Support Us in AIDS Walk Washington, Plz?
August 26, 2010
The AIDS Walk has snuck up on us this year- we can’t believe it’s in less than six weeks! Gwenn and I are walking on October 2, as we always do, with our friends in Team Supersnack.
You might remember that I wore a giant LemonAIDS suit last year. Here’s a link to the speech I made, graciously accepting the Whitman Walker Clinic’s Courage Award, which they give to someone living with HIV every year. This year I told them I still have HIV and a fair amount of courage, but they said they couldn’t give me the award two years in a row.
Earlier this year we spoke at Stuarts Draft High School, and were honored when the students chose us as a beneficiary for their own AIDS Walk in May. So thanks to Mrs. Bateman’s Leadership Class for the kickstart in fundraising. I wish we could let more people do the walking for us, but now it’s time to lace up the shoes and beg for money ourselves…
But wait- there are incentives for your generosity! Why? Because donating money to help people with HIV is cool. And altruistic. Sure, there doesn’t need to be bribes involved, but it never hurts. (Really, it’s just a way for me to say “Thanks” for your help.)
The first five donations of $25 or more will get to choose from one of the following items; imagine Gwenn pulling a Barker’s Beauty in her red dress:
- Synthetic Division, Symptom of Life CD: This is my band, you know, I blog about it all the time.
- Synthetic Division t-shirt or a Screw Smarter t-shirt
- a copy of Chicken Soup For the Soul: Think Positive…
The new Chicken Soup book will be in bookstores on September 28, but you can have it before then if you are one of the first to donate. Why do you want it? Because it’s inspirational, and your favorite LemonAIDS suit-wearing, wise-crackin’ positoid contributed a story for it. I’m only giving away 3 more copies (one was already snagged, thanks for the donation, Chris!), because we have to give most of our advance copies to our parents. So click on us to visit our donation page, and thanks for your continued support of our efforts to fight AIDS.
Positively (and “Negatively”) Yours,
Shawn & Gwenn
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Website: ShawnandGwenn.com
Also check out the lovely Gwenn’s Fashion/Coffee Blog
Like what you’ve read? Then buy me an iced mocha or check out my new CD: Synthetic Division, A Symptom of Life, which is now on iTunes!
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When The Music’s Over, Turn Off The Sign
August 24, 2010
No, my band is not breaking up. Really, Synthetic Division is going to keep going as long as I’m alive, because that’s how the vanity projects of the self-obsessed work. One of the highlights of this year thus far has been the focus I point into making some new music, and making that relevant to my work as an HIV educator.
In last couple of weeks, I played my last two Synthetic Division shows of the year, possibly, in Charlotteville (thanks Umlaut!) and in Richmond (thanks Fallout!). For touring bands the following number is nothing, but for me, I’m quite proud of it: this year I played 14 shows. Not only that, I gave away over 1,000 free condoms, thanks to One Condoms. I hope to match or exceed those numbers next year.
But for now? The music is over temporarily. The fall is slowly creeping up, bringing with it a bit of travel, an AIDS Walk, World AIDS Day as well as the holidays… all things I am looking forward to.
Still, as I stow away the neon sign, wedging it safely between the bed in the guest bedroom and the wall, it is a bit bittersweet. Which is why I just wanted to post one more time about how thankful I am for the parents/friends who supported my love of music, that I met a killer partner in Gwenn who bought me a neon sign for my music close to 10 years ago… and for being around to even do a vanity project like Synthetic Division.
And who knows? In twenty years when I’m holding one of these A Symptom of Life
CDs in my hands, I may be cured of HIV entirely if recent hopeful
studies come to fruition. Maybe I’ll do the follow-up to Symptom then? One thing is for certain- if I’m still around, positoid or negatoid, I will be glad that in the year 2010, I put some energy towards
something- music- that has given me so much energy in my life.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Watch, Friend and Follow me on:YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Website: ShawnandGwenn.com
Also check out the lovely Gwenn’s Fashion/Coffee Blog
Like what you’ve read? Then buy me an iced mocha or check out my new CD: Synthetic Division, A Symptom of Life, which is now on iTunes!
Synthetic Division Playing Tonight in Charlottesville
August 10, 2010
Am playing a show tonight at Rapture, for all you locals. Hope to see you there! If you click on the flyer, it goes to the Facebook Event page.
One Condoms Giving Away Free Music
June 18, 2010
My buddies over at One Condoms are celebrating their big splash in Target by giving away 1,000,000 free songs- I’m honored that Synthetic Division is among the bands whose music they will be sharing.
