Future Posts

I really should post a blog week, even if it is about nothing. I always get these ideas about how to piss-off the world, and then I just get drunk or do some squats or something that.

I made this blog to talk about my music, my band, "Yuki Yuki Yasumi," but talking about music is one of the most boring things in the world. No one, even the wonderful individuals who have spent money on my music really want to know what goes on behind the scenes. Do you really want to hear me record god-awful demos on my zoom recorder? Do you want to agonize over me debating word choices and fumbling over pacing out the lyrics to a song? Of course not.

With that said, my music is taking a bizarre direction, I don't know or understand where anything I do fits into the grand scheme of things. I'm in the mood to do angrier songs, more akin to my metal roots, more screaming and more lyrics about social/philosophical topics of relevance to my life.

I'm 32 years old. I'm a failure. If I never write, record or release a song ever again no one will ever care.

I'm not coming to a nihilistic epiphany all of a sudden. I've felt this way the last decade of my life, but I've toiled on. I cannot imagine a life where I don't wake up on the weekend, drink a pot of coffee, do a niacin flush, and full around on my computer programming tracks. Or grabbing one of my many instruments off the wall and just fulling around. This life, this passion, has stood between me and any possibility of being "normal." Or of having a "social life."

But for now on, I will make it a point to share "something" on this blog every week. Some kind of "progress" even if it is garbage, or just something I posted somewhere else, that I never got around to promote.

My arsenal of weapons. Some of them, at least.  

Anime Boston 2012

Wow, I really don't know what to say about this convention. It's really hard to rate this convention, since I was there for one reason, Haruko Momoi. All could have gone to shit and it wouldn't have mattered, as long as I got to meet Haruko and see her concert. Both happened, and I kind of forgot what else went on.

No, I didn't dress like Komugi.
The costume arrived one day late.

I have to say, it was my first time in Boston, and it's a really cool city. I would have liked to have spent more time up there to do non-convention stuff like see architecture and try out more food.

The location of the convention itself, the Hynes, is basically situated inside a shopping mall. Yeah, a freaking mall, so the convention takes over the whole mall. Everyone is in costume walking around the food court. People who are not there for the anime convention must be like, "WTF is going on?" Especially when confronted by magical "BROLITAS" like myself, six and a half foot tall Sailor Moon crossplayers, and guys with 12 foot Cloud Strife swords.

As you can probably guess, I took the train up because I hate to drive, and I've heard horror stories about driving in Boston. I love trains anyway, I just wish they were more like the ones in Japan (comfortable and you can drink alcohol on them).

I was lucky enough to meet up with some friends and split a room. However, since they didn't arrive on Thursday, I had a night to myself to hit the hotel gym/pool and explore town. I should have looked for a microbrewery. I ended up drinking random Sam Adams and Harpoon because that's what they've got up there.

The city of Boston does not shy away from expressing it's hatred of New York sports teams (especially the Yankees). I thought this was hilarious. I'm a Philly guy, and down here you can't walk into a store and buy an "I hate NY" t-shirt, but it is commonplace to do so in Boston. I met and hung out with this crazy Celtics fan all weekend who happens to be from Brooklyn. He probably spent more money on Jeremy Lin, and "I hate NY" t-shirts than on anime stuff in the dealer's room. It was pretty awesome!

The view from my hotel room at night. Pretty baller.

I managed to eat the worst pizza in my entire life up in Boston, and I got yelled at for it because apparently, Boston pizza is supposed to be great. So, I guess my friends and I just picked the wrong joint. I seemed to make a few poor food choices over the weekend, not trusting my better instincts. Plus, mall food was always "just right there" outside the convention center exit.

Friday: I really didn't do much. The big thing was getting in line for the Ito and Momoi concerts, and I managed to get in about the third row which was pretty cool. Ito did a few songs on acoustic guitar, which caught me off guard. They were actually my favorite part of her set. Momoi did not have her key-tar, but I'll forgive her (LOL). She did a good number of covers (from Slayers, Haruhi, etc) in addition to originals. She didn't do too many songs from games, but she did stuff from Komugi, Seto no Hanayome, and Kujibiki Unbalance. Both were hour and a half sets, which was nice.

Best shot I could get on a cell phone camera of Haruko Momoi.
At the concert.

