I just realized when I was posting in the JEW topic that seeing Blink play with the Pop Disaster Tour was what started me on my music path. That night after the show I went home and grabbed my mom's old beat up acoustic and taught myself how to play a shitty, out of tune versions of the smoke on the water riff. Fun fact, I did it with one of Tom's picks that he threw into the crowd. It was just laying on the floor of the pit, no one had grabbed it. I have no idea what happened to that pick.

A few weeks after that I got a shitty Squire Strat and practice amp at guitar center and learned dammit. So, oddly enough, I can pinpoint the exact moment I started playing guitar ... May 10th 2002, it was a little before midnight, I was 15.

What started you guys?

B9

Got up in the morning to check my mail

Looked for love letters to no avail

But I saw my test results had arrived today

Went to my general physician

He could say with general precision

That I would not be alive today 

If I had what I thought I had 

Yeah that sure'd be bad

But assured me that what I had was benign

It's benign

Everything will be fine

He decided to drag me further down in the mud

Because he had found something else in my blood

He talked fast, that's what I call efficiency 

I was allergic to pollen

Makes sense sometimes my throat is swollen

And a vitamin deficiency

So I asked what vitamim

I had know which plight I'm in

And he said "sonny, it's vitamin B9"

It's B9

Everything will be fine

Don't you worry it's fine

Nanananana

So I had the doctors note

And I couldn't make out whatever he wrote

But I write like a dweeb too in all honesty

So I took this prescription

With no further conviction

And delivered it to the pharmacy

I was sure it'd cost me and arm and a leg

I'm gonna hang by the pharma and beg

I asked what it'd cost me, she said "that'll be nine"

It'll be nine

Everything will be fine

No need no to worry it'll only be nine

No need to

worry it's benign

(You're not in decline)

Verse 1

Once again I'm round the bend
I've got something on my mind
And yet again my blade is dull
When I've got an axe to grind
Forever seems so much longer now
Than I ever anticipated
My foes seem so much stronger now
And you better believe I hate it

Chorus

Inspiration lost and gone
Procrastination overload
Ideas are hidden in a vault
A vault that will one day explode
I have something to say
But I don't know how to explain it
Every word is used better before and all my steps are tainted

Verse 2

Every now and then I see the end
Of this dark tunnel I've entered
And I'll allow myself to spread around
All of those binds that I've centered
And as bad as they were
I'm sad to see them go
The timing was always wrong
Sure I must modify my tempo

Cyclop Psyche-op (should probably be Psyop, but that doesn't rhyme well enough)

Hey we're going on a raid

Skipping around on a limp foot

We get a lot but we don't get paid

It's just depositive input

We spike our poles we spike it all

Weapons and heavy hitters

That's not how we're like at all

When our families are with us

Grab 'em and smack 'em

Let them rot in their gore and die

It's a cyclop psyche-op

It's an eye for an eye

Hey we are not afraid

Fear is verboten

We're just on a cyclop raid

Turning strangers into/onto Odin

Lie for a lie truth for a truth

We're dangerous we're mental

When we knock out a tooth 

It's not just acci-dental

Lure'em and attack'em

Let them rot in their gore and die

It's psyops for cyclops

It's an eye for an eye

We're wild and scary

We're paramilitary

When we knock on your

door

You know what's in store

World at Large

Did you ever have the feeling 
That the planet's on the run?
Escaping from its meaning
Hiding from the things it's done
Gotta start an expedition
And be true to our mission
Whoever is in charge
You gotta save the world at large

The world at large
The world is running away
The world at large
And us who live here
Might all have gone astray

Have you ever started thinking
We gotta catch the earth?
From falling or from sinking
Just save it for all it's worth
We can all see it flee now
Time is short and we must plea now
To the maniacs in charge
You gotta save the world at large

The world at large
The world is running away
The world at large
And us with our butterfingers
It will slip from our hands some day

I beat around you say it flat
There's not much to do about that
But is this really a way to live?
But if you look at Mother Earth it
Must really be worth it
Spinning around like a fugitive

Maybe there's a giant comet
Or asteroid that could wipe us out
Maybe Earth is wise hiding from it
And giving us an escape route
So maybe we should start to roam too?
But in which place should we set our home to?
And I can't be in charge
I'm running like the world at large

The world at large
The world is running away 
The world at large
But is there something we can do
To maybe get it to stay?

