The world of music lost a beautiful soul 4 years ago today. Experimental music has not been the same since that day. Jhonn’s passing was a major turning point in my perceptions of life and death. Life became precious that day, not to be taken lightly or taken for granted. I realized the importance of living every day of your life without compromise, without reservation, and with resolve. Coil played a huge role in awakening my musical awareness as well as acknowledging, accepting and embracing my sexual identity. I am eternally grateful for Coil’s existence in my universe and the amazing musical gifts they left for all of us along the way. I miss them dearly, but their music stays with us and Jhonn’s soul breathes through us.

A while ago, I contemplated creating a project of some sort as a tribute to Coil and Jhonn’s memory. However, an extended creative drought (along with my own self-doubt) at the time prevented this project from ever getting started. Recently, I resurrected the idea of writing a piece (potentially a book-length piece) dedicated to Jhonn. So, I’ve decided to start a new blog devoted to conceptualizing and collecting sources of inspiration for the project, which I will collect and develop over the next year. The 365 for Jhonn blog will start today with the 4 year anniversary of Jhonn’s death and develop this blog over the next 365 days until November 13, 2009, which marks the 5 year anniversary.

365 for Jhonn can be found:

WordPress version
Mac version (Coming Soon)

R.I.P. Jhonn

Photo from Bauhaus’ Mens Room, July 31, 2008

Photo from June 2008

What the fuck is up with this cold-ass weather? It is supposed to be June not February. WAKE UP MOTHER NATURE, GODDAMNIT!

I am very excited about the prospect of seeing BOTH Ellen Allien and Miss Kittin in the same year.

Tour dates:

Tue 09/16/08 Caprice Nightclub Vancouver BC
Wed 09/17/08 Neumos Seattle WA
Thu 09/18/08 Holocene Portland OR
Fri 09/19/08 103 Harriet Street San Francisco CA
Sat 09/20/08 Avalon Hollywood Los Angeles CA
Mon 09/22/08 Palladium Loft Dallas TX
Wed 09/24/08 The Abbey Pub Chicago IL
Thu 09/25/08 Grog Shop Productions Cleveland OH
Fri 09/26/08 Circa Nightclub Toronto ON
Sat 09/27/08 Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire Montreal QC Opener: Jordan Dare
Mon 09/29/08 The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza New York NY

This, coupled with the forthcoming June 24th release of the new Anthony Rother venture and the return of Boris in July to Neumos, is shaping up to be a good summer of live music and new releases.

Mood: Rejuvenated (despite being overwhelmed)

Coming back from vacation is always hard. I left Seattle about two weeks ago with an overwhelming desire to pack it in and go home (so to speak.) Arriving in NYC was exhilarating to start out, but had taken its course by the end of last week. I thought certain Seattle people that I encountered around town were stuck up. Oh lord, no. NYC - most of the guys there had their noses stuck so high up in the air, I was convinced that Cloud 9 was lined with cocaine. It probably was. That’s how snooty it felt for me. Last year it didn’t bother me so much. Now I realize just how hyper-sensitive I am to that crap. I shouldn’t be. Really, I shouldn’t. It’s not worth wasting valuable emotional and psychological energy that dissipitates from your body when confronted with those feelings.

Anyway, I was glad to come back to Seattle. I realized that my life in Seattle was actually not too bad. There are some things I would like to change, but change takes time. I realize, too, that I got to be willing to persevere in order to fully realize the positive potential said changes can provide. Coming back to work was alright the first day. Today (the second day), however…not so much. I am overwhelmed in both positive and negative ways. At this point, I need to focus on the positive end of the continuum of “overwhelming feelings.”

I met someone recently that makes me feel special. This person realizes that I am a good person and has been incredibly good to me in just a few days of knowing him. I am fortunate to meet this wonderful person at the right time, at a time when I needed this companionship the most. It makes the overwhelming feelings at work seem miniscule, if not, non-existent. For this, I am grateful.

I plan to write more about NYC and recent developments in my life in future blog posts.

Current Listening:

Muscle Machine
by Terence Fixmer

I will, just for you, Chelsea!!! **giggles**

Too funny. I had to text my friend, Sassmaster Audra, in Minnesota. That totally made my week worthwhile after all. THANKS CHELSEA!!! Stay funny!

I am attempting to go to No Fun Fest again this year. Last year was nerve-wracking because of a) the violence that ensued on the first night of the fest and b) the discomfort of the unfamiliar surroundings in the industrial area of Brooklyn near the Hudson. I was afraid that Tony Soprano was going to knife me in the middle of nowhere with no witnesses. This year, however, No Fun Fest has moved from The Hook in Brooklyn to the Knitting Factory in Manhattan, which makes me feel more comfortable. I am not necessarily anticipating that this year’s fest is going to be any less chaotic or testosterone-driven, but at least I feel more comfortable in Manhattan later at night. We will have to wait and see.

I have even more shows going on while I am out there than last year. Besides No Fun, there is A Silver Mt. Zion, KTL, and potentially DJ Magda, Seattle’s The Dead Science, DFA’s Hercules and Love Affair, Carl Craig, and Lisa Lampanelli. WOW! What a lineup of shows! I am going to be exhausted when I get back. However, I have Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend to unwind.

I will write when it gets closer to the departure date, May 15th at 12:50 a.m.