The Christmas Lights release music video for ‘Out Into The Dark’ October 9, 2011
Posted by johnthrasher in Music.Tags: John Thrasher, MTV TJ, The Christmas Lights
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One of my favorite things in the world is when The Christmas Lights release a new music video. You may remember when I promoted them as part of an MTV TJ challenge last year. They have a new video out, just in time for Halloween, for their latest song “Out Into The Dark.” Check it out below and follow The Christmas Lights on Facebook and Twitter (@TheXmasLights)!
If you like what you hear, you can download their music on iTunes. Check out their website too, www.christmaslightsmusic.com
My Strong Feelings About Jersey Shore and Domestic Abuse January 28, 2011
Posted by johnthrasher in Equality, MTV TJ, Music, Personally John, Political, Social Media, technology, Television, ThrasherTechnoTrash.Tags: domestic abuse, Jersey Shore, MTV, MTV TJ
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First of all, if you haven’t watched last night’s Jersey Shore episode, go watch it now before reading this post.
I watched last night’s Jersey Shore and was reminded as to why I should never have started watching it in the first place.
Yes, I know that this show has been blatantly offensive from day 1…but for some reason, last night’s episode really made me stop and think, “Why am I watching this?”
Whether it was Sammi sucker punching Ronnie in the face, or the misogynistic humiliation of the girls in the house, using “grenade whistles,” I found myself waiting for the redeeming quality of the show at the end. I was hoping at some point a producer steps in and says, “You can’t be here, you’re a danger to your roommates” a la the Real World days (though Real World is produced by a different production company than Jersey Shore). Though some of this has happened before, it was never under simple circumstances. Ronnie is sitting there minding his own business, trying to ignore this girl who clearly needs professional mental help, and he gets punched in the face! That’s quite different than getting punched in the face at a crowded bar full of belligerent drunks. And speaking of…
The shot where Snooki gets punched in the face at a bar during last season’s Jersey Shore NEVER made it to air. They ran the clip in a promo, there was outrage, and it was cut from the show before it aired.
NOT TO MENTION…MTV’s Teen Mom cast member Amber Portwood was charged for 3 counts of domestic abuse for her televised rage towards her baby’s father and was sent to jail!!
So hey MTV, why then is it okay to air Sammi’s domestic abuse incident and not Snooki’s punch? After the Amber Portwood incident, shouldn’t MTV be a little more socially and ethically aware of the ramifications of airing non-scripted domestic abuse on-air!? If anything to protect their shows’ credibilities?
The misogynistic undertones of this show I can at least not get too confused about – this shit is happening in A LOT more television than Jersey Shore. However, domestic abuse in any situation, even Jersey Shore, should not be taken lightly. If MTV is going to air the Real World, Road Rules, and the Challenges – where if people are abusive they are sent home, why then are they not doing it for the Jersey Shore? Which is the standard ethical protocol, MTV?
Though maybe this is what MTV wants…people like me to ask questions and blog about the issues I find offensive on television!
I asked my friend Gabi, who is the MTV TJ, about why she thought last night’s episode was her favorite. I implied that the domestic abuse and heightened misogynistic undertones (even for Jersey Shore) seemed to be very against the type of message she so courageously and admirably speaks about – not only in her Young, Fat, and Fabulous blog but on her MTV TJ blog as well. This post and this post are two great examples of why I am a champion for her. Gabi and I have also talked about similar issues because I think she is a fantastic representation of a young, confident, intelligent woman who is sure of herself and what she stands for. Gabi’s response was basically that this has all happened before on the Jersey Shore, and that the abuse and misogyny is nothing new. It even yielded a You-Go-And-Get-Him! response from one of mine and Gabi’s mutual friends!
I totally get that it’s nothing new, but that doesn’t make it okay. Racism and discrimination is nothing new, but that doesn’t make it okay either (I also know those are larger issues, but you get the point). What does it say that some of us find the domestic abuse on this show to be entertaining?? And what makes Sammi’s punch any less of a serious offense than Amber Portwood’s?
