well, it was. last Thursday to be exact. thats when The Hard Lessons came to Iota in Arlington and showed the headliner what rock and roll is all about. im glad to see that they are still performing very well and dont seem worse off after the loss of Christophe (aka The Anvil) behind the drums. im happy that THL seems to still be thriving, but its a bummer to see a cool dude leave the band, especially since he was there since the get go and he was more than eager to talk to me and others after the first show i saw them at and just about every show since.
anyway, its been a year or so since i saw them. i think it was thanksgiving time last year. now with the B & G sides released, they worked more of that music into their set, which is nice. its a little more complex and contemplative than Gasoline. Gasoline was straight up rock, soulful and heartfelt, but not really innovative. i like the the B & G sides from the get go with 'dont shake my tree' and 'see and be scene.' both of those are great rock songs, then the second edition came out and had 'i like your hair long,' which is a beautiful, sentimental song. what i'm saying is that the band grew, expanded their range, while keeping the soul and the sound true to where they began.
also on the third edition of the Sides was the full version of 'come back to me.' this song goes straight back to their roots, and is a crowd favorite where these guys are known, but even here, away from home, there were enough people who know the song and enough enthusiastic rock lovers to get some good participation during this number. and the live version of this song is even better than the recordings. some times i get goosebumps listening to Koko's voice, but every single time i see them live, she gives me chill.
on the final edition, the sound of coming down is great, beautiful, and like a lot of music ive been digging lately, has country and folk influences. like 'classic cars' on Bright Eyes Cassadaga, its a country influenced rock song. i really like this direction. i think it goes back to where rocks roots are in the 50's, when blues and folk music came together to spawn rock and country. if you look back to that era, you have two titans in both halls of fame: Elvis, and Johnny Cash. i dont like country music because of songs like 'she thinks my tractor is sexy.' anyway, bands like THL and the Raconteurs, and Ryan Adams, and Conor Oberst are making great music that picks up where those legends left off. my dad, who just turned 63, was surprisingly enthusiastic about Cassadaga.
i realize now, that i have completely wandered off on a tangent from what i meant to talk about, which was the show on Thursday night. but i think what i have been talking about is important. its proving that there is plenty of great bands and songwriters out there. and they are becoming more of a force and more popular. i didnt always know what this music was like, but i always knew that ricky martin was a piece of shit.
ok, now im going to bring this whole thing together... ready? bands like The Hard Lessons are what music should be: home grown, soulfull, real, and live. live music is what we should focus on. a band's real chance to shine is in live shows. a live show should be a great and better than the record. theres interaction, improvisation, and energy that cant be captured in a studio. go see live bands. check out new artists. support good music. buy tickets and merch and keep these guys out there touring. without our support, these guys cant make the music we love, and without them, you get junk like 'rock n roll jesus.'
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
fuck.
goddamned technology hates me. its kind of like accidentally CC-ing people by hitting reply all. except that i was sending the original email. and i made the list. its just that fucking constructware decided to insert some other emails in there and replace a few with wrong ones. what all this mean? i look like an ass hole as a bunch of people who were not supposed to even know about this job, now do and are pissed that i wont let them bid on the work. oh, and the bosses are having to deal with these guys calling them after i give them the bad news, because why would you beleive a fuck up like me.
sometimes these confounded machines really piss me off. but dont worry, Excel, i still love you. you'd never do this to me.
sometimes these confounded machines really piss me off. but dont worry, Excel, i still love you. you'd never do this to me.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
the girl aint preggars
i think this is possibly the best what to hype a song ive seen yet. so rather than blather on, just play the game and check out Grampall Jookabox.
listen to me!
if you like rock music, got to Iota in Arlington this Thursday. Detroit favorites, The Hard Lessons will be playing and rocking the socks of all within earshot. seriously, the lost and found will be full of socks with the occasional pair of undies. be there, or be without rock n roll.
one chance im givin to you, so come on! baby, come on!
one chance im givin to you, so come on! baby, come on!
anarchy in east LA
East Lansing, that is. in my old neighborhood. evidently there was some kind of hubub that resulted in some folks ending up in the hospital and the authorities trying to figure out who is the wrongdoer. this sort of shit happens every day in colleges all over, but i point to a couple things bringing this to a boiling point. first, Sparty lost BIG to OSU earlier in the day. that was a game most expected to be close and possibly determine the Big10 champ. but Sparty fell apart causing me to assault my couch and throw things. second, hockey players were evidently involved. im not saying that they are predisposed to fight, but ive been to a lot of games, and they do stand up for themselves and their teammates. i wouldnt fuck with them. and finally, the local residents were defending my legacy. according to the State News, it all went down at 130 Center st. i used to live at 135 and 140 Center st. so some foolish fool must have come in and bashed me or Steve or Steve's Tavern and the locals, understandably, took offense and felt the need defend our honor.
