Pick ups

The Smiths- "Louder Than Bombs" 2xLP- Sire Records-180 Gram Black/???-Remaster/Import
Bayside- "The Walking Wounded"- Victory Records- Aqua swirl/200- 1st press
The Get Up Kids- "Four Minute Mile"- Doghouse Records- Blue splatter/250- 15th Anniversaty Edition

Although the Smiths LP is very costly(retail somewhere around $34-40+) I found a really good deal and picked this up. I figure everyone should own a Smiths record on vynil. Just so happens that this one is my favortie "album". I love so many songs on this record.

There was a time that I REALLY liked Bayside. Some where along the past couple years things have changed. They were there when I needed them and now, well, I just dont. "Walking Wounded" however is my favored from the band. Their previous 2 full lengths are also great records, so it is an arguable choice for many but for me, this record is it. Despite falling off it is always good to have your favorites just in case.

Get up Kids "Four Minute Mile" just about fits into the Smiths catergory. You just gotta have it. WHY this is only being added to my collection now, there is almost no reasonable explanation. My sister owned it a while back when she was a teen and I was even younger. I always remember it. Although not my favorite get up kids release, sometimes you just need some rough around the edges early 90s tunes. Scored this for retial price sealed. Sadly it got a little roughed up on the way to me. Seam splits and some creasing due to the mailer looking as though it was smooshed. There is a first time for everything and this is the first rough copy I've gotten in the mail. Little disappointing but what can you do?

Pick ups

1. Moving Mountains- "Waves"-Triple Crown Records-White/???
2. Quicksand- "Slip"- Shop Radio Cast-Green/Yellow Swirl 180 Gram/500- 2nd press
3. Hot Rod Circuit- If Its Cool With You,Its Cool With Me- Big Wheel Recreation- Clear Green/???
4. Elliott- If They Do 7"- Initial Records- White/400
5. Elliott- Will You 7"- Revelation Records- Clear Pink/219

Pretty pleased with all these pick ups! HRC is an awesome nostalgic release for me. One of the first CDs I learned how to drum to when I was 16. Haven't spun it much in a long time but now that I own it on vinyl it is sure to get more play.

For those who may not be aware, Shop Radio Cast/Dine Alone Records took it upon themselves to RE-release Quicksands "Slip" on vynil. Not so bizarre timing considering the reunion shows recently. Single LP, gatefold jacket. First press from SRC is already sold out(2 colors first press) and I am not sure about Dine Alone(Black vinyl only). Dont worry though, a second press is already due soon from SRC. So get over there if you have not yet.

Moving Mountains is a release I decided too late that I would like to own it on vynil, so I missed it! One of the "new" bands out there that I acutally like(not to mention its a Casket Lottery LP title). Very little info on this release. Triple Crown releases tend to be super vague. After looking and looking for a version priced right, I now have it!

Words cannot express how stoked I am to FINALLY have these Elliott 7" inches. Its been a long wait and search. After losing a couple along away due to a price tag I couldnt break myself to pay 2 of the 3 I need to polish off the Elliott collection are now in my possession. Very fair price for "if they do" from a nice dude in VA who was selling some excellent stuff who said "I'll probably regret it later" and I won "will you" from a euro who titled the auction wrong, Needless to say that was a total steal, I actually felt a little bad.

Anyone coming across this, if you have Elliotts "in transit" 7" on either white or clear, contact me, somehow.

Drum Kit Idea #6: Vintage

Its been a very long time since I have thought of a drum kit idea, atleast a coherent one. I think about drums on a daily basis!

Since getting my custom it has all gone a little quiet in the thrashing sea that is my brain. I would be lying if I said I wasn't already thinking of a new kit as my current one was being birthed. So, I wont lie!

I have bounced a few ideas around in my mind and I was pretty much dead set on my next set up if i ever have the opportunity or god willing, the money! Slowly things have been starting to turn and the original idea started to morph. I want something vintage.

The original idea was red glitter, Natural claw style("hide a head") hoops with red glitter inlays and brass tube lugs. Pondered on the thought of no glitter at all and just using a stain, possibly no inlay on the hoops at all. Thinking of what color stain had my head hurting! As time went on the vintage idea started to creep in and make itself at home. More and more I was looking at different kits and thinking about most common vintage sizes, looks and styles. Stripping the proverbial onion to a much simpler, basic and easy form. Not to mention inlays, brass and wood hoops also equal more money and the odds of myself ever actually falling into a good situation and getting this created are slim. So with basic and simple comes more affordable. There isnt anything wrong with that either.

C&C posted this kit on instagram and at 7:30am half awake I said "THATS IT!". With thinking vintage I have been trying to decided whether or not to go the super old school route with single lugs in the middle of the drums. A friend of mine had bought an early 60's KENT kit for himself to try to get a band going, i used the KENT rig to try out and thats when my band Fortune Healers was born. The Kent kit had all single lugs on the rack tom and snare.

Notes to self: Kick- Maple poplar maple with walnut outter/Floor-walnut poplar walnut.
red mohogany based stain on walnut.

The C&C kit is PERFECT. Beavertail lugs is my choice for sure when it comes to vintage. This kit has single beavertails on the floor and regulars on the kick. Really digging the singles! Instead of red glitter, im going for a hue of red stain. Not too sure exactly what this color is but I asked if a Cherry stain would have the same result. Cutting down from wood hoops on all drums to just naturals on the kick with a matching inlay from the kit. I personally would not get a banana rail. This kit is a solid inbetween from what I was originally thinking about to the new stripped down vintage look.