In the end Gabi, someone whose opinion I admire and trust, suggested that I could stop watching the show. But, if anything I am going to continue watching the show so that I know exactly what other sorts of unethical things are going on with the show that all of America seems to have fallen in love with! And to try to wrap my brain around why Amber Portwood gets charged with 3 counts of domestic abuse but Sammi doesn’t…and why people seem to think that I’m insane for asking these questions. It’s a modern marvel if you ask me!
I also feel a responsibility to post the national domestic abuse hotline number, because if you or anyone you know (EXCEPT REALITY TV STARS APPARENTLY) is being abused, you can call 1−800−799−SAFE(7233). Check out www.thehotline.org for more information on domestic abuse and educate yourself on a serious offense that plagues families across the world.
The MTV TJ is Time’s No.8 Twitter Moment of 2010! December 9, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in App Talk, Geek Talk, iPhone, Social Media, technology, ThrasherTechnoTrash.Tags: Gabi Gregg, John Thrasher, MTV, MTV TJ, Time
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Wow! Big congrats and celebration to my former competitor and now friend Gabi Gregg for landing in at No.8 in Time Magazine’s Top 10 Twitter Moments of 2010.
I didn’t know that they even did a Top 10 Twitter moments, but obviously this one would make the cut! I’m honored and excited to have been a part of this competition with Gabi! She’s a great person with a lot of personality!
Check out the article here.
Behind the Scenes of the MTV TJ Weekend! August 13, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in MTV TJ, Personally John.Tags: MTV, MTV TJ
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My fellow MTV TJ, and now very good friend, AnnetteMTorres took a bunch of behind the scenes footage from the weekend and compiled it in to this pretty awesome video. I only got to hang out with the TJs on Saturday evening, and then briefly at the finale on Sunday but Annette managed to get some awesome video!
Thanks Annette!
MTV TJ Journey Is Over: Thank You Times A Million July 23, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in Equality, Geek Talk, Movies/Film, MTV TJ, Personally John, Political, technology, Television.Tags: equality, Lt. Dan Choi, MTV, MTV TJ, Pink is the new Blog, The Christmas Lights
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Well folks, that’s a wrap! After a very long, exhausting couple of months, my journey to be the first ever MTV TJ has ended. MTV announced their Top 5 today, and sadly I didn’t make the cut. I found out last night that I didn’t make the top 5, and was able to spend some of that time just thinking about the whole situation. I was stunned because I thought I did a really great job throughout the competition: there wasn’t much I would change looking back now. But, MTV and American Express had their eyes set on a certain group of people, so it is what it is! I don’t regret anything and am happy to have been thought of for the competition.
Before I start thanking everyone, I will say that I will be at the live finale in NYC on August 8th at 10PM on MTV. MTV was kind enough to invite all 20 of us regardless of the results, so I thought it would be a cool way to spend a Sunday night! Plus, it gives me the chance to meet some of these amazing candidates that I got to know so well over the last couple of weeks.
First and foremost I have to thank all of the complete strangers who came out of nowhere and showed such unwavering support for me. It was truly overwhelming to see so many people I’ve never met come forward for #TeamThrasher and making #JT4TJ such a huge success. Some of these strangers were the amazing listeners of my favorite podcast, Smart Mouths. I was only on one time and you guys took to your Twitters, Facebooks, blogs, YouTube channels, and really made me feel like a full blown celebrity! I can’t thank you enough for all of that support, and hopefully I will be on Smart Mouths again sometime in the future to thank you personally.
My friends have been really amazing through this. My coworkers were my biggest fans and made me feel like a million dollars every time I came to work. They bought shirts, voted, tagged me in Facebook posts, and Amanda even threatened to break up with her boyfriend if he didn’t vote for me yesterday. That’s pretty intense. Thank you guys so much for helping me through this amazing process!
I also have to say a special thank you to Trent Vanegas, writer of Pink is the New Blog, and a VERY loyal, amazing, handsome, intelligent friend, for helping promote me in any means he could. Seeing my face on his blog with pink stars was one of the most exciting parts of this whole competition. His blog is part of the pop culture equation, and to be a special part of it is something I’ll be proud of forever! Thank you Trent, you’re seriously amazing, and I wouldn’t have done as well in this competition without you (and your bff Milo Ventimiglia).
I also want to say a special thank you to the guys in The Christmas Lights for being so supportive and cooperative with me on such a moment’s notice. I think it was a fun couple of days, and I can’t wait to see what you guys do next. You’re going to be huge!
