Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
More Sundancing
Read the name on the sign...
I really don't have much to add to my last entry. I'm pretty tired and have seen alot of movies. Some good, some bad and maybe one or two great. My reviews are up at Film Threat so why do I need to recapitulate here? Plus, I just wrote like 5 reviews in a row and am typed out. But, I did go to a cool party the other night and actually got my picture taken with some celebs. I have some random pics below so enjoy a virtual tour of my last few days...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
I'm here....
I'm way burnt out. Here's some pics from my flight in (Jet Blue Rules!) . I have the better part of the day tomorrow OFF so I shall return...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Top 10 movies list
Hey guys-
In case you missed it...or were too lazy to click over to http://cine.petaluma360.com/ and read my favorite movies of 2007 list, I posted it below. Also, Film Threat has dragged me back into the grind that is the Sundance Film Festival so I will be there this Thursday through Monday. Over at Film Threat there's going to be a webcam set up on the front pageand I'll be doing reports through that as well as on the Film Threat blogs and this blog...and the Petaluma 360 one. Gotta keep busy.
Here's the list...I wrote more detailed reviews and whatnot here.
1. No Country for Old Men
2. There Will Be Blood
3. Once
4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
5. Death Proof (the Tarantino part of "Grindhouse")
6. In the Valley of Elah
7.Knocked Up
8. Superbad
9. Juno
10. The King of Kong
In case you missed it...or were too lazy to click over to http://cine.petaluma360.com/ and read my favorite movies of 2007 list, I posted it below. Also, Film Threat has dragged me back into the grind that is the Sundance Film Festival so I will be there this Thursday through Monday. Over at Film Threat there's going to be a webcam set up on the front pageand I'll be doing reports through that as well as on the Film Threat blogs and this blog...and the Petaluma 360 one. Gotta keep busy.
Here's the list...I wrote more detailed reviews and whatnot here.
1. No Country for Old Men
2. There Will Be Blood
3. Once
4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
5. Death Proof (the Tarantino part of "Grindhouse")
6. In the Valley of Elah
7.Knocked Up
8. Superbad
9. Juno
10. The King of Kong
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
My list of favorite movies of the year....
Can be found HERE.
Hope you all check it out....I apparently love Michael Cera and pregnancy movies. Who woulda thunk it.
Hope you all check it out....I apparently love Michael Cera and pregnancy movies. Who woulda thunk it.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Top 5 music!
O.K…here’s the last or first part…depending how you look at it. I just noticed that my top 5 (or 5.5) are all pretty damned unattractive. The Spoon guys are o.k. looking but that would ruin the hilarity of fug that is happening here.
Tomorrow THERE WILL BE BLOOD opens and man, I am seriously stoked! I haven’t been this excited since the last STAR WARS/LORD OF THE RINGS movies and THERE WILL BE BLOOD is a 3 hour emandering art film. Jeez, I’m such a snob these-a-days. But a true snob wouldn’t be dying to see a film like I’m dying to see that one. Anyway….on with the tunes!
1. Ike Reilly Assassination- We Belong to the Staggering Evening
Dude. Duuuuuude. This album rocks so damned hard I literally crave it when I’m feeling down. I had Ike’s first album a few years back and I just didn’t get it. He seemed to have a potty mouth just for the sake of having a potty mouth, although the guy could write a tune. Then I heard some good stuff about “We Belong to the Staggering Evening” and as it happened, I was in Boston last June and he was playing.
I went to the show and promptly had my doors blown off. I think they’re somewhere in Boston still but now I have this new album to try and restore my doors. I compare Ike to a grubbier Bruce Springsteen or a more refined Replacements. Many of his songs are stories that are either total lies or some of the best life experiences one could have. Either way, they’re fun and insightful and the band totally rips. The Ike Reilly Assassination also reminds me of Marah, a band I love dearly but who get more and more hit and miss with every album they put out. At least Ike is there to fill that gap.
2. Two Cow Garage- 3
It was with great deliberation I decided to put Two Cow Garages “3” at the #2 slot. I really love this album and all it stands for but sometimes it’s hard to put a lil band like this so high on a list ahead of more “accomplished” artists. But then I realized how silly that is because “3” has played in my car everytime I get in it I think. I’m also a big fan of alt-country/punkbilly/cowpunk or whatever you want to call it and with the demise of Slobberbone, these guys are the heir apparent to the throne.
Plus this album rocks but also features songs about just how frigging hard it is to be in a band- emotionally, physically and responsibility wise. On this album the band laments not going to college and constantly have the feeling they should hang it up. But those songs are mixed in with songs about how music has always been a part of their lives and to give up now might render their lives pointless. Like the Tommy Womack album, creating, especially for a living, is a sticky area. You’re always high from the feeling then dragged down by poor response. On and on it goes and Two Cow Garage captures those feelings perfectly.
3. Wilco- Sky Blue Sky
Yeah, #3! My favorite band of all-time made a really, really, really great album and it’s not even amongst my least favorites of theirs. I just liked other stuff better this year. I actually feel bad not putting Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky” higher because it’s been the most slagged album the band has done. If you always wondered what the hell I’m on about when I talk about how much I love Wilco, this album is a perfect jumping off point for you. It’s very accessible.
Jeff Tweedy has pulled together the very best lineup of the band yet with Nels Cline on guitar and Glenn Kotche on drums. These guys are just amazing and their extremely “arty” in the regular gigs. But here, they’re all like peas and carrots mixing together perfectly. This is such a great album, you should go buy it immediately.
3.5 Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Damn lists!! I woke up this morning humming Spoon’s “The Underdog” in my head and realized I left them off my list! Again, like Ted Leo, Spoon are the darlings of indie rock…or were a year or two ago. Now that they had the nerve to make a fun, interesting and accessible album, they may have been shunned a bit. Anyone shunning Spoon for Gax5 is just doing themselves a disservice as this album is a good one.