  Saturday, the focus was on hitting up the autograph rooms, where I got to meet Momoi, which I still cannot believe happened. I know this sounds strange, but to me, Momoi is what The Beatles are to most musicians. She is one of my number one influences and favorite artist of all time, so just standing in front of her was completely surreal. She doesn't know English, and I froze up and could only say one-word things like "Shiawase" and "Arigatou" in Japanese.



I did remember the words to "Daikirai Anata Ga" however, which I got to play for her on ukulele for 8 bars.
She song the background vocals with me; it was easily the best day of my life.

Yes, She signed my uke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg!

Just watching Haruko sign things was amazing. She signs her name HUGE, and writes all over everything! She drew all over my ukulele, which was AWESOME! The guy behind me had an art book with a two page spread and she wrote all big on both pages.

She has a method to signing things. In addition to her name, she dates everything and if there is a character in the picture, she'll write the character's name too (on my picture of her in Komugi cosplay, she wrote "Komugi-chan").

I've never been a wait in like for autographs kind of guy, but it was so worth it. I missed Ito's session, even though I had a CD booklet ready for her to sign.



Saturday night I missed the Bad Anime Bad panel, unfortunately, but did manage to make it to "hentai dubbing." I spent the remaining time in places like the dealer's room, karaoke, and game room.

From the Kanako Ito concert

Overall, it was a lot of fun. Boston is a big con, like Otakon, and while I've found lately that I have more fun at smaller/mid-sized conventions than I do at the big ones, I felt a more intimate atmosphere with Anime Boston than I have with some of the other larger east-coast conventions.

I'd definitely do Boston again.

Every Tear That You Wipe Away (Live) (remix for November 2010)

If you head over to my Tumblr blog right now, you'll be able to check out the latest Yuki Yuki Yasumi Remix:


Every Tear That You Wipe Away (Live) (remix for November 2010)


This "heavy remix" is unlike the softer album version:

Yuki Yuki Yasumi: Status Report 3rd quarter 2010

Granted, this Blog exists for one purpose, for me, Yuki, to shove my brand down your throat, hoping that you might come out to one of my shows (none scheduled right now), buy one of my CDs, buy some digital downloads, or perhaps even just a REALLY BITCHING CLOCK.

However, did you know that I've got all kinds of FREE STUFF, free songs that I post up EVERY MONTH.


I've been posting a "remix" up every month of various songs off of my first album. I started this back in August and I'm not going to stop. Eventually, you will be able to download them all, but for now I ask that you head over to my other blog: http://yukiyukiyasumi.tumblr.com/ and check out all the stuff I've got there!

Here's a list of the remixes already posted:

August 2010: Stop My Heart (a chiptune style remix)
September 2010: Steampunk Loli (another chiptune/glitch remix)
October 2010: S.O.S. (夏休み) (A Live Remix)

What does November have in store?  You can find out at 1am on November 1st... check back at this Blog or the tumblr Blog!

In the future, I've got more Live "metal remixes," A ton of soft acoustic remixes, and of course more fake chiptune/ video game inspired remixes.

There are also a number of videos on this site achieved, in the media section, check out the official Yuki Yuki Yasumi Youtube Chanel. 

I'd also like to report that the second Yuki Yuki Yasumi Album: Tsundere is well under way, more information to come soon!

K-ON!

I haven't been the productive musician I usually am, so I took some time off to catch up some anime, so I started watching K-ON!

I have to admit, I've always been a fan of music anime; back in the day I remember getting into Lucifer from the anime, Kaiken Phrase, and my band members in WBC and I would go on about how we thought we were like the characters in the band. I remember the episode where they played a concert during a typhoon, and how it inspired me to keep playing my music even though no one really gives a shit about it. I still think about that episode every time I play an outdoor show in bad weather.

Well here in 2010, after watching K-ON!, I'm beginning to feel that "Yuki" is more like K-ON! than Lucifer. First of all, we spend more time drinking tea than we do recording actual music. A typical Yuki practice usually involves Nate and I going into our "Chinatown Reserves" to pull out the rare and overpriced teas we pick up down the city.

