The Best Way Out

We are proud to announce the release of our new album The Best Way Out which is available through our bandcamp site here. This album has been a long time coming and has everything from an earnest love song to a fictional tale of a couple ingesting hallucinogenic mushrooms and taking a bus to the carnival. Or maybe that WAS the love song...check it out and spread the word!

-David

The People Aquarium

 

What happens to a dream deferred? Sometimes it sits for years because it is incomplete and other dreams are more important. Eventually bubbling up from the underground making its presence felt whether finished or not. That is the case with The People Aquarium.

I have always had a vision of making an album where each song was a story about a different persons life as if we were all living in a giant aquarium together. Like all albums, my idea was grandiose and over time I formulated the characters and some lyrics that would serve as the foundation for this project. My most trusted producers were aboard with Mr Dark Keys, DJ Plutoe aka Random Ran and DJ Capsize all contributing beats. Slowly but surely the album came into perspective with a neighborhood lost dog, sibling conversations, work place frustration, the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster and other occurrences all serving as motivation for album material. It was looking promising.

For whatever reason this album was put to the side as projects often are. Other songs were labeled more pressing, the plan was too scattered, the dedication lacking. People move, relationships blossom and either crumble, maintain or flourish. Old habits return, days turn into weeks, jobs change, ideas reconfigure themselves. Once time has passed the album became a wish although still spoken of confidently "Soon I'm going to release The People Aquarium" or "I'm going to re-mix those tracks and do those songs the justice they deserve" even "I have to put that album out, those characters are ALIVE! aren't they?"

Months turned into years and I had even stopped listening to these songs on my computer. They had acquired a coat of digital dust as if encased in a technological tomb. It makes sense for this album.

When I wrote most of these songs I was taking the bus, skateboarding or walking, working two jobs and was generally a defiant, rebellious and angry twenty something that was finally accepting the long held realization that my greater purpose might mean having to be a nicer person. It was quite the dilemma for me at the time.

So the folks I wrote into this album all have some aspect of me in them I guess. The slacker prodigal song regretful over his status, the laid off father of two looking for work, the sister greeting the apocalypse with a smile, the evolving or devolving kleptomaniac, the panic stricken family desperately hunting the lost family dog, the depression over learning truths and knowing you are just one of the sheep following dishonest shepherds.

Recently I just decided that fuck it. I am going to put out ALL of my unreleased material because it does me or you no good whatsoever just sitting, molding away in my computer. I guess its the fact that I am really excited about my kick ass group Woke With A Plan that has me wanting put release this old stuff out into the universe. At this point it doesn't really matter does it?

I really hope you enjoy this album. Thank you for reading this. And remember this album is not mastered, is unmixed, has not been edited whatsoever and many of these songs are "rough draft" scratch takes that ended up being the only versions ever recorded. Oh well, at least this gives the characters a long awaited taste of freedom.

Thank you to Randy Ziady Huling for doing the artwork and making 3 beats for this project. If you click on each individual song there is a different picture for each person. Also thanks to Josh Caplan and ChrisTopher M. Lewis aka Capsize and Dark Keys. Peace!




http://daviddowneyjr.bandcamp.com/

-David Downey, Jr.

Hello!

Its been a very long time since I blogged on here. A lot of things have changed. I moved from Oakland to Mount Shasta. I got married and am eagerly awaiting the birth of my baby boy in March. We adopted a dog from the pound when we moved up here and with the four cats the house is near capacity. The house itself is amazing and sits on five acres of land where we are visited by geese, rabbits, deer, frogs, bears, scorpions...you name it. Up here I chop wood, shovel snow and hustle in a way that I never really had to in the city. I am learning a ton about myself and preparing for fatherhood. We are totally thrilled and life is sweet right now.

All of this positivity has really changed the way I write lyrics. My ability to channel the darkness has waned or maybe its just my desire to dwell in those cellars when there are always clouds awaiting. Its funny because with all of my beliefs about creating your own realities I spent an awful lot of time walking around angry, but I was growing. The move to get us up here was literally a giant work of ritual chaos magic over a long period of time and changed me greatly.

Musically, I feel better than ever. Woke With A Plan's live show has evolved to the point of where it is now a "Garage Show Rap Sale" consisting of us auctioning off our random collected trash/treasures, original art pieces and of course--cds. It is bad ass. We are currently finalizing the song listing for our new album and its going to be a full length with anywhere from 13 to 17 full tracks. Recently Topher and Randy made the trip up to Shasta so we could work on the album and I am telling you that this effort is going be something that we can be proud of. In the end that is all we really need.