If you listen to the radio on pretty much any station playing newer rock, you heard “The Underdog” and that’s pretty cool. I’ve heard the song on at least 4 very different radio stations and that kind of crossover appeal for a smaller band is impressive. But there’s also tons of great songs on this album and I think I’m going to go listen to it right now!
4. Josh Ritter-The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter is a bad ass. Unlike Ted Leo, he’s only amassed a teeny bit of indie buzz but the guy is one of the best singer songwriters out there…and that’s saying a lot. His last album “Animal Years” is also great, but for me it kind of tailed off about midway through. But this album, “The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter” has held my attention throughout nearly every listen.
This album is also much “bigger” than his other one (actually, he has several but the other one I own) and features all kinds of cool arrangements and instrumentation. But Ritter has an elegance about him and through all the new sounds on here, his songwriting is still clear…and awesome.
5. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists- Living with the Living
I had been hearing about these punk oriented rockers for years but I always feel like a big ole poser when I jump on a bands buzz laden bandwagon. But when a few different people started raving about “Living with the Living” I checked it out and fell in love.
Fairly simple guitar riffs and cool lyrics had me listening all summer and the album was one of those ones you always find yourself looking for in your car. While driving. And text messaging. Kidding.
Tomorrow THERE WILL BE BLOOD opens and man, I am seriously stoked! I haven’t been this excited since the last STAR WARS/LORD OF THE RINGS movies and THERE WILL BE BLOOD is a 3 hour emandering art film. Jeez, I’m such a snob these-a-days. But a true snob wouldn’t be dying to see a film like I’m dying to see that one. Anyway….on with the tunes!
1. Ike Reilly Assassination- We Belong to the Staggering Evening
Dude. Duuuuuude. This album rocks so damned hard I literally crave it when I’m feeling down. I had Ike’s first album a few years back and I just didn’t get it. He seemed to have a potty mouth just for the sake of having a potty mouth, although the guy could write a tune. Then I heard some good stuff about “We Belong to the Staggering Evening” and as it happened, I was in Boston last June and he was playing.
I went to the show and promptly had my doors blown off. I think they’re somewhere in Boston still but now I have this new album to try and restore my doors. I compare Ike to a grubbier Bruce Springsteen or a more refined Replacements. Many of his songs are stories that are either total lies or some of the best life experiences one could have. Either way, they’re fun and insightful and the band totally rips. The Ike Reilly Assassination also reminds me of Marah, a band I love dearly but who get more and more hit and miss with every album they put out. At least Ike is there to fill that gap.
2. Two Cow Garage- 3
It was with great deliberation I decided to put Two Cow Garages “3” at the #2 slot. I really love this album and all it stands for but sometimes it’s hard to put a lil band like this so high on a list ahead of more “accomplished” artists. But then I realized how silly that is because “3” has played in my car everytime I get in it I think. I’m also a big fan of alt-country/punkbilly/cowpunk or whatever you want to call it and with the demise of Slobberbone, these guys are the heir apparent to the throne.
Plus this album rocks but also features songs about just how frigging hard it is to be in a band- emotionally, physically and responsibility wise. On this album the band laments not going to college and constantly have the feeling they should hang it up. But those songs are mixed in with songs about how music has always been a part of their lives and to give up now might render their lives pointless. Like the Tommy Womack album, creating, especially for a living, is a sticky area. You’re always high from the feeling then dragged down by poor response. On and on it goes and Two Cow Garage captures those feelings perfectly.
3. Wilco- Sky Blue Sky
Yeah, #3! My favorite band of all-time made a really, really, really great album and it’s not even amongst my least favorites of theirs. I just liked other stuff better this year. I actually feel bad not putting Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky” higher because it’s been the most slagged album the band has done. If you always wondered what the hell I’m on about when I talk about how much I love Wilco, this album is a perfect jumping off point for you. It’s very accessible.
Jeff Tweedy has pulled together the very best lineup of the band yet with Nels Cline on guitar and Glenn Kotche on drums. These guys are just amazing and their extremely “arty” in the regular gigs. But here, they’re all like peas and carrots mixing together perfectly. This is such a great album, you should go buy it immediately.
3.5 Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Damn lists!! I woke up this morning humming Spoon’s “The Underdog” in my head and realized I left them off my list! Again, like Ted Leo, Spoon are the darlings of indie rock…or were a year or two ago. Now that they had the nerve to make a fun, interesting and accessible album, they may have been shunned a bit. Anyone shunning Spoon for Gax5 is just doing themselves a disservice as this album is a good one.
If you listen to the radio on pretty much any station playing newer rock, you heard “The Underdog” and that’s pretty cool. I’ve heard the song on at least 4 very different radio stations and that kind of crossover appeal for a smaller band is impressive. But there’s also tons of great songs on this album and I think I’m going to go listen to it right now!
4. Josh Ritter-The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter is a bad ass. Unlike Ted Leo, he’s only amassed a teeny bit of indie buzz but the guy is one of the best singer songwriters out there…and that’s saying a lot. His last album “Animal Years” is also great, but for me it kind of tailed off about midway through. But this album, “The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter” has held my attention throughout nearly every listen.
This album is also much “bigger” than his other one (actually, he has several but the other one I own) and features all kinds of cool arrangements and instrumentation. But Ritter has an elegance about him and through all the new sounds on here, his songwriting is still clear…and awesome.
5. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists- Living with the Living
I had been hearing about these punk oriented rockers for years but I always feel like a big ole poser when I jump on a bands buzz laden bandwagon. But when a few different people started raving about “Living with the Living” I checked it out and fell in love.
Fairly simple guitar riffs and cool lyrics had me listening all summer and the album was one of those ones you always find yourself looking for in your car. While driving. And text messaging. Kidding.