Monday, October 20, 2008
things could be much worse
much worse. the Cold War Kids were on point in their performance Saturday night. it was everything i hoped for and more. i dont know where to begin with this. i suppose the beginning will do.
AA Bondy opened, and did an excellent job. i had never heard of him, and im not sure how ive been missing out. seeing as i enjoy the songs of Conor Oberst and Ryan Adams and the rock of the Black Keys and the Racontuers, its seems odd that i didnt know about this guy who fits nicely in between. point being, hes good, check him out, and go see hime live too, because like many bands ive posted about, the live show trumps the recordings, as it should be.
and in that same tradition, CWK rocked my socks off. as i walked to a nearby bar to have a few pre-show drinks, through the insanity of Howard University's homecoming, the night seemed to have a full moon feel. people were excited, something was happening. for me that something took the form of kick ass high energy rock show. you know, the kind i like.
so i started watching the show on the balcony, having a pretty damn good view, and this was nice a for the first few jams. then the spirit began to move me. i need to move in response. so i told my compatriot 'im moving down to the floor, i need to rock out!' so he followed. i pushed through the crowd(sorry if i stepped on your foot), trying to locate a place move and dance and get down, but alas, i could not find any like minded folks. i found this odd. how is it that a sellout crowd, and a high energy rock band doesnt move your feet. why dont people dance? i mean, im a silly arhytmic skinny white guy, but its not how well you dance, its how the music moves you.
anyway, i did my thing, and i once again apologize to anyone i may have annoyed in the process. i just dont see how not to move. this is not to say that the crowd wasnt into it, they were. there were many hands in the air and voices singing along. and here is where i disagree with MOKB's ten commandmants of concerts: i think you should shake that ass, assuming its not on someone elses feet or involves throwing elbows, and i think you should sing along if the spirit so moves you. we all know these clubs are plenty loud enough to drown out the tone deaf. plus, isnt it fucking cool to hear a couple thousand people belting out 'we used to vacation?' i think it is.
and the boys did a great job playing old favs from Robbers and Cowards while mixing in new goodies from Loyalty to Loyalty. We Used to Vacation was sick. St John was pretty fucking sweet too, with its syncopation and whatnot. i really cant cite any problems with the show, other than that it ended. i am so happy i was able to go and that they played on a Saturday. weekend shows are the best, as i dont have to come to work the next day on like 3 hours of sleep nursing a hangover.
so in the end, we have another amazing show, and no wonder it was a sell out. if you havent already, go see them. you will be a richer person for it and you will have your socks and possibly your undies rocked right off.
AA Bondy opened, and did an excellent job. i had never heard of him, and im not sure how ive been missing out. seeing as i enjoy the songs of Conor Oberst and Ryan Adams and the rock of the Black Keys and the Racontuers, its seems odd that i didnt know about this guy who fits nicely in between. point being, hes good, check him out, and go see hime live too, because like many bands ive posted about, the live show trumps the recordings, as it should be.
and in that same tradition, CWK rocked my socks off. as i walked to a nearby bar to have a few pre-show drinks, through the insanity of Howard University's homecoming, the night seemed to have a full moon feel. people were excited, something was happening. for me that something took the form of kick ass high energy rock show. you know, the kind i like.
so i started watching the show on the balcony, having a pretty damn good view, and this was nice a for the first few jams. then the spirit began to move me. i need to move in response. so i told my compatriot 'im moving down to the floor, i need to rock out!' so he followed. i pushed through the crowd(sorry if i stepped on your foot), trying to locate a place move and dance and get down, but alas, i could not find any like minded folks. i found this odd. how is it that a sellout crowd, and a high energy rock band doesnt move your feet. why dont people dance? i mean, im a silly arhytmic skinny white guy, but its not how well you dance, its how the music moves you.
anyway, i did my thing, and i once again apologize to anyone i may have annoyed in the process. i just dont see how not to move. this is not to say that the crowd wasnt into it, they were. there were many hands in the air and voices singing along. and here is where i disagree with MOKB's ten commandmants of concerts: i think you should shake that ass, assuming its not on someone elses feet or involves throwing elbows, and i think you should sing along if the spirit so moves you. we all know these clubs are plenty loud enough to drown out the tone deaf. plus, isnt it fucking cool to hear a couple thousand people belting out 'we used to vacation?' i think it is.
