New Blog

Just when things were rolling quite well here at Frown Like a Thunderstorm, Jenna and I decided to combine blogs and post everything together. I will be posting everything at http://www.thesmithsquare.blogspot.com/ from now on. However, there will be a new "professional" blog coming soon where I will post my financial thoughts and whatnot. But, for everything else, please visit http://www.thesmithsquare.blogspot.com/. If you have links posted for this blog, please have them changed. If you are following this blog in Google Reader or something similar, please make this change. Thanks!

Steven

FLAT News: Book Clubs and Party Funs

This weekend we had our monthly Giggle Squad Book Club meeting . The book we read was A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. It is a very strange book with a great message. I highly recommend it to you readers out there. This month we will be reading The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. If you are interested in joining us at the book club meeting next month, get your rookers on a copy of this book and read it up! The meetings are generally full of happy times and burnt milk.

Party Funs.

FLAT News: Twilight and Birthdays

For Jenna's birthday we went and saw the Twilight movie.

Praise: For an independent-type film with a low budget, I very much enjoyed it. The main character actors were good (despite one or two bad acting moments). The use of Supermassive Blackhole was notable.

Complaints: The musical score was really quite bad. I didn't think it added anything special to the movie. Of all things, the music was the biggest tell that this was a low-budget film. My second complaint is the somewhat cheaply done special effects. With better special effects, this would be more head-turning!

Happy birthday to Jenna on November 28th!

FLAT News: The Direct Method

This weekend Jenna and I went to see friend Matt Hanks play a show in his band The Direct Method. It was definitely nice! They played at the UNLV Institute of Religion. They played a new song, a NEW new song, and many classics from their album: Most Likely Not. Check them out on myspace.

In other news, we had a family celebration on Sunday for Jenna's upcoming birthday. Thanks to the family for being happy (and go-lucky). We had a blast! (Jenna's real life birthday is Nov 28th). I would put pictures, but my oh my I don't have a camera here at work with me. But here is a picture of "Jenna Smith" from my google image search:

FLAT News: Kismet

Aaaah, "The Modern Game of Yacht"

KISMET

If any of you know of cool, rare, and / or unusual games, fill me in and invite me over.

FLAT News: Luke! the Musical and Welcome Home

Luke! the Musical (also known as the 3 songs I wrote for Luke's Musical) are still available for download on myspace. Here's what people are saying about the songs:

"I'm listening to [Scene 1] right now and I just downloaded them. So far it is looking so good."
-John Cory, the missing link in Spanish poetry

"I already got them and listened to them, boom! I like them. I like the reprise thing at the end."
-Matt Hanks, the reason for the see-son.

"Just gave them a listen. They sound great! ...Maybe it'll build up some hype. :)"
-Luke Stay, the man who made it happen (more than one "it").

"Did you see the film and then make the music?"
-Misty Barrett, the Matron Saint of Rock Music

In other news,

Jenna was gone from me all weekend and I am so happy to have her back! Wife! Life! ...strife ...knife......

FLAT News: New Car

The latest: Jenna got a new car! (New to her). Pictures are forthcoming.

FLAT News: 6 Months!

The only real news I can give you today is that Jenna and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary last weekend! Hooray! Here is a picture of us making a real human heart at our secret lab.

FLAT News: Songwriting and Marathoning

The latest news: I have been writing some new songs. I'm not sure what kind of EP it will produce, but I'm still excited. (If you hadn't noticed, I'm much more into producing EP's than LP's).

Also, this weekend we went up to St. George to watch Jenna's sister run the St. George Marathon! We saw her at the 21 mile mark and she was so fast that she beat us to the finish line! (we were driving...) I looked it up and the 2005 average time for females between the ages of 25-29 is 4 hours and 54 minutes. So congratulations to Emily for beating the average by a full half hour!

FLAT News: Recording and Investments

Dearest Cyberspace,

I've been recording with my electric guitar lately. I was having a problem with my pedal board and I finally got a chance to fix it up. With that running as smoothly as ever, I started working on an electric version of a previously released EP. 3 songs have their guitar parts, and I'll be working on the bass and vocals soon too. I'm not sure what I'll be doing about drums yet. My drums are still in Idaho.

In other news, I passed another class in my Financial Planning program. (Pat on the back). Thanks! And now I'm moving on to class #4! Tax planning! Fun for all ages.

Sincerely,
Stefu

FLAT News: Musical Completion

This week I finished the three songs that I was writing for Luke's Musical. I recorded a demo version of the songs and will be posting it to FLAT-Space very soon. Probably tomorrow. This also means that the Human Element EP will only be available for download for a few more days at most. If you don't have this free music yet, get on the bandwagon and check it out!

