There is good news out of Boise, ID.
Our man Tony Pozeck, who just two weeks ago went through his second brain surgery of the year, is well on his way to a full recovery. He's through the immediate post-surg tough time, has dealt with some severe swelling and the mental and motor repercussions of that, and is steadily improving day by day.
Of course, with something like this (I mean like having your head opened TWICE and having a schwannoma removed from next to a cranial nerve and a dermoid tumor pulled from under brain tissue), you have to continue to be careful and vigilant and CAREFUL, but it seems he is headed down the right path.
Just this morning I got an e-mail from him, articulate as ever, expressing interest in joining me, Tim, and John on our annual spring trek to Yellowstone for some road riding in the park before the cars are allowed. We've done it every year for the past 3 years, and it's a rite of spring that we all look forward to. It's a long drive, and he won't be able to ride, but he wants to go. That's a good sign.
Most importantly, when you talk to Tony, it's the exact same Tony that we knew before. It's all there--the memory, the humor, the amicable insults, all of it. To be back to himself so soon, after all this shit he's had to go through, is amazing and commendable.
I always knew the dude was tough, but this seals it. Good job AP. We'll celebrate in Yellowstone.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
SXSW Friday
Friday started off so well.
We slept in, reeling from Thursday night, then got up and made breakfast of the infamous South Austin Speedball to prep ourselves for the long day ahead.
There was lots going on during the day on Friday, but we made the tough decision to forego everything else and camp out at Club deVille all day long, provided we could get in. This was the Insound party, $2 to everyone, badge or not. Very nice. The lineup was solid--it started out with Love is All, then The Boy Least Likely To, Pink Mountaintops, and Serena Maneesh. All bands on my list to see. Headlining, though, was Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, one of my top 3 for the weekend. So, we didn't think we'd get in, but we thought we'd hit the line early and see.
We got in line at 2, and we were in by 2:15 when the first band started. Sweet! And to make it sweeter, free beer and barbecue all day. Suffice to say I'll be supporting Insound, those wonderful people.
So we hung all day, staking out a primo corner with a chair and a place to rest beers. Love is All rocked, they were fantastic, powerful indie pop from Norway, I think. The Boy... was also a good show, very very happy and bouncy, the perfect thing for a 3pm beer buzz. Pink Mountaintops sounded great, a bunch of Canadians with a feel-good jam-out rock vibe, sort of like Broken Social Scene numbed down to Califone tones. Serena Maneesh rocked, also Scandinavian I think, just busting out tune after tune of hard moving indie rock.
Then came CYHSY. They came out and broke right into Heavy Metal, a great opener, and when the singer opened his mouth to sing, the squawk was even more pronounced than usual. It was painful just to watch him try to sing--apparently he had totally fried his voice and could only hit a certain slim range without going blank. Nevertheless, he kept at it like a trooper, the band pounding away behind him, working through a set as fun and wonderful as I could have expected. Great show. And a wise move.
Unfortunately, that's where the Friday fun ends.
We got out late, missed the 9:00 we wanted to see, then I for some reason abandoned my plans and decided to go to Stubb's and see the Subways. The line was a mile long. So we tried the Flamingo for Afrirampo--again shut down. Elysium for The Boy..., same thing.
My night was supposed to end at Animal Collective, but it was looking like everything was too packed, plus it was St. Patrick's Day and the idiot contingent was just too much to bear. So, rather than walk around all night, I thought I'd hang at Stubb's for the middling but interesting lineup of Metric, The Magic Numbers, and Snow Patrol. Seems solid, right?
Wrong.
We never made it in for Metric, as we watched the badge line swell and recede and we never moved. We made it in for The Magic Numbers, who bored me to lifelessness. No doubt my frame of mind influenced this, but still: boring, derivative, sappy crap. Hated it. Snow Patrol? Sucked. Arena rock garbage packaged as sensitive boy indie rock. Just an awful presentation of mediocre material, made all the worse by a total lack of effects or enhancements, which is what makes their records interesting.
So, great day, crap night. Saturday would make up for it, surely.
We slept in, reeling from Thursday night, then got up and made breakfast of the infamous South Austin Speedball to prep ourselves for the long day ahead.
There was lots going on during the day on Friday, but we made the tough decision to forego everything else and camp out at Club deVille all day long, provided we could get in. This was the Insound party, $2 to everyone, badge or not. Very nice. The lineup was solid--it started out with Love is All, then The Boy Least Likely To, Pink Mountaintops, and Serena Maneesh. All bands on my list to see. Headlining, though, was Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, one of my top 3 for the weekend. So, we didn't think we'd get in, but we thought we'd hit the line early and see.
We got in line at 2, and we were in by 2:15 when the first band started. Sweet! And to make it sweeter, free beer and barbecue all day. Suffice to say I'll be supporting Insound, those wonderful people.
So we hung all day, staking out a primo corner with a chair and a place to rest beers. Love is All rocked, they were fantastic, powerful indie pop from Norway, I think. The Boy... was also a good show, very very happy and bouncy, the perfect thing for a 3pm beer buzz. Pink Mountaintops sounded great, a bunch of Canadians with a feel-good jam-out rock vibe, sort of like Broken Social Scene numbed down to Califone tones. Serena Maneesh rocked, also Scandinavian I think, just busting out tune after tune of hard moving indie rock.