Also, my collaborations with Twin Lizard from England resulted in an upbeat, catchy conspiracy track called Nemesis that now has a music video to accompany it. I am very appreciative for this. If you know me then you know I love to see myself on video.

Our friends over at Burning Token have helped us out as well with videos and general support and Derailed Freight Train has really evolved as an artist through constant gigging and recording. Its always uplifting to see friends succeed.

Mr. Dark Key aka Topher M. Lewis aka Chris now lives in the city (SF) and was just calling me back a minute ago and I missed his call to write this blog. Randy is up in the suburbs of RP and has been cleared of all charges in the international arms scandal reported by the associated press. It was evidently a case of mistaken identity.

Well, I am getting tired now and I am just going to put this blog up without providing any links or anything. If you want to find some Woke With A Plan shit then look...its out there!


-David Downey, Jr.

Family Crests

Happy St. Patricks Day from Woke With A Plan!

This is a song that I recorded on my cellphone in the driveway of my parents house at about 2 am the last time I visited home. My next store neighbor Jimmy Coleman is on guitar and its too bad I didn't keep recording because after this song my Dad came out in his bathrobe and told us to knock it off (for the third time). Jimmy went home and the next morning the neighbors told me how great we sounded. Maybe they had been drinking too...

The quality of the recording is what you'd expect from a cellphone and a long day of drinking in Boston.

I'm going to keep this one short. I wish you all a safe and happy St. Patricks Day. Enjoy and please share.

Family Crests (Live at Chandler Rd) by DavidDowneyJr

Wishfulness

Check out the new video for Wishfulness (available on itunes and at every major retailer in the USA) produced by WWAP's own Randy Ziady-Huling or as we like to call him Random Ran. Ran recently graduated from the Art Institute of California in San Francisco with a degree in Media Arts and Animation so if you or anyone you know is in need of some graphics I recommend contacting him through his website which is www.randomran.com.

Randy has been painting (legally and illegally) for about 20 years and has always impressed me with his talent to create characters. Its been a common scene at our rehearsals for Randy to sketch something in 5 minutes and throw it in the trash only to have me take it out of the garbage and frame it when i get home.

As our stage show has progressed we have integrated some live painting into our set starting with me drawing a big boobied stick figure and the outline of a house. It looks extremely juvenile. Like Mighty Mouse sans cape Ran hops in to save the day and turns the stick figure into a magical angel and the shack into a castle. Mind you, he does this while maintaining his regular DJ responsibilites.

On a side note I have to add that Randy and I have been performing for over 10 years together (dive bars) and he is the first person to ever actually hear me rap (I was very shaky). We studied acting together at the illustrious Santa Rosa Junior College and earned a reputation as tardy yet talented (in our own minds) performers. Randy starred in the epic hip hop play Stand Up Tragedy with the homies from High Intent and delivered a stellar performance in the lead role. He also did the artwork for my cd Capsule Effects and his cover has always gotten plenty of compliments. I tell you this so you can see how multi faceted our DJ is and because Topher and I try to hog all the attention...ok well I guess its actually me that does that so...yah...there ya go.

Oh and by the way...always remember what Wishfulness tells us..."often the best episodes are not sitcoms or cancelled shows but passed on pilots that corrode on dusty shelves of dreamers bold".

-David Downey, Jr.

Shutting Eyes

I have wanted to write this piece for a long time but for some reason today was the day. The sun hit me in the face this morning and...what can I say. I have wanted to give all you beautiful people a free download of Shutting Eyes (also available on itunes and CdBaby) and dedicate it to all the forward thinkers out there with a big shout out to Pinchbeck and Knowles. So here you go...(SHUTTING EYES FREE DOWNLOAD) Enjoy!!!

My favorite subjects can usually be found in the New Age/Metaphysics section of any book store. Over the years I have read and watched some pretty awesome things. I have also encountered some totally outrageous perspectives. Two of my favorite authors that are currently offering their information are Christopher Knowles and Daniel Pinchbeck. Each has dedicated themself to their respective subject matters and made a huge difference in my life. I also truly appreciate the sacrifices that many other researchers all over the world are making in attempts to both figure out our universe and help us in it.

When I wrote the song Shutting Eyes, I had been reading Pinchbeck's Evolver and Knowle's blog The Secret Sun, drawing inspiration from both.

As we approach 2012 we are being bombarded with conspiracy theories, ancient predictions and fringe science. It seems as if every day there is a new discovery of a planet, sighting of a UFO or birds mysteriously falling out of the sky. Here in Oakland we experienced a record high temperature recently and then this weekend had a record low. All over the world the weather seems to be acting strangely. Is it the response of a too long neglected Earth? The coming of Nibiru? A pole shift?