Of all of the things relating to this challenge, I have to say that getting an American hero like Lt. Dan Choi to support me was by far the most rewarding. I walk away from this experience knowing that I helped him in his advocacy and his fight, in my own little way. That’s more than I could ever ask for coming from an online social media competition. Thanks Lt. Choi!
Finally, I have to say that I never thought in a million years that I would become such good friends with people in such a bizarre, unusual way. But somehow, the other TJ’ers and I really connected, and had so much fun getting to know each other the last couple of weeks. Although I was already friends with Elizabethany before this competition started (how crazy!?), she and I definitely became much closer and continued to spend our nights talking about ridiculous things in to the wee hours of the morning. Special love goes to Ryan C. And a special ‘booty drop’ goes to Dan! You guys are great! As you can see from the photo above, we all had a great time through this process, even though we were in all different corners of the country, in various time zones, and in various states of mind.
So what’s next for me? There’s no stopping me now. I’ve got a taste of what I can achieve, and really got an outside view on exactly how I can expand upon what I already know. There’s lots of exciting stuff coming from me in the future (including things I’ve already started working on). So keep your eyes peeled, and keep your fingers crossed that eventually I’ll make even more of my dreams come true!
MTV TJ Challenge 3 – Christmas Lights in July! July 14, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in Uncategorized.Tags: Alternative Press, Blink-182, John Thrasher, MTV, MTV TJ, Paramore, StyleCaster, The Christmas Lights, The Daily Athenaeum, West Virginia University, WVU
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Wow you guys really loved The Christmas Lights! I knew that you would. For challenge 3, we were asked to find a local band and promote them as much as we possibly could in 3 days. That’s right 3 days!
First up, you guys should check out the interview I did with Kenny and Derek via iChat! They were such great interviewees, and you learn a lot about what it was like being on tour, what pop music guilty pleasures Kenny has, and Derek’s advice for up and coming bands trying to break on to the scene:
The Christmas Lights also saved this opportunity to debut their brand spanking new stop-motion video! The video is for my favorite song of theirs, Getting Born. As expected this video (and song) will keep your eyes glued to the screen:
I had a lot of success on the first day of the challenge when I linked The Christmas Lights story on Alternative Press to my website and Twitter. Within only a few hours we were able to make The Christmas Lights the 5th most trending topic on Alternative Press’ website!
Not only was that a big deal, but The Christmas Lights knocked off Paramore as the 5th most trending band, and was only right behind Blink-182! Those are some huge names to compete with, but I always knew these guys were amazing! Being featured on Alternative Press is quite a huge deal for any unsigned band. These guys were getting some serious exposure and it was all because you trusted me to deliver very talented, exciting new music.
Today, July 14th, my college newspaper from WVU, The Daily Athenaeum ran an awesome story about these guys and who they are as artists. Though their music really speaks for itself, I also give my 2 cents as to why I chose them for this challenge. Below is a screen shot, and link to the PDF where you can download and read it yourself! The article features a brief interview from vocalist Kenny Tompkins. The great think about this article is that The Daily Athenaeum is ranked the No.4 college newspaper in the country! This newspaper goes live to 15,000 circulation, and this summer will reach 6,000 more online! That’s some major press for a very talented and deserving band.
The Daily Athenaeum also featured The Christmas Lights, and the MTV TJ competition, on their Arts and Entertainment blog. Click here to check out the story online! (Also feel free to repost it on your Facebook!)
Another exciting story ran on Next Music Online’s website! A fan of the band, and friend of mine, wrote a nice little blurb to the site hoping that viewers would check out the very popular stop-animation video for “Show Your Teeth.” Though they stole my headline I had been saving for this post, it’s still worth the read! 
Click here for that article!
Finally the nice folks over at StyleCaster have a really cool article running this Friday where they asked the band to come up with their Top 10 favorite songs at the moment. I’ll save the entire 10 for when the article is published, but here are 5 songs that The Christmas Lights are listening to right now:
1. The National – Conversation 16
“This song makes us feel like we’ve just read a Bret Easton Ellis novel. We’ve listened to it everyday this summer.”
