can you fancy a fag mate?

hey i guess i can start using this thing again since we're back on tour!

im sitting in the back lounge of our bus parked outside the venue 'barfly' in liverpool (we have all day since we're off) bumming internet from someone.

this tour has been so insanely awesome and all the shows have been so sweet and this bus is awesome (its our first one!) and the t's are an awesome band to share it with.

pictures and more stories are coming - but i am exhauuuusted and thought i was going to write more - but i will soon.

cheers.

-josh

2006 In Review

Top 30 Records of 2006:
(in order)
1. Underoath - Define The Great Line
2. Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
3. Hellogoodbye - Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!
4. New Found Glory - Coming Home
5. The Killers - Sam's Town
6. Saves The Day - Sound The Alarm
7. Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now
8. The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine
9. Copeland - Eat, Sleep, Repeat
10. Park - Building A Better _____
11. Quietdrive - When All That's Left is You
12. Valencia - This Could Be A Possibility
13. Ester Drang - Rocinate
14. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
15. Mute Math - Mute Math
16. As Tall As Lions - As Tall As Lions
17. Blackpool Lights - This Town's Disaster
18. The Early November - The Mother, The Mechanic, and The Path
19. The Format - Dog Problems
20. Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel As School Children
21. Jay-Z - Kingdom Come
22. Keane - Under The Iron Sea
23. Moneen - The Red Tree
24. Nelly Furtado - Loose
25. Norma Jean - Redeemer
26. The Outline - You Smash It, We'll Build Around It
27. This Day & Age - The Bell and The Hammer
28. Red Light Green Light - Music Theory Is For Suckers
29. The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You
30. Owen - At Home With Owen

Honorable Mentions:
Spitalfield - Better Than Knowing Where You Are
This Providence - This Providence
Thursday - A City By The Light Divided
Umbrellas - Illuminare

Top 5 EPs/Demos of 2006:
1. Envy On The Coast - EP
2. Sherwood - The Summer EP
3. A Hero From A Thousand Paces - Mistakes EP
4. Hopefield - Before You Go EP
5. House of Fools - EP

Top 3 Records that are lasting from 2005:
1. Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites
2. Josh Rouse - Nashville
3. Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal

Top 10 Most Anticipated Records of 2007:
1. The Appleseed Cast (EP)
2. Self Against City
3. Relient K
4. Young Love
5. Mae
6. Anberlin
7. Sherwood
8. The Chariot
9. Secret Lives of the Freemasons
10. Houston Calls?

Top 5 Best Movies of 2006:
1. Borat
2. Jackass Number Two
3. Thank You For Smoking
4. The Science of Sleep
5. Click

Top 5 Best TV Shows of 2006:
1. Entourage
2. Dexter
3. Law & Order: CI & SVU
4. Project Runway
5. The Office

Top 5 Best Venues to Play of 2006:
1. Festival Hall - Melbourne, AU
2. The Tivoli - Brisbane, AU
3. Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
4. Hurricanes The Bar - Brownsville, TX
5. House of Blues - Chicago, IL

Top 5 Best Shows of 2006:
1. Festival Hall & Bang! - Melbourne, AU (March 18, 2006)
2. The Tivoli - Brisbane, AU (March 23, 2006)
3. Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN (August 11, 2006)
4. Hurricanes The Bar - Brownsville, TX (July 23, 2006)
5. House of Blues - Chicago, IL (June 13, 2006)

Top 5 Most Anticipated Events of 2007:
1. Hellogoodbye UK Tour in Jan
2. Australia Trip #2 in Feb
3. Recording and Releasing Our Sophomore Record
4. Bamboozle 2007
5. Warped Tour 2007?

been at home...

hey everyone. just thought i would swing by with a small update on what we've been up to...

all of the band has been happily settled down at home since the end of the quietdrive tour. although we have seen a lot of the quietdrives and the self against citys since the tour's end.

we have been practicing quite a bit and pumping out a couple new jams recently, and we've also been demoing them in our new garage practice space behind jarrett and tom's new home. we've had a few interruptions but for the most part it has been going rather swimmingly.

as for shows and touring, we got the chance to play with fountains of wayne at georgetown university in washington dc, which was a good time for all. and we have 2 appearances coming up here in october - one this weekend on the 22nd in red bank, new jersey for the 'red bank rocks' music festival with a buttload of bands from jersey. i think we play last, it should be real fun. also we are playing a show the following weekend in allentown, pennsylvania at the croc rock for halloween! there is also quite a few bands playing that one, but again we play last and i would love to see some familiar faces out to see us!

i believe we are trying to put together a few shows for the first half of december - im not sure what areas we are hitting but you can probably expect a christmas show in new jersey, that's a strong possibility.

in other news we do have somewhat of an exciting announcement coming soon - i can't disclose any details yet, but trust me, it's pretty freakin sweet.

and well i guess that's all. i myself am here in ypslanti, michigan visiting my ever lovely girlfriend rachel for the week, it has been fabulous.

take care everyone, talk to you all soon

<3 josh

flying by

so im sitting here on the 18th of august 2006 nearing the end of our first national headlining tour. its absolutely nutty to see how well it has gone thus far. i honestly couldnt have asked for more. we have one of the biggest shows of tour tomorrow in birch run, michigan - its called dirt fest and we will be joined by our tourmates quietdrive, self against city, and let go as well as some amazing friends in valencia, june, the junior varsity, royden, the sleeping, tokyo rose, and more. how exciting.

i am pumped for the shows that lead us home as well. cleveland, wilton, boston, philly, long island, and jersey will all be more fun than i can handle i assume. and in case you didnt notice, at the end of september we are playing georgetown university in washington, dc with FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE... haha that should be interesting considering we've never played washington, dc... let alone with the pioneers of 'stacy's mom'.

so in summary this tour has been amazing and we've been able to share it with some new and old friends but definitely friendships that will last a long long time. and as for quietdrive, i wouldn't rather spend almost two months with any other band. you dudes are the best ever.

thats all for now. tune in next time for more ramblings of mine on life and tour and writing and who knows.