I skipped last year due to having a 3 month old but I am going to try again this year.

I only get a bit of time in the evenings without the baby and I cant really access my usual equipment right now so its just simple acoustic with phone recordings but I am barely writing or playing lately so its a good shout

First song done today its… fine.

I heavily encourage everyone who writes to give this challenge a go!

https://fawm.org/songs/318112
my song number 1 

Would love if ya’ll gave it a go, worked hard on it and I think it’s my best stuff yet

A road map for manikins

Internalized GPS

And bunch of uncanny kits

Any shit

That happens just happens

Drive way off track

Maxi dents accidents

Can't go back

From this murky alley

They run you over

You feel phantast pain

You missed the last train

You're stuck in the fast lane

They're ridiculous

They don't make sense

A wicked sign a picket line

Around a picket fence

The last train in the fast lane

At the soul bibulous rally

A soul

A sole malfunction

It's a crossroads

A hell of a junction

Seize the means of production

Please

Pay all the fees

And there will be peace

In our uncanny valley

When all of your bitcoins

Have turned into bitcons

You can all sit around 

With your favorite sitcoms

They're a bit dumb

Written by a shit ton of hired witguns

Not by hand

Lacking morals Like a Warhol

the laughs are all canned

That shit is uncanny

They're not born human

So they're born sinless

They are skinless

And they are kinless

Made of silicone

No family no silly kin

Human faces

And wings like a pelican

Skinless and sinless in the depths of Silicone valley

A soul

A hole in the matrix

Ambiguous ambivalent 

They make sure that you hate this

Theist and erratically faithless

Freeze

On your knees

And there will be peace

In our uncanny valley

Bridge

Say grace

Bow down to the techbros

X is XXX with routine checks

Get your checkmark on your checkhose

And think of the way I

Can make you push and pull until the jar is full

Even if you know I am AI

Now a human can zoom in

And see a pic of a humanoid

The apple fell far from the tree

They're switching to android

So annoyed

And destroyed staring into the void

Equally real equally fake

Turn a light on for the python

The snake is at the stake

We can make up the tail but not tally

Their minds are coded

Encrypted and cryptic

Wearing slacks and blue lipstick 

Skies turn apocalyptic

Cosmic distortion

Of biblical proportions

Miscarriage of justice

Acccidental abortions

A humanoid in the void in the final finale

A soul

Not a soul here lies

The tree of knowledge

Booted from paradise

He's the pale horse you recognize

He sees

The serpent in the trees

And there will be peace

In our uncanny valley

  Here is the cropped image to the guitar if this helps

To my knowledge, this is the guitar that Tom's friends dug out of the trash to give to him for his birthday. It was used from 1992 on all of the early demos, including Buddha, until 1994 when he purchased the white sticker strat. Essentially what I'm looking for are what the stickers on this instrument are. The only ones I've been able to pick out are the 'Tracker Base Grip' (skateboard parts company) one on the side, the NOFX one on the front (Fat Wreck Chords has them available on their website, I used to have one) and the atm (skateboard company) stickers between the pickups (red) and on the body (blue), and the pre-182 blink sticker on the front. If I could have some help finding out what the other ones are it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

https://zansman.bandcamp.com/album/fomo-sapiens

I am not responsible for lost shoes. Dance responsibly.

