This is the music video for “Blow My Top” from Slow Nights. Fast Food., which is basically a song about going stir crazy. I had fun making the video and I think it was number 1,570 on the list of music vids shot in my tiny one-bedroom apartment. For such a small place I sure managed to film a lot of stuff in there. I’m not a social guy. If I’m not at work then I’m at home making music or killing time with TV/Internet/Porn/Etc. I came up with the spur-of-the-moment idea to pour milk on my cereal in a ridiculous fashion. I figured I needed something to entertain you folks since the scenery is the same as so many other videos I’ve made. Enjoy!
Tag: homemade hits
Poll Question: Favorite Song From Slow Nights. Fast Food.
Order Up: Head In The Clouds
Here’s one of my favorites from “Slow Nights. Fast Food.”
I continue to chase my dream regardless of how many people tell me to wake up. None of my albums would be complete without one of these tracks dedicated to the chase. One thing I was hesitant about with this one was using the term “dirt” in a rap song. As you all know that word is typically associated with criminal activity, which is nothing I partake in. But I figured it’d be pretty obvious by my content that I’m referring to working and being in the reality of the working world when I say I’ve got “my hands in the dirt.” Even though my job involves a computer, but “got my hands on a mouse” doesn’t sound as cool.
I’m especially proud of the instrumental. I feel like it has a lot more going on and more parts to it than most of my songs so it was a big accomplishment knowing that I made it from scratch. I’m no producer. I make beats because I can’t afford to pay others to do it for me, so when I put one like this together I’m a very happy man.
I wish, dream, hope, and scheme every day about being something much bigger than I am. I never seem to come up with the right method for making that a reality, but it doesn’t stop me from going right back to the daydreaming board. I’ve worked so hard for so long on this music that I just want to see it reach the next level. I want to validate why I’ve dedicated so much to it and given up so much for it. It might take me a lifetime, or it might happen a week from now, I have no idea. The anticipation of that moment is what keeps lighting a fire underneath me and inspires me to write the next song for the next album. Every time I put out a new album, think that it’ll be the one to put me on the map, then watch as no one notices it, I lose my drive temporarily. I second guess everything I’ve done and wonder if I should hang up my microphone for good. Then when I least expect it I get an idea for a verse, or a hook, or a beat, and before I know it I’m in headphones working hard on a new track. I start telling myself “THIS is going to be the one.” and forget that I ever thought that about any song before it.
At the end of the day I love making music. So even if the payout isn’t what I hoped for, I still enjoy creating this stuff. I know there is a fanbase out there for me and though the haters bug me, they’ll never prevent me from doing what I love and eventually reaching all of my fans. Here’s to all the dreamers out there chasing one down.
(Verse 1)
I’m down here in the trenches while my dreams are in the sky
And the real world’s laughin’ at me askin’ why I try
Sayin’ “Get used to this office and enjoy the 9 to 5
You’ll be workin’ for ‘The Man’ til the day that you retire
You don’t have the talent needed to compete with all these rappers
Even if you did, your image isn’t what they’re after
And as far as being famous, you are never gonna matter
So either get to jumpin’ or just come back down the ladder”
I refuse to listen to it. Never did and never have.
