Pop Culture Gems

Brad Delp 1951-2007

2007-03-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

There's so much I could say. There's so much I want to say. Yet, I'll just say this....

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

You were loved by many people and fans everywhere.

Goodbye, my friend. May you jam with the Beatles in heaven.

Happy Valentine's Day - Howard and Beth Engaged

2007-02-14T04:03:00.001-08:00

Shock jock Howard Stern says he's engaged

NEW YORK -- Howard Stern is engaged to Beth Ostrosky, the veteran shock jock announced on his radio program this morning.

Stern, who divorced his first wife Alison in 1999 after some 20 years of marriage, has repeatedly said he would never get married again.

He denied rumors of marriage as recently as last week.

Stern, 53, left commercial radio in 2005 and joined Sirius Satellite Radio, where his morning radio show is aired "uncensored."

He starred in the 1997 motion picture "Private Parts," based on career, which launched in Hartford. Much of the film focused on his relationship with his first wife.

In typical Stern fashion, he joked today that he removed Ostrosky's uterus to guarantee the couple will not have children.

"I see my married friends with children and it seems like absolute torture to me," Stern said this morning.

Callers to the Stern show are ridiculing the shock jock because of the announcement.

One hour of the Grammys is enough

2007-02-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

Random thoughts while thinking about switching over to OnDemand or FuseTV ...

And the "Can life get any better?" award goes to:

Justin Timberlake gets to suck face and be in a pool with Scarlet Johansson in his new video in otherwise horrible MTV pre-show.

The Police - repeat, I never need to hear Roxanne ever again, especially jazzercised. I actually thought this might transition into a medley. Sting looking great and ready for sequel to Dune (worst movie of all time?) - Andy Summers ready for a nap.

What happened to "Little" Stevie Wonder? He's huge! I was touched that Stevie mentioned memory of his mother, but what the heck is Tony Bennett doing thanking Target as "best sponsor he's ever worked with"?

Probably my only chance to know a Grammy winner is ruined when Deborah Henson Conant gets shafted in category #106 Best Classical Crossover.

Joan Baez on stage and looking great. First time Woody Guthrie's name ever referenced at Grammys? This land is your land = three brave women not ready to make nice. OK, but for me to really like the Dixie Chicks, I'll need a medley w. Neil Young on "Impeach the President."

A break for our sponsors ... Did I just hear Pharrell on Heineken Light ad? Apple ad didn't reference DRM or availability of Beatles songs. Missed a great PR opp there Steve Jobs!

Prince is dried off from Purple Rain and lacking a do rag for three word intro of Beyonce (he's pissed she's with Jay). Anybody else imagine Whitney Houston scowling viciously at the TV set during Beyonce?

Note to self: Fergie looks hotter in Kohl's Candys shoes ad than she does on stage.

Black Eyed Peas on stage and I swear the cool guy in the hat has ear bling - really, it looks like caps have moved up the face. Speaking of, India.Arie has the biggest earrings on the planet.

Mary J. Blige wins making former Topazer and current Universal Music diva Ashley Gagnon and Bono happy. Ashley because she gets to have fun at her glitzy post-party Monday night and Bono because I think I heard that horrible "One" song sampled. Does the "J" in Mary J. Blige stand for Jesus? She managed to squeeze in 200 people in her thanks, the last 15 just as background music got really loud.

What have we become award winner: Grammys competes with "American Idol" (Topaz fav in the past) with voting in non-descript duet singers by texting to 81818. The winner gets to be on stage with I heart JT later in the show and never be heard from again.

Worst ad of the night co-winners: Goodbuy = "Hello Goodbye" by the Beatles for Target. InaGardaDaVida opus is featured in a Fidelity ad. Great, now I finally understand what the song means - no load or IRA fees.

Justin has a new song, "What goes around." Comment below if I'm way off in my interpretation, but is I heart JT still obssessed about Britney or was it really the "experiences of a best friend" as he got to intro on stage? Justin has a hand-held camera for the YouTube effect - Where else could he put the camera that would really make his fans happy? In a related development, The Doors get a life time achievement? "I am not my hair" is a song India.Arie song - doesn't that defeat the purpose?

Mary J. - more Jesus and short discussion about high and lows in her life. On theword crawl at bottom of screen I notice Slayer won a Grammy thereby proving that the Devil is making a big comeback.

Another bad ad with "Fire" on Cingular/AT&T/Death Star - Hendrix vocals and solo edited? Lil' Jon delivering beer by way of a Gulfstream? Heather Locklear ad - wait, no Richie Sambora voodoo doll on set for that one? However, John Mayer is evil.

In conclusion, why is there no Grammy for best MySpace or YouTube performance? The sites are in better shape than the entire music industry.

Lost

2007-02-07T08:10:00.001-08:00

Will anyone be watching tonight? Will there be any answers? Or just more confusion?

Tune in tomorrow...

I have a sneaky feeling there will be no answers and just more confusion.

An open letter to Sarah Silverman

2007-02-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

Dear Sarah: my name is Dave (not my real name). I don’t know much about you, but what I do know, I like.

That being the case, I would like to take this opportunity to ask you on a date. I think we have a lot in common and would hit it off.

I enjoy a woman who’s not afraid to speak her mind. I loved “Jesus Is Magic,” your recently released comedy movie, because it demonstrated your strong sense of humor and your sturdy intellect. You touched on AIDS, teenage pregnancy, the current political landscape and your vagina with sensitivity, intelligence and thought-provoking commentary. I, too, am deeply concerned about these topics.

I must admit, while I hold your obvious intelligence and sensitivity in high esteem, my motives for meeting are somewhat based on your good looks. I love your dark hair, your dark eyes, your slender neck, your pert, sparkling-clean breasts, your curved torso and your long legs. I haven’t seen them (yet), but I bet your feet are cute, too.

I know you’re currently involved with some comedian guy who has a show on at 2:30 in the morning, when the only people watching are the criminally insane and the chronically unemployable, but I feel I am the better man. As an example, I am a musician. I have toured the country and have met such celebrities as the guy who used to play Urkel and one of the Brady kids. I am not up to your level of star power, of course, but if we bump into any of your Hollywood friends on our way to dinner before we burn off those calories together, I could smile and relate.

I know you’ll be busy with your new television show, which I’ll be watching, but I hope you take time to consider my offer.

I’m looking forward to your response. I just love a woman who lets it all hang out.

Sincerely,

Dave

CSRs are an important customer-company touchpoint

2007-01-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

I purchased a Dell Laptop last week after my previous Dell laptop was stolen. I made the purchase online and inadvertently added an $80 car adaptor. I have no use for a car adaptor, other than throwing it at another driver, and I could find cheaper substitutes for that, so I called Dell the other night to set up a return.

“My name is Mary,” said the Dell customer service representative from India. “How may I help you?” Her name is Mary like mine is Nipeadooleepasling.

“Mary, I’d like to return a car adaptor.” She told me she could help me, and after ten minutes of providing information that she painstakingly repeated back to me in her adorable, chirpy, heavily accented voice from thousands of miles away, we got disconnected.

I called back, this time reaching “Susan.” I was making the call from my cell phone, wearing an ear piece while eating frozen yogurt at Costco. I finished my treat, and judging by the repetition and confirmation of every word I uttered, I figured the call was going to take a while. Spying a guitar on the far wall, I grabbed it, tuned it, sat on a piano bench and started playing. Twenty minutes later, Susan, in her adorable, chirpy, heavily accented voice said, “I don’t know why we’re getting that hold music, Mr. Robert.” I laughed and told her I was playing guitar. “Really? Huh.” was her response. Bored out of my mind, I asked her if she had any requests. “I do not understand. I am helping you resolve your issue. Do you have a question?”

After ten more minutes of her tapping at computer keys and me strumming guitar strings, Susan told me she had to transfer me.

Enter “Diane,” and a repetition of the entire process. I had no patience at this point. “You’re in India, Diane?”

“Yes.”

“Doesn’t it blow your mind that I’m thousands of miles away, strumming a guitar and we’re talking? We’re worlds apart, yet we hear each other.”

“Yes. I can help you return your item.”

“Diane, are you married?”

Pause. “I need your full phone number, area code first.”

“Diane, are you married?”

Suppressed giggling. “No.”

“If we weren’t so far apart, we could go bowling. Do you bowl, Diane?”

“No. Do you have your order or customer number?”

Ten minutes later, Diane asked if I could hear the hold music. I told her I was playing guitar. She laughed. “You play very well.” I told her I practiced a lot that night. She then told me she had to transfer me to the right department.

Next up: Tina. We straightened everything out in three minutes, and she told me anyone I spoke to previously could have set up a return. I told her about my long wait, and she offered me a Dell coupon. I got $150 and a good amount of work in on Ionian scales. Dell’s a great company. They care about their customers.

I must have watched too much Bowl TV - Statue of Liberty play & Led Zeppelin?!

2007-01-04T16:48:00.000-08:00

This will not be another tired blog post dissecting Bowl games tactics, stars or debating a playoff system. Instead, this will be another tired blog post looking at the popular culture significance of said Bowl season.

Some New Year's Eve Bowl: U of Miami wins a bowl game on a blue field. Didn't Miami used to be pretty good in the Big East? By the way, blue is so cool, but I now want tie-dyed field at Cal-Berkeley; geometry and algorithms patterns at Georgia Tech; and SU basketball and lacrosse schedules at the Carrier Dome.

Gator Bowl: What did I enjoy more - Rita Rodriguez' (hot wife of Coach Rich smell my fingers) "abundances" or the huge "Thank you Gay Employees" sign in Jacksonville?

Toss up, but I'm going with that amazing sweater. Speaking of, I liked this quote from Boston Globe article by Mark Blaudschun about how they met in college:

"She was blonde, dressed well, and we got to talking," said Rodriguez. "And I asked her what kind of car she drove. She said, 'A Vette.' I thought to myself, 'Man. I've got it made. Blonde, dresses well, and she drives a Vette. She's probably got some money, too.' "When I went over to her apartment, I saw that it was a Chevette," said Rodriguez, laughing at the memory. "And it had a broken stick shift. But her father was pretty handy and he had fashioned a stick from an old furniture leg. When I went to her apartment, I sat down on a couch missing a leg."

I love West Virginia, Sarah, really I do!

Rose Bowl: Michigan band doing Led Zeppelin songs at halftime was cool. No actually it was really troubling. By the way, shouldn't USC be required to do Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" every year, every song?

Special note from earlier Rose Bowl parade: George Lucas was Grand Marshall. Thankfully I saw no Jar Jar Binks walking near the Star Wars floats, but way too many friggin' Ewoks.

Fiesta Bowl: OK I lied, this is a football post. Here is the greatest play in the history of America Football (happened shortly after the second greatest play in history - Hook and Lateral on 4th and 18!?)

Here's the last play of the game.
SHITE, YouTube is so 2006! -

"This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Collegiate images, LLC because its content was used without permission"

- Oh just find the clip on some decent pirate ship site.

This was pretty good post about significance of the game:

To bring Boise State's national championship coronation game back to popular culture - what the f%#$ is with the Chair of the Bowl Committee exclusively reading a note card at the trophy presentation?!

Louisville vs. Wake Forest: Skipped this until NCAA regional semi-final hoops in March.

Sugar Bowl: I slept through this game, so I'm turning this post over to good buddy and sports guru John MacKinnon ...

Glad Charlie Weiss upholding the Ty Willingham and Bob Davie tradition of Bowl Excellence.

Don't blame ND. Chambers of Commerce created bowl games to attract tourism during an otherwise dead week.

Notre Dame and Navy sell tickets and travel at least 20k annually spending multiple hotel room nights, multiple meals and lots of libations. They attract eyeballs both from domers and haters like me reveling in some school treating them like a pinata without a blindfold.

In conclusion and in case The Optimist/Traitor, I mean Terry, still reads this blog ... next year's Meineke Car Care Bowl halftime show star is ready to parrrhhhty.

Co-branding works for me!

2006-12-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

I’m sure everyone has seen the Volkswagen commercials promoting the company’s tie-in with First Act guitars, a Boston-based guitar company headquartered on Boylston Street. If you haven’t, here’s the deal: buy a $20,000 Volkswagen, get a $600 guitar.

The guitar is special for a few reasons. First, each one is custom built to match the car it comes with. This includes color coordination, a VIN label, Volkswagen dot inlays and a guitar strap made from a seat belt. Perhaps the coolest feature of the guitars is a built-in preamp which enables the guitar to be plugged into the dashboard of certain Volkswagens and played through the car’s speaker system. (Through a normal amplifier, the preamp adds overdrive, or distortion.)

This promotion has mainly created two things.

The idea that the guitars will become highly collectable
A lot of people with guitars but no desire to play them

The best possible mix of the above two points is an individual who possesses number two and is unaware of number one. I found such a person on Craigslist, sort of. “I bought a new car, and a week later there’s this package at my door,” he told me after I responded to his ad. He was asking $300 for the guitar. “I opened it up, and I was like, huh?” We talked for a while. I told him I loved First Act guitars, that his guitar could possibly become collectable in the future (What would Jesus do? He’d probably play a PRS.) and that I would give him cash. He said he had to think about it now, and that he would call me back. “Me and my big mouth,” I thought.

I stopped looking at pictures of the guitar on the Internet and forgot about hearing back from the guy. A few days later, my phone rings. It was him. “Are you still interested in the guitar?” he asked. I said yes, and he told me he would sell it for $400. I couldn’t complain—they sell on eBay for upwards of $800 currently. When we met and exchanged cash for instrument, I asked why he chose to sell the guitar to me; he must have received a ton of emails. “I did,” he said. “And a few people offered me more money, but you know what?” I gave him a quizzical look. “You were the only person who seemed excited about actually playing the damn thing.” And I must say—it plays great!

I must have watched too much election TV - Congressman John Hall?!

2006-11-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

Congressman John "Still the One" Hall (D-NY)? AKA the guy in the middle pleading with his bandmates to take this cover concept in a new direction

A few of my favorite moments from channel flipping (BTW, thank the programming gods at ABC didn't sacrifice 90 minutes of "Dancing with the Stars" for this inconsequential, meaningless election)

7.
The Santorum kids crying - OK I'm a bit twisted, but the 8-year-old bugs me.

6. Deval Patrick's endless walk to the victory speech stage - Vintage Spinal Tap lost under the stage with the new benefit of huge video screens in the ballroom documenting the walk

5.
Tony Snow's masterful PR speak that prefaces the end of Rumsfeld's reign of terror by saying it's natural for some officials to step down after an election (hint hint)

4.

As Kerry Healey left the stage the DJ playing Boston's hilarious:

I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away

3. John Kerry looking wistful that his quest for any higher office was done while introducing new Mass. Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray

2. Live report from DNC party in D.C. where the young politico dudes and babes were drinking too much Red Bull and vodka and about to "know" what it means to be the party in charge - that's know in the Biblical sense as they were all hooked up by 3 a.m.

1. Steven Colbert's "Congratulations Terrorists" cake for the Democrats' big night, followed by him walking out of the studio, followed by his realization that the new Democratic House had been in charge for a minute and were ruining the nation and Iraq!

Is Borat the next Topaz movie outing?

2006-10-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

No great new thoughts to add (besides didn't we just get finished with our 8-month interoffice hype of "Snakes on a Muthaf#@*ing Plane") but I'm darn excited about this movie.

Here is a print recap/preview from one of our target media publications - Digital Media Wire's Buzz Watch: Borat Wants To Meet "Fearless Anti-Jew Warrior" Mel Gibson.

In the meantime, here's the obligatory link to YouTube: Night of Too Many Stars benefit for Autism.

Actually the funnier video is Borat's appearance (check out the video boards) as England blow another European match with an amazing own goal.

The Flaming Lips: Saving the World, One Balloon at a Time

2006-10-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

I meant to post something right after this concert- back on September 10, but better late than never:

Saw the Flaming Lips at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, and without question it was the best concert I have ever seen. Simply put, it was the most fun, joyful concert a person could expect. Evidence?

