HiMyNameIsDeeds

How do you begin, if you don’t know where to start?

Later Days… (The Mixtape, you weirdly beautiful, awkwardly awesome, degenerate of a musical endeavor) 10/29/2011

On 10/30/2011 The Mixtape will take the “stage” one last time, just how we started, with who we started with.

On 10/30/2011 AJ, Joey, myself and Jeremy (yes ladies, he’s back!) Will put the final chapter down in what has been the single most important thing to ever happen to me.

I didn’t want to say goodbye in 2009 and I don’t wanna say goodbye tomorrow. But this time around, I’m OK with it.

The Mixtape officially started in 2005 but the foundation of what would become The Mixtape started by happenstance in 2004.

Me and Joey were jamming with a friend of ours when our buddy Ragusa wanted to start a band. Now I have been through the ringer with Ragusa before so I honestly didn’t want to do it but when AJ’s name was brought up, I had to do it.

You see, AJ at this point was an urban legend to me. He was supposed to be a part of my first band Packed In A Suitcase. He was also supposed to be in the project that me and Joey were doing with our buddy. So after a little convincing I was on board.

From there we went through many line-up changes and different bands names and whatnot: Nightingale, Empty Letter Romance, Red Means Go, Red Means Goodbye, back to Red Means Go, The Mixtape Affairs and then finally The Mixtape.

Through all this time, there have been a few people that have been a part of this crazy journey and I would like to take this time to just kinda say some things about each of them and what they meant to me and whatnot so please, indulge me.

RAGUSA: If it wasn’t for you, strangely, none of this would have happened. We had our ups and downs in our friendship and we’ve battled with band views and views on what Raw Radio. But regardless of all that, you’ve been one of my longest friends, I know you got my back and if it wasn’t for you this would have never happened. So for that, I thank you.

B.G.: 3 weeks you were in Nightingale? I go on vacation and come back and you were gone! You wanted to be a poet? Hahaha. Still cracks me up. You’re never gonna read this.

CRUPI: Your Basement is where it all began. From your funny little bunny hop you would do when we played, to the heart shaped hole you punched in your wall when we were playing everything we knew how to play after I got the phone call my Grandfather passed away (you fucking emo kid! Hahaha) we don’t talk much (honestly at all) anymore but I’ll still remember all the times we would get yelled at by your Mom for playing to long and to loud. Or when we would sleep over and pick on Johnny-Butt till all hours of the night. You came up with The Mixtape Affairs and we hated it! But we needed a new band name. Still to this day, I love ya brotha.

VIC: You being in The Mixtape was like communism and the Spork. On paper it make so much fucking sense you wonder why you didn’t do it before. But then you apply it and you’re confused it doesn’t work the way it should! You were one of my first friends when I moved to Jersey. We were in Packed In A Suitcase together and bringing you into The Mixtape was so awesome for me but your dumbass had to fuck it up by wanting to become the next Mars Volta! Hahaha. I love you kid. Glad we have Stuff, Junk, Things and Whatnot to work on now. My brotha.

DAN NOONAN: We only ever had one practice with you and I remember after that practice I was scared we were gonna become Belafonte 2 because you played exactly like your brother. The good thing that came out of you jamming with us was that when we jammed without you, it made us realize we can do it just the 3 of us. Now that is not a dis to you, good sir. It’s more of a thank you. Thank you.

EL HEFE: It was rocky at times. But forgetting all the bullshit we had awesome awesome times. You were there for what was supposed to be The Mixtape’s breakout point and well… Fuck it, not the place for that shit. It’s over. I love you kid. Do good, hope to see you soon.

CHRIS NOONAN: You were not in The Mixtape, but you are part of the story arc. Maybe we shouldn’t have gone with keeping the Belafonte name, maybe we should not have booked that show so soon. Who knows what we could of had but one thing is for sure. The world wasn’t ready for the music that we were gonna pop out. That is all.

JEREMY: If I were to even attempt to tell all the stories of our misadventures over the years, I will have to write a book. Do me a favor? Don’t leave anymore? I need my corrupter around. One of my best friends, till the day I die. I love you (No Homo. OK maybe a little.)

JOEY: You, like some on this list, don’t really need something written about. We’re still friends, still brothers. It’s been a long fucking time and I hate to see the best fucking rhythm in Jersey go away but who the fuck knows, right? Hahaha. I love you dude. I’ll try not to bust your lip open this show, no promises tho.

AJ: My brotha! Remember during one of our many talks about the band I said you’re the engine and I’m like the key? I was wrong. You’re the car AND the fucking driver! You’re one of the most talented people I know. Could be music, video games, sports, drinking (hahaha) it doesn’t matter, you got it. I still think we can set the world on fire, no doubt in my mind about that. I started calling you my Captain because I’m willing to follow you into anything, regardless of how dark or scary it maybe. I could have used a better example, but you get my point. If you don’t do something with MMQ after this break-up, I’m gonna fucking rage. Don’t let that utter talent you have go to waste. It’s been an honor and a privilege, Captain. Just say the word and we’ll make magic again (but don’t ask me to be in a Hardcore band, you already know my answer. Hahaha.) Nothing but love.

Now before you think this is the end, it’s not. There is one person left off of this list. I will now say some words about him. I will refer to him as DUDE.

DUDE: We used to joke with you all the time about being the creepy old man, because we were all 16-17 and you were 21. Little did we know that’s exactly what you are. You never did anything to me while we were in a band together and that’s because you never had the chance to. You tried to hook up with any girl that the 5 of us were into, dating, seeing or whatever. You were the first person that I ever looked up to as an older brother, you were there for me in a big bad way when my grandfather passed and I thought I had a friend for life. You left the band and we lost touch, it happens. But the events that took place from 2006 on just made me realize just how much of a scumbag you are. You’re a selfish prick who doesn’t know the first thing about the brotherhood of being in a band. You know it’s one thing if you haven’t talked to someone in a while, which at that time we hadn’t. But where I thought you meeting HER was going to be the thing to reconnect our friendship, you tossed that all away to get in her pants. But what should I expect from a creepy sonofabitch like yourself? Yes, it takes 2 to tango but I thought after I told you what was up with me and HER you’d understand. You understood alright. You understood that was your cue, you fucking prick. Am I still bitter? Maybe. Maybe I’m just mad because in this “fight” you’re the only one that has a chance of winning. Just know this, if you do end up “winning” and you hurt her in anyway, you better hope I don’t see you face to face. Cuz it took every ounce of strength in me not to crack you in the mouth when I saw you back in 2009. You better believe I’ll make up for not doing what someone should have done a long time ago and beat the ever living shit out of you. You may have the chance to be with HER but remember this, when it comes to her I ALWAYS WIN!

Sorry, I got angry there. I needed to say that. It’s been building up too long.

Everyone I mentioned here (Yes, even that prick DUDE) made me into the person I am today and it’s all because of one band, THE MIXTAPE.

I want to thank anyone that has ever supported us, came out to shows, made fun of us, talked shit, spent time with us, played shows with us and whatnot. You guys are awesome and I’m gonna miss making music with this band for you guys.

On 10/30/2011 The Mixtape may die for good, never be brought back to life again. But it will forever be a part of who I am. I’ll never trade that in for the world.

Much Love
Deeds