Here is a picture of a Darkhorse kit with a Cherry stain on it for an example:

As far as sizes go:
24x16 Kick
13x9 Rack
16x14 Floor

Pick ups

1. Motion City Soundtrack- Even If It Kills Me 2xLP- Epitaph Rec.- Black/???
2. Motion City Soundtrack- Commit This To Memory- Epitaph Rec.- Black/???
3. Jimmy Eat World- Bleed American- Universal UK- Black/??? Back to Black Version (Technical 6th press?)
4. Minus The Bear- Infinity Overhead- Dangerbird Records- 180 gram Clear/???

New things that came in! Very vague on all of it, heres the run down!

After trying for many months I just could not win a color copy of Motion City "Commit this to Memory" for the price I was willing to pay, So I gave up after I saw black vinyl copies starting to show up on Ebay as "Tour Edition". Being a smart person I went to Epitaphs webstore and there it was. SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, BLACK COPIES ON EBAY ARE NOT TOUR EDITION. It sucks seeing people pay $30+ for something that is simply just a repressing on black vinyl that costs $10 from a webstore. I am not sure how to title it since its only my assumption that it is 2nd press on black vinyl. Of course they're selling it on tour, Its a piece of merchandise to be sold! So please if you are reading this, don't be fooled!

Motion Citys "Even if it kills me" is another tough grab that I figured out while looking for "commit this to memory". This LP is also my assumption that it is a 2nd press that will simply never be acknowledged as such. To my knowledge the first pressing of this LP was limited to 1000 and was in a gatefold sleeve sold for around 19.99. This is also in the Epitaph store for only $12 and is in a single LP sleeve. Looking for information quickly just now, I cannot find concrete proof that the first press was actually in a gatefold. I do know that this release was sold out for a minute at one time. Pressing info will most likely just keep climbing in numbers im sure. If theres a market, It will stay in print.

Jimmy Eat Worlds "Bleed American" has recently just been repressed yet again by Universal UK as a single LP(FINALLY!) as a part of a series called BACK TO BLACK. I am so pleased to finally get to own this album on vinyl. I could never see myself paying the money for a first or second press copy and the 3xLP version has never apealed to me considering the A-B side is the ONLY thing that I would listen to out of the 3 LPs. This is an Import release and I was lucky enough to promptly order mine from Shop Radio Cast. I am not sure how to aquire a copy if they are sold out. Good Luck!

Pick ups

Here's what came in this time around! Most of these are current releases, I suggest you seek them out!

Weatherbox "American Art" was just released on vinyl for the first time by youth conspiracy records and can be picked up along with 3/4 of their catalog right now!

The casket lottery just put out a 2 song 7" called "The Door". Its their first set of new songs in 8 years or something like that, so happy their back! The 7" is excellent as well. Nathan Ellis as himself also put a solo 7" to coincide with the new casket lottery release, both are available from No Sleep Records.

Stoked on the small brown bike pick up. I Only need 2 more oldies and I complete my collection!

1. Weatherbox- American Art 2xLP- youth conspiracy records- tan/300
2. Weatherbox- the cosmic drama- doghouse records- blue marble/200?/250?
3. The casket lottery- The Door 7"- No Sleep Records- seafoam green/300
4. Nathan Ellis- S/T 7"- No Sleep Records- opaque blue/300
5. Small Brown Bike- No Place Like You 7"- Salinger Press- black/???

Pick ups

Been getting a lot of cool things in lately! Almost done back tracking and a bunch of more current stuff still to come in. Looking forward to slowing down!

1. Chamberlain- The Moon My Saddle 2xLP- Top Shelf Records- Pink Marble/100 (2nd press)
2. At The Drive-In- In Casino Out- Fearless Records- Clear/1500 (2nd press)
3. The Get up Kids- Something To Write Home About- Doghouse Records- Clear Red/??? (1st press)
4. Alkaline Trio- Good Mourning 2xLP- Vagrant Records- Clear blue/300 (2nd press)

A lot of classics in this one, also a lot of 2nd presses! I would like to hunt down to first single LP presses of chamberlain and alkaline trio. Im more of a fan of single LPs than double but at this point im taking what I can get. Good Mourning like Crimson, isnt THAT hard to come by, though people tend to want a little too much for them. Id take either a black or UK red press of Crimson as well, since i also have the 2xLP of Crimson. Chamberlain also tends to be put up for a big price as well, that no one is going to pay.

Picked up the Get up kids LP for an extremely reasonable price. I dont know why some people are paying the average of $40+ on ebay for the represses on pink and lavender! i picked this up half that with shipping! Brings back memories. My sister used to own this on what i think was black, so i used to put it on from time to time when she'd leave records in my room.

Good Mourning is on clear blue, but it came out a little darker since there is some black mixed in. It isnt listed as "black smoke" but essentically thats what it is.

Finally, Chamberlain, Top Shelf took it upon themselves to repress The Moon My Saddle, "Split Lips" most hated record, but i am pleased! Copies are still available at topshelf if you're into finding out why Kings Of Leon exist!

Vacation.

It's been about 2 years since I've been on vacation. My last vacation was Australia and its also crazy to think its been that long since that trip. Mel had an excellent idea to rent something out for a few days out on Cape Cod since I have never been and at the current moment we are both so happy we did it. Already sorta thinking about next year!

Here's a few shots from our beach side motel room at the Top Mast Resort:
on the beach outside our room

our view from inside our room

this view is from the top of trail you can walk up called bearberry. the beach visible is Ballston beach. this is about 5 minutes away or so from where we were staying.