Yo! 49th peril on TV and Youtube

check it:
youtube.com/watch
This segment aired on Shaw cable's Pass da Mic show this week.
We're playing this Monday the 11th at the Lamplighter - we're on first, at around 10pm (so no need to be tired the next morning for work!). I've got a bunch of tickets for five bux a pop if you're down - I'm supposed to sell them ahead of time. Also playing New Music West next Thursday at Crush Lounge on Granville...on first at 9:30pm.

Thanks for the support and for humouring my rap-star aspirations:
-Brian

Contents under pressure - open with caution

Shit's been a little crazy lately.
In that breathing-from-the-top-1/3-of-your-chest sorta way
High output, getting shit done
which of course is the prime directive
of my deeply embedded protestant work ethic
which somehow got flipped
in the service of revolution somewhere along the way
this same ancestry would tell me
to move into guilt or shame
at taking too much on
but my head's already poked out of the rabbit's hole
and I've seen another way
at least I can see myself getting crazy
and giggle at it, even when in the middle of it
mindfulness, what a gift
sat with Noah Levine while he was here
nice to ground out in my meditation practice, like:
"oh yeahhh, I actually feel way better when I practice."
go figure.

I'm working as program director at an alternative school for high risk youth with high behavioral needs
Trying to stay present and available for fam and friends
working on my MA in counselling psych
and holding down two music projects:
myspace.com/49thperil
myspace.com/cascabella23
Heading down to Northern Cali and all points between for a West Coast tour with Cascabella, starting next Friday
I'm *stoked* about that

Been connecting with old friends thru facebook from the church / cult I was part of growing up
and that's a little crazy
I think heads are being scratched
and prayers for my soul are abundant
and that's really sweet even if misguided

That's me.
love:
b

punk-ass meditation teacher in town this week!

Please forward widely

Meditation teacher Noah Levine will be visiting Vancouver this week and doing a number of talks and retreats. Noah, author of Dharma Punx and Against the Stream, is a Buddhist teacher, author and counselor. He is trained to teach by Jack Kornfield of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. Noah teaches meditation classes, workshops and retreats throughout North America, as well as leading groups in juvenile halls and prisons. Noah holds a masters degree in counseling psychology from CIIS. He has studied with many prominent teachers in both the Theravadan and Mahayanan Buddhist traditions. He's a teacher of mine and a friend - I can vouch for him being a hilarious and wise teacher.

Noah's story is much like many of ours. His search for meaning led him first to punk rock, drugs, drinking, and dissatisfaction. But the search didn't end there. Having clearly seen the uselessness of drugs and violence, Noah looked for positive ways to channel his rebellion against what he saw as the lies of society. Fueled by his anger and so much injustice and suffering, Levine now uses that energy and the practice of Buddhism to awaken natural wisdom and compassion. Noah has started a movement called Dharma Punx, represented by a network of meditation groups throughout North America.

Here is a list of the events this week, please forward widely to spread the word. All experience levels are welcome. If you've thought about meditation but weren't sure where to start, this could be it.

Thursday, October 18th 7:00-9:30pm
Dharma talk at the Vancouver Masonic Temple
1495 W. 8th Avenue
Vancouver, BC- $15.00

Friday, October 19th 7:30-9:00pm
Free dharma talk at the Japanese Language School
475 Alexander Street
Vancouver, BC

Saturday, October 20th, 9:30am – 2:00pm
A meditation session with Noah
presented by local meditation crew DIY Dharma
Maritime Labour Centre
1880 Triumph (at Victoria)
Vancouver, BC
free (donations encouraged)
bring your own cushions / blankets (for sitting), and bag lunch

Sunday, October 21st, 2007 10am-4:00pm
Full-Day Meditation Workshop (Lunch Included)
The Orchard Recovery Center
811 Grafton Road
Bowen Island, BC- $80.00
(Free Ferry Shuttle offered from Horseshoe Bay)

Register here for Sunday event:

orchardrecovery.com/2007_noah_levine.php

All other events, just show up!

Thanks:
-Brian Williams
DIY Dharma

an update, of sorts

Don't you hate it when people stop blogging and never update their profiles?
...and then when they do finally blog, they don't really have much to say?

yeah, me too.

ahem.