<3 josh

texas is hotter than hell, cayman islands.

texas show summary:

garland: so fun, got to see so many friends and play in the biggest vfw i have ever seen.

houston: suprised the shit out of everyone. turned out to be an amazing show that was real hot.

san marcos: added on the show last minute - but still did well considering the turnout.

mc allen: best show of the tour so far - kids went nuts in that little hot vfw. props to everyone down in mc allen. we'll see you soon.

brownsville: an amazing night with amazing fans, staff, bar, food, sound, club, etc etc - words cannot describle the caliber of this evening.

san antonio: really hot and not the best room to play in - but good show nonetheless.

amarillo: still yet to happen - im in the venue writing this as we speak.

thanks to dave melillo and band for an awesome time. we'll miss you so much.

this tour rules, as does quietdrive, and everything that has happened thus far.

more to come...

the rulingest

ok so i havent written since the daphne/paulson/hof tour ended and the june/js/jv/atal tour began.

the daphne tour was so fun - i can say with confidence everyone on that tour was my friend. it was so fun and laid back, and the shows suprised everyone pretty much every night.

now here i am, in about the middle of the tour we're on with june, just surrender, the junior varsity, and as tall as lions. this tour is amazing. every band is awesome - i love watching everyone everynight. the people, priceless - old friends and new amazing friends are making this tour one of the best. it will be a sad day when its over.

i get a 3 week break after this tour and before the next. lets hang out - im going to be gone for a long time. then starts our NEW RECORD! yes thats right, this fall we are writing the new record (which has technically already begun) but i couldnt be more happy.

and maybe you'll hear a new song this summer on the headliner.... just maybe.

so come see us and me and everyone and music and hang out and bro down and have a absolute blast.

<3 joshua

onnn the road again...

so im sitting here at the keigers' (bob and bonnie's) home in simpsonville, south carolina - relaxing after an exciting day of sleeping, croquet (dont knock it until you try it), delicious dinner, wine, cake, and shiner bock.

let me definitely say that the last 4 shows have been real awesome - and i am so happy to be sharing them with the 3 other bands on this tour who are all amazing people and musicians - and as well as my best buddy since high school tim peck who is behind merch until june 17th (say hi to him, he rules!).

tomorrow is atlanta which brings back the worst of memories - but also shall be good, the masquerade is a good time so im pretty excited regardless of previous events there.

im so happy to be back playing shows everyday. this is my life - this is what i love, and i will be doing this pretty much all summer. look for our tour dates, which are being updated regularly, for our very first headlining tour with quietdrive, dave melillo, the summer obsession, self against city, and let go - this summer!

dang i love life. and i love you all.

brew doggie bro jam gnar brah dude.

hi.

section a.
i cant wait to leave on friday for tour. ive been home for too long and i cant stand being broke. i hope that you all [the readers] attend our fun live appearances all across the united states [minus the pacific northwest which will be hit later this summer].

section b.
i attended the bamboozle festival saturday only [thanks to the beautiful men in valencia]. it was a good time [tom and jarrett were also in attendence]. we sold 125 limited edition hcalls shirts which ruled. i met some awesome people from bands i look up to at the red bull cocktail lounge. i got a free meal. i got free shoes. and i saw a bunch of bands. notables would be: minus the bear, valencia, paramore, hidden in plain view, the rocket summer, thursday, and fall out boy [who i am not a huge fan of, but ruled saturday night]. bands i missed because of alcohol: this day & age, just surrender, chiodos.

section c.
party with me on tour. plan parties. invite josh. hang out. bro down.

section d.
i bought a new crash cymbal today... 21" sweet ride. i now own ZERO crashes. its kinda gnarly.

section e.
we now play with a sampler live. so its like a serious dance party. you wouldnt want to miss out.

section f.
ive been watching the sopranos even though i hate their new york accents - im getting sucked in, help.

good day all. talk to you soon.
<3 josh mcgrigs

shibuya city hotel lobby

so today marks the day of our last show in japan. this place is so amazing. everyone is so nice and everything is so incredibly different. unfortunately it:s like 7:30am here, i cant sleep because of the time difference. tonights show is with both socratic and let go. i cant wait - both awesome bands with awesome dudes. i do however wish i could get rid of this stupid cold. no good no good. but i have a time limit online here... its 100 yen for 10 minutes, and ive spent 200 yen so far - so im not trying to make this a huge internet visit, just checking up on a few things. hope to see some of you next weekend...

love, josh

so far this year...

things have been going amazing. we just got done our first headlining tour with Just Surrender and Tokyo Rose. it was WAY better than ANYONE expected. thanks to every single person who came out to see all of us play - all of the bands appreciated it more than anything. both bands we're some of the best people we have ever toured with. it was an amazing time had by all.

highlights:
akron scandals
snow snow snow
-24 degrees in la crosse
party in madison
wheaton's 400 kids
beer can stack ontop of a head
the quality inn in lansing's conference room party
sold out philly - 200 kids
applebees bellmore
sold out wilmington - 400 kids

now im waiting anxiously until wednesday when we fly to japan for our and my own first overseas experience. wow.

lots of exciting tour news coming... so stay tuned :)