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July 18th, 2006
11:16 am - Myspace
Why are you even here? I haven't updated this thing in what.... almost 4 months.
I've been brainwashed by Myspace. So I hereby declare this blog, closed.
Thanks for playing. We have some lovely parting gifts for you.
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April 8th, 2006
01:03 am - Box Of Rain
I'm a music-before-lyrics kind of guy. Always have been. It's not that I don't appreciate lyrics or what songs are about. They just aren't the first things I notice in a tune.
Take this song. "Box of Rain" by the Grateful Dead. It's the first track off of their 'American Beauty' CD. It's one of my favorite CD's, and it's one of my favorite songs in the world. (editors note: American Beauty is NOT a jam record. Don't think for one second that it is just because it's the Grateful Dead.)
I always found it as a pretty uplifting song, and it always put me in a good mood.
Tonite I just learned what it was about.
It was a song for Phil Lesh to sing to his father in the hospital, as he was dying of cancer.
Not so uplifting anymore.
But I still love the song.
( Here Are The Lyrics for BOX OF RAIN )
Current Music: American Beauty - Grateful Dead
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April 5th, 2006
02:53 am - DRESDEN DOLLS TO PLAY SUMMERFEST!
This just in!
(at 3am!)
According to Pollstar, the Dresden Dolls are going to play Summerfest on July the 7th!
This is very very cool.
Pollstar also is reporting that the following bands will be there...
Cowboy Mouth
My Morning Jacket
Kings of Leon
Soul Asylum
Panic! at the Disco
And of course the perenials...(bluh)
Styx
REO Speedwagon
Blue Oyster Cult (a nickel for everytime some says the word "cowbell" at that show)
Foreigner
Cheap Trick
The Big Wu
And various other sources say...
The Bravery
Yellowcard
The Gufs
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Medeski Martin & Wood
So far so good, ya'll.
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March 31st, 2006
03:14 pm - Breaking News....
Kris and Anna Benson are getting divorced.
That's a shame. A damn shame.
Now he's pretty worthless to the Orioles.
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March 28th, 2006
01:25 pm - File This Under 'WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY??!?!?!'
So this was news last week, but I just found out about it today while reading the blog of a friend of a friend (Fancy Robot -> Ren)...text selections from the Capla Kesting Fine Art Museum press release...
What is it about Britney Spears that makes people absolutely lose their minds?!?!
I've made no secret that I'm pro-choice. But seriously, pro-lifers...
... do you really want Britney Spears as your posterchild? Or, sculpturechild?
"Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston
DEDICATION HONORS NUDE BRITNEY SPEARS GIVING BIRTH
Pop-Star’s Pregnancy Idealized In Brooklyn ‘Monument to Pro-Life’
BROOKLYN (March 22, 2006) --- A nude Britney Spears on a bearskin rug while giving birth to her firstborn marks a ‘first’ for Pro-Life. Pop-star Britney Spears is the “ideal” model for Pro-Life and the subject of a dedication at Capla Kesting Fine Art in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg gallery district, in what is proclaimed the first Pro-Life monument to birth, in April.
Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston,” believed Pro-Life’s first monument to the ‘act of giving birth,’ is purportedly an idealized depiction of Britney in delivery. Natural aspects of Spears’ pregnancy, like lactiferous breasts and protruding naval, compliment a posterior view that depicts widened hips for birthing and reveals the crowning of baby Sean’s head."
The 'ideal model?' Helllllo? Drivers seat? Slutty persona? 'Oops I did it again?' You want an ideal model? Try the Virgin Mary. That's as far away from Planned Parenthood as you can get.
Unreal.
( For further craziness, read the full press release here )
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12:20 pm - Back in Milwaukee
So I'm back in Milwaukee. It was a nice trip home. Great to see family. The dog and I got along much better this time around. He either recognizes my winning personality now, or realized he could save his bark for more important things than me. And CABLE TELEVISION!
Things I miss about cable...
1. Countdown with Keith Olberman
2. Comedy Central
3. Monk
4. Baseball (effective starting in April)
Things I don't miss about cable...
1. Skimming through the channels and finding this celebrity special about Jodie Sweetin (the Full House daughter who's last name isn't Olson or Cameron) and her recovery from a meth habit.
2. Paying for it.
I've sent out about 5 job applications at this point. The one I'm cheering for the most would be the high school choir director at Cudahy high school. That would rock my world (and their's too, I would think).
