It’s finally up!! After a couple years on the trusty site designed by Shiny Pixels, we’ve got something new! Come on in, browse around, get comfortable.

I’ve been working furiously over the last months on new music, projects, and ways to showcase the work. After much anticipation (on my part at least), my new website and myspace are finally done! MUCH MUCH MUCH thanks to Paul Bui of monkmedia in Australia who did the web design!

On to the music! As I said, I’ve been hard at work on my solo debut music album, and am nearing the finish line. We’ve got about twenty tracks to pick from, and I’ve got the first couple up right now. None of this would be possible without the help of a few other people also doing massive amounts of work. Thanks to Daniel Riera who produced ‘Hercules.’ Mikos of 40 Love contributes some great production to the project. And I cannot give enough credit to Max Miller-Loran, who, in addition to producing ‘Run My Mouth’ will also be co-executive producing my entire album. We have spent countless nights up until four in the morning recording and mixing. It’s been tiring but the good news is we’re sitting on a ton of material now. As we work to line up distribution for the album I will continue to release new songs on my myspace every couple of weeks, so keep checking back!

In Denver I filmed a video for the ‘If I were President Series,’ alongside Danny Glover, Murs, Wyclef Jean, Mos Def, Van Jones and others. Right now it is featured on Good.is, the Good Magazine website. Check it out!

‘If I Were President’ Feature

Okay, a lot of updates at once, but there was another reason I was in Denver when I shot this. I am working on a show that follows my performances in different cities called “Carry the One,” in which I talk to people on the ground about their local environmental issues. I began a version of the project for the website247 Townhall. I travelled to Denver for the Democratic National Convention (where I was in the house for Obama’s speech!) and to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul (who I was in the house for Palin’s speech!!). I interviewed Katie Couric, Wyclef Jean, Rachel Maddow, Brian Schweitzer (Gov. of Montana), Markos of Daily Kos and many others for the pilot episode. In a semi-unrelated election year opportunity I got to perform at the Rock the Debate concert at the first Presidential debate at Ole Miss University in Mississippi. Stay tuned for details on this project as it evolves.

I didn’t want it to come to this, but there’s no way around it now: Me and Michael Cera officially have beef. On some Eminem vs. Whitey Ford a.k.a. Everlast kind of shit.

So, Michael: I will preface this e-bitchslap by admitting that you have appeared in an amazing string of quality movies and shows. And you are a talented and nuanced actor. I admire your ability to listen and react in subtle ways, at once staying true to both the humor and truth of your characters. And few people have been on as long and wild a bender of critically-acclaimed projects. You must feel lightheaded; I mean, the sophisticated ‘Arrested Development,’ the box-office smash ‘Superbad’ and the Oscar darling ‘Juno’?! You got to duck tape your penis to your stomach and pretend to bang Ellen Page (assuming nothing escalated when running lines in your trailer), and I know that there are plenty of women who would have traded Ellen places squatting on top of you. You’re a lucky dude.

But for the love of artistic integrity, please wipe that smug fucking grin off your babyface. As if it wasn’t painful enough when all of my friends first saw ‘Superbad’ and the dozens of texts poured in:

MY “FRIENDS”: oMgZ George, I know this is totally random, but I was just watching Superbad and totes thought of you!!!
GEORGE: ZoMG, that’s crayzeee, you’re the ONLY person to evR make that connexion!!

It all came back when the DVD was released… And when ‘Juno’ came out… And now my trusted friend Chinaka mistakes you for me on the street (scroll down). My only solace is that it was more painful for you than it has been for me. But what do we even have in common, I ask?! The pundits seem evenly split between whether it’s our youthful bone structure, endearingly awkward mannerisms, or our sometimes nerdly subject matter. This last comparison offends me the most. As a writer and a performer, I take pride in the originality of my material. So it was a slap in the face when some folks insinuated to me that my poem, “V for Virgin” might somehow be a rip-off of ‘Superbad.’ Especially because my poem aired on HBO, SIX MONTHS before your movie’s theatrical release.

Here’s the kicker though. My fondness for the lightly carbonated fruit-flavored drink Juice Squeeze is no secret. I mentioned it in the above, nationally televised poem, and I am pretty much the company’s de facto spokesman. I have made homages to the delicious and moderately healthy beverage in multiple pieces (reference at 3:40), in a theater piece as part of the Hip Hop Theater Festival in New York City, have lauded their product in performances in over half the states in America, two in Australia, on stage at the San Francisco Opera House and at the Apollo Theater. I have done this as a labor of love, all for a regional brand with no distribution outside of California and seedy warehouses in the American Southwest.

Naively thinking that the company, a subsidiary of Crystal Geyser would appreciate my loyalty and free PR work, I attempted to formalize a sponsorship agreement. I figured, “fuck Nike, fuck Pepsi,” I’m a salt of the earth kind of guy, and I should be the first artist sponsored by a health drink (I will have beef with 50 soon if he claims that Vitamin Water is healthy). I DIDN’T EVEN ASK FOR MONEY, just a reasonable supply of free Juice Squeeze to keep me happy and hydrated. After months with no reply, here is the company’s official response (see image for a scan of the memo):

“Dear Mr. Watsky
We have received your recent letter proposing a sponsorship agreement. Crystal Geyser receives requests for support from many local groups and non-profit organizations. With regret, we are not looking for any additional partnership arrangements and cannot donate any additional products at this time. Thank you for contacting Crystal Geyser. We wish you success with your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Shawn Fitzpatrick
Crystal Geyser Water Company Brand Manager”

First of all: Shawn, I know it probably sucks to be the brand manager for a beverage company with regional distribution, but do I LOOK like a local, non-profit organization?! I’m international, and I GET THAT PAPER. But that’s a non-sequiter as far as the Michael Cera beef. Well, it would have been, until this ad campaign surfaced.

Shame on you, Michael Cera. I’m calling you out, motherfucker.