Monday, December 31, 2007
My Top Ten Albums of 2007
Sorry for the delay....it's tough for me to rank things. I'm like a freeking O.C.D. patient when it comes to making lists. Just FYI, the movie one won't be up till the weekend as I simply must see "There Will be Blood" before I rank anything cinematic. That being said, here are my favorite albums numbers 6-10. 5-1 should be up tomorrow pending hangover size.
6. Bruce Springsteen- Magic
When I saw the video for “Radio Nowhere,” I think I posted on here that Tommy Tutone would be pissed that The Boss stole his riff from “867-5309.” Since then, I’ve managed to overlook that as “Radio Nowhere” is a great song that gets me fired up whenever I hear it. I also had some trouble getting into the album and it really took some time to grow on me. But now, I get it and I like it.
While I still prefer “The Rising” to “Magic,” there’s some real advances here for the Boss. He’s “sin ging” all pretty like and seems to be more…available lyrically. He’s not afraid to speak out against the bullshit our government is pulling but he manages to insert these thoughts into songs about life and relationships almost seamlessly. A good example of this is on the song “Livin’ in the Future Age,” my favorite tune on the album, wherein Bruce chats up his lover by assuring her everything’s gonna be all right and the rape of the constitution can’t happen because we’re livin’ in a future age.
7. The Hives-The Black and White Album
I like-a the rock a rolla, what can I say. When you’re battling traffic for 2-3 hours 3 days a week, nothing quenches the road rage like some solid guitar rock that makes you want to play your steering wheel while you curse at the asshole in front of you who just cut you off.
I also love the Hives cocky attitude, smooth suits and their dedication to the guitar riff that made their last album “Veni Vidi Vicious” so ass-kicking. We need more people in rock who want to rock and rock hard. And The Hives do. I’m dying to see them in concert but they were just on the road with Maroon-5 and I can’t go there.
8. Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
Yes, I read the gossip and yes, it’s the epitome of irony that a song about refusing rehab is written and performed by a chick who seriously needs to go to rehab. Hardy har. But, beyond all that is a really great album that borrows heavily from the Phil Specter “wall of sound” sound yet updates it without ruining it. “Back to Black” is a really, really…good album.
Winehouse can belt it out and her self deprecating, life-of-a-fuckup songs settle in with beats and grooves and horns and all sorts of cool sounds provided by Mark Ronson who I think will be shown to be the true mastermind of this album if Winehouse goes with someone else for the next album. If there is a next album. But still, this is just a solid effort and it makes me feel like I’m a hip guy for liking something everyone else likes. That rarely happens.
(I couldn't resist this awful pic of her as a kid!)
9. Will Kimbrough- EP
Will’s new album is an EP….so that’s not just a clever name. I am a huge Will Kimbrough fan and I love this record…but not quite as much as his last few. Plus, I have to come clean. I bought “EP” at his show in Sacramento and listened to it for like, 3 weeks straight. But now, I can’t find it. I bet if I knew where it was, it would be in the top 5. Sorry, Will!
However, I do love this album and I really like the way it feels organic yet really refined, if that makes sense. While he’s redone older songs “Godsend” and “Horseshoe Lake” (which Todd Snider did a while back) there’s some songs on here that are real steps forward for probably the best unsung guitar player out there. His songs have always been awesome lyrically, but there’s a new level on songs like “Hill Country Girl” and “Interstate” that really show how versatile and, well, badass Mr. Kimbrough is. He very well may be an alien. Check him out here.
10. Tommy Womack- There I Said It
For years I had heard great things about Tommy Womack through the Todd Snider community, but I never heard the guys stuff until this past year at South by Southwest. Turns out the mini-hype was well worth it as Tommy is a no frills singer songwriter with that perfect combo of humor and insight I love in my singer-songwriters.
“There I Said It” is an album by a guy who realizes his dreams of being a rock star ain’t gonna happen. But if you’re writing an album lamenting (sort of) the loss of what you thought would happen but embracing what you do have, you’re still making music and that’s the point of art. You do it because it’s what you do…it’s your passion. One of my favorite songs of the year “Alpha Male and the Canine Mystery Blood” is on there and there’s a song about a day spent swimming with his family at a friends house that’s just about as perfect as songs get. His awesome and funny website can be found here.
6. Bruce Springsteen- Magic
When I saw the video for “Radio Nowhere,” I think I posted on here that Tommy Tutone would be pissed that The Boss stole his riff from “867-5309.” Since then, I’ve managed to overlook that as “Radio Nowhere” is a great song that gets me fired up whenever I hear it. I also had some trouble getting into the album and it really took some time to grow on me. But now, I get it and I like it.
While I still prefer “The Rising” to “Magic,” there’s some real advances here for the Boss. He’s “sin ging” all pretty like and seems to be more…available lyrically. He’s not afraid to speak out against the bullshit our government is pulling but he manages to insert these thoughts into songs about life and relationships almost seamlessly. A good example of this is on the song “Livin’ in the Future Age,” my favorite tune on the album, wherein Bruce chats up his lover by assuring her everything’s gonna be all right and the rape of the constitution can’t happen because we’re livin’ in a future age.
7. The Hives-The Black and White Album
I like-a the rock a rolla, what can I say. When you’re battling traffic for 2-3 hours 3 days a week, nothing quenches the road rage like some solid guitar rock that makes you want to play your steering wheel while you curse at the asshole in front of you who just cut you off.
I also love the Hives cocky attitude, smooth suits and their dedication to the guitar riff that made their last album “Veni Vidi Vicious” so ass-kicking. We need more people in rock who want to rock and rock hard. And The Hives do. I’m dying to see them in concert but they were just on the road with Maroon-5 and I can’t go there.
8. Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
Yes, I read the gossip and yes, it’s the epitome of irony that a song about refusing rehab is written and performed by a chick who seriously needs to go to rehab. Hardy har. But, beyond all that is a really great album that borrows heavily from the Phil Specter “wall of sound” sound yet updates it without ruining it. “Back to Black” is a really, really…good album.
