It’s Armageddon… I need Bruce Willis…
One of my favorite things about teaching is bringing new and clever ways of educating into my classroom. Most of the time, this means handing out bizarre and humorous essays to my students, or engaging them in some sort of wacky in-class writing activity. For examples, last week, I had several of my students proof read and correct a classic Prince of Nigeria spam email, in order to make it a more effective persuasive piece, since we were going over Persuasion and Argumenative writing.
This past class, I brought in a couple of literal music videos, a hilarious internet phenomenon that involves folks singing about what’s actually going on in the video. The students watched the original video, followed by the literal one, and we talked about how the language effectively changes what they are seeing. We compared and contrasted the lyrics, the videos, and the new messages.
I used Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart, A-HA’s Take On Me, and my favorite of the bunch, Creed’s With Arms Wide Open. The result was hilarious, and a wonderful learning experience. I can’t wait to do this in future classes.
I know I don’t update this personal blog enough, but I’m making it a New Year’s resolution of mine to update at least once a week from now on. For the most part, you can find me writing on Geekadelphia (we just celebrated our 3 year anniversary, thanks to our friends at Hewlett Packard), on Uwishunu, and Tweeting. I’m also hard at work on a new book, a travel narrative with my good friend (and recently budding stand up comedian) Glen.
The semester is wrapping up quickly, and it’s been a successful one, both in the classroom and out. My two courses at MC3 and Peirce were fantastic, and I spoke at Long Island University last month. I only have one more class at MC3 and Peirce College left. I genuinely feel like I learn so much with every new class, and I’ve been blessed with an administration that welcomes my creativity, and students who respond quite well to it. I’ll be sad to say goodbye to such a wonderful group of kids, but I’m already looking forward to next semester.
Naomi and JM’s Engagement video from JM Chapman on Vimeo.
Last summer, I hopped on a tour with Forever The Sickest Kids, Farewell, and my good friends, Upper Class Trash. Long since disbanded, I’ve remained good friends with some of the UCT guys, especially JM.
Retiring from the life of a full-time touring pseudo rock-star, JM can now be found playing music with his band Green Green Green while going to optometry school. We talk practically every day over AIM, rambling about girlfriends, work, school, and photography. He’s a great guy, and I’m incredibly proud of all he’s accomplished this past year.
I’d like to send out a huge congrats to him and his beautiful fiancée Naomi, on their engagement this past weekend. Late Saturday night I received a text message from JM, simply stating “you’re now receiving a text from Naomi’s fiancée “. Needless to say, I was all kinds of happy for him.
For his proposal, he put together a beautiful video montage from clips he’s shot over the past year. Valentine’s Day, trips to the aquarium, plane rides, etc… and showed them to her in a private theater. In this 5 minute video, you can watch the montage of clips and see the proposal at the end.
Bravo JM. Congrats.
Bowling For Houston Calls
So my pals Houston Calls (Drive Thru Records) invited me over to their band house to take some quick press snaps. We had planned to do a Blood Brothers-esque photo of the band inside one of their favorite bars, but unfortunately the manager they had befriended was MIA, and we weren’t able to shoot in the planned location.
In The Band House
We ended up just shooting around a local bowling alley and inside the band house. I like the way some of the images came out, but we definitely could have done something better with that other location. Next time.
Chitty Poses Outside
I’ve got an entire gallery of photos from the shoot on my Flickr page. We took almost 400 images. You’ll find just a few of my favorite group and solo shots.
Houston Calls’ new album End of an Error, hits stores everywhere on October 14th. I really can’t wait. It’s been three years since their debut album dropped on Drive Thru. To support their first effort, the guys spent time on tour with groups like Fenix Tx, The Early November, Paramore, HelloGoodbye, Plain White Ts, and overseas stints with Yellowcard and MXPX.
They’ll be heading to the UK with Farewell and going back to Australia this fall in support of the new record. Go get ‘em guys.
A real AIM conversation with my girlfriend…
Heather: Your pictures are stupid and you’re stupid for liking them.
Me: …
Heather: I love you.
Oh Thieves & Villains, you wild and crazy guys. Recently, John (drummer) gave me a ring, saying that their show in New Jersey was canceled, and asked if they could crash here in Philly before their trip down to Virginia Beach. Of course I said yes, and we took a handful of new press images while they kicked back.
The last time they were here, back in April, was again, for a last minute photo shoot. I didn’t have anything planned, so we just shot around my house and went outside with my bright studio lighting.
But, who am I to say no to close friends? We had a good time, even if the pictures weren’t as great as they could have been.
I’m really excited for these guys. They recently signed to Victory Records, one of the biggest indie labels in the country. Their roster boasts stars like The Audition, Hawthorne Heights, Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, and my buddies, Silverstein, whose video I starred in last summer. They have some insane tour plans in the works, and chances are, they’ll be taking a certain photographer with them in the Fall. *hint hint*
Give them a listen!