Saw Electric Six over the weekend. Good show, but the crowd was rowdier than I'd ever seen at an E6 show. There are low ceilings at Mad Planet, and I was kind of hoping that some dope who decided to stage dive would smack their head on a fresnel hanging from the ceiling. Does that make me a bad person?
Neko Case @ the Pabst is this Thursday.
Had a couple of fantasy baseball drafts over the weekend, but those don't make good stories on live journal.
31 days til softball season starts!! Huzzah!
Current Music: Sufjan Stevens
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March 24th, 2006
09:51 pm - George Mason
This is for you upper-midwestern-types...
Meet George Mason. (thank you Wikipedia)
George Mason (December 11, 1725 – October 7, 1792) was a United States patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention. He has been called the "Father of the Bill of Rights".
Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which detailed specific rights of citizens. He was later a leader of those who pressed for the addition of explicitly stated individual rights as part of the U.S. Constitution. His efforts eventually succeeded in convincing the Federalists (such as James Madison) to modify the Constitution and add the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments of the Constitution). The Bill of Rights is based on Mason's earlier Virginia Declaration of Rights. The French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was also based on George Mason's work.
And they have absolutely no business being in the elite 8...but it's pretty fun nevertheless. We'll see if Georgetown can follow suit...
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March 23rd, 2006
10:23 pm - Follow-up
I heard today that the aforementioned 'classic rock' station is giving away Pearl Jam tickets.
Way to know your demo (cough gag puke).
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March 22nd, 2006
11:37 pm - Unacceptable
Oh, I'm home in Maryland, by the way...
Classic Rock 94.7, The Arrow. The Capital of Classic Rock. I interned there back in the summer of 1999. Had a great time... they're still doing classic rock now...or at least they say they are.
They played 'Shine' by Collective Soul today.
This leads me to a few possible conclusions...
1. They use the word 'classic rock' very liberally...
2. They played a wrong song....maybe they were going for "Shine on you crazy diamond" by Pink Floyd instead....
3. 1993 is officially considered classic rock now.
I refuse to accept any of those.
Here's the thing...I don't have a problem with classic rock stations playing newer stuff when it's by bona fide classic rock artists. Neil Young has a new record out? Sure, spin a few tracks off of it. And then later in the day, play Harvest Moon or Heart of Gold as usual. But when you start playing bands who got their start in the so called 'grunge' era on classic rock stations...we have a problem. Hell, we play 90's bands all the time at my radio station...and we STOPPED playing Collective Soul!!!
Made me want to throw up. Made me a bit....sblounskched...
In other Washington radio news...I got my first taste of a JACK radio station today. (for you non-radio peoples who don't know....JACK stations play hits from the 60's through the present, and they brag how they've got these huge music libraries...(which they do)...and they market themselves as "Playing What We Want"....no boundries...Ipod shuffle radio...stuff like that).... They've got good attitudes. A sweeper said, "JACK-FM...the wave of the future. (long pause) we hope." The segues were as trainwrecked as advertised. Let's go from 'Land of Confusion' by Genesis into 'All The Small Things' by Blink 182. Why not? And then let's follow that up with 'The Long Run' from the Eagles.... oy vey... I can just hear the radios switching as every subsequent song starts....
March 23rd. I'm finally having Christmas! Hooray-ah for me!
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March 17th, 2006
04:30 pm - Which is more tasteless?
Which is more tasteless. This joke or this story?
What is the opposite of Christopher Reeves?
Answer: Christopher Walken.
Or, as Levi poinited out (citing my sources, not making any moral judgements here)....
Reigning Miss Deaf Texas dies after getting hit by a train.
Let the debate begin. Or not. Nobody reads this crap anyway.
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March 16th, 2006
03:52 pm - Lollapalooza 06!!!
So here's some of what got announced today....
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Kanye West
Wilco
Death Cab For Cutie
The Raconteurs (read: Jack White, Brendan Benson and some other guys)
The Flaming Lips
Ween
Queens of the Stone Age
The Shins
Common
Matisyahu
Ryan Adams
Sonic Youth
Thievery Corporation
Sleater-Kinney
Nickel Creek
Broken Social Scene
The New Pornographers
Iron & Wine
The Secret Machines
Eels
The Smoking Popes
Andrew Bird
Stars
Calexico
Nada Surf
Feist
The Redwalls
Of Montreal
Very very cool.
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March 14th, 2006
01:23 am - Love Gravy
So first off, the Jenny Lewis concert was FANTASTIC.
