Sakes Alive!!

Make Art, Not War

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:20:51 -0400

In this day and age, I can’t think of anything more pertinent than the statement “Make Art, Not War”. We need to embrace an unabashed value system based on innovation, creation, and community. Creativity is what stirs us with ambition and passion that can be shared with the fervor of wildfire.

On the Road to Gypsy Town

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:54:54 -0400

Photo by _SiD_”

Late one evening on the last day of a tour we did with Worn In Red back in 2009, there was a party in Richmond, Virginia at Matt Neagle’s – the bassist’s – house. It was cold outside, and everyone was keeping warm with drinking and yelling. Putting on wigs for compromising photos to be laughed about and shared days after online, the last day celebration went late night well into the early morning.

Somewhere between two and three a.m. I fell asleep sitting straight up on a couch with my sleeping bag over my head and wrapped around me. Opposite side of the living room the stereo was blasting directly at me from atop the television. Eugene Hutz warbling in his Ukrainian accent over the gypsy frenzy of Gogol Bordello. As I drifted to sleep I thought, “damn…this is pretty amazing…..”

When I first heard of Gogol Bordello, my reaction to that was similar to that of any band doing the culture/punk mash-up – e.g. Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphy’s – “Fuck this, keep punk, punk. Fuck your re-appropriating punk rock to fit yer bullshit.”

But fortunately, my ignorance was short-lived. That tour specifically, I was bumping the likes of Man Man, which was confusing I think to people who knew my musical tastes up to that point – loud, angry, punk. Albeit I still am not a fan of Dropkick or Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello seized me to the point of fan-boy adoration. To think that I would love something to the extent that I do that is labeled as “gypsy punk” amazes me to this day.

I get it though. Gogol Bordello is what music should be – over-the-top, theatrical and exaggerated, larger than life, an escape from the boring frivolity of reality.

So few bands aim to do this. They stare at the floor, put on a face, and expect us to give ourselves to them. Hey, I’ve been in the same place. We want people to dig our bands . Cool, I get it. But music is so much more than that. It’s creativity. It’s art. Whoever stared at the painting of a bowl of fruit and really thought that shit was amazing?

Take a piece from Banksy, or Jason deClaires Taylor though. That hits us with it’s brutal honesty, it’s magnification of reality, it’s theatricality. “Holy shit, how did they do that?” Why do you suppose movies and video games have supplanted music and books? Couldn’t possibly be the over-the-top effects, the explosions or chases, or any other flame for the A.D.D. moth-like generation.

That shouldn’t be mistaken that I think music should drink from the same fountain of mindless entertainment. Of course not. These days I simply want more from the music I listen to. I want to feel the words you’re singing. I want to believe the things your spouting. Walking the walk while talking the talk, if there’s any talk to be had at all.

So ultimately there’s only a handful of bands/artists that I’ve been listening to this last year. Epic, weird, original stuff is what I crave for. I feel that there can’t be enough emphasis on originality these days. These days of music regurgitation. Past ad nauseum straight into full-blown arms hugging the toilet bowl and spewing.

It seems that we’re now in a realm of music where very few individuals are interested in being different. You look at every decade in music, and it seemed at least someone was trying to push the envelope as a movement. The hippies of the 60’s, punk rearing it’s head in the 70’s, hardcore in the 80’s, grunge from late 80’s into the 90’s, even “emo” in the early 2000’s…but what now?

Between All Time Low and Ke$ha, I’ve had my fill. Even a lot of punk bands are bent on perfecting their carbon copy version of their favorite band. We don’t need another Dillinger Four. We don’t need another Kid Dynamite. We need you – uniquely. Specifically. Originally.

Life Resuming: Moving, Act III and the Art of Being Late

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:46:00 -0400

Hey there,

Sorry for the lack of updates. Things on the Sakes Alive!! end have been put on stand-still at the moment. A couple weeks ago I moved from Rochester, NY to New York City, and have been getting acclimated since to my new surroundings. CMJ has been in full effect, and it’s my first time attending anything related to it. “Culture shock” wouldn’t be an accurate statement, but to be surrounded by so much music and people at all times has been, what I would call, “mind-blowing”.

