Happy Halloween!

Ah, it's the most fun and creative night of the year. Costumes, candy, music, movies, and parties abound.

Last night I went with Monika and a group of friends to a "haunted house" at the Boulder High School. I am hesitant to call it a house as it took place in the basement of the school. It was put on by the school's drama department and the kids did a hell of a good job. Thank God one of the rules was "don't touch the kids and the kids won't touch you." The feeling in the basement was creepy enough that if someone had touched me I would have just started screaming like a girl as I flailed my fists in the air making a run for the nearest exit. They really did a great job and it's a testament to the kids that, while the artistic part of me was marveling at some of the make up and ideas the kids had come up with, the little kid inside of me still had his back to the wall trying to stay as far away from them as possible. It was a really great time and it looks like the school made out great. The line to get into the fun was long and about a twenty minute wait. So, I hope they keep doing it year after year.

When we got home Monika and I carved out the pumpkins that Monika picked up that afternoon. Keeping mine pretty simple I just carved out a fun face. When I look at it now I realize how much it looks like the little rag doll character I have named Mr. Moocho. I guess, even when carving something, I have the same distinct style I draw with. Ah well, I've decided I'll take that as a good thing and leave it at that :)

Tonight's plans are pretty simple. My friend Lou is putting on his annual Halloween rock and roll show so I'm going to drag Monika along with me and enjoy some music. Lou always puts on an interesting show so I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

And, speaking of music, I've just uploaded a new Halloween type of song called "Walk Away". I'm not sure if it's an OilCan Drive song or not since it doesn't have the feel of a typical pop-punk band. But, in my head, when I record and mix something like this, I still see the band, Ryan, Vince, Henry, and Nicole, playing it. So, maybe it is an OilCan Drive song and they're just expanding their horizons. I don't know, I'll let you decide.

The song started with a simple riff I played one night and quickly built from there. Some songs take a long time to create and I still have guitar riffs from years ago that have yet to turn into an actual song. But this one really flew, from the moment I came up with the riff, to the lyrics just flowing from my head, and onto the recording. It all went really quickly and I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It's also the first song I've recorded where I was confident enough in my own actual drumming that I was able to dump the computer drums and wing it on my own. It's nothing fancy but it turned out well.

And, as for the sound, it has a bit of that Cajun, New Orleans, spooky type of feel to it. It led me to write the lyrics for the second time from Death's point of view. The first time I had done that was in the song "Tour Guide"(which, if you'd like, can be heard on the OilCan Drive MySpace page HERE). "Tour Guide" is the story of Death watching a drag race and waiting to collect one of the souls after the inevitable fiery crash occurs. "Walk Away" feels like the sequel to that song, after Death has collected his soul and is explaining how the afterlife works to its newest member and comforting him by telling him that everyone, in the end, walks away from life.

I hope you enjoy the newest creation and, above all, have a safe and Happy Halloween!