:: the return ::

much has happened that i haven't chronicled here!

firstly in 2009 i donned the moniker of the wairwülf and attempted to make my mark on the philadelphia regional air guitar competition. but alas i was too weird for them...and just didn't quite have it together.





i was told i was just plain weird and had madonna arms. apparently judges don't know they should tremble in fear whenever they see 9 wolves hidden on a shirt. i received i believe a 4.7 a 4.8 and from bjorn turoque a 5.2, which was enough to make me feel like i could give it another crack.

for whatever reason in this past 2010 season i didn't compete. mostly because i felt retarded borrowing 20 bucks from someone for the entry fee. but i've had so much fun hanging out with everyone in the air guitar community i decided i'd start this up again. i think there were at least 2 people who were entertained by this!

so to get the ball rolling i took a random video [not an actual training video] in my new tinier room. i obviously need to find a new space to work on this stuff...



oh and for those interested; tour with mose giganticus was awesome! and apparently fruitful! his newest venture "gift horse" is now available for sale through relapse records! solid!

check it out on alternative press: HERE!

:: recap ::

so i've trained a lot, read books, bought movies...even edited together the perfect track. i've trained and even recorded a few videos i neglected to upload [and now can't find]. i "work out" to motorhead a couple times a week and anything else that moves the spirit.

but an odd thing has occurred.

after all this training, even my training with a real instrument simply to establish weight and feel; i have been asked to play there guitar in an all non ethereal instrument based band.

that's right, i will be touring with a band. NOT playing air guitar. sad i know. but exciting nonetheless!

please keep a lookout for us on tour!

MOSE GIGANTICUS

:: k/air-eoke ::

so i haven't been able to go to aireoke...whhy not make my own? gotta work on opening my eyes!

:: there guitar 01 & 02 ::

there date: 01
real date: 7/8/07
song: operation ivy - big city
trials: it's been a long time. i recently adjusted my truss rod, and had some trouble with the pickups and the bridge, which i was able to fix.
effect: i feel as though i actually accomplished something. i have the same cleaning feeling as after air guitar but feel as though i've made some manner of tangible progress.
learned: it's tough incorporating air moves into there guitar. not impossible, but i have problems in looking away from the fretboard and keeping up my movement. it's tough! but my new goal is to be able to have a real band again, so the air and there training will both help.



air date: 02
real date: 7/8/07
song: descendents - sick-o-me
trials: no tabs for this song anywhere on the internet, so it took me a while to figure out something close. think it sounds good, although i seem to be a little quiet.
effect: this song always make me feel better. it's not really defeatist, just sort of doing the best you can until someone gets sick of you, because what can you really do at that point? i think it makes sense milo.
learned: moving around a little more. i make some weird ass faces when i play there guitar. i think i need to work on memorizing songs more and not looking at the fretboard.

hopefully this will help my air guitar as well. i've just been insanely frustrated that i've been focusing time on air guitar and guitar hero but none one there guitar! time to step it up!

:: training day 08 ::

air date: 08
real date: 7/4/07
song: megadeth - hangar 18
trials: very very out of practice!
effect: working up personas and general rock and roll attire. i feel decent about this even if it's not the best performance. if there's one thing we can learn from KISS or GWAR, it's that if you aren't very good at what you're doing look as flashy as possible!
learned: shouldn't go so long without training! i'm getting a lot of pent up aggression that needs to be channeled into the air! make air not war!

:: NYC regionals ::

today i stopped by the bowery ballroom to at least try. this thomas sebastian does not give up. and low. tickets were available!!!

i made roo take a taxi down to go with me and it was awesome!

the performances tonight were all a little lacking. william ocean of corse being a shining star of airness in an abyss of unimaginative performances. his hot pants and sequen light up tank top, concealed under the american flag track jacket impressed us all, especially judge andrew wk.

i felt foolish that i did not enter.

i've not reached a point in my training where i felt i had a solid performance, although now i believe i might combine all i've learned and bring it to a competition.

the last song of the night was rockin' in the free world, at which point i got on stage and rocked with the likes of bjorn and willaim ocean. rachael joined as well and we all totally busted it out, pretty magial.

downstairs we took over the jukebox and played dio, yet halfway into my scorching solo some dick turned it off to put on some lesser band called wolfmother. i redeemed myself with hot for teacher and started gaining the respect of some people around me. eventually rachael got holy diver up which was rather epic and whispers started circling around us "hey that guy's pretty good!" and we received recognition from aer lingus, the man who brought air guitar to the states.

eventually bohemian rhapsody came on, and rachael and i commenced a duet. during the blazing solo, bjorn turoque was overtaken and joined in momentarily. although this was a simple gesture, i felt it acknowledged the raw power of rock within me.

it was essentially my first time playing in front of an audience, and out side of a few van halen backward runs i was pretty rooted down.

i had planned jumping off a table during stand up and shout but when the dude controlling it turned it off it sort of ruined my moment. i was going to jump from the table and land on my knees and tear into the solo and continually jump kick. at which point everyone in the room would turn around and declare and upset and encourage me to go on to a regional to enter and take the national trophy.

this did not happen.

i have more work to do, and a costume to make...but i can do these things...soon.

fear has been my mistress for too long. so fear, i SMACK thee to the side and triumphantly tread to victory. in the name of rock and roll.

:: training day 07 ::

i never elaborated on this!

i'll put it into format later...

meet fellow adventurer papows!

after a quest to the party of parties in philadelphia, we returned to my abode to be locked out...what's more...IN A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR!

after being in philadelphia for the past 2 days we could both really benefit from some cleansing.

so what do we do? do we succumb as most might?

NO!

the obvious choice is to go to the nearest bodega buy some irish spring soap and shower in the rain. the proper choice indeed.

then it was off to man hat to meet friend roo for sushi dinner...again walking far longer than needed in said downpour.

after dinner we receive word that my keys are in custody of a girl who was watching my roommate's dog. she's about to leave for work in 30 minutes. at this point we're about 2 miles from where she is. a bus could come, does it? no. obvious choice? give her a call and find somewhere else to stay and clean up?

WRONG!

adventure choice: run along the bus route in continued torrential downpour in the event that we may intercept one. this does not happen. we continue to run the remainder of the 2 miles, fully packed bags in tow. reach the destination with T - 1 minute to go! key checkpoint reached!

return home...everything is in order mission accomplished!

this video was not an air guitar video so much as a celebration of an adventure well executed!

papows has since returned to boston. he is missed.