Ramblings of a Bandom Geek

ALBUM OUT SOON!

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:20:42 GMT

After a gruelling recording schedule and many coffee-fueled days (and nights), my debut album Forget to Breathe is almost here! The tracks will range from acoustic to hard rock, with a mix of new songs, and some of your old favourites. A release date is yet to be set, but should be scheduled for late October/early November.

NOW IT'S UP TO YOU.

Pre-orders are now being taken, with the added perk of having your copy of the album mailed to you a week prior to the release date. CD's are AU$17 + postage, and are available worldwide. To secure your copy, email jb-cd-sales@hotmail.com with your name, shipping address, order quantity, and payment method. At this time, only Paypal and Bank Transfer are available. Once your order is received, a confirmation email will be sent with details on how to make your payment.

FOR BANDOM FANS, there may be a limited edition double CD set in the works. This will consist of the standard edition album, plus a 3-track bonus CD single containing my 3 bandom songs, 'OTP', 'Pint-Sized Romeo', and 'Boy in the Trucker Cap'. For more information on either the standard edition or limited edition, email jb-cd-sales@hotmail.com

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:07:32 GMT

I've been sick for 2 weeks with a severe cold and bronchitis. Thankfully, I can talk again and it's all just about gone. Anywho, that's not why I'm here.

I've somehow got myself back onto a lesbian film kick. In the last 3 days I have watched the following movies:

An Unexpected Love: Actually not a bad film. I actually found Wendy Crewson attractive for the first time. The story was slightly predictable but the characters were likable, and I enjoyed the humour. The sex scene, for me, seemed a little off - there was nothing 'wrong' with it, it just seemed a little lacklustre, and was very tame. Overall though, an enjoyable watch, and I'd see it again.

Desert Hearts: A really sweet film. I loved the dynamics of the wild, openly lesbian Cay, and the straight, uptight, yet still kind of liberal Vivian. I loved the fact that the ending was hopeful instead of the usual *gay character dies or returns to being straight* storyline. The dialogue is witty and the sex scene is very tender. The cast of The L Word were made to watch this film before filming, to show them the right way to shoot a love scene. Too bad TLW cast didn't always do as good a job.

Go Fish: What to say about this one. Guinevere Turner was cute. The love interest, not so much. In fact GT is pretty much the only attractive person in the entirety of the movie. The storyline was alright, but it was a little artsy for my taste. It was all in black and white (which I don't mind, but it really does nothing for the movie) and there were many irrelevant bits and pieces that I just didn't get. Either I'm just stupid or those scenes were pointless and unnecessary.

Mango Kiss: The characters bordered on ridiculous most of the time, but the underlying message I think was very relevant. Again, not heavy on the hot, but the main couple's neighbour (a sort of 50's homemaker rip-off) was cute. Interesting at least, but kind of over the top.

The Celluloid Closet: A documentary about the history of homosexuality in film. Informative and, in places, quite moving. If you have any interest in the subject at all, I would recommend it. Also gave me more respect for Shirley Maclaine for her views on the way lesbianism was handled in The Children's Hour.

The Children's Hour: This was released in 1961. It deals with the way two women's lives are destroyed when a spiteful student at the school they run together spreads rumours that the two are lovers. A pivotal scene from this movie plays in a theatre in the beginning of another lesbian themed movie, If These Walls Could Talk 2, which is how I came to want to see it. Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine were both brilliant in this film and even though it was a saddening tale, it was well-made for that time period and definitely one I would see again.

The Sex Monster: From one extreme to another. This movie is purely for laughs. A man convinces his wife to introduce another woman into the bedroom and she ends up liking the results a little too much. Hilarity ensues. At least the first time you watch it. I saw this movie a few years ago and decided to see it again, but it was nowhere near as good the second time around. Still, if you want some lighthearted lesbianism, it's not bad.

Two Girls And A Baby: An Australian 'film', if you can call it that. It's only 23 minutes long. About a lesbian couple from Melbourne trying to have a baby together. If they fleshed the story out and made it into a feature length movie, it might actually be worth watching, but too much was missed out for my liking. You can't pack enough story into 23 minutes for this kind of subject matter. However, points for having Claudia Karvan play a lesbian.

