1st track is in the books

It took me eight years of talking trash and blowing smoke to finally get back into the studio. This last Saturday I finally got to sit down with my producer Pete Cole and record the first track of the new Vitamin P CD . It felt good, it actually felt better than good, it was amazing . It was so much fun to sit down, perfect the song , and watch a true professional bring it all together. I can't thank Pete enough for taking time out of his extremely busy schedule to work with me. It was truly a great experience.

I have kind of gone the opposite direction in this entire recording process. I have played a lot of shows and rapped a bunch of times on stage but I have rarely recorded any of my songs. Looking back on this I wished I would have recorded when I had a great song at hand. But maybe it wasn't the right time for me to record and I can't fret over lost time . I am here now and ready to put these new songs done on "wax" .
The best part of the whole process is that Pete understands that I am going for an old school sound and trying to stay away from all the new stuff out there. I grew up listening to Tribe Called Quest and I want to incorporate that Jazzy sound into my music.
I look forward to the next couple months coming up and I promised myself that good things take time and I am going to embrace the opportunity to work with a great team and learn the process. So look  for me in the next couple months as we get some quality music out to the world. Check out Sanctuary Studio . They have been absolutely amazing in this whole process and I recommend them for all your projects

Back in the Studio

It has been a very long time or pretty much never since I have gotten back to the studio. But I have started to write and get down some songs for the new Vitamin P CD. It has been almost ten years since I have done a recording that I would be proud of handing off to a stranger . Ever since my band mate Christian Bartesch died in a car accident on Jun 14th 2003, Vitamin P went our separate ways, and I haven't had much of a drive to put music down. I will throw a flow down anytime and any place but as far as completing a music project I just wasn't feeling it. I got the vibe again when Ben Hazard came back from NYC but that was short lived because he had other projects going on. And I am sure my own addictions killed that friendship.  I finally had to sack up and attempt this creative process on my own. And that is the new journey.

Pete Cole, Cashel, and Colin Bodine

A young kid by the name of Colin Bodine has provided some drive for me to complete my CD. He is a former rugby player that I used to coach at Rio Americano High School many years ago and now he is a local musician that plays a lot of small gigs around Sacramento. Just watching his energy and free spirit has put a pretty good impression on this old rapper. Helping him get some of his music recorded and seeing him grow has made me realize what it's all about. Another person putting in a lot of time and effort into the project is Peter Cole of Sanctuary Studios. He has been true to his word and provided a lot of insight of the best way to make something I am proud to call my own .

Ultimately it is up to me and I know this now. Talking is only good when you have something to show for it . Otherwise it is just hot air. Look for some tracks in the next couple months and I hope everyone enjoys them .

I am going to catch a Shark this weekend



The view from the house



        I have a Bachelor Party to attend to this weekend. This is one of the 1st real ones I have ever been on. I have attended a couple but I usually don't end up staying for the whole thing. But this one is for Nate Trivers, my sister's fiance, so I am going all out. We are going to go to Santa Cruz for the weekend and staying in a great beach house that was bought by Lloyd Bridges for his sister. It's called the Sunny Cove Retreat. It looks great and I am excited to be right on the beach. This will be two weekends in a  row that I have been able to stay on the Coast. Last weeks trip was in the 60's , but this one should be a little warmer, hopefully.

        Something I am truly excited for is the chance to go Deep Sea Fishing. I have never been so it could be a puke fest for me but I am excited nonetheless.  I have been talking about it for weeks. I am catching a Great White Shark. Say what you want but when I get that thing on my line I am going for it all. No catch and release here people. When I do land it I will tell my girl to clear a space in our 725 square foot house to mount my monster shark. Hopefully our boat doesn't end up like a scene out of Jaws. Have a good weekend everybody and hopefully I will have some fish stories to tell when I get back.





View from the Front of the House





Road Trip Weekend

Hydesville

         I just got back from a great road trip over the weekend . I travelled north from Sacramento to Humboldt County. My main purpose for the trip was to visit my Dad's family and to hit the horse races. My grandma and grandpa live up there as well as my uncle Chris, his wife Patti, and their two boys Payden and Parker .