Like Yui, my skills on one instrument seem to diminish if I end up practicing another instrument in favor of another, like when Yuki forgot how to play guitar when she learned algebra so she could stay eligible for the club. I just pulled out my viola and realized I'm pretty damn bad at playing it (I haven't touched it in months, I've been mostly playing bass lately). I'll start playing more viola now (there's a few tracks on my new album that could use some real strings), and I'll loose my "polish" on the other instruments I've been neglecting (there's quite a few).

Or like, when it gets cold in the practice room, we get lazy and huddle around the space heater (only this usually results in me burning myself like an idiot). And yeah, I know in K-ON! it's a Koatsu.... damn it...!!! I want my own Koatsu!!!!!

Or when our one guitarist, who isn't Nate, but whom I will not name, neglects to take care of his guitars and allows the strings to get all rusty (and then in turn gets rust all over the fast fret), sort of like when Azusa bitched at Yui for not taking care of her guitar.

And the Schoolgirl uniform? I've got that part taken care of.

I could think of more, but what can I say? I'd like to think of myself as the "Mio" of the group... but I'm really more a cross between Mio (her seriousness and nervousness) and Yui (her air-headedness, weirdness).

Oh well, can't wait till the next band practice (tea party).

Steampunk Loli Chiptune Mix (september 2010)

Free Yuki remix!!! September 2010 features: "Steampunk Loli" chiptune mix.

You will eventually be able to download this song here on my site for free! But right now, go show my blog some love and listen to the upload there: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE STEAMPUNK LOLI CHIPTUNE MIX!

Stop My Heart Special Mix (august 2010)

First free Yuki remix!!! August 2010 features: "Stop My Heart" special mix.

You will eventually be able to download this song here on my site for free! But right now, go show my blog some love and listen to the upload there: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO STOP MY HEART SPECIAL MIX.

Making Music: It's actually the easy part

Making music is the easy part. Everything else is hard. Like this internet thing for instance.
Anyway:

Getting to know Allan from YYY: Random information:

* I am a big Philadelphia Eagles fan and I can get annoying during the fall if someone gets me talking about football.
* When I played football when I was younger I was either middle linebacker or nose tackle (positions I started in given years when I was a starter).
* I can't eat seafood, in particular, shellfish.
* I can eat seaweed.
* I need to wear the extra large nitrile gloves even though I don't think my hands are very big.
* The first instrument I learned to play was viola (3rd grade).
* I prefer taking baths over showers.
* I used to read Nietzsche and Schopenhauer for fun back when I was young.
* I took my first Japanese class after I graduated from college, for the 2nd time.
* I've been to a Japanese hot spring (onsen).
* I however, have yet to go to a Japanese bath house.
* I did not go to a karaoke bar in Japan, even though I've been in 4 Japanese language karaoke contests at anime conventions.
* I like Osaka more than Tokyo.
* I think I like New York more than Philly.
* I cheer for my hometown "Philly" sports teams.
* I lost 45 lbs. in the last 3 months.
* My favorite activities include taking long walks and drinking tea.
* I've worn a Japanese school girl uniform at an anime con.
* I enjoy single malt whiskey/scotch or cognac every now and then
* My favorite brand of shoes is New Balance.
* My zodiac sign is cancer, I was born in the year of the rooster.
* My favorite color in purple.
* My bedroom in sponge-painted purple.
* My artist, Joey, beat Contra on 3 lives.
* My favorite cheese is swiss, but Munster makes the best grilled cheese sandwich (farmer's cheese is really good as well).
* I'm currently trying to learn four languages at once.
* I love Role Playing Video games, but I haven't really played one in a long time (just don't have the time).
* I really like it when people draw my blood, and I always let the new students/trainees "practice" on me.
* I "irrigated" my own ear canals when I had a "blockage." I am very proud of this because I avoided having to go to the doctor's and pay a co-pay.
* My favorite season is autumn.
* I don't favor dogs over cats, I actually like them both the same.
* My favorite holiday in Halloween.
* I usually work the holidays at my day job.
* My favorite songs on the first Yuki album are "Help Myself" and "Stop My Heart," I also love "Pyon Pyon" even though Nate HATES it and refuses to ever play it live.
* My favorite instrument to play is bass guitar.
* The anime that got me into anime was Ranma 1/2.
* My favorite manga is Midori no Hibi.
* I wrote my first song on guitar when I was in 7th grade (it was pretty bad).
* I actually thought food/cost of living in Japan was "affordable"
* I love to fly in airplanes.
* I hate to drive anywhere.
* I love to ride on trains. Probably one of the many reasons I like Japan so much, and probably one the reasons I'll like Europe whenever I go there.
* I can eat with chopsticks.
* When I went to Japan, I knew a lot less Japanese than I know now, in fact, I learned Katakana on the plane ride over.
* Even though I love traveling to Japan, I wouldn't want to "work" there.
* The last beach I was on was in Shirahama, Japan, but I might go to the Jersey shore soon.
* If I could travel to any European country, I'd like to travel to Italy first.
* I like absinthe, and other bitter things.
* Someday, I'd like to tour Thailand.
* I'd like to meet a nice girl who will travel the world with me.
* I always like the tsundere girls in anime.
* I used to be really good at chess. I'm probably still pretty good.
* I like to catch crabs, but I won't eat them.
* The main online videos I follow are Angry Video Game Nerd and Zero Punctuation.
* The best concerts I ever attended were Savatage, Dir En Grey, and Mercyful Fate.
* I started writing music with "computers" in high school on a really old Tandy that my mom got for free.
* I got into using MIDI in large part due to my friend and bass player, Andy.
* I am afraid of scorpions. Well, maybe not that afraid.
* I ran track in high school (100/200 meters, 4x100 relay).
* I met Andy running track.
* I met Nate (Yuki guitarist) in Latin Class. The first thing of his I remember reading was a poem about a cat falling down the stairs.
* I dressed in drag and tried out for my high school talent show Junior year and did not get in.
* I dressed in green spandex and a Danzig shirt and tried out for my high school talent show my senior year and got in.
* I'm not as into metal as much as people think I am, but I still like it.
* I love Thai food.
* Every girl I've ever had a crush on has not liked me back; it sucks but it makes for good songwriting.
* I always bring my "baby blankets" to sleepovers.