It could be that maybe Earth HAS reached its tolerable limit and The Annunaki ARE hurtling towards us on Planet-X bent on enslaving humanity (with the help of the Bushes, Windsors and Freemasons), and maybe the Earth's crust IS about to shift turning north to south, sending us all into a primal panic as buildings, mountains and societies collapse.

Some believe that we shall experience a shift on the vibrational level. This shift could potentially result in a greater understanding of our planet, universe, ourselves and each other. After all, they are all the same thing.

I am a fan of that particular thought process and what I have come to learn is that every single thing we do matters. Every thank you, every fuck you, every love you and every hate you. Somewhere on the vibrational level--EVERY SINGLE THING MATTERS!!!

What does this mean? It means that our thoughts and actions should be positive and aimed at helping ourselves, others, the planet and the universe. By doing this the world that we create through our vibrations becomes not only easier to live in but potentially a perfect manifestation of our own fantastic haven.

The way I think of it is that the coming shifts are like a boat. The boat is leaving the dock and that is a definite. All people are welcome on the boat. The thing is though, you have to be open minded. Those that cling to the past will be left on the shores. We are all going to get soaked so its just a matter of riding the wave or rebuilding sand houses.

Not every self-conversing, filthy homeless guy is a woebegone time traveler lost and stuck in the wrong universe. But some are!

Here are the lyrics to Shutting Eyes. I am putting them on here because I am egotistical I guess. Why else do people publish lyrics? Maybe you can print em and make a cd booklet to go with your free download of the song. I'd be impressed if you did. Honored too. Well thanks for reading and see ya when we're all levitating.

Shutting Eyes, The Friday Morning EP

Catapult me to another continent with no

parachute or jet pack to spirit me on home

just leave the instructions from the birds

those sacred words

that were handed through the ages and that some had thought absurd

the codes are making sense and

to comprehend the dense plans

leaves you with the power to take flight but with your own hands

no wings are necessary

no engine filled with oil slick

no laws of physics could explain the magic or the trick

send me into deep space out into the clouds so

I could fly so high its only where the highest birds go

aviation secrets that the elders were protecting

every human able to transform into a zeppelin

satellites and planets in our grasp like climbing trees

and to grab the stars perhaps would be like touching falling leaves

unleash me to the forest in a trail thats overgrown

and is yearning to be tread again to take travelers home.

Tumbling down the rabbit hole

facing your true naked soul

feelings that we can't control

turning our warm bodies cold

Shutting Eyes

Shutting Eyes

One day this universe will become obsolete

sweet technicolor sights make the present tense complete

weightless from responsiblity and gravity

stars and shooting stars inside visions vividly

filling up the files of the mind across the seas

of the concsious and unconcious now replaced by galaxies

letting go, reaching out, shutting eyes, shutting eyes

in the know, for the show, Shutting Eyes, Shutting Eyes

in the flow, so we go Shutting Eyes, Shutting Eyes

Aim to leave the atmosphere

head towards a new hemisphere

criss cross the equator lines just to throw off any tracks

once your gone no coming back

floating out to some nowhere

aspire to be aware

follow the natural signs

mind is mind and fact is fact

Shutting Eyes exhale relax

Visualize the options here

everything is now so clear

reaching that enlightened mind

constantly in constellations

synchronizing situations

living on a different time

losing every sense of fear

seeing things as they appear

yet knowing their true equation

Shutting Eyes feel elation

-David Downey Jr.

Time Flies

DAMN!, 2011 is already a month and a half done and I'm just getting to my first post of what all expect to be an illustrious year. The new year is a like a week. Sunday is January and you have all these hopes and plans for a successful time period. Monday is February where you realize that the year is already one month deep and your plans have gone untouched. Tuesday is April and its too nice out to be bothered with difficult personal goals. Wednesday is June and its all half over with. Not much progress. Thursday is August and SHIT!, the airs getting hot in here with all this pressure of dreams deferred. Friday is October, the beginning of the last quarter so FUCK IT!, put your mask on and party. Saturday is December and its all over. Looking back it was fun. Some thoughts got published while others were left unedited.

There is always next year. Or...maybe...just maybe the mantra "time doesn't exist" will be on perpetual repeat allowing all desired visions to manifest into reality.

The thing is no matter how we try to quantify it. Days, Weeks, Months. Time Flies but it does not exist.

-David Downey, Jr.