something...

1, you're like a dream come true
2, blibbity, blabbity, blue
3, I think I have to pee
4, I'll never kiss a whore
5, I think I lost my shoe
6, no longer have to poo
7, that lobster ravioli is through
8, and poo is never fun, we're back at one...

isn't that how it goes...???

I think I swallowed some toothpaste while I was brushing today... and it was just straight up toothpaste. it was like the foaming combination of toothpaste and saliva... I almost hurled... luckily I hadn't eaten breakfast yet...

but I am going there now... which is why we must say goodbye...

JA

Chi(lly)-cago

if someone can figure out how the title of this post makes sense, please enlighten me...

I'm chillin at the new and improved uncommon ground. I can't believe the massive renovation that this place underwent. Massive. it has the same old place, and then they extended all the way to the corner, which used to be some kind of sports bar I think... but it's a really awesome bar-area that they've added. and it's clean, dimly lit, and really classy. and it's quiet, not smoky, and it's just somewhere that I would sip drinks at if I lived in chicago. in fact, to prove it, I'm sipping on a manhattan right now... and it's wicked... my word for the week... wicked.

anyway the first act is probably playing now, and they charged me $3 for the hour of internet usage here, so I figured I'd try to do something with it, like post a little hello from the first evening show for me in a while.

I brought out the chapsticks for this one, the people in this town can certainly put it to good use. heck, I may just be handing them out at the door. if I did that, people would think I'm wicked. wicked.

right right... I got to sleep in a bed last night, and eat some good thai food at 'once upon a thai.' they even have a website www.onceuponathai.com great thai rolls and pad thai. it was wicked. and I had some this afternoon for lunch, leftovers of course. I don't think I'd be able to find the place twice in a row without directions.

well I think I'm gonna go listen to 'new harmony indiana.' who knows? they could be wicked...

it's freakin freezing in here mr. bigglesworth...

JA

on the m-iz-orrow (ebonics version)

**the english version of the following is below the entry**

Yo buss dis. "I'z leavin... on a TAURBUS... ain't noed when I'll be back a guen" I do has an idea uh when I'll be back... jus ain't noed exactly what time an' what not... well it all kicks off tomorrow afternoon wit a bad assed old college show. I'z so thankful to de schools who continually has me back semestuh aftuh semestuh, year aftuh year. See what I'm sayin? It really keeps me cruisin.

rappin uh cruisin', I had to take care uh some maintenance befo I left... as usual, shit hits de fan right befo I leave town. my computuh died, so I had to put a new one togethuh, which has a cool case, wit a window an' headlights. I tried to git a PC case wit spinners, but dey wuzn't in yet (or invented yet). but it's appearance be only overshadowed by its current efficiency, an shit. my crib computuh be so important, evun though I has dis here laptop.

also I went to git an oil fix today so I'z ready to cruise de highways at high speeds... an' when dey axeed me to start huh up, she wouldn't go. so dey had to charge me up, an' told me dat my battery wuz juiced, so I went directly to de auto zone, leavin my hoopty runnin, an' proceeded directly home an' changed my firs battery, an shit. it felt so good. I almos wanted to start up a mechanic shop but felt dat it wouldn't do very well because I would nevuh be dere, an' all I noed how to do be fix Ford Taurus hoopty batteries...

the bad assed news be dat my illness has subsided, an' I'z ready to serenade... I'z especially psyched fuh de chicago show dat has elluded (?) me fuh so long. de firs one at MSU be likes a bad assed warm up... I think I'z goin to go to chicago weds night, an' hang out durin de day thursday instead uh skressin myself out gettin into da hood thursday an' dealin wit de terrible traffic dat nevuh ends unless it's 'bout3am on a sunday mornin... an' dat's not evun a guarantee... please feel free to pos messages on de forum on de website... I'd love to see posts less than a month apart... but beggars kaint be choosers, or whatever...

thank you 2004 fuh de 10 pounds...

JA Sheeit!

on the morrow

"I'm leaving... on a TAURBUS... don't know when I'll be back again"

I do have an idea of when I'll be back... just don't know exactly what time and what not... well it all kicks off tomorrow afternoon with a good old college show. I'm so thankful to the schools who continually have me back semester after semester, year after year. It really keeps me cruisin. Speaking of cruisin', I had to take care of some maintenance before I left... as usual, shit hits the fan right before I leave town. my computer died, so I had to put a new one together, which has a cool case, with a window and headlights. I tried to get a PC case with spinners, but they weren't in yet (or invented yet). but it's appearance is only overshadowed by its current efficiency. my home computer is so important, even though I have this here laptop.

also I went to get an oil change today so I'm ready to cruise the highways at high speeds... and when they asked me to start her up, she wouldn't go. so they had to charge me up, and told me that my battery was juiced, so I went directly to the auto zone, leaving my car running, and proceeded directly home and changed my first battery. it felt so good. I almost wanted to start up a mechanic shop but felt that it wouldn't do very well because I would never be there, and all I know how to do is change Ford Taurus car batteries...

