bob pendarvis: bob's ramblings

i've just finished uploading all the lyrics to my new album, LOW COUNTRY LADY. most of the songs are mine, but my dad wrote a couple of them (although i decided to ditch the lyrics to one of them and made it an instrumental). i'll be selling copies of the album this weekend at SCAD'S Artist Alley event, held at the o-house ballroom. well, SELLING copies is probably overly optimistic, but i plan to sit at a table with a pile of cds available and i MIGHT sell some...wish me luck!

i saw THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT movie when it was first released...at a midnight showing. i don't know about you guys, but i liked it a lot. i totally bought the premise and the last scene was chillingly executed. after the movie was over, i got in my car and headed for home (almost two hours from where i was). i'd only driven about ten miles before my spidey senses started tingling, warning me that the blair witch was hiding in the back seat of my car!!!

i used my rearview mirror to check things out, but i couldn't see much in the dark and i didn't want to actually turn my head and look. i drove onward for a few more miles...and then i swerved off to the side of the road and jumped out of the car. i waited a little bit and then i peeked inside the windows. nobody was there. of course, she could've been invisible, so i waited a few minutes as trucks whizzed by on the interstate. eventually i got back in the car and resumed my journey.

as i pulled into my driveway i finally felt safe at last...yes! still, as i walked up to the front door, i began worrying again. what if the witch had WANTED me to lead her back to my house all along?

AAAAHHH!!!

yay! i finally finished various last minute edits and the new album is ready to go!
LOW COUNTRY LADY is the name i settled on. here's a final track listing for you:

low country lady
midnite garden party
the millionaire's club
down at forsyth park
pirate queen
watching the waves
low country lady (ver. 2)
mary the wanderer
she was afraid of the dark
lighthouse
oglethorpe and montiano
she's coming home today

actually, the regular version of the album won't be available for a few more months, but a sneak preview version will be included in the...wait for it...BOX-O-BOB!!! this special DVD box will house LOW COUNTRY LADY, A GIRL I USED TO KNOW, and JUST ME--all three of my albums in one special package.

i know what you're thinking. you MUST own this amazing collection...but how? well, the BOX-O-BOB is only $15.00 and you can get one by e-mailing me and asking for one. i should have copies for sale in just a few weeks...sweet, eh?

what a bargain! THREE full albums of bob's special blend of indie pop/rock for just FIFTEEN BUCKS...WOW!!!

reserve your copy now! e-mail me today (tomorrow maybe?)

lyrics will be posted soon, so stay tuned...

i just realized it's been like A MONTH since i last updated. i've had all kinds of evil computer/internet problems, so that's part of the reason. also, SECRET EVIL STUFF (can't talk about it, but it was/is evil).

on the other hand, i have a special announcement coming up tomorrow. stay tuned (both of you).

as promised, here's another story of my disastrous experiences with talent shows.

for this show, i decided to make my singing debut. i hadn't written any of my own songs yet, but i was very taken with DEVO's remake of WORKING IN A COAL MINE. i managed to get my brother scott (and his fledgling rock band, CARUSO) to back me up onstage. i also convinced a bunch of friends to dance behind me and play kazoos. oh, and we were all wearing cartoon masks (i was too embarrassed to actually sing in front of an audience without a mask).

the curtains opened up and my brother's band began to rock out (accompanied by almost-in-tune kazoos) as i sang my little heart out. for the most part, i clutched the mike stand and just let my backup dancers keep things visually interesting (i was trying to focus on remembering the lyrics and hitting the right notes).

happily, we were a hit with the crowd and there was plenty of laughter and applause. we were such a success that it wasn't too surprising when, just as the song was ending and the curtain was closing, SOMEBODY cried out "one more time!"

suddenly, the curtain opened up again and i found myself grabbing the mike and dancing around the stage. everything seemed to be going well enough (plenty more applause, plenty more laughter), but there was a problem: my mask was attached to my glasses and my glasses had fogged up. soon enough, i couldn't see a thing...not that i was gonna let that stop me during my moment of glory.

i'm not sure i still have a copy, but i used to own a videotape from this show (my act was called BOB AND THE HUMANOIDS). despite my best efforts, i have to admit the video isn't all that exciting or memorable...until the "encore" section when i started dancing around. the cameraman had a little trouble keeping up with my clearly improvised choreography. right near the end, the camera pans away from me as i dance to the right side of the stage. suddenly, my mike stand slides back across the screen and the camera pans back...but i'm nowhere to be seen, until the camera pans down and you see that i've FALLEN right off the front of the stage and landed flat on my back, much to the delight of the audience (who seemed to think it was all part of the act).

my back killing me, i waited FOREVER for the curtain to close up again. the cheers of the crowd were almost enough to make my excruciating pain fade away.

almost...sigh.

ps: we didn't win!!! waaah!!!

still killing time waiting to unleash all kinds of "real" updates on my various projects. meanwhile, here's another "untold tale" for you all.