So, uhh. I didn't actually intend to review them all, but there you go. Eight Movies, three days. I still have an entire list of movies to get through but I'm downloading as I go. The ones I already have that I'm yet to watch are: Bound (yes I know I should have seen this by now), Heavenly Creatures, Red Doors, Same Sex Parents, and Serving In Silence. Also, a couple of gay movies, Milk, and Big Eden.

If anyone has any recommendations that I should add to my list or see right away, I'd love to hear about them. Obviously these aren't the only ones I've seen, in fact I have quite the collection, but I'll eventually get around to reviewing every one I've seen.

Anyway, happy Pride month to all in Brisbane and San Fransisco, and wherever else people may happen to be celebrating Pride right now.

New Song

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:11:31 GMT

Hey guys, it's been a while. But that's because I've been working hard to bring you NEW MUSIC! Okay, so just one new song recorded so far, but it's progress. This is a teaser for my new song 'Back To You'. It's been described as "Evanescence-esque...without the Amy Lee". I don't know if that's a good thing.

Anywho, there will be more teasers to come as new material gets recorded, along with some old favourites, and an album is finally on the horizon. And if this particular song isn't your cup of tea, ride the wave with me baby, there will be something for everyone!

Check it out and let me know what you think, then send it to everyone you know. The more people interested, the harder I'm going to work :)

ETA. Don't trust them, they're liars. There's no full song to listen to, just the teaser :P

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:13:15 GMT

Sorry I keep getting so behind on this LJ-ing thing. I *am* still reading and paying attention, I've just been a little busy to stop and comment. I'll do it where I can though.

MEME!!!!!

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:56:12 GMT

1. Comment to this and I will give you 3 people.
2. Label which you would marry, shag, and throw off a cliff.
3. Provide pictures and the names of 3 people.
4. Post this meme with your answers.

From notpiecebypiece I got Tara from Buffy, Mal from Serenity, and Rory from The Gilmore Girls.

Think you know me well enough to guess my answers? Come on over and find out!

CLIFF:

I really didn't want to make this decision, but as sweet as Tara is, the other two are just too good to pass up.

SHAG:

Come on. Like you didn't see that coming. Aside from the fact that I am attracted to guys but don't necessarily want a relationship with one, you just KNOW Mal would be a viking in the sack.

MARRY:

Rory is like, everything good and wholesome. She is totally the 'house, kids and a white picket fence' type. And that's me (even though that's probably not what most people see). Also, I was considering picking her for 'shag' but if we get married I can shag her whenever I want.

There may just be one problem though. With a mother-in-law that hot, I just don't know if I could keep myself from slipping up...

Anyone else up for the challenge?

Writer's Block: Coast Range

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:23:14 GMT

If you had to choose, would you rather live in the mountains or by the ocean?

View 501 Answers

A mountain in the middle of the cabins.

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:44:32 GMT

I know I've been posting a fair bit lately with new videos, so I'm sorry if you're all getting bored or sick of me. But here we are.

Another video. This time, it's my cover of 'Good Mother' by Jann Arden (Jay Brannan style).

Donations

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:12:38 GMT

To those who have made donations towards funding my album, I can't thank you enough. I still have a long way to go, but every bit helps.

The funds I have received so far have been transferred to a high interest bank account which will not be touched (except to be added to) until such time as I have enough in there to pay for a studio recording.

I'll keep you all updated as to how everything is coming along.

New cover...

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:07:10 GMT

So, I'm a little obsessed with 'What A Catch, Donnie'. So, I covered it.

I messed up a couple parts, but it was like the millionth take and I was losing my voice so this one basically had to do. So I hope it's ok. Let me know what you guys think.

ETA: Big thanks go to Ryan Ross, without whom I would not have been able to find a guitar pick :P

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:22:57 GMT

I often underestimate the kindness of strangers.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that anyone has the desire to help anyone but themselves anymore, then something happens to remind me that there are people out there who are more than willing to help others any way they can.