and the boys did a great job playing old favs from Robbers and Cowards while mixing in new goodies from Loyalty to Loyalty. We Used to Vacation was sick. St John was pretty fucking sweet too, with its syncopation and whatnot. i really cant cite any problems with the show, other than that it ended. i am so happy i was able to go and that they played on a Saturday. weekend shows are the best, as i dont have to come to work the next day on like 3 hours of sleep nursing a hangover.
so in the end, we have another amazing show, and no wonder it was a sell out. if you havent already, go see them. you will be a richer person for it and you will have your socks and possibly your undies rocked right off.
Monday, October 13, 2008
homeless
warning: this post is kind of emo.
i feel like i dont have a home anymore. ive been feeling kind of lost and lonely the last few days. my instinct was to go home, to Michigan, where i seem to find stable ground. but i am becoming more and more aware that home isnt what it used to be. some many friends have scattered accross the country that last time i was home in July, i ran out of people to visit. its not the same home it once was.
when i first moved out here, visits back were overwhelming. i had so many friends and family to see i barely slept. i was inundated with love. now there are still people who live there and i certainly would have a good time, but it isnt what it once was. friends and family have peeled away to other parts of the country, kind of like me. and i still lack a solid base of friends here. i mean i have my brother and sister in law and the cousins, as i call them, and chris, who are all great, but i think what i miss is being able to go to a party and know everyone. to have bryan call me up and say hes having a party and i could show up and be surrounded with people i know.
that world seems to be gone. i dont know many people, and few very well around here. i threw a party saturday and got too drunk to enjoy it. i dont really know who showed up after like 10pm. i did some car bombs after i had been drinking since 3pm, and the next thing i knew i woke up at like 5 am. i dont know what happened, but evidently i passed out early. i was hoping it would be like the days of old, when i had a house full of friends around. might have been. but i dont know.
and that whole thing with blacking out a bit and waking up not knowing what happened and with a pounding head made me feel rather lonely. i was wishing that i had a girl to take care of me when i acted like and idiot. that would be really comforting. and i would be happy to do the same for her.
so rather than solidifying friendships at my party i made a fool of myself, passed out early, woke up lonely, and find myself feeling like an outsider, wishing i could go home where the world makes sense, and not knowing where that is. so i feel homeless, bumbling around, hoping to find something of comfort, wanting to go somewhere and not knowing where, not feeling like i belong anywhere. im and outsider looking in.
still things could me much worse
natural disasters
on the evening news
i still have my health(more or less)
my paycheck in the mail.
so ill look on the bright side. im going to see the cold war kids next saturday, the hard lessons the following week, a halloween party after that, then up to NYC to see laura, one of my oldest and best friends. you know, i probably shouldnt complain. something seems missing, as trite as it sounds.
i feel like i dont have a home anymore. ive been feeling kind of lost and lonely the last few days. my instinct was to go home, to Michigan, where i seem to find stable ground. but i am becoming more and more aware that home isnt what it used to be. some many friends have scattered accross the country that last time i was home in July, i ran out of people to visit. its not the same home it once was.
when i first moved out here, visits back were overwhelming. i had so many friends and family to see i barely slept. i was inundated with love. now there are still people who live there and i certainly would have a good time, but it isnt what it once was. friends and family have peeled away to other parts of the country, kind of like me. and i still lack a solid base of friends here. i mean i have my brother and sister in law and the cousins, as i call them, and chris, who are all great, but i think what i miss is being able to go to a party and know everyone. to have bryan call me up and say hes having a party and i could show up and be surrounded with people i know.
that world seems to be gone. i dont know many people, and few very well around here. i threw a party saturday and got too drunk to enjoy it. i dont really know who showed up after like 10pm. i did some car bombs after i had been drinking since 3pm, and the next thing i knew i woke up at like 5 am. i dont know what happened, but evidently i passed out early. i was hoping it would be like the days of old, when i had a house full of friends around. might have been. but i dont know.
and that whole thing with blacking out a bit and waking up not knowing what happened and with a pounding head made me feel rather lonely. i was wishing that i had a girl to take care of me when i acted like and idiot. that would be really comforting. and i would be happy to do the same for her.
so rather than solidifying friendships at my party i made a fool of myself, passed out early, woke up lonely, and find myself feeling like an outsider, wishing i could go home where the world makes sense, and not knowing where that is. so i feel homeless, bumbling around, hoping to find something of comfort, wanting to go somewhere and not knowing where, not feeling like i belong anywhere. im and outsider looking in.