Winehouse can belt it out and her self deprecating, life-of-a-fuckup songs settle in with beats and grooves and horns and all sorts of cool sounds provided by Mark Ronson who I think will be shown to be the true mastermind of this album if Winehouse goes with someone else for the next album. If there is a next album. But still, this is just a solid effort and it makes me feel like I’m a hip guy for liking something everyone else likes. That rarely happens.
(I couldn't resist this awful pic of her as a kid!)
9. Will Kimbrough- EP
Will’s new album is an EP….so that’s not just a clever name. I am a huge Will Kimbrough fan and I love this record…but not quite as much as his last few. Plus, I have to come clean. I bought “EP” at his show in Sacramento and listened to it for like, 3 weeks straight. But now, I can’t find it. I bet if I knew where it was, it would be in the top 5. Sorry, Will!
However, I do love this album and I really like the way it feels organic yet really refined, if that makes sense. While he’s redone older songs “Godsend” and “Horseshoe Lake” (which Todd Snider did a while back) there’s some songs on here that are real steps forward for probably the best unsung guitar player out there. His songs have always been awesome lyrically, but there’s a new level on songs like “Hill Country Girl” and “Interstate” that really show how versatile and, well, badass Mr. Kimbrough is. He very well may be an alien. Check him out here.
10. Tommy Womack- There I Said It
For years I had heard great things about Tommy Womack through the Todd Snider community, but I never heard the guys stuff until this past year at South by Southwest. Turns out the mini-hype was well worth it as Tommy is a no frills singer songwriter with that perfect combo of humor and insight I love in my singer-songwriters.
“There I Said It” is an album by a guy who realizes his dreams of being a rock star ain’t gonna happen. But if you’re writing an album lamenting (sort of) the loss of what you thought would happen but embracing what you do have, you’re still making music and that’s the point of art. You do it because it’s what you do…it’s your passion. One of my favorite songs of the year “Alpha Male and the Canine Mystery Blood” is on there and there’s a song about a day spent swimming with his family at a friends house that’s just about as perfect as songs get. His awesome and funny website can be found here.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
new five a.m. video!
The band I manage, five a.m. made a freeking sweeeeeeet music video. It stars Eddie Furlong, Rumer Willis and Ice-T! Check it out below...
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Aint Talkin 'Bout Love
I'm talkin' about VAN HALEN!!!
As I mentioned last night, I saw Van Halen and it was just fricking great! Seriously, awesome show! My brother in law scored tix the day they went on sale ($100 a pop! I'll get back to that) and since then we'd been anxiously awaiting the show like two school kids waiting for Christmas break. Finally, the day arrived and I managed to secure us a ride to the show (my wife) and somehow coerced my sister to pick us up. You know what that means...beer! And lots of it.
We left a little too early and decided to get dinner at the Pyramid Ale House in Berkeley. Their Snow Cap is my favorite winter beer so we had some of that and as usual there, some substandard food. Yet before parking the car, we saw a sign that said the BART station was nearby and taking BART to the show (BART is Bay Area Rapid Transit...it's a subway) we could miss all the traffic and my wife could have an easier trip. So, we took BART. Across from us was this guy:
I'm not sure if he was a pimp or a minister, it's hard to tell. But he had that red pinstriped suit on, a sweet white hat and matching red leather shoes. Next to him on the seat was a fur coat. It was pretty kickass! If you look at the reflection in the window, you can see my taking his photo and trying to be sly. BART took us to the show and we got there just in time to miss another one Bob Marley's less talented progeny do some crappy reggae act. All I heard was a lackluster version of "I Shot the Sheriff." Laaaame. Also lame was the fact the "large" beers were $11.00! EACH!! Frigging criminals.
So we got some beers and headed off to our $100 seats which my bro-in-law was convinced were pretty good. The section we were in was just in front of the stage, to the side so that was a good start. Then we started looking for row 19. That would be....the last row. Yup, nose bleeders for $100! Again, frigging criminals. But then again, it's Van Halen with David Lee Roth back at the helm and I didn't really care. Although I felt ripped off a little. Those are $50 seats, people. Here's a photo from our seats from when the show started. The top is blocked off because that's the ceiling at the Oakland Coliseum!!
Grrr.
Before the show started though, i started missing my buddy Lance who is the biggest VH fan there is. I think he and I saw VH with Sammy about 6 times one summer. He lives in Reno now and had his kids this weekend so he couldn't come along. But I texted him and then continued to text him the setlist which was smart because I would have forgot it. Here it is in all it's glory:
You Really Got Me
Show Your Love
Running with the Devil
**A song I didn't know and neither did my bro-in-law**
Somebody get me a Doctor (and I went to get more beer)
Beautiful Girls
Dance the Night Away
Atomic Punk (this was a great surprise)
Everybody Wants Some (and I wanted more beer so I missed it)
So This is Love
Cathedral (part of it anyways) into...
Mean Streets
Pretty Woman
Drum Solo!! I hate to say it, but of the 4 unattractive men up there, Alex Van Halen looked the worst. He looks half dead but dude can still play the drums!
Unchained
I'll Wait (which seemed odd since it was written about and for Valerie Bertinelli...who Eddie divorced....but their kid was playing bass.)
Cradle Will Rock
**last beers**
Hot For teacher
Little Dreamer
Little Guitars (probably my favorite song of the night...Unchained is my favorite song ever but I couldn't hear it very well from our nose bleeders)
Janies Crying
Ice Cream Man (with that same story from the other blog posting I did)
Panama
Eddie guitar solo...which was great! You know, people always focus on Diamond Dave's antics and Alex's giant drum set and 15 foot high gong, and they forget just how innovative and amazing Eddie is. Dude's still got it even if his fingers look like wrinkled dolmas.