the good news is that my illness has subsided, and I'm ready to serenade... I'm especially psyched for the chicago show that has elluded (?) me for so long. the first one at MSU is like a good warm up... I think I'm going to go to chicago weds night, and hang out during the day thursday instead of stressing myself out getting into town thursday and dealing with the terrible traffic that never ends unless it's about 3am on a sunday morning... and that's not even a guarantee...

please feel free to post messages on the forum on the website... I'd love to see posts less than a month apart... but beggars can't be choosers, or whatever...

thank you 2004 for the 10 pounds...

JA

road warrior-dom (ebonics version)

**the regular english translation of this post precedes this post**

I th'o't I've got uh disease... uh fever! an' da only prescription fo' muh ma fuckin fever, aside from mo' cowbell, iz ta jet muh ma fuckin hometown, an' travel ta sing fo' some peeps.

an' it starts next week. I've been so mastabatin since I last came back from da road in november. da last trip wuz fine ass fun, an' dis here one don' gots as many shows unfortunately, but it'sstill uh trip an' uh reason fo' me ta just wing it like usual. I'm hitting up some usual suspects, an' dere iz uh couple new places I'll be visiting, like Hoboken, NJ. Never really scoped out dat scene, but I got hooked oup by uh really tight talent buyer from uh venue in philly area, so dat wuz uh nice bonus. an' then dere wuz some peeps who said, "heck jaa, we's totally wants ta book ya, let'sdo it!" (yes some wiff an exclamation point), an' then never heard from dem ag'in afta two months... so dis here trip has uh tint o' darkness ta it. It could gots, an' should gots been bettah, but it wuz all in muh ma fuckin hands. an' dis here factor iz somethin' I've been trying ta chance fo' quite some tyme now, I don' really wants dis here certain aspect o' muh ma fuckin rap entity ta be in muh ma fuckin hands, wierd as dat sounds. what I really need right now iz an agent ta schedule muh ma fuckin shows fo' me. an' I don' care what percentage dey take, or if it starts off slow. I just wants ta be able ta tour constantly. dis here huge gap between shows crap iz really getting ta me, an' I th'o't it'sholding me back, an' it'snot really in muh ma fuckin control.

so I had ta throw in dat rant, but I can assure ya, I'm still gonna be rocking out da fly suckers who did confirm shows wiff me, an' I've got some new, fun material coming yo' way, just th'o't ta "stop an' smell da roses... uh little bit closer..." cos it'sgonna be fun. I'm just going ta gots ta really th'o't hard about what da heck ta do wiff myself on non-show dates... which iz posted on da website... check 'em out y'all...

all right, I just wanted ta peek muh ma fuckin head in an' say wha da dilly yo?... it all goes down next week, an' then I'm off... through March, an' maybe uh bit o' April... I'm on da run... an' nahh one can catch me, besides, it'snot like I post muh ma fuckin whereabouts on uh website or anythin'...

JA

road warrior-dom

I think I've got a disease... a fever! and the only prescription for my fever, aside from more cowbell, is to leave my hometown, and travel to sing for some peeps.

and it starts next week. I've been so bored since I last came back from the road in november. the last trip was pretty fun, and this one doesn't have as many shows unfortunately, but it's still a trip and a reason for me to just wing it like usual. I'm hitting up some usual suspects, and there are a couple new places I'll be visiting, like Hoboken, NJ. Never really scoped out that scene, but I got hooked oup by a really cool talent buyer from a venue in philly area, so that was a nice bonus. and then there were some people who said, "heck yeah, we totally want to book you, let's do it!" (yes some with an exclamation point), and then never heard from them again after two months... so this trip has a tint of darkness to it. It could have, and should have been better, but it was all in my hands. and this factor is something I've been trying to chance for quite some time now, I don't really want this certain aspect of my music entity to be in my hands, wierd as that sounds. what I really need right now is an agent to schedule my shows for me. and I don't care what percentage they take, or if it starts off slow. I just want to be able to tour constantly. this huge gap between shows crap is really getting to me, and I think it's holding me back, and it's not really in my control.

so I had to throw in that rant, but I can assure you, I'm still gonna be rocking out the wonderful suckers who did confirm shows with me, and I've got some new, fun material coming your way, just think to "stop and smell the roses... a little bit closer..." cos it's gonna be fun. I'm just going to have to really think hard about what the heck to do with myself on non-show dates... which are posted on the website... check 'em out y'all...

all right, I just wanted to peek my head in and say hello... it all goes down next week, and then I'm off... through March, and maybe a bit of April... I'm on the run... and no one can catch me, besides, it's not like I post my whereabouts on a website or anything...

JA