brettsiler

[brettsiler]

Today’s my birthday. I’m 42. A number with a lot of significance according to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. “The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.” We’ll see about that…

Haven’t kept a music journal for the past two weeks because my father passed away. Without getting too personal it was a very intense experience. He was always very supportive and kind. He was also very charasmatic and animated. He lived a wild life when he was younger. Much more wild than I ever did. I picked up a lot of good character traits from him. I could go on and on but I’m not trying to make this too personal. Mostly focused on music.

That said the only things keeping me together practicing or making music, working out, and close family or friends. All three have been a natural anti-depressant.

Anyway… the next 6 months I’ll be focusing on harmonic minor scale and its modes. Studying the scales, triads and chords. I’ll focus on a new key every two weeks to get through all 12 in 6 months. I’ll going in order of the circle of 5ths.

I’ll also be focusing on the diminished scale. It’s going to be a dark and weird next 6th months. Seems fitting..

I’ll be doing maintenance on pentatonic and diatonic scales triads and chords but mostly as a warm up. Try not to get two caught up in it and focus more on harmonic minor and diminished.

Oh yea also keeping on directional/economy picking.. I have a book I’m working out of for that as well.

This sounds like a lot. Hopefully I didn’t load up too much. I think I’ll be alright if I organize my practice schedule right.

[brettsiler]

Music journal May 15th 2025:

I guess I should mention the last 3 almost 4 years I’ve been working this overnight job at a gas station. Covid kinda turned my world upside down. I went from hustling day in day out down live sound and recording to the world stopping. It was a nice break at first, then it just started to suck really bad and I had a few existential crises about what direction my life should take (not the first time I should say too). Anyway Daddy government stopped sending money so I needed a job and I just got something down the street from my house. Soon after they asked me to take the 3rd shift night position. There is a solid 2-3 hours each night where almost nobody comes it. I took the opportunity to practice guitar and study music theory. I’ve learned quite a bit and have completely changed my technique on guitar two times now. They’ve only threatened to fired me twice now over it, ha!

Anyway, thats the update. Been laying low, studying and practicing. Started playing Stella, want to play out solo and get Plasticizer going again. Been working on writing with that over the last year too. Wanting to get off nights soon as I feel it’s degrading my health. I tired constantly and get sick easier. Need to get off soon before I do irreparable damage to my health. Might get back into recording, but unsure. I may pursue teaching as I’ve gotten quite confident with guitar and especially theory, at least for foundational stuff and a few more advanced topics. Still have a lot to learn though. It never ends.

[brettsiler]

Played a house show over the weekend in Carbondale Illinois on May 10, 2025. I’ve been playing in Stella for about a year now James quit the band and they asked me to join. We played with an act called Burgers Gone Wild and pleasure patrol. The house was a run down punk house of course. It was almost kinda rural though. Mild Gummo vibes. The lived across from an abandoned high school. We played on a sketchy deck in the backyard. As we set up gear this big ol boy was eating this really stinky chicken leg and kept pouring sauce all over it to cover up the rotten meat taste. 🤢

Burgers Gone Wild played and it was a solo garage act. They wore what looked like a mummy mask and sang through a telephone mic. It was a cool set. We went on and I considered taking it easy as there weren’t too many people there, but as we started play I couldn’t help myself; I just started jumping around and rocking hard anyway. Hey gotta play hard even whether theres 15 or 1500 people there.

After we finished the bassist of Pleasure Patrol made a snide comment about our set. “You guys… really… rocked it.” As he rolled his eyes. Whatever. I have people say shitty things to me every night at work, so it didn’t phase me, but just noted he’s an asshole. He did however have a pretty sweet Bon Jovi belly shirt with mesh sleeves on and I enjoyed their set regardless. Afterwards we loaded up and the band argued about getting food or not. We just drove back, loaded gear and I went home and made pancakes.

[brettsiler]

Start a music journal documenting my practicing when I play shows working on guitar recording whatever else I’m up to music wise. Some of it might be cool. Some of it might be boring to people. Does anyone read this? I’m mostly doing for myself so I can look back on things from time to time. I’ve been involved in so much over the last 20 something years it’s hard to remember it all!

[brettsiler]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Turonies got rid of the Veggie Dream. This was the last one made. RIP 🙏😢

[brettsiler]

Played some live ambient synth pieces at PG last night. Thanks for the photo @yourbelovednick

[brettsiler]

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Whoa

[brettsiler]

Played a show and recorded an EP in Bowling Green KY yesterday. #heavyperiod

[brettsiler]

Hi I also have a non modded Digitech Whammy v4 for sale. Used it in hundreds of shows in Gratis, Stationary Odyssey, Child Bite, L'Shem, other side projects and it's still kicking. It works fine but the expression pedal needs repaired. I do know is an easy fix. Comes with power supply. $75

[brettsiler]

I have a modified Digitech whammy v4 for sale. It's modified for true bypass. It's in perfect working order. Includes power supply. $125

[brettsiler]

Just wrapped the Dying Fetus video! I get savagely beaten and murdered in it. Good times!

[brettsiler]

Thanks to everyone that came out last night!

[brettsiler]

Playing a show tonight at PG. come hang out!!!

[brettsiler]

Recorded some vocals for Schiele's Green upcoming album!

[brettsiler]

I bought this patch when I was 13 years old after my older brother told about a group of skinheads chasing him out of a punk show. It's crazy how 20 years later it feels appropriate to bust this back out again.

[brettsiler]

Nu year by me #nofilter

[brettsiler]

I mixed a new EP for Cantalouper

Cantalouper just released an EP that I mixed for them! This is my favorite track off the album (but the others are rad as well). Plus all proceeds from sales off bandcamp go to the ACLU! Great band, good cause; buy it now!! ‪https://cantalouper.bandcamp.com/track/decomposing-trees