This Guy's Thoughts and What Not...

Snowmageddon 11!

2011-02-02T00:02:00.007-05:00

I took this around 10:30 tonight on my way home from my friend Jake's house. They say that the worst is yet to come.

After driving through this part of the road, on my way home from CMU without making a photo I decided that I had to bare the whiteout and drive through again. This was shortly after it first started snowing.

I figured that I might as well show my favorite part about winter. I'm really looking forward to waking up and jumping in the truck.

I love this stuff!

Dead Against

2011-01-15T12:38:00.005-05:00

Jordan Pries

2010-11-03T20:47:00.013-04:00

This my counter-culture photo story that I did for my Journalism 422 class.

Jordan Pries talks to Nicho Carey about a guitar amp at B's Music in Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Oct. 18, 2010. Nicho is in a band out of Alma, Mich. called the High Class Truckers.
(Photo Copyright Ryan Nielsen)

Jordan Pries moves the needle to the song that he has chosen for his radio show "Black Circle Radio" on Modern Rock 91.5 in Moore Hall on Oct. 18, 2010.
(Photo Copyright Ryan Nielsen)

Jordan Pries solders wires to a tone knob on an electric guitar while working as a technician at B's Music in Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Oct. 18, 2010.

(Photo Copyright Ryan Nielsen)

Jordan Pries rocks out his guitar during a gig at Rubble's Bar with his two man band, Beast in the Field on Oct. 10, 2010.

(Photo Copyright Ryan Nielsen)

Jordan Pries and his mother Sheryl Young listen to Sheryl's boyfriend Paul Schneider while having dinner at the Italian Oven in Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Oct 19, 2010. Sheryl and Paul reside in Milwaukee, Wisc. but stopped in Mt. Pleasant to see Jordan on their way back from a trip to the eastern United States.

(Photo Copyright Ryan Nielsen)

Society Kills Debut

2010-07-17T15:28:00.000-04:00

Since I haven't updated this months, I figured now would be a great time.

A little over a month and a half ago, I was asked if I wanted to take over the duties of playing bass for Society Kills, ya know, that band I did a video on earlier this year. I jumped at the opportunity as I've been wanting to jump back into the music scene for a while. We've practiced at least twice a week since then and have made some great progress. I think it's because we all like a lot of the same music and for the most part, have the same influences. We click pretty well. Something that's very important for any band.

Last night was my debut with SK and the first time SK has played as a four piece. We played at the Breakroom on Plainfield in Grand Rapids. By the time we got on stage, there were maybe a dozen people left in the crowd, most of which were our friends. No big deal, we rocked out and gave them what they came to here. Though I must say that I'd really like to play for more people. Aside from me forgetting to turn one of the volume knobs up for the first song (great time to screw up, I know) it was a pretty successful show. We also debuted
two new songs, which by some chance I named.

Anyway, onto what I was going to make this post about in the first place. I couldn't believe how fast time flew as we were preparing for our set. It seemed like 15 minutes from the time we loaded our gear into the bar until the time we loaded our gear back into our cars. I was out in the pool hall talking with some friends and resting my ears from the atrocious tunes of Bullpig. I knew that we were set to go on as soon as they were done. Feeling a bit anxious and a little nervous for my first gig in well over two years, I went out and plowed through a smoke. When I got inside the rest of the band had already started moving gear onto the stage. I moved my amp and bass onto the stage, set up my pedal and the next thing I know, we're busting out the first song...and you couldn't hear the bass. The sound guy, bless him, was up there trying to figure it out. I was trying to figure it out while still keeping my lines going, not that it mattered. Then I turned the knob on the bass the other way and the thunder began. As quickly as it started, it was over.

Honestly, that was the most fun I've had in a really long time. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than stand on a stage and play some music. I'm thankful to be apart of SK and I'm really looking forward to what we're going to do.

Welcome, Cailyn Mercedes Baker

2010-05-25T01:00:00.002-04:00

Born: May 24th, 2010 4:31pm

7 pounds, 14 ounces

23 3/4 Inches

Congratulations Chris and Cassie!

A Marine Family's Story

2010-05-05T08:02:00.002-04:00

A Marine Family's Story from Ryan Nielsen on Vimeo.

Society Kills - Take a Ride

2010-04-07T11:41:00.001-04:00

Society Kills - Take a Ride from Ryan Nielsen on Vimeo.

423 Final Video Proposal

2010-04-05T18:54:00.003-04:00

So far, the only solid idea that I've come up with is possibly shooting a video about a couple of military couples. I believe that both of the husbands are in the Marines. One is deployed in Afghanistan, leaving a a pregnant wife back home who is due in about a month. Sadly, he will not be there to witness the birth of his daughter. :( The other is currently on leave from Korea. I have yet to contact either but I know the first would definitely give me the go ahead. I'm just not sure how to go about it. I've been trying to come up with video ideas for about the last week. I think the first one would be tough on account of him not being here. I know I could get footage of the wife without any issues but I'd like to have both of them, or at least a phone interview with him while he's over seas.

I also think a counter-culture video would be pretty fun to make. Really not sure how to go about that tho.

If anyone has some ideas, feel free to throw them at me. I'll try to return the favor.

In lieu of today being opening day of Tigers' baseball...

"You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen." -Joe DiMaggio

PLAAAAAAAY BAAAAALLLLL!

-Ryan

My New Website! w00t!

2010-02-24T18:41:00.003-05:00

This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. Kind of a pain in the ass but it got easier as I went along. I'll probably update/redo it at some point in the future, but we'll see. Hard to find motivation in the winter months.

To view my site, click here.

"Live in the now."

-Ryan