Since posting my cover of One Crowded Hour to Youtube, I've had a lot of messages and comments asking when I'll have an album for sale. Every person has received the same answer - 'studios aren't cheap, I just can't afford to record right now, I hope you continue to listen to my music until I have the means to release something'. But to my amazement, I have now had two people offer to donate a few dollars to me to help fund an album. One of these girls lives in IRELAND, and doesn't even have a bank account, but has still offered to MAIL ME MONEY.

I know I'm not a charity case. I know I'm not exactly a worthy cause. But just knowing that people are willing to put their chump change into helping someone else realize a dream is a very satisfying thing.

I don't usually like accepting money from people, but one of these lovely ladies convinced me that I have nothing to lose by asking, so if anyone would like to (and I'm not going to be upset if you would rather not part with your hard-earned dollars), there is a donation button on my myspace page. Contributions are NOT expected, but they ARE appreciated. And anyone who does decide to help out can be sure that that money will not be used for anything but recording an album. If people are willing to trust that I'm going to use their money in the way they intended, then that's the way it's going to be used.

To be honest, sometimes it's harder to believe that people love my music enough to make this kind of offer, than to believe the offer itself.

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:13:29 GMT

Jack Black as Jesus Christ? Awesome.

Jack Black as Jesus Christ APPROVING OF GAY MARRIAGE? PRETTY MUCH THE BEST THING EVER.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Panic Covers

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:37:24 GMT

And here are all the Panic at the Disco songs I have covered so far. I kind of hate my covers of all the AFYCSO songs. Just so we're clear on that.

Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off

The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage

(The last couple of seconds got cut off by the camera. Sorry.)

London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines

But It's Better If You Do

(PLEASE EXCUSE ALL THE HORRIBLY DISTURBING NOTES AND TERRIBLE GUITAR WORK. I CRINGE EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO THIS.)

I Have Friends In Holy Spaces

Mad As Rabbits

Folkin' Around

(I know I screw up the timing between some of the lines...please don't hate me lol)

Do You Know What I'm Seeing

Northern Downpour

Music post...

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:56:52 GMT

I've put a lot of songs up on youtube lately, both originals and covers. So I just thought I'd put a few of them up here as well for anyone who is interested and doesn't stalk my youtube :P I'll throw them all under a cut of course, but here is a list of what I'm posting.

COVERS:
Why Don't You Kiss Her - Jesse McCartney
First Try - Brendon Urie
One Crowded Hour - Augie March

ORIGINALS:
The One
3 Days
Nowhere To Hide
Remnants
This Old Guitar And Me
Nothing Lasts Forever

I'm also going to do another post with all my Panic covers so far in it, more for my benefit than anything, so I can have them all in one place.

Why Don't You Kiss Her

First Try

One Crowded Hour

The One

3 Days

Nowhere To Hide

Remnants (aka Trans Anthem)

This Old Guitar And Me

Nothing Lasts Forever

New Song - Prove You Wrong

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:08:22 GMT

And for every bad thing that happens in my life...

...another song.

New music

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:15:38 GMT

I just started listening to a guy named Jay Brannan. If you haven't heard of him, you should take a listen. This is the first song I heard of his. It's called 'Housewife' and it's gay-themed (do I really have to warn for that in my journal? Knowing my flist, probably not) and it's just a beautiful song. He has an amazing voice. Just listen and find out.

Writer's Block: Ten for the Tenth

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:55:29 GMT

Some people spend their whole lives preparing the answer to this question: What albums are on your personal all-time Top 10 list?

View 501 Answers

10. Be Here - Keith Urban
9. Ropin' The Wind - Garth Brooks
8. Sun, Dirt, Water - The Waifs
7. Hell Freezes Over - The Eagles
6. Anthology - The Beatles
5. The Burden - Mojo Webb
4. Infinity On High - Fall Out Boy
3. A Fever You Can't Sweat Out - Panic at the Disco
2. The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
1. Pretty Odd - Panic at the Disco

For now anyway...

LOLLLLLL

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:33:02 GMT

YES. LOLLLLLLLLL.

Obviously, I'm doubtful that Brendon Urie goes around bookmarking slashy songs about his bandmates, but it still amuses me. And hey, his Youtube username is just brendonurie, so who knows :P

SPENCERSMITH <333

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:29:56 GMT

OH HAII SPENCERSMITH. ICU TRYIN 2 B RINGO STARR.