Item 1: As the Lips hit the stage, about 2 dozen giant green balloons hit the audience. A brilliant strategy for audience participation, it kept us up on our feet throughout the entire concert. Later, 3 even more gigantic white balloons joined their cousins in the crowd.

Item 2: Appearing alongside the stage, were about a dozen Santas stage left, and a dozen or so aliens stage right, all dancing throughout the concert. But of course-- here is a photo diary of one of the Santas from that show.

Item 3: Confetti guns? Check. Confetti cannons? Check. Brightly painted amps and keyboards? Check. Stobe lights and megaphones? Check. Giant foam hands and sing-along puppets? Check-check. All cheap but marvelous effects.

Item 4: Stage hands dressed in black to be inconspicuous? No way-- we got Captain America, Superman, Space Ghost, and Wonder Woman (singer Wayne Coyne's wife, I believe) taking pictures on stage.

Item 5: "Happy Birthday, Emily" sung by Wayne Coyne and crowd to one of the Santa/Aliens or one of their friends- -not quite sure there, but wouldn't you want a band to sing Happy Birthday to you from the stage?

Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, and Michael Ivins put on a most entertaining show, all under the philosophy espoused by Coyne that music itself can't change the world, but maybe a lot of people thinking, doing, saying the same thing at the same time can make a small difference, if only in their own lives.

A remarkable thing about the Flaming Lips is that they have been around for nearly 25 years, but their concerts revolve almost exclusively around their last 3 albums. This is not an oldies band reliving grunge-era glory (though "She Don't Use Jelly" remains a concert staple), but a vital band making their best music now. Thus, we got to hear highlights from: "The Soft Bulletin" (the opening "Race for the Prize" and the first encore, "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton," accompanied by Teletubbies on video); "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" (title songs and "do You Realize" finale); and several selction from the new album "At War With the Mystics."

I would love to hear the band's take on some of their mid-90's tunes, but no complaints here.

All in all? The Feel-Good Hit of the Summer.

A note about my long-gestating admiration of the Flaming Lips-- I had heard them here and there for years ("Jelly," "Bad Days" in a Batman movie soundtrack, and "Christmas at the Zoo" in particular), and always loved their bent, crazy sound, even when I was busy being a jazz snob.
But I didn't really get into them until "Yoshimi.." a few years ago, and I was hooked but good.

Interesting side note: Steven Burns, seen every day for years in my house as "Steve" from Blue's Clues, was knocked out by the 1999 "Soft Bulletin" album, so much so that the Lips' producer and band members produced an album for him, and he will make an appearance in the long-in-production Flaming Lips film, "Christmas on Mars" (info here, click on "Film" tab).

Technorati Tags: Flaming+Lips Blue's+Clues

Rock ‘n’ Roll Memories

2006-09-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

When I was in my twenties, I played in a rock band. I sang, played guitar and wrote all the songs. I took the band very seriously, as did every other member. There were plenty of shows where band members outnumbered audience members, especially in the early days, but we had many great shows, too. The drummer and I have been playing together recently after a few years off, and talk of possibly playing shows again is bringing up memories. Here are a few.

I remember when my band played my college while I was a student there. It was our first show ever. I remember being so nervous right before going on that I felt I could not control my limbs. When we got onstage and I looked out at everyone looking back at me, an odd calm covered me, and we played just fine. The next few weeks at school were a bit uncomfortable. People I did not know suddenly knew me, and I was constantly stopped in the halls with questions and congratulations. I noticed my band’s name written in marker on girls’ Converse Hightop sneakers. That was cool, but then there were a lot of people I did not know who suddenly hated me. I got shoved frequently. I got a football thrown at me. My car got scratched. I much preferred being invisible.
After my band released our first CD, we were doing well in the local clubs and could count on a good amount of people we did not know to show up. Then we took some time off to record our second CD. During our performance hiatus, I received a phone call from some girl I did not know, crying on the phone, telling me that my band meant everything to her, begging us to play again. I was not flattered; I was creeped out. I kept thinking, “Next time, we have to use a PO Box instead of my phone number on the CD.”
After my band released our second CD, it did OK on the national college charts. We started playing tours up and down the East Coast. I remember playing CBGB and looking out into the crowd and seeing three rather attractive girls I did not know each wearing my band’s T-Shirt. I strolled over to them after our set, feeling at that moment every bit like a rock God, bestowing his presence upon his followers. Then one of them said to me, “You look much better when you’re singing.” Thud! Back to Earth!
One time, my band played an outdoor gig with Sophie B. Hawkins. (She mentions The Rolling Stones in one song, so I always liked her for that.) I remember sitting on stage behind her on a milk-crate during her set (I always do that when I can), watching her play. She was barefoot and had dirty feet and sweaty underarms and had the crowd in the palm of her hands. All I kept thinking was, “She’s fooled around with Madonna.” She was very nice when we chatted backstage after, but she was a bit ripe. (I probably was, too!) I remember that during that show I played guitar with another female singer that did a cover of “You Shook Me All Night Long.” I was drafted to play the guitar solo. I remember standing there on stage during the song, feeling like a moron until the solo. Was I supposed to dance or something?
During one tour, we found ourselves onstage at The University of Pennsylvania playing an outdoor gig for Amnesty International. It was a beautiful late spring evening. Stars peppered the sky. I could see my breath as I sang. Before the last song, receding adrenaline and lack of sleep suddenly hit me. As the bass player played the song’s opening repeating pattern, I closed my eyes and involuntarily tilted my head back, spread my arms and swayed back and forth. My mind was a million miles away. I was lost in a moment of peace and over-exhaustion. During that time, I was not on stage, I was completely alone. After a while, I slowly opened my eyes and let my surroundings back in. Everyone I could see had their head back, their arms spread, and was swaying back and forth. My private withdrawal was being mimicked. I freaked out. I felt like everyone had read my thoughts. I blew all the lyrics, fumbled through the guitar solo, and left the stage. Later, backstage, I sat slouched in a corner on a chair. I saw the bass player push through the crowd straight toward me. He leaned down and said, “If you make me play that intro for that long again, you’ll have to have a bass removed from your ass,” and started laughing. I started laughing, too. Ah, rock ‘n’ roll.

www.myspace.com/thoughtbrigade

Boz Scaggs is Cooler Than You... Think

2006-08-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened-- the night most of us at Topaz Partners were primed to see "Snakes on a Plane," my wife broke the news to me-- we were invited to see Boz Scaggs in concert, by a friend we could not refuse. Crushed, I let the Topazers know the news, and after the requisite questioning of my manhood, and my witty and whithering replies (that I will not relate here), I resigned myself to my fate.

Gritting my teeth and girding my ears, I prepared for the worst. After viewing a parade of people that would best be served by remaining sexy on the inside only (you can be 50 and sexy, but you could not tell by this crowd), the worst happened immediately. Boz opened with "Lowdown."

But before you could say "I'm sick and tired of m****f*****g Boz Scaggs on a m****f*****g stage," he said these words: "Here's a song by Allen Toussaint." He repeated those magic words twice, the second time introducing the song "Hercules," the Aaron Neville hit also covered well, but not as well, by, well, Paul Weller. (Yes Adam, I stole the title of this post from your Paul Weller review last fall)

That, coupled with a lengthy blues jam, made it a surprisingly tolerable evening. Not "Snakes on a Plane" enjoyable, but not bad in the least. Well, except for the inevitable "Lido Shuffle" and the wobbling flesh-fest of the dancing middle-aged masses that its opening bars signaled.

Yes, I'm old. Shut up. I'm seeing the Flaming Lips September 10.

Do you Wu?

2006-08-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

A brief recap of Wednesday's Wu Tang Clan show at Lupo's in Providence with my soul (and real) brother Nate and his friend Derek.

Arrived late which is just about early for a hip hop show. On arrival, witness the obligatory objectification (self-imposed) of women from the crowd putting their backfield's in motion. Endless presentation gave me opportunity to meet Ghostface Killah (Mr. Killah?) at the merch table - I think we "chilled" and I bought 2 of his shirts.

Again, way too much hyping up of the crowd by some friends of the group or local hangers on. Should be a very simple pre-show system - keep the piped in music playing until the band of gypsies are ready to play.
One at a time entry - the amazing Method Man was first to mention ODB, a 40 and really demonstrate the most energy. Ghost clearly understood that a break for the group should focus on his ability to orgainze private dances from da ladies. At least he worked for it by rapping and moving on stage. ODB tribute provided opportunity for me to "put your BlackBerries in the air." Wait, in memory of Station night club tragedy shouldn't lighters be banned in RI?

Followed by Method Man crowd-walking with impeccable balance. Last cut we stayed for (it was after 1 a.m. on a work night) was the amazing
Triumph!!!

Surround sound rap lyrics throughout the night (and ID for the different guys on stage) thankfully provided by my bro - kosherhiphop.com.

Remember y'all, Wu Tang Clan ain't nothing to fuck with

Aquaman gets the greenlight? KB & LK, Maybe CNBC was correct

2006-08-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

I just hope loyal Lloyd gets credit for the deal

Well if Ronald Reagan can become President, Arnoldnator as Governor and Keanu Reeves have a career then I guess we should be thankful for the miracle that is Hollywood ...

Wahlberg says Aquaman idea may hold water
By Herald wire services
Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Call it life imitating art imitating life, because Mark Wahlberg plans to make rumors of an “Aquaman” feature film come true - except for one minor detail.

The Dorchester homey - whose semi-autobiographical HBO series “Entourage” has his alter-ego, Vinnie Chase, (played by Adrien Grenier) suiting up for the role - says the chances of seeing him in the orange leotard are slim to none. But he wouldn’t mind seeing Grenier take the role.

During a sit-down with IESB to promote his latest film, “Invincible” Wahlberg confirmed that while nothing is set in stone, there’s been some buzz in La-La land about making the fictional comic-strip flick a reality. The executive producer of the HBO series added that he hopes to produce it.

In one of the strangest twists, the talent agent at the center of the “Aquaman” talks is Ari Emanuel, the brash Endeavor agent who is the model for Jeremy Piven’s Ari Gold on “Entourage,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

St. Elvis

2006-07-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Elvis Costello once complained that successful rock musicians, unlike us working stiffs, age into a repertoire instead of into a pension. He neglected to mention that most successful rock musicians make more for an evening’s performance than most people make in a year, but that’s beside the point. The point is that Elvis certainly does have a repertoire, and much like a worker’s pension, he can leverage it any way he wants. At his show last night in Boston with famed New Orlean’s-based blues piano player and songwriter Allen Toussaint, Elvis put his past songs to good use. Toussaint and other members of the New Orleans music community, including a four-piece horn section, rubbed shoulders with members of the Attractions and spun out old Elvis hits with funk, blues and jazz inflections that paid a high dividend. Elvis invested wisely in these players, and his intentions were more than musical. He repeatedly pointed out the plight of New Orleans residents, and he repeatedly attacked the Bush administration. At one point, he singled out a tiny Bush doll the band had propped up on stage, calling it, “life size.” The stunt drew huge cheers, but one couldn’t help wonder how such a spectacle would be received in, say, Texas.

The band played more than Elvis’ songs. They moved with aplomb between his numbers, Allen’s and even a few covers, including a touching rendition of Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” with Elvis watching Allen in wonder while the latter played his piano, and with his characteristic poise, drew the melancholy out of the song like wine from a bottle.

2006-07-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

In an example of fabulous journalism, CNBC anchor Joe Kernan announced on air Monday morning that the $132 million opening of Pirates of the Carribbean was the most successful movie opening of all time, beating out James Cameron's Aquaman. The catch? Aquaman doesn't exist in the real world, only in the Hollywood alternative reality known as HBO's fantastic Entourage.

What's next? Will we be comparing the graduation rates of the US to Hogwarts? How about concerning ourselves with ramifications of flying vigilante crime fighters on the relevance of our police forces in major cities? Just teasing Joe, I wish Aquaman was real too.

I know you are all jealous

2006-07-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

but last night I got to meet L.A. Guns. In case you don't know who they are they are they came to fame in the 80s with The Ballad of Jayne. I couldn't have met a nicer group of guys. It got me thinking, do 80s rockers still appreciate their fans? Yep they do.

All I'll say is it was fun.

In the past 2 weeks I've had the opportunity to meet Extreme and LA Guns. When I was in high school following these bands around I never had the chance to. It's a lot easier now to meet them yet the excitement is still there.

Live Fast, Flame Out Young, and Die of Diabetes at 60

2006-07-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, that doesn't sound like the sexy glamorous swan song we typically script for our most star-crossed rock stars. But that's how it went for Syd Barrett, founder and original visioneer for Pink Floyd, before Dark Side of the Moon and well before the band became a therapy session for Roger Waters' post-WWII abandonment and mother issues.

But, I generalize.

Syd was a huge influence (you can hear it everywhere, but early David Bowie is probably the most flagrant, if imperfect, example). The mostly Barrett-written first Floyd album, Piper at the Gates of the Dawn, is a hugely underrated LP, and along with the early singles, show a unique whimsy all too often missing from rock music (and all too often mistaken for drug-addled nonsense).

Well ok, drug-addlement was the main ingredient of Syd's life story. It appears LSD and his pre-existing mental chemistry did not co-exist happily-- who knew?

After his fall from the band, the main marvel of Syd Barrett's life is that he was able to preserve his privacy, with the help of family and former bandmates, for nearly 40 years (well maybe closer to 35, depending on when you date his total dropout from public life.

Anyway, rest in piece Syd (ok, Shine on you Crazy Diamond-- I believe we are all required to say that today).
(Barrett in 2001)

Babs on tour - The Way We Were Not - American Express, why would I care?

2006-06-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

OK, So I enjoy a good joke with Donald E. and Michael D. about the Academy Awards being the gay Super Bowl. My joking ends when the topic comes up to the Gay Diva - Barbra Streisand. So lurkers and posters, 'splain to me how the heck American Express decides that I'm a good candidate for access with over $1,000 VIP tickets? By the way, for me to go, the special guest would need to be Devo not Il Divo!

Boston - October 22: LOGE*FIRST LEVEL OF ARENA LOWER SECTIONUS $1,000.00 - US $1,800.00
FLOOR*ALL SEATS FLAT ON FLOORUS $1,800.00

CARDMEMBER EXCLUSIVE: WE'VE GOT BARBRA STREISAND TICKETS ON HOLD FOR YOU! Purchase tickets to see Barbra Streisand with special guest Il Divo before the general public! You can even use Membership Rewards® points for tickets. Don't miss out! Specific onsale information below.
VENUE
EVENT DATE
PRE-SALE*
Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)
10/04
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
10/09
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
10/13
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
10/22
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
Bank Atlantic Center (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
10/28
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
Philips Arena (Atlanta, GA)
11/02
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
United Center (Chicago, IL)
11/07
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
HP Pavilion (San Jose, CA)
11/13
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
STAPLES Center (Los Angeles, CA)
11/20
6/12 at 1pm - 6/18
MGM Grand (Las Vegas, NV)
11/18
6/17 at 9am - 6/22
The Palace of Auburn Hills (Detroit, MI)
10/18
6/19 at 9am - 6/25*Local time
Don't miss Barbra Streisand!Order online or call 800-NOW-AMEX.Cardmembers, get your tickets here!

Everyone's a critic

2006-06-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

I’m a music editor for a Boston-based social networking site called HeyLetsGo.com. What this means is that when I get a chance, I write reviews of artists coming to the area to perform. Here are the latest three I wrote.

