I know I promised something of more substance, but I thought I’d post something cool that I got in a text message today. It was from the Obama campaign:

Barack asks that you give to the Red Cross: give 5 dollars by texting GIVE to 24357 or give more by calling 1-800-435-7669 or at redcross.org/donate. Please fwd

Now yes, I know I’m an Obama supporter and I’ve made that bias clear time and time again, but I agree with McCain that in this time of need with Hurricane Gustav and other natural disasters, we have to take off our Democrat hats and Republican hats and wear our American Hats.

I thought I’d try out the text message one because it really doesn’t hurt and doesn’t take much of my time at all. Sure enough? Its even easier than all of that because it just tacks the donation right on to your monthly bill almost like it was a Jamster ringtone.

And for $5? Sure that seems a lot to me right now because I could easily almost get the 5 for $5.95 deal at Arby’s with that money, but for the people who have even less than me? Its the least I can do…

I’ll be back with more substance sometime soonish… I promise that much…

I know that I’ve been really quiet recently, and I promise that I’ll update soon, but between unpacking and getting settled in here and the virus that hit me last weekend, well, I’ve been busy to say the least. That’s why I dedicate this Sunday Share to something that’s helped me out with some of those problems I had:

This software alone, while only being a 30 day trial, helped me out because my Norton’s was expired. And at about $35 a year? Can’t top that. My protection files update regularly overnight, and its caught anything and everything and even some trojan related files that I never knew I had.

So while I get this all back together? I’ll let you take the time to download and protect yourself…

Good Sunday morning, friends… I just wanted to have a friendly Sunday Share from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois as we’re fully moved in and rip-roaring ready to go.

Yesterday morning we went to the farmer’s market in downtown Urbana. An area that we just started to explore yesterday seeing we’ve mostly stuck with Champaign and the west side of the town, its got a small gorgeous main street type area with a very nice sized farmer’s market. And if you’ve ever been to the one in Winter Park by Orlando? Imagine that, but about three to four times the size, with various live musicians throughout, and produce that’s even fresher, naturally baked bread, and very uncommercial arts and crafts.

And amidst all of that, we found something that was commercial and familiar. See, back when Sarah lived in Utah, there was a bread store that she really enjoyed and that I enjoyed when I got to try it on our honeymoon, and apparently? There’s another in that chain here:

Sadly, Orlando and Florida friends, the closest you get to something that has this sort of fresh quality that I know of is Yalaha Bakery, but even still? It just isn’t the same…

Take care, and I’ll be back soon with a fuller update!

Right now, its 12:08am EST, and I’m sitting at 11:08pm CST.

21 years ago today, my little sister was born. Happy birthday, Nava.

And as a side note, for those wondering about the move? Things are fine… Just unpacking now and looking for a job. Some site updates in the next few days when things are cleaner…

Okay, so I know that I take way too many political shots on my blog, but this is one that I just have to share, especially after a contribution I passed along recently.

An all around fun site that even if you are a Republican, you can always find some humor if you look past some of the partisan shots. The webmaster does a great job with his finger on the pulse of the age issue with humorous posts and other videos that show arguments in the perceived judgement of John McCain.

Sure, I know I’m in the can for Obama, but even not being solely for him, I think that there’s enough things on here to consider what’s up with this nominee… By the way, if you’re curious my submission? Head over here and read it.

A note from 2008: When I was cleaning up my room a week or so ago, I happened across a ton of old papers and things that I had written. Amidst them was this letter that I had written in August of 2001. I wrote this while on a REEL retreat with the LEAD scholars program, and it was in a sealed envelope that was marked not to open till December 25, 2002–at a time where I would have completed my first year and had one semester left in the LEAD program.
When I opened this letter up for the first time in a long time on August 5th, 2008, I smiled, and I thought that this would be appropriate to share with my family and friends here. I was just entering into a new adventure in my life and I was about to start college and classes in a day or two.
And now, as I get ready to head out in a 26′ moving truck, I think its only fitting to share this letter in its unedited entirety as I hit the road ready to start a new adventure in my life with my wife as she starts law school in only a few days time…

16 August 2001

Hey You! With the Weird Hair!

