Blog 4
I often write blogs and updates about random stuff in life (nothing pretentiously emo, don't worry), or when i've posted a new vlog, or something like that. Please have a read, comment, etc.
Most of my blogs get posted on my various social network sites, however EVERYTHING gets posted (and usually first) on my website (if you're that interested) http://smudgefish.twenty121.com
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CIT School Stars Competition
Last Friday, CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology) held a competition called School Stars for bands from various different schools to compete for a spot in the lineup of CIT’s MicFest concert a month later.
After Bec (vocals), Joel (cello) and I (piano) auditioned our Evanescence cover ‘The Last Song I’m Wasting On You’ for limelight, our music teacher suggested we should enter as a band.
So after much procrastination, Bec and I began to prepare for our 10 minute performance, approximately a week or two before it was set to happen. We used an original piece I’d somewhat finished writing (it had no cello part, and only chords for the piano) called Your Sky. We also decided to perform The Last Song I’m Wasting On You again, a particularly lazy move on my part, as we originally performed that with Cassi in 2007.
I wanted to also perform one of Bec’s originals. She was incredibly self-conscious about her original songs (which was ridiculous, as they were far less pretentious and corny than anything I’d written) and wasn’t sure which one to pick, reluctant to pick any at all. She eventually began teaching me a song she’d written (whilst she was still arranging it) on piano several days before the performance, and we reluctantly rehearsed over and over until it was decent.
Last Friday, CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology) held a competition called School Stars for bands from various different schools to compete for a spot in the lineup of CIT’s MicFest concert a month later.
After Bec (vocals), Joel (cello) and I (piano) auditioned our Evanescence cover ‘The Last Song I’m Wasting On You’ for limelight, our music teacher suggested we should enter as a band.
So after much procrastination, Bec and I began to prepare for our 10 minute performance, approximately a week or two before it was set to happen. We used an original piece I’d somewhat finished writing (it had no cello part, and only chords for the piano) called Your Sky. We also decided to perform The Last Song I’m Wasting On You again, a particularly lazy move on my part, as we originally performed that with Cassi in 2007.
I wanted to also perform one of Bec’s originals. She was incredibly self-conscious about her original songs (which was ridiculous, as they were far less pretentious and corny than anything I’d written) and wasn’t sure which one to pick, reluctant to pick any at all. She eventually began teaching me a song she’d written (whilst she was still arranging it) on piano several days before the performance, and we reluctantly rehearsed over and over until it was decent.
One day Bec came to school telling me about how... [THIS PART OF THE BLOG HAS SINCE BEEN CENSORED, AS IT HAS SINCE BECOME A BAND SECRET] ...so we decided that would be our official name. Embarrassing.
About 3 or 4 days before the performance, it seemed appropriate to tell Joel that he’d been entered into this thing, and we rehearsed together for the first time a day before. Bec arranged Joel’s part for her untitled song, Joel remembered his part for The Last Song I’m Wasting On You, and I told him just to improv on Your Sky.
By the day of the performance we were all feeling rather unconfident, a feeling which was increased further when we began watching the other bands perform. Almost every single other band were (I felt) as a much higher standard then us, and all had a standard rock set up.
By the time it was our turn to go up I was freaking out. About 5 or 6 bands had been on before us, and we were the last act before the intermission. We eventually stepped out onto stage, Joel having no foldback (and thus not able to hear himself) and me at a keyboard they had raised in the back corner of the stage.
After Bec introduced us I started playing on the unfamiliar keyboard, and was so nervous that I completely lost my sense of timing. Your Sky had a few screw-ups, but by the time we moved onto Bec’s song I at least wasn’t about to play somewhat decently. When we finished our originals the crowd cheered rather louder than I’d expected, and we moved onto the third song. By now I was so relieved that there’d been no major screw ups I almost forgot we were still playing!
Afterwards we were congratulated by our teacher, me and Joel’s old music teacher, and backstage crew, one of which was heavily stoned (and smelt of it) and insisted that he really “felt” the songs we played.