Aint Talkin' 'Bout Love
and
Jump
Jump was pretty "gay" as there was a huge inflatable microphone that plopped down from somewhere and Dave started like...riding it around. Not cool. But overall, man....I couldn't ask for much more. I'm not one of those people who needs to hear obscure songs from a band and VH covered the classics. Plus, they were selling shirts that had designs culled from all the old David Lee Roth tours and that was super sweet!! I had a great time until I got home to dogs on crack. I think this is the best reunion tour ever. No frills, just rock.
As I mentioned last night, I saw Van Halen and it was just fricking great! Seriously, awesome show! My brother in law scored tix the day they went on sale ($100 a pop! I'll get back to that) and since then we'd been anxiously awaiting the show like two school kids waiting for Christmas break. Finally, the day arrived and I managed to secure us a ride to the show (my wife) and somehow coerced my sister to pick us up. You know what that means...beer! And lots of it.
We left a little too early and decided to get dinner at the Pyramid Ale House in Berkeley. Their Snow Cap is my favorite winter beer so we had some of that and as usual there, some substandard food. Yet before parking the car, we saw a sign that said the BART station was nearby and taking BART to the show (BART is Bay Area Rapid Transit...it's a subway) we could miss all the traffic and my wife could have an easier trip. So, we took BART. Across from us was this guy:
I'm not sure if he was a pimp or a minister, it's hard to tell. But he had that red pinstriped suit on, a sweet white hat and matching red leather shoes. Next to him on the seat was a fur coat. It was pretty kickass! If you look at the reflection in the window, you can see my taking his photo and trying to be sly. BART took us to the show and we got there just in time to miss another one Bob Marley's less talented progeny do some crappy reggae act. All I heard was a lackluster version of "I Shot the Sheriff." Laaaame. Also lame was the fact the "large" beers were $11.00! EACH!! Frigging criminals.
So we got some beers and headed off to our $100 seats which my bro-in-law was convinced were pretty good. The section we were in was just in front of the stage, to the side so that was a good start. Then we started looking for row 19. That would be....the last row. Yup, nose bleeders for $100! Again, frigging criminals. But then again, it's Van Halen with David Lee Roth back at the helm and I didn't really care. Although I felt ripped off a little. Those are $50 seats, people. Here's a photo from our seats from when the show started. The top is blocked off because that's the ceiling at the Oakland Coliseum!!
Grrr.
Before the show started though, i started missing my buddy Lance who is the biggest VH fan there is. I think he and I saw VH with Sammy about 6 times one summer. He lives in Reno now and had his kids this weekend so he couldn't come along. But I texted him and then continued to text him the setlist which was smart because I would have forgot it. Here it is in all it's glory:
You Really Got Me
Show Your Love
Running with the Devil
**A song I didn't know and neither did my bro-in-law**
Somebody get me a Doctor (and I went to get more beer)
Beautiful Girls
Dance the Night Away
Atomic Punk (this was a great surprise)
Everybody Wants Some (and I wanted more beer so I missed it)
So This is Love
Cathedral (part of it anyways) into...
Mean Streets
Pretty Woman
Drum Solo!! I hate to say it, but of the 4 unattractive men up there, Alex Van Halen looked the worst. He looks half dead but dude can still play the drums!
Unchained
I'll Wait (which seemed odd since it was written about and for Valerie Bertinelli...who Eddie divorced....but their kid was playing bass.)
Cradle Will Rock
**last beers**
Hot For teacher
Little Dreamer
Little Guitars (probably my favorite song of the night...Unchained is my favorite song ever but I couldn't hear it very well from our nose bleeders)
Janies Crying
Ice Cream Man (with that same story from the other blog posting I did)
Panama
Eddie guitar solo...which was great! You know, people always focus on Diamond Dave's antics and Alex's giant drum set and 15 foot high gong, and they forget just how innovative and amazing Eddie is. Dude's still got it even if his fingers look like wrinkled dolmas.
Aint Talkin' 'Bout Love
and
Jump
Jump was pretty "gay" as there was a huge inflatable microphone that plopped down from somewhere and Dave started like...riding it around. Not cool. But overall, man....I couldn't ask for much more. I'm not one of those people who needs to hear obscure songs from a band and VH covered the classics. Plus, they were selling shirts that had designs culled from all the old David Lee Roth tours and that was super sweet!! I had a great time until I got home to dogs on crack. I think this is the best reunion tour ever. No frills, just rock.
So.......
I saw VH tonight and it was really, truly amazing. But now, I'm mostly drunk and want to go to sleep but a few things stand in my way...
1. I'm not really tired
2. This computer (at my moms house) sucks. And...
3. I worked it all out (as I'm prone to doing) so I could be safely taken to the show and safely dropped at "home." However, I'm at my parents house and have to sleep it off here rather than go home and snuggle with my girls. In and of itself it's awkward to be drunk at the house you grew up in and be staying there...alone. Plus, I really wish I was home. BUT...Igby is here with me which leads to the biggest problem....
4. I got home about 45 mins ago and just noticed Igby and Oliver (the puggles) got under my parents tree and ate a BOX of macadamia nuts covered in chocolate. At first I was terrified (dogs and chocolate don't mix) and now I'm just annoyed because those two are frigging AMPED up on sugar, chocolate and caffeine. I just want to go to bed so I can get up and go home....and now, that may not happen. They're chasing each other everywhere. EV-ERY-WHERE.
Post Script: I'm about 99.9% sure it was MY dogs idea to get into the chocolate covered macadamias.
1. I'm not really tired
2. This computer (at my moms house) sucks. And...
3. I worked it all out (as I'm prone to doing) so I could be safely taken to the show and safely dropped at "home." However, I'm at my parents house and have to sleep it off here rather than go home and snuggle with my girls. In and of itself it's awkward to be drunk at the house you grew up in and be staying there...alone. Plus, I really wish I was home. BUT...Igby is here with me which leads to the biggest problem....
4. I got home about 45 mins ago and just noticed Igby and Oliver (the puggles) got under my parents tree and ate a BOX of macadamia nuts covered in chocolate. At first I was terrified (dogs and chocolate don't mix) and now I'm just annoyed because those two are frigging AMPED up on sugar, chocolate and caffeine. I just want to go to bed so I can get up and go home....and now, that may not happen. They're chasing each other everywhere. EV-ERY-WHERE.