Thieves & Villains
www.myspace.com/thievesandvillains
The guys in Return To Arms and I have been trying to work out a press shoot for a long time. I met a few of them while on the Farewell / Forever The Sickest Kids / Upper Class Trash tour when the tour hit Philadelphia, and at various other shows through out the past year. They’re an incredible talented group of guys and write some very catchy tunes.
In fact, you should check out their new demo over on their myspace, entitled “Retrospect”. Sounds fantastic.
My blog’s been quiet lately, I know, but I’ve been pretty busy settling into my new place. Queen Village is a fun neighborhood, and luckily for me, I’m friends with people who know the area (sup lex!).
These new press images were taken in the empty room of my house, which I’ve dubbed “the studio”. Those globes? Ikea lights.
Return To Arms
www.myspace.com/returntoarms
Shut up and dance!
I love the guys in You, Me, & Everyone We Know. They write some truly catchy tunes and great things are happening for them. When I worked with them and did their press photos back in October, they were on tour with Casting Out (former members of Boy Sets Fire) and most of the guys had less than a few dollars to their name. Throwing your life into a tour van and hitting the road, it’s a risky thing. And now, it’s all paying off.
After an awesome tour with The Color Fredww (Fred of Taking Back Sunday) and Island Records’ The Pink Spiders, You Me & Everyone We Know are releasing a free digital EP via Rushmore Records, the sister label to the pop punk giant Drive Thru Records, famed for bringing acts like New Found Glory, Something Corporate, Finch, and The Starting Line into the music industry.
I’m proud of these boys. They’re making it happen. Download their EP for free over at Absolutepunk. For fans of sugary pop punk, served up a la I Am The Avalanche mixed with the dancey hooks of Panic! At The Disco and The Higher, and the clever, often naughty lyrics of Say Anything.
On January 12th, 2008, at around 4AM, Scott Hasbrouck of the local New Jersey band, Belafonte, passed away in a car accident. I did some photo work with the Belafonte guys, the singer Zachary West being one of my close friends, and I can’t even imagine what they are going through right now.
Scott was a great guy who I had the pleasure of meeting during a photo shoot. We talked on AIM now and again, and the conversations were your usual bro-dude convos, lasting a few minutes, discussing music, girls, and how I had to get my ass to a Belafonte show / how they had to come play in Philadelphia.
When the away messages and text messages started flying around that something had happened to Scott, I IMed his screen name, which had been idle for a few hours. It breaks my heart to know that, at 20 years old, he’s gone, and far too young.
He was fortunate to have some amazing people in his life. The guys in Belafonte, Zach, Chris, Bobby, Kevin, and their old drummer Steve… I can’t even express how fun, genuine, and kind these guys are.
They’ll be playing a benefit show on January 18th, at a small venue in Red Bank, New Jersey. All proceeds are going towards Scott’s family. If you’re a scene kid (there is a huge chance you are if you’re visiting my website) and happen to be from New Jersey, make it out to the show, and show some support.
Stay strong Belafonte, and stay afloat like the ship you named your band after. You’re in my thoughts.
Christmas is here. Yes, that is my Christmas tree here in Philadelphia, being dwarfed by my roommate’s cat. Even though Josh Groban has this year’s number one holiday album, that does not mean you should be listening to it. Seriously. He was awesome in Ally McBeal. That was it.
For Christmas, I’ve gathered up a small collection of Holiday songs written by different indie / punk / emo / etc bands. Some are friends of mine, some aren’t. You’ll be able to download them off their respective purevolume / absolutepunk / myspace sites that they are linked to.
As Tall As Lions – O’ Holy Night
Copeland – A Merry Little Christmas
David Melillo – All I Want For Christmas
Echo Screen – It Just Isn’t XMas At All
The Fold – O’ Holy Night
Homegrown – Feliz Navidad
Ludo – A Very Ludo Christmas
Kind of Like Spitting – Last Christmas in Portland
Kiss Kiss – Frosty The Puddleman
The New Frontiers – Christmas Time Is Here
The Secret Handshake – Christmas in Cali
As Tall As Lions, Copeland, and The Fold are three of my favorites groups. I went on tour with David back on the Cute Is What We Aim For tour, and I handled a lot of Echo Screen’s press images. I love all these bands, and you will too.
You can’t download The Reign of Kindo’s cover of O’ Holy Night, but it’s a BEAUTIFULLY done song from the remaining members of one of my favorite groups, This Day & Age. Give it a stream off their Purevolume site. The Reign of Kindo – O Holy Night. Also, Foreverinmotion’s cover of Bluest of Christmas is a great stream to listen to.
Yes, I realize that there are three instances of O’ Holy Night on here, but whatever. Deal with it, and have a safe, happy holiday.
My debut novel comes out this Fall. You'll be able to download free audiobook podcasts 