         First, the weather was amazing. The highs were in the 60's and it was pretty cloudy except for a little sun on Saturday. I was excited for the cool weather because Sacramento has been in the high 90's for the last couple weeks . So it was time to break out the jeans and sweatshirts. I try to plan a trip to Humboldt County at this time every year because it is during the County Fair and the Horse Races. It has to be the biggest weekend for the county and the people watching is spectacular. I had to roll solo this time because my girl was at my sister's bachelor party .



Ferndale Horse Races



        I left on Friday morning and was excited for the sights. It is great to drive away from the big city into the wild. I usually take I-5 to Woodland , Go Highway 16 West through the Capay Valley, Link up to Highway 20 west around Clear Lake , and get hit 101 North and take that all the way to Eureka . I usually give myself 6 hours but I have made it in as little as 4 and a half hours . My plan was to hang out on Friday with my Grandpa Bob and Grandma Lois, and hit the Horse Races and Fair on Saturday with Uncle Chris and his family.

Joe Villa 1968

        Everything went great and when you're not drinking you have a ton of money for betting and fair food. I thought I had tried everything when it comes to fried foods but the Humboldt Fair had a half pound of fried bacon dipped in a brown sugar and mustard sauce. It was one of the most fantastic foods I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. Hanging with my family in Humboldt is like getting the VIP treatment. They know everyone and we had the hookups to it all .

        The best thing about the trip was I met a lady whom went to school with my Dad and she gave me a picture of my pop's senior high school picture. It brought a lot of old memories back and it made me thankful for the time in my life I got to share with him . So I  thankful to everyone that took care of me this weekend and put out the great hospitality. Until we meet again Humboldt !

Sade and John Legend next week

           It is almost surreal. Imagine growing up listening to someones music and passion for life for over 20 years and now having the opportunity to see them live. I get to see Sade live in concert next Wednesday at the Power Balance Pavilion or as every single person in Sacramento calls it, Arco Arena. I bought tickets last week after procrastinating about it for over 2 months . Thanks to being sober I have found that my bank account often stays at a monetary amount that can afford me small gifts for me and my girl to enjoy. We are both so excited and even if the seats are off to the side and in the nose bleeds we are to extremely excited to attend.

        John Legend will also be opening up for Sade. That would be like getting to eat your favorite Cake with a glass of the most delicious Root Beer. Both performers can melt your heart with their words and if you don't have it on repeat for at least a couple tracks then something is wrong with you . So if you see me at the concert , say what's up , and at least I know you have good taste in music.

         

Trying it Clean and Sober

     It has been 14 days since I made the choice to be clean and sober . It was a decision that needed to be made. I have spent so many years saying "Yes" to everything and that it has been a complete change to now say "No" .  I have been going pretty hard for the last 15 years. Alcohol, Weed , and Cocaine have been a major factor in my life for all those years. Some more than others but they all play the same role. They allow me to think that I'm God and in control of any and every situation .

     But life is funny that way. I am but a mere grain of sand in this enormous world. Just a small piece of this creative intelligence we call earth. God has played a huge roll in this ability for me to change . Now this isn't the God that used to scare me in Catholic Class . This is  "God" as I know it. Something much bigger and more powerful than  I can ever imagine . I will let him guide me. I am no longer afraid of the road but

    Now I am not a sucker by any means. I understand that anything good is worth putting in work and time . Anyone can say they are going to stop drinking. But it is the time after that matters. Living a good life and trying to be sober is my goal. I am excited for the future and completing the goals that I set forth. I used to just talk about what I was going . It was a waste but just having a fighting chance now is something i truly cherish.

If you know someone that may want the help of A.A. please click on the link and check it out. They are all over the world and you can most likely and ready to help anyone whom wants to stop drinking .

Central California Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous 

The Fair is Back in Town

That's right people. The California State Fair is back in Sacramento for a magnificent two weeks. It starts this weekend.  If you want to see the true weirdos that California holds than the State Fair is your best bet . I try to go every year and since I have been with my lady we try to go a couple of times during the two week span. One trip is usually strictly for food and the other will be for the concert series.