Post Script: I'm about 99.9% sure it was MY dogs idea to get into the chocolate covered macadamias.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
o.k...I'm back
So.....I have the month off of work and it's been amazing. I was seriously on the verge of losing my mind. I feel simply awful about ditching out on work, but if I didn't, I would have cracked up. Seriously. I spread myself way too thin and my literal and figurative "house" was in disarray. My physical house is still a disaster, but....we finished out short film in time to send it in for SXSW and I think we have a great chance of getting in and that would honestly be a dream come true. My mind is almost in order. Almost.
Since I took leave, I've spent time with lil Story (not enough) and grabbed handfuls of homework, readings, papers and just....hanging with fellow students, all of which I needed badly. Now I have a paper and a half left and I'm free. I couldn't be prouder of myself for taking this huge bite of responsibility and coming out the other side mostly unscathed. I had 15 units (5 classes!), my job, my band (who were luckily mostly recording), my BABY, my wife, my life....it was way too much. And sadly, I say I'm "proud" I did it all...but really, I'm pissed that I challenge myself in ways that no one but myself cares about. Seriously, I'm the only one that cares and rather than bask in the glow, I feel like....emotionally raped and as if I did everything half ass...save our movie which fucking rules. Ah well, lesson learned.
Anywho, I'm finishing up 2 papers this week and then..Saturday....VAN HALEN!! What a great cherry on top of this sundae. I unabashedly love VH, especially David Lee Roth VH and I need to blow off some steam. Plus, all the youtube vids of the "new" old VH have been awesome. I saw this tonight and damn, that Diamond Dave can spin a yarn....
Since I took leave, I've spent time with lil Story (not enough) and grabbed handfuls of homework, readings, papers and just....hanging with fellow students, all of which I needed badly. Now I have a paper and a half left and I'm free. I couldn't be prouder of myself for taking this huge bite of responsibility and coming out the other side mostly unscathed. I had 15 units (5 classes!), my job, my band (who were luckily mostly recording), my BABY, my wife, my life....it was way too much. And sadly, I say I'm "proud" I did it all...but really, I'm pissed that I challenge myself in ways that no one but myself cares about. Seriously, I'm the only one that cares and rather than bask in the glow, I feel like....emotionally raped and as if I did everything half ass...save our movie which fucking rules. Ah well, lesson learned.
Anywho, I'm finishing up 2 papers this week and then..Saturday....VAN HALEN!! What a great cherry on top of this sundae. I unabashedly love VH, especially David Lee Roth VH and I need to blow off some steam. Plus, all the youtube vids of the "new" old VH have been awesome. I saw this tonight and damn, that Diamond Dave can spin a yarn....
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Ohh if you knew how I felt now, you wouldn't act so adult now..
My favorite band of all time, as has been duly noted here, is The Replacements. They were, to quote their singer Paul Westerberg, sadly beautiful. They could rock your socks off with one song, then turn around and touch your heart in the next. Then they'd get really drunk, forget their songs and still manage a helluva show. Or so I hear. I never got to see them.
There's also something about them I especially love and loved about Jawbreaker, one of my other favorite bands. They just didn't give a shit about the big time. Jawbreaker did a legendary thing when grunge and Greenday hit in that they let every record exec in town fly them to L.A. or New York, put them up in the finest hotels and let these record companies wine and dine them. All without the slightest intention of EVER signing with any of them. When they finally signed (like, 4 years later), they let the record company buy them all new shit, they toured the world, and then broke up so they wouldn't owe the corporation anything. Sucked for all us Jawbreaker fans, but they did it all on their terms. Which brings me to The Replacements.
The Mats were a big underground band that seemed to be bubbling below the surface of the mainstream for years. They finally got asked to play Saturday Night Live which, for them, was probably a total shock. And hey, that's pretty freeking huge....especially in 1986 when that show didn't suck. So they agree to do the show, fly out there...and this clip below shows what happened. They were awesome, drunk, hilarious and then they all fell down.
Then some years later, Paul came back to SNL as a solo artist and this happened:
Man, I love the Mats.
There's also something about them I especially love and loved about Jawbreaker, one of my other favorite bands. They just didn't give a shit about the big time. Jawbreaker did a legendary thing when grunge and Greenday hit in that they let every record exec in town fly them to L.A. or New York, put them up in the finest hotels and let these record companies wine and dine them. All without the slightest intention of EVER signing with any of them. When they finally signed (like, 4 years later), they let the record company buy them all new shit, they toured the world, and then broke up so they wouldn't owe the corporation anything. Sucked for all us Jawbreaker fans, but they did it all on their terms. Which brings me to The Replacements.
The Mats were a big underground band that seemed to be bubbling below the surface of the mainstream for years. They finally got asked to play Saturday Night Live which, for them, was probably a total shock. And hey, that's pretty freeking huge....especially in 1986 when that show didn't suck. So they agree to do the show, fly out there...and this clip below shows what happened. They were awesome, drunk, hilarious and then they all fell down.
Then some years later, Paul came back to SNL as a solo artist and this happened:
Man, I love the Mats.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
More adventures in 7-11
So I was in 7-11 earlier and this really aggravated guy comes in. I mean, he wasn't like...stewing or throwing shit around, but I could tell her was annoyed. He starts kind of looking down the aisles and finally yells up to the register guy, "Hey man, where's the visine?" The register guy points down the aisle the guy is in and says "further down..." The guy keeps looking and he goes "I can't see it!?" The register guy goes, "in that aisle, but further down." And the guys goes, "damn dude, I can't see it."
And I thought that was really funny.
