Life Lessons Learned on Highway 24

I was 5 minutes late to work today due to a dump trunk dumping its payload all over interstate 40 rather than its intended destination less that destination be interstate 40. We could go further back in time and point out several key decisions influencing my morning routine which may have made my involvement in this situation better or, perhaps, even worse. However, since we are unable to determine what weight my morning routine may have played in this affair we shall frame this as a fecal matter.

I imagine something of the black plastic variety.

Anyway, there are no life lessons to be had here.

BTW. Go watch Screech turn an okay song into an okay alright rock on a thong i mean thon

-Fritz

A Night of Driving

So this evening got off to an interesting start. I had all sorts of big plans which were derailed by a rather serious event.

Anyway, things got back on track, but oh has time slipped away. I started my morning by dreaming up all the songs I would want to hear from the last decade and was planning on writing a post worthy of the almighty time master himself...But the list grew to an infuriating size and I need more time to justify why Mambo No. 5 should be included on this list...

Anyway...

Anyone know what the hell happened to the MetroOpensDoors website? I have like $30.40 in old metro tickets and I'm ready to $$$ in. From the looks of it, the metro authority got all fancy and stuff since you've been gone...I mean I've been gone...yeah...

Ummm...you wanna know the funniest thing to say in an adult film (you know, cause we're fancy around these parts)?

Oh fuck this is gonna change MY LIFE

(I would send a link...but yeah... how crass? really...who's into that stuff anyhow O.o )

Instead, I will leave you with this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t3kicv3HaA

-Richard Koozie

Things that Inspire Fritz: Mary Elizabeth Winstead

First off, I wanna thank you all for gettin' Koozified this past Sunday. We love the Bluesboro and GD that was the best free pizza and keystone light I've ever consumed in my life.

IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

Anyway, Screech is all about this inspiration stuff, so why the hell not?

Scott Pilgrim forever changed me and am now stuck with a crush on Ramona Flowers...

For ever...THANK YOU M.E.W... Like I needed another crush after Scarlo

First House Show of 2012...CHECK

Hell, that was the first house show of fRk's career and it felt pretty darn good. Thanks to all of you who came out, hung out and maybe even bought a koozie. Especially the one duder who forked over 5 for an EP. It was a blast performing in front of you all and we're pretty stoked to do it again.

Cheers

-Fritz

PS Gd that was a good pinata. Big shout out to Jared of Couched for crankin' the bass and not blowin' the speaks...I gotta sell those fool!

Sol Cat https://www.facebook.com/solcatband
Couched https://www.facebook.com/Couched
Blackfoot Gypsies https://www.facebook.com/blackfootgypsies
and Beef Oven...who is way too cool to have music on the interwebs :)

To those we've loved and those that are gone

This past week one of my co-workers died. She has a 14 year old kid. She is a single mother. It was a heart attack. She went into a vegetative state and with grace and dignity left this earth on her own accord.

Bad things like this aren't supposed to happen. Bad things like this are not supposed to happen at Christmas. We aren't supposed to know these faces. The images of those who find death in their youth are supposed to be just flashes on a screen.

But they're not.

I can say I will pray and all that, but I don't know who to. I'll give my pittance in hopes that every little bit counts, but I don't think it will be enough. I could cry, but I think this would just be a selfish blunder.

Really, I think the best way to remember those who we've lost is to be kind to those who've lost. I have no idea who this woman loved or loved her. So all I really can do is be kind to strangers. That might be the best thing we all can do.

Here's to a little love in this Holiday Season.
-Fritz

The Genre Crisis

So we just got back from playing what appeared to be some sort of hardcore metal show with dudes hanging from hooks and other dudes screaming, and well just lots of dudes with some cute ladies here and there. It was weird being on the bill because while we respect what these other bands are trying to do, and many of them do it quite well, we are in no way a metal band.

And I think that's where our jumping off point is. What the hell are we? I think there are some clear influences in our sound, but what is that sound? We can call it something vague like Prog Rock or Hardrock, but those two styles often are akin to long hair and unnecessary vamping.

I think what was great about the show tonight is that one of the dudes with one of the other bands said something that was pretty honest. "It's pretty clear you dudes listen to different music." We've played a few shows, but that is the first time I've really heard anyone really nail it. There definitely are some crossing points on the vendiagram of the Kooozie, but each of our musical stylings is quite different...and probably what we put on our car stereo, too.

From my stand point, Chet Stedman is like Jon Bonam with a double bass. Instead of heavy blues influences with a heavy sound, Chet likes to pop the hip hop into what is otherwise a hard hitting drum styling. I wish I could say more about his style, but I can never remember his favorite drummers. All I know is that when Chet gets on the drums, it's like a tidal wave of thunder with a lot bounce.

Then, when I look over to my left, well-sometimes right, I have the ever proficient Screech. If you are reading this and you think a former hardcore drummer who loves to put a little hip hop bounce into his drumming is kind of different, here is a guy who grew up studying Jimmy Hendrix like he's gonna rise from the dead, then moves from Cali to Boston and joins a litany of punk bands, and cites the freakin' Pixies as one of his biggest influences. I love me some Pixies, but when you can command an axe like Screech and you'd prefer the clatter of a raunchier punk sound, it def makes for some interesting guitar lines. Flying from rhythm to solo like he's flying the millennium falcon, the sound is just so raw and open and natural. I think if he played anything but a Marshall amp it would be a crime. I know he loves him some Orange, but the clang twang of an Orange cannot handle the majesty of his lead lines, nor the pure bliss of the crystal-like structures he likes to present in songs like Acid Love Drip and A Minor Love Screech.

And then there is me. I don't really know what to say about me. It's kind of weird to give a perspective on yourself as you know everything you'd like to present to the world, but only the world knows how you are perceived. I love QOTSA. Everyone in the band loves QOTSA. I don't think we sound a fucking thing like QOTSA, but we love them. I draw a lot of my vocal influences from guys like Moressey, Paul Banks, Justin Winfield, Sebastien Grainger and of course, Josh Mothafuckin Homme. My favorite bass lines are ones that are just enough. I.e., you remember how it feels. I love bands like fu manchu, truck fighters, sublime, eagles of death metal, doa1979, Interpol. But even besides that, I think it's my love of electronic music that really can be heard in my basslines. like, who the fuck doesn't remember the bassline from Bennassi's satisfaction? Or Jay and Jane. That shit is big and thick, and sticks in your chest like a sucker punch.

Well, sorry to abruptly end, but I'm tired. Thank you to all the peeps who saw us tonight. It was a pleasure hanging out and being apart of the show.-Fritz

The Amen Break

Recently, a good friend of mine tried to convince me that James Brown's Funky Drummer was the most sampled recording in all of history. And while I may have to admit that my premise may have been overstated, i.e., that the Amen Break did hold that honor, I do not believe anyone can deny how the Amen Break from the B-Side of the Winston's Color Me Father changed the music world.

So while I may concede the title of "most sampled", I will continue to uphold that the Amen Break is the most influential 6 second recording in all of history...well, at least modern musical history.

Cheers-

Fritz