i love warm weather

spring and summer are my absolute most favorite times of year. I love when it gets hot and you sweat a ton even when its just driving across town with the windows down. i love pollen. i love working 10 hour days instead of 6 hour days that i have been through the winter. I love doing landscaping and being able to see tings bloom and everything come alive and the first sight of green grass.

Even better is the fact that every single band starts their spring ans summer tours and tons of new CDs get released.

Here’s some awesome shows coming up that I will definitely be attending:

Saturday, March 31 – Anberlin and Jonezetta with Bayside and Meg and Dia

Anberlin just released their newest CD called Cities and honestly except for the last two songs was somewhat lower than my expectations. However, the last song on the CD is called “*Fin, and is one of the most epic songs i have ever heard and gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Anberlin is known for having one of the best live, energetic, and craziest rock shows ever, so I’m planning on being there and taking pictures. Jonezetta is a great dance-rock band from my family’s hometown of Jackson, MS. I remember listening to them before they got signed.

Saturday, March 31 – Comeback Kid and It Dies Today

Comeback Kid is possibly the best punk/hardcore band out today. Its unfortunate they’re playing the same night as Anberlin, but I’m definitely gonna try and catch them.

Wednesday, April 18 – Brand New and Manchester Orchestra

Brand New’s latest CD called The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me has already won my nomination for best cd of the year 2007. I honestly don’t expect any other cd coming out this year to top it, except for maybe the new As Cities Burn CD coming out this summer. The Brand New disc actually changed my life, which is weird to say but music does that to me. It has the most faith and searching influenced lyrics I ever heard from a “non-Christian band”. The new Manchester Orcestra (an awesome indie band from downtown Atlanta) also has awesome faith based lyrics on their newest CD I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child.

Wednesday, May 2 – Thrice and Norma Jean with the Receiving End of Sirens

Thrice’s front-man, Dustin Kensrue, is quite possibly the best singer-songwriter from a faith band that is not in the CCM circle. Thrice’s last CD Vheissu is one of the most cohesive and well-written albums I have heard in my life, and I am eagerly anticipating their next album which is planned to be a 4-disk earth, wind, water, and fire concept album that I expect to set the stage for all rock albums to come because of its innovation. Norma Jean is also a live show that I have waited a long while to see.

Tuesday, May 15 – As Cities Burn and Cool Hand Luke with Olympia

As Cities Burn is a band that I’ve known for some time now as my cousin’s band used to play almost every weekend with them before they got signed. They recently lost their front-man though, and I’m excited to see what they sound like now. Their last CD was incredible, and even that is an understatement. Cool Hand Luke is another awesome indie-band with great faith-based lyrics.

Wednesday, May 16 -Underoath and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster

Maylene, a southern rock band from B-Ham, is finally going on tour with Underoath, which is something my friends and I have been waiting for for almost a year and a half now. The guys in Maylene are some sweet dudes, and have a special bond with me and my ex-band mates because they came upon the car accident where we lost our guitarist. Do yourself a favor and check out the song “Is That a Threat or a Promise?” on iTunes, which is the song they wrote about our loss and vocalist Dallas Taylor’s prayer as he watched the commotion at the accident scene.

If you havent checked out any of these band’s… DO IT. NOW. SERIOUSLY.

and come to a show!

The End of Any Given Moment

this is blair reminding you that the Masquerade show on January 13th will be Any Given Moment’s final show together. Through the past month or so it was my realization as well as the rest of the members that we could no longer continue together as a group in the state we were in.

Due to internal problems with the band as well as other situations, the band was forced to break up.

All i ask is that for any of you who have ever supported us in any way, whether by buying a shirt, one of our cds, paying to come to one of our shows, coming to one of our shows, listening to us on myspace or purevolume, talking to us in person, any of our close friends, anyone who knew mike, and all of you who are reading this, to come to one of these last two shows.

I know we can get in a last hurrah, and an awesome last show. please come support us.

January 13 at the Masquerade.
with Joshua’s Ghost, Silent Wars, and Typhoid Mary
7PM
$6

Buy a ticket from any of us, any time, message our myspace, or call us, just come help us have one last awesome show. I thank everyone one of you for everything you have done for us in the past 3-4 years since me and mike started this band.
—————
As for me, since I’m sure you all are wondering…

I will definately not be giving up music, and hopefully will try and get another project started up soon, though i will be taking a break from the “scene” (gay).

However, i plan to be able to devote more time to the youth and volunteering at churches in the gwinnett area. More important than any music i have ever made is the love of my Savior, Jesus Christ, who Mike and I both began this band for, and i will be pursuing that full-time. Mike’s life and tragic death is such a pure and wonderful story about the grace, love, and plans of God that it simply cannot be lost and forgotten with just the seperation of this band.

Sugar Hill United Methodist off of Highway 20 across from MOG Ford, has a youth service every sunday night at 6:30 that i lead worship at and occasionally speak (read: “message” or “sermon”), and i would love to see any of you there.

Seriously though, i am really excited for my future music endeavors and want you guys to keep a look out for them. I love you all and thank you so much for the support and time you have given this band from its inception with mike and i (and richard lyons, brad morgan, and ryan luce) to its finishing point on January 13th. please come out and give us an awesome going away show.

Love you all,
Blair Johnson