If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention.

I had possibly the most angry show of my life last night thanks to the gift of outrage that came with my newly given copy of Bowling for Columbine. Add a dash of insanity, blatant disregard for human life, and sheep-like devotion to outdated dogma, mix and stir with automatic weapons and disproportionate casualties, and let sit for three hours, and you have a Safari Lounge show fit for a room one quarter full of alcoholics and Sam's parents. Woo.

Blogger's still not working with the new server, fucking lovely I know. But, we're dealing and should have a solution put together soon.

This line is getting a bit repetitive.

Took a little downtime at the amazing new gig to design a pretty new logo for all you folks. I'm in absolute love with Photoshop 7 and Swift 3D, which were the tools instrumental in the new logo's creation. If I get some time with my machine, I'll take some time to touch up some more things around here. Hopefully you guys will dig them.

It's Sam's farewell weekend before he leaves for prestigious GWU. If you want to say goodbye, for .plan fans only there will be a party at his place post-show at their house in nearby Pawtuxet Village. See you all there.

Oh. One other thing. Iced coffee. Why the hell isn't this in the Midwest? Best method of caffiene consumption yet invented.

Bliggity-blam! The tour date database is now up and running with a veritable plethora of shows coming up with a metric shit-ton more on the way. The Shaft is starting to gain some notoriety in New England, and our tour schedule reflects that. Rock or be rocked shortly.

In other news, my new job at BZ Productions is unbelievably cool. Casual dress, wicked environment, a gigantic mp3 server, and intense work are all huge bonus points, but the big boss Adam came around yesterday and sealed the deal. As you well know, one of the most important movies ever came out on DVD yesterday. Adam, in his infinite generosity, walked into a office full of twentysomething computer geeks and started handing out widescreen copies. Santa Claus doesn't get a better welcome in Somalia like Adam got yesterday. Incidently, the special features disc rocks and comes highly recommended.

What would you do if you ran out of friends? Would you work? Would you continue the same shitjob work in the self-delusional dream that the schlock that you sling day in and day out brings any sort of happiness to anyone else on this planet, including yourself? Would you lie to yourself every morning you woke up with a soul shaking hangover from yet another night's futile attempt to stave off the futileness of a hamster-like existence - would you lie and say you were happy?

Would you lie to your own face, that mask of horrible shame that reminds you every goddamn time of every inadequacy and every regret from a life spent trying to hide from rejection, hide from genuity, to hide from the unforgiving glower of an ancestor who spends his life in that same mask? Would you live this mockery of a life, forsaking the gifts that millions covet, the inborn stupid star fucking luck talent that - in the hands of another - would find unparalleled success and extraordinary love but in yours only the sullen infantile sobs and pouts of a self-important egocentrist falling on knees from broken dreams missed only because you thought it should be served to you on a silver platter instead of taken from the pedestrian buffet line on a paper plate.

Would you blatantly ignore all the joy in your life and sing solely sorrowful songs of seven year stupid high school obsessions and subject yourself to the same life of eternal regret and lament, forsaking any event as valuable after Grade 12 just to keep the tradition of a family of gifted losers and idiot savants to become the last in a long, pathetic line of people who could only wish they could call themselves "wanna-bes" but in fact are living "never weres."

Would you look to the bottle to ease your self-inflicted pain? Would 70 hour work weeks ease your asinine stigmata of hyperbolic histrionics? Would all the activities that make you a worthless social outcast make you feel better about being a worthless social outcast? Would you hide behind words like "principle" and "honor" to make up for phrases like "$10 an hour" and "47 and single?"

Would you blame time for the life that was taken from you? Or would you - on a Medicare sponsored deathbed in a piss-soaked, vomit-stained 3 bed nursing home ward with no visitors and no one around but a high school dropout pothead orderly to remember your death - face the light at the end of the tunnel and suddenly realize that time wasn't the thief... but it was you. you stole your life. you took promise, talent, and ability and squandered it like a selfish brat. will you realize you have no one to blame for yourself?

Will that be what you do when you run out of friends?

Between screaming for the PawSox and working the biggest WaterFire ever, this little rockstar is seconds from slipping into a coma. Huge week last week and a big month coming up for the Shaft with shows at The Blackstone, Zog, and as220. Right on.

I normally try to keep day job stuff out of here, but a lot of folks have been asking. Last night was my last day working for WaterFire and tomorrow I start my new 8-to-5, white collar, web development geek job at BZ Productions. The interview process took forever, but I think everyone involved is confident good things will come from this gig. I'll be doing promotional work for search engines and such. Not that this impacts The Shaft a whole hell of a lot, but it will mean a new place with practice space and lots of noise and more recording.

At very least my mother is relieved that I'm not a homeless, jobless history major.