2. Circa Survive – Strange Terrain
“We toured with these guys and sang this song with them every night. It brings back alot of great memories. I challenge you to not relate to this song.”
3. Emil – Low Hum Blue Light
“Beautiful words and beautiful sounds from a very obscure Baltimore, Maryland group.”
4. DeerHoof – If I Were a Man and You a Dog
“This song gets away with a very minimalist arrangement. It walks a fine line between art and pop sucessfully. I think anyone could enjoy this song. It lives in many musical worlds all at once.”
5. Good Old War- Here Are The Problems
“These guys are like the new Simon and Garfunkel. We like everything they do. We had the pleasure of touring with them and got to love them as people as well.”
MTV TJ Challenge 3 – Musical Moment 2 of 3: Learning Music July 14, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in Geek Talk, Movies/Film, MTV TJ, Music, Personally John, technology.Tags: cello, Fort Hill, Fort Hill High School, John Thrasher, MTV, MTV TJ, orchestra
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My second musical moment that impacted my life is probably the one that has impacted me the most: learning how to read music.
Though this seems very simple, it actually lead to so many amazing things in my life. Music has and always will be a huge part of my life. I started learning how to read music when I started learning the cello in 5th grade. I had always loved music from before I ever learned how to read it. It only felt natural that I would pick up an instrument and learn it to the best of my ability.
8th grade performance for Mother's Day - long before I learned not to wear white socks to a performance.
In middle school my Mom would drop me off in the morning on her way to work. I would get there about an hour before school actually began, so I would head to the performance stage, and for a solid 3 years of middle school, I practiced my cello for 1 hour before school, 1 hour during school, and 1 hour after school. Needless to say I learned music very fast, and became very passionate about perfecting my talent.
Learning a musical instrument and learning to read music became a microcosm of what would eventually be very important life skills for me: setting goals, knowing the clear path to the result, and going for it! Whether it was a Bach cello suite, or a bass line in a full string orchestra, practicing towards my performance and perfecting the music was my way of creating structure in my life. I also blame being a musician on being a perfectionist in just about everything I do today.
My passion for music and performing evolved as I got to high school and wanted to be a part of my high school marching band. I learned how to play marimba and other mallet instruments and played crash cymbals during parades. Being a part of a drum line is only something that other percussionists can understand. It was so fun!
I eventually thought that I wanted to learn an instrument in every musical family, so I picked up a bass clarinet and performed that during our concert band season. Luckily, the bass clarinet is written in bass clef, which I already knew from playing the cello for so many years!
Me and my best friend Brittney with our Fort Hill High School band shirts on during our senior year of high school.
By my senior year of high school I auditioned and became the drum major for my marching band. My high school band director, Dave Kauffman, always grumbled under his breath about having a string player lead his marching band, but my experience as a musician really helped me be a successful leader for the 100+ members marching on a field every Friday night at a football game. During this time of my life, I gained a lot of really important leadership skills, that I still cary with me today. I know how to communicate well. I know how to handle pressure situations. I know how to handle things that change in an instant. And I know how to perform in front of large crowds. I don’t know that I would be who I am today if it weren’t for the endless skill sets that I acquired while being the drum major.
In all, learning how to read music not only helped me learn how to play an instrument, but it helped me learn how to handle a lot of the issues that I am handed throughout life. It lead to the deep passion that I have for all things relating to music and entertainment today. I’m lucky to have had a supportive family, amazing teachers, and talented friends to help take my talent and passion for reading music and turning it in to an aspect of my life that I can’t live without.
The Hills Ain’t Got Nothing On… The RG July 13, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in Geek Talk, Movies/Film, MTV TJ, Music, Personally John, technology, Television.Tags: John Thrasher, MTV, MTV TJ, series finale, The Hills, The RG
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In honor of The Hills series finale, you should watch a spoof that my friends and I made a few years ago.
Looking back I can’t stop laughing!
Join My UStream for The Hills Series Finale Tonight! July 13, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in Movies/Film, MTV TJ, Music, Personally John, Television.Tags: MTV, MTV TJ, The Hills
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Join me tonight on UStream to chat about The Hills series finale! UStream starts at 9:45pm, finale starts at 10!