many moons ago, i performed in a local talent show. well, i wasn't really the performer, but i was a very important part of the act. see, there was this guy i knew who came up with an act that basically consisted of lying on the floor with a big ol' concrete block on his bare chest and allowing his partner (me) to whack the block with a big ol' sledgehammer. i don't remember there being any real trick to it. all i was supposed to do was hit the center of the block (really hard, duh) and it would crack apart. after that, the guy would jump up and go "tadah!" or something like that.

well, naturally it didn't quite work out that way. somehow i managed to miss the center of the block and hit the edge instead. this drove the block deeper into his chest without cracking it open.

yikes!

the guy was more-or-less unharmed, though it probably hurt like hell, i would imagine (i remember there being red marks across his chest).

truly, i was not worthy to wield the hammer of thor then and i'm pretty sure i'd be just as unworthy now.

next time, another painful talent show disaster (and not just because i didn't win).

hee hee! what a great way to usher in the spring: SUMMER RAINS, the brand new DITTY BOPS cd. the girls have decided to go the independent route, which means the only way to buy the cd is to visit their website (or see them in concert, but they stick mostly to the west coast, dang it). the cd will be released on march 1st and you can pre-order a copy now. the cd is a few dollars pricier than usual, but i'm happy to support the girls in their efforts to be independent creators (plus, the cd is said to have some sort of pop-up functionality, cool enough for me). to be honest, i would GLADLY pay twice as much for a brand new batch of songs from miss abby and miss amanda. do yourself a GIANT favor and see what all the fuss is about by checking out their website...today!

summer rains...so refreshing!

man, i didn't mean to stay away so long. i had a bad case of bronchitis and just didn't feel up to...anything...for like the last month. i felt obliged to return to my little blog in order to comment on the recent death of steve gerber. among other things, steve was the demented creator of the infamous comic book not-quite-superstar, HOWARD THE DUCK, a surreal hybrid of carl barks and robert crumb. HOWARD first appeared in marvel comics' MAN-THING series, which featured a large number of hauntingly crafted gerber stories that left a huge mark on my impressionable little head. his other accomplishments included stints on THE DEFENDERS and OMEGA THE UNKNOWN (a VERY experimental book for its time). stan the man may have co-fathered the marvel universe, but steve gerber was marvel's beloved "wacky uncle" and i just wanted to thank him for being there for all of us talking hairless apes.

auggh! i've been sick now for a little over two weeks, with the main symptoms being coughing, coughing, and COUGHING. also, a little chest congestion. oh, and i can't remember the last good night's sleep i've had. apparently the kindly ones aren't looking upon me with favor these days, sigh. listen, if all of my faithful fans would rally to my side and send positive, healthy vibes in my direction, well, who knows? i'm sure the two of you have plenty of positive vibes to spare. save me!!! cough-cough! cough-cough!! COUGH!!!

it's 5:50am and i am ready to catch the pillow train to sleepytown and dream of sugarplum fairies and flying reindeer and such. as i was leaving my parent's house (following hours and hours of videogaming sweetness) i looked up and saw the brightest full moon ever (if it wasn't full, it was darned close). there was also an amazing halo glowing around the moon. it was a perfectly christmassy end to a perfect christmas eve.

goodnight, christmas moon!

only two more days until christmas, folks. i've had a very nice christmas break (haven't been to work since a week before thanksgiving...teaching RULES). this weekend, as usual, i've been gaming with my dad, brother, and uncle dennis. mostly call of duty 4, but we'll probably try some compnay of heroes tonight. nothing says christmas quite like finding a safe, well-hidden spot to zap your enemies. well, you know what i mean. anyway, it's not really the actual games themselves, it's the fun of hanging out in the "computer room" and talking smack and munching on snacks as we stay up till the wee, wee hours. last night we made it to a little past 4:00am. who knows how long we can go tonight? fortunately, i'm all done with both shopping AND wrapping my presents (a first for me). next week i hope to try and get a little actual work done (dr. mittens web comic, fletcher hanks web comic, shoujo novel, and final mixes on my third music cd. hey, it's the season of miracles so ya never know!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

tomorrow is beth concepcion's birthday. you may know her as the editor of scad's campus chronicle. or maybe you know her from her tv weatherwoman gigs. maybe you remember her as my special guest vocalist at my (so far) one and only concert appearance. however you know her, i'm sure EVERYONE who knows her would agree she deserves to have a happy, HAPPY birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETH!!!

the famously adorable miss melanie carson invited me to attend a christmas performance held at the lutheran church of the ascension. it was just the right thing to put me in the christmas spirt. melanie played the bells in the ascension ringers and there were plenty of other singers and bell ringers, including shepherds and angels. i remember performing in a christmas pageant when i was a kid...i think i was a shepherd. anyway, it was totally a blast to listen to all those happy harmonies. thanks for the invite, melanie. oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

john lennon should have been 67 this year. george harrison's death was sad too, but at least he wasn't murdered in front of his wife.

i don't have anything brilliant or insightful to say, but i just felt like writing something.

