Congratulations to Ian "Mac" McLagan of the Small Faces/Faces who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame(along with the rest of the band) I had the pleasure of having a few pints with Mac in Austin after one of his great Thursday night shows at Luckys Lounge. A genuinely cool dude who has released two of the better solo albums by any member of British rock royalty in recent years. The Faces, who reunited recently sans Rod Stewart, were arguably the best band on the planet from 1971-1974. For all of the Rod the Mod haters out there, and there are many, please realize he was once a genius level blue-eyed soul singer who wrote incredibly poignant songs. Of course it was a quick fall from grace and the whole soccer team/mass felatio rumor hurt. Here's Mac in an interview with Rolling Stone and a clip from YouTube of the Faces performing Richmond.
The real question is whether Guns & Roses will reunite at the ceremony but smart money says no. I'm not sure how to take Axl Rose but his eccentricity seems more Liberace than Syd Barret. Who knows if the band would have dissolved into self parody had they stayed together as modern rock got leaner and meaner and the band seemed hell bent on grandioise ballads. That being said, I hope they do perform together if only to complete my rapid descent into middle age as I listen nostalgically to Mr Brownstone sipping my one nightly beer and chewing on a carrot stick for cardiovascular reasons. Here's an interview with Steven Adler, the most accesible member of G&R(ie broke), from Rolling Stone.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Home For The Hollandaise
Portland has become a foodie mecca through it's stubborn attachment to locally sourced foods and close knit culinary community. Some say this is undeserved and the creation of travel writers looking for the New New Thing that doesn't exist in Brooklyn. No matter the reason, GQ Magazine has a nice article on the Scene.
What's a little revionist history between friends? Plenty according to Edward Rothstein who pays a visit to Virginias Museum of the Confederacy. What is the South now anyway? Mass media has destroyed the quaint pockets of regionalism in this country and Atlanta could be Seattle albeit with better grits.
P. J O'Rourke, who has been in hiding while battling rectal cancer, is back with a new book called Holidays In Heck but it pales in comparison to his earlier work writes Bill Scheft in this review.
Looking to book a cruise but tired of shuffleboard and long buffet lines? If you get an extra 60k then you could take a dive to see the Titanic in April as this article details.
RIP legendary guitarist Hubert Sumlin who was Howling Wolfs main man. Check out this YouTube interview where he recounts his glory days.
The Flaming Lips have teamed up with og primal screamer Yoko Ono for a Christmas song thats sure to scare the bejesus out of the kids. Listen to it here courtesy of Pitchfork.
What's a little revionist history between friends? Plenty according to Edward Rothstein who pays a visit to Virginias Museum of the Confederacy. What is the South now anyway? Mass media has destroyed the quaint pockets of regionalism in this country and Atlanta could be Seattle albeit with better grits.
P. J O'Rourke, who has been in hiding while battling rectal cancer, is back with a new book called Holidays In Heck but it pales in comparison to his earlier work writes Bill Scheft in this review.
Looking to book a cruise but tired of shuffleboard and long buffet lines? If you get an extra 60k then you could take a dive to see the Titanic in April as this article details.
RIP legendary guitarist Hubert Sumlin who was Howling Wolfs main man. Check out this YouTube interview where he recounts his glory days.
The Flaming Lips have teamed up with og primal screamer Yoko Ono for a Christmas song thats sure to scare the bejesus out of the kids. Listen to it here courtesy of Pitchfork.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Counter Culture
I'm always fascinated by first hand accounts of mere mortals hanging out with Bob Dylan and this is one of the better ones courtesy of broowawa.com. It mainly concerns Victor Maymudes who was a legendary Greenwich Village philosopher and Dylans right hand man for many years.
The idea of a rock and roll hall of fame is preposterous but it exists so I'll write about. Essentially a vanity project for publishing icon/asshole Jan Wenner, the Rock HOF does produce a discernible bump in sales for those deigned worthy of the honor as Janet Morrisey writes in the New York Times.
I'm sure we all have our tricks and have fumbled around the region with a vague idea of what we're doing only to be met with silence. Thankfully scientists have cool grant-funded projects and can map the female brain during orgasm in 3D video. All told 80 regions of a womans body fire during climax, an unbelievable number and more proof that women may in fact over think everything. (joke courtesy of the guy sitting next to me at the bar who was reading over my shoulder. Good job Mr. Broncos fan)
The Black Keys have become a borderline great band and pass for mainstream authentic in these silly auto tune times. Alan Light chronicles the bands slow but steady rise to stardom(a planned MSG gig and a show at the Cumberland County Civic Center) in this article from the Sunday Times.