Secondly, did you hear that Isaac Hayes quit South Park because it 'crossed a line'? Sooooo, is this a new development, Chef? This whole, crossing a line thing? They haven't been doing that since 1997?
So do they kill him off or get Al Green to do the voice?
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March 13th, 2006
04:56 pm - Alternative Nation Playlist 3/12
Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis w/ The Watson Twins
Tribulations - LCD Soundsystem
My Mathematical Mind - Spoon
All the Money or the Simple Life - The Dandy Warhols
My Doorbell - White Stripes
Oo la la - Goldfrapp
Sukie in the Graveyard - Belle and Sebastian
Mass Romantic - The New Pornographers
If you Talk Too Much - People in Planes
Coin Operated Boy - The Dresden Dolls
A Million Ways - Ok Go
Munich - The Editors
Superman - REM
Song For The Dumped - Ben Folds Five
Landed - Ben Folds
Robinson Caruso - The Redwalls
Public Service Message - The Bravery
Float On - Ben Lee
The Wand - The Flaming Lips
16 Military Wives - The Decemberists
Karma Police - Radiohead
Panda - Dungen
Dance Me In - Sons and Daughters
Love Me Like You - The Magic Numbers
Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode
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March 12th, 2006
12:09 am - Action packed weekend
Thus brings the curtain down on AOK's 2006 Gala. It was a pretty good run, and I'm super proud of them. Am I going to continue to work with the group? I don't know. The kids are great and all, but there are so many things I wish I could do to make things smoother...and I can't, cuz I'm not the boss. So we'll see.
The choreographer of the Falls Patio Players (read: community theater) tracked me down and asked if I would be winning to join their cast of Fiddler On The Roof, performing this April. Very flattering, despite the fact that I know she only wants me for my low voice more than anything else... I'd like to, but I doubt that I could make the time commitment...what with me going out of town for a week, working on the weekends, and softball season just around the corner. But it'd be fun. It'd be nice to perform again. It's been awhile. Unless you consider radio stuff 'performing'. I don't.
Speaking of radio stuff, I'm now the host of Alternative Nation. It's official. Well, it's not. But see if you can hear me out....it is, AND it isn't. Once Kramp officially moves to the morning show, it'll be official. But in the meantime, I'm supposed to just say that he's out of town, and I'm filling in. ANYWAY...the point is, you should tune in to the best two hours of music on Milwaukee radio. What makes it the best two hours? Because I get to pick what I play. I'm the ONLY jock that gets to pick what they play. I like this power. So tune in Sundays from 10pm to midnight for Alternative Nation. And if you request Nickelback, I will talk to my friends in the Brazilian Mafia and have you 'taken out'.
Belle & Sebastian and the New Pornographers concert was tonite. The show was excellent. The crowd was awful. I felt like I was in a high school cafeteria. Lots of chit chatting, and lots during the quiet songs. Very rude. Maybe I'm just a snob, but that tops the list of things that annoy me at concerts. Singing along, I can usually deal with. Obnoxiously screaming out song names? More annoying. Not even listening and making lots of noise of your own? Urge to kill rising.....rising......rising...
But the show was great. Two of my favorite bands sharing the stage. I've seen B&S three times now, and bless their hearts...I've only seen a few songs repeated between the three shows. They played just the right mix of stuff from the new album, and stuff from the older ones. And the NP's, despite Neko Case not being around, did great too. Again, great song selection...played everything that I needed to hear, and most that I wanted to hear. Ahhhhh, I remember the good old days....being the awesome GM of Marquette Radio...sitting in the office, calling whatever DJ was on the air and requesting they play 'Mass Romantic'...which is one of the coolest songs ever written....you downloader types, get your paws on that one....you'll thank me later.
Saw the show with Jill. Had a great time. And then felt very sad. Took a couple of steps backwards in the recovery process.
So yeah. Sunday. Morning radio show, then a trip to the Bay to see my peeps in Joseph and his Liberace dreamcoat, and then back to the radio station to play good music. I'll miss the Ben Folds concert, but eh, it is what it is...
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March 7th, 2006
11:42 pm - Mixed Bag
Last week was tech week for the Accompany of Kids show, and then there were four shows over the weekend. Last Monday, I was considering revoking my invitation to ya'll to come see the show...that's how little confidence I had. But giant strides were made, and the show should be even better this second weekend.