i know, i know...you've heard about my FREE christmas cds and you want a copy of your own, but you're not sure how to get one. it's simple: just drop me an e-mail requesting a cd (include your mailing address) and i'll send you a cd...free! some of you are already on my list, but if you're not sure if i have your current home address then send me an e-mail update, 'kay? this year's cd is thirty minutes of bob, bob, and even more bob singing seventeen christmas carols and songs. not available in stores and not available for sale...but you can have a free copy if you act soon! merry christmas!

howz everybody's christmas/hanukkah/winter solstice so far? i've been busy doing nothing. well, not exactly NOTHING, but i've definitely been a lot lazier than i'd planned. oh, well...

since i don't have any new news to report (soon, people, soon) i'll regale you with yet another installment of UNTOLD TALES OF BOB.

one christmas my parents totally forgot about a present they had hidden deep in their closet. i doubt we missed it much, as my parents always managed to go all out for us kids every christmas. still, it was soooo cool when the present turned up months later: a huge metallic fort with tons of soldiers and little catapults and horses and stuff. sheer bliss. not so much the actual fort, but just the whole "extra present" thingy. sure, my parents could have just saved it until our next birthdays or even until the next Christmas, but they owned up and gave it to us...YES!!!

yay! it's november 22nd, my birthday!!!

special shout outs to my soul-sisters ainsley, ms. squeaks, shinji and zelda, amanda and elle. also, special thanks to my sister-in-law rose and my mom, who made sure i had a delicious oreo-cookie ice cream cake...mmm...cake...

i'm definitely going to go see the new ENCHANTED movie today (all by myself, as all my girlfriends are out of town) and will return to insanely violent videogame mayhem later tonight (after gorging on turkey and dressing, duh).

since this is thanksgiving, let me offer my thanks for being blessed with so many cool friends (especially the female ones) who provide me with the strength to wake up each day and give it my best shot. yay friends!!!
my invisible hat is off to you all and i shall drink a frosty glass of rootbeer in your honor.

ps: did you know the beatles released two different albums on november 22nd (their first one and the white one). cool, eh? well, i think it's cool...

i was fortunate enough to be at the opening night of nickel creek's "final...for now" tour (at the lucas theater in savannah, ga) and on monday night i was able to see them again (florida theater in jacksonville, fla) as they near the end of the road.

all in all i've seen nickel creek in concert four times (my favorite being the night the ditty bops opened for them at the johnny mercer theater in savannah, ga) and i have been blown away each and every time. their infectious enthusiasm is matched only by the well-honed mastery of their bluegrass instruments (fiddle, mandolin and guitar...plus an awesome upright bass). oh! and their harmonies...sooo sweet!

i look forward to new projects from all of them, especially sara watkins (the only member who has yet to swim in the solo section of the pool), but i'm very glad i was able to experience the full, unfettered power of nickel creek before they called it a day. sara, sean, chris (and amazing bass player/dancer whose name escapes me for the moment), my invisible hat is doffed in your direction.

as i mentioned last time, my birthday is on thanksgiving this year. here's another birthday story for you. i don't remember how old i was, something like 9 or 10 years old. what i DO remember is that my party that night had barely started when i suddenly found it difficult to breathe. nothing new for me, as i used to have many bad asthma attacks as a kid. sometimes my parents could fix me up themselves, and other times i would have to go to the hospital. naturally, this was one of THOSE times. yep, i spent the rest of the night under an oxygen tent at a hospital.

but that's not even the worst part of the story for me. nope, the worst part was coming home the next morning and discovering that my birthday cake had been completely devoured and my presents had all been opened...GAAH!!! i have VERY vivid memories of this (for instance, i remember dad buying me a superman comic on the way home...he was fighting terra-man on the cover). of course, the sight of my opened presents almost caused me to have a relapse and send me right back to the hospital. the horror, the horror...

these days i can totally understand what happened. my mom, faced with a house packed with kids, made the decision to open the presents without me. to be fair, my mom says she doesn't remember any such thing. the hospital stay, sure, but she doesn't remember the cake being eaten or the presents being opened.

on the other hand, my charlie brown level bitterness has remained with me to this very day...sigh...

hee hee!

right now it is 4:17am...halloween is here (well, it's later tonight anyway). that means the beginning of my favorite time of year...four big holidays all wrapped together:

halloween, my birthday/thanksgiving (this year my birhtday actually FALLS on thanksgiving) and christmas. i could throw new year's in, too, but new year's is vastly overrated. the four i mentioned are my hands-down FAVORITE DAYS OF THE YEAR!!! i do have a soft spot for dragon con weekend and the end of the school year, but the halloween-christmas season recharges my batteries every year.

not exactly controversial, but that's okay. let me see if i can manage to stir the pudding up a little. i had been planning on buying the new eagles album (having waited forever for a new one), but i've decided i can live without their politically correct sermonizing about the "evils of bush's america" and its consume everything mentality. i just have no interest in supporting the utter and complete hypocrisy of this attitude (the eagles should be the last folks to serve judgement on anyone), not to mention the utter and complete been-there-done-that vibe (all of the other musicians who have already jumped on this bandwagon).

i support their right to think anyway they like and write whatever kinds of songs they like, but this just smacks of pandering.

there, that should irritate somebody...assuming anyone reads this.