Hustler of Culture
Tron (1982): “We all dodged a bullet back in 1982 when our computers didn’t eat us for lunch”
Notes: Seen at the Castro Theatere in 70 mm as part of the Midnites for Maniacs series in the company of Consumators and Metagrrrls. Nerdy goodness.
But I’m kinda close to finishing my book proposal. Meep Meep!
I’ve been about eight kinds of busy the past week with Lollapalooza and four separate deadlines the past week. But the smoke is starting to clear and I’m going to be focusing heavily on book proposal stuff for the remainder of August. And trying to do a little blogging as I feel I’ve been neglecting things a bunch around here.
In the meantime, you can check up this segment I did for Dailysonic on the band The Mystic Underground. And an interview I did for Canadian Press (their equivalent of the AP) has surfaced from I don’t know where. But I was glad to find it.
If all systems are go, I’ll have pieces in Fast Company, The LA Times and Poets & Writers this fall. And I’ve been asked to blog for this esteemed institution.
All of which is incredibly but if you see me taking on more porject which keep me from completing my book proposal, please hit me with something heavy.
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Quinceanera (2006): “I’m waiting for the sequel, Bar Mitzvah,” –my dad.
Okay, it’s a phrase. But it’s defined as “When your social commitments reeks havoc on your physical well being.”
That’s where I’m at. Which is why I had a two hour massage this morning and am staying in tonight. More tomorrow (via Wired).
Little Miss Sunshine (2006): “You will never hear the song ‘Superfreak’ the same way again”
Notes: Seen in Chicago on my birthday. A lovely present.
The last six months have been some the hardest of my adult life. Again and again I’ve listed to “Bye Bye Pride” by The Go-Betweens which I first heard on Sound Opinions in May.
These are the last lines…
But I didn’t know someone
Could be so lonesome
Didn’t know a heart
Could be tied up
And held for ransom.
Until you take your shoes
And go outside, stride over stride,
Walk to that tide because
The door is open wide.
Little lies, they’ll take your pride.
Until you take your shoes
And go outside. stride over stride,
Walk to that tide because
The door is open wide.
Stride over stride
Walk to that tide.
Bye, Bye Pride.
Because the door is open wide.
The door is always open wide.
The door is always open wide.
My credo. Have a good weekend.
So it took three long days but my college roommate Justin and I braved this year’s Lollapalooza. 16 bands, 3 days, several changes of clothes and about 9 hectaliters of sweat and body odor.
But boy was it worth it. I’ve never seen so much great music packed into one space over such a short time in my life. Below is a recap of everything we saw. I got home late last night and decided I’m never listening to music again.
That lasted about 20 minutes.
The Place: Grant Park, Chicago, IL.
Day 1: Friday
Justin: Such a charming Canadian pop group. No, I don’t mind at all if you curse (they apologized for swearing).
Kevin: Probably the nicest band at Lolla. Matisyahu could have beaten them up.
Kevin: I was convinced after hearing LS featured on Sound Opinions that she was a short black woman with an afro not the sixth Spice Girl booted out of the band for beating up a hotel chambermaid..
Justin: When, at 5:30 on a Friday afternoon, half of the crowd answered “Who here is drunk?” in the affirmative, I knew Chicago was Sov’s kinda town.
Justin: Jack White may be big enough for this festival, but this band’s sound sure wasn’t.
Kevin: No matter how cute Jack White is, his band is too down and dirty to be on this giant outdoor stage. The air swallowed their sound whole.
Justin: The rockin’ ladies gave one of the tightest live sets I’ve seen. I hope their ‘hiatus’ is very, very temporary.
Kevin: The female Rush. Coming from me, a huge compliment.
Day 2: Saturday
Kevin: My highlight of the festival. More fun than a giant trampoline.
Justin: You never forget your first time seeing The Go! Team. The second time was pretty great too.
Justin: They rocked like nobody’s business. I’m convinced that the world needs more bands fronted by skinny dudes sporting Jew ‘fros and intoxicatingly high vocal ranges.
Kevin: What Justin said.
Kevin: A great album in need of a better live act. Just too groovy and laid back for the day’s midpoint.
Justin: They were a very entertaining, massively hyped gimmick that deserved better sound guys.
Kevin: I am the only person within Chicago city limits who have not heard of this band. Loud, power-pop fun.
Justin: Smoking Popes is emo… that will kick your ass!
Justin: We were stuck at the back of the field, so what could’ve been the weekend’s greatest spectacle looked like an entertaining TV show.
Kevin: I really need to see them again at full strength and not after a day of baking. I’m sure they are great. I just wasn’t up for it.
At this point, Kevin and Justin split up to see different headliners.
Kevin: I love TNP and have all three of their albums but this is the second time I’ve been let down by their live act. Why do they always seem to be performing half asleep?
Justin: Thievery was the sleeper act of the weekend. They need to come back for the World Music Festival where they’ll have a more captive crowd.
Kevin: Kanye got dogged by a lousy sound system but once the gear caught up with him, he practically set the park on fire.
Justin: Manu’s world party is an hour and a half of hard rock, salsa, reggae, rumba, funk, and flamenco punctuated by a leaping, sweaty, and pharmaceutically enhanced crowd.
Day 3, Sunday
Justin: These kids must have some damn good band camp stories!
Kevin: I’d kill to see them on a double bill with The Extra Action Marching Band.
Kevin: Bruce Springsteen meets Tom Waits meets a giant glop of Catholic guilt. Holy wonderful!
Justin: Lead singer Craig Finn noted this was some of the most fun he’s had before 3pm. I call it some of the best live rock I’ve heard before 3pm.
Justin: Don’t know what I was expecting from a modern bluegrass band at a big festival, but they exceeded expectations.
Kevin: We sat down for this one. Lovely summertime chillout music.
Kevin: Who knew the typical Matisyahu fan is a shirtless frat boy?
Justin: Clear the way for the funky, funky Hassid…
Justin: Wilco is a very satisfying live band. They didn’t transport me to a higher plane and I didn’t feel their pain, but it was a beautiful Sunday night homecoming.
Kevin: I would love to see Wilco again when I haven’t just been on my feet for the last three days. Wilco is a great band but I was done.
And there you have it.
I turned 33 years old and had the rockinest birthday ever. Yay!