A major stress of last week was that there was a third song that I needed to provide the accompaniment for, since somehow we didn't have a recording of the song. First there was a song from "Boy From Oz", then there was a song from "Saturday Night Fever". Those turned out really well. But then they needed a recording for a tune from "How To Succed In Business..." and it's huge orchestration and I had no sheet music to assist me. Ummmmm, you want WHAT? So I spent a day sitting at my keyboard first figuring out how to play it, and then laying some sounds down track by track. I liked the way it turned out. The kids don't like it at all. One even said it was 'gay'. They didn't know I made it from scratch, and if they did know, they may have described it differently. But come on...I shouldn't have to be composing new music two days before opening night, and these kids shouldn't have to adapt to it two days before opening night.
My car got into an accident in the snowstorm from the other night. Didn't involve anybody else. Almost hit a light pole. Instead just jumped the curb and really messed up my alignment and some front axel damage. Not safe to drive it right now, and repair costs will be in the thousands. Yuk. I kind of need my car...
I'm now officially a substitute teacher as of today. Had my first day. Filled in for the band teacher in the Bay. Good day. Nobody died. And I got to conduct the senior band for a bit...which was kind of scary since I hadn't picked up a baton in a couple of years, and didn't know anything about this music they were working on. Thank goodness for 4/4 time! And it was great to bump into my choir peoples...
Was called to do music for elementary school tomorrow...declined, citing car issues...but even if I didn't have car issues, I honestly don't want to go back there ever again.
So Christopher moved out of the apartment. The guy he found to take his place continues to creep me out. I'm slightly worried that I am in danger.
Bowling ended poorly tonite. Lost all 7 points.
Belle and Sebastian / New Pornographers concert is this Saturday!!!!!!! Followed Sunday by Ben Folds, and then Monday by Jenny Lewis.
Boss at the radio station either resigned his duties as boss or had his duties as boss taken away. That kind of makes me nervous. I was offered the Sunday night indie rock show, but haven't heard back from him... and they may give me a Saturday afternoon shift too...but I don't know what's going on. The promotions girl also put in her two weeks notice this week. And we're getting a new morning show later this month. So by this time next month, this will be a very different place to work...
In better radio related news, I'm absolutely loving my Sirius satelite radio... truly one of the coolest things ever.
Will be making a trip home to Merryland from the 21st to the 24th of this month. Finally getting around to having Christmas.
Here's my last plug for the AOK show this weekend. It's Friday and Saturday at 7:30, and Saturday afternoon at 2. I'll be at the Friday and early Saturday shows. It's at Menomonee Falls North middle school. If you like Broadway ditties, you'll like this show.
So yeah. That's what's up.
Current Music: This Must Be The Place - Talking Heads
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February 28th, 2006
12:20 pm - Accompany of Kids Spring 2006 Gala super-fun-times
Here's some shameless self promotion.
'Accompany of Kids' is a youth performing group in Menomonee Falls that I am one of the directors for.
Our spring Gala show opens this weekend.
If you like showtunes, consider coming to see the show.
If you are bored, consider coming to see the show.
If you have expendible income, consider coming to see the show.
Here are the dates, times, ticket info and stuff.
Friday, March 3th – 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 4th – 2:00 PM
Saturday, March 4th – 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 5th – 2:00 PM
Friday, March 10th – 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 11th, 2:00 PM
Saturday, March 11th, 7:30 PM
Tickets are 12 bucks for adults, 10 bucks for students, and possibly free if you let me know ahead of time that you are coming. Location is the Menomonee Falls North Middle School Auditorium, which is in the area of the intersection of Appleton Ave and Main Street (HWY 74).
That is all.
Current Music: Pulp
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February 27th, 2006
11:53 am - Wedge
So, I was over at http://www.fancyrobot.com , and Liliana made a comment about how her favorite Star Wars character had a blog...
So it made me think of my favorite Star Wars character, and made me wonder whatever happened to him.
His name is Wedge Antilles. One of the very few (if not the only) minor characters to be in all three original movies and not die.
Not that this picture will make you remember him...but this was Wedge..
Thanks to ye olde www.imdb.com , I have these interesting-only-to-me facts to share.
- The actors name is Denis Lawson
- He is Ewan McGregor's uncle.
- He was offered the role of Captain Antilles in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), but turned it down. According to Star Wars continuity, this Captain Antilles has no relationship to Wedge Antilles.
- Went to drama school with Ian McDiarmid, who in the Star Wars series was Senator Palpatine, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious, and then The Emperor.
I have just officially wasted 25 seconds of your time with this post. Mazel tov to me!
