CD-R #6: Tomas L. Acosta (Moxiebeat, New Ruin, SHUT EYE, among others)

A day late, but all the more worth it: the sixth CD-R is one by one of the Inland Empire's finest, Tomas Acosta. In my youth, I was not a fan of the Inland Empire. Being from Orange County, I thought it was too far, too out of the way, and too desolate. For those who are not familiar with Southern California geography, the I.E. is a region made up of eastern LA County, southwestern San Bernardino County, and western Riverside County. From my hometown of Yorba Linda, it was about a half hour drive. Honestly, not that far out of the way, but for some reason, I grew a vague disliking to the area for many years. It wasn't until I was 19 and saw Ian MacKaye do a Q&A at UC Riverside that I started to shift my opinion of the area. I finally realized the gem that it was when I started seeing the bands from there. Moxiebeat was one that absolutely floored me. To this day one of the five loudest bands I've seen, Moxiebeat pummeled any room they played in to the ground with blunt volume and razor-like attacks. Behind the two guitar amp stacks and the two bass amp fridges sat a dude on a clear acrylic drumset, holding this insane ship together. I didn't really get to know Tomas until Fugue started playing with his other band SHUT EYE, but I felt a real kinship when I started to see the bands we shared nerdom to. Again, Tomas is someone that I probably could've been friends with a lot earlier if I had just gotten over to myself and gone to more shows out in the I.E. in my teens.

I like all of Tomas' bands quite a bit, and when I found out he and I went to the same Paul McCartney concert at Dodgers Stadium in 2014, I knew we had more and more in common. He's my regular go-to for guitar equipment, and it helps that he's at one time owned every guitar I've had an interest in. He's an example of a person who loves music for the sake of it, even if the payoff isn't necessarily in the way you'd hope. He and I met through our bands playing together, and in my opinion it's my favorite way to meet people. I have met amazing people through playing music, and the music lays the foundation for a connection to last for years to come. Playing music isn't necessarily unique nowadays, but you'll make friends that probably never would have if you didn't.

In Tomas' own words on his CD-R:

"Here's some songs... by a regular assed guy. But who and why isn't important. Music to me has always been key. It's been there since before I literally could actually remember and I've always thought that it could be anything you make it. Powerful, sad, funny, groovy, druggy, sober, paranoid, straight laced, political and even sometimes offensive. Playing music has always been something I've done almost out of habit, even if it isn't the best for me. It's why we stay at shitty jobs for too long so we don't have to worry about starting a new one and losing paid time off. It's why we drive 300 miles for 50 dollars. Sometimes it's not sane and sometimes it is, here's some songs that you might like but you also might hate. Take as needed..."

As always, below are the individual tracks for you non-Spotify-ers

1. Colour Revolt - Mattress Underwater
2. The Jesus Lizard - Nub
3. Migos - T-Shirt
4. The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual
5. Autolux - Junk For Code
6. Slayer - Piece By Piece
7. George Harrison - Wah-Wah
8. Starflyer 59 - When I Learn To Sing
9. Discover America - There Is No Dana
10. Melvins - Honey Bucket
11. The Notorious B.I.G. - What's Beef
12. Blonde Redhead - Bipolar
13. Fugazi - Epic Problem
14. Sonic Youth - Schizophrenia
15. Craft - Earth A Raging Blaze
16. My Bloody Valentine - What You Want
17. The Cure - High
18. Hum - I Hate It Too

You can here Moxiebeat here. You can hear New Ruin here. You can hear SHUT EYE here.

Photo by Wayne Ballard.