Then came CYHSY. They came out and broke right into Heavy Metal, a great opener, and when the singer opened his mouth to sing, the squawk was even more pronounced than usual. It was painful just to watch him try to sing--apparently he had totally fried his voice and could only hit a certain slim range without going blank. Nevertheless, he kept at it like a trooper, the band pounding away behind him, working through a set as fun and wonderful as I could have expected. Great show. And a wise move.
Unfortunately, that's where the Friday fun ends.
We got out late, missed the 9:00 we wanted to see, then I for some reason abandoned my plans and decided to go to Stubb's and see the Subways. The line was a mile long. So we tried the Flamingo for Afrirampo--again shut down. Elysium for The Boy..., same thing.
My night was supposed to end at Animal Collective, but it was looking like everything was too packed, plus it was St. Patrick's Day and the idiot contingent was just too much to bear. So, rather than walk around all night, I thought I'd hang at Stubb's for the middling but interesting lineup of Metric, The Magic Numbers, and Snow Patrol. Seems solid, right?
Wrong.
We never made it in for Metric, as we watched the badge line swell and recede and we never moved. We made it in for The Magic Numbers, who bored me to lifelessness. No doubt my frame of mind influenced this, but still: boring, derivative, sappy crap. Hated it. Snow Patrol? Sucked. Arena rock garbage packaged as sensitive boy indie rock. Just an awful presentation of mediocre material, made all the worse by a total lack of effects or enhancements, which is what makes their records interesting.
So, great day, crap night. Saturday would make up for it, surely.
Friday, March 17, 2006
SXSW Thursday Night
The night began with a very bad decision. It was either chase a rumor and get in line at 6 to try to see a Beastie Boys show at 7, or get down to Auditorium Shores for VIP seating and free drinks for Spoon. We chose the latter, largely because it meant we could eat at Green Mesquite. Bad choice. Not the barbecue, but the rest of it. We couldn't get backstage, couldn't see well and missed a big chunk of it wandering around trying to find the person who would get us in to the big hookup. Oh well. We stood around with the families amid the blankets and day glo necklaces for a while and then made our way back to the bikes to roll downtown.
A quick trip across the bridge brought us to Jazz, or Parish II as it's called this week, where we had some time to kill before Detachment Kit. We went up and watched Jon Vanderslice for a little bit, then went back downstairs. As they came onstage, Eric turns to me and says, "Hold on to your ass." Glad he warned me. Them boys just laid it all out there, thrashing their way through a fierce set of Chicago rawk, intense and loud and relentless. Great great show.
We walked across the street to Buffalo Billiards for Earlimart, which was ok but sort of boring. Didn't really stack up to Detachment Kit, nor to the rest of the night. Rock was becoming the theme. Follow the rock.
The Fiery Furnaces brought it, transforming loads of songs off Blueberry Boat from orchestrated art rock to straight up rock rock, done four piece style with the focus on heavy guitars. Great set, not at all what I was expecting, but perhaps they've got sick of the freaky flitty stuff and want to get back to it. They did, Eleanor all in white and looking like a young and hungry Patty Smith.
After that we went to Emo's IV, where we saw Vietnam, who weren't so fun. Wandery jam rock, all teeth and hair, so we went down to check the line at Eternal for CYHSY. Huge, badges only, f' that. We went back to Emo's IV to see We Are Wolves. Good decision. Inspired, really. They were fantastic, way high energy hard ass guitar drum keys and synths, all screamy and fuzzed out and tremendous drum beats. Really fun show and a great way to move the night to the next pitch. Eric dug it too.
From there we made our way to Fox and Hound to see what the deal was for Brazilian Girls. We got in, but this band called Particle were still onstage, where they stayed for what seemed days, playing their hippie jam band crapola way beyond their allotted time. They even brought Jon Popper's fat stupid ass up on stage to sponge that godawful harmonica garbage all over a watery Once In a Lifetime. It was a travesty, a crime almost, and the kids ate it up. As a wise young South Park resident might say, Stupid hippies. Finally, about 1, me and Eric broke out of that mess and made our way back to Soho for Thunderbirds Are Now! Another great decision. We're on a roll. We got there as they started and they rocked it out for an hour solid, high speed spazzy punk like there will be no tomorrow. An amazing set, alongside We Are Wolves as the best moments yet.
Riding homeward, as we approached Fox and Hound, Cathy sent Eric a text saying the Braz Girls had just started. Friggin Bingo. We parked the bikes and ran in to the tented parking lot and caught much of the set, which didn't even start until just before 2. They were outrageous and fantastic, the singer the sexiest person I have ever seen on a stage anywhere. Amazing lithe Euro hottie just playing the crowd like a cheap flamenco guitar--hard and overtly sexual. Wonderful. We all loved it. We left at 3, and they were just starting into their encore, Lazy Lover.
A nice ride home, to bed at 4, and now we're heading out to do it again. We're trying to get into the Insound party for CYHSY, but we'll see if that'll be possible. Fingers crossed.