Listen man, don’t get a haircut. You’ve had your fun and you gotta know whats real too. There’s always dreams and aspirations, but heres a few for dat good ol’ city to make a utopic paradise: everyone has a purpose, so letthem live in it; shower others with the same love and respect that YOU want to get it back; remember that there’s idiosity in everything, let it live the way it should; everything is all zen bullshit, life is like that; and you just live.

If you want a perfect society… you can’t have it! BUT you need to TRY. Let everything just flow out and the rest will follow.

Keep it all up and keep it all real. NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE, AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO!

Peace, Love, and Music,

Adam J. Cohen

I’m very much a vintage sort of guy, and I love playing all of these old games. Recently, I lucked out and I happened to find this little freeware gem…

Remember the old JezzBall game? Well, first of all, this isn’t JezzBall. The concept is similar, but its just as fun. Oh, and my old laptop? This one works just fine on it. A brilliant time waster. Love it.

There’s a line in the Joni Mitchell song that really always sticks with me: You don’t know what you’ve got till its gone. I think that’s a truth we all don’t really understand.

First off, thank you to all of my friends who have congratulated me on my graduation. I walked across the stage only once, under the drab tassel of my Business degree, but I held my white tassel for my English degree high in the air. All about keeping the representation solid.

And now, we look at today. Representing solids.

I’ve been up since about 7:30 this morning, working on small things around the house. And I look back at the calendar, and I look around my room. About seven years ago, I was in this room, trying to clean it as well. I was about to head off to college and I had just broken up with the girl I was seeing at the time. I was eager, and full of dreams and hopes and every platitude that you could imagine. I believed in always remembering my friends and making sure that I kept them dear and near to me. I remember thinking of them all as I went away, and I remember getting letters in the mail from some of them. I’ve run across some of those letters that I didn’t burn or rip up and throw away. I tried to move on and grow up once I got there.

And why is it now that I’m here at home, cleaning as I did seven years ago, this time with my wife sitting on the couch and soon to be moving far far away from Florida, that I miss all of these simple friendships?

Maybe, its exactly as they sing… you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone.

They were people who didn’t judge me. They were people who still believed in all of the potential we could have had. They were people who saw me everyday for almost 13 years of my life, and we grew up and learned together.

It counts for more than you think.

The more and more I think about it, the more and more that I think I might want to return to my ten year reunion for Springstead High School. Sure, everyone went their separate ways after the class of 2001 graduated, but maybe we all went a little too far. Or maybe I’m just a sappy guy.

Spring Hill? Thank you for giving me what I needed, and I wish I could find those friends whom I’m missing… I know that you never truely lose a friend. I hope that all of those lost and gone along these last seven years find their way back to me one way or another, even if its just to say hi, give a quick handshake, and go our separate ways.

Afterall, we did all go our own ways and made our own paths.

And I should finish cleaning so I can follow mine…

Another freebee site that I enjoy hitting up is actually a daily changing one…

Both of them are run by the same folks, and they have some great software items pop across their pages. On the game giveaway site, each and every Saturday and Sunday, they give away games that normally run $15-20 or sometimes more. And on the other site? There’s everything from DVD ripping/burning programs, computer memory and tweaking utilities, to screensavers. All in all, it doesn’t hurt to add the sites to your RSS feed and just see what pops up and each and every day, maybe find a free little piece of software goodness…

Today, my friends, marks the end of seven long years and the beginning of the rest of my life…

Just as a heads up for folks who haven’t heard, today marks probably my last day behind a computer for about the next 20 days. Sure, I have the laptop and I could always borrow Sarah’s laptop, but as a whole, I won’t be signing onto a computer and doing a lot of really deep computer posts here. I might draft some on paper and write them up later when I get on, and I’m certain that I’ll update from my cell phone, but still, just nothing too much that you can expect from me.