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hillsfinale
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hillsfinale
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hillsfinale
MTV TJ Challenge 3 – Musical Moment 1 of 3: Spiceworld July 13, 2010
Posted by johnthrasher in Movies/Film, MTV TJ, Music, Personally John, technology, Television.Tags: MTV, MTV TJ, Say You'll Be There, Spice Girls
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MTV TJ Challenge 3:
Personal: What three musical moments have impacted your life most?
I’ll be posting one impact per day over the next 3 days.
Today, let’s start with girl power. I do not suggest that driving (I’m the driver in the hat) and dancing to the Spice Girls is okay, but sometimes you just have to dance with your friends. My friends LOVE the camera, but I get a couple of bars of the song in somehow:
Okay before you go and start judging me because I like like the Spice Girls, let me tell you that growing up in the 90s it was hard to find a tween who didn’t know every single lyric to “Wannabe.” I am proud of who I am and how I got there, and yes Sport Spice helped me get there.
My first true love was the Spice Girls, as bizarre and discrediting as it may be to most music snobs. I was OBSESSED with them. I of course had their first 2 CDs, 2 posters in my room, all the bubblegum that had their stickers in the wrappers, and of course bought a Chupa-Chup every single time I saw one, because Baby Spice ate one in Spiceworld.
One of the posters that I had in my room was the one that had their printed autograph. Mel B signed her name with a peace sign, so I went through my middle school years writing notes to friends (like we did before text messaging was ever a thought in our heads, or before parents let children have cell phones) where I would sign EVERY note with a peace sign. Here is the exact poster I had with Mel B’s signature (center with a peace sign), and the back of a school picture I gave to my best friend in probably 7th or 8th grade:
I am pretty sure Brittney did end up “keeping it real.”
Anyway, most people remember where they were when they heard Geri left the group. And though I was obsessed with them, for some reason I can’t remember where I was or even what my reaction was. I think my brain was trying to protect me, so I just spiraled in to a deep phase of denial.
Geri released Schizophonic in 1999 and I ordered it with 9 other full-length CDs from a BMG Music House catalog that I was supposed to pay 99 cents for, and never did. To this day I still love that album. Mi Chico Latino, Bag It Up, Sometime: all pop music gold!
Then, my prayers were answered when the four-remaining members released an R&B album Forever, which I remember going to Wal-Mart at midnight to buy (keep in mind I was like 14 – LOL!). The album was produced by Rodney Jerkins (I think*) and I remember reading on a Spice Girls message board that it only sold 11,000 copies in the United States! And, frankly, I’m glad I could contribute to being one of the 11,000 who never gave up on the good times. The album is fun, but very different from the pop culture staples of Spice and Spiceworld.
After that commercial disaster, Mel C released Northern Star the very next year, and I could NOT stop listening to it. I still do! I had the physical CD for about a year until my brother shot it with his BB gun. 
It was so hard to find a copy of the CD back then because there wasn’t iTunes, and Lars Ulrich of Metallica was on MTV News every 15 minutes screaming about how he’s going to sue me if I use Napster. Anyway, I eventually caught back up with Northern Star a few years ago, and Mel C has released a couple of decent albums. Her latest, This Time is by far her best though.
Emma had a few songs that weren’t even released in the States that are still on my iPod: Free Me, Crickets Sing for Anamaria, I’ll Be There, Maybe.
Mel B’s solo career kind of tanked but when she had that cover of I Want You Back with Missy Elliot, I couldn’t stop playing it. In fact, (don’t cringe when you read this), I remember trading my friend my No Doubt Tragic Kingdom CD for the Austin Powers soundtrack that that song was on! WHAT WAS I THINKING!? Looking back now, I would have loved to have my original Tragic Kingdom album.
Moving on, you could imagine my excitement when pretty much completely randomly the Spice Girls announced a return. I freaked out, I cried, I threw babies, I honked vuvuzelas (no I didn’t), I screamed! I obviously HAD to see them, and luckily did when they came to D.C. on a perfect weekend for me!
It was a very magical weekend that I tried to capture on my not-so-great digital camera and before I knew how to edit! Here is the a video from 3 years ago, which feels like A CENTURY ago:
The Spice Girls, no matter which way I try to slice it, will always be a huge part of my musical upbringing. Thanks girls!