Kelly Clarkson

It’s the singer, not the song, as the saying goes, but in Kelly Clarkson’s case, the reverse may be true. The first American Idol winner has fought long and hard to shake the show’s associations of pop disposability, (even going as far as denying future contestants the right to sing her songs), and for good reason. One can imagine a 20-year-old Bob Dylan stepping up and squawking in front of the show’s judges and having his dreams crushed, then going on to revolutionize music. The point being that someone with deep talent probably wouldn’t want to be on the show in the first place. This is the ghost that haunted Clarkson. Haunted, past tense, thanks to song doctors, top producers and savvy A&R reps who have ensured that Clarkson sounds edgy enough to be considered almost cool and slick enough to stay on the radio. Rumor has it that her hit, “Since U Been Gone,” was molded after uber-hip NY rock band the Strokes. All the song doctors in the world wouldn’t be worth a wit if Clarkson couldn’t sing, and she delivers on that front, at least. The point being, at least.

Madonna

You’re an aging superstar who’s just alienated most of her audience by releasing a soggy CD that attacks the American way of life during the most patriotic era in U.S. history since Reagan’s reign of bullshit. On top of that, you have further pissed off your audience by paralleling this CD with a move to England and the adoption of a shaky British accent. What do you do? Take a breather, then appeal as strongly as you can to your strongest fan base: disco dreamin’, dance-floor stompin’, karaoke-singing, aging pop nostalgists. Christ, the first single, “Hung Up,” is based around an ABBA sample. But it’s all OK. Because it works. You see, we all love Madge, especially when she drops her superior attitude and simply loves us back.

Mariah Carey

There are people who are born to sing. Mariah Carey is one of those people. She’s the Einstein of singing, actually. Did you know that the geography of Einstein’s brain was unlike normal brain structure? The same is true of Mariah. Her brain is typical, (obviously), but her throat structure is unlike the rest of humanity’s; it’s deformed in a way that allows her to hit notes, both high and low, that are beyond the range of what is considered normal. Doctors have displayed X-rays of her throat at conferences. Add to that actual music production talent, a great ear for melody and killer looks, and what do you get? More number one hits than any other human being since the dawn of recorded music. She’ll never alter our understanding of time and space, but she’s astounding, nonetheless.

Guilty Pleasures, or Why I Now Listen to Led Zeppelin

2006-06-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

At work last week a colleague took a look at the CDs I brought in for the day and said, “I don’t need to listen to these any more.” The CDs? Mostly Led Zeppelin, including the one with Stairway to Heaven on it.

I knew what he meant. He listened to the band so much when he was younger that he could practically hear the songs in his head. I could not relate. I was a music snob when I was younger. When my peers were listening to Kiss, Van Halen, Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, Journey and other popular (both perennially and ephemerally) bands, I looked the other way. “Morons,” I snickered, and turned up The Smiths, Television, The Died Pretty and other bands that hardly anyone else listened to.

The problem was that the “uncool” music creeped in, in spite of knowing better. Damn, “Panama” was catchy, and that Eddie dude could really play guitar. And those opening piano chords in “Don’t Stop Believin’” always got my heart racing. For years I chose to ignore those impulses, but little by little I gave in. “OK, I’ll keep ‘Love Bites’ on the car radio, but only because there’s nothing else on and my CD player is broken,” I would rationalize. Soon those rationalizations became more frequent, and soon I crossed the line and purchased my first guilt-inducing CD: Journey’s Greatest Hits. Soon after, the wheel in the sky turned, the lights went down in my city and I was getting it any way I wanted it—I fully surrendered. I was rocking to such previously despised bands as Foreigner, AC/DC and even Van Halen. What happened? I realized that there is no wrong or right in music, just pleasure and non-pleasure. I realized that I was the moron all along. Although I still listen to artists most people have not heard of (Deerhoof, Some Girls, M.I.A.), I now listen to “uncool” music without guilt. Let there be rock.

Media Experts Who Appreciate Supergroups

2006-05-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

Just got out of a fun meeting with Sam Whitmore from Media Survey. Sam was nice enough, as we are planning a future series of events, to bring up the example of supergroups. As he defined it, people from different perspectives (musical) come together and are able to create something cool.

Crosby, Stills & Nash

Velvet Revolver

Damn Yankees

Asia

Blind Faith

Powerstation

Bad English

'

Then again, when looking at the above list, sometimes these collaborations stink but we are still going through with our events.

P.S. Thanks for the help Adam!

What?

2006-05-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Today I was reading Boston.com and I saw that Peta had a poll for the World's Sexiest Vegetarians. Puh-lease. Do they really need a poll for that?

Prince? Sexy? I can see Kristen Bell but Prince?!? There are so many other better choices (in my opinon) but Prince won. It was fixed. I'm not even going to say who I think should have won. I'll leave that up to you.

Best romantic moments on the big screen

2006-05-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

And no, I am not talking about sex scenes. I am talking about what are the best scenes leading up to them. It has to be subtle. It has to be a moment that a woman can see and say "O, that is how I want a romantic encounter to happen" and a man can say "whoa nellie, that was hot."

So I did an informal survey, and here are the scenes that came out in the top 5.
1) Rosanne Arquette and Tom Cruise first meeting in Risky Business. You remember the scene by the window where the breeze blows in. Whoa.

2) Some Like It Hot. Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe. Boat scene.

3) Diane Lane and whatshisname in Unfaithful. You know the scene I am talking about. Great scene.

4) Okay, this one is for Sarah. Apparently the Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray scene in Dirty Dancing was hot. Something about a cabin. I don't know. All I know is that both Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray were in Red Dawn and they both kick lots of butt. They rule! Wolverines!

5) And the top best in the mood scenes: Mrs. Robinson, are you seducing me? The Graduate.

These results were chosen by me through no scientific or official polling. If you disagree with any of these, you are wrong.

How did American pseudo Idols find me?

2006-05-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

KARAOKE = Empty Orchestra

As some of you know, I'm allergic to Karaoke. My main gripe (besides for the utter lack of talent by the folks who take it seriously) is the extensive song lists never include punk rock: The Sex Pistols, White Stripes, Minutemen or even "Radio Ga Ga" (how cool would the hand claps be a la Wembley in a small dive bar?). So I was amazed to get on the Worcester Centrum's (DCU Center?) spam e-mail list last week for pre-sale tickets to American Idols Live Tour 2006. While I love the product sponsorship of Pop*Tarts, I'll be skipping this tour.

Yikes, $37.25 - $71.25 to see way too many useless Karaoke singers.

P.S. Brief history lesson: Karaoke dates back to the 1970s - we have Japanese audio freak Inoue Daisuke to blame for the invention, but other nameless, heartless souls profited from his legacy and technology. So, I eastimate that since that time, there have probably been 2.5 million active Karaoke machines, and probably 2.5 billion people who have done shots of various liquors and decided to try this. As mentioned, there are also the scary people who think they are good at this and might be famous.

So a rhetorical question, bloggers and lurkers, in the history of Karaoke, has anyone become Almost Famous or even made a recording as good as "Dirty" or "Don't Stop til You Get Enough."

Books from my childhood

2006-05-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

I recently bought two books on Amazon.com that I loved dearly when I was a kid.

1. "Superweasel"
The adventures of a grade-school-aged eco warrior. When I got the book in the mail last week (.65 for the book, $4 for shipping) the drawings inside brought me right back to sixth grade, for better or worse.

2. "Are You There, God, It's Me, Margaret"
Why on earth I chose to read this Judy Blume girl-comes-of-age story when I was ten is beyond me, but I loved it. And I learned a lot.

Now I'm reading two books. One is "The End of Time," by Julian Barbor. Theoretical physics--time is an illusion, folks. The other is”Here, There and Everywhere, My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles," by Geoff Emerick. The Beatles engineer from "Revolver" on spills the beans. It's part audio-geek tome--compression levels and such--and part gossip rag. John Lennon was mean! Paul McCartney was obsessed with details! Ringo was a moron!

I'm looking forward to rereading the two books from my youth, though.

Poseidon: "There's nothing fair about who lives and who dies."

2006-05-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

Last night I was treated by a colleague to a pre-screening of Poseidon. As promised in the trailer, there was death, destruction, horrible dialogue and a whole bunch of white people. Below are a few of my thoughts.

N.B. While I have never seen the original The Poseidon Adventure, Adam, a contributor to this post, claims "There's got to be a morning after" is far superior to ferocious "Won't Let You Fall". However the fact that several people die from gruesome falls off of Richard Dreyfuss's legs (the first being premeditated homicide), actually provides added meaning to Fergie's lovely, busty rendition. The other obvious flaw in comparison to the spectacular original film is the lack of the sympathetic, rotund Shelley Winters.

Because I have never seen original film, my comments hold no comparison to The Poseidon Adventure and only reflect the campy joy that is Poseidon.

Best Death Scene: Marco Valentin

A close call between Valentin and the death of Lucky Larry but Valentin's death wins simply because it was directly caused by another character and not by the ship's random destruction/vengeance.

Marco Valentin, one of two minority characters in our band of heroes (both die, don't worry. This movie is a pure "follow-the-white-guy" kind of film), is the Hispanic waiter/porter/servant who the Heroes (Dylan Jones and Robert Ramsey) recruit as a map to get around the ship. As they begin their journey, the group encounters an elevator shaft complimented by a growing fireball over their heads preparing the jammed elevator to act as a giant projectile and a nice pointy shard of metal at the bottom, begging to impale someone. In an attempt to navigate across a service elevator shaft, Valentin slips and is forced to cling to Richard Nelson's legs (an older gay gentleman who precisely two minutes earlier was making eyes at him) to save his life. Our Heroes grab Richard's hands but the inevitable slipping of the fingers ensues as Valentin's weight drags both of them closer and closer to death. Upon our Hero's urging, Richard tries desperately to shake Valentin off and eventually is forced to kick the poor lad in the face. This frees our poor Valentine to plummet down the elevator shaft to the awaiting pointy shard of metal, complete with a squishy thud noise. Just to make sure our Latino friend is dead, Richard is pulled up into the doorway just in time to miss the fireball/elevator as it zooms down and crushes/incinerates tragic Mr.. Valentin.

Worst Death Scene: Elena Gonzalez

In keeping with the kill-the-Latinos theme, Elena was destined to die as soon as we met her on screen. Elena, a sympathetic if whiney character made it through the elevator shaft, up the air conditioning vent and through the first and second pressure valve only to get her skirt caught on a bunch of electrical wires while swimming and bump her head struggling to get untangled. Our dear old Richard, fresh from his responsibility in the death of Valentine, swims back to Elena's rescue and drags her limp body back to the group. 5 seconds of CPR and one or two shed tears, Elena's anti-climactic death scene was over and she was left to float away with the rest of the dead bodies on the boat. The moral of this story: While attempting to escape a massive catastrophe on a cruise ship with a group of people, make sure you stay as far away from the gay guy as possible.

Best Product Placement: Mountain Dew

As our group finds what they think is their only option of escape to be under water, they take a nice little rest in what looks like a staff lounge. Furniture and miscellaneous bodies strewn about, the group relaxes around a Mountain Dew vending machine, munching on potato chips and snacks as they ponder their impending and seemingly inevitable doom. This siesta is interrupted by a few explosions and the boat shifts, sending the furniture, snacks and even the vending machine hurtling around the room trying to smush our beloved heroes. Kudos to Mountain Dew for not only the product placement but also allowing their product to try to kill the main characters. Mmm, I'm thirsty.

A Dream Band

2006-05-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

Someone sent me this picture yesterday (my love of Stars Wars really shines through here) so this morning I hung it up in my cubicle.

Then a few of us came up with real life musical artists to match the Star Wars characters. They include:

Darth Vader: David Lee Roth. He wears funky leather. Our first guess was Rob Halford but I personally think David Lee Roth is a better choice base on what Darth Vader is doing in this picture. He's outlandish just like DLR.
Chewbacca: Tommy Lee. One of the strangest modern-rock drummers.
Luke Skywalker: Tommy Shaw. It's the hair.
Han Solo: Ted Nugent. He'd kick all of our butts from here to Tattooine.
C3PO: Dennis DeYoung. Mr. Roboto. Need I say more?
R2D2: He's like the Stonehenge in Spinal Tap.

I'm making one addition: Princess Leia (in the slave outfit) is like the backup singer in any Motley Crue video.

How do you discover new music?

2006-05-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

When I was a young whippersnapper I was so on top of the music scene I knew about bands before they even formed. Really. I was sick of many bands’ music before they even recorded an “album.” I think it had something to do with quantum mechanics—that or all the free time I used to enjoy. Music just seemed to swirl around me, an ether of sound that connected my three-pound universe to the rest of creation. Or so it felt when I was 16.

Now catching up on the latest bands requires work, an unavoidable byproduct of growing older, I assume, but I have discovered a shortcut: stores.

About a year ago I was in some girls’ clothing store in Coolidge Corner with my then girlfriend. I staked out a seat near the window and went into my usual daze while she tried on jeans that all looked the same. After a while I realized I liked the song I heard playing. It was synth-driven, but it had a good attitude, a singer with a sneer and a few punchy guitars here and there. I liked the next song, too, which was obviously by the same group. I went over to the girl behind the counter and asked her who was playing. “They’re called Kasabian,” she said. “They’re from England.” A new discovery.

Another time I found myself dazed in some crafts store in Cambridge, and sure enough, I realized I loved the songs I was hearing. “The group is called Tegan and Sarah,” the girl behind the register told me. “They’re sisters from Canada.” Sisters? From Canada? Sold.

I’m not sure how unhip it is to discover new music in retail outlets, but I love both of those bands. So the next time you’re shopping or waiting for someone to finish, keep your ears open.

Bow down to Slayer - Big 666 shoutout to all ye playas

2006-05-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Often, no words or boring narrative are needed in a blog post. For your devil worshipping tendencies, I present: National Day of Slayer!

Again, please bookmark this site now or at least before 6/6/06:

P.S. Thanks to Dizzy DJ John Straub with this hot as hell tip!

Lita Ford vs. Pat Benatar?

2006-04-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone has an opinion on what 80s female rocker was cooler, Pat Benatar or Lita Ford? It all started this morning becuase of my hair and shirt so...that begs the question. Who is cooler?

Lita Ford had 2 huge hits: Kiss me Deadly and Close my Eyes Forever, which she sang with Ozzy Osbourne, cool in it's own right. Lita was cooler back in the day, she was named Best Female Artist by Guitar Magazine in 1989 and was in the Runaways with Joan Jett, who gave us I Love Rock and Roll. She is 100% bad girl.

Pat Benatar had 2 huge hits: Hit me with Your Best Shot and Love is a Battlefield (she may have more but I'm going with what I've seen on Karaoke song lists). Not 100% bad girl like Lita was.

Both can sing, both can play guitar so they are on even ground there but what Lita has that Pat doesn't have is that Lita dated one of my favorite bassists, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue back in the day. Anyone that has entire chapters written about them in books is cooler in my mind.

I dare TheOptimist to come up with the degrees of separation between himself and Pat Benatar since he thinks she's cooler. If you do, I'll get you rolls from Bertucci's.

Stern, David Lee Roth, Opie & Anthony??

2006-04-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Is David Lee Roth as a morning show host done? Well if today's AP story has a say, unfortunately he is and it will be announced next week.

It looks like shock jocks, Opie & Anthony will be back on Boston radio, like the good old days. Let's hope they learned their lessons from their April fool's day joke and after airing a couple doing the nasty in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Two years ago they resurfaced on XM satellite radio.

Now it looks like CBS and XM are in talks to air 3 hours from their show in a key markets.

What I want to know is, how to XM listeners feel about this? I'm a Sirius subscriber and only subscribed to it for Howard Stern, if all of a sudden they moved Stern back to the radio, I would cancel my subscription. Will XM listeners do the same?

The person I feel bad for really is David Lee Roth he truly deserves the chance to make it work. If after a certain period it's not working so be it, but CBS radio needs to do the right thing.

Worst Concerts Ever

2006-04-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

Last week I blogged about worst albums ever and I was inspired to come up with a list of worst concerts. As a heavy concert-goer I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly but some are not as ugly as this list I pulled together from the various staff here:

Tesla, The Orpheum, Apri 5, 2001: Okay my secret is out, I love hair bands and 80s metal but this show took the cake. As I was walking into the concert, Jeff Keith stumbled off the tour bus drunk as a skunk. When it came time to perform he fell down, passed out and forgot the lyrics to a song. The band, to their defense, tried to fill in. When he came to, he dove across the stage like a bat out of hell (sorry Meatloaf) and fell down again knocking down equipment. I blame the cocaine for that one. That's the one and only concert I went to where I wanted my money back. They were so bad I left before it was over.