As an aside, though I do guarantee that I’ll keep up with my Sunday Share posts, because I’ve got a few of those drafted up to cover every week from now till I’ll be online again. Not bad, huh? Hah! And beyond that too, I’ve asked writers who have covered for me in the past that if they have the time, to please do the same and jot a post or two if they think it’d be interesting to my readers.

I’ll update after the move is over, but you’ll be able to see pictures and random statuses while we’re on the road on my Facebook, I’m sure, as well as I have a feeling I’ll do a few mobile updates here and there on here.

All the best, my friends… I’ll be seeing you around…

Well, this is the first time I’m doing this here, but usually after a show, I wait a few days and write up how I felt about it. I used to do that on my MySpace blog because its music related, but seeing this is my main blog, well, its only fitting that I put it here…

First off, let me thank everyone for coming out. I honestly can’t thank you enough for showing up, even if it was for a short time… That’s all I could ever ask for: my friends there with me to share the final moments that I took to the stage.

So, as I had panned about it before, let’s go on the setlist and go each side of the setlist by each side. Sean Evan opened off the night starting around 8:40 or so, and played a nice rocking 45 minute set or so. Definitely looking forward to hearing his band and how things go with that as time progresses.

Early on in the evening

At about 9:30, I took to the stage for the first time of the night, and my first set was as follows:

Naked
Granny - Dave Matthews Band
Atlantic City - Bruce Springsteen
Orange (Remember My Name)
Everything is Beautiful
Gray
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab for Cutie
Down (Alone Now)
Fifteen (Emergency)
Three Foot Voices
Running to Stand Still - U2
Found Out About You - Gin Blossoms
Growing
Second Rate Superhero

A few notes about this first set:
1) I botched up “Granny” hardcore. I completely forgot the “bridge/chorus” part of it on guitar, but I made up for it with the next cover. I should have started covering Springsteen a long time ago because I think that one sounded really good.
2) “Everything Is Beautiful” was sped up a little and rearranged, seeing I don’t remember all of the lyrics, but the way it flowed and sounded was fairly smooth and enjoyable as a whole. I like playing that one.
3) “Down” had its usual “live fade out” exit, and after all of these years? I’ve still got it.
4) “Fifteen” had a lyrics change from “24″ to “25″ on the opening line, I felt it was appropriate and the song sounded pretty good.
5) “Three Foot Voices” was more of a tease of half of the song as a lead in/intro for the U2 cover, seeing its the same exact chord progression.
6) During “Found Out About You,” I dropped my pick. In the process of heavy strumming, I bruised my right middle finger right by the thumb. Nice blood blister on the side of my nail. Its sorta funny and weird looking.
7) “Growing” sounded phenomenal. Or maybe that was just me. I’m looking forward to hearing input on that one because I have a lot of high hopes for that song.
8) “Second Rate Superhero” was by far the best close that I could have chosen to pull off for the first set. I haven’t played that one in ages, but it felt good.

After the 40ish minutes or so that I was rocking out there, there was a mini set by me, Sean, and John. See, Mikey D was supposed to be there that evening but he’s had some stuff come up and wasn’t able to make it, so we did an impromptu filler set for him:

Toast
Alone
Superhero

And it was completely unrehearsed. Sean and I split the vocal duties with Sean doing the vocals on “Alone” and I took the other two. Seeing Mikey and I have played as a duo in the past, I’m used to multiple guitar arrangements of his songs, and I think these sounded quite good. They were definitely a treat and I think that if Mikey had a chance to hear them, he would have been proud.

Next up on stage was Mr. Ketcham. While I’m disappointed that even with showing him his own chords to his song “Long Way Home” that he didn’t play it (which happens to be my favorite song of his), I always love hearing his set because of his technical prowess as a guitarist. Beautiful. Just simply beautiful.

