Music Times

I've been wanting to write a blog about music, particularly the music I have been so blessed to be apart of making in the last 7 years, and I hope for many years to come.

Since I was in 7th grade, playing guitar in a band was the biggest dream in the world. It did not take me to long to figure out who I wanted to make it with.... Andrew, John, Tony... then a few years later Landon came into the picture, and the rest is history.
See Hyperbole is a dream come true. I understand that at points in our history our eyes have been wider, on the road all the time, giving everything we have to a dream that at some times it felt we were the only 5 that believed in it, and at other times it felt like the world was ours.... but it was our dream. It still is.

It was a lot harder work then people realize, even getting it to where we got it in the past. We never had anybody to just come in and give us everything, we worked for what we had and at the end of the day I know that I gave it everything, through the thick and thin, through loosing members I considered to be best friends (still great friends, just not doing music together anymore) to getting married, to all the things that come along with "growing up" I have come to realize that it is not just about the music, it is not just about the tours and the lifestyle, the skateboarding and the small club shows... its about the people. If for no other reason, making music and traveling with it is the most important thing that I could have ever done because it put me in the middle of peoples lives all across the nation. We met so many people, some who cared less about the music, some who acted like it was the greatest thing in the world, but taking people one at a time, each story continues to be different and each story continues to amaze me, and that is why in the midst of life happening, very very fast, changes I never imagined happening are happening, etc... I have recently come to remember that the music must go on, for the people. I know I am called, and life happening will never be able to take that away, its all so important, but music, in my life, is also so important.

There is a line in a Less Than Jake song that says "My eyes have been wider, but never been brighter." What an amazing way to look at things. Yes at one point my eyes were set on the big things, the platinum albums, the tour buses, the world tours... and where all of those things would be amazing and some even may remain in our futures, they are not what brings me joy, nor is the aspiration to have those things what gets me excited anymore. I aspire to do what I do for the sake of leaving a mark on peoples lives that points them in the direction of Jesus. I am content with my life, in fact, I Love my life, and I am secure in the knowledge and understanding that I am suppose to continue making music for the sake of telling stories that need to be told, to reach people that would never have been reached, had it not been written.

Between my life and my job I am working to find the balance that puts music right back in the middle of it. I am trying to incorporate it into the day to day tasks I have at work... I am trying to incorporate it into the big events that I have the honor of putting together at the Church.

Lastly, I just want to say that I Love the guys I get to make music with. Where a lot of people may not agree, or may not see it, I think that Tony, Landon and I make the best team in the world. Punk Rock Music, softer stuff, it doesn't matter... and even if we don't make the best team, its still my favorite team to be on. I can't wait until we start doing Hyperbole shows again, and I can't wait to start on the new slower project. I think that people are going to be changed. I think that is why we still are suppose to do this, and in the middle of it all, maybe its changed my life along the way too, more so then I ever dared give it credit for.

This probably made no sense. I'm gonna hit post anyway.

J-Cub


ohhhhh and:
--Check Out--
http://murderdeathmayhem.blogspot.com/ -- Made a lot of music with this kid. He just started the blog. I Love it.
www.prankwilliams.com -- When hes not playing folk music, which isn't that often right now, he sings for Hyperbole and just about anything I write. His voice is amazing.
www.myspace.com/hyperbole - Some songs off our 1996 record.

I will post something soon as to what I am going to be working on next as well.

Busy Week it is

Today I got a facebook message from Tony letting me know that he checks my Blogs to, so now I know that I have at least 2 people and for that the updates hopefully will come even more often!
Next week I get to goto Phoenix for Pastors School, I am stoked out of my mind to go there, mainly cause there is a Carrabbas there and we are going to eat there with Brad and Stella. I've never been to Phoenix, its weird, in all my travels they have never taken me there. Its so funny because I used to email their church every time we would tour and ask them to check out our band and bring us in, I never heard anything back, and now I am on staff at the Dream Center which was launched from Phoenix first.

Dawn and I got asked to take over the Video Announcements for the whole entire church. Where this may sound simple, or not a big deal, it really is... It is the main video work that goes on at Angelus Temple, the most consistent, it is a lot of work. Landon is helping me make it by doing really cool graphics, and I am hoping that they like them because they are totally different then before, and needless to say, its a ton of work. I am trying really hard not to stress about it because I feel like there is a lot of pressure, even though people are not saying anything to make me feel that way. The bar has been set high and I have always had a problem with stress... Grow up Jacob. I am trying so hard to be done with all that stress and worry business... I am a constant work in progress though.

My next post will be about music, unless it is Wednesday. I also am going to do another influencers piece hopefully this week, and maybe talk some about what I am trying to do next if I get more clear clearance to go through with it all, but for now, I am editing videos, and trying my hardest to make this church look even better.

www.angelustemple.org
www.dreamcenter.org

Prank Williams posted his songs on www.prankwilliams.com
I think the new stuff is coming soon. Check that out.

Love ya mean it.

J-Cub.

A Quick Post

Here is just a quick update to let you know I still exist. I found out that John checks my Blog for updates, and knowing that, I now feel a burning desire to keep it really updated with useful information, my problem is that I need to slow down, just a bit, add some balance to my life, add some relaxation to my life, and enjoy the little things like posting blogs on this ghetto looking web site, so that John can read them and hopefully others who may miss me, or Dawn, who probably wants to kiss me.

All I have to say for now is this, there is a lot in the works. A lot going on. I am working on something that will be revealed soon, that I hope makes things better to the people that get to experience it. I am still living at the Dream Center, doing tons of work here, Loving my life, my wife, the ministry, etc. and am stoked that Landon works here now and that John is visiting for the winter. I miss my family though, and wish Tony would move out here (though I am stoked that he is getting married soon)

Next trip to Michigan is set for February 24th, the same day my sister leaves California (shes visiting for a week next month)

The end for now.

J-Cub.