And I thought that was really funny.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Poignant
I'll admit it, I read the gossip websites. Pretty much everyday. It keeps me up on what's new with celebs and their nip-slips and rehabs. Plus, it also spares me the hours involved in reading magazines or watching those daily gossip TV shows that are usually like, a week late on their info anyway. That being said, I'm totally Brittnied out.
I feel really bad for her and I must say, this whole...watching her fall thing is truly similar to Roman Gladiators or those slaves they'd throw to the lions just to watch them get torn apart. It's gone from "WTF happened!?!?!" to "dude, that chick is nuts" to "dude, that chick has seriously lost it" to just plain sad. I admit, as a storyteller/screenwriter/filmmaker, you simply cannot make up the shit that's this poor girl has gone through. It's sincerely tragic and it will end badly for Ms. Spears. And that's sad. I mean it, it's really sad.
Anywho, I remember seeing this clip a few years ago, before the nuttiness really kicked in and man, it was super funny. It's super funny now as well. But watch it and really listen to the last 10-15 seconds. Man, that's the kicker. It's the final scene in the documentary on Brittney Spears that will come out 5 years after we drag her down and pretend we didn't have a hand in her demise.
I feel really bad for her and I must say, this whole...watching her fall thing is truly similar to Roman Gladiators or those slaves they'd throw to the lions just to watch them get torn apart. It's gone from "WTF happened!?!?!" to "dude, that chick is nuts" to "dude, that chick has seriously lost it" to just plain sad. I admit, as a storyteller/screenwriter/filmmaker, you simply cannot make up the shit that's this poor girl has gone through. It's sincerely tragic and it will end badly for Ms. Spears. And that's sad. I mean it, it's really sad.
Anywho, I remember seeing this clip a few years ago, before the nuttiness really kicked in and man, it was super funny. It's super funny now as well. But watch it and really listen to the last 10-15 seconds. Man, that's the kicker. It's the final scene in the documentary on Brittney Spears that will come out 5 years after we drag her down and pretend we didn't have a hand in her demise.
Monday, November 26, 2007
If someone....
....says you should google or watch the video for "2 Girls 1 Cup" DO NOT DO IT!!!! You have been warned.
Seriously, do not navigate over to google right now.
I'm not kidding.
You'll be really, really sorry.
And no, I'm not challenging you, I'm warning you. I gave in and sought it out because alot of people were talking about it, and I may as well have watched that creepy video from "The Ring."
You've been warned.
Seriously, do not navigate over to google right now.
I'm not kidding.
You'll be really, really sorry.
And no, I'm not challenging you, I'm warning you. I gave in and sought it out because alot of people were talking about it, and I may as well have watched that creepy video from "The Ring."
You've been warned.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Heya, Chuck
I was walking the baby around and noticed "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" was on. I am, and always have been, a total sucker for holiday kids movies on TV. All the Charlie Browns, Rudolph, Fat Albert Santa Claus is Coming to Town...you name it, I've seen it 36 times. Except for anything newer than 1990...and the Garfield ones. So naturally I turned the baby away from the evil screen and zoned out to Snoopy making dinner for Peppermint Patty, Marcy, Linus, Lucy and (surprise surprise) Franklin who Charlie gave a high-5 to in a really sad, latently racist move. He didn't slap skin with any of his other friends...just the "other" friend. But as usual, I digress.
What struck me this year was how frigging rude Peppermint Patty is to Snoopy and Charlie Brown. I mean sure, toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks and jelly beans are shitty components for a Thanksgiving Day feast. But...hello....you're a guest you grouchy beeotch! You don't diss someones food when you invited yourself over because you have no parents. What really annoyed me further was Charlie Brown feels bad about it and soon allows his freeloading friends to go with him to his grandmas house for a "real" dinner. I wonder if all these years, Charlie Brown was more of a pushover/cuckold than a "loser?" I'll be looking closer this holiday season.
After the Thanksgiving show, a newer Charlie Brown special called "He's a Bully Charlie Brown" came on. It was all revitalized (or trying to be) and had Snoopy and Charlie Brown on a halfpipe skateboarding in the opening credits. Neat. They also had some glossy looking computer type animation that really sucked as well. It was basically a pumped up Peanuts and it lacked any and all charm of the originals.
Oh! The "acting" was horrible! They were like Peanuts Robots. "Hello, Chuck. How. Are. You? Going. To. Summer. Camp?" You get the idea. But what really made my night was the fact that we can no longer question or make sly innuendoes about Marcy and Peppermint Patty. See, in "Bully," Marcy and Charlie Brown get to go to summer camp but P. Patty has to stay behind and attend summer school. Torn apart by jealousy over Marcy and Chuck having fun while she is in school, she calls Marcy each night to see what she's missing.
Soon, while on the phone, Marcy starts doing things like, "Oh, hold on sir, I can't hear you because Chuck is nibbling my ear" (I'm not kidding...that really happens) and during one phone call she says, "Oh Chuck....quit squeezing my hand so hard." It all makes Peppermint Patty incredibly jealous and she comes unglued and she sneaks off to the camp to see what's really going on.
Once there Patty begins to look everywhere for Chuck with Marcy attached at her hip....where she is usually found. Now, simpletons would believe the company line that Peppermint Patty is jealous because Marcy is picking up on her man. However closer inspection reveals that Patty never actually states who she's jealous of. If you took some of her statements at face value and "in" the scene, you could easily easily argue she's mad that Marcy is straying from her and in fact, I think the lack of clearness speaks to the fact Peppermint Patty is a lesbian. Not that there's anything wrong with that and hell, since Dumbledore got outed it's only a matter of time before a classic cartoon character comes out of the animated closet. I do have to say my money was always on Goofy though...
Monday, November 19, 2007
EBAY is harassing me.
So I made boo-boo with my ebay account. Here's the deal...
I had a credit card on file with Pay Pal and that credit card expired before I could swap it out. Then I somehow managed to forget my Pay Pal password and accidentally blocked myself out of the site. While this is going on, I won an auction for a $4 bendy toy action figure thingy. I was going to do some stop-motion animating in my massive amount of free time.