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:32:05 GMT

Right now, I just want to be playing drums in a ridiculous band, belting out half-assed covers of FOB, MCR and Panic songs. I don't care if we're great. Hell, I don't even care if we're good. Just let me play the music I love, with people who love it as much as I do, and who are as ridiculous as I am. I'd be happy.

New Song

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:31:38 GMT

I know some of you have heard this new song (because you're awesome and stalk my youtube as well as my LJ lol), but I thought I'd put it up here, just in case some of you missed it. It's not a bandom song. It's just an everyday song that I wrote a few days ago that I think a few of you might like.

Seconds Tick Away

SEVEN DAYS OF SPENCER SMITH

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:34:30 GMT

So Seven Days of Spencer Smith is over. It got drawn out a lot longer than it was supposed to, because every time I tried to post it, something happened to make me put it off. I apologise for that. But still, now that it's over, I'll link all the days here so its even easier to get your fix again, should you need to.

Day 1 - Part 1
Day 1 - Part 2
Day 2 - Part 1
Day 2 - Part 2
Day 3 - Part 1
Day 3 - Part 2
Day 4 - Part 1
Day 4 - Part 2
Day 5 - Part 1
Day 5 - Part 2
Day 6 - Part 1
Day 6 - Part 2
Day 7 - Part 1
Day 7 - Part 2

SEVEN DAYS OF SPENCER SMITH

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:17:59 GMT

And the most important picture of all...

IT IS FINALLY OVER. I'm sorry.

SEVEN DAYS OF SPENCER SMITH

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:17:29 GMT

Day 7 - Part 2

INTERNET

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:33:40 GMT

OMG HI. I never want to live without the internet again.

We have been without internet for weeks due to a mistake made by our phone company. They gave us free dial-up to use while they were fixing it, but if a page loaded at all it could take anywhere up to 10 minutes, and that's if you could actually get it to stay connected without dropping out for more than a few minutes.

So, I started the Seven Days of Spencer Smith, and no amount of bad luck is going to stop me from finishing it. Even if day 7 is about 3 weeks late. Later today, I'll post the last day, plus a post with links to each of the days so they're all in one place. Damn right, I'm gonna finish it.

Not much else has been happening really. I've had some issues at work with the guy that runs our other store. He's been telling my boss things like that I swear in front of customers and that I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to serving customers. Yeah, like I could have run the store on weekends BY MYSELF for months if I didn't know what I was doing. The guy has had it in for me from the start. He told my boss that she 'really needs to get someone on the weekends who knows what they're doing'. That was on my FIRST WEEK. Yeah, Mike. Let me learn the ropes before you try to get me fired, ok? Anyway, my boss has told me not to worry about him. She knows he is just talking shit.

Other than that, I've been playing drums a lot, and I feel like I've really started to improve. I'm getting much quicker and I have actually started to be able to play a lot of My Chemical Romance songs that I kept fucking up before. I feel like I'm actually getting somewhere now and not just limiting myself to playing stuff I already know how to play.

Also on the music front, my brother and I are practicing up a night's worth of music together in the hopes of getting a gig at the end of November. My sister's work is having their end of year party and she is trying to push for them to choose us as the entertainment. We're starting to sound pretty good, my brother just has to work on his timing a little bit. So if that comes through and we get chosen to play, we'll be playing a 4.5 hour gig for $1000, which is kind of mind-blowing. When I was working the music circuit with my aunt we were only get $350 per gig, so you can imagine that $500 EACH is kind of an amazing figure. It would come in handy though. I'm still trying to pay my mum back the money that I owe her, and I can also finally get the tattoos I have been wanting forever. That's the problem with tattoos. They're so damn addictive, yet so damn expensive.

Anyway, I think that's it for me for now. I have to go help my mum clean the house for my sisters boyfriends birthday barbecue. Peace y'all. Day 7 of Seven Days of Spencer Smith will be posted later :)

SEVEN DAYS OF SPENCER SMITH

jspencer1986@hotmail.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:24:40 GMT

I had so many things I wanted to say about these pictures. But every time I tried to say them, they just sort of came out as weird gurgling noises and some drool.

One day to go :(