Tornados, books, and more music.

First off...It might not be a big deal to some but it is to me. The Gray Man Prophecy went from #110 on the Oklahoma City Reverbnation Alternative Charts to #9 in one week. Like I said to some this is not a big deal but for a guy who did not want to be around much 5 or 6 years ago, couldn't get out of bed, and certainly could not write any music it is a big deal. Lately I've been able to actually sit down and record and write. As soon as I finish recording a song and get all the parts right I'm able to write the lyrics in, at the most, 30 minutes. I'm very grateful that my muse has been so kind and generous lately. I also have to thanks my friends for being so awesome and responsive.

So, I have beaten the resistance lately, as Steven Pressfield calls it. Seriously if you haven't read the "War of Art" you are seriously missing out. The resistance is to the artist as depression is to the individual. I know I have dealt with both for a long time and for the first time in a long time I feel alive and energized by my creativity and being able through my muse, or whatever it is, to be able to succeed.

I have about 8 more songs to go before I actually release part I of my free digital album that will be release only on facebook, and possibly the website, but will be on facebook.

I have prayed for the friends and family who have lost their loved ones due to the tornado activity the last few days. Both the Joplin and Oklahoma storms were awful and it looks like Arkansas and Memphis could get hit tonight.

Last night I had twitter going, a chat on newsok.com and a live stream going on kfor.com. I have to say twitter is amazing for following weather in Oklahoma. I follow the weather channel and newsok and they provide great updates.

Once again thanks to everyone who has either become a fan on reverbnation, liked The Gray Man Prophecy on Facebook, or have just listened to the music in the last week. You guys have made my day everyday that there are more of you.

Thanks also to the Tehans for being so positive and responsive to "Fincastle, VA." I loved Grandpa very much and I know you guys did too. I have done my best trying to immortalize a man who was so beautiful and dear to all our hearts.

Seth

Lately...The Gray Man Prophecy

This past weekend I worked on 3 songs that are currently posted on my Reverbnation page.

"Fincastle, VA" is a song about my grandfather who is honestly one of the most amazing people I have had the honor to meet. He was just fun, crazy, and entertaining. He also had one of the biggest hearts I have ever witnessed. He would dress up as Santa and go to orphanage's and retirement homes to spread Christmas cheer. He did not wear a fake beard because he grew one out. I mean you guys should really see a picture. I'll post one soon, it's very real. Oh yeah, and the guy also crafted wood handmade toys for his grandchildren and children. Really impressive work. So big belly, white real beard, and toymaker. I know, i wondered for years. Still do to some extent. The song is named "Fincastle, VA," because that is where he lived for so many years. Even though he was born in St. Louis, and lived in Arkansas and Richmond, VA. Fincastle is where I knew him the best.

"Blue Atlantic" is a song about a movie I recently watched. Childish or "stupid" as it may be it got me thinking. What if we were in that in between state. You know like between life and death. Would we accept it? or would we be kicking and screaming to come back to earth. How many of us have felt like that even though we weren't dead. I know I have many times.

So these songs are up on my Reverbnation and Facebook pages. Please listen to them and let me know what you think. Also click like, pretty please, with a cherry on top. I know they are not the best engineered tracks but unfortunately at this moment I don't have the bread to go record at a professional studio, so this is what I have.

The album will exclusively be free on the website, when it's up.

I've been chatting with a few photographers because I really need to get some photos up on the websites. Hopefully that will happen soon. My wife is going to paint the album cover. She's actually a very talented painter. She has recently painted the outside of our house. I wasn't happy about it at first but she amazingly did a beautiful job!

Oh yeah and for those of you aspiring to work in the music industry you're really missing out if your not listening to the CD baby DIY podcast.

The Gray Man Prophecy

I came up with a new name for my musical project, The Gray Man Prophecy. It is named after the Gray Man of Pawley's Island. He is a ghost that warns people about Hurricanes. Read more about the story at The Shadowlands.

I have registered the domain name of graymanprophecy.com. Hopefully I will be able to build a page soon when I get the album completed. The album will be a free digital album that I will record and produce myself. Hopefully, soon after, I will be able to record a 4 song EP at a local studio.

I have been working in pretty much all the spare time I have, which isn't much, on the first song. As soon as I am finished which should be very very soon the song will be posted to Facebook and Reverbnation. The songs won't be available for free download until the digital album is complete.

I really need to have some photographs take soon so I can put them on Facebook, Reverbnation, and make a bandcamp profile. So if you no anyone who would like to add to their profile or do it on the cheap let me know.

I will also be filming live video which will appear on youtube very soon of the songs that will be on the album.