A quick trip across the bridge brought us to Jazz, or Parish II as it's called this week, where we had some time to kill before Detachment Kit. We went up and watched Jon Vanderslice for a little bit, then went back downstairs. As they came onstage, Eric turns to me and says, "Hold on to your ass." Glad he warned me. Them boys just laid it all out there, thrashing their way through a fierce set of Chicago rawk, intense and loud and relentless. Great great show.
We walked across the street to Buffalo Billiards for Earlimart, which was ok but sort of boring. Didn't really stack up to Detachment Kit, nor to the rest of the night. Rock was becoming the theme. Follow the rock.
The Fiery Furnaces brought it, transforming loads of songs off Blueberry Boat from orchestrated art rock to straight up rock rock, done four piece style with the focus on heavy guitars. Great set, not at all what I was expecting, but perhaps they've got sick of the freaky flitty stuff and want to get back to it. They did, Eleanor all in white and looking like a young and hungry Patty Smith.
After that we went to Emo's IV, where we saw Vietnam, who weren't so fun. Wandery jam rock, all teeth and hair, so we went down to check the line at Eternal for CYHSY. Huge, badges only, f' that. We went back to Emo's IV to see We Are Wolves. Good decision. Inspired, really. They were fantastic, way high energy hard ass guitar drum keys and synths, all screamy and fuzzed out and tremendous drum beats. Really fun show and a great way to move the night to the next pitch. Eric dug it too.
From there we made our way to Fox and Hound to see what the deal was for Brazilian Girls. We got in, but this band called Particle were still onstage, where they stayed for what seemed days, playing their hippie jam band crapola way beyond their allotted time. They even brought Jon Popper's fat stupid ass up on stage to sponge that godawful harmonica garbage all over a watery Once In a Lifetime. It was a travesty, a crime almost, and the kids ate it up. As a wise young South Park resident might say, Stupid hippies. Finally, about 1, me and Eric broke out of that mess and made our way back to Soho for Thunderbirds Are Now! Another great decision. We're on a roll. We got there as they started and they rocked it out for an hour solid, high speed spazzy punk like there will be no tomorrow. An amazing set, alongside We Are Wolves as the best moments yet.
Riding homeward, as we approached Fox and Hound, Cathy sent Eric a text saying the Braz Girls had just started. Friggin Bingo. We parked the bikes and ran in to the tented parking lot and caught much of the set, which didn't even start until just before 2. They were outrageous and fantastic, the singer the sexiest person I have ever seen on a stage anywhere. Amazing lithe Euro hottie just playing the crowd like a cheap flamenco guitar--hard and overtly sexual. Wonderful. We all loved it. We left at 3, and they were just starting into their encore, Lazy Lover.
A nice ride home, to bed at 4, and now we're heading out to do it again. We're trying to get into the Insound party for CYHSY, but we'll see if that'll be possible. Fingers crossed.
SXSW Thursday Daytime
Is it really only half over?
Tapes n Tapes started things off nicely on Thursday.
But let's back up.
Juan in a Million started things out wonderfully Thursday. Half a Don Juan (now a whopping $3.25) and a machacado taco with chiles and tomatoes with a pile of chips and salsa (not as blistering as usual) with coffee and a lot of water was exactly what this boy needed to get up and go.
From there we went to Austin Cycles, Eric's new shop, to check it out and say hey to Sol. Great place. A really nice setup with a long bar and the work space behind it, so that customers can sit on a stool and watch the work being done. I can see why Eric loves his new job so much.
Then came Tapes n Tapes out behind Yard Dog. Great show, really makes me want to see their showcase. Great blistering indie riffs with french horn, growly and melodic. The CD, The Loon, is really good, though I've only been through the whole thing once.
We headed home to clean up and grab the bikes, then headed downtown. Into Emo's Jr., where Dengue Fever had the room rapt and baffled. The Cambodian singer lady was belting it out to some groovy worldy stuff played by a tall trio behind her. In the main room some other band was playing, don't know who, seemed sort of like a demented Poi Dog crossed with Dexy's midnight Runners. Weird but hard to look away. We went out and across to Emo's IV to see Willowz, but they were screechy and awful and we broke the hell out.
From Emo's it was on to Room 710 where the schedule was off in our favor--so we caught WHY? again. Good show, though much the same as the night before and still without Gemini. After that Gogogo Airheart played, and they were fun to listen to. Not so great to watch, but they do rock it.
We walked from there to the Beauty Bar where we hoped to catch a set by Lady Soverign, but she was inside and invite only, so we went round back and listened to Cut Chemist spin for a while. He was good, great aftternoon music, not big dance but not downtempo. Then we walked over to the 18th floor hotel bar to see Editors, but Eric and I bolted for home instead. We were planning to see Spoon at 7 and wanted to eat and get ready.
Eat we did. The Green Mesquite. Fantastic. Bubba taco basket, one brisket one chicken, and a gallon of Dr. Pepper. A heavenly place to be on a Thursday afternoon with a slight beer buzz, sweaty from the bike ride home. Texas just like I remember it.
This is just Thursday day. The night hadn't even started. I'm writing this on Friday morning, and I'm in stunned disbelief that this is only half over.