Here are some of the other Topaz-ers concerts:

Beach Boys + Oak Ridge Boys, 1985 - Need I say more?
Green Day, Hatch Shell - had my kids, cops with nightsticks, very ugly
Buster Poindexter, 1988 - Compared to everything else I’ve seen in person, he’s just at the bottom of the list. I just remember being bored and thinking his days were numbered.
Grateful Dead, Boston Garden, 1990 - Jerry had his back to the audience most of the show, forgot the words to songs he has sung 20,000 times. Drooled on himself.
Bon Jovi, Slippery When Wet tour at Great Woods - I arrived late with free WZBC tickets; escorted to seats up front but had to pause as Jon landed on a pedestal right next to us in middle of seats. Buddy and I flipped him off as he looked at us and 14 years girls in back decided to shriek in our ears as revenge.
Mr. Mister - because I learned no woman is worth that concert.
Damn Yankees opening up for Bad Company - Bad Company was great. Damn Yankees had a picture of Saddam Hussein that Ted Nugent shot flaming arrows at. Which was cool. But the 20 minute guitar solos at the end of every song ruined the cool flaming arrow bit.
Kenny Loggins - Tickets were free and I simply couldn't say no to the girl I was dating at the time. The only thing that saved the night was the many beers we consumed prior to entering the outdoor arena.
Thomas Dolby - While this was in the prime of the '80s, one song ("She Blinded me with Science") does not equate to a good performance. The warm-up band, Talk Talk, actually put on a much better show.

Who are the real Desperate Housewives? Big Love wins

2006-04-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

VS.

I start out with two premises, but I'm open to suggestions:
There are a couple of suburban frisky family dramedies on the air - "Desperate Housewives" on Wisteria Lane and "Big Love" in an architecture marvel (three inter-connected houses with a pool) in Utah. So which show is worth watching? Or better yet is there a connection between the two and some fantasy that Americans covet? I don't know but some differentiators:

I haven’t seen more than five minutes of the "Desperate Housewives" - it was the pilot when I figured it wasn’t for me. There probably aren’t any good sex scenes in "Desperate Houswives" as it’s on ABC so maybe they are really "desperate." Then again the only nudity on "Big Love" has been Bill Paxson’s bum which is a bit disappointing.

Second, I need to clarify my title subject. The wives (and maybe the older daughter and mother) in "Big Love" aren’t desperate - they’re working to satisfy their family, financial, personal needs and are probably in control more than it seems.

I don’t know I might be fishing for something here, but I’m still sticking with "Big Love" for a while.

Besides, Harry Dean Stanton is the greatest actor of our age.

Can White Men Dance?

2006-04-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

Today, everyone wanted to know why my worst concert list isn't up yet and why I'm not blogging on discussions in the office. Well because I have something better to blog about today the concert list will be coming soon, I promise.

Here goes...Can white men dance?

That question heralded a huge discussion in the office....Here are some of our favorite dancers:

Fred Astaire, Baryshnikov, Mark Morris and my son
Napoleon Dynamite
George Raft and Jimmy Cagney
Beck (bonus point because he tours with a male dancer) and because I’m still dancing to the oldies: Anthony Michael Hall in Sixteen Candles, as well as John Belushi in Animal House

Who is your favorite dancer?

There's my blog on that. So there.

Worst Albums Ever

2006-04-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

So today I asked an opinion of everyone in the office. What do you consider the worst albums ever and why? I got some varied opinions. Here goes:

Van Halen, Van Halen 3 - I love Van Halen and loved Extreme and Gary Cherone. The combination of the two. It sounded like Van Halen lost that loving feeling and didn't know what it was like to be Van Halen. Gary sounded a bit out of place but you gotta love a guy for trying.
Zee, Identity - This album was eventually sold for $70 on eBay to someone in Japan. There's a reason why it's rare.
TLC, Crazy, Sexy, Cool - The CD didn't live up to the hype of "Waterfalls."
Coldplay, X&Y - Highly derivate. It’s too easy to play “spot the influence” on this CD. Also, how many songs about Gwenyth Paltrow need there be?
Michael Jackson, Dangerous - This album showed the clear, early signs of his/her screaming decline in music ability and lack of coolness after "Thriller."
Chumbawumba, Tub Thumping - No fashion sense whatsoever, and they were a one hit wonder. Songs all sounded the same but hey, EVERYONE had it. It was almost as popular as yo-yo’s.

Tomorrow is the list of worst concerts. This is going to be a good one.

Uncle Jesse, Uncle Jesse

2006-04-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

I think ER has Jumped the Shark again and is nearing it's end. They just hired John Stamos, Uncle Jesse on Full House, as their latest cast member. There goes his show Jake in Progress.

Stamos gets full-time "ER" job

By Nellie Andreeva | April 4, 2006

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Following a successful guest stint this season, John Stamos is set to join the cast of NBC's "ER" as a regular in the fall.

Stamos will reprise his role as Tony Gates, a flirtatious paramedic who also is a medical student and a Gulf War veteran. He first played the character in two episodes that aired during the November sweep.

The casting is formally in second position to Stamos' ABC comedy "Jake in Progress," which has aired only one episode this season.

Stamos is slated to make his debut as a full-time "ER" resident in the opening episode of the long-running medical drama's upcoming 13th season.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Cars Reunited

2006-03-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

I just heard that the Cars are playing some reunion shows.

The Cars are one of my favorite bands. Candy O, Panorama and Heartbeat City were constants in my cassette player (aaaa cassettes, that wonderful time between 8 tracks and CDs.) They are a great band.

But with Ben Orr gone, the Cars just aren't the same. Ric Okasik was great. But the Cars were a two singer band, and Orr's voice and style was as much of what the Cars were as Okasiks.

I really do wish the reunion tour goes great. But I just don't think I could bring myself to see it. Too sad and too much is missing. Sort of like Queen. Paul Rogers is great. But it ain't Queen. The name and ideas of the bands are pretty important to people. So throw a new name on the group of musicians and put out something new. That is what I want to see.

I Actually like the Olympics

2006-02-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

To heck with the stupid mascots (see previous posts)-- there are some great parts about the Olympics- not the least of which is the IOC's letting the snowboard and "punk" cultures add to the sport. Short-track speedskating was a breath of freh air in Utah four years ago.

The halfpipe is Ok, but Snowboard Cross is simply awesome. Like NASCAR (in a good way) on snow, (actually, the Olympic site describes a "Formula One" atmosphere) with actual athletic prowess combined with the jostling for position-- and no mamby-pamby "artistic merit" points!

Spreading the Fear; Olympic Mascots, Part II

2006-02-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

To be fair, I have also lined up mascots from Summer Olympics past--
lined them up, that is, in fron tof my own one-man firing squad

1968, Mexico City, "The Dove of Peace" (unofficial).

The "black power salute" was also unoffical, I believe

1972, Munich, "Waldi the Dachsund"

When I think "athletic achievement," I think "short, stubby legs" When I think "Olga Korbut," I think "Dachsund"

1976, Montreal, "Amik the Beaver"

At least the dachsund had legs. This could be an eggplant with a tail.

1980, Moscow, "Misha the Bear"

How could anyone boycott that adorable face?

Also, "Vigri," the Baby Seal, represented yachting events in Tallinn
-- yacht--club--baby seal; I see the connection

1984, Los Angeles, "Sam the Eagle"--

Mr. Ueberroth, there's a Mr. Henson on the line for you, says it's urgent. Something about copyright infringement?

1988, Seoul, "Hodori and Hosuni," the Tiger Cubs

They're Grrrrrrrreat!

1992, Barcelona, "Cobi," a mountain sheep dog with human shape

See, with the eyes on both side of its face, I thought it was a flounder.

1996, Atlanta, "Izzy," (The original name was Whatizit)

I've got nothing. It's at once too easy and too difficult to make fun of this. I weep for my country

2000, Sydney, "Syd," the Platypus; "Millie," the Echidna; "Olly," the Kookaburra

Don the Dingo and Winston the Wallaby were apparently dejected at being passed over

2004, Athens, "Athena" and "Phevos," two children of modern times, brother and sister

Because historical characters bear no meaning for an Olympics held in Athens

2008, Beijing, "Friendlies":"Beibei" the Fish, "Jingjing" the Panda, "Huanhuan" the Olympic Flame, "Yingying" the Tibetan Antelope, "Nini" the Swallow

Catch 'em all! These cute little figures are what pop up if you type "democracy" into Google China

Spreading the Hate: Olympics Mascots, Part I

2006-02-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, maybe it's just a Boston thing, but I hate Olympics mascots. Always have, always will. Torino 2006 is especially hateful, so I thought I would take a trip down memory lane (mind the potholes), and review Winter Olympics Mascots past....

2006, Torino, "Neve" and "Gliz": Two marshmallows?!? Ok, they are supposed to be "Snow and Ice," but I still think the slogan should be "Give me s'more medals."

Ciao yerself

2002, Salt Lake City, "Powder" the Hare; "Copper" the Coyote; "Coal" the Bear

Also known as Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Wolf and Br'er Bear.

1998, Nagano: "Snowlets." I think those are supposed to be owls. Owls eat mice-- that's it. Oh, and they're wise. These aren't even snow owls!

Was Baatz-Maru busy? He would have been a kickin' logo for Japanese games! And he's a penguin!

1994, Lillehammer, "Haakon" and "Kristin", Norwegian child folk characters.

Does this mean they are not original characters?

They only had 2 years to come up with these instead of the usual 4, so I guess this is the best they could do.

1992, Albertville, "Magique", animated Savoyard Star.

Looks like a cross between a rogue Jack-in-the-Box and an origami project gone awry.

1988, Calgary, "Hidy" and "Howdy" the Welcome Polar Bears.

This from the country that gave us hockey goons.
Let's give them Timothy Treadwell's scent and see if their expressions change to something less cute.

1984, Sarajevo, "Vucko the Wolf"

Actually, he's got a Bode Miller thing going there

1980, Lake Placid, "Roni the Racoon."

What best represents the USA? I know, an oversized rodent that roots through trash cans and carries rabies!

1976, Innsbruck: "Schneemandl". That means "snowman" but would be a great name for horror movie.

Beware the Schneemandl!!!

1968, Grenoble, "Shuss"

Shuss yourself.

Part II will cover the summer Olympics. The horror, the horror...

(Thanks to www.aldaver.com for the refernce guide)

Nothing is Sacred, the World is Ending, yada yada....

2006-01-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

It's bad enough that we have to see Steve Martin try to take on the Pink Panther legacy, but news of a remake of "Every Which Way But Loose" starring The Rock is more than I can bear. Why not Tom Cruise in "Citizen Kane?" Jennifer Love Hewitt in "Breakfast at Tiffany's?" Vince Vaughn in "Psycho" (oops)?

If there is a God, He will arrange for Clint Eastwood to take The Rock out back of the 'shed for a little chat...

Yes, Paris Hilton IS that stupid

2006-01-20T06:31:00.000-08:00

From Defamer,

America’s Darling™ Paris Hilton is being sued for having planted a malicious story in Page Six about Zeta Graff, the ex-girlfriend of her then boyfriend Paris Latsis. A document (from her deposition) reveals just how many complex, subtle shades of stupid she is...

Paris on what she said to Zeta Graff:

She is old and should stay at home with her child instead of being at night clubs with young people. And just that - I just…What else did I say? Just that she is not cute at all.

Paris on friendship:

I meet so many people. I don’t even know some of my friends’ names.

Paris on women who stalk women:

I would never say stalking. I’m not a dude. Like, I think a girl can only stalk a guy. She can’t really stalk another girl.

Paris on world travel:

I was in Europe the whole summer, and all there is like French — I didn’t see anything because I wasn’t in America.

American Idol

2006-01-19T06:16:00.000-08:00

I think I speak for every thinking person in America when I say that the first week of American Idol is TV nirvana. Screw Masterpiece Theatre and CSPAN. When TV was first invented, this is exactly what what's his name had in mind.

The first week is that rare combination of circus freak show, talent show, scantily clad women, complete dorks, travel channel (hey, I got to see what Gainsville looked like. And I am noticing a slight but incredibly interesting change in hotel conference rooms in each region. Aaaa, America, your beauty is wide and deep), angry parents and relatives who are so deluded by their little angel that they can't see how much they suck and the people trying to become the next William Huong (spelling?) by impressing America with their ability to be both tone deaf and entertaining in a creepy sort of way. And some skinny color commentator. And let's not forget the underlying sexual tension between Paula and Simon and Randy.

I will lose interest when they actually start singing for real. But for now, throw away the controller and get out of the way. There maybe a 300 pound man about to mime out Kenny rogers tunes while wearing a pink tutu.

Remember When Steve Martin Used to be Funny?

2005-12-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, folks, Steve Martin used to be funny. Back in the late 70's and even the early 80's we would never have dreamed of the day when "Steve Martin" and "lobotomy" would be integral parts of the same sentence in a movie review.

This star of the "Cheaper by the Dozen" remakes(!) (see CBTD2 in theaters today! No, really, don't!) and the "Father of the Bride" remakes(!) bears no resemblance to the star of "The Jerk" and brilliant LPs like "Let's Get Small" and "A Wild and Crazy Guy." It just makes me soooo angry!

Where did it happen? Who lobotomized one of the great comedians of the 20th century? I blame Opie, Ron Howard, who directed him in "Parenthood," who set him on the slippery slope to blandsville. Perhaps it was his appearance in a John ("king of bland family comedies") Hughes film, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, a couple of years earlier that marked the very beginning of the end. I don't know.

(OK, there were some post-Parenthood bright moments, like "LA Story" and his funny stage play "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," but those are exception to the rule, so excuuuuse me!)

Favorite Holiday Tunes

2005-11-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

Vodkapundit has posted a list of "50 Things You Ought to Have on Your Christmas Playlist." Yes, it's that time of year to dig deep into your CD/Vinyl/Cassette/iPod collection and play your favorites-- I'll say "holiday" in case anyone has a favorite Hannukah/Kwanzaa/general Wintertime song they like to hear this time of year (I'll hear no "PC" complaints).

Aside from some obvious chestnuts (get it?), I have a few offbeat suggestions:

"I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday" by Roy Wood. This was a big hit in Britain (a #1 I think), not so much in the US, but a great piece of Phil Spector-style "Wall of Sound" pop by one of the founders of ELO.

"What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin'?" by Louis Prima-- for the swingers (as in swing music-- I know what you are thinking, Optimist!) in the crowd.

"Christmas at the Zoo" by the Flaming Lips. Just something about that song makes me smile.

Suggestions?

Tom Cruise is still cool

2005-11-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am going to take a contrary view to most of the media now and say that Tom Cruise is still cool. He still makes great movies. And really, beyond that who gives a rats ass what he does in his personal life.

Scientology: So what. Whatever gets him through the day.
Dominating over Katie Holmes: Hey, maybe she just thinks like him. Unless you have a camera in their home, you have no idea what they are really like. So shhhhh.
Overreacting to interviewers: Hey, Matt Lauer is sometimes very smug and needs to be shushed. And some jerk squirts water in my face I would have beaten on him, instead of chastising him.
Jumping on Oprah's couch: hey, that looked like a very jumpable couch.

Tom's movies are still loads of fun. War of the Worlds was just all sorts of excellent. Mission Impossible is a fun franchise. And I still quote Top Gun.

Tom Cruise = Cool.

Frank Black is overrated

2005-11-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the Pyxies are a good group and Frank Black is really interesting and writes some great stuff. But this cult of Frank Black that has formed around him is fairly odd. Just enjoy the Pyxies and Mr. Black and stop being so damned serious about what is essentially just a really good band with a really good lead singer.