To get your free song, simply do one of the following things via onecondoms.com:
- Signing up for their mailing list
- Becoming a Fan of One Condoms on Facebook
- Following @onecondoms on Twitter
- Signing a Safer Sex Oath
- Filling out a Sex Survey
- Touch Shawn’s Balls
Okay, I stuck the last one in to see if you were paying attention. One Condoms can’t help you out on that last item, but do take them up on their offer for a free song. They provide lots of cool bands and musicians with free condoms that are passed out on tour (much like Synthetic Division did on the recent tour with Bella Morte). I’m sure the bands feel the same way as I do about returning the kindness of One Condoms and giving away a free song.
Enjoy, hope everyone has a good weekend!
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Watch, Friend and Follow me on:
YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Website: ShawnandGwenn.com Also check out the lovely Gwenn’s Fashion/Coffee Blog
Like what you’ve read? Then buy me an iced mocha or check out my new CD: Synthetic Division, A Symptom of Life, which is now on iTunes!
SHARE THE BLOG. NOT THE VIRUS.
YouTube Video from Benefit “Halo” Cover
July 21, 2009
I’m terrible at following up, but the benefit that I did with my band on July 11 was a success- the show went well and we raised $600 for the AIDS Walk Washington DC. Thanks to everyone who came out to support the cause!
Playing the show was a lot of fun. My band did two covers; Tori Amos’ “Raspberry Swirl” and Depeche Mode’s “Halo”, from their 1990 album Violator, which they were touring to support when I met them through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A couple of months before the benefit, Marshall (jamming out on the synth in the vid below) suggested “Halo” as a potential cover and programmed the song to perfection.
Here’s a clip from the benefit show, and our version of “Halo” with me rambling for a few seconds at the beginning… (Thanks, Stephanie, for posting the video!)
For my birthday, Gwenn got us tickets to go see Depeche Mode on their current tour, which is the best present ever. Thanks to Gwenn for being the best partner a person could ask for, and a true Wish come true.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
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Dear Dave: Well Wishes From Make-A-Wisher
July 17, 2009
The storied history of my Make-A-Wish Foundation encounter with Depeche Mode at age 14 has been well documented on this blog, yet the picture is too cool not to post every time I reference this proud moment in my life.
That’s me in the white hat- you can’t see it, but it says “Surfin’ USA” on it. Yes, I regret wearing it to meet the Beatles of electronic music.
This meeting was in 1990. By the mid-90′s, lead singer Dave Gahan was battling a massive drug problem, and it looked like I was in danger of outliving my wishee. Since then, I’ve gotten more comfortable with the prospect of outliving Dave, figuring we’ll both kick the bucket from natural causes after living fruitful, happy lives. Another thing I’ve figured is that, every three or four years, Depeche Mode will be touring, and I’ll get to go see them.
On their most recent tour, however, Dave has had some health issues. Nothing drug related- he’s been clean for years now-, just a bombardment of malfunctions that included a bladder tumor and, more, recently a torn calve muscle. Needless to say, it’s been a rough tour cycle for the Depeche Mode frontman.
So it is with much sincerity that I wish Dave a speedy recovery. He was very kind in 1990, and very kind again in 2001 when I was able to get that original photo signed. From a Make-A-Wish kid, I’m sending positive healing vibes your way.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
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Me and Gwenn on the Radio
July 9, 2009
The media onslaught continues in Charlottesville… Wednesday morning Gwenn and I went on 106.1 The Corner to speak with Brad Savage about HIV/AIDS, our story and the benefit this Saturday. I was sooooo close to bringing Dab the AIDS Bear into the studio.
You can hear the interview by clicking on me and Dab.
The best part is at 1:00, when I get hung up on pronouncing “statistics” properly. Gwenn comes in for the assist, thankfully. I hadn’t had my coffee yet, that’s my excuse.
I haven’t looked forward to a show this much in quite some time. Am sorry my friends in Bella Morte are going to be rocking in Stroudsburg, PA, the same night as the show. Will miss seeing them and still remember how cool I thought it was of them when they agreed- without hesitation- to do an HIV/AIDS benefit right around the time I’d first moved to town.
It’s been a lot of fun promoting this show. Earlier tonight, I made another Synthetic Division video, this time specifically for people who have responded that they are “Maybe” going to attend the show on Saturday. In this vid, I mention that “I wish I maybe had AIDS”.
Hee hee hee.
Don’t be a “maybe”! Alright, it’s back to sleep with me.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Share the Blog. Not the Virus. Come to the HIV/AIDS Benefit Show in Charlottesville, VA on July 11!