Are books dead or just dying a slow death? Publishers are upping the ante with gilded covers and other treats for the book buying public writes Julie Bosman.
The idea of a rock and roll hall of fame is preposterous but it exists so I'll write about. Essentially a vanity project for publishing icon/asshole Jan Wenner, the Rock HOF does produce a discernible bump in sales for those deigned worthy of the honor as Janet Morrisey writes in the New York Times.
I'm sure we all have our tricks and have fumbled around the region with a vague idea of what we're doing only to be met with silence. Thankfully scientists have cool grant-funded projects and can map the female brain during orgasm in 3D video. All told 80 regions of a womans body fire during climax, an unbelievable number and more proof that women may in fact over think everything. (joke courtesy of the guy sitting next to me at the bar who was reading over my shoulder. Good job Mr. Broncos fan)
The Black Keys have become a borderline great band and pass for mainstream authentic in these silly auto tune times. Alan Light chronicles the bands slow but steady rise to stardom(a planned MSG gig and a show at the Cumberland County Civic Center) in this article from the Sunday Times.
Are books dead or just dying a slow death? Publishers are upping the ante with gilded covers and other treats for the book buying public writes Julie Bosman.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
What, Me Worry?
In a few minutes Bobby Valentine will be introduced as the 45th manager in the long history of the Boston Red Sox. His often wacky contributions to baseball are well documented but he also changed something even closer to my heart: the common sandwich. It seems Bobby V invented the wrap in 1980 as this video details.
Is the iPhones personal assistant Siri an anti-abortion crusader in Steve Jobs clothing? Maybe so as this article points out.
Ok, when was the last time you thought of the design aesthetic of the common thermostat? Never? Let me introduce you to this, the coolest gadget I've seen in years which doubles as a temperature brain for your house.
The Grammy nominations are in and the collective yawn you hear is from music lovers everywhere. The usual suspects are represented including Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and the Foo Fighters. Bon Iver, the Wisconsin sadcore outfit, are up for Best New Artist and Record of the Year. In true Grammy fashion, the album is not nearly as compelling as their debut and actually sounds like Christopher Cross 2.0. The Grammys are striving for indie cred but are usually three or four years behind.
So where was that culture bearing anthem "American Pie" really written? Not in Saratoga Springs says songwriter and Mainer Don McLean in this interview.
The Village Voice has compiled a list of the ten biggest swinging dicks in film history. Woody Allen, who is included, once said he's the only "male who suffers from penis envy."
RIP Napster reports Pitchfork who also unveil this years SXSW keynote speaker as none other than Bruce Springsteen.
Is the iPhones personal assistant Siri an anti-abortion crusader in Steve Jobs clothing? Maybe so as this article points out.
Ok, when was the last time you thought of the design aesthetic of the common thermostat? Never? Let me introduce you to this, the coolest gadget I've seen in years which doubles as a temperature brain for your house.
The Grammy nominations are in and the collective yawn you hear is from music lovers everywhere. The usual suspects are represented including Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and the Foo Fighters. Bon Iver, the Wisconsin sadcore outfit, are up for Best New Artist and Record of the Year. In true Grammy fashion, the album is not nearly as compelling as their debut and actually sounds like Christopher Cross 2.0. The Grammys are striving for indie cred but are usually three or four years behind.
So where was that culture bearing anthem "American Pie" really written? Not in Saratoga Springs says songwriter and Mainer Don McLean in this interview.
The Village Voice has compiled a list of the ten biggest swinging dicks in film history. Woody Allen, who is included, once said he's the only "male who suffers from penis envy."
RIP Napster reports Pitchfork who also unveil this years SXSW keynote speaker as none other than Bruce Springsteen.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Careful With That Fax, Eugene
Elvis Costello is urging his fans to not buy his new box set reports the Telegraph. The $250 price tag is better spent on Louis Armstrong said Costello who thought the price was an elaborate hoax.
Penguin is publishing a "lost" novel by Jack Kerouac that the beat icon wrote 70 years ago while sailing the open seas as a merchant marine. The critical response has been dismissive but the book does offer a fascinating glimpse into his future genius. When asked of his thoughts on Kerouac, Truman Capote said "that's not writing, that's typing."