And at about 11:30, I took to the stage again for the final time of the night and the final time in Orlando. To step up there and start? I had to start at the beginning, so I reflected that with my final set:

And I Said
Entrophy
Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
Echo
Tonic & Gin
Not Another Butterfly
Normal Life - July for Kings
Lucky - 7M3
Running Back to You
The Fall Of Autumn
Four
Orion
Pictures - Unsung Zeros
Radiance - Athenaeum
Don’t Stop Believing - Journey
Trying So Hard

And with this set, I accomplished a lot and have a lot of little notes to add to it:
1) “And I Said” is the oldest song of mine that I’ve written that I still play, so I think it was very fitting to put it in there; on the same note, “Entrophy” was played for the first time solo ever there. Not many folks are around who have heard it live in its original version, and I’m glad I could play it with a smile.
2) I wore my usual Kangol cap only once the whole night, during “Slide.” It felt appropriate to me. Also, if you didn’t notice, I was wearing a UCF t-shirt with Knightro on it. One of the few UCF shirts that actually looks very cool.
3) For “Tonic & Gin,” I used a slowed down intro on it that I’ve been playing often, and I really thought it was a nice one to use for it this time.
4) This was the first time that I can recall playing the acoustic arrangement of “Not Another Butterfly.” And the only recorded versions of it are electric. So it was a little treat for those out there to hear a new version of it.
5) On “Running Back to You,” no, I did not do the old school “running in place” that I used to do live. I was feeling sort of tired at this point.
6) I botched up the lyrics a little on “Four,” and completely forgot the second verse and adlibbed something in its place. Oh, and an interesting trivia note which I mentioned that night: the only album of mine that I played in its entirety on Friday night was “The Four EP.” And I didn’t even touch any songs on my “Running Away From Myself Again EP.” So there you go.
7) “Pictures” is a fun cover that I should have started playing much sooner in my time on stages, but even still, it worked well as a lead off of the final covers. Which is why I had to play “Radiance”–it wouldn’t be a farewell show without an Athenaeum cover. Oh, and during my Journey cover? Even the baristas were singing along. I like that one. Really really like it.
8) There was no other way at all that I could have ever closed out the evening other than “Trying So Hard.” And if you expected any other way, well, I couldn’t think of it, so please let me know for the future. But this version clocked in probably close to 15 minutes, with extended intros and outros… It was just right.

All said and done, I ended my second set around 12:50am. A good hour and fifteen minutes since getting up there. It was all I could play, all I could do, and as soon as I had finished, well, I was done. Finis. I couldn’t have played any more because my voice went right after I got off the stage.

So, I’d like to again thank everyone who did come out, and thank you to my friend Katy who took all of the great pictures you see here (and if anyone else has pictures, please e-mail me), and to all who just have been around in one way or another in one capacity or another. It means a lot to me.

One final note: I had folks ask me about the tip jar that I was going to put out there. In my haste to leave, I didn’t bring one with me. So if you still wanted to contribute to that, please do so on my Discography page through PayPal. All the help on our move with paying for diesel is a help.

Thanks friends… Thanks for 6 great years of support on the Orlando scene and I’ll be seeing you…

Summing up 6 years with just over 6 chords...

Instead of my usual link or cool item for the day, I thought that I’d actually post a freebee that I found on HIF today. Well, yeah, I wrote the entry for it and I posted it, but still.

If you head to Thomas Friedman’s website–particularly this page–you can sign up for his e-mail list and for a free download of his book The World Is Flat. I actually sat down and read this book a year or two back and really enjoyed it, despite the fact that it didn’t really do anything to explain the problem but just diagnosed the situation.

And to get it for free? Well, can’t really beat that. Being an audiobook too, you can enjoy it on a long roadtrip, like the one I have ahead of me.

Oh, and by the way, follow my instructions on the link to HIF so you don’t have to wait for the additional parts. It’ll save you some time there. But hurry: this is only good till August 4th!

A Farewell to Farewell Shows - July 25, 2008 - 8pm

The special guests for the night are some of my favorite friends to share the stage with, so you should know all of them and be familiar with their acts… I’ve got over 2 hours of stuff from me planned, so this’ll be fun. I know that you’ve known about this one for a while, but I wanted to have a flyer for it, and I figured a candid shot that I took of my keychain was a nice one for it…

Hope to see some friends out there for it…

With this Friday being the last time that I take to the stage in Orlando, I thought I’d share an interesting show that I had on my hard drive that I’ve debated releasing for a few years now… Everytime that I listen to this show, a smile creeps across my face at just skimming the set and looking at what I played and how I played it.

