Esquire Theme by Matthew Buchanan
Social icons by Tim van Damme

15

Jun

There are always days

For the last however long I’ve been craving stability, and thinking about what I’d do with it. I had positive thoughts of being creative in the many ways other than music that I’m drawn to. Images of elaborate cooking experiments, refining techniques and recipes. Ideas of brewing beer, baking bread and starting a garden. Wonderfully, now that I must take some time to pay off debt I’m afforded this lovely opportunity of stability, albiet temporary, but a stable feeling nonetheless. I find though, that these bouts of intransience often leave me feeling an off mix of antsy and comfortable. The comfort comes from not having to move all the time yet somehow this makes me feel sad and vulnerable. I ask myself questions about what I’m doing with my life and why. Sure, these aren’t new for me but perhaps well more intense here. Thinking about the future is harder now than ever and I’m working towards easing it.

Part of the work comes in the form of positive creation. I’ve yet to carve out any of my book because I was waiting until I got a job to set up a good steady writing schedule. But guess what? I just got a job last week. I don’t like waking up just after 7 am but otherwise I’m starting to like the job. I’m currently working at a screen printing shop and might pick up more work elsewhere.

After work I’ve been doing cool things like brewing my first batch of beer, helping bake bread, learning about gardening and trying to meet and hang out with rad people. So overall Asheville is treating me right well and is as good a home as any for the time being. I’ll keep you updated on any progression.

06

Jun

Doesn’t look like much, but that, my friends, is the beginning of my first attempt at brewing beer. An American pale ale meant to be a bit like Sierra nevada. I figure, I drink enough beer to where it’s time I begin to understand it better. This is step one.

On a similar note, my brother and I are discussing making an attempt at crafting our own cheese in the near future. This is also the kitchen where we’ve made a few batches of kambucha, a mushroom fermented tea. Weird but great. And then maybe some homemade ink?  Dang, ashevilles turned me into a hippy.

Ok, I already was one but now more than ever.

Otherwise I’ve just been applying to a million places to make some money to pay off debt. Once I get a more steady schedule i will sit and begin busting out this book. Wild. Hope you’re great.

Doesn’t look like much, but that, my friends, is the beginning of my first attempt at brewing beer. An American pale ale meant to be a bit like Sierra nevada. I figure, I drink enough beer to where it’s time I begin to understand it better. This is step one.

On a similar note, my brother and I are discussing making an attempt at crafting our own cheese in the near future. This is also the kitchen where we’ve made a few batches of kambucha, a mushroom fermented tea. Weird but great. And then maybe some homemade ink? Dang, ashevilles turned me into a hippy.

Ok, I already was one but now more than ever.

Otherwise I’ve just been applying to a million places to make some money to pay off debt. Once I get a more steady schedule i will sit and begin busting out this book. Wild. Hope you’re great.

31

May

hi everyone!

it took a while and i’ve been busy, but temporarily i live in asheville, nc.  wild, right?  you might ask, “why asheville?”  well, good friends, the reason is that it’s beautiful and relaxing here, and i thought after a full year of living quickly and hectically, perhaps i should take some time to actually reflect upon such an awesome trip.  so much to think about and absorb, though i’m sure i’ll continue to do so for years.  also, it doesn’t hurt that my brother and sister-in-law live here and are letting me stay for a bit while i figure things out.  i need to find some work to pay off the debt i’ve acquired and also to force me into a mildly scheduled life, which, for a short time at least, i think could be of some benefit. 

so that’s where i’m at.  over the coming weeks i hope to begin some seriously diligent work on a variety of projects and i’ll be sure to keep you updated on them, though it will realistically be with less regularity than in the past. 

on an exciting note, just two days after getting here i connected with a musician who seems well integrated in the asheville scene and will hopefully be meeting some more rad people through her.  sounds fun! 

so, wish me luck!

—-

now for some other news:

for those of you who know both me and frank turner, you know we’d be a good match.  well, now is the chance to make that happen.  frank is offering to do a split with someone and if you go to epitaph.com/demolition, you can help make it happen.  listen to my new song (it’s currently on page 10) and vote to make it get some points.   i know this stuff can be corny, but it could be a great opportunity for me and one i’d hugely appreciate your help on.  hopefully if enough people check it out, then epitaph and frank will notice.  please tell all your friends.  thank you and i hope this finds you wonderful.

02

May

where you at?

i left exeter, uk at 915 am and took a bus with a sweet girl and a load of drunk idiots to london.  we arrived around 2 pm and i gathered my belongings and made my way towards isleworthe and then the airport to get my 630 pm flight to newark, nj.  

for the last week and a half all i wanted to do was go “home,” and once headed that direction, i felt bummed and wished i’d had more time.  eventually i made my way to the airport, had a very easy entrance, ate my last egg mayo and cress and waited to see where my plane would board.  

when in finally got on, the rather small aircraft barely filled up, which was nice for my legs and elbows but probably horrible for the company wallet and also curious due to the volcano.  regardless, a few movies/tv shows and some naps, interupted by veg meals and i was back in the states, tired after near 24 hours of travel but happy.  

thankfully, bc picked me up with 70 and we made our way back “home.”  after a quick respite bri and i made our way to the local watering hole where i spent the remaining of my greenbacks and we tried to catch up the last few months nonchalantly, knowing full well the impossibility of it all.  

i love that kid.  and i appreciate the adventures i’ve had.  i hope i have more and i hope the same for you.