As the night went on the room became hotter and hotter, and at 9:30 the winners were eventually announced. We knew we wouldn’t win, because it seemed at that point that they were looking for a rock set up, not a little emotional ‘slit-wrist’ trio, and indeed we didn’t. The band from Melrose won (apparently only by a point or two from another band). However, they then announced that there was a clear winner for Best Performer, which was awarded to Bec! Once again (first time being limelight) our singer was picked out from the band
Yesterday I got a message on MSN from Bec saying that her Dad ran into one of the judges, and apparently the band that was only a point or two off winning was us! So that was fully ganksta
My sister filmed our performance on my phone, which I’ll be uploading to Youtube fairly soon (despite the fact that she had her finger over the microphone for quite a lot of it). There’s also photos up if you’d like to have a look.
Anyway, thanx for reading my ‘little’ recount of the School Stars competition. Leave a comment if u like
Reminding you that second comes right after first,
Alex
http://smudgefish.twenty121.com -
200 Subscribers!
Over the last few days my vlog on Youtube crept over the 200 subscriber mark! Seems quite a few people have a lot of time on their hands. 202 to be exact.
Lately I haven’t felt that motivated to do a vlog, and from past experiences non-motivated blogs usually suck, but I’m determined to make one soon. It’s been over a month.
Thanks to all the people who’ve subscribed, shown their friends, etc.
Until the next video...
Alex (aka. Smudgefish)
http://www.youtube.com/smudgefish
http://smudgefish.twenty121.com -
Absence Report
So I’ve had a severe lack of internet access lately, and mostly have been updating Twitter, as it’s quick. But I’ve been making small updates here and there. Here’s a few things that have been going on with smudge lately.
Firstly, there’s a new Smudgefish! Demi (ex-girlfriend and now best-friend) bought a fighting fish, and named it Smudge! I am rather proud of her. Technically it’s Smudge II, and Kathryn owned the original Smudge fish.
NEW ANGELSPIT ALBUM! And it STILL hasn’t come in the mail yet *angry glare at Angelspit*. You can hear it on their myspace, and it’s freakin’ ganksta bro.
Speaking of Angelspit, Kathryn and I fairly recently decided to “Paint Hell Red”. And by hell, I mean McKellar and Evatt. If you’re around there look out for our dodgy little Angelspit skull thingies. A few people have seen them already
In sadder news... my camera lens has broken. Harry was holding it at school, and when he gave it back to me the zoom wasn’t working, and when I tried to zoom it started closing the aperture and all other crazy shiz like that. Now we aren’t saying Harry broke it *glares*, but Transformers still sucks!
For those who still don’t seem to know yet, no, Demi and I aren’t together. She has set the record of my longest relationship (5 months), whilst soon after another girl set the record for the shortest (3 days). Unless you count Beth in year 6 (15 minutes!). Either way Alex is freshly single
Looking forward to Chloe’s party this weekend, and Rachel's bday is coming up too! Any excuse to have a good drink
Oh, and one more thing. Alex and Cassi are talking again.
And that’s all I can think of to write about for now,
Alex (recovering internet withdrawals)
http://smudgefish.twenty121.com -
Boycott The Boycott
So the slow transition to vegetarianism was going well. I had cut meat out of everything except dinner, and we were talking about introducing vegetarian meals for that. Everything was going ganksta, but then I get the news that I’m being put on a medication (I won’t go into details), and cutting meat out of my diet at the same time I start the meds would be very counter-productive.
So Smudge’s vege-plans are being put on hold until everything is going well with this other thing. A little disappointing, as I was having fun working toward my goal, but these meds are finally the result of something that’s been in the works since last December (not trying to be mysterious or anything, a few of you know what I’m talking about) and finally things are working out
In other news... I’m gonna get my hearing tested. I listen to my music much quieter than most of my friends, but due to the longer exposure time I have to it I think I might be getting hearing loss. Either that, or I have unrealistic expectations for my ears, and am paranoid as a result. Anyway, that should be fun.
That's it for now, thanx for reading
Alex (the blogger with no chance of iron-deficiency)
Please wait...
