You Know You're A Drummer When...

...you realize that playing the drums is 25 billion times easier when you have good equipment! I went to Guitar Center today and bought some new heads for my toms since I had an epiphany recently when I replaced my snare drum heads after using a head that's been there since the Industrial Revolution, and my playing improved 50% since the sticks would actually bounce off the snare like they should! That got me thinking - maybe I should buy some new tom heads and cymbals.

I know my kit needs a new hi-hat stand and cymbals so I tried a few they on display. OMG, did they feel sooooo much better than what I'm playing now. I felt I could pull off my Jimmy Chamberlain licks pretty easily with the equipment they had there. I cant wait to buy a new stand!

I got used to playing shitty kits ever since I've been in bands and though that my cruddy sounds were a direct correlation to my playing ability. Apparently, there was a Shitty Equipment factor in the equation that I was unaware of until now. I'm one step closer to feeling like a true drummer!

Currently listening : Peel Sessions By Smashing Pumpkins Release date: 12 February, 1993

Nelson V Performing With Liquor and Dreams

Hello folks:

In case you missed my gig with Liqour and Dreams last month, here's the full video from the show. Enjoy!

Nelson V Performing with Liquor and Dreams

Add to My Profile | More Videos

If you want to download it, watch this version:


Peace,
Nelson V

Currently playing : Need For Speed 3: Hot Pursuit

High Figh-Eev!

I plan on buying Borat today on DVD and throw a small "Bolat" party. I'm going to invite a bunch of different people to the home to enjoy it as much as I do. Happy times!

Currently watching : Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Full Screen Edition) Release date: 06 March, 2007

Note: This was originally posted on MySpace with comments at:

A Recycled Attitude

In the never-ending cycle of growth and exploration, I've returned to one of more fundamental crossroads in my life. It's the crossroad where I choose to decide what I want for myself or what I think others want me for me.

Case in point, in my theatre classes, I've been having a relatively rough term due to a number of reasons. The root cause is because I am trying to act within some rules I made up for myself to guide my scene work which then requires me to guess what those people are thinking in their heads and what direction they are going, which in turn, requires me to act a way they want me to. The problem is, they can't read my mind (I thought clairvoyance has been acquired by everyone on Earth as a natural result of Darwinian evolution ). So, I'd act completely "in my head" instead of through emotion and pretty much, most of my scenes sucked as a result of it.

Through the tutelage of the SCTC staff, it was beat in my head eventually that I needed to act through an emotional want or need. Once acted upon, stick to it, and commit, commit, commit! After one of my classes, I went up to my instructor and said, "So...basically, you're saying 'Fawk it!', right? Have fun and let those things you've taught us naturally come out in our scene work." He laughed and said, "Yeah...that's it!"

So, I took my FI attitude to heart and reminded myself that I am only responsible for myself on stage and just stick to that. As a result, I've had satisfactory to excellent classes, killer shows, and fun rehearsals! Like on stage as in life, I remembered that Nelson must do what Nelson wants and only when he wants it.

Currently listening : Stone Cold Rhymin' By Young MC Release date: 20 February, 2001

Just Let Me Blog!

I've tried 4 times to post up a blog concerning my activities. However, whenever I touch on the first subject below, my computer crashes ! I think some Harponian Goddess has cast a spell on my PC, thus, keeping me from espousing my beliefs!

Men Are From Mars, Women Are For Oprah.
I got to go to Oprah a couple of weeks ago for the taping of Chris Rock's appearance to promote his new flick I Think I Love My Wife. Oprah treated us to a free prescreening with free popcorn and drinks. Then we got fed lunch prior to the taping all the while taking charter buses to and from the theatre and Harpo Studios. We saw Chris Rock, Fantasia, and some Discovery Channel Earth guys for the hour and a half. As we left the taping, we received The Color Purple coffee books and a complimentary issue of Vibe. Thanks Oprah! That beats getting a free house or car!

Here are some quick observations I had while at the taping:

Oprah Can Do No Wrong Women treat Oprah like a rockstar. I heard conversations about her age, weight, longevity, charitable works, ruthlessness, wardrobe, and make-up. These ladies gossiped about it as if they lived with the woman, made her breakfast daily, and played psychiatrist to her every need. No matter what they said, they were there at that taping so it couldn't have been all that bad. Women Love Oprah...But Don't Know Why As a man, I knew that my viewpoint on Oprahdom was already biased/skewed. I asked women why they love Oprah while in the waiting room. Not one could give me a more definitive answer as to what they love about Oprah other than "She's just sooooo great" or "CUZ SHE'S OPRAH!". My theory is that they love the fact she is rich, therefore, powerful and can do just about anything she wants to. They aspire to be in a position like her, but not necessarily be her. They love what she represents. If anyone has a better explaination, please let me know Oprah is a Brand Name The entire time I was there, I felt I was being marketed to. "Watch my ABC special on my new school for children! I did the voiceover for blah blah blah. I am sick but I've never missed a day! In my latest issue of O Magazine..." I like the cool things Oprah has done for herself and for others and that is good. I just feel that it's self-ingratiating at times. Does she have to show she opened up her school in Africa and revel in the fact celebrities from the US were there to support it? I just felt it was a little bit pompous in presentation. I had fun overall and am grateful I got to go. I've learned that there is still so much about women I need to learn about. My Warped Recording Session and Photo Shoot. MWR hit the studio last week and we churned out a new recording of a song called Dust on our MySpace. Go check it out and if you like it, add it to your page. We also did a band photo shoot where you can check out pictures of me looking a bit goofy at Union Station. Shows, Shows, and More Shows! I am in a new musical called Faceplant with my good friend Greg Landgraff and my musical ensemble Recapitulation. I'm also doing a musical staged reading tonight at SC. I had an excellent SCTC Level 3 Conservatory show which did get taped and will be posted up on MySpace/YouTube over the weekend. I have a show coming up with Recapitulation on March 11th. And finally, my show for Brazilian Wax Museum starts Friday March 16th! Technological Social Retardation. I listened to a bit of the Hugh Hewitt Show where they had two experts discussing how technology has either hurt us socially or improved us socially. I side with the guys arguing it's hurt us. I am dealing with folks in general who don't know how to act or work together as a cohesive unit but yet are masters of IMing, texting, and email to communicate. Your thoughts folks? I know this is a pretty terse rendition from my normal blogs. I am just trying to get something up before the PC crashes and I get a stop-and-desist letter from Harpo, Inc. Currently listening : The Colour and the Shape By Foo Fighters Release date: 07 October, 2003