Current Music: Morrissey - First Of The Gang To Die
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February 24th, 2006
06:01 am - Rollercoaster...woo hoo hoo
It's been an up and down week. This whole morning show thing will be coming to an end this morning, and not a moment too soon. I've been getting 3-4 hours of sleep at night, and then a 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon. It's kind of taking a toll on my body, immune system, and sanity. Making for some great highs, and some pretty low valleys.
Cowboy Mouth on Wednesday night was great. I don't think there was anybody on earth that needed a Cowboy Mouth show more than I did. If you've ever seen a Cowboy Mouth show, you know exactly what I mean.
Had a very good rehearsal last night with AOK. Two of our 'Wicked' numbers are going to turn out pretty well, it sounds like. 'Defying Gravity' will be pretty sweet. We're doing several songs from "The Boy From Oz" as well...but one of the songs that we're doing wasn't on the audio recording we're using. Problematic. So last night, the sound guy and I stayed about an hour and a half after rehearsal and recorded our own accompaniment. We had to use a really cheap keyboard to layer the instruments, so the sound is of the same quality as those Mystery Science Theater 3000 songs. But I'm pleased with the result. So if you come to one of the shows...remember that "When I See My Name In Lights" is allllllllll me...
Bowled three games above my average on Tuesday night. Got my first turkey. Did my first Samauri Turkey Dance. I need to find out how to upload video on this thing... because it would be very entertaining for all to see Don do the original Samauri Turkey Dance... truly a sight to behold.
Weekend outlook: Two Admirals games, one radio show, one raquetball game, and some resume updating.
Speaking of radio, they may be moving my shift from 6am-noon Sunday mornings, to 6pm-midnight Sunday nights, thus giving me the privledge of hosting the indie rock show...which would make me happy beyond belief! More details as they become available.
Current Music: Talk - Coldplay
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February 19th, 2006
03:50 pm - 'The sign said headshots'
(fyi: the subject is a Suzanne Vega lyric)
Ok, so the group that I'm directing is putting up their big springish gala the first two weekends in March...(much more shameless promotion still to come...) And for the program, they needed a headshot of me. Ummmm, here's the thing....I don't.....have one.
Fortunately, one of the parents of one of the kids is a professional photog, so she does everyone's headshots for free.
I went in to get mine taken today. And it gave me nasty flashbacks to having my senior portraits taken in high school. I don't pose well. I don't like to smile with my teeth showing. I mean, picture me with that hand-under-the-chin pose......yeah...quite funny looking. Quite awkward.
Hopefully at least one of the bunch will turn out okay...or at least okay enough for Photoshop to fix.
Next task: write myself a bio.
Current Music: "Love Steals Us From Loneliness" - Idlewild
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12:07 am - The Life Pursuit
(file this one under 'I know you don't care, but I'm blogging about it anyway')
I'd like to offer a formal apology to Blender Magazine and the Dave Matthews Band.
I critiqued their critique even before I had even heard all of the new Belle and Sebastian album.
I have since heard all of the new Belle and Sebastian album.
And I offer the following remarks about it.
Belle and Sebastian is over a decade old. Unreal! Time flies. After every new B&S album, I fall into the trap of comparing it to all the previous ones. And this time, they had a tough act to follow...their last album "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" was a masterpiece. I was hooked on it on the first listen...and not just select songs....but the WHOLE CD.
So enter "The Life Pursuit". Like I eluded to in a previous post...the critics drooled over it. Even Pitchfork gave it an 8.5! So I was optimistic that I'd like it...but also in the back of my head was the thought that I wouldn't find it worthy of all the hype.
Upon first listen, I found the latter to be true. That's not to say I didn't like it the first listen. But I wasn't giddy to the point of frolicing (trademark Pam Newman 1996).
I've since listened several more times, and I'm coming around on it. I appreciate a little more each and every time. And there are about four absolute stand-out tracks...and by stand-out tracks, I mean four that will rival some of their best work. If you are looking for downloads, I'd recommend "Sukie In The Graveyard", "Funny Little Frog", "Another Day In The Sun", and "White Collar Boy". The rest will grow on me in due time.
So they've still got it. And when they come to Milwaukee, it won't kill me if they elect to play a good chunk of the new album. Judging from the recent setlists, it looks like they'll mix it up pretty good.
So....ALL THAT SAID.........how could this be on the same level as a Dave Matthews Band live CD?!?!?! Come on Blender, you are so full of shit...
Current Music: B&S - Sukie In The Graveyard
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