still things could me much worse
natural disasters
on the evening news
i still have my health(more or less)
my paycheck in the mail.
so ill look on the bright side. im going to see the cold war kids next saturday, the hard lessons the following week, a halloween party after that, then up to NYC to see laura, one of my oldest and best friends. you know, i probably shouldnt complain. something seems missing, as trite as it sounds.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
quasi melancholy ruminations
im older than i was last week. not that this is anything unusual, time marches on, but the day passed when i add to the tally another year ive been bumbling around this planet. this birthday passed more or less like any other day. i think its the first year i can remember when i didnt feel a little bit better than everyone else or a little invincible. that birthday feeling.
other than that, it was a pretty unremarkable day.
having a birthday does kind of make you think about your life. im pretty proud of who i am and what i have done thus far in my life. thinking back over the years, i remember when i was turning 20 or something, thinking 'when im 25 or 26 ill have shit figured out.' now i realize thats never going to happen. you just react the best you can to what life throws your way.
i definitely still dont understand women. i realize that this rant has been covered, but i am talking about me, not them. while i do have a greater understanding, i think that the best i can hope for is to understand a woman. i think thats the trick. find a girl i like and try to understand her. if you can anticipate her idiosyncrasies and expectations and whatnot half the time, i think youll come out ahead. now i just need to find such a girl who happens to live somewhere that i can get to in an hour or less and not do it on a plane.
one thing i do know and learned over the last few years, is that youve got to be you and know and love who that is, otherwise, running around trying to find anyone to love you is doomed to fail. then youve got to find someone you can love and who can love you. three simple steps. easier said than done. you know how to find me if youve got someone to nominate.
other than that, it was a pretty unremarkable day.
having a birthday does kind of make you think about your life. im pretty proud of who i am and what i have done thus far in my life. thinking back over the years, i remember when i was turning 20 or something, thinking 'when im 25 or 26 ill have shit figured out.' now i realize thats never going to happen. you just react the best you can to what life throws your way.
i definitely still dont understand women. i realize that this rant has been covered, but i am talking about me, not them. while i do have a greater understanding, i think that the best i can hope for is to understand a woman. i think thats the trick. find a girl i like and try to understand her. if you can anticipate her idiosyncrasies and expectations and whatnot half the time, i think youll come out ahead. now i just need to find such a girl who happens to live somewhere that i can get to in an hour or less and not do it on a plane.
one thing i do know and learned over the last few years, is that youve got to be you and know and love who that is, otherwise, running around trying to find anyone to love you is doomed to fail. then youve got to find someone you can love and who can love you. three simple steps. easier said than done. you know how to find me if youve got someone to nominate.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
DC in retrospect
i moved here two and a half years ago. i definitely felt like an outsider. part of that was living on the wrong side of the Potomac, and part was not having any friends that i wasnt related to. nowadays im living in the district proper in the kind of neighborhood that i think i have always wanted to live in on some level. so life is better now, but looking back, it never was that bad, but it wasnt a dream either.
at this point in time i realize that i have met some really cool people here and that DC can be a cool place. now that i dont live in suburbia, i can walk to good bars, concert venues, and basically dont need a car except for work. its pretty bad ass. i never would have met killer fucking people like Rob and Heidi, a fellow writer and blogger. unfortunately, due to the nature of this town, both have moved on to other opportunities and locales.
now allow me to rant on what still pisses me off about this town...
public transit: its so tantilizingly close to being good, but falls short in a few key ways. first, lack of coverage. there are large swaths of the city that are miles from a metro and the busses that are supposed to fill the gaps are so goddamned unreliable, you never know when or if a bus will come. now i realize that building new tunnels and shit is not only very time and money consuming, but it also costs a lot and takes years, but come on, if you want to calim to have one of the best transit systems around, back that shit up and start building. or at least get some bus routes that function on something like a schedule. catching a bus is like getting a cab, you just have to hope one comes by. and dont even get me started if you need to take public transit somewhere outside the city. the suburbs are a minimum of an hour away and cant even fathom what it would be like to get from Fairfax to College Park, its gotta take a damn day.
voting rights: this is supposed to be the fucking worldwide seat of god damned democracy and im not represented in congress? what kind of ass backwards shit is that? i really dont know what else to say... nearly 600,000 people without a voice. bullshit. and congress has the balls to try to dictate gun laws that affect us, not them, without even a single vote on it. how hard is it? can you even imagine is congress tried to tell Texas what the gun laws there were going to be? it would be a god damned nightmare. its complete bullshit.
