My wife and I had a baby. His name is Gus. He's the best song I've ever written. He's cute, too. Terribly cute.

"Quincy's Busted Lip" gets played on the Spy every so often. That's cool. Oh, and since you're reading this, you might know that the Braving the Funeral song, "Cuba," is part of the Big Truck Taco video that has gone crazy viral. 

I think the video is solid and Zach's choice of "Cuba" was excellent. I'm not saying that just because it's my song, but because I was surprised at how well the whole thing came together. I am blown away by the simplicity. It's beautiful.

There. Now go hug someone you love. Then, hug someone you don't love...and change that.

Sean

The vocals, lyrics and majority of the song need a ton of work still, but I wanted you to hear something new.

I have to say I was relieved as a mofo. It's not my best area, plus I like it when everyone does what they're best at. How can it not be something great if everyone is allowed to do what they're best at doing? (Something I've had to learn many times over...eventually it sticks.)

So, "Cuba" is taking shape and we're loving it. The band is coming together and working as a unit and not just one person or whatever. Real bands are fun and I've missed that for quite some time.

Love, Your Neighbor
Sean

There's "Mary," which is acoustic right now...and I can totally hear a harmonica in it. I've never really played a harmonica in a song, so I who know's how that's going to sound. I'm no John Popper or Alanis Morrissette for that matter. (I do have one hand in my pocket, though.) Anyway, Scott and I worked on more lyrics for that last Thursday. It has a beginning and an end now. No middle parts yet.

"Cuba" is another one. Very upbeat. I think it will get people on their feet. One of my favorite lyrics in the song goes, "Let's bang our heads so gently till all our hearts are empty." It may be that I just love what I'm hearing in my head for it...going to be fun to play.

Ben is working on a song called "Stop, Drop and Roll." I don't know if he is going to make it a song for the band or not. That's up to him. I still wanted to give it a shout out here because it's so great. It's a very moving piece. He's quite a songwriter...and singer.

Another one is "Comfortably Sliding." I think one of the blogs mentions that one. It's acoustic...looks like we'll have to do some totally stripped down sets on occasion. I'd be cool with that. Might be easier.

How about some demos of these tracks? Wanna hear those?

Another thing...I'm almost thinking we should just lock down a show date and say, "Screw it. This is our D-Day. We have to get our rears in gear and play. For real. No kidding."

Who's ready for an actual show date? Who's ready to see us after all these years?

Love, Your Neighbor...Sean

The band managed to get together a few times, but not as much as we would have liked. We've worked on some of the old songs and we've even touched on a few new tunes. I must say, I really like the new songs. They cover a range of topics and people. It's funny what pops into my head when I least expect it.

For instance:

Mary make me look like a rockstar tonight
It's Friday, the wine is chilled
You got me lookin' pretty fine

But, I've a question I've been meaning to ask you
Are you falling for someone
Who's falling for you

Mary, Mary, Mary
Who you gonna marry?
Is it Johnny or Thomas
Or just someone who'll scare me?

I was just working on some promotions at the office and then, smack...those stalker-ish lyrics came up. I like surprises like that. It reassures me that inspiration isn't something I have to search for or dig up. Sometimes it's just given to you. Think about that...

Ever have that happen to you?

Sean

Right now, the band is me, Mike Ross, Jeremy King and Ben Heard. Once we get through the basics of all the songs, we're going to bring Scott Starns and Jason Deal back in. They've been busy with 13 Stars and some other projects of theirs and I felt like it would be better for them if I just got my crap together first. So, it's going to be a big band. Six of us...that's going to be tough getting all of our gear on stage.

Well, I guess we better aim for an arena tour.

Here's a little taste of what I'm talking about...

I've watched the rain come down
for the hundredeth time.
I've seen the lights burn out
and it looks like we're just...
getting tired of losing you
to a Cuban cruise
setting sail for June.

Oh, brother...
This is not like you.

So, let's usher in a new wave
with some room to shove
and usher in a new wave
with songs about love...

I hope you like what this is turning into...this is a very upbeat track with a tempo of about 140 beats per minute. I don't think anything on "Quincy's Busted Lip" came close to that. The way I'm imagining this one going is a polished mix of synth pop, strings and electric guitars. I mean...like super polished. I'd love to finish it soon. I'll see what the guys can come up with to help me out. I'm absolutely crazy about this song.