On February 24, 2003, I took to the stage at Liquid Cellar Bar and Bistro across the street from UCF. I remember that with their venue, they were just starting out their open mics, so I was given an opening hour long set there. At Natura a few months later, I would be given a similar offer before they got busier and had to cut it down. Not bad, to say the least.

Open mics are tricky things to do, I always thought. You have three songs to play at a place where noone really cares about what you’re playing and they’re just there to drink their beers and sit with their friends. Or, they’re in a band and looking for someone new for their band. Still, they’re not the best things in the world. I used to think they were, but I loved doing my opening sets because it was like weekly shows.

That was the case with this night. Being the opening act at an open mic night like this, I got to play what I wanted and not my three songs in 15 minutes and run off stage without people knowing who I am. And that being said:

1) Introduction - Again, here’s me separating out talking from the tracks. So if you want to loop me introducing myself? You’ve got thirteen seconds here to do so in.
2) “Consistency” - A cover of Ari Hest’s song, I enjoyed playing this one live for a while. It was always something fun to mess around with. And this is back from the days that I didn’t really adjust a song to my voice but just let it loose on what I felt sounded good. Boy, was I wrong.
3) “Grain of Salt” - This original was an interesting one. It was the first time that I started really writing solo and thinking of a band after the breakup of Mindflux. While I thought that I might find another band soon, I intended this to be the “breakout” song. I only played it for a few months, and I’ve since forgotten how to play it. Maybe I’ll relearn it sometime.
4) “Down (Alone Now)” - I wrote this one about a month and a half prior to playing it, and it was the big song that I always played at open mics back then. It was the first piece that I wrote in the breakup of Mindflux and I thought that this was the redefinition of me. From this one, I had the courage to write and start doing the music thing again, because I was fairly devastated at the breakup of the band. I started thinking that maybe I could actually go somewhere, and I tried to enjoy it with this one. By the way, the fadeout on this one? That’s all live, baby. No effects.
5) “Trying So Hard” - Most people know this one and have heard this one from me, but there’s something different about this one, and its why I wanted to share this show. This show marks the very first time that this song was played. At this point, I had written it just over a week before and I thought it was alright and somewhat catchy, but I wasn’t sure where it would go and how it would survive in the long-run. Of course, as most people know, this is “the song” for me. Its interesting to listen to it there and then think of how it’s evolved since then. Definitely a “collectors item” to hear.
6) “Couldn’t Stand the Weather” - With all of these generic pop-rock tracks that I write, you wouldn’t really know that I’m a huge fan of the blues and a huge SRV fan. I used to work this cover into my sets back in the day. While my voice wasn’t there for it, the guitar work always was fun to do. It was a nice change of pace from the poppy other stuff that I’m known for.
7) “In Too Deep” - A rock piece that I wrote just after leaving high school, its the oldest song of mine that I played that night. I wanted to bring it out and I enjoyed playing it. Has a nice twist with the pre-chorus and a strong “sing-along” style chorus.
8) “Waiting For Change” - After the breakup of Mindflux–which I know I keep referring to, was just about 3 months prior–I didn’t want to play “Second Rate Superhero” because I hadn’t taken it back and made it mine. I pushed it aside and ended up writing this track to use as my “big ballad” of the night.
9) “Radiance” - I loved playing this cover and closing my night with it back in the day. The closing track to the album of the same name by Athenaeum, it was the first song of theirs that I learned how to play. I loved closing off the night and just letting this one ride and pouring it all out into the music and just letting it all go.

So there you have an interesting diverse set with some tracks that you don’t hear everyday from me… Something not really what you’d expect, but I think the variety of it and my naïvety helped make it a fun little night there.

And again, remember you need to have an account and be logged in… If your account isn’t working, well, let me know.