Black Eyed Peas versus Sir Mixalot

2005-11-17T07:09:00.000-08:00

And now, a dramatic reading from two of the most fun songs ever made. Please read in your best Richard Burton voice, and then vote on which song speaks to your soul more. And now, Black Eyed Peas "My Humps" vs Sir Mixalots "Baby Got Back."

My Humps:
What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside your trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps. (Check it out)

Baby Got Back:
So your girlfriend rolls a Honda,
playin' workout tapes by Fonda
But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda
My anaconda don't want none Unless you've got buns, hun
You can do side bends or sit-ups,
But please don't lose that butt

Where have all the rocking women gone

2005-11-17T06:57:00.000-08:00

As I was going through my old cassettes and LPs while cleaning out my parents place, I noticed several Go Gos albums, the first Bangles CD and Joan Jett. Which got me to thinking about the Runaways, Patti Smythe and Scandal, Berlin and the Pretenders. And I said to myself, "Self, where have all the rocking women gone?"

I debated internally with myself for quite some time. Are there any female bands or singers that are at all interesting. My curmudgeonee, all the good bands and singers ended on January 1, 1990 Self wanted to say that none are left. The Ashlee Simpsons of the world have taken over.

But then I thought harder. Even though I find most of her stuff sort of bland, Kelly Clarkson has one hell of a voice and Since You Been Gone is a damn good song. And bands like Slunt (interesting name there) could probably kick my butt in a fair fight. Garbage is still putting out interesting stuff. And Liz Phair pretty much rocks out loud.

So I think we are seeing an emergence of female rockers again. Lita Ford, it is now a good time for you to come out of retirements.

David Lee Roth deserves your respect!

2005-10-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

For all you Howard Stern loonies looking to not like David Lee Roth, may I offer these pieces of evidence as to why you should give him a chance:

1) Van Halen's "Drop Dead Legs" could be one of the top 3 songs ever
2) Come on, you know you liked California Girls and the video for Yankee Rose. His first two solo albums were friggen tremendous
3) Arguably one of the top 2 lead singers ever (him and Freddie Mercury)
4) He is not, and has never been, Mel Torme
5) Diver Down, Fair Warning, 1984

The man loves being in the spotlight, and that is one of the top skills needed to do a 4 hour radio show. Now if only he could play nice with Michael and the Halen boys and crank out a few more albums.

No wonder conservatives hate Hollywood

2005-10-23T05:20:00.001-07:00

We all know that Hollywood is dominated by liberals who are not shy about sharing their political opinions. Even though this makes little sense from a box office perspective, they are free to share their opinions with the world even if it means alienating half their potential audience. This is a free country and if they want to campaign for a candidate or a cause, more power to them.

What really gets conservatives is when their left-wing world view makes it into the movies themselves. More specifically, into movies that are "allegedly" based on true stories. Take the new Charlize Theron movie North Country for example. Looks great, right? Oscar buzz again for Theron who is playing a women fighting sexual harrassment at a MN mining company. As all the ads say, "Based on a true story".

Or is it? Conservative political blog Powerline, which is based in MN, and written by three high powered lawyers, noted the following,

I shuddered when I heard that a movie called North Country was being made out of the Jenson case, in which a group of female miners sued the owner of a taconite mine in northern Minnesota. I happen to know something about that case, which inspired a book called Class Action. The movie was said to be loosely based on the book and the actual case, and I could imagine how distorted Hollywood's product would be.

The movie is now out; it stars Charlize Theron, who was no doubt cast for her striking resemblance to the miner she plays. The film's web site is remarkably preachy, posturing the movie as a landmark in the battle against sexual harassment. The New York Post's review of North Country confirms that the movie is awash in liberal stereotypes. But one jarring note jumped out at me:

Inspired by Anita Hill's testimony at the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Josey talks Bill, a local hockey-hero-turned-lawyer (Woody Harrelson, in his best work in years) into mounting a lawsuit. And like Hill, Josey is confronted by the mine owner's "nuts and sluts" defense that focuses on her own sexual past.

The real Jenson case was filed in 1985, six years before the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing. So this particular embellishment is pure fiction. Why did the moviemakers throw it in? Why do you think? The Supreme Court is in the news, and Justice Thomas is a hero to conservatives. So the liberals who made North Country went out of their way to slime him, shifting the movie's time line by six years just so they could slander a Republican. No wonder conservatives hate Hollywood.

And, by the way, what's this about Anita Hill being "confronted" by a "defense" that "focuse[d] on her own sexual past"? I don't remember hearing anything about her sexual past; the defense put forward by Thomas and his supporters was that she was a liar, which the evidence seemed to show pretty convincingly.

This is the rule rather than the exception. Also in theaters now is a new George Clooney directed film about Edrward R. Murrow and Joe McCarthy. Even liberal commentator Jack Shafer from Slate.com sees that this one doesn't pass the smell test,

But Clooney is too blinded by his love for Murrow to think his way through his hero's inconsistent relationship with the medium: Murrow both chased hard news and whipped up celebrity fluff on Person to Person, his interview program from the same period. If we're going to praise Murrow for producing fearless TV news, we should also be ready to damn him for paving the way for Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, and all the celebrity bootlickers on red carpets. Instead of grappling with the Murrow paradox, Clooney bookends the movie with the broadcaster's sanctimonious 1958 speech about television's lost promise.

If I judge it correctly, Good Night, and Good Luck intends to serve as a parable for our times and not a history lesson. Its makers want us to find contemporary "resonance" in the film and conclude that, compared to the giants of 1954, modern journalists have been cowed by those in political power. What a facile, Hollywood cliché. Journalism has improved vastly since 1954, certainly eclipsing the likes of Edward R. Murrow's overrated TV output, and today's reporters are more independent and willing to confront presidential administrations and powerful political figures than Murrow and his boys ever were.

Blazing Saddles vs History of the World

2005-10-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

One of the controveries that has gripped mankind in the past century has been the angry debate on whether History of the World or Blazing Saddles was the best Mel Brooks movie.

I am here to end this debate. It is Blazing Saddles. History of the World is hysterical, don't get me wrong. But Blazing Saddles is a constant barrage of one liners and jokes. There is not let down at all. Gene Wilder is perfect.

If you disagree, please say so and I will challenge you to a movie line quote dual from the two movies.

Queen and Paul Rogers: Say it ain't so

2005-09-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

First off, I like Bad Company and was a huge fan of the Firm (Radioactive was my top choice on a juke box at the Schine Auditorium billiards center in Syracuse.)

But man, who thinks that the lead singer of Free, Bad Company and the Firm can replace Freddie. This shouldn't even be a question. Just tour with Brian May to small venues. But this is not Queen. Freddie Mercury cannot be replaced. The only ones who could possibly even come close are David Lee Roth circa 1982, Prince or George Michael (who did a great cover back at the Queen tribute concert.)

But even those three wouldn't make this a good idea. When Mozart died did they just drag out some stiff, throw a big powdered wig on his head and say "here is Mozart." No. Could there be a Fall Guy without Lee Majors? No.

Queen was all four of them. Without all four of them, this is just a tribute band. Brian Mays is a genius, but no way I can get excited about this.

Paul Weller is cooler than you

2005-09-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

Paul Weller at Avalon, Boston, September 25, 2005
Quick recap of a show that a few of the Topaz aging hipsters and friends/family attended last night. I must admit that it took me several songs to hear one I knew (but still loved the musicianship, timeless voice, band dynamic and even Paul's aging 48 year-old rocker/strummer vibe and slightly heavy look). Later, I had the life checklist moment of hearing "That's Entertainment" live – Top ten song in history of pop music? He threw in rousing "Shout to the Top" (my friend Tracy was beaming as it was at a Style Council show in London around 1985 that she realized she was in love with her future husband), "Wild Wood" (need to iPod that album soon, DougH, please), great news songs like intense "Savages" and the encore was amazing "Town Called Malice" (I knew it was coming as he hadn't touched the tambourine all night – I reinvented the pogo dance for that tune).

I haven't seen any reviews or blog posts but this Billboard article will get you excited about the next "Modfather" album (and next tour?)

DougH might jump in on this post but he shared a good Boston Phoenix preview where the Jam references and closing, bolded line hit home for yours truly -

"His icon status isn’t his problem; it’s mine. I’ll never shake what he represented with the Jam — the beautifully angry young man. The self-possessed certainty that fueled the Jam also served him when he made abrupt career turns, first with the Continental soul of Style Council, then with mercurial solo albums like his new As Is Now, a V2 import set for US release from Yep Roc on October 11. The new disc is mature, passionate rock played by a band who contain their genre wanderlust by sticking to what they do well. Of course, any new Weller release is bound to get propped up by scrapbook memories. It’s not so much the artist gets old as that you do. Training a critical eye on any performer who was it for you at a formative period in your life also means re-evaluating large chunks of your life."

I'm just glad that I finally saw Paul Weller - especially as I'm still in the extended "formative period" of my life.

Reports of Dinosaurs' Extinction are Greatly Exaggerated...

2005-09-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

What is going on?

First the Rolling Stones' new album gets great reviews, now Paul McCartney...
Maybe the Who should go back and complete that album they were planning while the critics are in a good mood....

Who's the next "dinosaur" act to re-hab their recorded reputations?

Most underrated films out there

2005-08-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

I would like to submit that 3 O'Clock High is one of the most underrated movies of all time.

For those of you who have not seen it, it is damn funny. All it is is a story about a high school kid who has a bad day and has to fight a big jerk after school. Simple and damn funny.

My second most underrated movie is Book of Love. This movie features the line "Are you tired of bullies sticking candles up your a$$." In the history of filmmaking, that line has never been uttered before and will never be uttered again. There are at least 5 scenes in this movie that will make you laugh so hard you will cry. And again, a simple movie that didn't try to be anything but a comedy.

My next blog will be on why Napolean Dynamtie and the Unforgiven are the two most overrated movies ever.

Lionel Richie is a pop god so shut up

2005-08-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is going to come across as a bit angry. And it is. But all of you making fun of Lionel Richie should just shut it.

Reasons to like and respect Lionel Richie:
- The Commodores rocked out loud. I challenge anyone to not listen to a Commodores CD and not be dancing within 2 songs. I mean just the video of "Lady" alone elevates Lionel Richie to Mozart status. What is not to like about men wearing knee high socks, tight soccer shorts and big afros.
- Hey, let's see someone else write 200 top 10 hits.
- Dancing on the Ceiling is just plain old fun
- He did a video with a blind woman making pottery. Well sure I wouldn't want to drink anything out of whatever she was making, but it was still a first in music history.
- Say You, Say Me. Say it together. Words to live by.

I could go on and on. All you people mocking Lionel Richie (and that includes you pompous jerks at VH1 and MTV making fun of Lionel. Hey, I got a note for you zipper heads, if you are now a talking head on VH1 you are past your prime and people are actually mocking you. So shut up), you should all just sit back and shhhhhhhh.

The only bad thing about Lionel is that he raised a daughter that was on a show with Paris Hilton. Nicole, stop ruining your father's good name.

Rolling Stones at Fenway

2005-08-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

My wife's parents-- both of whom are older than Mick Jagger-- will be going to the Rolling Stones Concert at Fenway next week. Neither is what I could call a Stones fan. I know the topic of 60's rock bands touring themselves beyond retirement age is old, but this is a new (ahem) wrinkle.

I think this has more to do with the Stones becoming a corporate--and corporation friendly-- enterprise (remember the cover of Fortune a couple of years ago?) than it does about the age of their fans. the concert has become an "event" accessible by the well-connected, and Fenway season-ticket holders, or those who want to scrape up 450 clams (or thousands from scalpers no doubt) to see the Stones before Satan finally shows up to claim his side of the bargain.

The other issue of the Stones is their albums-- has anyone really listened to a Stones studio album since "Undercover" (I use that example as it was a follow-up to the popular "Tattoo You," not because it was one of their better albums)? Who buys these things? Will they do anything worth listening to on the new album? I think I'll stick with my copy of "Beggar's Banquet" and "The London Years" singles collection.

Can men learn from Sex and the City??

2005-08-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

This is very interesting topic and on first site most men would have the automatic reaction "Hell No!!" but let me give some insight on the show.

First women really have been portrayed as either the domestic type or lack of a better word slut on TV. Sex and City explores the issues that yes women want to get married but they have urges and desires just like men do. We ALL have those occasional flings that we would like to forget every happened.

Second women can talk about other things besides shoes (yes that topic is covered and we all enjoy it) but they explore why women are so insecure (take the episode when the 4 ladies are eating chinese food and look at a cover a magazine and all freak out over their thighs, arms, bellies, what have you).

Third the show is just hillarious (watch it on TBS if you don't have HBO but you are missing some good scenes) like how Carrie is broken up with by a "post it" note and is arrested for smoking pot, Charlotte and the Rabbit (Enough said), Samatha posting flyers about Richard all over NYC, and I could go on just to give you a glimpse.

You need to watch and learn boys some very valuable material in this show that you are missing out on!!

U2 - Beyond pompous or just a bad case of vertigo?

2005-08-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

Early full disclosure: The last U2 disc I bought was "Unforgettable Fire" and the last song I liked was 'Until the End of the World' from the Wim Wenders soundtrack. I've never seen them live, but I enjoyed the 'Sgt. Peppers' cover with Sir Paul at Live 8, as well as Live Aid and Red Rocks.

But, I feel this band is beyond pompous and ready for the inevitable Hall of Fame induction (when do the Sex Pistols get to join?!) and retirement (finally) -
Two recent proof points:

A subplot on HBO's "Entourage" of getting nice tickets at the Staples Center (Johnny Drama and Ari are hilarious this season) turned into endless filler of concert footage with Bono actually acknowledging cutie Vince and friends in good seats by bowing down to him (did I really see that?! did he really wish Johnny Drama a Happy Birthday?!).

You know you have jumped the shark when NASA thinks it is being cool by playing your song as wake up tune on the Space Shuttle:

30.07.2005
Spaced Out!

or from circulated news reports:
Irish rockers U2 performed a song in space on Thursday - after astronauts on space shuttle Discovery requested the band's hit "Vertigo" as the first song they heard in the morning.

Each day, the crew on the Discovery is woken up by a different track, and Thursday Pilot James Kelly asked for the popular anthem from U2's album 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'.

Kelly explains, "My son is a huge fan of U2."

That's just friggin' adorable - buy your son Bloc Party or at least the White Stripes!

As final proof point (and related to a Topaz client's technology), didn't cool lights show go out around the time of the "Dark Side of the Moon" tour?
U2's City of Blinding Lights

Hey YouToo - Please go fix the world or just go away!

10 years since Jerry Garcia's long strange trip ended?

2005-08-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

I skipped almost all of the 10 years since the passing of Kurt Cobain articles (although HBO's "Six Feet Under" had a great, subtle tribute last week), so I'll probably pass on significance of Jerry Garcia articles too.

Personal anecdotes can be a bit too personal, but this is pretty good:
"Reflections: random memories of Jerry Garcia," by Stewart Oksenhorn in the Aspen Times

Much shorter and even PR related is this one from Shel Holtz
A long, long time to be gone

I was never a huge fan (hated the Dead in high school; saw my first show summer after undergrad; saw maybe a half dozen other shows - all very interesting), but here are my memories posted on Shel's site:

I know we’ll never get back the brain cells from 10 years ago (or previous Dead experiences), but a remembrance from a decade ago:
I was at my grad school buddy Thomas Helland’s apartment in Boston and we were just staring at the wall listening to the radio reports of Jerry Garcia. We decided movement was needed so somehow elected to drive to the orignal Samuel Adams brewery nearby. We were too late for a formal tour, but they let us in for short self-guided. Soon, we wound up at the tasting room and saw that company founder Jim Koch is serving beers to a small number of contest winners from a radio station in Milwaukee. After several samples, the Milwaukee DJ hands us the live mic and we wish all our friends at Shotz Brewery (remember Laverne & Shirley?) all the best from Boston’s best brewery.

