So much has happened lately…
It all gets to go back to the music…
All right, one blog a month. not a terrible pace… keep it up…
What’s goin on people? Lots has been going on. Some not so great, it’s been one hell of a month. A couple of awesome festivals, a couple of bands I won’t be playing in anymore. An awesome album on the way. Let’s go ahead and break it down!
When We Were Young 2022
Yes, I survivded Emo Fyre Fest 2022. The highly anticipated and scrutinized emo rock festival, When We Were Young Fest, started out with a devastating cancellation on the first or three days. I had one of those Saturday, Oct 22 tickets, and I and my two homies were devastated. We were getting ready, jamming Armor For Sleep when we here the news. We took to Freemont street with sad emos some of which traveled half the globe to experience this fest only to be stop by high winds. Though, many bands tried to pull together and throw last minute shows at random hotels and restaurants around Vegas. Airports playing 3OH!3. Ubers blasting Hawthone Heights, casinos jamming Taking Back Sunday. Though we didn’t get to rage Saturday at the fest, Vegas was still filled with the spirit of emo fans. Vegas was emo. Weird but fun lol.
Fortunately, we were able to snag a Sunday tickets due to friends of friends calling at the last minute! Happy ending! It was amazing. Good food, reasonable bathroom lines, and all the bands as advertised. Merch line was four hours long, a huge problem. Also, the sound for every stage wasn’t great; Dashboard Confessional didn’t get mixed well at all. However, Bring Me The Horizon, Paramore, A Day To Remember and MCR all killed. Got a couple good pics and vids. Check out Omega Mart too. Wild.
These ducks we were gifted are about to drop the dopest hardcode album this year!
MCR set intro - I’m Not Okay
Hulaween 2022
Now for a festival that I definitely will be back too. Hulaween 2022, you are missed already! Amazing. One weekend after after WWWY, I was back into the groove. 4 days of camping at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park having my mind blown by Cheese, CloZee, Louis The Child (best set, mind blown), Wednesday Night Titans, Blaque Dynamite, Lettuce, J.I.D! J.I.D really raps. It was amazing to spend some time with good people and good vibes all around at the Suwannee Horror Disco Show.
This was my first Hula and I hope to be back as a performer soon! Definitely inspired to get in the shed and practice. Shout out to Ajeva and Anthill, some homies’ set I was able to catch.
Seth Campbell
Now for the not so great. If you haven’t heard, the Seth Jam that was being held every other Wednesday night is not being held every Tuesday night. I have a conflict on Tuesdays; thus, I won’t be hosting the jam any longer. End of an era. Seth, Grindfather, and I really have bonded since we started hosting at the top of 2022. Lots of chemistry developed with those guys, fun times, even a Jannus Live show! Mad props to the work that was put in and I wish it the best! Hopefully, one of these Tuesdays, I can stop in and say what’s good. Much love.
Goldenera
Last but not least, Goldenera. As you may or may not know, I’m no longer in Goldenera. A couple members in the band had issues; it turned out that this was not a resolvable problem. One month ago, at Oktobeerfest, this band had one of the best shows ever. Momentum was building, thank you everybody for all of the good feedback you gave on what was going on with this project.
I came out into the scene looking to really lock in with a group to create some original music. There’s a lot of jam and blues in the Tampa Bay scene, but hip hop and live music is right up my alley. Loving The Roots, RH Factor, Snarky Puppy, Common, Tribe, Mac Miller; I didn’t think I could get so close to making some music exactly like my most favorite ever. We worked hard on an album that’ll likely never be released. Most painfully, we had a couple rehearsals in which we effortlessly demoed 6 or 7 instrumentals that would be the foundation for a more Roots hip hop sound than the rap-rock fusion that Goldenera had been doing. I’d say the band was becoming more and more hip hop as time went on. Finding the sound.
Now that I sit back to think on it and process, it really does suck that it ended like this. I hate feeling like I wasted time and potential. But it’s only a waste if nothing was learned. Friends, make sure that you love what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with. You’re not going to make money and become famous with someone you don’t get along with. Making music is easy, but being there for bandmates when their down, going through challenges—personal, financial, health; you have to be around people who you’re willing to go to bat for. And have a band agreement.
End of a Goldenera, no hard feelings. It was dope. Best to everyone involved. Be excellent to each other.
Looking Forward
So where do we go from here? Displace’s 3rd album, “Accidental” comes out Dec. 10. I get to get back to making some solo hip hop again. It’s time. That time is always well spent. If you haven’t heard that, check on it while I prepare some new heat.
Departure EP - Spotify
The Best Of D Truth Tuesdays - Spotify
Much Love,
D Truth