Craigery Michael Owens

birthday boy

was born august 26, 1984 in davison, michigan. he's got to be one of my most favorite people on the planet. he has lived on this earth for 26 years. i'm so thankful that craig was able to make it to this birthday. last summer, a mere few days after i had met craig owens at warped tour, he overdosed. i remember how stunned i was to find out that this happened. i instantly felt tears streaming down my face. how could this artist that i had come to adore do this to himself? how could he leave us all behind? i was soon after greeted with a blog entry by owens, explaining himself and telling us all how grateful he really is. i'll never forget the feeling i had reading that. i wondered if he could ever really know how many people love him and will continue to support him.

I love every piece of art that Craig Owens has created. I have all of the albums he has made. at the time in my life when i discovered chiodos i felt an instant connection with the words and the music that i was hearing. his words seem to flow out of him and into my soul. i felt like someone actually understood what i was thinking. i could find my own personal haven inside the words he sang and spoke to me through his music. he means what he says and sings with such conviction. his voice can be so many emotions, he can swoon you in one verse and be screaming his head off in the next. he's diverse and multifarious.

having seen craig fives times i know the true power behind his songs. it isn't until you see the smile on his face and feel the radiation from his happiness that are able to understand why it is that i love him so much. at his acoustic shows he likes to take some time during the later half of the show to have everyone at the show sit down on the ground and he sits on the edge of the stage. he just talks with us and plays acoustically and we can sing along with him. doing this are some of the best memories i have. next to meeting him of course...this is the story behind my second encounter...

september 20, 2009

baltimore

mid-afternoon on september twentieth of last year i was surfing myspace at my boyfriend, alan's, apartment. as usual i found myself on craig owen's myspace. as i scroll down i suddenly see tour dates, i always check dates but some reason i'd missed this one.

Craig Owens - The Ottobar Baltimore MD 9.20

HOLY SHIT! I exclaimed. I turned to Alan and immediately said, "Craig Owens is going to be in Baltimore, tonight."

Alan, being the most amazing boyfriend that he is, agreed to take me see Craig Owens!! Thank you baby for staying after the show & waiting with me to meet him, it's because of you i met my favorite artist. you have no idea how much this simple act meant to me alan.

you

give me

such

so today, i'm saying thank the universe craig owens is alive. and thank you alan.

so, happy birthday craig owens :)