So, I call Pay Pal and in order to reinstate my account to me, I need to provide them with the credit card number. Since the credit card had expired and I replaced it, I cut up the old credit card and tossed it. The guy at Pay Pal then said I would have to have the BANK fax them a clearance to which I responded, "are you high? Do you think I have time to have the bank fax you my information? Can't I just tell you my moms maiden name and my dogs name and we can move forward?"
"No, sorry" was the response.
So I then think to myself, well screw it. I'll just let that account sit there and I'll open another one under another email. Brilliant! I set one up and then went through similar phone BS that basically ended up being, I can't change the Pay Pal account or email or some such thing on my Ebay. I need to jump through the hoops to get my Pay Pay fixed. But in the meantime, I have yet to pay my $9 ($5 shipping) for my bendy toy and so now, my Ebay account has a strike and I'm on like, double secret academic probation suspension. And it's all rather annoying and I really don't shop much on Ebay but knowing I can't is really frustrating. But here's the kicker...Ebay emails me about 6 times a week to remind me I have "a strike" and my account is on hold.
I mean, Jesus H. Ebay....I frigging get it. I won an item, did not pay and now I'm in trouble. But for F-'s sake....don't you people think I know by now?! It's reminding me of that storyline in "Short Cuts" where Lyle Lovett keeps pestering the couple who just lost their son to pay for and pick up the cake they bought. He keeps crank calling them and won't let it go that they never picked up and paid for a cake they bought for their kid...when truth was the kid got hit by a car and died. Boy did Lyle's character feel shitty when he found out what happened.
I seriously want to call Ebay and make up some crazy, sad thing that happened but that's never good karma. But still....leave me alone Ebay! I'll fix my shit soon...sheesh...
Sunday, November 18, 2007
lazy blogger...
....i didn't even bother to capitalize.
But seriously...
Many times I wonder how a book or movie becomes "a classic." In terms of newly found crazes, that is.. I generally miss the rise as it comes up, or wholly disagree. But lately I've been reading several people who are just crazy about Bob Rafelson's "Five Easy Pieces." I read many blog innuendoes before and finally caught the film about a year and a half ago...when we had "On-Demand"...which, corporate levelling aside...RULES!! Anyway...it's a really, really under-the-radar-yet-you-must-see movies.
There's one scene in particular which apparently sums up the feelings of post-60's hippies as well as 80's kids....or something. It's the one below...and it's just fucking great. Seriously, greatX5. But the whole movie is really good and much like small time classics such as..."Harold and Maude" and "Edward Scissorhands" (that people have rethought and said, "ya know...that shit was the shit!!) I think "Five Easy Pieces" is a GREAT movie on the fast track to being the movie cool/smart/hip people go "Ohh man, that was great!" then get all wrong in their assessment of it.
No matter what you think of the whole thing, here's a clip to whet your appetite...Friend-o. Go rent this...ASAP...you'll be deemed cool somewhere, sometime.
But seriously...
Many times I wonder how a book or movie becomes "a classic." In terms of newly found crazes, that is.. I generally miss the rise as it comes up, or wholly disagree. But lately I've been reading several people who are just crazy about Bob Rafelson's "Five Easy Pieces." I read many blog innuendoes before and finally caught the film about a year and a half ago...when we had "On-Demand"...which, corporate levelling aside...RULES!! Anyway...it's a really, really under-the-radar-yet-you-must-see movies.
There's one scene in particular which apparently sums up the feelings of post-60's hippies as well as 80's kids....or something. It's the one below...and it's just fucking great. Seriously, greatX5. But the whole movie is really good and much like small time classics such as..."Harold and Maude" and "Edward Scissorhands" (that people have rethought and said, "ya know...that shit was the shit!!) I think "Five Easy Pieces" is a GREAT movie on the fast track to being the movie cool/smart/hip people go "Ohh man, that was great!" then get all wrong in their assessment of it.
No matter what you think of the whole thing, here's a clip to whet your appetite...Friend-o. Go rent this...ASAP...you'll be deemed cool somewhere, sometime.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Living and learning...
I love to learn. Seriously. As much as it bites me in the ass in that I know seemingly a teeny, tiny, miniscule bit about everything...just enough to have a conversation with any annoying nut job at a bar or supermarket, I LOVE finding new writers, filmmakers, music...pop culture phenomenon ("Jenkem," anyone?) and whatnot. It's just the bees knees. But when Norman Mailer died the other day, alot of people I enjoy reading were writing their little blog tributes and I seriously had no clue who he was.
Sure, I heard the name and saw the youtube clip posted below (which is freeking...amazing. We don't get "real" moments like that EVER these days) but really, why was he famous? Who was Norman Mailer? I had no idea and I just spent the last hour reading about him and damn it if he wasn't exactly the kind of brilliant/perma-damaged/creative force freakshow I usually find solace in.
My point is that although I can still remember the original "Herbie the Love Bug" license plate (OFP 857)...I'll never know anywhere close to anything. I'm not down about it, I'm just saying.
Enjoy Norman Mailer -vs- Rip Torn on the set of Mailers film "Maidstone"...
Sure, I heard the name and saw the youtube clip posted below (which is freeking...amazing. We don't get "real" moments like that EVER these days) but really, why was he famous? Who was Norman Mailer? I had no idea and I just spent the last hour reading about him and damn it if he wasn't exactly the kind of brilliant/perma-damaged/creative force freakshow I usually find solace in.
My point is that although I can still remember the original "Herbie the Love Bug" license plate (OFP 857)...I'll never know anywhere close to anything. I'm not down about it, I'm just saying.
Enjoy Norman Mailer -vs- Rip Torn on the set of Mailers film "Maidstone"...
Thursday, November 08, 2007
If you haven't...
Checked this out, you're seriously missing out on something cooler than hipster cool could ever be:
http://www.robertplantalisonkrauss.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)