 We had our very first date at the State Fair and witnessed MC Hammer absolutely murder it up there. It was a great show and it makes you realize that the world's greatest entertainers can put on a show anytime and anyplace. I spent two hundred dollars on twelve dollar beers but if you saw my lady it was all worth it. I think I was hungover for two days.

               The food is by far the best thing going on at the fair. it's not so much the Alligator or Elk Sausages. It's more about the Turkey Legs, Funnel Cakes, and Miller High Life. There are very few venues nowadays besides the Fair that will allow you to enjoy all of these food in one place and not be chastised by your peers. I recommend taking an antacid before and don't bring anyone on a diet.

 The Fair is for everyone but not everyone is made for the Fair.

Can you Handle it?

It's been a minute people. Sorry I have been away and just getting back into the swing of things. I have been busy with work and if you have read any of my blogs in the last month they seem a little on edge. I get frustrated sometimes, like everybody but I often get frustrated for not speaking up until it's too late or never at the right time. That is my curse. I feel the need to talk about things when they are blowing up in my face as opposed to discussing them in the early stages . I think most people call it being a "Pussy" , but I look at it as more. I feel a lot. I am constantly trying to listening to every sound and smell around me. I don't want to jump into anything to soon but at the same time I enjoy viewing the chaos that is this world. It is constantly raining hope at  different spots on the planet but at the same time it is dumping shit on the unfortunate. We as humans get both. The animals out there in the wilderness don't often get to deal with the shit side of life. Because when you're an animal of the forest when the bad hits, you usually, end up dying . But lucky for us human beings we get to deal with life when it gets bad but we also get to witness it when the good strikes.

But I have realized in the last couple weeks is that it always starts with yourself . If you want bad times than surround yourself with that negative energy. If you need to be positive than surround yourself with that positivity in your life. And that in itself if probably the most easily explained and the hardest thing to accomplish in one's life. But we can all have fun trying 

Keep that Pitcher Full. Not that kind of Pitcher

As of right now I feel overwhelmed, overworked , and under appreciated. I feel overwhelmed cause their are so many things I want to do in this world. I want to be a Rugby Coach, a Musician, and hopefully one day own my own Real Estate Company. What the fuck? It couldn't be any different . I sound like a 6 year old kid telling everyone how he wants to be a football player when I grow up . You know the way you talk before life gets in the way . Stupid talk.

I feel overworked because no matter what I do the end result always changes. Maybe it is the lack of leadership I currently possess at my job? In "real life" I could coach forty Ruggers or put together an hour long concert. But in my employment life I am watcher. I am not making any move without a proper review of the task. I have been burned too many times.  I am not trying to waste an extra life. I work with salesmen all day. And if you're not careful you can get sold on their ideas. Which when it comes to a salesmen it is usually them selling you on doing their work for them. Typical shit .

And lastly I feel under appreciated because of my wallet. Actually my wallet is feeling under appreciated because seldom does anything go into it without most of it coming back out .  Working in a 100% commission industry can only bring more stress into your life. My wallet is light and sad.

As of right now I feel like I am letting life step all over me. I have this notion in my head that the fuller my pitcher is than the less opportunity I have to fail . But in actuality having such  a full pitcher has allowed me to step away from more important projects in order to please everyone . But pleasing does not pay the rent . Unless you're a prostitute. Which is something I am trying to avoid at all cost. so I am going to either pour some water out of this pitcher or get a smaller container.  

Be A Firm Believer in Yourself

It starts with you. If you don't believe in what you stand for than pack it up. We all go through times where we think we might not be at our best or the world has it out for us . Those are normal feelings. It is a big scary place out there. Millions lose and even less win everyday.  A lot of turns where we don't know what is behind the next curve. Sometimes it's dark and finding our way out isn't always the top priority.

But I can say that the second you distrust yourself it is the beginning of the end. You need to be at all times your biggest fan, supporter and critical of your actions towards others . I know that I am not always the best at everything, or even anything for that matter. But I am me and I am responsible for my own happiness and for my own portion of the pie called life . Without my original drive I cannot expect others to provide for me and to know when I have had enough. It's not up to them  . I have a voice, a pen, or a computer where i can let these things be known . Without it I am a wild  animal that may have to fight for these things I take for granted . So as long as i have a voice I intend to use it .