Shanghai Soda

I went to Chan's Place and DID NOT order one for the first time. They are surprisingly costly. I'm going through immense writers block right now. But perhaps it's not a block, so much as a distraction. I've been sorting a lot of things out, and trying to wrap up the school year with decent grades. I gotta work more on geometry! Other than that, I have 2 B's and 3 A's. I won't tell you my geometry grade....lawl.
Anyways, I've recently been really getting into music that reflects the culture from where it is made. It is such a beautiful achievement to incorporate something as vast as culture into music that isn't nationalistic-waltz shit. Like how Beirut demonstrates the folk-ballads of Slovakia and Germany, how early Beatles introduced British skiffle to the world, and how Glen Hansard uses the spritely acoustic-folk chords of Ireland. I'm probably saying nonsense, but I'm totally right. I'm getting a keytar

At school

right now. This is way sketch. I just wanted to let people know that I am going to have a new-and-improved "Stabletapes" for sale at my show this Saturday (Punk Rawk Prom!). And possibly a new-and-improved "School Plays EP," but it may prove to be too short notice for me to make them by Satuday. Either or, I'll also have new Deer City shirts with the bird design. I think CD's will go for $5.00 each, and shirts for $6.00. Today, I'm playing at the EMP in Seattle during a protsest march. It's a little weird since it's a Thursday afternoon and a protest march is going to be happening close by, but hopefully it will be fun. Last night I got a call from some "Matthew in Seattle" who invited me to come over to his house and play Halo. But he asked me as if I had previously agreed to do this. He was like "Hey man, you wanna come over now?" It was sketchy to the max! Lately I've been getting really into The Beatles. I wish I was around for the Beatles. Or at least the next Beatles.

The Water

I have a really busy week in terms of Deer City coming up. By Saturday, I'm playing two shows, making at least 7 new Deer City shirts, and making hella CDs to sell at the Punk Rock Prom. I'm actually weirdly bummed that us bands aren't getting paid for the PRP. No one, that is, except for Joey Casio. Apparently, this guy is 27, and all proceeds of the night go to him....and he's not even headlining... :( I don't do music for the money, but if they are going to pay the artists, they should pay them equally and fairly. But that's enough of my bitching.

Sharpen Your Swords

was the original title of Sharpen Your Spears. Anyways, Deer City shows are going to be a lot more visually entertaining. I have a bubble machine, wireless guitar system, wireless headset microphone, and 2 new, really good songs. I think I'm going to reserve most of these theatrics for my really big shows where it wouldn't just be silly. For instance, this year's Punk Rock Prom at the OFH. That's going to be one of my better shows. (knock on wood!) But you should make it to that one, if any! I've been in good moods lately. Thus, I've been writing a lot of good songs. I have too many songs! I want to save up some money and get my songs mastered. Maybe I can ask my cousin, Phil Ek (philek.com) to do it for free. Afterall, he did a marvelous job with Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, and Band of Horses.

Hailstones

Hey everyone! Exciting news! I'm working with my dear friend Whitney Ballen on an acoustic/folk/emo album with just our guitars and our voices. I don't know if it will extend to anything further than a couple weekend recording sessions and maybe a show or two. This will be more of an emotional outlet for myself than an actually musical endeavor. I rarely use music strictly as a personal vehicle, and I doubt I will again. But stayed tuned for "Jeff and Whitney"
I'm sitting here with one of my best friends, Nick, and I'm realizing that I need to start being more positive and optimistic about the future. Certain events in my life have led me to take some never-been-ventured-steps that will (hopefully) allow me to be a happier individual and embrace the beautiful things around me. For the first time in my life, I opened up to my mom and we cried together. I guess at the end of the day, I have this to say; shit sucks, but it comes into our lives nonetheless. We may as well be happy with ourselves.

Time Will Tell

Hey everyone! I (Jeffery) started Deer City in 2005 to satisfy a musical appetite within myself that I was wasn't able to in my other band(s). My friends (poshhill.blogspot.com) and I had been drifting in and out of pop bands that never seemed to get anyone's attention for a couple years. The dynamic of these bands was usually the same; the songwriter was the defacto "leader", while the others enjoyed a limited democracy. Looking back, I wonder what things would be like if we were a bit more mature in our politics. But despite many drawn out arguments, we worked like this for about 3 years. One day, I was dicking around on my family's Spanish piano and wrote a few poppy songs. I was about to turn them over to the guys and flesh them out as a band when I stopped and took a good thinkin'. I suddenly realized that if I could have complete control over the music I write, and I could work as prolifically as I wished, I could really make a great thing. Instantly, I sketched out some pieces using computer soft synths under the name Dear City. (which I actually intended to be Deer City, but I was unaware of the difference in the spelling of "dear" and "deer")

Fast forward roughly a year.


After all the bands dispersed, I had put Deer City in the lime light. I was investing in an assortment of organs, casios, guitars, effects, and recording equipment. Before too long, I had a fairly well-to-do studio in my bedroom, and I was developing quite the fan base. I began thinking more about the songs I was writing and putting more of "myself" in them. The shows and their crowds grew with them. I also started networking more with other artists, and playing shows farther away. People often ask me for my influences. If I could make the answer as simple as the question, it would be this; Aqueduct, The Beatles, Modest Mouse, Elton John, The Postal Service, The Beach Boys, and Dashboard Confessional. If these are people that you listen to, chances are you would like my tunes as well. But then again, you've most likely heard my music if you're reading this blog. Either way, I hope I'm creating a unique fusion of what my iTunes+personal musical history withholds.