49th Peril - new dubstep/grime/hiphop tracks

check the new tracks by my crew 49th Peril:
myspace.com/49thperil
east van rebel rhymes for end times

vocal vibrations

People, my people:
It seems I have something to say.

Ancient voice bursts forth in lyrical phrases
Open up let go and new synapse blazes
Ego collapse flow rearranges mental mazes
wag chin as arcs connect Marx to Kuan Yin.
Vibration of the chords through the mic recordin

I'm enthralled with the use of voice at this point in my life.

My post-hardcore band, Cascabella ( myspace.com/cascabella23 ) is tearing it up, with shows coming up this Saturday night (August 4th, 10pm) at Pub 340, and at Under the Volcano on Sunday August 12th (2pm, Waterfront stage). This is really intense/cathartic music, but unlike past punk bands I've been part of, I'm not raging so much as just releasing. I find myself smiling my way through our set and just letting go. Feels great.

49th Peril, my grime/hiphop/dubstep crew, has also got a lot going on. We're heading in to the Hive recording studio tonight, mixing our debut album, so that's super exciting. Our CD release party is on Friday August 17th at the Lamplighter with a bunch of other underground VanCity MCs. We're also down for playing at parties, either just jumping on the mic (especially during dubstep or hiphop sets) or throwing down our own set. If you're interested, hit me up. I'll post a myspace link once we get our shit mixed this week.

Lastly, as some of you know, I've put out the intention to do some voicework for animation. I've been goofing around with impressions and silly voices ever since I was a little kid. I was inspired by Maggie Blue and others to do something with it while I'm off work this summer. So I took a voice acting class and got a demo CD out of the deal. I'll be refining my material and recording at home, then will shop around my demo to some agents. Who knows, you'll be watching the new He-Man one day and "WTF?! That sounds like Brian!" HA!

Thanks for all the support as I pursue these dreams.

Engaged!

Yup.
I'm one of "them"
I'm engaged.
To be married.
Official stylez.
To my soul-mate Jessy.
Figured, we know we're gonna be together for this lifetime, may as well make it official on Robert's Creek beach next August and then have a fun party after.
Sound good?

(in) love:
-Brian

Faith

Faith

One of the downsides of overcoming a fundamentalist christian upbringing is the loss of faith.
As I cleaned up my spiritual harddrive all through my twenties, certain faith codes got deleted along with the religion. One of the great challenges of my thirties is restoring some of that faith – in myself, in others, in a higher power.

I was at the Sasquatch Festival down in Washington State last weekend. It was BOILING hot Sunday morning, but then this crazy cold northern wind blew in and the temperature dropped twenty degrees. People had dressed for the heat, so everyone was soon shivering and they had to close mainstage for awhile due to high winds. The MC came on the mic and said “Fuck the wind!”
Later that evening, Spearhead played. Michael Franti said “Dude, don't fuck the wind, embrace the wind brother!” And seriously, within half an hour, people were dancing and no longer cold. Then the wind totally died down the temperature came up. It was like magic. I'm not suggesting that Michael Franti is so dope that he can control the wind. But it did serve as a powerful metaphor for the power of positive thinking. That dude knows whatsup in terms of the evil that's afoot, but he stays resolutely hopeful and respectful about it all. I was really blown away by their set for that reason.

I'm faced with that sort of faith right now. I've reached a point in my life where I recognize that I'm much too busy to maintain my relationship and my mental health. Working full-time, going to school to train as a psychotherapist, two music projects, and most importantly family, have got me over-committed and stretched thin. Something's gotta give. I'm thinking it's my job. I've been at it for five years at the alternative school where I work, love the kids, have learned and grown tons, but can feel myself burning out after ten years of youth work. Might be time to take a leap of faith into one-to-one counselling work. I feel skilled enough to go for it. Better pay, less hours, moving in the direction of my career. Financially, it's scary. I've got bills to pay – rent, child support, school ($13000 / year!). My car broke down and I'm car-dependent in order to see Drewyn regularly. So the pressure is on.
Do I go the safe route and stay with my salaried job, or
Do I take the leap, ask my job to lay me off, unsure if I'll get EI to carry me over?

peace:
-Brian