She Shawn’s band in a YouTube video with the song “Holding Out For a Hero”
The Curious Case of Shawn’s Buttons
July 6, 2009
So of course, I post a glorious blog last week about getting over my cough and it comes back about a day later. Figures. I got cocky and went to a smokey club to have fun with friends and spread the word about this Saturday’s HIV benefit show with my band…
Which will be- of course- a smokey club.
I’m going to check in with my doctor and let him know what’s happening so I’m not assuming this isn’t treatable. Because it’s been over two weeks now, which is ridiculous evening by my standards of recovery. Overall, I’m feeling a bit better again, but don’t want to be coughing the night away needlessly if I don’t have to.
Tonight I had band practice with Synthetic Division- the set is really coming together. After practice, Marshall the keyman and I lit a firecracker in drummer Mike’s driveway, then went to WNRN’s Subculture Shock radio show to talk about the event this weekend. That’s me and Silent Muse (who are also playing) band member Chad. I was pretending to sing “We Are The World”.
One of the best things about being in a band is making buttons. This time around, my good buddies in Bella Morte donated the button-making facilities (thanks guys!). I enlisted a graphic designer and one of my best friends, Josh, as well, and he sent along the button art below, which was so good I kind of lost my mind, as you can see.
Josh is a talented musician and played a Synthetic Division set with me last year when Gwenn and I went to Los Angeles. Right now, he’s working on album artwork for Lauren Hoffman’s Interplanetary Traveler, the subject of the last blog entry. Josh is probably one of my favorite artists on Earth and it’s nice that his artwork, and creative spirit, will be at the show.
As for others who can’t be at the show, but would like to donate to the cause…
Well. You can go to me and Gwenn’s official fundraising page here. Also, any Decker’s Daily coffee sponsorships of $5 from now until Saturday will go to benefit total this Saturday as well.
Share the Blog. Not the Virus. Come to the HIV/AIDS Benefit Show in Charlottesville, VA on July 11!
She Shawn’s band in a YouTube video with the song “Holding Out For a Hero”
Read My Column in Poz, Cute YouTube Video
July 2, 2009
The best part about being sick for a week was writing. I blogged every day last week! So, really, if your reading this and wishing me well, you might have to decide whether your care for my well-being as a human trumps your love for my incredibly witty style of writing.
Which is on display in this month’s issue of Poz!
I wrote a column called “Maybe Baby”, about the oft-asked procreation question, specifically whether Gwenn and I are interested. And no, that’s not our baby in the photo, but it is our Goddaughter, Evie. She’s guest-starred on Decker’s Daily many times, most notably in Episode 38 as my would-be assassin, after debuting a few days earlier in Episode 34.
Aside from me, she’s logged the most Decker’s Daily appearances. Which is fitting, because when our good friend Lauren was pregnant with her, we spent most of the pregnancy in coffee shops. When she was born, we were at the hospital, and have seen her explore babyhood and life on this planet for the last 9 months.
As for exploration of other planets, well…
Lauren just had a birthday, and as you’ve seen before, I have a knack for making cool YouTube cute baby vids. My first work, When Babies Have Babies, feature my niece, Katelyn. Then last Christmas, my second niece, Helayna, debuted in the sorta sequel, When Babies Save Christmas.
Inspired by those earlier works, I made this for Lauren, changing a Happy Birthday text to a plug for Lauren’s music, which I love. So, without further ado, here’s Interplanetary Travelers, starring Evie and Lauren Hoffman. Enjoy the ride!
Positively Yours,
Captain Shawn
Share the Blog. Not the Virus. See Shawn’s band play in Charlottesville on July 11!
She the band in a YouTube video with the song “Holding Out For a Hero”
Synthetic Division HIV Benefit Show July 11
June 22, 2009
I’m very excited to be playing another show with my synthpop duo-now-trio, Synthetic Division. Not only that, it’s a benefit for the AIDS Walk Washington DC, which Gwenn and I will be walking in with Team Supersnack in October.
Here’s a video I made to promote the July 11 show.
If you’re on Facebook, the Event page is here.
The details are as follows:
Synthetic Division w/ Silent Muse
Venue: Outback Lodge in C’ville, VA
Doors at 8 pm, close at Midnight
$10
To see another promo vid featuring a Synthetic Division song, click here. Any friends who read the blog and are coming to the show, we will be playing a couple of new songs. I look forward to finishing up some new material and posting it on synthetic-division.com.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
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