Hope these haters keep receipts cuz they’ll be takin’ words back
I’ll just stay on my track while I stay on my tracks
Only way to keep it tight is never cut ’em any slack
But confidence is somethin’ kinda hard to maintain
So when it’s elevated I do everything to sustain
I’m in a game and I need the crowd chantin’ my name
So I can validate the blood, sweat, and tears in this thing…
(Chorus)
I’ve got my head in the clouds and my hands in the dirt
They said to throw the dream out but I said it’ll work
When they’re bringin’ me down I’ll admit that it hurts
They said I’m not much now but they’ll be eatin’ their words
I’ve got my head in the clouds and my hands in the dirt
They said to throw the dream out but I said it’ll work
When they’re bringin’ me down I’ll admit that it hurts
They said I’m not much now but they’ll be eatin’ their words
(Verse 2)
Every time I think I’ve got it and about to leave a mark
I just end up gettin’ hurt and ad another to my scars
Like an alcoholic I’ve already seen so many bars
Makin’ music on the daily and it saves me from the dark
As long as I remember I’ve been chasin’ one goal
That’s a big fat diamond after all this crushin’ coal
That’s a big hit record goin’ platinum when it’s sold
After takin’ all the heat from people bein’ so cold
(Chorus)
(Verse 3)
The casualties in battlin’ for bein’ somethin’ more
Really rattle me, cuz that’ll be the bodies on the floor
When I’m walkin’ nightmares tryin’ to find the back door
Seein’ people that I love who let it go and took the norm
Shocked when I tell ’em that I’m still on this kick
Lookin’ rocked when I quell ’em with the sound they dismissed
I done stopped all the sellin’. Do or don’t get this
There’s a lot more developed from that listlessness
That I used to bring, that’s the thing, come a long way
What you’re lookin’ at ain’t what you knew back in the day
So if you don’t like what you heard I bet you got a bit to say
But I hope you know your comments rarely get inside and never stay
Pay me for my workin’ so I have some dream-dough
To my hobby that’s a passion, only place it’s goin’ to go
Jumpin’ on these local stages but one day I’m gonna blow
I bet that’d be the ticket that’d get ’em to a show
(Chorus)
Order Up: Texas A-V-E
Well I figured now is a good time to add this one to the “Order Up” posts. Here’s the song that served as the first music video from “Slow Nights. Fast Food.”
This song is called “Texas A-V-E” and if you’ve ever lived in Bryan/College Station, you know how important this road is. Ever since I was old enough to drive I’ve loved cruising Texas Avenue. Not because there are a bunch of hot spots popping off all the time, but because it’s one long, main drag between the twin cities. It makes for a simple drive and I always use it as an excuse to get out of the apartment when I’m going stir crazy, or just to clear my mind if needed. This song has a similar sound to “Welcome to the Presentation” only I’m shouting out streets this time instead of businesses. I’ve always loved making songs about the experience of living in B/CS and I’m so proud of how this one turned out. I was especially happy with how well the High School and College names came together in the third verse.
I had this track ready to put on “Perseverance,” but I did a fan-vote for track selection on that album and this one wasn’t picked. Huge thanks to G-Bird for driving while I got footage from the passenger window, and SHELLZ for filming me during my verses. I wish we had picked a less humid night to roll with the windows down! Editing this vid was a beast. I accidentally shot WAY too much footage and spent two days trying to condense the best stuff into 4 minutes. There are a ton of other signs/places I could’ve thrown in if there was room. This one is for my fellow 979ers! If you cruise Texas Avenue then I hope you’ll blast this from your speakers while you do it!
Lyrics:
(Verse 1)
I’m on that avenue and I’m cruisin’ through
In an R-A-M, patriot blue
Been doin’ this here since you-know-who
Made graduation from drivin’ school
My windows downs, my lights are lit
From William J to Dominik
From Highway 6 to Harvey Mitch
If you recognize that you’re a part of this
I’m shinin’ paint, I’m Texas flippin’
I love that T but I don’t mean Lipton
I could pick you up at Holleman
And highly recommend you oughtta get in
We can make a U (turn) back to that
University, make a rendezvous
With the intersect where the plaza blew
But catch the green and stay on the move…
(Chorus)
From the B to the CS and the CS back to the B
I’ll be on that Texas A-V-E
Til I’m ridin’ on E, ridin’ on E, ridin’ on E on that A-V-E
From the B to the CS and the CS back to the B
I’ll be on that Texas A-V-E
Til I’m ridin’ on E, ridin’ on E, ridin’ on E on that A-V-E
(Verse 2)
Now I’m a Bryan boy so I’ll slide away
Past Broadmoor and that Mary Lake
Spot Coulter and East 33
See the BPD and I check the gauge
I paved the way and I love the route
When the girls and the rides and the lights are out
Hear a scream and shout no matter north or south
Just burnin’ that gas like a powder now
Crossin’ Old Hearne and keep it rollin’
My A/C is nothin’ but the windows open
Until I see the Highway I’ll keep floatin’
And then spin around and repeat the motion
And head back toward the 21-Junction
CD on blast til the track can’t function
Somethin’ goin’ down in B-Town? I’m huntin’
If you ride the ave then get this bumpin’…
(Chorus)
(Verse 3)
Whether you’re in College Station
Whether you reside in Bryan
Whether you’re an Aggie, a Cougar, a Tiger
Whether you’re a Buccaneer, Ranger, or Viking
I wanna see you on this avenue
Lookin’ like you wanna be there, not havin’ to
Otherwise I’m gonna be a little mad at you
Come out here and dip in it like a can of stew, uh
Screens lit and the speakers bumpin’
In the foreign, domestic, or next-to-nothin’
With the rims, or the hubs, or the caps, or somethin’
Doesn’t matter what you got if you got it jumpin’
I’ve been here for a couple of decades
And gonna be here for a couple of more
And everytime I hop in my ride
I’m gonna hit the avenue until the gas tank needs more…
(Chorus)
Order Up: Be Nice
This song from “Slow Nights. Fast Food.” was inspired by one of my favorite movies of all time.