Tapes n Tapes started things off nicely on Thursday.
But let's back up.
Juan in a Million started things out wonderfully Thursday. Half a Don Juan (now a whopping $3.25) and a machacado taco with chiles and tomatoes with a pile of chips and salsa (not as blistering as usual) with coffee and a lot of water was exactly what this boy needed to get up and go.
From there we went to Austin Cycles, Eric's new shop, to check it out and say hey to Sol. Great place. A really nice setup with a long bar and the work space behind it, so that customers can sit on a stool and watch the work being done. I can see why Eric loves his new job so much.
Then came Tapes n Tapes out behind Yard Dog. Great show, really makes me want to see their showcase. Great blistering indie riffs with french horn, growly and melodic. The CD, The Loon, is really good, though I've only been through the whole thing once.
We headed home to clean up and grab the bikes, then headed downtown. Into Emo's Jr., where Dengue Fever had the room rapt and baffled. The Cambodian singer lady was belting it out to some groovy worldy stuff played by a tall trio behind her. In the main room some other band was playing, don't know who, seemed sort of like a demented Poi Dog crossed with Dexy's midnight Runners. Weird but hard to look away. We went out and across to Emo's IV to see Willowz, but they were screechy and awful and we broke the hell out.
From Emo's it was on to Room 710 where the schedule was off in our favor--so we caught WHY? again. Good show, though much the same as the night before and still without Gemini. After that Gogogo Airheart played, and they were fun to listen to. Not so great to watch, but they do rock it.
We walked from there to the Beauty Bar where we hoped to catch a set by Lady Soverign, but she was inside and invite only, so we went round back and listened to Cut Chemist spin for a while. He was good, great aftternoon music, not big dance but not downtempo. Then we walked over to the 18th floor hotel bar to see Editors, but Eric and I bolted for home instead. We were planning to see Spoon at 7 and wanted to eat and get ready.
Eat we did. The Green Mesquite. Fantastic. Bubba taco basket, one brisket one chicken, and a gallon of Dr. Pepper. A heavenly place to be on a Thursday afternoon with a slight beer buzz, sweaty from the bike ride home. Texas just like I remember it.
This is just Thursday day. The night hadn't even started. I'm writing this on Friday morning, and I'm in stunned disbelief that this is only half over.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
SXSW Wednesday
Hell of a first day.
Me and Eric started it off by getting out of town with the mountain bikes, riding at Rocky Hill Ranch for a few great hours in the morning. My first time riding a 29-er, a Gunnar steel beauty, and I have to say I'm impressed. And buying one. But this is about music.
Our first couple shows were random and not great, as we stopped at the Guitar Town party just in time for all the filler. Just the Silos and some boring country stuff. Snoozola. The Gourds came on at about 7:30 or so and it just wasn't doing it for me. Packed in with a bad crowd. So we bolted. Time to get the Rock on.
We made our way to Stubb's for the New Pornographers, but got there early enough for Blacklight Morning something something. Slow and repetitive Califonish blues rawk that never really did anything but run through some nice grooves and loops. Good for background music at home, not so exciting live. But the New Pornos did not disappoint. Neko and AC were both in fine form, belting it out like pros, and by the time they hit set closer Spanish Techno they had the bass dialed in and sounded great.
From there we went to the Emo's Annex to see WHY?, but we were early and there was no line so we fast-walked it over to Fox and Hound to investigate a rumor. The rumor was true, as it turns out, and we got there just in time to stand in the alley in the rain and listen to The Flaming Lips do a dead-on and brilliant cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. What a moment. We stayed for a couple songs then headed back.
WHY? pulled off a really good set, mostly new stuff with a couple old tracks and some not yet heard new stuff. Waterfalls and Rubber Traits were fantastic, as was Crushed Bones. 3 of them, playing all manner of percussion and keys and a guitar, sounded awesome.
Cathy called as that set was winding down to let us know that she just walked right into the Parish for Art Brut, so we beat feet over there and got in just before the big line formed. They put on a great and hilarious rock show, very glad we caught them. They brought out the hits and the kids loved it.
Now it's Thursday, and we just left Yard Dog where we saw Tapes n Tapes, great show, maybe the best yet. We'll clean up and head out for the day--hopefully we'll see the Editors, Earlimart, Gogogo Airheart, Willowz, and a couple other shows, all before our dinner date with Spoon.
Here we go again.
Me and Eric started it off by getting out of town with the mountain bikes, riding at Rocky Hill Ranch for a few great hours in the morning. My first time riding a 29-er, a Gunnar steel beauty, and I have to say I'm impressed. And buying one. But this is about music.
Our first couple shows were random and not great, as we stopped at the Guitar Town party just in time for all the filler. Just the Silos and some boring country stuff. Snoozola. The Gourds came on at about 7:30 or so and it just wasn't doing it for me. Packed in with a bad crowd. So we bolted. Time to get the Rock on.
We made our way to Stubb's for the New Pornographers, but got there early enough for Blacklight Morning something something. Slow and repetitive Califonish blues rawk that never really did anything but run through some nice grooves and loops. Good for background music at home, not so exciting live. But the New Pornos did not disappoint. Neko and AC were both in fine form, belting it out like pros, and by the time they hit set closer Spanish Techno they had the bass dialed in and sounded great.
