In closing, 2010 was definitely the year of The Snake. I said that this time last year and I also said, "If the Good Lord blesses us as good in 2010...as He did in 2009...I can't wait to see the outcome!" And thus the outcome is this:
-New Music Video -New Album -Played w/Hell Yeah @ the Uproar show (among others, but shared the stage with Hell Yeah, Airborne, etc) -Damn near sold out the Parish and had an extremely successful release -Blew my Email List # (1500) out of the water (1800+...and growing like a weed) -Made a lot of good friends -Made some better enemies -Drank a lot of cold free beer ...... Now I'm just rambling...the list can go on and on.
I'm anxious to see what 2011 brings...
The thing about this band is, at any time, any moment my phone can ring and our entire life can change. It's like the lottery except, I have a better idea of what numbers to pick (if that makes sense). It's very exciting and sometimes about half nerve-racking! But, just like everything else, you play hard you make your own luck. I truly believe that if you just flat out refuse to quit...you will not lose. Just as a rock over time will give way to a steady drip...I like to think of SSP as more of a Niagara Drip...if you're picking up what I'm laying down.
Next SSP show isn't until Jan 28 2011 @ Dirty Dog on Dirty 6th!!
Thank you all for all your support...hold on cause we got a long way to go and we ain't going home!!
I'll leave you in some of the words of the infamous Joe Walsh:
"Spent the last year Austin Texas Way...couldn't get much higher!!"
Well here we are, 2010 is almost dead and gone. It's definitely been a great year for the Snake! We finish it off with a killer show @ Emo's outdoor stage w/our good friends from Powderburn this Friday (12/17). If you're in Austin and need one more Face Plaster...then come get your fix!! SSP @ midnight.
After this show, SSP will take a well deserved break, since the dawn of 2010 we have played: close to 78 shows this year. To put that into perspective, there are 52 weekends in a year, if you played every Friday and Saturday, you would play 104. Don't tell me this band isn't road ready.
If I had to pick my favorite show of 2010...hmmm...Corpus w/Hell Yeah was pretty sweet, however, I really don't think you can top our Album Release. That show was so crucial for this band, and not only was it a success, I feel like SSP knocked that bitch outta the park. SSP proved we're more than just your bullshit garage band. We are ready for the next level...now it's my job to figure out how to put us in front of the right people. See you thought it was just hookers, sluts, and hockey pucks...there is actually a business side to this massive monster.
Speaking of Road Ready, we were just talking at rehearsal last night about going out on tour, so that is definitely in the melting pot!! I'm thinking a tour across the South, up to WV, show my peeps back home what I've been doing for 4 years, and back to Austin. That would be a very interesting journey I'm sure.
I know that Thanksgiving has come and gone, however I personally am always thankful. I get to go home soon and am thankful for that. I'm also very thankful for you, the person that supports Snake Skin Prison. I try to say it as much as I can on stage, but truly if you have the numbers you cannot be ignored. It's not rocket science, and thanks to the people, Snake Skin Prison is getting the numbers. Drastically fast!!
I can promise you this, I don't know how; but I will repay everyone that has helped support SSP...be it a free guitar pick or a huge show with an open bar; one day...some way...I will thank you for your support in one way or another.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year!!
Keep your eyes wide open and your ears peeled back...cause we're coming like a heart attack...We've got a long way to go Mama we ain't looking back!!
WHEW!!....(tires screeching...heavy breathing...panty stealing <-added that last part for style points...)
Man o Man have I/SSP been busy. I know I've been doing nothing but spraying ALBUM RELEASE...ALBUM RELEASE...all over you for the past 5 months, however, there is something to be said for consistency.
Since then we jammed Red Eyed Fly with Dangerous Toys this past Saturday night, thank you all that came out! I had a blast (which I think was obvious!).
We've got 2 Killer shows this weekend in San Antonio and San Angelo, then the following weekend (12/17) we headline Emo's outdoor stage...so things are pumping!!
I'm very excited about our new vid for Alcohol of Fame:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WbW2MkFSIs
I have had several people ask me what that song was about, so I thought I would blog on the lyrics, and what was the meaning behind them.
Now before we get started, I wrote this song based upon a true story...I wrote this song from the eyes of a musician/person that is battling daily with the struggles and demons of an addiction. In this story, it's Alcohol, but in life there are many addictions. Do I personally think that I'm an Alcoholic?? Of course not, cause step one would be admitting you have a problem :) ... however can I put myself in those shoes...you bet your sweet ass I could...and probably if you look deep enough, you could too. So here we go:
Sometimes sunshine, and sometimes rain Sometimes a little bit of nothing can drive a man insane A whole lot of trouble and a whole lot of pain A whole lot of bloodline brings the alcohol of fame
Verse 1 speaks about the extreme ups and downs with addiction, some days are very good...you have fun...enjoy what you're doing; where some days you'd just as well crawl back into bed, cause you are NOT going to win and the smallest thing can push you over the edge. It also speaks about how hard it is, even when you're not trying to make it hard...the monster makes it hard before even getting out of the gate; and that monster could be in you from birth...that addictive personality that you never ever even asked for.
Should I be happy or should I be ashamed Rather or not you even know my name If I could would I or feed it all the same Guess that’s the price you pick in the alcohol of fame
Verse 2: as an aspiring musician, should 'said musician' be sad that he is still unrecognized?? Or is it truly a blessing in disguise, for with fame and money comes more problems...and normally the problems an addictive personality should steer clear of. When faced with these temptations will the wise decisions be made or will our weary traveler fail the test so many before him have...be it as it may...that's the path that has been chosen.
I don’t know if I’m right or wrong, life feels empty so I sing my songs In the end it’s all the same living life in the alcohol of fame
The chorus I feel is pretty self explanatory...LOL...after so much contemplation and speculation, one often grows tired of it, and falls back to routine...just living life in the Alcohol of Fame (if you will)
The nights are lonely and the mornings are so hard Sometimes my only friend is this beat up ol guitar The wheels are humming against that ol’ highway So much time to think but nothing, nothing much to say
The final verse is truly from the eyes of a traveling musician, and how at the end of the night when everyone else has gone to bed, the "normal" person that works during the day and sleeps at night, as compared to the lifestyle of sleeping all day and working all night...how that can be very lonely. With so much time alone you have so much time to think...but you really don't have nothing much to say...
I don’t know if I’m right or wrong, life feels empty so I sing my songs In the end it’s all the same living life in the alcohol of fame
You bear that cross for the kings and queens, you gotta bear that cross for the heroin fiends Bear that cross for your family and friends you gotta bear that cross till the bitter end bear that Cross…come on bear that cross…bear that cross…come on bear that cross
Bridge: This is probably my favorite part of the song. I wrote this with the attitude that despite the issues and problems you carry, you can still be successful and have a prospering life. With "said musician" being successful he proves to others...that the cross you bear...the burden of your life, doesn't have to slow you down. You shall bear the cross of addiction, or greed, or lack of trust...or whatever it is that is deep inside you that could possibly destroy you as an individual...bear it and not let it break you. And everyone is human...everyone has their faults...from kings to heroin fiends to your family...we all have our faults.
We all have our crosses to bear.
This is why when we play this song live directly following this part, I scream, "Come With Me!!" ... we shall bear our burdens together...
And hopefully stop for a high life along the way \m/...
Sometimes sunshine, and sometimes rain….sometimes a little bit of nothing brings the alcohol of fame
We might have never asked for it...but we got it...so we make the best of it...
