The Vast Spoils of Jimmy Dean Brokensausage

J.D. and I have started a new punk band (not yet named). Clean Sweep broke up about 3 weeks ago and sense then I've picked up playing bass guitar and started jammin with J.D. and our former drummer Mick. The line up is J.D. and Mick on guitar, Justin on drums, and myself on bass. J.D. and I are going to write lyrics and have dual vocal stylings to bring tears to the eyes of all who hear us. Basically we sound like if Jesus and Joan Jett had a baby, then that baby grew up to marry Green Day.

We knew that it wouldn't be long before we started another band. Hopefully this band should get started on shows in a couple months, we already have 2 songs down, and with a couple more we'll be able to start opening for bands again.

It is soooooo much fun playing an instrument in a band, which is something incrediably new to me, and I'm so stoked to start playing shows again. This is nuts.

But for real, thats my gurrrl.

This previous weekend the band I'm in, Clean Sweep, and our friend's band Minkus, went on a weekend tour of Nebraska. Friday we drove to Norfolk and played with a bunch of weird Christian metal bands at a Senior Center, but surprisingly enough, it went really well. We ended up playing amazingly and all the kids responded really well to us, AND we ended up selling a bunch of merch, thanks to J.D.s harassingly amazing marketing skills. The best part of the Norfolk show was afterwards we went to check out this haunted insane asylum, which was so nuts. We went at midnight and checked out this playground which was super creepy. At the playground we saw a "ghost" sitting on top the slide, so we ran like little girls all the way back to the van. In the morning we ended up going back to check on the monstrosity to only realize that it was a dummy, or more like a scarecrow, that someone put up there obviously just to scare people like us.

Saturday we ended up driving all day to get to Scottsbluff, which is about 8 hours away, to play a show at this coffee shop. There was no doubt that this was the nicest coffee shop that I have ever been to, and the guy who owned it lived there. But as nice as this place was, the show was a complete disaster. While we were setting up, we couldn't get the PA system to work, which means no microphone, so we ended up plugging the mic into one of the guitar stacks, which sounded ridiculous. And the worst part was that the kid who was suppose to play the show, wouldn't answer our calls, and never showed up. The only people who showed up to the show was Ben's grandparents, who lived in Scottsbluff, and there old friends. We played to 4 old people, and some really annoying little girls we found on the street, it was unreal. Due to the circumstances, Clean Sweep didn't even play, and we left after Minkus played 4 songs. After the show we got food, tried to find a place to stay, and was completely unsuccessfully. What we ended up doing was driving all the way to Aurora, except a few stops, like gas stations, and we stopped at Chimney Rock, and arriving at J.D.'s house at 9 in the morning.

The show on Sunday was a blast, we all had a good amount of sleep in us, got the show set up really quickly, and spread the word of the show like a wild fire. There was probably about 25 people there, some from out of town, and Minkus and Clean Sweep played as well as two other acoustic acts.

This previous weekend was the most fun I have had with quite a long time. Everyone who we traveled with are really awesome dudes, and know how to have fun. There was lots of long drives with white butts tight against the window, and trying to hook up our friend Mark with different girls at each city.

At times we were best friends, and at times the tension grew pretty thick, but over all, the bonds I have these boys are stronger than any friends I have ever had.

So it goes.

I am from dreams of solitude,
From hand me downs, and hemming clothes
From Being the last of four rowdy boys.
I am from Becky's painful shots,
and Jimbo's looney mind
I am from learning from brothers mistakes
From cold cement floors, and damp basement air.
From "you're our last chance to make it through college"
I am from Zip Zingers

From late night/early morning skate sessions.
I am from handcuffs, bad role models, and constant fights.
From dinosaurs, pokemon cards,
Close calls, and even closer friends.
From finally being able to cut my dead weight, and move speedily toward the future.