In other news, I wear striped blue shirts to work sometimes and trimmed my beard.

FLAT News: Musical and the Economy

The song writing project that has taken precedence over the Roots EP is my contribution to Luke's musical short (instert title here). I am writing 3 songs for his musical film which will serve as his application to a masters program in film. I will probably be posting these songs on the FLAT-space within a week or two. Wish me luck! And wish me candy. I like candy.

In other news, the stock market may be suffering due to recent economic events, but remember that much of what guides the economy is the attitude that investors and consumers (like you and I) take. So let's be optimistic about the future uprising of economic conditions! Thanks pals!

FLAT News: Car for Sale

My wife is selling her 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass. It's in great condition as we recently got all the repairs done on it that were needed. 77,000 miles. Asking price is $4,000 obo. If you know anyone interested, send them my way.

In other news, I haven't written as much music for FLAT lately mostly because I stopped getting up early enough to work on it in the mornings. But I will remedy this problem. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and that light is the candle of a pumpkin.

FLAT News: None

I really don't have any good news to share on here today. But in keeping with my once a week news post, I will share this:

I intend to save the world from earwigs. Yes, earwigs will be a thing of the past. Okay, so I just confirmed that they are not dangerous to humans (or really other animals) but I'd still like to see them all shipped off to Mercury (which is my particular method of choice). If you will join me in my quest, a simple "here, here" will suffice.

FLAT News: Roots EP Forthcoming and Rock Band

I wanted to have my Roots EP ready for posting today. Sadly, it's not quite there. I have a another song to write and a few more to record. I give it two more weeks. Stay posted (use post-it notes if necessary. If anyone gives you any trouble about this, send them my way--not really, I'm a pansy).

In other news, Jenna and I joined countless buddies last weekend in playing Rock Band (the newest sensation in sensationalism). The drumming capabilities are excellent! A very good way of brushing up those rhythm skills you told your Mom about.

FLAT News: Glen Phillips Song and The Simpsons

This week's new download is another cover song called "Don't Need Anything." It's a sweet little tune by Glen Phillips about appreciating the little things that we already have. Visit the FLAT-Space and enjoy a fun download. The original can be found on Phillips' superb second solo album Winter Pays For Summer. Check it out.

In other news, Jenna and I started watching The Simpsons (the older stuff). I love how subtle much of the humor is. Everything from the Ayn Rand school for Toddlers to the Homer-phrase: "If you want something out of life you have to earn it...--Quiet! They're about to announce the lotto #'s!"

FLAT News: Saves the Day cover and Monopoly

Today I posted this week's downloadable song on FLAT-space (www.myspace.com/frownlikeathunderstorm). It's a cover song originally written by Saves the Day called "Take Our Cars Now!" This is one of my favorite songs as of late and I enjoyed recording my own little version of it. An interesting tidbit about the song: my version turned out to be the exact same length as the original! Kinda cool. Also, the key has been lowered to accommodate my less-exquisite voice.

In other news, Jenna and I have been playing Monopoly! My childhood game of choice and adult game of particular interest. Thank you 1935.

FLAT News: Darkling Thrush Music

I put an old Darkling Thrush song on the FLAT-Space this week. It's called "Just Maybe" and it can be downloaded this week only. This comes from the 2005 album I was making for my solo project Darkling Thrush. I actually wrote the words and melody to the song while on my mission and fleshed it out sometime after. Lyrically it's not based on any personal experience, but is designed to give the impression that "just maybe" things can work out okay.

In other news, the Dark Knight was a grand movie! That Joker is something else. Poor guy. Batman's voice could use some work though...

FLAT News: TMT Revival and Facebook

Today I posted a Twenty Mule Team song called "Shakers In My Boots" on the ol' FLAT-space. This track comes from our last show at The Factory. You can download it and play it for your kiddies or what have you. It is a rare-ish recording since it was the newest song that we had written at the time. Download it this week only!

In other news, I am working on making a Facebook musician page. It's weird. Facebook can be confusing to me. I'm gonna start a networking website called "Fingerbook" since we all do our socializing with our fingers now instead of our faces.

FLAT News: "Prelude to a Hooligan"

Today I posted the song "Prelude to a Hooligan" on the FLAT-space. It is a short tune from the Roots EP. The song is available for download this week only, so be sure to check it out. Roots EP songs will not be available after this until the EP is completed. I finished another song this morning and have a few more to go. I'll keep dragons posted at both entrances.

In other news, I do have a beautiful wife of 3 months as of Saturday.