If you’ve ever seen the movie Road House then you recognize the line, but if not then watch this clip. It is the greatest B-Movie ever made. I’ve lost count of how many times me and G-Bird have watched it, but it has to be in the hundreds by now.
The goal of this song was to let you know that I have my breaking point just like anyone else. I don’t have the tough-guy build or personality, and confrontation is not in my nature at all. I’m very much the “don’t bother me and I won’t bother you” type of guy. However, I won’t let myself get walked over either, so if I get backed into a corner then I’m going to get myself out of it. Few have ever seen me completely go off the handle and to be honest I can’t remember if that’s ever happened. That’s why I say in the song, “wait’ll you see what that looks like,” because it’ll be a shocking sight for all of us. As a kid I never had the courage to step up and back someone down, but as an adult I have much less tolerance for assholes.
Kindness is often mistaken for weakness, but just because a threat isn’t posed doesn’t mean the threat isn’t present. Like Dalton said, “Never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected.” We’ve all been in situations where we get angry or frustrated beyond normal levels, but most of the time we can be nice until the temps cool. This song basically serves as a warning for the other times…
Lyrics:
(Verse 1)
You know that old sayin’, repeatin’ it’s pretty needless
But you better not mistake my fuckin’ kindness for weakness
Unless you’re dumber than Beavis see let me cut through the fat
If you keep pushin’ somebody, somebody’s gonna push back
The only difference is when, the shock is all in the how
You wanna set off a bomb? I’m shock-and-awin’ you now
It ain’t what I prefer, I’d rather stay on the level
But if I’m found in a corner I’m gettin’ out on my mettle
Yeah I’m quiet and calm, I keep my temper in check
If I don’t know anything about ya then I’ll give you respect
That’s because I’m a man, not on that childish shit
I’m not spendin’ my minutes in tryin’ to prove my grit, nah
(Chorus)
I’m gonna be nice, until it’s time to not be nice
Not be nice, not be nice
I’m gonna be nice, until it’s time to not be nice
And wait’ll you see what that looks like
I’m gonna be nice, until it’s time to not be nice
Not be nice, not be nice
I’m gonna be nice, until it’s time to not be nice
And wait’ll you see what that looks like
(Verse 2)
I’m gettin’ sick of these idiots that’ll never relax
Forever flexin’ and pressin’ like it’s a wrestlin’ match
Man that could never be me, it never was in the past
Even though a lot of folks deserved to get their jawline cracked
I’ve left enough at my back with all this walkin’ away
So when it’s time to fire off it’ll be a second D-Day
I give a damn what he say, or she say, it won’t hurt
But if words turn to work you’ll be first to the dirt (uh)
So lets not take it to the point of demonstration
May not look like much, but the cover of this book is changin’
Now we all want company of someone keepin’ it cool, mayne
Ain’t it peculiar how I seem to do that very thing? (haha!)
(Chorus)
Order Up: Gonna Find You
Here’s a song from “Slow Nights. Fast Food.” all about that hunt for love…
The cool thing about this one is that it started on guitar. I like to strum any chance I get, and one night I decided I wanted to write a song that I could play on my acoustic. My plan was to use the guitar in the song itself, but I liked the piano sound better once I started putting the instrumental together. BTW if you play, the chords are: C, G, Am, F, C, F, G (repeat)
I’ve only been in one serious relationship in my life. It lasted a few years and was the greatest thing that ever happened to me until it became the worst. Unfortunately I still think about it a lot because I haven’t found a new relationship to replace that one in the ol’ memory bank. I already made the bitter love song, so now I wanted to make a song that was a little more light-hearted and focused on the search process.