Somehow, I think Jerry would have approved.

The continuing genius that is Howard Stern - In Demand

2005-08-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

Once again, Howard Stern is about to change the way we think about broadcasting and promotion. In the ultimate "check mate" or better yet "screw you" to Congress, FCC, religious fundamentalists/hypocrites, Howard and the gang are taking TV broadcasts/highlights of the show to In Demand/on demand on the major cable providers (sorry Direct TV owners).

Howard Stern Signs Subscription Video Deal with In Demand

New York -- Radio personality Howard Stern, who signed a $500 million deal to move his show off of traditional radio and onto Sirius Satellite Radio, announced on Wednesday an additional agreement with In Demand, to offer his program on TV through a subscription video-on-demand service. The three-year deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, will make In Demand the exclusive TV outlet for Stern's weekday program. Viewers will be able to watch episodes of Stern's show at their leisure by adding a flat subscription fee to their monthly cable TV bill. New York-based In Demand said that Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox -- which jointly own In Demand -- have agreed to offer the subscription video-on-demand service, adding that it is also negotiating with other potential distributors.

Here's a FAQ prepared by In Demand, but other media sources have been a little light on the significance of this.

It will typically wake Congress up to threats of putting the Super Bowl or other events as pay-per-view on-demand viewing.
In the words of Beetlejuice, "Me?" - What's the effect on me?

As a parent, I welcome the ability to pick when I watch a show and I've been known to pay $20 for live European soccer games. I won't shell out a ton of money for Howard on demand - I've already said I like the content of the radio show better and will soon own several Sirius transmitters - but I do think this is innovative, potentially revolutionary for broadcasters, disasterous for censors and worth a look and a laugh.

Best villain in a movie

2005-08-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

Tie between David Lo Pan in Big Trouble Little China and Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner. All other villains are wimpy, crying sissy maries compared to these two. That is my entire post. It is so obvious that really nothing else needs to be said.

How I won't spend my summer vacation

2005-07-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Discuss...

Hot Cartoon Characters

2005-07-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

Just a brief discussion:
Who are the hottest cartoon characters. I have to admit that I did have a bit of crush on Alvin from Alivin and the Chipmunks but as I matured I was partial to Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon. Just wanted to see if any one else wanted to way in on this issue!

Also Top 5 Cartoons:
5. Alvin and the Chipmunks
4. Animaniacs
3. The Flintstones/ The Jetsons
2. Ren and Stimpy
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (still on today btw)

Movie Remakes-- Rules for Doing them

2005-07-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

There should be certain rules for whether a film should be remade or not. Some remakes are brilliant, either improvements or "re-imaginings" of the original. Many are redundant and pointless. "Bad News Bears" may be saved by its brilliant casting of Billy-Bob-Joe-John-Boy Thornton as Coach Buttermaker, but was it really necessary? I'm not sure if I will shell out a sawbuck to find out.

My rules for remakes:
1) Foreign movies ok-- too many people refuse to see movies with subtitles. Their loss? But wait, remake it in English with Tom Hanks (Man with One Red Shoe) or Ted Danson (Three Mena dn a Baby, Cousins) and you are covered! Even if the movie is practically a shot-for-shot faded copy, (like "Point of No Return," remake of "La Femme Nikita,") or a last gasp of a fading team (Billy Wilder/Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau's "Buddy Buddy," and inferior remake of "A Pain in the A**," starring the incomparable Jacques Brel), you can justify it based on the fact that nobody has seen the original except me.
If I sound like a foreign film snob there, too bad.

2) Bad Movies-- only if there was aredeeming quality to pull out of it. Ocean's 11 was total crap with the Rat Pack, but a lot of fun, so why not?

3) More Faithful to original source-- "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" hews closer to the book than the original film version, with the only exceptions being the parts that are most picked apart by critics-- no coincidence.

4) Brilliant auteur-- Again, Tim Burton ("Charlie..."), whose visual style and off-centered sensibility are perfectly suited for any Roald Dahl story.

5) Timelessness-- Classic novels, Shakespeare, etc., are always ripe for a fresh version. Another version of Othello? Bring it on? Jane Eyre with barn animals? Film it!

6) Do-over, this time with a budget-- Robert Rodriguez remade his own "El Mariachi" as "Desperado." Sam Raimi remade "Evil Dead" as "Evil Dead 2"-- Guy Ritchie remade "Lock Stock & 2 Smking Barrels" as "Snatch" Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad

When not to remake:
1) Modern update-- the worst reason of all. Did we really need a remake of "The Champ?" The original was the perfect four-hanky movie. Jackie Cooper could still beat the stuffing out of Ricky Schroeder even now that he's dead. If you don't know what I'm talking about, off the the video store with you!

2) Vanity Project-- Bill Murray, I'm glad you wanted to make "The Razor's Edge" Now do something funny. "Swept Away?" Broom please (though the original was foreign)

3) Artistic Myopia-- The original "Cape Fear" was one of the creepiest movies ever made. I refused to see the remake, no matter who was involved.

4) Hey, let's put actors from the original in small roles-- "Cape Fear" again-- absolutely insulting

Worst songs ever

2005-07-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

I am about to step into what I hope is a sensitve subject: What are the 5 worst songs of all time? Now I know that any list of top anything is highly subjective. But let me just state that my opinions trump the rest of yours, and if you disagree you obviously are doing too many whippets and should seek help.

I should define exactly what a bad song is. A bad song is not simply one you don't like listening to. A bad song is an ICC (Instant Channel Changer). A song so annoying that you would rather staple your lips to your forehead than listen to a single note of it. Now I am sure at one point or other the artists who made these songs were struck by what they considered a Muse leading them to this gem. They were wrong. It was not a muse. It was the devil. Or a record producer.

So here is my list and why:
5) Britney Spears: Not Yet a Woman. And yet very much a terrible song. Every moment is agony. Stick to wearing skin tight red outfits or munching cheetos barefoot and don't get all philosophical.

4) Grateful Dead: Touch of Grey. Every moment of this song is bad. Stick to 20 minute long dope addled guitar solos for twirling, doped up dorks.

3) Starship: We Built this City. I admit it, the first time I heard this I thought it was catchy. The second time I wanted to cry.

2) B-52s: Love Shack. Now the B-52s are great. But this song is the most overplayed, mindless piece of music ever. Every friggen wedding I went to in the past decade has played this and God help me the DJs are even adding props (fake wigs, etc). For the good of humanity, this has to be stopped.

Worst Song Ever:
There is a tie here. Loverboy's Working for the Weekend and Bryan Adam's All For Love from the Robin Hood soundtrack.

Loverboy is a good band. Modern Day Delilah, Hot Girls in Love, Loving Every Minute Of It, Notorius. All great songs. And yet this one has the worst lyrics ever. And you hear it every friggen friday.

Now Robin Hood single handedly ruined several careers. Kevin Coster, he of Dances with Wolves, Fandango and Untouchables greatness, was the worst Robin Hood ever. Christian Slater has never recovered. And Brian Adams was emasculated with one simple song. Instead of Macbeth being the cursed theatre term, it should Robin Hood. This song is cloying to the point of making people suicidal.

Rock Star - INXS, or why I hate cover songs

2005-07-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

CBS for no aparent reason has decided to give summer TV viewers a more rocking version of "American Idol" with the twist of the winner getting to be lead singer in a washed up band whose lead singer Michael Hutchence might have died of auto-erotic afixiation back in 1997. The show Rock Star: INXS has an element of voting off and the usual house full of freaks eventually putting on the standard, yet more rocking, cover songs with interesting guest judge (Dave Navarro) and annoying host (Brooke Burke). I don't care about the show as my last and only favorite INXS song was "Don't change."

However the show made me understand a type of singing that, as our blog subtitle goes, I hate: cover songs. I think the main issue is that bands and singers on bad TV shows sometimes pick songs that I really like; therefore, making it almost impossible to forget the original "better" version. This rule actaully works for songs I don't really like. Just yesterday, I heard a horrible, slow version of "I'll stop the world (and melt with you)."

So what are the exceptions to my rule? What covers do I like? In no particular order, but starting with humor I guess ...
1. AC-DC cover bands, well actually just, Beefy DC
2. "Girlfriend in a coma" - Mojo Nixon: A song that I really dislike (even though it must be a joke song) is interpreted by the where is he now Mojo. I think he is a DJ actually.
3. Any Van Halen cover: "You really got me" cooks along and has some hilarious yelp solo from Diamond Dave.
4. Speaking of VH, I remember liking "Jump" by Aztec Camera, but that's a little obscure.
5. "Big Shot" - Beastie Boys: Saw this live, front row in Paris. I was one of the few that understood the choice of a Billy Joel song as a segue.
6. "Pressure drop" and "Police and thieves" - The Clash: both songs show the band's ability to lively up rock with a reggae beat and killer guitars
7. "Everybody's crying mercy, when they don't know the meaning of the word" - Elvis Costello in a faithful version that convinced me to seek out all things Mose Allison.
8. "Funny Valentine" - Elvis Costello: Great song for a hip mix tape for a friend of opposite or same sex.
9. "Star Spangled Banner" - Jimi Hendrix: The definitive song of the 60s?
10. "Satisfaction" - Devo
11. "The man who sold the world" - Nirvana: Don't you think Bowie prefers this one to his own.
12. In a return to humor, "Louie Louie" - John 'Bluto' Blutarsky and members of Delta House

End of an "E"ra - 11 years of Howard Stern

2005-07-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 11 p.m. ET will mark the final original content for "The Howard Stern Show" on the E network. In all honesty, the show was always a bit of a second-tier, disjointed companion to the brilliant morning radio show (also shutting down temporarily with a move to Sirius satellite radio in January). Still in many ways, the E show was the only way for "Middle America" and "night people" to enjoy Howard.

The E show always focused a bit too much on the parade of strippers, b-list actors and "Whack Pack" freaks that populated the show, instead of my favorite parts of the five-hour show - Howard, Robin, Artie (who is Jackie?), Fred (from Mars), Stuttering John (now with Leno?), Ronnie the Limo driver, Gary/Baba Booey, KC, and occasional amazing guests (Courtney Love, Sandra Bernhardt, Farah the freak, David Duchovny, Pam w./w. out Tommy Lee) all talking about their personal lives, loves, loathes and lusts.

As a tearful (beer-ful) tribute, a list of several shows that really benefited from viewing on E:
7) Stuttering John vs. Crazy Cabbie fight - Shockingly, this was actually a really good fight. Thank goodness, John (now a show traitor) prevailed over Cabbie (soon facing one year in prison for tax evasion).
6) The beautiful friend of Cindy Margolis (most downloaded woman) who wore the white tank top and paid for it. Speaking of PR, I love this related release Danni Ashe Issues Challenge To Cindy Margolis On Howard Stern Show. "You've seen mine. Now I want to see yours" Oh, we wish for clients like Danni.
5) The first Beetlejuice appearance in the white tux and headphones - Actually any Beetlejuice appearance (I still love it every time he utters "Me?")
4) Small penis contest - even edited this was unbelievable
3) Gay dance Party w. Matchbox 20 - I recall that Jon Stewart was on the dance floor with Howard; Jackie in a thong with Gay Ramone
2) Artie's baseball challenge in Las Vegas - Radio was excellent, but actually seeing Artie, toasted on Jack Daniels, taking the minor league/college "chick" (Artie's words, not mine) deep after several wild balls was simply great TV.
1) Baba Booey's (with scary mustache) video to his then girlfriend - "My professional life is at a nine, but my personal life is a two." "I gained a lover and I lost a friend. You gained two lovers ... "

Don't cry for Howard, Pop Culture Gems fans - I'm predicting that the show will be moved (with some innovative new touches) to Spike network come January. Maybe then it will be awarded with its long overdue Emmy!

Let Pop be Pop!

2005-07-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

This new entry should probably be part of the commentary under Dough's insightful"sellout" post, but I've been looking forward to getting these thoughts out all day, and I don't want to get buried in the comments. How's that for blogger's ego?

Anywho, I've also been thinking about "sellouts." Not about pop musicians making money from advertisers who use their tunes, but rather about public perception of the musician and/or band as a whole. U2 and REM come to mind.

I remember going to the U2 concert at the Boston Garden when they were on the "Joshua Tree" tour. A college buddy of mine - Shaun Darragh (Shaun was from Malden and used to work summers at Lady Grace, of all places.) had been a hardcore fan from the beginning. He thought the "Joshua Tree" album was U2's best since "Boy," and I agreed with him. Anyway, we're at the concert and Shaun looks around at the crowd and his face starts to fall. "What are all of these jocks and jar-heads doing here?" he said. As the night went on - and it was a fantastic concert - Shaun got more and more agitated as the realization hit that U2's popularity had reached so far into the mainstream that Joe-Jock college was also a fan. Shaun felt so betrayed. In some ways, I could understand his frustration. I'd also been following U2 closely since "Boy," but at the same time, I wondered what the big deal was. After all, it's just popular music.

Shaun also felt betrayed by REM when they came out with their "Green" album. He thought it was too "poppy" and they had sold out.

To this day, I don't have much patience for people who carry that sense of betrayal that their beloved personal treasure of a band has gone mainstream. U2 and REM especially, have been widely criticized in this way by "purists" who remember the good old early days. Former fans gripe about how far their favorite bands have strayed from their core material. The question I have for that sentiment: How can you stay the same as a creative artist for more than twenty years?

At this point, you can gather that I'm still a fan of U2 and REM. I'd like to say to all of those ex-fans out there that despite the missteps and some bad albums now and then - a likelihood for any artist's career that spans two decades - both bands have still produced some great songs and some good albums.

Don't take it so seriously, my man. It's not religion. It's not politics.

Let pop be pop!

Selling Songs to TV Ads a Sellout? Nah!!

2005-07-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Remember the uproar around 1989 or so, when "Revolution" was used to sell Nike shoes? The audacity to use the sacred John Lennon song to sell footwear! At long last, do they have no decency?

Phooey, I say! The artists have the right to make money on their songs anyway they want (ok, the Beatles didn't have the coice in their case, but still)- they (should) control the meaning and the purity, not the listeners! I am sure Pete Townshend would give a similar (but more ascerbic and expletive-laden) answer if asked about his songs being used for the CSI themes, or to sell allergy meds or cars (these latter two both excerpted from the sacred Tommy rock opera!). Better yet, Bob Dylan's recent pitch for Victoria's Secret using "Sick of Love" as a come-on may have seemed weird (ok: creepy and stomach churning, since he appeared in the ads), but I smile at the fact it probably torqued off the 8 remaining people who thought he should still matter to the folk music scene.

More encouraging is that many ad makers are getting very creative when putting music to their pitches. I thought I had discovered my own little band for myself when I took to The Shazam. At first, I was upset that one of their songs had been chosen for a Coors Light commercial. But then, why not? And kudos for the ad agency for actually doing some work to find some different songs to use.

And even better-- HP's use of, first The Cure's "Pictures of You" and then The Kinks' "Picture Book" (from the brilliant Village Green Preservation Society album) to promote their digital photo printing products was a great use of those tunes.

Any other favorites out there?

Most unnecessary TV character

2005-07-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

This question comes from a PR Guru and pop culture genius from Michigan. We shall call her The Pessimist.

What is the most unnecessary character addition to a formerly popular, but starting to decline, TV show family?

Now The Pessimist throws out the always popular Oliver from the Brady Bunch. No question about it, Oliver was to the greatness that was Brady what peanut butter is for a good tuna melt. Nothing good. Although I am sure he is a nice person, his character on the show was pure evil.

But I am going to be a bit different. I say the most unnecesarry added character was the baby from Mad About You. That was one great show. Helen Hunt was hot and funny. Paul Reiser made a miraculous recovery from being eaten in Aliens and was funny. Episodes were light and funny. And then they had to make it all cutesy and bring in a kid character. Now the episodes were about spit up. And spit up just ain't funny.