You're more brave now, but far less than
when you were just a little kid 
when problems were detention slips
and not getting to see your friends
the real world's wide with viciousness 
you weren't prepared to face so quick 
you try your best to deal with it, 
but anxious one, you're ill equipped
you try to sleep, but cry instead
and can't embrace your worried head
there's meaning in each tear you shed
that's lost on you, cause you pretend 
that it's okay, it never is 
though like all things pain has to end
and morning's just a day away
the sun will rise and you will try again

I am awkward and riveting

When things get tough, watch me pivoting

I've conjured up ghosts

Seen disasters in everything 

Howled like a sheep

That just learned how to sing

I sent a letter to the editor

And cried out to a cyberpredator

I cried wolf so many times

The same words wrapped in so many lines

And it's too late when they come to eat me

I cried wolf so many times

Saw the warnings but not the signs

I am a son of the theater

I am iambic pentameter

I'm not delusional

There is someone touching me

I'm not paranoid 

Somebody's watching me

I don't believe a word

I saw the polygraph move long before it occured

I cried wolf so many times

The same words wrapped in so many lines

And it's too late when they come to eat me

I cried wolf so many times

Saw the warnings but not the signs

I'm starting to believe my own lies

Bridge

I stray from the pack

As a lamb or a prodigal son

I'm watching my back

Now it's time I'd run

The world is so blurred

I saw the events long before they occured

I cried wolf so many times

The same words wrapped in so many lines

It's too late when they already beat me

I cried wolf so many times

Saw the warnings but not

the signs

And I'm starting to believe my own lies

I'm not that happy with all of it, but Im not sure what I wanna change yet either.

Annihilism 

You get a set of rules

You sit on wooden stools

You can move freely

'Til you get sent to schools

You tell your share of lies

You get a pair of dice

Some say the stakes are really

Hell or paradise

It's annihilism

It's uncannibilism

The game is just a game until it isn't

And there are no winners

Before the game is in us 

We're just beginners

If you don't like the terms

You will shortly learn

They will point and blame you

'Til it's your turn

If you cheat and roll the die

And get a new throw or an extra eye

They will roll theirs and shame you 

So you comply

It's annihilism

It's uncannibilism

The game is just a game until it isn't

It's a songless siren

It's a heinous tyrant

It's a firing squad that never stops firing

And if losing is a luxury you afford

Your only excuse they don't accept

Is that it's your board

And you just won't face the fact

That other players hate your act

And you can't get your chin up

Man, you're trapped

And if you fold with no excuse

And if you play too well you get abuse

You can't escape or give up 

Then you lose

It's annihilism

It's uncannibilism

The game is just a game until it isn't

It's a songless siren

It's an impotent tyrant

And we're all just players till we aren't 

also I can drive so if need be, I can drive out to wherever as long as it's not like out of state or somewhere in like Cleveland or something 😂 

Js let me know!  

Acoustic:You can record acoustic two ways. You can use a mic to mic the guitar and then run it into your computer through the line out. To do this you will need a mic. and a 1/4 to 1/8 piece which you can pick up at Radio Shack and a program. I suggest Cool Edit Pro which I find easiest for me but their are tons of others. Or if you have an electric acoustic just plug the acoustic in through the line out like before.

Electric:Their are many ways you could record an electric guitar. You could go from your amp into pedals to a mixer. Straight from your pedal to the computer.Mic the amp. It's really your choice on how you like the sound and what you find gets the best sound.

Basic Stuff To Record

-A Mic (Shure SM48) 99$ Good quality to start messing around with

-A 1/4 to 1/8 Piece 2-3$

-Your Guitar  

Once you get more into it their are plenty of our options.Digital which I havent ever used but throwing a mixer into the picture as well as higher quality pedals and mics will help. As well as a mic preamp.

THANKS TO HYLER

Well, usually I would get technical here, start talking about frequencies, what to run, how to interface with your computer to get the best sound, etc.

But here instead of explaining why, I will just give the bare minimum to achieve a record quality tone, you can research them on your own if you like.

24/96 Interface

Mic For Acoustic (never record your acoustic using a pickup even if it's built in, preferebly a sensitive mic with a large interval of frequency range. I use an MXL Condensor)

DI For Electric along with a Mic Modeling program, or run a raw direct signal into your PC and use a VST such as Native Instruments Guitar Rig or Amplitube.

That's not asking too much. And please do not record using your amp and a mic. I'm getting so sick of hearing those failed tones. Most people cannot properly do this. They may even have a good amp, as well as a sufficient mic, but they never take room size, mic placement, post mic preamp, or VST adjustments into consideration when they do it, and they always end up sounding horrible.