Love,
Sean

The BTF gang has a few new things cooking. That's always good. Thanks in large part to the efforts of Mr. Michael Ross...we have some interesting new tracks going. I was fearful that these were going to be a crazy departure from the material that landed on "Quincy," but Ross totally got inside my head. I'm impressed. He's more than a bassist and a pop culture expert. He's a good songwriter to boot.

Also, my friend Matt Stansberry and I were messaging back and forth the other day and he recommended a rehearsal space for the band. What was surprising was that it was at another friend's space...Erick Alexander. That totally reminded me that I hadn't spoken to Erick in more than two years. I'm a terrible friend, but it was great to hear how well he's doing with his recordings...tons of stuff going on in his world. (By the way...he's one amazing producer...and songwriter...and singer...all around great guy.)

So, in summary...things are moving forward despite some setbacks.

On a personal note, it's good that I have Vesta...she pushes me even when I've all but given up. I need that and I'm thankful for her support.

So...will 2009 be the year for BTF? I friggin' hope so.

Love,
Sean

Honestly, it's getting to be a real drag. It's always something. You know? But, isn't that the way life is? We get curveballs thrown our way all the time. I'm not much on sports analogies, so...should I keep swinging or is that just the fastest way to strike out? I don't know.

I guess I'm down about it because I don't know the best way to get this band moving forward. I wish I had the space to rehearse with everyone at home, but I don't. Forget about paying $300 a month for rent...and I don't like the idea of sharing the space. It's hard to schedule around that.

Maybe I'm lazy...

Maybe I should quit whining...

Sean

Back in August, he called me to see if I still played guitar. He says guitar with more of an accent on the first syllable. GUItar...GEEtar...something like that. Anyway...he and his fiance wanted me to just do some "pickin' or something."

"We don't have anything we really want, you know...just some pickin' or something," Blake said.

Having just gotten married a few months before, I knew his bride would expect more.

"Nope...she's cool with anything. We just think it would be nice to have some family in the wedding and since you play, we were just figuring you would be really good."

"Okay," I said...a little hesitant. "Where is the wedding?"

"On the farm. In the pasture. You know, where we used to fish behind that one pond off the north road," he said.

"Oh."

After a few weeks of trying to figure out what would be best, we determined what Blake wanted was going to be best. No singing, no amps, just acoustic picking.

I played a medley of songs I'd picked out and made the best of it. Was it my best performance? No way. But, it was exactly what Blake and Amber wanted and I had a blast helping them out. Little do they know, though...they helped me out a ton, too.

Sean

I'm working on a new track, "Atom Bomb," that sounds a little like a Rejects song. I didn't intend for it to be that way, it just happens to be so friggin' bubblegum that they may end up stealing it from me. Don't get me wrong - it's no "Move Along." (Man, I love that song, don't you?)

Tonight, I'm sitting here, working on the site and I started another song. I swear to you...and I'm not kidding...the first thing that popped into my head was John Mayer. Say what? I know! I hate him, too, Willis. So...who knows what's going to happen to that track. I'll see if we can de-Mayer it in some way.

You've heard "Baby Love Me," but you haven't heard it finished - and neither have I. For some reason, I've left it alone this year. Then there's a very Paul McCartney-ish "Your Mother Should Know" sounding track called, "An American Werewolf in Cleveland." Don't know what was going on in my head then...

Anyway,
Sean

Okay, that's fair. I've said this a million times. But, the truth is that Braving the Funeral is actually a band now. We've landed a solid rehearsal space and we're getting the songs ready. For realsies this time. No kidding.

There are so many reasons this didn't come together sooner. The biggest reason? I wasn't ready. My personal life was going through some crazy changes and I had to prioritize a little. By little, I mean...a lot. From switching jobs and getting fired to finding new work...oh...and getting married! You know...there are a multitude of blips on that radar that happened along the way.

It's only now that I even have a firm enough ground to stand on so the band can come together. I'm just lucky the guys in the band stuck with me through all of the muck and mire. They're good people.

I like them a lot...and you will, too.

Love,
Sean