From there we went to the Emo's Annex to see WHY?, but we were early and there was no line so we fast-walked it over to Fox and Hound to investigate a rumor. The rumor was true, as it turns out, and we got there just in time to stand in the alley in the rain and listen to The Flaming Lips do a dead-on and brilliant cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. What a moment. We stayed for a couple songs then headed back.
WHY? pulled off a really good set, mostly new stuff with a couple old tracks and some not yet heard new stuff. Waterfalls and Rubber Traits were fantastic, as was Crushed Bones. 3 of them, playing all manner of percussion and keys and a guitar, sounded awesome.
Cathy called as that set was winding down to let us know that she just walked right into the Parish for Art Brut, so we beat feet over there and got in just before the big line formed. They put on a great and hilarious rock show, very glad we caught them. They brought out the hits and the kids loved it.
Now it's Thursday, and we just left Yard Dog where we saw Tapes n Tapes, great show, maybe the best yet. We'll clean up and head out for the day--hopefully we'll see the Editors, Earlimart, Gogogo Airheart, Willowz, and a couple other shows, all before our dinner date with Spoon.
Here we go again.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Here It Comes
SXSW XX.
This special anniversary edition of the annual music festival that takes over Austin like an especially virulent strain of kudzu every March promises to be bigger, better, louder, and fatter than any seen previously. The band list is sick, the schedule frenetic, and the day parties are absolutely bat-shit crazy.
After missing out on the madness the last two years in a row, I'm heading to Austin tomorrow to take part in the 20th version of SXSW. The scale of this year's gathering predictably brings to mind memories of past years, but I won't delve too deeply into that now. Suffice to say that, back somewhere around 96 or so I considered myself lucky as hell to see the Poster Children, Archers of Loaf, and Red Red Meat in the same place in the same weekend. Things certainly have changed.
This year, for the first time in many visits, I'll be making the rounds purely for pleasure. While the lack of deadlines and the total freedom are no doubt appealing, I'll certainly miss the benefits of the badge. Getting into the big shows with a wristband has been getting progressively more difficult, and now I have a feeling it's damn near impossible. Like you can just show up a half hour early and get in to see Art Brut or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah or We Are Wolves--or, hell, The Flaming Lips or WHY? for that matter. I'm a bit worried, but with every act popping up at least 2 or three times around town during the week, there's got to be some way to see these folks. I'll be trying, that's for sure.
I also hope to blog the whole while, but we'll see how much time and energy I end up with. After all, outside the clock-filling music schedule (seriously, day parties all day every day, showcases every night from 7 to 2am, then late-night parties every night until dawn), there's lots of mountain biking and eating to do, too. One week just isn't enough.
Wish me luck!
This special anniversary edition of the annual music festival that takes over Austin like an especially virulent strain of kudzu every March promises to be bigger, better, louder, and fatter than any seen previously. The band list is sick, the schedule frenetic, and the day parties are absolutely bat-shit crazy.
After missing out on the madness the last two years in a row, I'm heading to Austin tomorrow to take part in the 20th version of SXSW. The scale of this year's gathering predictably brings to mind memories of past years, but I won't delve too deeply into that now. Suffice to say that, back somewhere around 96 or so I considered myself lucky as hell to see the Poster Children, Archers of Loaf, and Red Red Meat in the same place in the same weekend. Things certainly have changed.
This year, for the first time in many visits, I'll be making the rounds purely for pleasure. While the lack of deadlines and the total freedom are no doubt appealing, I'll certainly miss the benefits of the badge. Getting into the big shows with a wristband has been getting progressively more difficult, and now I have a feeling it's damn near impossible. Like you can just show up a half hour early and get in to see Art Brut or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah or We Are Wolves--or, hell, The Flaming Lips or WHY? for that matter. I'm a bit worried, but with every act popping up at least 2 or three times around town during the week, there's got to be some way to see these folks. I'll be trying, that's for sure.
I also hope to blog the whole while, but we'll see how much time and energy I end up with. After all, outside the clock-filling music schedule (seriously, day parties all day every day, showcases every night from 7 to 2am, then late-night parties every night until dawn), there's lots of mountain biking and eating to do, too. One week just isn't enough.
Wish me luck!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Good Energy
Our man Anthony Pozeck undergoes brain surgery #2 tomorrow, Tuesday, March 14th, 2006. This is a big bad one--as if any brain surgery can be anything but--and we all will be sending our best energy toward Tony for this.
Tony's a great friend to a lot of people. And we all know the man's strength. So, by the time I get back from Austin, surgery will be done, recovery will be well underway, and Tony will be on the road back to being the person he is now--less one big ugly mass of tissue underneath the left side of his brain, that is.
Good luck Tony. We're with you. Be talking to you very soon.
Tony's a great friend to a lot of people. And we all know the man's strength. So, by the time I get back from Austin, surgery will be done, recovery will be well underway, and Tony will be on the road back to being the person he is now--less one big ugly mass of tissue underneath the left side of his brain, that is.