After the recording or perhaps sooner I will look for members for the band so we can start playing live shows.

Until the web site is up you can find me at the following websites.

Facebook
Reverbnation
Twitter

My schedule for NMF 11

Date	Time	Band	Stage	Address
Thurs 4/28	7:00p	Unwed Sailor	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Thurs 4/28	8:00p	Gentle Ghost	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Thurs 4/28	9:00p	Crown Imperial	Opolis	113 N Crawford Ave.
Thurs 4/28	9:45p	Gentle Art of Floating	Opolis	113 N Crawford Ave.
Thurs 4/28	11:00p	Ben Kilgore	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Thurs 4/28	12:00a	Other Lives	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Thurs 4/28	1:00a	The Workweek	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Fri 4/29	6:30p	Modern Rock Diaries	Bill & Dees	311 E Main st.
Fri 4/29	8:00p	Day One	Red Room	114 W. Main St.
Fri 4/29	9:00p	Vandevander	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Fri 4/29	9:30p	Moon	Bill & Dees	311 E Main st.
Fri 4/29	10:00p	Horse Thief	Red Room	114 W. Main St.
Fri 4/29	11:00p	Pretty Black Chains	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Fri 4/29	12:00a	Native Lights	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Fri 4/29	1:00a	Jacob Abello	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Sat 4/30	12:00p	Gum	Opolis	113 N Crawford Ave.
Sat 4/30	12:45p	Zombies vs.Sharks	Opolis	113 N Crawford Ave.
Sat 4/30	1:30p	Junebug Spade	Opolis	113 N Crawford Ave.
Sat 4/30	2:15p	Unmarked Cars	Opolis	113 N Crawford Ave.
Sat 4/30	3:00p	The Samurai Conquistadors	Michaelangelos	207 E. Main St.
Sat 4/30	4:00p	Magnificent Bird	Zanzibar	?
Sat 4/30	5:00p	Riley Jantzen	The Brewhouse	110 W Main st.
Sat 4/30	6:00p	John Calvin	Michaelangelos	207 E Main St.
Sat 4/30	6:30p	PeeLander –Z	NMF4 Main	Porter & Main
Sat 4/30	8:00p	Black Joe Lewis	NMF4 Main	Porter & Main
Sat 4/30	9:30p	The Walkmen	NMF4Main	Porter & Main
Sat 4/30	11:00	Broncho	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Sat 4/30	12:00a	Colourmusic	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main
Sat 4/30	1:00a	Chrome Pony	Blackwatch	100 Block East, alley way south of Main

Who I can't wait to see at NMF '11

Okay, I have spent a lot of time listening, communicating, and researching bands that are playing NMF. Bands in Bold are, in my opinion, well...badass. I actually have just a few more bands to go through, but I think this is pretty much the list. For the reverbnation links go to artist reccomendations>See More. Then click on the band. There are plenty more bands/artists I would love to see, however, I have to make a decision due to time scheduling.

NMF Band Links


NMF Homepage



Seth


Crown Imperial

Gentle Art of Floating

Gum

Day One

The Neighborhood

Gentle Ghost

The Workweek

FRMR

Deer People

Horse Thief

Modern Rock Diaries

Moon

Brine Webb

The Burning Hotels

The Pretty Black Chains

Native Lights

Jacob Abello

Penny Hill

Vandevander

Audra Mae

Beau Jennings

Zombies vs. Sharks

Junebug Spade

Unmarked Cars

Other Lives

and the snow begins to fall...

There is a peace to the snowfall. Yes it is true this means no work in the morning and I can stay up and watch "The Social Network" again. But, the snowfall seems to soothe me. The blanket of endless white extends to my front door.

So I did watch "The Social Network" for the second time tonight, I mean this morning. I would be shocked if the film did not win best picture. If it just so happens to not win it will probably be snubbed by "The Kings Speech" or "The Fighter." I think it is suffice to say that a film with "the" in front of the title will win best picture. Social Network should also win for best adapted screenplay, director, and best score. Trent Reznor and Atticus did a great job with the score it really intensified the scenes in the film.

I'm currently writing a piece entitled "Oklahoma." My mother is on the fence about me titling the song "Oklahoma" being against copyrights."Oklahoma" is about growing up and maturing. The last thing I would want to do ten years ago is to become a "townie." Now I live less than a mile from my boyhood home and frequent the same jogging paths as I did in high school. I see the same names of songs all the time by different artists but I will have to research this Topic in Donald Passman's Music Industry book.

Please be safe on the roads friends. The snow day is a great way to have a justified "lazy day."

D.R.