The search for a new manager for the Red Sox continues and Dan Shaugnessy wants to know what's the hold up. All signs point to Bobby Valentine which would set up an interesting dynamic between the considerable ego's running the Red Sox. Has a team ever lost it's credibility so quickly and in such spectacular fashion? This was a model franchise(and honestly it probably still is to some degree) but man, this is embarrasing.
The New York football Giants stink and Tom Coughlin has worn out his welcome according to a Giants fan in Newcastle. Yet another epic second half collapse coupled with apathetic play and a disregard for the fundamentals. Winning a Super Bowl grants you a grace period but this is getting tired.
So what's wrong with a little digital embellishing? Appparently lots as this article points out in a revealing piece on Photoshopping.
Ambled up the coast today to catch J Edgar at the lonely Cineplex. DiCaprio is excellent but the film itself uneven and loaded with a relevant but still under examined homosexual relationship between Hoover and his right hand man Clyde Tolson. Hoover, who supposedly was a cross-dresser, is given a sympathetic portrayal by the director Clint Eastwood. Overall the G Men just miss the g spot.
In the ain't life grand dept. of are you fucking kidding me we have this: 3 Conn. asset managers just won a 254 million dollar Powerball lotto. It's the 1 percent feel good story of the year.
Penguin is publishing a "lost" novel by Jack Kerouac that the beat icon wrote 70 years ago while sailing the open seas as a merchant marine. The critical response has been dismissive but the book does offer a fascinating glimpse into his future genius. When asked of his thoughts on Kerouac, Truman Capote said "that's not writing, that's typing."
The search for a new manager for the Red Sox continues and Dan Shaugnessy wants to know what's the hold up. All signs point to Bobby Valentine which would set up an interesting dynamic between the considerable ego's running the Red Sox. Has a team ever lost it's credibility so quickly and in such spectacular fashion? This was a model franchise(and honestly it probably still is to some degree) but man, this is embarrasing.
The New York football Giants stink and Tom Coughlin has worn out his welcome according to a Giants fan in Newcastle. Yet another epic second half collapse coupled with apathetic play and a disregard for the fundamentals. Winning a Super Bowl grants you a grace period but this is getting tired.
So what's wrong with a little digital embellishing? Appparently lots as this article points out in a revealing piece on Photoshopping.
Ambled up the coast today to catch J Edgar at the lonely Cineplex. DiCaprio is excellent but the film itself uneven and loaded with a relevant but still under examined homosexual relationship between Hoover and his right hand man Clyde Tolson. Hoover, who supposedly was a cross-dresser, is given a sympathetic portrayal by the director Clint Eastwood. Overall the G Men just miss the g spot.
In the ain't life grand dept. of are you fucking kidding me we have this: 3 Conn. asset managers just won a 254 million dollar Powerball lotto. It's the 1 percent feel good story of the year.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus
Is Black Friday a Pat Robertson thing? Well the battle lines of consumerism are in midseason form as some nut pepper sprayed 20 of her fellow shoppers at a California Wal Mart this morning. Ingenious I say. However, the long lines for Black Friday were tempered by the stock markets worst Thanksgiving since 1932. So, cheap tv's, Hungarys credit rating cut to junk(my portfolio is front loaded with paprika futures, damn Hungarians), $2 waffle irons, Greece demands larger losses on debt from private investors, $100 iPods, Belgiums credit rating lowered.......Best Buy wins! The U.S consumer is not dead, just blurry.
The legendary multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson is still at it according to this article but in a bizarre fashion. Speaking of the Band...how many of them were indirectly killed by Bob Dylan's Dylan-ness? Richard Manuel hung himself after trying to reach Bob from his hotel room, Rick Danko never recovered from the marathon Big Pink booze sessions, and Robbie Robertson.....is not dead. So that's two PLUS Phil Ochs. Not bad but pales in comparison to Keith Richards whose list includes Brian Jones, Gram Parsons, and a few others I can't readily recall but I'm sure they're dead and he's responsible.
Sour beers are all the rage in the craft beer world and the New York Times ranks the best in this article. Maines own Allagash Confluence placed a respectable 5th in the poll.
Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan is forming a professional wrestling league in Chicago reports the Associated Press. Corgan is not the only indie rocker down with a yen for the turnbuckle as Husker-Du's former frontman Bob Mould is a consultant for World Championship Wrestling. Jim "Hacksaw" Duggan is reportedly making an album with Beach House and Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka has written a few breakup songs for Grizzly Bear.
The legendary multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson is still at it according to this article but in a bizarre fashion. Speaking of the Band...how many of them were indirectly killed by Bob Dylan's Dylan-ness? Richard Manuel hung himself after trying to reach Bob from his hotel room, Rick Danko never recovered from the marathon Big Pink booze sessions, and Robbie Robertson.....is not dead. So that's two PLUS Phil Ochs. Not bad but pales in comparison to Keith Richards whose list includes Brian Jones, Gram Parsons, and a few others I can't readily recall but I'm sure they're dead and he's responsible.
Sour beers are all the rage in the craft beer world and the New York Times ranks the best in this article. Maines own Allagash Confluence placed a respectable 5th in the poll.
Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan is forming a professional wrestling league in Chicago reports the Associated Press. Corgan is not the only indie rocker down with a yen for the turnbuckle as Husker-Du's former frontman Bob Mould is a consultant for World Championship Wrestling. Jim "Hacksaw" Duggan is reportedly making an album with Beach House and Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka has written a few breakup songs for Grizzly Bear.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Foghorn Shopworn
Happy Thanksgiving Eve, a great night to make a barstand and thumb your nose at whatever family gathering is about to commence. The Kennedy conspiracy theories just won't die and every year a new one is trotted out sometime around Thanksgiving to sell a few books and drive Oliver Stone batty. So whose got the brain of JFK and what's it mean to us now? The great documentary filmmaker Errol Morris introduces us to the Black Umbrella Man who, on a sunny day in Dallas, inexplicably had an open bumpershoot very close to where the fateful shots rang out. As this video explains, the umbrella had more to do with Neville Chamberlain than nefarious political motives. I still maintain it was Lady Bird Johnson from a Dealey Plaza hair salon.
Exciting news as thinking mans babe Julie Delpy has signed on to direct a Joe Strummer bio pic entitled The Right Profile. The film will take place in 1982 when Strummer went missing (really just a PR stunt from Clash manager Bernie Rhodes) and chronicle his life on the lam. In other gob tossing news, newly discovered graffitti from Johnny Rotten is being treated like the Tomb of Tutankhamun according to this article from Felicia Lee.
Ok, all the Nickeback fans out there please raise your hand. Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Even though the band may well be the worst in recent memory it seems they do have a sense of humor as this Av Club post confirms. Nickelback, who are slated to perform during halftime of tomorrows Lions-Packers game, are the subject of a petition to ban them from Detroit. Thumbs up Detroit.
Cult cartoonist R Crumb is releasing a book of album covers he's penned starting with the famous Big Brother and the Holding Company classic from 1968. Despite his creepy predilection for very large women, he's a serious champion of 1920's blues and an incredibly interesting dude. For those who haven't seen it check out the Crumb documentary, a family classic.
Came across a great add-on for Spotify this morning: www.equalify.me/, a free and seamlessly integrated equalizer for your listening pleasure. Installs in seconds and easy to use.
Exciting news as thinking mans babe Julie Delpy has signed on to direct a Joe Strummer bio pic entitled The Right Profile. The film will take place in 1982 when Strummer went missing (really just a PR stunt from Clash manager Bernie Rhodes) and chronicle his life on the lam. In other gob tossing news, newly discovered graffitti from Johnny Rotten is being treated like the Tomb of Tutankhamun according to this article from Felicia Lee.
Ok, all the Nickeback fans out there please raise your hand. Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Even though the band may well be the worst in recent memory it seems they do have a sense of humor as this Av Club post confirms. Nickelback, who are slated to perform during halftime of tomorrows Lions-Packers game, are the subject of a petition to ban them from Detroit. Thumbs up Detroit.
Cult cartoonist R Crumb is releasing a book of album covers he's penned starting with the famous Big Brother and the Holding Company classic from 1968. Despite his creepy predilection for very large women, he's a serious champion of 1920's blues and an incredibly interesting dude. For those who haven't seen it check out the Crumb documentary, a family classic.
Came across a great add-on for Spotify this morning: www.equalify.me/, a free and seamlessly integrated equalizer for your listening pleasure. Installs in seconds and easy to use.
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