Good luck Tony. We're with you. Be talking to you very soon.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Funeral
Richard Patrick Terra, a co-worker, father, and nice fellow, was celebrated and laid to rest today. I didn't know him well, though I worked with him every day and talked to him fairly often.
I don't really know that I have anything else to say about it, except that he will be missed, that he was obviously a smart man and a great father, and that funerals are horribly depressing things. Gimme a bar full of loud drunk friends and family laughing and fighting about me. Or gimme a quiet exit, unnoticed, barely remarked upon. Just don't give me a Catholic funeral in a sterile funeral home conducted by a priest who didn't even know me or my family.
If it seems tacky or out of line to be critical of something like this, sorry. It's not so much criticism as it is the inevitable reflection and projection you go through during and after attending a funeral.
I don't really know that I have anything else to say about it, except that he will be missed, that he was obviously a smart man and a great father, and that funerals are horribly depressing things. Gimme a bar full of loud drunk friends and family laughing and fighting about me. Or gimme a quiet exit, unnoticed, barely remarked upon. Just don't give me a Catholic funeral in a sterile funeral home conducted by a priest who didn't even know me or my family.
If it seems tacky or out of line to be critical of something like this, sorry. It's not so much criticism as it is the inevitable reflection and projection you go through during and after attending a funeral.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
The Floyd
Our man Floyd Landis, mountain biker gone pro roadie, is now in the lead in the Paris-Nice race. Good to see a fat tire kid kickin ass on the skinny tire set. In France, even.
Check out coverage: http://www.velonews.com/
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Free Jazz
Stay with me here.
Ken Vandermark is amazing. He's a sax player based in Chicago and is one of the driving forces in improvised music today. I'm sure most people shut down entirely when the words free jazz flash through their mind like a signpost for a road that you never ever want to end up on, but if you can deal with a bit of discomfort, if you can pay close attention and open your mind to identify and connect influences and avenues, then there's a lot to love in this music.
When I was in Portugal, in Lisbon, the proprietor of what would become my favorite bar--a place called Bar Lisboa--turned me on to a Vandermark project called Tripleplay. It's a trio, improvised music, very powerful stuff and very connected to Portugal. (Funny that there's such a strong following for this music there--back to the Euro support of jazz in the absence of it in its birthplace.)
I recently came across a review for a record Vandermark put out last year, called Elements of Style, Exercises in Surprise. All it took was a single listen to the muscular movement, the solid riff that anchors the opening track, and I was hooked. Check the link, you can listen. Give it a shot. The whole thing is up for download on emusic--grab the track called Knock Yourself Out and see if you don't agree.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
SXSW Blog
My man Oko in Austin has set up a new blog. He's working for THE man, Sr. Raoul Hernandez, laying down the info for the Chronicle's coverage of the big SXSW, and has parlayed his knowledge overflow into a blog to benefit the rest of us.
Check it out, and check back often. It's growing rapidly. Like a weed. Or a virus. Or a suburb. *shudder*
Check it out, and check back often. It's growing rapidly. Like a weed. Or a virus. Or a suburb. *shudder*
Monday, February 13, 2006
Sold Out!
McMurtry sold out the Neurolux on Friday night. The last tickets were bought during the instore that day at the Record Exchange. Great show, great crowd.
Early on, McMurtry said into his mic, "I knew there were people in Idaho. It just took me 16 years to find you." That's an amusing reference to his previous, less-than-spectacular receptions here. Just goes to show what can happen when you show up in town with a bit of motivation and a little publicity behind you.
Early on, McMurtry said into his mic, "I knew there were people in Idaho. It just took me 16 years to find you." That's an amusing reference to his previous, less-than-spectacular receptions here. Just goes to show what can happen when you show up in town with a bit of motivation and a little publicity behind you.
Friday, February 10, 2006
McMurtry
We pulled it off!
Today at 12:30 we at the Boise Community Radio Project broadcasted our first live music show. James McMurtry, who's playing tonight at the Neurolux, played an in-store at the Record Exchange in lovely downtown Boise, and the whole thing was relayed live on the web at www.radioboise.org. Apparently the sound was running a bit hot, which is a shame for folks who were trying to listen, but for us that's just a matter of dialing it in.
We announced the show live on the air, we relayed the whole thing, and then we did a back announce and fed right into my show, Range Life. It went smoothly, and now we're ready to do more of these things.
Sheesh, it's almost like we're a real radio station.
By the way, McMurtry's new record, Childish Things, is quite possibly his best work to date. And for anyone who knows the dude's output, that's saying a lot. I'll write more about it later.
Today at 12:30 we at the Boise Community Radio Project broadcasted our first live music show. James McMurtry, who's playing tonight at the Neurolux, played an in-store at the Record Exchange in lovely downtown Boise, and the whole thing was relayed live on the web at www.radioboise.org. Apparently the sound was running a bit hot, which is a shame for folks who were trying to listen, but for us that's just a matter of dialing it in.
We announced the show live on the air, we relayed the whole thing, and then we did a back announce and fed right into my show, Range Life. It went smoothly, and now we're ready to do more of these things.
