James profile picture

James

Burning through lifetimes without form

About Me

I play lead guitar for Vesperian Sorrow, and I accept the inevitable poverty that comes with being in a metal band. I also play guitar for the mighty Bat Castle out of DFW. I reside in Austin, Texas. When I'm not pretending like i'm a shredder, I serve Italian food to the bourgeoise of Northern Austin to pay my bills, but this is not a career move. I practice on my own quite a bit, since I'm not getting any younger. I'm always open to casual jamming/collaborating with other like-minded musicians and studio collaborations. Right now I'm laying down tracks with my buddy Vijay (drums, keys, engineer [Misanthropic Studios]) on our spare time, and Drew Creel (Meyvn) will be contributing as well... purely studio. I also laid down some lead tracks for my buddies in Austin Death Metal band Vatic Ash, check them out, produced by Chris from V.S. I like to keep up on the news somewhat. Drinking with good friends, and good looking girls. That's about it I suppose. Oh yeah -- I firmly believe that following a preordained religion is wilfully declining rational and free thought (a human blessing and a right) in favor of allowing a pre established doctrine to do it for the individual -- not only is it pathetic, but it's very harmful, especially when concerning elitism, subordination, and unfair judgments. Denounce Christianity -- find God your own way. No hip hop; anti-wigger. MSN is [email protected].
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My Interests

shredding on the axe, enjoying quality music of all forms, fact-based politics, current events, good friends, beer, women, the progression of V.S., logic, insanity, delusion, anxiety, peace, happiness, misery, despair, loyalty, passion, obesity

I'd like to meet:

liars, turncoats, thieves, defamers, deprecators, illusionists, communists, illegal immigrants, unrequited lovers, sluts

Music:

Now Playing: Coroner - Caveat

Coroner, Megadeth (old), Nevermore, Dio (old), Death, Adagio, Jag Panzer, Wintersun, Ensiferum, Kalmah, Mors Principium Est, Opeth, old Soilwork, Symphony X, Sentenced, Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Evergrey, Morgana Lefay, Dark Tranquillity, Cacophony, Arch Enemy, Blind Guardian, Sinergy, Annihilator, Scar Symmetry, Carcass, Atheist, At the Gates, Arsis, Metal Church, Necrophagist, Yngwie, Hypocrisy, Disincarnate, Testament, Cynic, Behemoth, Covenant, Darkane, Nightrage, Imperanon, Borknagar, Mercyful Fate, Nocturnus, Angra, Helloween, Thin Lizzy, MSG, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Rush, Tony MacAlpine, John McLaughlin, Al Dimeola, Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert, Steve Morse, Satch, Mozart, Paganini, Handel... plus my Texas metal brothers: Meyvn, Vex, Gabe, Alex and Cody from Vatic Ash, Weaken the Adversary (R.I.P.), Hyperion, Exulcerate, No Souls Lost, Batcastle/Shaol Lin Death Squad, Adrian from Plague of Ages (R.I.P.), and any other dudes that balance GOOD MUSIC with GOOD ATTITUDE.

Movies:

They Live, Freddie Got Fingered... no other two movies in the world matter

Television:

nope, i'm cheap

Books:

I make time for the Austin American Statesman and US News & World Report, and I fit in the Economist when possible. If time permitted, I'd squeeze more in, but alas. It'd be cool to fit in some fiction to feed the imagination, but I can always catch up on tabloid headlines at the local HEB.

Heroes:

Jeff Loomis, Jason Becker, Tommy Baron, Yngwie, Paul Gilbert, Michael Romeo, Tony MacAlpine, Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore, Steve Morse, Karl August, Stephan Forte, Kiko Loureiro, John Petrucci, Satch, James Murphy, Alex Skolnick, Marty Friedman, Bill Steer, Chris Poland, Greg Howe, Paul Masvidal, Chris Broderick, Peter Wichers, Eric Johnson, Michael Schenker, Andy LaRocque, Uli Jon Roth, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Adrian Smith, Hank Sherman, Michael Denner, John Sykes, Fredrik Thordendal, John McLaughlin, Al DiMeola, Paco Delucia, Steve Howe, Richie Blackmore, Buckethead, Allan Holdsworth, Pat Metheny, Pat Martino, Jimmy Bruno, Shawn Lane, Mikael Ackerfelt, Galder, Dave Mustaine, Chuck Schuldiner, Chick Corea, whoever engineered Digitech products, Vladimir Putin.Anti-heroes: Zakk Wylde

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My Blog

update! (who cares)

Vesperian Sorrow are in full on mode!  Mucho progress being made on our upcoming US/Canada (West) tour for November, spanning 3 weeks -- starting off with some Texas dates then headed west throug...
Posted by James on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:39:00 PST

ode to myspace

about two years ago I joined up and my life has hence been blessed with a type of void that only myspace can fill... here are the reasons, divided into two types of interpersonal relationships (if you...
Posted by James on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:10:00 PST

Long-winded rants (politics and religion)

At risk of dragging my name through the mud a bit more, unintentionally pissing people off, and showing a lowered level of maturity, I must type this out before my already overgrown head explodes! Pol...
Posted by James on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:11:00 PST

Guitars for sale!!

upon my full on conversion to 7-strings, I am selling some of my 6-string beauties in order to finance more 7-strings. Jackson Professional Dinky Reverse: 24 frets, Floyd Rose, bolt on -- graphics by ...
Posted by James on Sun, 15 Apr 2007 01:00:00 PST

thoughts on Finnish metal...

Well, the metallic product of said country has got me firmly by the scrotum for a variety of reasons, as well the scrotums' of many peers/friends/bandmates/etc... for some reason I haven't really been...
Posted by James on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 11:24:00 PST

back from Canadian tour

Even though we've been back since Tuesday, I thought i'd be a myspace douche and post a hopefully succinct blog on our Canadian tour, which left me exhausted yet completely spiritually fulfilled,...
Posted by James on Sat, 11 Nov 2006 09:22:00 PST

Vesperian Sorrow US/Canada tour!!

well, it's about that time for the VS US/Canada tour.  All appropriate plans either have already been made, our are hastily in the works as we speak, causing much hair and sleep loss for the band...
Posted by James on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:33:00 PST

music news, including that of Vesperian Sorrow, and my dropping off of Vatic Ash

to whom it may concern (not many): some of you folks expressed an interest in my activity with the local dand newly conceived death metal band Vatic Ash... Unfortunately, due to schedule conflicts, ti...
Posted by James on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:47:00 PST