So, after going on a really satisfying rant about the fuckers who tricked me into going to an open mic and sitting through a bunch of godhead hippie bullshit, now I have to feel guilty. This Renaissance Church, as it turns out, is now on the Shaft Christmas cardlist. Pastor Scott came by the show with Andrea last night to watch her play, and notified me as well as winning one of the four awards given out that night - mine for "Passion." I have to admit, that was the prize I had my eye on, but after singing a bunch of militantly atheist songs I was expecting a canning instead of a commendation.

Regardless, I very sincerely thank the judges at the open mic. The field of "competition" at the event was so incredible, it means a lot to receive your praise. I'm sorry I called you guys fuckers and godhead hippies. You're all pretty alright.

And I hope some day you find out how rare my apologies come.

Man, Andrea and I rocked out with bands of the most extreme sort tonight. Jamming on the same bill with local favorites like Patrick McAloon Band and Chris Monti, the real surprise of the night was acoustic new age artist Lori Amey. A rich, sonorous alto with syncopated chord progressions and a social activist agenda, it made for very pleasant listening. All four excellent acts under the same wicked roof made all the difference - and what a roof it is. as220 has to be one of the most unique establishments for the Fine Arts I've seen. Art occupying every wall and poetry occupying those they don't, it makes for an excellent venue already before the excellent sound and attentive mixing. I can't wait for the Shaft to get down there.

Speaking of the Shaft, last night's rehearsal in preparation for the show at the Safari tomorrow had a most unexpected end. Practicing over at Sam's house for as long as he is with us, his parents are just now getting exposed to the heart of the Shaft's music. At the end, whilst we are all rocking uncontrollably to Hey, Gordon Shumway! Sam's dad walks downstairs wiggling his booty, dressed only in his underwear. They were boxers and rather large, but I must admit that is far more comfortable than I ever expected to be with Dr. Goldblatt at such an early juncture. I guess he's making up for it though, by treating the band to a PawSox game.

Jumpin' Jesus, it seems time flies when you're in the World's Uncoolest Band. I think I've finally gotten this whole goddamned post issue settled. New updates are occuring frequently, but unfortunately I'm the only one who seems to ever get to see them. Domain password issues have really been interrupting Blogger's flow, which is what I use for the News and rob.plan posting system. Hopefully everything is back in order. Still waiting on word on the tour dates. I fear I may just have to redo the entire database and eat the loss of all the shows we have done since March. :/

This week is going to be wonderful hectic, particular with my appearance with Andrea on Wednesday and the total rock explosion at the Safari Lounge on Thursday. Make no mistake: we are going to rock that mother. Not the worst dive I've ever played in, The Safari seems to be a haven for those sophisticates unencumbered by the usual material concerns of working plumbing and furniture not manufactured out of empty kegs. Rope lights and unbalanced pool tables, this joint is definitely our kind of place. We're going to be spiking everyone's hair for what just might be Sam's last show with us, pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and - of course - expect the unexpected.

The third time's the charm with our New England HQ, with the capable assistance of our temporary drummeister Sam we finally rocked out Cafe Zog with thorough precision. Apparently the key is not to advertise at all, as it seemed to have generated the most success for us. A good rotating crowd in and out of the joint coupled with the best performance the Providence incarnation of The Shaft has ever given produced stunning results, which I take to be an omen of the rock yet to come.

The day following the event, however, proved to be far less rockworthy. At the suggestion of this rocking lady, I attended an innocent looking all-day open mike at Federal Hill's historic (and exclusively independent film showing) Columbus Theatre. In an enormous act of rock and roll irresponsibility, she neglected to inform me that the event was sponsored and largely populated by the congregation of The Renaissance Church. Within about 5 slots, the entire theatre filled up with a bunch of goddamned hippie godheads delivering the message of the Gospel through Mexican folklore dancing and frighteningly surreal puppetry. Things got pretty Western fast.

Against my better judgment, I ended up waiting around to play. It must be said that the entire event, coupled with getting horribly lost along the way, was an extreme inconvenience and annoyance. However, that being said, Andrea LaFazia's three songs were *definitely* worth the price of admission. Check her out this Wednesday at AS220, and you'll catch desperately trying to keep up on djembe. I am very psyched for the show, even if it meant having to get told that Something Transcendent was "the most spirtual thing I ever heard."

Fuck.

Finally! Got the update system back after a small hiatus. Read up for some previous entires missed by some with the geographic misfortune of being out of the Shaft's usual listening area.