Sheesh, it's almost like we're a real radio station.
By the way, McMurtry's new record, Childish Things, is quite possibly his best work to date. And for anyone who knows the dude's output, that's saying a lot. I'll write more about it later.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Heavy Ornamentals, Part 1
There's a new Gourds album on the shelves, and it is reason to rejoice. Heavy Ornamentals is a great record. I'd go so far as to call it a triumphant return to form, but I'm thinking that maybe my own form has changed more than theirs, so that may not be accurate.
Let me explain.
Anyone who is into music experiences changes in interest and fluctuations in appreciation throughout their lives. Most of the time it's as innocuous as the old "Lately I've been listening to a lot of [enter your own new genre here]." But sometimes it's more than that. Sometimes you move away from music that has been very important to you, indeed has made up much of what you consider great about music in the first place. Fads come and go, tastes change, geography changes, groups of friends change--there are reasons uncountable for why we are such fickle creatures. But still, the impact can be great.
An example: When I moved from high school to college, everything changed. I largely stopped listening to what I thought was great metal (Metallica, Iron Maiden, etc) and even not-so-great derivative metal (Motley Crue, KISS, et al) and started listening to completely different music. REM, The Cure, The Alarm, The Smiths--prototypical college rock took over my life because it was new and great and interesting and, quite simply, I realized that what I had been listening to was total crap. I mean, Bon Jovi lyrics dominated interpersonal relationships for a time, and I knew no better. Scary.
Sometimes it's not so cut and dry.
When I moved to Austin, I thought I knew it all. Armed with Pavement and REM enough to prove I knew what-for, I went down there to immerse myself in music. And my world flipped again. The Reverend Horton Heat, Ed Hall, Alice Donut, The Supersuckers, Spoon--suddenly everything was new and wonderful. So I did nothing but rock out as hard as I could.
Then I met my wife-to-be, who not only couldn't stand to have this loud-ass shit going on in the house all the time, she was also interested in that other Texas music, and we found we had this in common. Fugazi gave way to James McMurtry, The Jesus Lizard stepped aside for The Flatlanders, and a new interest took hold. This was new and fascinating to me--country was good! And there my obsession lived for a while.
The Gourds were a HUGE part of that. They were my favorite band in all the world for a long long time. In many ways, they still are. However, when we left Texas and moved to Idaho, our exposure to and cultural connection to that kind of music suffered from distance. I discovered rock again--and so did Cathy. Things changed. Doug Sahm stayed out of the carousel for a while and Franz Ferdinand stayed in. And now, as I bathe more fully in the newly acquired knowledge that electronic music doesn't automatically suck, the distance seems greater than ever.
But then, The Gourds go and do this. They make a great record. Their last few have been good, of course--but good in the sense that it takes a few listens to grab onto why it's good, while shadows of doubt over this or that track or how much I actually do love thee linger. This time, first listen. That's it. This is a great record. From the obvious singles to the deeper buried gems, it's like I'm 26 and living in Austin and hearing "Dying of the Pines" on late night radio all over again. Holy shit, this is good.
Anyway, I'd like to spend more time talking about this actual record, but that'll have to wait. Meantime, go get this album. That way we'll be on the same page for part 2 of this post.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Dirty Three
I'm not sure how this one missed my best-of year-end list, but it did, and I'm sorry.
The Dirty Three are a trio from Australia that make hauntingly beautiful instrumental music based around drums, violin, and guitars. They first entered my world as the band behind Chan Marshall's voice and songs on Moon Pix, far and away my favorite Cat Power record. Dirty Three were no small part of that record's beauty, playing perfectly off Marshall's ethereal, breathy, captivating vocals, conjuring worlds for her to sing within.
They brought out a new record last year called Cinder, and it's a thing your ears will not be able to get enough of. At times dark and moody, at others buoyant and celebratory, at all times this record embodies musicians at the heights of their powers, working with material that offers them space to do their thing with no intrusions or interruptions. You just wish you could be in the room when they get together to practice.
As a bonus, Ms. Marshall appears for vocal duties on one song, called Great Waves, that is one of my favorite tracks of all last year. I dare say it could stand up to anything on Moon Pix, and wouldn't be at all out of place on that record.
Remodel
Don't do this. Leave your home as it is, keep your life your own, and maintain the solidity of your marriage. I'm serious. This is a bad idea.
We're nearing the end of a month and a half or two month remodel process on the whole upstairs of our house. We're very close--it should all be done by the end of the week--but it has not come without cost. The financial, obviously, but also the mental, the spiritual, the marital. It's been tough. Life has been hectic and rushed and cluttered and hectic, and we've both seen the ends of our ropes come frighteningly close. But we've survived.
Our house will be transformed. The results will be dazzling. We will be much happier. But, if I had it to do over again, unless some things were drastically changed, I wouldn't. I'd slap some paint on and leave it the hell alone.
Anyway, this nonsense comes by way of an excuse as to why this blog has been so lame and inactive lately. I've been gathering loads of new music, I've had some great outdoor adventures, I've sort of got a new job, and there's been plenty to write about, I just haven't had time. But, come next week, hopefully, I will. That is, if the friggin house is done.
