Taking on the World
Here is this week’s video of Taking on the World… ENJOY!!!
JIM
P.s. Jason is officially in the studio doing vocals… 
Studio Update!
Click the title of the post to check out the video!
2010, new year, new beginnings.
I’d like to start by saying welcome to my new website! This site is the new 1 stop shop for everything I do. Ransom, Blue Collar Prophet, Graphic design, Dj’ing and of course updates on Authority Zero. Make sure you bookmark the site, and subscribe using the mailing list to your right! Thanks for stopping by!
I’m honestly happy to say that 09 is over…. I’m really looking forward to a new year and a fresh start! I think I’m gonna use this post as just an overall update…
Authority Zero is officially in the studio starting next week. we spent last week with Ryan Greene doing pre-production, i have 2 more days of that this week then its off to do drums! I was talking to a friend last night saying how much i love working with Ryan in the studio cause he pushes my abilities above and beyond and i always end up being a better drummer and learning so many new things even though during the process I’m likely to get really frustrated hahah!! Well either way I’m stoked to get started, I think this record is going to be really great and I’m stoked to show the rest of the world what we’ve put together in the past months.
p.s. If anyone reading this doesn’t know who Ryan is here is a link ..::Ryan Greene::..
On an AZ side note we are playing a Rhythm and Booze show at Dirty Pretty in Scottsdale on the 14th of this month so don’t forget to come check it out!!
Blue Collar Prophet stuff is still coming along good but my focus hasn’t been so much on that as much as it’s been on a project I have with my boy Keith called Translator. Some of you may know this project or heard me talk a bit about it but I’m sure most haven’t. This I can honestly say is the only thing that is I’m super proud of coming from 2009…. I won’t go into detail about it right now but keep your eyes peeled for Translator. I promise you’re gonna love it!
Designing has been slow through the holiday’s but I’m hoping it will pick up now that the new year has started. I’m working on a few logos and such for a some bands right now but other than that i don’t have much on my plate so I’ve just been painting a bit more. If anyone needs any graphic work done feel free to contact me and get a quote!
I’m working on a new painting right now that I’m super stoked on. I’ve posted a couple photos on twitter and facebook of the progress of it if you would like to see.
Ransom is getting some new designs right now that will be posted up for vote when they are done. My idea is to go exclusive with it. I want to start letting everyone vote for there favorite design and then only make 36 or so shirts to be sold. Keep watch right here for more updates on that or follow me on twitter for more minute to minute updates.
Well I think that’s it for the first post of 2010. Again I’m happy to say that 09 is over and I’m really looking forward to all the opportunities of 2010! Cheers, JIM
A little Salt Lake with a dash of Rancid
So you know those days when your excited about doing something but you don’t really realise your doing it until it happens? Ya i had one of those days a few days ago when we played with Rancid in SLC Utah. The whole ride up there (12 hours) i was excited to play with one of my favorite punk bands but it never really hit me. That night we totally killed it and I was super stoked on the show over all (minus the few tech difficulties). I think i played harder than i’ve played in a long time but was stil on point and consistant so that was really cool. I’m notorius for getting caught up in the moment of excitement on stage and then have a few messups cause i’m no paying attention so to speak haha! Well after we got off stage i sat outside for a bit and killed half a large pizza while i was catching my breath
Rancid went on and after the first few songs i went inside and watched them play, thats when it hit me… WOW we just got off stage and now RANCID is playing!!! Needless to say i was super stoked to have shared stage with them. They put on a great show and sang every word right along with them. Good times in SLC!! Thanks to everyone who came out to support us and we’ll be seeing you again soon! Now its back to writing and getting the new record done.
CHEERS!
New Authority Sounds
So I’m sure a few of you out there know that D.J. (former bassist of Authority Zero) quit the band a few months back. I just wanted to update you all and say that we found a replacement for him The “new” guy couldn’t be a more perfect fit! We’ve got him all dialed in on all the recordings and have continued on our mission to write the new record!
Last nights practice was awesome! We came up with quite a great Reggae song that is what i like to call “Colorful”. By this i mean we really spiced it up. Instead of just doing the normal dub style song all the way through we’ve really sat back and added some great flare to this tune. Im super stoked on the direction the song is going and can’t wait to work on it some more!
Were headed out to Florida the first week of September and then off to japan in November but other than that we are just writing writing writing! I can’t honestly wait to get this new record out to all of you! I really believe its going to be our absolute best record to date and i’m very proud of what we’ve done so far!
On another note I’ve been higher-ed to fill in on drums for my buddy Harper’s project, Sunset Rider and the Skeleton Army. This project is very different for me and at times has been quite challenging but I’m really excited to be a part of it and can’t thank Harper enough for giving me the chance. The record is a concept record that will eventually include a movie and comic book to go along with it. He’s really done a great job at at putting the whole package together so make sure you check it out!
Here is a link: Sunset Rider and The Skeleton Army
Sunset rider’s Cd release party is this coming Saturday (8/22) at The Clubhouse in Tempe. Come out and check out the show it will be a good time!
A New Authority on the Horizon…
I’ll just say that man is writing tough sometimes… One thing i have realized over the years of being in a band is that writer’s block is a REALLY easy thing to get. Authority has this problem but the nice part is, that when your in a band that every member of the band writes music it’s a rare occasion that you run into all members have writers block at the same time so that’s nice
Blue Collar Prophet on the other hand is all me… and when i get writers block i really feel like someone is handing me a puzzle with nothing but mismatched pieces in it. Yesterday i pulled up my software to start a new track, ya know start fresh and stay positive! YA ummmm NO… HAHAH! i was sitting there playing with my keyboard for like 45 minutes before i just said FUCK IT! its a little bit frustrating when all you want to do is get something out but your head is blocking that from happening…
One thing I’m happy to report about though is ALL my paperwork with both my distribution company and my publishing company is done now! This means that in a month or so I’ll be releasing my first “solo album”. actually i’de like to get into that a little for a second.