Keep an eye on this fella. He just might become President. With the primaries and fundraising already beginning, an early favorite has started to rise out of the Democratic quagmire. Though it is early for an official Shaft endorsement (for the three people out there that would actually pay it any heed), I think Dean's track record of executive leadership in Vermont is positive with bill initiatives bringing important ecological preservation of Vermont's natural resources, a crime bill with intelligent handling of drug offenses, and - of course - the landmark civil union rights for gays and lesbians. Kerry's got the credentials, but, as was recently proven with the current administration, credentials do not a President make. Some call Dean far left... personally, he just sounds closer to homebase.

Arcade games. Beer. Two items that for the history of geekdom have usually required consumption in isolation of the other. Oh, sure, you could drink while playing Goldeneye at home, but you never could while playing Mortal Kombat 3 on a coin-slot. Well, I'm pleased to tell you these guys have recognized the problem and followed through with a huge solution.

An arcade for sophisticates, this fine establishment comes highly recommended from the Shaft as it is a regular Americana bar and grill with a big catch... A gigantic, flashing light turbonitrothunderfuck arcade at the ass end. This is an amazing joint at which - guess what - you can have your Heine while kicking heiny in DDR.

You know, it's crazy. It's like Rhode Island has these places that you can go and do stuff. I've never been in a place where one could do such things before.

Whew, did we ever rock The Blackstone last night! Temporary drummer Sam hopped on the Shaft starship to rockdom for the night, pounding out an evening of infectious beats set to bring a tumultuous amount of rock to the people of Cumberland. Dubbed the "Iowa Invasion," we met up with new friends Echo 3 who, strangely enough, are pretty closely connected to both me and O'Daly. After having the usual exchange of lineup shifts and such, the real geek talk started to fly comparing notes on the proper Nintendo cartridges to bring with as well as a very spirited discussion of the Star Wars prequels.

However, the biggest surprise of the night was, despite the total dumb fucking luck of being placed together, we actually sound rather similiar. Even Jenn Kitten, local acoustic punk diva, fit perfectly in a very accidentally thrown together bill for a show that had alarming continuity. With the fine folks of Echo 3 kicking out a Super Mario Brothers theme like it weren't no thang and singing a song composed entirely out of quotations from Lucas' celestial films, I was glad the Shaft had the chance to prime the crowd. It's almost like somebody planned it.

Sadly, they're off for New Jersey tomorrow but somehow I think that our geek rock paths will cross again soon.

The server situation is rapidly improving, but the tour dates are still down. I'm working on repopulating them now and should have them up by the end of the day. Everything else is set for the big server switch and we should be out of Monaco by the end of the week. Provided the move goes smoothly, this should be the last of the accessibility issues to Shafted, until - of course - the next big disaster happens. :)

Aight, tons of mail coming in about the database situation. Spooky's moving The Shaft from its server in Monaco to another location in an attempt to shake some of the DoS attacks that seem to be causing service interruptions. The move is still in transition right now and I think because of a communication error of mine, the MySQL databases that are responsible for the tour dates, the bibliography, and the ever-beloved board are somewhere in limbo. I'm reasonably sure I can get them back, but it'll be a bit as the folks over at SpookyMedia are pretty busy with the move. I'll try to get it back as soon as I can.

Huge day tomorrow. Lots of stuff coming together for Rob, both with The Shaft and life in general (read: job). We'll see if we can rock this mother. It's good to be in Providence.

In the meantime, check out the two bands we are going to be playing with at The Blackstone next week. Echo 3 has some mp3s on their site for you to peruse, and they come recommended. Apparently from Iowa, it'll be good to run into some folks a little closer to home. Jenn Kitten, similarly, sounds pretty rocking... Should be a good night to introduce the Shaft to a lot more people.

It may seem like she's lonely... but she'll never be alone.

The statistics for Shafted are always fun to read, so I thought I might share some data with you. Spooky gives us, in addition to killer hosting, a pretty comprehensive tracking package in the form of awstats where I can see pretty much every action that is taken on the site and determine trends, what works, what doesn't, etc. The most humorous of the things that awstats tracks by far is the search queries that are used for outside visitors to find the site. For the most part, people are never going to search for Arturo Got The Shaft on Google or anything, which is not really much my concern because most people's music finding practices do not include random web searching. In essence, the only people who come here from a search engine come by total and often disappointing accident. Here's some data from last month (query, followed by number of times used, followed by total percentage of whole):

geek rock 5 7.2 % (yay!)
khas-tv rob 4 5.7 % (from my snide appearance talking about the price fixing settlement)
goodbye twenties hello minivan 3 4.3 % (boy, was this guy disappointed)
sctelcom bastards 3 4.3 % (yet another fan of our former webhost)
tropical storm webservice 1 2.3 % (huh?)
what is a dogfart 1 2.3 % (dude. I hope you didn't find out.)
bush administration is fucked 1 2.3 % (yes. yes it is.)
orgasmic photographs 1 2.3 % (these will be posted on our spin-off site, http://www.irishodalymanlove.com/)