2. Antiquity 335, made into a Box Car Racer replica. Has a Seymour Duncan Invader

3. Billie Joe Armstrong Blue replica, with Seymour Duncan SH4-JB

4. Aria Pro II STG-006, I made this into a replica of the Tom Strat before I bought one. Currently missing a pickup but the Invader will be back soon

5. Taylor Academy 10E

6. Bluerock Bass, just bought to play and will be upgrading soon

New EP from me. I guess you are all super excited about this! It just gets better and better for each song!

Did you hear that needle drop?

Then everything was so quiet

you could hear a needle drop

Life gets out of hand

Just slips through it like grains of sand

And the dead won't be forgiven

Cuz they're the ones that get to fade away

And we have to keep on living

Needles are needles 

You won't find them in haystacks

And we're all horses

We'll end up in racetracks

Save all your money 

Buy everything on credit

They say the joke ain't funny

But they don't really get it

Did you hear that needle drop

Then there was a riot

Everything I don't need, I'll drop

The bridge you built

Is about to fall it's loaded to the hilt

And if you say it's just a dumb bridge

I didn't build it so I won't take umbrage

Did you hear that needlescratch

If you refuse to try it

The birdie will never hatch

Then we won't slave like ants

And compete and comply like the others can't 

And when you suffer from adderall damage

You're saving the economy

and you're just colletoral damage

Verse 1

Life seems too long when you're trapped in a song

And the melody seems out of of key 

And the choir that sings it tries hard not to jinx it

Or accidentally mix up the melody

They say you've got your whole life ahead of you

And you've figured it's not much of a life

And you lose that itch when you reach that bridge 

Then you know it's shorter than you've realized

Pre chorus 

Catch a bus

And drive somewhere

Just hoping that you'll arrive somewhere

Chorus 1

Meet me on the corner

If you want to come along

A valid escape from life

Something to touch you deep inside

When life just seems too long 

Verse 2

Life feels too short when they take you to court 

And your counsel won't get you a deal

And you basically gave up when all that you saved up

Had to go to some hail mary appeal

And you're envisioning your deathrow meal

Or how you'll talk to the prison wall

And if your lawyer can't give you a plea deal to live

Maybe it's not worth it at all

Pre chorus

Let your hair down

Feel the wind

Let the night breeze pull you in

Chorus 2

Meet me on the corner

We're heading to the port

A valid escape from life

Something to touch you deep inside

When life just seems too short

Pre chorus 

Take some

Time to think

Life is over in a wink

You've reached the point of no return

Where nothing ever comes for free

What used to thrill you starts to burn

You're a shadow of yourself 

You threw away your last good comb

You look so sad on drywall stilts 

Staggering as you walk home 

There's a thought that drags you under

You're 1/3 to a hundred

And life's already a semi tragedy 

You were cool when you were younger 

But you lost that spark and hunger

Nobody likes you when you're 33

Nobody likes you when you're 33

People call you a mouth breather 

They say nobody likes you when you're 23

I suppose they didn't like you then either 

When you go to "buy a gram" 

You think of flour, not weed

You're stuck in a venn diagram

Those who has got power's got greed 

And the rest of the world does say

You're out of the loop and passé

And even most of your friends agree

They thought you were the cream of the crop

But when you talk now they just say "stop" 

Nobody likes you when you're 33

Nobody likes you when you're 33 

You climbed the ladder, missed a rung 

You know you're far from elderly 

But way too old to say you're young 

You're just getting duller and duller 

When you used to be somewhat fun

You dye your hair in sparkling colors 

But you know you're not fooling anyone 

It's your mistake to stay here 

With wrinkled skin and grey hairs 

Your life starts to resemble a parody 

The fact that makes your dread bigger

Is, even your parents are more vigorous 

Nobody likes you when you're 33 

Nobody likes you when you're 33 

Nobody likes you when you're 33 

Nobody likes you when you're 33 

Nobody likes you...