traffic: seriously, fix public transit! i dont want to drive, but it takes too damn long to get where im going. i dont want to be on the road with all sorts of diplomat plates. they dont give a shit, theyve got immunity. not to mention that if theres weather, it takes twice as long to get anywhere. its like water causes retardation around here. forget about getting anywhere if its snowing. you might as well stay home and beat your car with a sledge hammer.
suburban jobs: my office is in Fairfax. fucking why? all our job sites are in the city, why cant our office be? i waste so much time and gas getting to and from work. if we were anywhere in DC, it would cut costs of commuting so much. unless you live in Leesburg or Stafford, but you have to be a special type of stupid and a bit masochistic for that. i like punishing myself with hangovers, not driving in traffic to a cookie cutter house in a land of strip malls.
the nationals: they suck. hard.
no one is from here: or fucking stays here. it seems like i meet some cool people, then they move. this town is full of transients. i mean i guess its okay, but it would be nice to have some constants.
but i do like the dive bars near me. and rock creek park.
2 years ago i would give this town a score of 2 out of 10. now, its more like a 6 or so. better than worse, but i wouldnt take you home without a serious set of beer goggles. and no, youre not meeting my family. youd be fucking lucky to meet my friends. get some exercise, get a hair cut, and a get a ride, you scrubby skank, and wash yourself off, then we will talk. you make me yearn for Detroit, for fuck sake, at least that town has a personality....
at this point in time i realize that i have met some really cool people here and that DC can be a cool place. now that i dont live in suburbia, i can walk to good bars, concert venues, and basically dont need a car except for work. its pretty bad ass. i never would have met killer fucking people like Rob and Heidi, a fellow writer and blogger. unfortunately, due to the nature of this town, both have moved on to other opportunities and locales.
now allow me to rant on what still pisses me off about this town...
public transit: its so tantilizingly close to being good, but falls short in a few key ways. first, lack of coverage. there are large swaths of the city that are miles from a metro and the busses that are supposed to fill the gaps are so goddamned unreliable, you never know when or if a bus will come. now i realize that building new tunnels and shit is not only very time and money consuming, but it also costs a lot and takes years, but come on, if you want to calim to have one of the best transit systems around, back that shit up and start building. or at least get some bus routes that function on something like a schedule. catching a bus is like getting a cab, you just have to hope one comes by. and dont even get me started if you need to take public transit somewhere outside the city. the suburbs are a minimum of an hour away and cant even fathom what it would be like to get from Fairfax to College Park, its gotta take a damn day.
voting rights: this is supposed to be the fucking worldwide seat of god damned democracy and im not represented in congress? what kind of ass backwards shit is that? i really dont know what else to say... nearly 600,000 people without a voice. bullshit. and congress has the balls to try to dictate gun laws that affect us, not them, without even a single vote on it. how hard is it? can you even imagine is congress tried to tell Texas what the gun laws there were going to be? it would be a god damned nightmare. its complete bullshit.
traffic: seriously, fix public transit! i dont want to drive, but it takes too damn long to get where im going. i dont want to be on the road with all sorts of diplomat plates. they dont give a shit, theyve got immunity. not to mention that if theres weather, it takes twice as long to get anywhere. its like water causes retardation around here. forget about getting anywhere if its snowing. you might as well stay home and beat your car with a sledge hammer.
suburban jobs: my office is in Fairfax. fucking why? all our job sites are in the city, why cant our office be? i waste so much time and gas getting to and from work. if we were anywhere in DC, it would cut costs of commuting so much. unless you live in Leesburg or Stafford, but you have to be a special type of stupid and a bit masochistic for that. i like punishing myself with hangovers, not driving in traffic to a cookie cutter house in a land of strip malls.
the nationals: they suck. hard.
no one is from here: or fucking stays here. it seems like i meet some cool people, then they move. this town is full of transients. i mean i guess its okay, but it would be nice to have some constants.
but i do like the dive bars near me. and rock creek park.
2 years ago i would give this town a score of 2 out of 10. now, its more like a 6 or so. better than worse, but i wouldnt take you home without a serious set of beer goggles. and no, youre not meeting my family. youd be fucking lucky to meet my friends. get some exercise, get a hair cut, and a get a ride, you scrubby skank, and wash yourself off, then we will talk. you make me yearn for Detroit, for fuck sake, at least that town has a personality....
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