My solo album is called 240, (don’t ask me why i just liked the ring that set of #’s had to it so i went with it). 240, (the more I’ve listened to the 7 tracks on it), i think really is more of a compilation than an album. Over the years of writing music I never payed attention to what “style” I was writing ya know, I just wrote the songs that i wanted to write or was inspired to write at that time. Now when i decided to move forward with releasing those songs I’ve realized that they don’t sound AT ALL the same hahah! but hey whatever! I like all 7 tracks and hope that all of you will like them as well. This time around I’m actually focused on writing a hip-hop based record so we’ll see how that goes
I think that the Authority Zero stuff is coming along nicely. I will say its a little weird cause this is the first time we’ve done a record with out the original line up in the band but i think the new guys are doing great and have great input and ideas for us to run with. who knows maybe a fresh set of ideas from fresh people with give this record the kick start it needs! I’ve been thinking about the album art for this record allot lately. I hate it though cause we are still early in the writing process and so its hard for me to judge where the album is going and therefore what type of style i should go for. I think maybe when i have some free time I’ll just start throwing some stuff together and see if anything jumps out at me. never hurts to get a head start anyway
OK well that’s all for today, i’m out the door to a meeting!
CHEERS!
Everything that has a begining…
Today we are headed into Pomona to play the Glass House. Yesterday was San Fransisco and what a great all around day that was. We played at the Warfield theater which is a really great venue and i have to say the coffee house across the street has one of the best Danishes I’ve ever had! (raspberry) That after noon i met up with D.j., Zach, and Peeps, and we all took a bus to a bar recommended to us called Toronado. This place was rad! over 100 beers on tap and a total dive bar, punk style! The fist beer i went for was called “back in black IPA”. I recommend this beer to ANYONE that is an IPA fan! It was as dark as a Guinness but very hoppy! I also had another IPA (cant remember the name) but it was out of a Barrel tap. For anyone who doesnt know, this is when the beer is pumped straight from the barrel its stored in! Again this beer was AMAZING! We enjoyed a few drinks then headed over to Haight and Ashbury to wander around. We got a slice for lunch checked out a few shops and proceeded to head back to the venue.
Always fun to explore new places in the cities we go! D.j. and I are talking about starting up a Zero Crew pub club since we are always on the hunt for new pubs, brewery’s, and beers!
Today marks one of the last few days of the tour and it’s been a blast! Hop all of you that have made it out have enjoyed yourselves!
CHEERS
Another day another…… DAY!
Yesterday was really really rad! We were in Cincinnati Ohio. The show went OFF! Cincinnati really knows how to bring the power to the shows and people really get rowdy around there! Before the show D.j. (bassist) got an old tattoo filled in on his arm by a guy from pittsburg. He’s been wating to get this tattoo finished foerver so he was super stoked to finally find someone willing to do it, and I’ll say that it looks really great! When D.j. was done the artst (sorry forgot his name) said to us “hey I want you guys to all sign my leg and then i’m going to have each of you tattoo your signatures on me” We flipped! I’ve been an artist for many many years and although I’ve been with a tattoo artist for a long time the only thing I’ve ever tattooed is a pumpkin hahahh! We all jumped at the chance to do this! I posted a photo of the tattoo below check it out!
Today we are in Pontiac Michigan. Venue looks really rad… Crofoot…. Never played here before so we’ll see how it goes. I got bored today and shot some photos of myself next to the bus. I’ve posted one below. enjoy!
Day 5 Boston!
Rocked the House of Blues tonight!!! We are across the street from Fenway Park which is RAD!!! Tonight was the last show for the Supervillians so we are sad to see them go but they have other tours to do and more shows to play, have a good tour boys! I got to check out Joey Cape (lagwagon) last night in NY city which i was super stoked on! I heard he was playing down the street so when we got done i ran over there and walked out with a CD and some vinal. Great show Joey have a good rest of tour! I’ve included a couple of pics in this post….
1st pic is jason and I singing BroHymn with Pennywise and the 2nd is me at 52nd and Broadway. D.J and I walked around the city for a while and ended up there where we had to get a photo just because Rancid made it famous hahahhah! The 3rd photo is just beautiful… need i say more…
Thanks for keepin up!
Day 1 Jeager Tour
Took a flight to catch up with the guys on the first day of tour in DC, flight was good… non stop so i just worked on some music on the plane and probly drank enough soda to kill a horse hahah! Go to the venue and met with everyone saying hi to all the Pepper boys and the Pennywise boys for whome i haven’t seen in a while. It was nice to play catch up for a bit. Got all my shit sorted out on the bus we are on for this tour and wen’t on stage to play. The show was great. DC knows how to get down at a great show so we all had a blast! After the show a couple of us headed over to a bar called the DC9 and had a pint of Guiness and just bullshitted for a while. All in all it was cool night. here are a couple of pics. more to come as the tour goes!
Signs, signs, everywhere signs….
Still out running around… Tour has been allot of fun! The Architechs and the Ringers are really kickin some ass with us out here and it’s nice to be with some really down to earth cool bands. This was just a quick blog post to put up a photo of me and the singer of the Architechs taking some time out of the day to obey the signs at the El Corazon in Seattle!
Thanks for reading!