Okay that's enough for now off the top of my head. I'll archive this to a bio section or something after a while.

$$$ Money Power Respect, y'all

So I decided to monetize my blog (duh), as you can easily see. Oddly enough, one of the first adds I see crawl up onto my page is for Zenkaikon V, so I'm like whoa, Zenkaikon!! Bad ass!

I attended Zenkaikon at the Valley Forge Convention center in King of Prussia, PA the last two years (2008, 2009) and I had a blast! I probably had more fun at this con than I have at larger cons, and I'm not quite sure why. Maybe it's because the smaller con setting allows you to easily meet new people. Most memorably, I did two karaoke contests put on by DJ Ranma. He runs a podcast about anime and video games that is worth checking out. I also got to see some pretty cool bands, in particular Geist, whom I'd recommend to anyone who likes heavier metal music in the style of newer Dir En Grey.

This march, the con's apparently going to have 4x the space it had last year, which I hope will accommodate the attendance demand that keeps increasing each year. My friend, the artist for the first two YukiYasu albums, Joey Dangerous, is also going to have a table, so I'm pretty excited about that!

Basically, assuming something doesn't come up, I'm planning on attending Zenkaikon V in March! If you're going, hit me up. I'll probably be very hard to miss, if I'm cosplaying, which I likely will be.

I've been busy in the studio lately. Here I sit, with my netbook, remixing Yuki songs which I will release for free to you my fans in the upcoming months. Right now I'm chilling to the first Psychotica album trying to update all my blogs and sites and get them all interconnected. Psychotica is one of the bands that Nate and I got into way back in high school and the music I make today would probably not be the way it is if I never knew about them. I was lucky enough to get to see them in New York after they just reunited back in October 2009. If you like industrial rock you should check them out! 

So what have I been doing when I'm not making music? Watching anime of course. I recently picked up Magikano because it got re-released with a major price drop. It's your standard harem anime fanfare, but since it's only got 12 episodes it doesn't get boring. I'm only a few episodes into it but I'm already loving the Yuri character. She has a crush on the main character, but he doesn't know it. She reminds me of Ayase Takako from Midori Days (she's also a bossy Tsundere-type, my favorate kind of girl). She's the powerful class president girl, who bitches at everyone, but she can't express her true feelings. I'm cheering for her, even though I know she won't get her man :(