Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Eric Dolphy's Musical Orgasm



This clip makes my head wanna explode. Or maybe I could get slingshot into the sky. The beginning is funny. Dolphy's sitting there, unimpressed, like, "Whatever, dude."

Monday, May 28, 2007

Bowie's "The Heart's Filthy Lesson"

Bowie's "Hang Onto Yourself"

Bowie's "Loving The Alien"

What is that? INXS sucks? No, you suck!


The point I'm about to make sounded so much better in my head a couple hours ago. I've lost the fat, and I'm down to the tasty morsel, if it is even that. I rediscovered INXS today, and I found out that I like them. I wouldn't have thought this yesterday, but it's true. I converted my head--my mean, snobby head. I showed my head that it's not important anymore whether I was supposed to like INXS or not when I was in high school. It's not important whether I thought they were a crappy dance band with no substance or grit. And, sure, INXS is pretty glossed over, but today I found that they write hella good pop rock songs. And a touching ballad, here and there. And that's all that matters. I have hopefully conquered all those that would "p-shaw!" at me if I told them I like INXS. I move onto the next band that I've programmed myself not to like, hoping to remove even more of the discriminatory black from my heart.

US Air Guitar Championships at The Parish HOB June 23rd




I encourage all of you to sign up for The US Air Guitar Championships New Orleans Regional at the Parish Room of the House of Blues on June 23rd. I'll be there performing. Now I just have to figure out what I'll do. Maybe some Tom Morello? Zakk Wylde? Win the regional and get a free trip to the US Finals in NYC. Win the US Finals and get $1,000 + a free trip to represent Team USA at the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland. Click on the title link to register.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Stinking Lizaveta, FabChannel.com, and Concert.Tv


Every once and a while, I come upon a band that has cut up my favorite music, re-arranged it, and offered it back to me in a different package. It's music that existed in my mind before I even knew it was there. Stinking Lizaveta plays such music. They call themselves "doom jazz," a moniker that warms my heart. Yes, what I've been waiting for, someone to bring together doom metal and freakout jazz. The instrumental band is a ten year-old trio of guitar, bass, and drums that are just as likely to sludge out and riff away Van Halen style as they are to deconstruct themselves into dreamy, boundless excursions. Click on the title link to go to fabchannel.com, where you can watch a scarily recent concert of theirs. Also visit concert.tv for more concerts.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Purge

The Iraq war always lies at the bottom of a daily stack of worries in my mind. But, when I do think about it, usually as a result of cnn.com, my face flushes, my breath shortens, and my skin tingles. Lately, I've been purging this anger and frustration with the help of Rage Against The Machine, Americana rocker James McMurtry, and Oakland metal group Totimoshi. Each artist(s) has spoken out against this administration and the war, either in their lyrics or publicly.

I saw a great bumper sticker today. It said: "Forget Iraq. Rebuild New Orleans." It's exactly how I feel. How much easier is to play G.I. Joe and the hero than to actually do the less glamorous job of dealing with domestic poverty, outsourcing, and the public school system, not to mention New Orleans, which is still struggling? Do I even need to say that? Are you people fucking clueless? Have you come down from Washington and looked at this place lately? FUCK!!!

We can't afford to police the world with so many problems at home. Why let fear get the best of us and be so pre-emptive about the terror concern? It's not about that, is it, though? It's about the oil, and meanwhile, our citizens, our boys, are dying over there, one by one, day by day. And there's no end in sight.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

A Cry For Help

I have only myself to blame. In the hopes of maybe hearing some Rage, Tool, Nirvana, or Pearl Jam, I tune in to 104.1. Instead I hear crap like Godsmack, specifically "Voodoo," which has lyrics like "I'm not the one who's so far away/When I fell the snake bite enter my veins." I've gotten angry at a lot of ridiculously banal nu metal lyrics, but for some reason, these really set me off. What the hell is he talking about? He sounds like a third grader who doesn't have the proper vocabulary to express a feeling of numbness or detachment. Instead, the third grader just says "far away." Not to mention that song is terrible. Lord, keep my testosterone in check and allow me no need to turn to 104.1. Please keep my dial on 91.5, 90.7 or 870 AM. Amen.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

LIVENEWORLEANS.COM PRESENTS WORLD LEADER PRETEND, ROTARY DOWNS, AND THE JUNIOR LEAGUE SATURDAY THE 12TH AT ONE EYED JACKS

The title says it all. World Leader Pretend hasn't played in town in over a year, and Rotary Downs won't play again until September, so get your asses in gear and get out there Saturday.