30

Apr

Truth

It may seem simple but I absolutely love my brothers. We are each different and ridiculous but I hold them so incredibly high and know the world is an amazingly better place because of them. Please check them out.

Panchosvia.com

Sirius b music

Communipaw music Brian bond music

Please enjoy.

29

Apr

hey guys

hi.  it’s been a bit, i know.  but guess what, i don’t need to apologize to you anymore.  the year is over.  get off my back.  jeez.  sorry, i know that’s ridiculous.  ha.  

well, here i am.  back for a bit.  i am currently in exeter, uk.  one more show and then i get to fly home.  i’m so excited to get back to the states.  i can’t believe how stoked i am to go back, but i guess i’m just really looking forward to a much needed break and my friends.  the break is one day, then i have to get to work rehearsing a band made up of three of my favorite people on the planet.  sure, it’ll be missing some amazing folk i hoped could be part, but these dudes will make this trip amazing and fun.  

when i get back there’s loads to do, but the upcoming full band tour of “pj bond and some motherfuckers,” as i’m currently calling it, will be amazing.  after that i will need to find a place to live for a while and unfortunately will need to get a job.  just for a little bit, don’t get too worried.  have to clear up some credit card debt.  ugh.  but a year of not working and having the time of my life, well i guess it was worth it.  speaking of which, anyone know of a job i can do in nyc area?  that’d rule.  preferably something fun and not stressful that pays loads.  did i mention i like singing songs and drinking beers?  hook a guy up.  pjbondmusic@gmail.com.  still, while i don’t relish the idea of going back to work, i’m kind of looking forward to some semblance of normality for a few months.  i think i’ll probably get back on the road and tour more after the summer, but it might actually nice for once to have a bit of a routine that doesn’t involve screaming my way around the world.  we’ll see.  maybe i’ll hate it and maybe i’ll love it and settle down.  we shall see.

all in all, i’m ready to come home.  i’m not sure what’s there, but i’m ready for it.  i’m excited to sleep on the same floor a few nights in a row.  i’m excited to eat fresh, healthy food out of a fridge.  i’m incredibly psyched to meet the new wonderful lady in one of my best friends’ life.  i’m stoked to see my friends.  and not feel so lonely all the time.  and for once i’m looking forward to doing nothing, even if just for a few nights.  i can’t tell you how amazingly anxious i am for brian’s return and for he and keith to start making music together again.  those boys will blow the roofs off and i for one am looking forward to it.  brian has been living his own incredible adventure and i am happy to have shared a small slice of it.  

to catch you up to date, over the last few months i’ve done the following:

dec 15-feb 15 i toured from new jersey down to florida, spent christmas time there with spanish gamble, headed out to texas, did new years in austin, up to iowa, over to salt lake, up to the pacific north west, down the coast to san diego, back east by way of new mexico, diagonally up to chicago and finished up the last week or so back towards home with billy wallace and my friend colleen from california.  

feb 16-20 i had three shows in three different states and a video shoot.  not much a break.

feb 21-march 15 i travelled around india, mostly with my brother.  amazing.

march 16-april 4 toured the uk and it was great.

april 5-25 toured europe and saw loads of amazingness.  belgium, the netherlands, germany, austria, hungary and switzerland.  not in that order, loads of zigzagging.  so many languages and more currencies than i imagined.  

april 26-30 finish up in the uk.  

may 1 i fly home.  and i can’t wait.  let’s hang out.  i hope to see you soon.  much love.

20

Apr

Austria

I’ve been in Austria for a few days and it’s been great. For no real reason I never really thought I’d visit Austria but it’s one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever seen. Taking trains through rolling hills of brilliant green past red roofed cottages is breathtaking. The people here have been beyond amazing and I’ve had the wonderful pleasure of playing shows with the liberation service, a wilhelm scream, in sane and multiple shows with the super tight and awesome high five drive, as well as been very lucky to meet some of the guys from astpai, along with miller, mamuel and cis. Seriously, Austria had been rad.

Tomorrow I head for Budapest which I’m very excited for, as I hear it’s incredible. Then back to Austria for Vienna, then possibly Germany and Belgium, a few days in the uk and then home. Finally. I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of good friends starting three days from now and home is beckoning me loudly. I just hope the airspace above the uk is clear enough to fly. I hope I see you soon.

15

Apr

A fucking volcano

The last day. My train got delayed, screwing all my plans to walk around Munich and check out the city and try to find a place to stay. Instead i walked and messed my knee and eventually checked into a youth hostel where I found out that loads of Brits are having trouble getting home because of the volcano in Iceland. Pretty wild. I really hope the people in iceland are ok. This has also stopped my friend from flying into Munich tomorrow meaning i don’t really need to be here. The whole thing is a bit off, but I am safe and really hope everyone else is as well.