Adding babies to any comedy ruins it. Friends was funny. And then everyone got pregnant and boom, not funny. No kids=funny. Kids=ratings doom. I am just waiting for someone at Scrubs to get impregnated and ruin that show too. It makes me mad.

Live 8 - Taped and edited? - Part 2 (shorter and nicer)

2005-07-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

So in a shocking upset, I was about to give Madonna "performer of the day " recognition (home town advantage since she's a Brit, right?), but then came the amazing Pink Floyd reunion.

Full disclosure: I had the folded-up-from-the-album "Dark Side of the Moon" poster on my wall during high school and one "high"-light from my first weekend in college was seeing "The Wall" movie on the Syracuse quad. Further full disclosure, I thought I could probably go the rest of my life without hearing two Floyd songs in a row. As the day of enless commercials, inane VJ comments and lack of music went on, I was actually anticipating the reunion - mostly just to see the uncomfortable stage dynamics between band and Roger Waters. But then, from the first note of "Breathe" to the horrendous MTV cut-in on "Comfortably Numb," I was amazed at how good this was. Roger has the best vocal chops, the band can play, the light show remains trippy and the tunes are pretty awesome.

In the why can't we just get along category, I like the David Gilmour statement:
“Like most people I want to do everything I can to persuade the G8 leaders to make huge commitments to the relief of poverty and increased aid to the third world. It’s crazy that America gives such a paltry percentage of its GNP to the starving nations. Any squabbles Roger and the band have had in the past are so petty in this context, and if re-forming for this concert will help focus attention then it’s got to be worthwhile.”

Another quick rant/question - did MTV broadcast Nelson Mandela from South Africa? Maybe I missed it, but I'm guessing the MTV producer didn't know who he was.

Other highlights are quick: Jay Z "Big Pimpin" with Linkin Park was rocking. How was Jay Z the only artist that I heard all day who mentioned politics - something smart about spending billions to kill people when we could be saving people. Audioslave had a catchy little number - (insert Beavis voice here) - Slash is cool. The Who and Sir Paul: good, but past their festival prime? Billy Joe and Green Day doing "We Are the Champions" was fun, but the real Live Aid tribute would have been a hilarious "Radio Ga Ga."

Finally, the concert should have ended (not started) with Sir Paul and U2 doing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Judge for yourself and support this cause (for £ 0.99) at: https://www.7digital.com/payment/credit.aspx?id=384

Give me a shout when this all comes out on DVD!
P.S. I am now inspired to host an entire Live Aid DVD viewing party at my house on Saturday, July 24 - All welcomed to attend, except MTV.

Live 8 - Taped and edited? - Part 1

2005-07-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

An early afternoon (three hours) spent near the TV and computer, while people around the world get to see good/great/mediocre live music for free that will somehow pressure President Bush and seven other G8 world leaders to forgive African debt, make grants and somehow wipe out poverty. Check out www.one.org for more info.

(I'm not great on the history of the annual meeting, but has a G8 summit ever resulted in anything happening?)

First a quick obligatory rant (a.k.a. QOR) at AOL: If you are trying to open up to more non-subscribers with your portal, then why not allow Mac computers to get your live music feeds?
A QOB at MTV/VH1: I seem to recall waking up at 7a.m. for Live Aid - why can't I see live London, Japan, Berlin, Philly? Is it that important to show "Best Week Ever" and endless ads?

On to the tunes, the aforementioned endless ads and the messages of the day:
Great start - Sir Paul with U2 doing "Sgt. Pepper's" - Nice touch with 20 years ago today Live Aid reference. Also cool to see this song live (first time for Paul?) and with a muticolored satin suit-wearing horn section.

Too quick of a cut to female host who I swear in explaining the day's significance said, "the wicked awesome thing is it (the situation in Africa) doesn't have to be that way." OK, I guess the sentiment was there about eradicating poverty, but speak English.

I'm big on Kanye West musically (Puffy wishes he had a tenth of the talent), but I'm pretty sure in a backstage interview he talked about AIDS being introduced by man into Africa on purpose, just like the CIA brought drugs to inner city and wiped out the Black Panthers - Huh?!

Following an OK song by Black Eyed Peas (hey, does Justin ever jam with these guys or is there a fight over recording proceeds?), the other host refers to all the great rap-related acts on the bill today as opposed to 1985 when it was only Run-DMC. I don't remeber Run-DMC on the MTV telecast back then, but they are pretty cool on the DVD with King of Rock. So who's next in the current rap parade: Will Smith?! I guess someone in Philly must like him. I guess I'm OK with him playing but no "Jiggy with it" or "Parents just don't understand"? Next sort of rap is backstage interview w. Snoop Dogg & Charlie last name Wilson. So why not show them performing?! - Argh! Whoops, a bit later now, and in cutting off Madonna live (more on her later) they finally showed, "What's My Name." Bow wow wow yippee yay!

Green Day (much tape delayed and much edited at 12:37 p.m. ET) and American Idiot is the first song my six-year old knows/sings to. Did VH1 just bleep the word "faggot" in the song - Why? By the way, I thought bands wearing red, black and white might be banned in front of mass gatherings in Berlin, but I guess time has passed. In a sign of production values to come, they cut end of the song to have hosts say how incredible the day is.

Instead of showing Annie Lenox, VH1 cuts to Jimmy Fallon backstage. He does get off a zinger asking if long-lost founder, songwriter Syd Barrett will be involved in the Pink Floyd reunion. Now, that's funny and this madcap laughs.

Cut to Bob Geldolf for about 10 seconds on "Don't like Mondays" - darn. But at least VH1 turned to endless ads instead: XM Radio/War of Worlds - is anyone seeing that?/horrible Charmin ad with animated bears using toilet paper/Swiffer/Olive Garden/Crest White strips/Paint/Pampers/Diet Snapple w. a talking dog/Cingular and "Strip Search" promo for a reality show on male strippers. All shown at once. Speaking of ads - the one for The Global Fund (important advocacy funding group) was cut off by an ad forBob's Furniture and the Bobopedic. My last QOB rant against ads on the telecast.

Richard Ashcroft's amazing "Bittersweet Symphony" with Coldpaly was awesome. I like them as a backing band. Jon Bon Jovi (who I once flipped off) looked and sounded the same. Please no more Richie Sambora mouth solos on "Living on a Player."

U2 on delay - Question for blogger The Optimist: Did Bono invent going into the crowd at festivals during Live Aid? My wife cried then and came close during a recent DVD watching (and that's having given up on the band in 1987). Bono is getting old because this time it was doves released during "Beautiful Day." Not sure if Beatles' "Blackbird" worked as the closing outro over that song that reminds me of the Patriots winning their first Super Bowl.

And now the biggest recovery since Live Aid - Madonna dedicating and singing "Like A Player" to a grown Ethiopian woman who was saved 20 years ago. They bleeped "Are you f*&%ing ready London," but "Ray of Light" jumped along nicely with lots of dance moves/energy and break dancers.

Best sign in the crowd from Philly: "I've been here since 6 and I need to pee."
Remember, check out www.one.org.
That's all for now.

I blame the media

2005-07-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

I have run into quite the conundrum.

It is rather the chicken or the egg situation. Does the media perpetuate the ideologies of the US or is it a reflection of our society? If I were never exposed to the leggings over my jeans, scrunchies and over-sized t-shirts of the 80's, would I have really worn those things?

But, if my friends and I had started doing so, would the media have picked up on it and totally packaged our seemingly little-known trend?

based on the documentary entitled "cool-hunters" i would have to go with the latter. There are people who are paid by clothing, music, etc companies to go out and exploit what little uniqueness and style some people are able to find and then mass produce it, leaving the originators of a style of music and fashion statement looking as followers rather than individuals.

and why when i type in "cool hunters" am I taken to the mgm website?

The Spice Girls Are Making a Comeback

2005-06-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

I heard a rumor that the Spice Girls are getting back together (according to a merchant of cool that is very close to my heart) I know that there was some tension between Ginger Spice and the rest of the group. The ladies have decided to resolve their issues and releaes another album. Wanted to find out what everyone thinks of this. I personally would be so excited since I do still listen the original album myself.

But I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night....

2005-06-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Are you a fan of ER? If the answer is yes, then head right over to your local hospital and start offering the doctors some advice on how to do their jobs.

"Hey Doctor Smith, get over here, STAT. Dr. Carter would never have ordered an a CAT scan when an EKG would do!"

Were you a big fan of Friends? Head to Starbucks immediately and tell them,

"That is no way to make a Venti Mocha Frappuchino, you idiot!"

And finally, if you are a big fan of Law & Order, please head to Congress,

While being interviewed by a local talk radio station about Guantanamo Bay, San Francisco Democrat Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, had this to say,

You know, look, I didn’t go to law school but I have watched Law & Order for ten years, and I do believe we have the rule of law that we are not only, uh, adhering to in the United States as a very strong principle, but we’re also trying to, by the way, interject it around the world. And we need to stand for it. (Hat tip, PoliPundit)

Because Dick Wolff said so! Got that! No word on whether Congresswoman Tauscher believes Detective Sipowitz interrogation techniques qualify as torture. Stay tuned!

The Clash vs. the Sex Pistols (and soccer?)

2005-06-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

We covered the obligatory Diamond Dave Lee Roth vs. Cabo Wabo Sammy Haggard (I mean Haggar) earlier on this blog, so now it's on to actual influential music:

I'm probably going to vote for the Clash in a follow-on post, but first an April 12 NY Times article that combines my true loves (besides my family), punk rock and English Premier League football. (By the way - not to take this blog into sports, but I'm pleased to report that Liverpool beat Chelski in the semis on its way to being crowned Champions of Europe on May 25 - Yay Reds!! YNWA!:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/sports/soccer/12soccer.html (archive access needed)

ON THE RADIO

Chelsea Receives Air Time in U.S.

If Steve Jones had not been a punk rocker, he might have been a soccer hooligan.

Jones, the guitar player for the Sex Pistols and one of the band's founders, received considerably less attention than his more outrageous band mates Johnny Lydon, who was known as Johnny Rotten, and John Simon Ritchie, known as Sid Vicious. Who knew during all those years of playing "Anarchy in the U.K." and "God Save the Queen" that Jones was a died-in-the-blue Chelsea fan?

These days Jones is doing an eclectic rock 'n' roll show on radio, "Jonesy's Juke Box," weekdays on Indie 103.1 FM in Los Angeles (on the Internet at www.indie1031.fm from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern). And he never misses an opportunity to praise Chelsea on the air.

He opened his show Friday strumming his guitar with a loose interpretation of Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy": "A little blue, Chelsea blue. Going to win the league.
Maybe the Champions League, too. This one goes out to Frank Lampard. To John Terry. To Claude Makelele and all the others. They're the men."

His Chelsea club is on its way to its first English First Division/Premier League title in 50 years and is close to advancing to the semifinals of the Champions League, the top European club competition.

Little Ditty ..., b'out John Cougar Mellencamp

2005-06-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Generally, I'm a fairly mild-mannered fellow, but when I hear a John Cougar Mellencamp song on the radio, my blood starts to boil. I'm not sure when I started having these volatile reactions, or why, but I can't bear listening to any of his songs. As a young tuff (Right!) in the 80's I grooved to John Cougar's (sans Mellencamp) down home, soulful pop tunes about young kids "tryin' the best they can." Then came "Farm Aid" and all of that honkey-tonk, harmonica-driven country twangish stuff, and I started to tune out. Still, I did not revile his music.

But now when I hear one of his songs, I feel compelled to call the DJ at the radio station to find out why they still play his music. I want to start an action committee to ban his songs from the air waves. They just sound so stupid. But, of course, when it comes to truly getting organized and mobilizing the masses, I don't have the time or the energy to devote to this cause. Would be interesting to hear other tales of "allergic" reactions to popular music.

A return to the days of records (iPods) skipping?

2005-06-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

I'm loading a lot of tunes onto an iPod these days. A couple of older CDs have me thinking about the days of LPs skipping on old beat-on turntables. Back in the day, I actually liked that my LPs and subsequent tapes had little blips and skips - it was an extra identifier and it seemed strangely absent when I heard the "radio" versions. Well, it seems like blips and digital skips are appearing in my iTunes Library or usually just on my computer sound system. Seems like large file albums (Husker Du's "Zen Arcade" and "Warehouse" come to mind) are the most prone. Besides for actually cleaning a disc occasionally and not bumping into my computer, is there something I can do? Actually, I'm not that concerned - let the digital skip age begin!

AFI's Top 100 Film Quotes

2005-06-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

Top 100 (or 10 oe whatever) lists are fun if you don't take them as definitive, but as an opportunity to argue, augment, or comment. To that end, the American Fim Institute has releases a list of the 100 top film quotes of all time. My first reaction, of course, is to add some favorites that didn't make the list:

"Put the Bunny Back in the Box"-- Con Air
"I'm wearing a cardboard belt"-- The Producers
"Ula, go to work"-- The Producers
"Actors are not animals, they're human beings!" "They are? Have you ever eaten with one?"-- the Producers (Ok, you probably sense a pattern here)
"Mongo! Santamaria!"-- Blazing Saddles
"What're you rebelling against, Johnny?" "Whaddya got?"-- The Wild Ones
"Son, you got a panty on your head."-- Raising Arizona
"Take Hitler and stick him on the funny page."-- His Girl Friday
"Fellas... I don't recognize the right of this committee to ask that kind of question. And furthermore, you can all go f*** yourselves."-- The Front
"I'm very fond of children. Girl children, around eighteen and twenty."-- The Bank Dick

Greatest Duran Duran song and video

2005-06-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

Duran Duran is to 80s pop culture what Beethoven is to deaf German musicians. Quite simply, they were the Alpha and Omega. They ruled the airwaves and MTV when MTV actually played videos.

So I believe that a discussion focused on Duran Duran belongs in the hallowed halls of this blog.

That discussion begins with the basic question of what is the best Duran Duran song and what is the best video (the two do not have to coincide since a Duran Duran video was in itself high-art). And as any clear thinking person will know, the best Duran Duran song is The Reflex and the best video is for Wild Boys.

Now I know some will push for Rio as best song and video. Let me simply state that you are wrong. And yes, Girls on Film is a great video because it introduced scantily clad female models to videos and should be respected for that. But Wild Boys has a dragon type fish thing, guys in mohawks flying and shooting crossbows, some sort of flaming things and the boys triumphantly driving a car at the end like Caesar entering Rome after defeating the barbarian hordes. For my money, you can't beat that.

Top Dance Albums

2005-06-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

I have moved my post so we can begin a new subject:
I have decided my top dance albums in the past 10 years. I am only going with top 5. I know you are all going to judge me so whatever here they are:
1. Justin Timberlake- Justified
2. Madonna- The Immaculate Collection
3. Christina Aguiliera- Stripped
4. Destiny's Child- Survivor
5. NSYNC- No Strings Attached
I know I sound like something out of American Idol but it still rocks! Don't knock it till you have listened.
Also if you have never heard Kayne West's Workout Plan do its awesome!

On Cold Play

2005-06-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

While the Coldplay debate has percolated among the cubes, I've been trying to put my thoughts together. How do I feel about Coldplay? Can I take a stand? Well, the answer is yes and no.

Here's how I became aware of Coldplay. Like most everyone here, I first heard their song "Yellow" from their first album. Really liked it. It must have had a lot of play since I don't usually drive and at home I listen to CD's, so somehow this hit song came to my attention. Was the song good enough to convince me to buy the album? Negative.

But, when Maria and I rented a car to visit her parents in New Jersey (pre-car ownership and pre-child days), the previous renter had forgotten to hit the eject button on the CD player. Turn the ignition, and there was Cold Play's first album blasting on the car stereo. We listened to the entire CD throughout the trip to New Jersey and on our way back and loved all of the songs.

Next, Maria buys me a Cold Play album for Christmas - Rush of Blood to the Head (can't remember the exact title or which album this is - 2nd or 3rd?). I like the song that was the big hit - the one with the haunting/overly dramatic piano intro that was used by a lot of television producers with montage clips to market the launch of new television series. I think HBO also used this music to market their movies in a commercial. But, I never listened to the rest of the album.