I’m a guy that’s looking for a wife and the whole “American Dream” situation. I love the freedoms of being single, sure, but the loneliness of it makes me forget what the perks are. I would much rather have a girl to look at when I come home rather than reruns of The King Of Queens. Besides, I’m not a wild guy. It’s not like I need to be single so I can hit the clubs or bang as many chicks as I can. Don’t get me wrong, if a booty opportunity presents itself then I’m all for it, but I’m no player.
Everything mentioned in this song is 100% fact. The only thing I left out is a list of my online dating accounts and the winks I’ve received from girls who look NOTHING LIKE THEIR PROFILE PICTURE!! When it comes to dating I’m way too picky for those sites to work anyway. You can’t give a guy like me that many search filters to use or the results will be few. Anyway, the first girl I reference in this track is the one from the serious relationship (mentioned above), who I haven’t spoken to since we split years ago. I assume she’s living her dream right now, but I have no clue. She’s the only girl in the song I have any negative vibes for. All the others that I mention are A-OK in my book. I have no ill will toward any of them, it just didn’t work out for us. In fact, most of them found great relationships after me, so I’m glad I wasn’t in the way for too long. One of them found out I referenced her and thinks it classifies her as a “wainch.” Lol. She couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, I didn’t even know what the hell a “wainch” was until she said it. I HOPE YOU’RE READING THIS ONE. I still think they’re all beautiful in more ways than one and deserve only the best that life has to offer.
As for me, I’ll keep searching for my other half. If you’re out there I hope you know that I’m gonna search high, I’m gonna search low, I’m gonna find you. Oh, and that I’m willing to go Midnight Scuba Diving on a nightly basis.
Lyrics:
(Verse 1)
I thought I had my soulmate, but I really didn’t
I guess Mrs. Perfect is really well hidden
They say we’ve all got one, I’m tryin’ to find mine
I’m not Lil’ Flip, but I’m lookin’ for my sunshine
There’s a lot to be said for being single, sure
But there’s a lot more to say about a girl like her
That’s the one I see inside my mind when I sleep
Gotta leave it up to God to decide when we meet
Though I’m tryin’ to help, do some searchin’ myself
Maybe open up shop and put my heart on the shelf
Momma told me that the right one’s out there
She didn’t mention that the wrong ones don’t care
And they’ll break you down, smile and walk
Laugh and carry on like it ain’t their fault
Well that’s OK cuz I can find a better offer
And at the risk of soundin’ like a stalker…
(Chorus)
I’m gonna search high, I’m gonna search low, I’m gonna find you
I thought I had you once before, turns out I was wrong
So I’m gonna search high, I’m gonna search low, I’m gonna find you
I’m ready to have that rendezvous, the wait’s been way too long
So I’m gonna find you…
I’m lookin’ for my baby, lookin’ for The One
I’ve been around the bases, I’ve had a lot of fun
But not the whole picture, I want the total package
Until I find that then my life is kind of lackin’
Enough time passes, you start to feel the doubt
That you’ll get there before the lights turn out
I’m all about tradition, an age-old vision
Man and his wife tag-teamin’ decisions
Takin’ the kids fishin’, that kind of thing
That’s the situation that was fit for a king
But first thing’s first locatin’ a keeper
And scopin’ out the talent without bein’ a creeper
Beauty is the easy part, those are all around
Personality is where we narrow it down
Just holler out loud for a man to impress you
And I’ll be comin’ runnin’ to the rescue…
(Chorus)
I’ve met the kind of girl where it goes real well
And out of nowhere she decides she wants to bail
I’ve met that girl that says “I really want you.”
But seems to refuse to breakup with the other dude
I’ve met that girl that is absolutely down
IF she didn’t live two hours out of town
And I met that girl where we get along great
But just as friends “I don’t think we should date.”
It’s the way it goes, you won’t win if you don’t play
And it’s a two lane road not a one-way
I’ll go Sherlock Holmes until I find that match
Have me starin’ through a magnifyin’ glass…
(Chorus)