Anyway, that’s it. It’s in the can. I didn’t do much, just hung with good people and here I am. So it’s over. But I’ll keep going.

On a side note I just finished a biography on sonic youth and it ruled. I’m not their biggest fan but hugely respect and now more than ever love that they do them so well.

So, here is what I’ve learned.

People are good. Love is everything. Be yourself. All will be well.

I’ll filter better soon. I miss and love you all. P.

14

Apr

Two days

Two days my friends, that’s it. The year of a thousand roommates will be over in less than 72 hours (I’m not sure how the time change factors in). It’s a pretty incredible feeling, but maybe in a small way it feels a bit anti climactic, due to the fact that I don’t plan on changing too much afterwards. I suppose the fact that I won’t have to keep moving non stop if I don’t want to will be quite a change, but overall, this year has been so positive that I plan on retaining as much of it as I possibly can. In the coming months and years I hope to travel the world more, try my hand at train hopping and further dumpster diving, make more friends, see old ones and try to keep living loudly. It’s a daunting task, but a rewarding one. Also, while writing the book is a huge priority, I’ve realized my main goal now is to try and be way less selfish, to attempt to repay the kindnesses I’ve been blessed with, and to be more present for my friends when they need me.

To bring you more up to speed, right now I’m traveling through Germany with my new friends in the band caves. They’re from Bristol, uk and have been amazing. They’ve been hugely integral in keeping me from spinning into a dark, lonely hole, and have allowed me many smiles, laughs and much happiness. They’re also directly responsible for turning what could have been a tough tour riddled with holes into a great time with awesome shows and loads of new friends. That’s incredible.

From the uk we went through the tunnel to France, then made our way to Belgium and the Netherlands, afterwhich I had to leave to do three days on my own which had me back track to Belgium and again to the Netherlands on trains. In the process my left knee/tendons began to give out and so started the process of my leg falling apart. The pain has been troublesome, but more so is the fact that I don’t actually know what’s wrong with it, nor do I have the insurance to find out.

After the Netherlands i made it to Germany for one of the greatest nights I’ve had in a while, though it seemed weird at times. Big fun though and then after a few trains I made it to giessen to meet back up with caves. Now instead of having five full days off and then another in a few days after that, I have two travel days, filled at least two days with caves with shows, will hang with them and some american friends and eventually make my way from geneva Switzerland back to munich Germany to pick up a friend I’ve ever met. From there we travel for a week including what was that day off that I just filled. So things are looking awesome and while I can’t believe the year is ending, and though I still have a while to go, I’m looking for a small window of normal life and drinking summer beers with my great mates in jersey and new York before I take back to the road. As for you, thanks so much for being amazing. Thank for following my ridiculous life and thanks for caring and writing me emails and notes to keep me positive and moving forward. I promise you, they’ve and you’ve been invaluable. I send my complete and total love to all of you.

Oh yea, and should i keep writing? Start a new blog? Stop all together? Let me know. Pjbondmusic at gmail.

One love Pj bond

09

Apr

An actual Belgian waffle. I’m not going to lie, it was pretty delicious. I wasn’t fully in the mood for sweet stuff this hanging over morning but I knew it might be my last day in Belgium.

I grabbed this, an egg and cheese sandwich, though not like you’re thinking. This was a baguette with sliced hard boiled egg, some cheese, mayonaisse, lettuce and tomato. Heart attack city. Pretty good stuff though.

I ate this on the five different trains that took me from leuven, Belgium to hengelo, Netherlands. After getting here I ate a Dutch dish of mashed potatoes with endive. It was really nice. After some beers my body didn’t want and many hours in a too smokey room I played a set to a mostly uninterested crowd. Luckily a few people liked it and I have to remind myself that this is the case. Surprisingly later they made me play a second set and then I made my way upstairs to get away from the squat bar and grab some sleep. My leg is fucking killing me and I’m scared I’ve done some permanent damage. I’m also tired like the wolf so I’m really glad to get some sleep. It’s super loud downstairs but I reckon lll be ok. Goodnight and sleep well.

An actual Belgian waffle. I’m not going to lie, it was pretty delicious. I wasn’t fully in the mood for sweet stuff this hanging over morning but I knew it might be my last day in Belgium.

I grabbed this, an egg and cheese sandwich, though not like you’re thinking. This was a baguette with sliced hard boiled egg, some cheese, mayonaisse, lettuce and tomato. Heart attack city. Pretty good stuff though.

I ate this on the five different trains that took me from leuven, Belgium to hengelo, Netherlands. After getting here I ate a Dutch dish of mashed potatoes with endive. It was really nice. After some beers my body didn’t want and many hours in a too smokey room I played a set to a mostly uninterested crowd. Luckily a few people liked it and I have to remind myself that this is the case. Surprisingly later they made me play a second set and then I made my way upstairs to get away from the squat bar and grab some sleep. My leg is fucking killing me and I’m scared I’ve done some permanent damage. I’m also tired like the wolf so I’m really glad to get some sleep. It’s super loud downstairs but I reckon lll be ok. Goodnight and sleep well.