When one story ends, another begins

What's that title all about?  Well you may have noticed that I'm no longer on the road with Pop Evil, but you may not know where I went.  (I'm assuming this question has been burning in the back of your mind for some time now...)

I parted ways with the road last may in order to focus on other aspects of my life.  I'm getting back to the basics as they say, finishing college and redeveloping my photographic interests that I set aside so many years ago.

If you would still like to follow my story, head on over to my NEW blog at http://theDrewStory.blogspot.com where I will tell stories from my past, plans and visions of my future and a whole lot of pictures encompassing everything in between.

DON'T MISS OUT!!

http://theDrewStory.blogspot.com

Inner thoughts to start the day.

Woke up at 9:30 this morning, I ate a couple of cherry pop tarts and brewed a pot of Kona. Delicious! I stumbled across the intro video I made for the "Lipstick on the Mirror" cd release party back in 2008. It seems like that was forever ago. There was definitely a different mindset in the air in those days. I've come a long way with my editing since then, I think at that time I just got lucky a lot. Still, there was an excitement I used to feel when putting those videos together. I think the vastly increased lag-time I have to suffer through since the move to HD is partially responsible for the loss of that. Maybe I'm feeling like I've done it all, or at least I've somehow caged in my creativity, so that it's not free to run wild anymore. When did doing what I love become a hassle?
For today, I'm hoping to find some inspiration in this cup of coffee, and will continue to press on. Can't wait to find out what today will bring!

Time to be Thankful

I am a flawed person.
I spend a lot of time observing while standing at the merch table, and I see a great variety of people from many walks of life.  I see happy people, angry people, jealous people, sad people, and I thought I had people figured out, but I've been metaphorically looking in the mirror a lot lately, and I've realized that a lot of the problems I thought I saw in society are in fact shortcomings of my own personality.  I've always been stuck inside my head, alone with my thoughts, suspicions, ideas and fears, and I feel offended when others don't immediately recognize that it can be a struggle for me just to make it through the day.  It's very easy to pass judgement on each other based solely on outward appearance and those quick interactions that take place between us during every day life.  I find myself getting so wrapped up in my own life that I become completely oblivious to those around me, forgetting that each and every person I happen to pass by has their own world of troubles, adventures, excitements and heartbreaks.

I understand.
It is important to remember that these quick judgements and assumptions that I can make are based only on the small fraction of a person's world that they chose to let others in on.  Concentrating on that for a minute, I apply the same formula to myself and come to the conclusion that I can have a great deal of jealousy, mistrust, or false perspective towards someone only because that person may be reacting to a specific mood that I've presented them with.  When I think about it that way, I understand that I'm not so different from everyone else and it inspires me to be more outgoing, more understanding and more considerate.

I'm thankful.
This year will be the first Thanksgiving that I've been able to spend with my family since 2007.  If being away from that for 5 years has taught me anything, it's this:  Things will change, but not always the way I expect them to.  What was important to me back then is not necessarily relevant in my life today.  Taking that realization into account, I can see more clearly what is truly important to me and what I don't need to trouble myself with.  I'm thankful for family and friends who have always been there for me.  I'm thankful to live in a country where I am free to make my own mistakes and learn from them.  I'm thankful for forgiveness.  I'm thankful for all of you who read this and believe in what we do, and I'm thankful for a certain group of guys who make this blog possible through their talents and choices in life.  We're all a team, and it is important to work together to overcome disagreements, remembering that it's ok to have a different opinion from those around you, and instead of stepping on the dreams of one another in order to reach our own, we can lift each other up and achieve things greater than any one of us could imagine on our own.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I look forward to seeing you all in the coming months and years!

Valemont, BC

Today is a monumental day! We've stopped in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and I can finally say that I've found a spot outside of Michigan that I think I could handle living in!
We're on the road from Edmonton, AB, to Vancouver, BC, and we fried a wheel bearing in the trailer. It just so happens that there was a little repair shop that was able to get us all fixed up and on our way.
While at the shop, Chachi and I took a short hike down the road to this AMAZING little Swiss bakery and I had the best double espresso of my life. Thank you kind-hearted Swiss bakery owner!!
I would give anything for a snowboard right about now. These mountains are calling out to me!
How did everyone's Halloween go? We spent the night in Edmonton, at the wold's largest mall, or so they say. There was a gigiantic waterpark inside, and ice skating rink, an amusement park, an aquarium with sea lions and penguins and more! The selection of stores and the food court could have been a little better, I feel, but whatevs...
Vancouver is the final stop of this tour, then after we head back to the States for a show in Spokane, WA, then we're dropping the guys off at the airport for the very first visit to Europe!
Things are starting to wind down for the end of the year, a lot of writing and scheduling out studio time is in the works. We're very excited to get a new album out! Believe me, it will be awesome!

Welp, I'm going to coach Chachi int he creation of a new blog! Stay tuned!
Happy November, and be safe out there, y'all!

That Orangey Time of Year

How busy have I been??  Let me tell you!
Crazy busy!
Since my last post, we've crossed the country a couple more times with 5 Finger Death Punch, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Emmure, God Forbid and Battlecross.  Yet another great tour in the books!  We were a little nervous going into it, not knowing what to expect as it was a bit heavier of a scene than we were used to.  But contrary to our fears, both the crowds as well as the other bands really embraced us and we were sad to part ways.  Night after night of arena shows and shenanigans and memories made and some really cool video that you all will get to see soon!
Which brings me to my next topic.  Purple.  As the 4th and final single from War of Angels, we decided to take a look back at the trip at some of our favorite unseen footage in such a way as to tell the story of our journey throughout the album cycle.  After slaving away for weeks and weeks, I'm proud to say that the video was finalized yesterday and now the distribution process begins!
If you've been to a show in the last few months, you may have noticed someone other than myself at the merch table.  Our newest partner in crime, the lovely Miss Koolaid Chocolate, or "KC" as she is commonly known from exotic Dallas, TX, joined us back in July, adding another facet to our already unique crew.  Sadly, she has returned home during our downtime and we miss her dearly!  But what can ya do during time off?
Upcoming now in the Autumn months, we're going to head to the great territory to the north on our very first Cross-Canadian tour with Black Label Society!  I'm looking forward to Halloween in Edmonton!  I'm still working on costume ideas, even though it was my goal to start planning in April.  That seems to be my plan every single year, yet it never happens.  Oh well, I best get busy!  Only 3 weeks to go!!
The smell of burning wood was in the air last night, added to the stunning kaleidoscope of fall colors in the midwestern woodlands always brings a sense of warm coziness in the cool breezy evenings, and it's a sign that hot cocoa season is upon us!  I've got to dig out my ginormous box of swiss miss and get to work!  FOOTBALL TIME!!!