It’s been a long held dream of mine to relocate to this city, and I’ve been taking it in with near ecstasy. Rochester is home to my closest friends, but creatively and regarding life experiences I felt infinitely stifled.

After much hemming and hawing, the leap was finally made.

Since having moved, I’ve been surrounded by a tremendous amount of life and inspiration. It’s been invigorating to say the least. Sure, it’s maybe safe to assume it’s cut-throat city, a sickening social/business ladder of the vapid and egotistic, probably staggering what the gap between the haves and have-nots actually is, if you really look into it. But no matter where I am there are no less than three languages being spoken around me at all times that I can’t understand. Sights that prompt my mouth to sling open and hang slack-jawed – looking probably damned tourist-y and foolish – because the buildings are so immense and steeped in a history that is stark and enigmatic to me, yet invites the ambition to learn and experience it all. I’ve run into so many friends that aren’t even residents of this city more times already than any year previous. For once in a place that I live I haven’t been bored, but felt an energy to experience and create in real life.

Sean Morris from The Reveling said to me a couple nights ago at show in Brooklyn, “this is where you belong man. Even if for only a little while” – this I have to agree.

Regarding Act III, The last track is nearly finished. Unfortunately I didn’t have the time to complete the horn sections in Rochester, and moved with that dissatisfaction hanging in mind. Through the last couple weeks of that in the back of my head – tied to a lot of regret – it dawned upon me that perhaps my friends in Aficionado might be able to help me out yet again for this remaining track.

Nick and Laura had previously contributed their amazing voices to the last track, A World Asleep. And this time their keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Craig agreed to take the time to record himself in his own studio in Albany, NY the remaining horn sections. For this I’m infinitely appreciative. Thank you Craig Dutra.

This record has taken me a ridiculously long-time to write, record and release, admittedly. I have such a burning vision in my head for what Sakes Alive!! is going to be. My perfectionism won’t allow me to settle in any aspect of my life. Is it perfectionism? Maybe it’s my uncompromising, bull-headed attitude.

Nonetheless, why settle for less than your very best? Could anyone imagine slapping a deadline on any great artist in history? I couldn’t. Art takes time to realize. Music and art are very much my life’s salvation. I know there must be other people out there who feel the same.

I’d love to talk to those who do.

Thanks,

-Chris / Sakes Alive!!

Photo

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:04:54 -0400

SA!! vs CMV

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:03:55 -0400

I’ve been debating whether I should maintain a Sakes Alive!!-centered Tumblr, or just make a personal one that includes Sakes Alive!!. Any thoughts?

obifferson: Sakes Alive!! - Act III Chris Vandeviver of Sakes...

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:07:45 -0400

obifferson:

Sakes Alive!! - Act III

Chris Vandeviver of Sakes Alive!! is one talented mofo. I love his work and the larger-than-life elements he’s been adding to pepper his new songs (violins, horns, hella). On top of that, he’s one of the nicest and most intelligent internet friends I’ve ever made. I really look forward to having an opportunity to see him play live.

He’s moving to NYC and trying to release a record at the same time. If you like what you hear, check out more of his music and buy some merch (it’s cheap!). Support local music!

At the risk of this appearing to be a round-about way of self-promotion, this very moment I was pleasantly surprised to see this post on my Tumblr dashboard. Iris’s various Tumblog’s (http://obifferson.tumblr.com/ , http://themuckofages.tumblr.com/) are a continuously something I look forward to and am inspired by. The people I want to be surrounded by and communicate with are those fueled by creativity, vitality and intellect. Thank you Iris for your integrity.

In the few posts I’ve made here on Tumblr, I feel have been by far the most positive connections I’ve made through music/blogging – thank you.

T-Minus

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:58:34 -0400

For those unaware, t-minus two weeks and counting till SA!! is transplanted from Rochester, NY to New York, NY. Finished arranging all the instrumentation for track five of the Act III e.p. The final track for the release will be completed next week.

It’s been an interesting eight months since the announcement of Act III. My life has been a series of shifting ups and downs, surprises and unanticipated changes. The merging of art and life and making those seemingly mis-matched pieces correspond on the day-to-day.