We're nearing the end of a month and a half or two month remodel process on the whole upstairs of our house. We're very close--it should all be done by the end of the week--but it has not come without cost. The financial, obviously, but also the mental, the spiritual, the marital. It's been tough. Life has been hectic and rushed and cluttered and hectic, and we've both seen the ends of our ropes come frighteningly close. But we've survived.
Our house will be transformed. The results will be dazzling. We will be much happier. But, if I had it to do over again, unless some things were drastically changed, I wouldn't. I'd slap some paint on and leave it the hell alone.
Anyway, this nonsense comes by way of an excuse as to why this blog has been so lame and inactive lately. I've been gathering loads of new music, I've had some great outdoor adventures, I've sort of got a new job, and there's been plenty to write about, I just haven't had time. But, come next week, hopefully, I will. That is, if the friggin house is done.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Much too much
Busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.
More folks fighting the odds than on payday in Jackpot, Nevada.
More shit to work through than the squeegee man at a hog farm.
Sometimes life throws so much at you that you don't even know where to begin. This time, life's taking pot-shots at friends and family, leaving me alone but fucking with damn near everyone else I know.
All you can do is all you can do. Help out, be there, keep your own shit together.
Treading water.
Meanwhile, dig this track:
http://www.myspace.com/builttospill
That's right, chirdrens, new Built to Spill is finally visible on the horizon. Keep your eyes peeled. It's gonna be a good one.
More folks fighting the odds than on payday in Jackpot, Nevada.
More shit to work through than the squeegee man at a hog farm.
Sometimes life throws so much at you that you don't even know where to begin. This time, life's taking pot-shots at friends and family, leaving me alone but fucking with damn near everyone else I know.
All you can do is all you can do. Help out, be there, keep your own shit together.
Treading water.
Meanwhile, dig this track:
http://www.myspace.com/builttospill
That's right, chirdrens, new Built to Spill is finally visible on the horizon. Keep your eyes peeled. It's gonna be a good one.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Bovaflux
When There Was Nothing
This is a new one I just picked up after hearing a track on KEXP's morning show. (Incidentally, this is where I get turned on to loads of new music, so check out John in the morning on www.kexp.org. It's out of Seattle.) I've listened through a couple times and am definitely digging this. They've got it on emusic.
It's pretty lush, fairly chill electronic music along the lines of Boards of Canada. The songs feel like songs, melodies emerging from the loops and blips and moving along of their own volition, repeating phrases and evoking moods as slyly and smoothly as can be.
This is mood music. Sitting on a train, rolling through foreign countrysides, perhaps watching rain clouds gather or clear, feeling alone but alive--that's where this music takes me.
Happy New Year
We had a fantastic time out in Driggs ove rthe weekend, alpine skiing up at Grand Targhee, going nordic up Teton Canyon, and snowshoeing in and around Darby Canyon. The cabin we stayed in was out of this world--the perfect mountain getaway, and far more posh than rustic. We were blown away by the place when we got there, and we spent lots of time lounging in pajamas and slippers.
We rang in the new year watching Scarface and playing the millenium edition of Trivial Pursuit.
We're old.
So, hope y'all had as refreshing and rejuvenating a new year's as we did. Here's to a good, healthy, adventurous 2006.
We rang in the new year watching Scarface and playing the millenium edition of Trivial Pursuit.
We're old.
So, hope y'all had as refreshing and rejuvenating a new year's as we did. Here's to a good, healthy, adventurous 2006.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
New Year's
This will be me for New Year's this year.
At least, that's how I hope I'll look, as opposed to a giant tumbling snowball with skis and poles poking out in all directions. Cathy and I are headed to Driggs, ID, way over just this side of the Grand Tetons, to spend a long New Year's weekend. Grand Targhee resort is just a few miles from where we'll be staying, so we plan to spend at least one day there. The above pic was taken there yesterday.
Both of us are pretty inexperienced skiers. Cathy's been doing it for some years, though never more than once or twice a year--not quite enough to get really good. I just learned how to ski last February, and have only been out twice this year, once up at Bogus, and once at Brundage. Both times felt great; both made me feel like I was learning and doing better than the time before. And while these trips were both in decent snow, I'm really looking forward to great snow.
So, we'll be out of town and largely out of touch until next Tuesday. Hope y'all have a happy new year's, and a great 2006.
At least, that's how I hope I'll look, as opposed to a giant tumbling snowball with skis and poles poking out in all directions. Cathy and I are headed to Driggs, ID, way over just this side of the Grand Tetons, to spend a long New Year's weekend. Grand Targhee resort is just a few miles from where we'll be staying, so we plan to spend at least one day there. The above pic was taken there yesterday.
Both of us are pretty inexperienced skiers. Cathy's been doing it for some years, though never more than once or twice a year--not quite enough to get really good. I just learned how to ski last February, and have only been out twice this year, once up at Bogus, and once at Brundage. Both times felt great; both made me feel like I was learning and doing better than the time before. And while these trips were both in decent snow, I'm really looking forward to great snow.
So, we'll be out of town and largely out of touch until next Tuesday. Hope y'all have a happy new year's, and a great 2006.
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