For you New Yorker readers, I'm sure you've seen the columns by Sasha Frere- Jones, the pop music critic. In addition to being a fantastic writer, I think she's very insightful and knows how to write about pop music in a way that shows how much she loves it, but in the end, she doesn't take it too seriously, because after all it's just pop music.

(On the New Yorker film critic side, by the way, I think Anthony Lane has the same balance when reviewing movies. A great writer who can make you laugh out loud. You can also tell by reading him that he loves everything about movies, even though he's constantly lampooning the industry. Unfortunately, David Denby has largely taken over the movie reviewing beat in the past year or so. He's a crank who wants movies to be like novels, and overall, I don't think he likes films at all But that's subject for another dialgue - Lane vs. Denby. )

Back to Coldplay, Sasha Frere Jones, captured my sense of the band in a capsule "Pop Notes" review she wrote that appears on page 26 of the June 13&20th Debut Fiction issue. Titled "Warm Milk," Sasha's basic thesis is that until their latest release - X&Y, Cold Play has not been a great band, but overall worthy of the success they've had. Here are a few quotes from that review:

" 'Comfort Music' sounds like an insult , no matter how you spin it. But it's an insult that the enormously popular English quarted 'Coldplay' is probably willing to endure, given that it has sold twenty million records filled with music that is sometimes sweet, sometimes warm, and sometimes fuzzy. And although this isn't the kind of thing that earns critical adoration, it's also true that Coldplay is expert at the form. Only a churl (Adam ) could resist their best singles: "Yellow," a piercingly sincere bit of high school poetry that is just as moving as they intended it to be, and the airy, hypnotic 'Clocks.'" (That's the song I referred to earlier in this post.).

Here's the best part:

"Up until now, this has been healthy. But on Coldplay's third album X&Y, the band has apparently caught the virus Significatio terribulus, a condition that previously afflicted bands such as U2."

There's more to read on about how successful bands that begin to take themselves too seriously get sidetracked. I have it at my desk if you want to check it out.

By the way, in the same issue, Roxy Music's Brian Ferry appears in one of those glossy celebrity-drive adertisements for Mandarin Oriental Hotels. Brian still looks foppishly dapper as ever and very well- preserved. How old is he now?

Spin This!

2005-06-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Spin Magazine has released their list of the best albums of the past twenty years. No wonder I listen to talk radio! What a load of crap this list is. Nirvana, ok, maybe. Pavement? Who the bleep are they? PJ Harvey? Twenty ugliest human beings on earth list, ok, a list of the best music, no, no, a thousand times no.

SPIN'S TOP 10
1. "OK Computer," Radiohead
2. "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," Public Enemy
3. "Nevermind," Nirvana
4. "Slanted and Enchanted," Pavement
5. "The Queen Is Dead," Smiths
6. "Surfer Rosa," PIxies
7. "3 Feet High and Rising," De La Soul
8. "Sign 'O' the Times," Prince
9. "Rid of Me," PJ Harvey
10. "Straight Outta Compton," N.W.A

KFWBlogger's Top 5 of the Past twenty years (in no particular order)

Milk Cow Blues, Willie Nelson
American, Johnny Cash
LIVE AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE BELFAST, Van Morrison
Joshua Judges Ruth, Lyle Lovett
Odelay!, Beck

Actually, the better title for this list would be, 'only five albums I have bought in past twenty years'

What I really love listening to,

Top 5 Jazz Albums (in no particular order)

Yardbird Suite, Charlie Parker
Sunday at the Village Vanguard, Bill Evans
Round About Midnight, Miles Davis
Live at Basin Street, Clifford Brown and Max Roach
Live in Paris, Diana Krall

Top 5 Grateful Dead CD's

Dick's Picks 33, Day on the Green, Oakland, 10/10/76
Dick's Picks 8, Harpur College, Binghamton, NY, 5/2/70
Dick's Picks 25, Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, Massachusetts on 5/11/78
Dick's Picks 30, Academy of Music in New York City, 3/28/72
Dick's Picks 1, Tampa, Florida 12/19/73.

The P.E.R.R.O Tapes

2005-06-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

For those of you interested in early 70s music, stop by and check out the P.E.R.R.O Tapes - essentially Crosby and Nash material with people from the Airplane, Dead and others sitting in.

More info here - push past the set list for discussion.

Enjoy

Ann

http://www.philzone.com/philbase/perro.html

A Bewitched statue in Salem - what show is next?

2005-06-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

I don't live in Salem or visit very often, but I'm ready to jump into the "controversy" over a new statue of Samantha Stevens of Bewitched fame. Here's the AP's take on this really important issue: http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/06/17/bewitched_statue_goes_up_in_salem.

I think it's pretty funny that folks would be upset about Salem's legacy and history being cheapened, but quick wit Scott Simon, host of NPR's "Weekend Edition" said (paraphrasing) he understands both sides of the controversy, but really doesn't think it's a good idea for a "Hogan's Heroes" statue to be erected in Berlin.

OK, Topazers and pop culture gems lurkers, which TV star/show deserves a bronzed statue and where would it be installed?

Lastly, from my daily "Howard Stern Show" intake, I've learned there is a porn star named Tabitha Stevens and I'm pretty sure it is not the original show's actress, Erin Murphy, all "grown" up. Hilarious name (little bit twisted?), but I'm guessing she would be a very controversal statue in Salem or even Las Vegas.

The legion of creepy actors

2005-06-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, I decided that certain actors represented a certain level of, well, creepiness, and were worthy of their own legion (think "Legion of Doom," Superfriends fans). These charter members of the Legion of Creepy Actors are:

Founding Members:
John Malkovich-- no explanation needed
Alan Rickman (Thin-lipped British representative of all things creepy)
Gary Oldman (Even if he hadn't played Dracula)
Peter Weller (Not just Robo-Cop, but in particular, "Naked Lunch," and even his recent appearance on "Enterprise"-- I mean, that voice...)
Willem Dafoe-- no explanation needed
Christopher Walken (thanks Tim)
Crispin Glover (thanks Kevin)
Eric Roberts (thanks again Kevin-- and don't forget "Star 80")
Ralph Fiennes-- another oversight-- not satisfied with playing a repugnant Nazi, he is now portraying Voldemort

Junior Members:
Jude Law (You can actually interpret a scene in "Existenz" as Willem DaFoe 'initiating' Law into the Legion. If you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about).
Christian Bale (American Psycho, the Machinist)
Cillian Murphy (new add 11/4/05)-- His turn in "Batman Begins" alone gets him on the list-- though I hear "Red Eye" helps his qualifications

Adjunct members: (I'm kind of on the fence about these):
Steve Buscemi (way too likeable in some movies)

I may have left some out, I will follow-up with additions. Feel free to add your nominations.

Wang Chung was horrible - Lengthy post

2005-06-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

Ouch. Sometimes in life we build something up so much with antincipation and then it is just a complete and total disaster with almost no redeeming qualities. Case in point: Last night's "Hit Me Baby One More Time."
Random thoughts drafted while watching the tape until near midnight (I went to "It Came From Outer Space" in 3-D at the Coolidge Corner - now that's entertainment) ...

Wang Chung (reminder: my predicted winner) - Round 1 - Caught the last phrase of "Have Fun Tonight," which I was until hearing them sing. Round 2 - I love Nelly like a 14 year-old, but it took me one sung note of "Hot in Here" to say 'Aaaah, They've lost!' and reach in panic for the FF button. The host (more on him later) recap interview is amazing. He of course asked the trite "you've kept the meaning of WC secret for 20 years, care to share tonight?" question. Let me get this straight - I now know that Mark Felt is the hero on the 1970s, but these twerps will not share their sexual reference naming inspiration?!

Cameo - Round 1 - Codpieces as a fashion statement ended in 14th century England! No more codpieces! Video interview: Did the lead Cameoite just say he's interested in "astrology and metaphysics"? Wait, did he then close by saying "Black is Back" - oblique AC-DC reference, you decide? Round 2 - "1985" by Bowling for Soup might be my least favorite song of all time (formerly held by "You spin me round, round baby, like record baby, round, round."). If I've picked up the gist of the lyrics correctly, protagonist Debbie (now older, married to a CPA and popping pills) thinks back longingly to her best days of bands and her lifestyle from 1985. At least Debbie's formative years weren't being spent listening to drivel from Bowling for Soup! Heck, Debbie probably did have a blast listening to MTV's crap in 1985 and missing the whole song cycles of Husker Du and the Replacements or "easier" but important listening of Elvis Costello, Pretenters & Joe Jackson.

Sophie B. Hawkins - Many of you have heard my sitting in back of Sophie B. on JetBlue from Long Beach stories - They are all true. So, she's got the jean shirt on for a little while and for the grand finale I'm thinking it's a souvenier for someone in the clueless audience. Nope, that one's going back home or to the cleaner. Video interview: Cool bike with high handle bars, but no helmet sends bad message to kids. Actually, a Dukakis once wore a helmet and got rightfully slammed. Round 2: The audience is clapping off the beat - that has to make a performer angry.

Howard Jones - This was talent!! No, really, he wins this contest - the slightly changed version of "No One Is to Blame" was amazing and the Dido cover survived over-exuberant clappers again (thanks to a producer for the fixing the mix). Maybe Howard's Buddhist chanting will help the vote totals?

Irene Cara - Sorry, but all I could think of was that I watching a pretty good drag queen diva in P-Town or at Club Cafe in Boston. Video interview: The show's host is the worst in the history of television. He yells for the entire show and said Irene "Cara" wrong for the whole show. How do I know? In the video interview, I think she explains that her new band is named "Caramel" because people pronounce her name wrong. Cut back to the host and he looks flustered. He says her name correctly once and then butchers it for the rest of the show. Hilarious. Almost as funny as her closing number which was bizarre - she had other vocalists on stage with her - what the heck?!? Besides her cover was insipid:
I'm outta love (I'm outta love) Set me free (Set me free) And let me out this misery (Yeah yeah yeah yeah) Show me the way to get my life again ...

Thought: If the other person is setting you free then why are they also responsible for getting your life again? Maybe it's a quasi-religious affirmation song?

That's it and I am officially done with this show until the Final - a friend is planning a party, I think?

Wang Chung was robbed

2005-06-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Robbed I say. I cannot believe they did not win Hit Me One More Time. And to lose to Irene Cara is a crime.

Two old white English guys rocking out to Nellie's Hot in Here was one the best moments in TV history. Last episode of MASH pales in comparison. There is no justice in the world. Say it ain't so.

America, America

2005-06-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

American mentality and things that are possible in this contry keep surprising me! Jennifer Wilbanks, the 'run-away-bride' has made a deal with a company that is pitching a movie about her life to networks! I've never been to any other country before, where psychos have a real chance to turn into stars!

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/06/16/company_announces_deal_with_runaway_bride/

Christine Aguilera's role in the war on terror

2005-06-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

And who said she is a good for nothing hoochie mama?

Last week, Time magazine “reports on the interrogation of Mohammed al
Qahtani at Guantanamo Bay, who is widely believed to be the so-called 20th
hijacker, a compatriot of Osama bin Laden and a man who had tried to enter the
U.S. in August 2001 to take part in the Sept. 11 attacks … The quizzing now
starts at midnight, and when (al Qahtani) dozes off, interrogators rouse him by
dripping water on his head or playing Christina Aguilera music.”

This week we learned that the 20th hijacker was also subjected to...RAP MUSIC!

On another occasion, not only was the temperature unbearably hot, but extremely
loud rap music was being played in the room, and had been since the day before.

This is a truly American innovation, turning the worst of American popular culture into a crime fighting tool. I'm all for it.

GITMO should be having Pauley Shore movie festivals 24x7, Pet Shop Boys reunion concerts, Roseanne Barr singing the national anthem every morning, Richard Simmons leading daily calestenics. Think of all the crime fighting weapons at our disposal!

Hit Me One More Time

2005-06-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

NBC's excellent new show Hit Me One More Time is on again tomorrow. This is a tv moment as important as any superbowl or Michael Jackson verdict delivery. This is Wang Chung important.

This week will feature:
- Wang Chung (To Live and Die in LA is still a great song.)
- Irene Cara (of Fame fame. Me personally, I don't want to live forever if that is the song I have to hear).
- Sophie B Hawkins (Damn!)
- Cameo (Word Up and cod pieces)
- Howard Jones (With more hit songs than the rest combined. Howard, you don't need to be here. You are still relevant!)

Obviously Howard Jones should win. But fate and crowds are fickle, and often wrong. So my money is on Irene Cara taking the crown, because for some strange reason people like Fame.

Golden Girls- A hit in the 80s and stil a hit today

2005-06-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have to say, much to Terry's objection, that the Golden Girls has seemed to trascend through the years. If you ever watch an episode of Golden Girls on Lifetime (which is one of my favorite channels--don't judge me) then watch an episode of Sex and the City the similarties are uncanny. From Sophia's sarcastic remarks to Blanche's hormone driven behavior, it is honestly still a funny and true show to watch. Besides the humor, it takes on topics of getting older, dating (even if you are over 50), and friendship. Just wanted to see what everyone else thinks. Let me know. Remeber to don't talk about it, blog about it!

The only Batman Begins Review you will ever need to read

2005-06-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

The only Batman Begins review you will ever need to read at Ain't it Cool News. Neill Cumpston is a God among mortals, if your idea of a deity includes crude humor and lots of swearing. Unfortunately this is one of his tamer reviews, but you still get the flavor of his style here.

Looks like the word on the Batman movie is very good, the franchise rescued from camp once again. NY Times and Boston Globe liked it a lot, and my 13-year-old spies tell me Howard Stern gave it a thumbs up too (which is a big deal considering where he had to move the thumb from to put it up).

The most important question: Diamond Dave or Sammy

2005-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

My first blog has to do with a simple question that will help me to understand the inner core of every person born between 1965 and 1990. Was Diamond David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar the best lead singer for Van Halen?

This simple test will show what type of person you really are. If you answered Diamond Dave, you have a keen sense of style, are a fun person to be around and people respect you. If you answered Sammy Hagar, you probably suffered a debilitating head injury at some point in your life. And if you are wondering why I didn't include that guy from Extreme, you can just shoooosh and go back to humming Hole Hearted and wondering why Extreme couldn't last for 4 albums.

Now I am not saying that Sammy is not cool. He can belt out a rock tune. He taught me that driving 55 was for squares and taught me about Mexican culture and tequilla. I like 5150 and Apolitical Blues is a good song. But he is no Diamond Dave. Diamond Dave was as cool as they come. Diver Down and 1984 were great albums. They were the band that your mom warned you about. Even his first couple of solo albums were good (I challenge you to not like Yankee Rose.)

So that is the starting point for my musical belief system. David Lee Roth prior to 1990 was a rock god. Any other answer is heresy.

I also believe in the importance of embracing your inner cheese. You should enjoy Warrant. Quiet Riot taught me to love again. Kool Moe Dee is awesome. And Hall & Oates deserve your respect.

I will be working to show you the path to enlightenment through enjoyment of cheesy pop music and hair bands. My next blog will be a critical look at what Duran Duran song is the best and why.

Cheesy

Concert shirts I wish I still had

2005-06-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

3. Van Halen - "Diver Down" tour; Worcester Centrum. Thankfully, I recently found a tour program from same show with some very artistic photographs and letters from fans
2. Frank Zappa - "Shut Up 'n' Play Yer Guitar" tour; Boston University's Case Center? Front had the Barking Pumpkin logo and back was the name of the tour in huge letters.
1. UB 40 - "If it Happens Again I'm Leaving" tour, Albany or Binghampton, NY? I once wore this to a Bon Jovi "Slippery When Wet" show at Great Woods. Shortly after our late arrival, I was yelled at by a gang of teens with big hair when I was very mean to Jon Bon Jovi.
(Maybe I'll recap that concert in a future post)

So Topazers, what shirts do you miss?