What originally was a project that should’ve taken three months to complete has taken far longer than I was hoping. Yet, it’s been exciting to explore other instruments that I have never considered in the past. Learning mixing and recording. Collaborating with friends from my daily life, and collaborating with individuals who have a profound creative influence on me. To hear their beautiful talent on my songs is an accomplishment all its own.

I feel I’ve learned music not only as a form of emotional passion, but as a craft that is studied and fine-tuned. Not just four chords slapped together, but why those four chords need to be arranged in that fashion as opposed to any other variation.

Once this track is completed, Steve Sopchak from the Square Studio (Syracuse, NY) will be remixing and remastering the entire record. It’s a big question mark as to how I’m going to finance finishing this record. My move and recording are both sizable strains on my personal finances, and during the next month or two I can’t swing both ways.

It was suggested to me that I should look into a donation-based system like Kickstarter for raising money to finish the record. However, I don’t feel comfortable with that. Begging is begging, and it makes everyone uncomfortable.

Whichever way this record is completed, my lone ambition is to release a record that is creatively fantastic, and is free for anyone to own.

Since last September I’ve released nearly a full length of material for free. Sakes Alive!! has been an exercise in artistic freedom and creativity, absolutely.

If you’ve enjoyed any of the tracks that have been released, please share them with your friends. Above all, I’ve learned that most enjoyable part of all, is sharing creativity with others.

Thanks :)

-Chris / Sakes Alive!!

THIS (worth every second of the 9:59 minutes:seconds):

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:46:26 -0400

THIS (worth every second of the 9:59 minutes:seconds):

New track up on Black Numbers, “A World Asleep”.

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:04:05 -0400

New track up on Black Numbers, “A World Asleep”.

killfromtheart: I have a design that I submitted up on...

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:12:43 -0400

killfromtheart:

I have a design that I submitted up on Threadless. Please, feel free to score it or re-post/blog this to help me out! Thank you!

Adam is handling the artwork portion for Act III, which will be posted pretty soon. He does amazing stuff. You should help a brother out.

A World Asleep

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:40:45 -0400

Lyrics for the fourth track on Act III. The mixing portion of Act III is being taken over by my good friend Steve from Square Studio (www.thesquarestudio.com). Each time I get more ambitious with these songs, I get a little more overwhelmed by the mixing portion. Steve does great work like the stuff he’s done for Such Gold. He’s also been guiding me through this whole self-recording process. I’m excited to have someone who’s genuinely interested in Sakes Alive!! help with the recording:

For every hour
I spend alive
I’m counting the hours
Till I die
It’s never enough
The time flies by…

Each minute screams to me
“…take the life you want to lead…”

And so I lie awake
Just to escape
Sleep’s been making deals with Death
And he let’s him creep
Around my bed
Tries to rob my life
(Night after –)
Night after night

Chorus
Hey! – And it’s all I see
Hey! – Is a world asleep
Hey! – And it’s all I see
Hey! – Is my world’s asleep

Through this city’s streets
I want to make’em see
”Sleep’s been selling us out!
He’s been selling you out!
These years of our youth
Are stolen right from out of our mouths”
(Gasp)

Chorus
Hey! – And it’s all I see
Hey! – Is a world asleep
Hey! – And it’s all I see
Hey! – Is my world’s asleep

No we won’t go
No we won’t
Oh!

I’m done dreaming out loud
I want to live loud now

I’m waking up
And I’m coming back
Sleep’s been ebbing dreams
But I’m shaking back

Chorus
Hey! – And it’s all I see
Hey! – And it’s all I feel
Hey! – Is a world unreal

Hey!
Is this world asleep?
Hey!
Cause Death’s sneaking beneath

themuckofages: This is capitalism. This is “freedom”. This is...

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:41:43 -0400

themuckofages:

This is capitalism. This is “freedom”. This is God’s America.

This is the only context anyone should ever need to realize that there is no logic in global capitalism. There will be no sanity in this world until we put people over profit.

Violas for Act III, Track 4. Courtesy of Laura Homsey.

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:50:27 -0400

Violas for Act III, Track 4. Courtesy of Laura Homsey.

Cultured

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:04:00 -0400

Sometimes I think being a white, male from the U.S. is maybe the most boring thing ever. Maybe that’s why tattoos and piercings are prevalent in the sub-culture. We want identity in a cultural void.

themuckofages: František Drtikol - Untitled (Crucified Woman),...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:21:03 -0400

themuckofages:

František Drtikol - Untitled (Crucified Woman), 1913-1914

Ok this is becoming really interesting. I mean, think about it. How different would the world be if Christians worshipped a suffering woman on the cross? A woman who “died for your sins”? Who cried out to God and asked it all to stop because it sucked so bad for her. A woman who preached kindness and screw the rich. Who could heal people. Who came back from the dead.

I’m not saying religion would suddenly be awesome if women were worshipped instead. I’m not even saying anything would be different.

What’s interesting is, as a woman, looking at this image - it FEELS markedly different. I’m surprised to think of a woman with that much power, or that much suffering, or that much love and holiness. For just a moment, it makes me see woman differently, and myself differently. I’m not sure if that’s fascinating or fucked up.

The Muck of Ages is currently my favorite Tumblr blog. Heavily focused on feminine equality, and well-rounded with other forward thinking material. Check it.

Alone and Fighting (Every Wave Crashes)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:33:06 -0400

&amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://score.sakesalive.org/track/every-wave-crashes” _mce_href=”http://score.sakesalive.org/track/every-wave-crashes”&amp;amp;gt;Every Wave Crashes by Sakes Alive!!&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Life can be fucking nuts.

My whole life I’ve felt absolutely alone. No support system, my family is completely bunk, and everything I want out of life seems to run completely opposite of everyone I’m surrounded by. Not boo hoo. Life simply has persuaded me to be a lone wolf (ala Zach Galifianakis in the Hangover, of course).

“Every Wave Crashes” is all about that. It’s all about those feelings that it’s a struggle through life alone. But I can’t shake the bohemian ideal I have in my head. Why the fuck settle for shit when there’s so much to live and be inspired by?

Music is a siren song I can’t shake. I embrace the tempting calamity with open arms.

“I’ve been sailing a long, long time alone
Manning a broken vessel on my own
(I’m all alone, I’m all alone)

For every anchor I cut
A main sail’s lost
I fight ocean waves
Yet get swept along
(I’m swept along, I’m swept along)

(Chorus)
To the end
To the ends of the earth I go
To the ends of the world
I’m always alone
(I’m always alone, I’m always alone)

To the end
To the ends of the earth I know
To the ends of the world
I’m fighting to own
(I’m fighting to own)

Swept past the island towns
Swept past any love I’ve ever found
(I’ve ever found, I’ve ever found)

The ship I steer is the only thing I have
And the ocean beckons
So I fight for my chance
(I fight for my fucking chance in this life…)

(Chorus)
To the end
To the ends of the earth I go
To the ends of the world
I’ll fight alone
(I fight alone, I fight alone)

To the end
To the ends of the earth I know
To the ends of the world
I’ll fight to own
(I’ll fight to own)

Every wave crashes into me
Every siren sings for me
“Come on home…”
Sing for me my tumultuous symphony
(“Come on home…”)
This is not my home

(Chorus)
To the end
To the ends of the earth I go
To the ends of the world
I’ll fight alone
(I fight alone, I fight alone)

To the end
To the ends of the earth I know
To the ends of the world
I’ll fight to own
(I’ll fight to own)”

A lot of hours look like this.

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:42:51 -0400

A lot of hours look like this.

The 'shocking decline' of the world's oceans

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:59:47 -0400

The 'shocking decline' of the world's oceans:

coalspeaker:

New expert report says earth’s waters are “at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history”

I always feel like I need to do something. But I didn’t vacuum ocean life, THEY did.

Best idea I have so far for containing guitar tracks to not bug...

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:45:37 -0400

Best idea I have so far for containing guitar tracks to not bug the business upstairs. Uh oh.

Possessions and Progress

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:31:28 -0400

I’ve come to the conclusion recently that the struggle is what keeps us focused and maintain momentum. Life should be lived by us, not through us.

This summer I’m crashing on couches to save for my move to NYC. Been packing up all my stuff, and I’ve donated several boxes of crap to Goodwill. It’s nice to remove useless shit from your life. Like Tyler Durden said in Fight Club, “the stuff you own end up owning you”.

Exercise you’re right to live. Not vicariously through useless objects.