One More For Good Measure

There once was a man named Grimble

who thought of himself as nimble

he danced for the king

and in a wild fling

cut off his hair with a thimble.

An Evening With Friends

You know, nothing can be more relaxing than seeing old friends. A good Chianti, Italian food, a newly made guitar and some really wicked photo software should be a part of every social gathering.

What Sticks In My Mind=?

As Luther Therapy states: "Why did I build such an odd box? I am trying to figure that out."

I'm still trying to figure out many things-my sense of humor is one of them.

There are certain things I see once and they never leave the chaotic, dusty crawlspace that is my memory. Ask me where I put my keys less than five minutes ago, and I can't tell you. My wife told me that a Christmas gift (for us both) was in plain view in the dining room for months, but I am "so unobservant" that I never saw it. How true and how sad. But that's life as me. It ain't pretty, but imagine walking in my shoes every day. It would freak you right out.

When I saw Will Ferrell as Neil Diamond, it burned permanently in my brain. Will Ferrell is a really funny, funny guy and I'm a huge fan. He could play anybody in any sketch-even with bad writing-and still make it work.

I have had my eye on the two DVD set of Will on SNL, but I'm glad I read this on YouTube: "Unfortunately this great skit isn't included on either of the Saturday Night Live Will Ferrell Greatest hits Will Ferrell Vol 1 & 2. This is because Neil Diamond turned furious at Saturday Night Live and Will Ferrell for this impersonation. On those DVDs, however, you will get some excellent impersonations by Ferrell including Robert Goulet."

The Goulet stuff is equally sinful! Found this little bit searching fot the SNl stuff: This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner NBC Universal because its content was used without permission.

More stoof:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCjZzWamztQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn5DOARR5Xs

untitled

James Brown (and the summer of discontent)

When I heard of James Brown's passing, it reminded me of this little story. Please indulge. Thanks.

It was the summer of discontent.

The band hadn't broken up, but fragmented into a quartet. There was grumbling among the ranks, but musicians are keenly mercenary creatures.

At first, all was happy in "Crushed Velvet" quartet land. Four happy fish gladly rehearsing, composing and gigging. All was well.

All is never well for long.

I don't know why, but there was a sudden cold wind found blowing in my general direction. Arriving at rehearsal, it was announced that the band's name was changing. All three of the guys must have had some secret meeting or talk to suddenly want to change not only the name, but to change musical directions. I thought we were happy in our direction, but plans were changing and it was three to one.

One suggested adding more Robin Hitchcock songs and songs by bands that were the 80's equivalent of post punk. We listened to this music and all liked the music (Except me who thought it was not my cup of tea, but politeness prevailed and said nothing). I suggested adding more latin flavored originals. That suggestion was not greeted with much enthusiasm. Then, the main conspirator brought out James Brown's Greatest Hits. We listened to this music and afterwards, I was stunned. It was one of those moments.

"Well guys, what do you think?"

"I think we need to shave our heads and do nothing but listen to James Brown." I wasn't kidding. It blew my mind.

Like most folk, I had heard JB before, but this time something happened. Brown's music was so tight, so hot, and so funky, it literally devastated my musical landscape. When Brown performed, it was as if he was plugged into an electrical storm. He had so much passion and energy that it looked like he could catch fire at any second.

James ruled his band with an iron fist; often docking a musician's pay when he heard mistakes.

There are no democracies in a band. Someone is the boss. Believe it.

As it is well-documented, James at times had a tumultuous personal life that couldn't keep him out of trouble and the inevitable limelight. Great artist, but flawed human being. Separate art from the artist kids and you'll never have your heart broken.

Oh, the band? I hated the direction they were going in and the new name, so I bowed out as gracefully as I could. That's what was happening anyway-they were kicking me out. God love 'em. I can be a real pain and a strain. Just thinking about having to put up with me as a band mate is enough.

So, thank you James Brown for reinventing music, for making the funkiest music on the planet.

reading glasses between the lines

"I just can't stand all that Romantic music in the morning."

"You mean, Performance Today plays a lot of Romantic music?"

"Well, I don't really know, I'm here teaching during that time."

velvet, part two

pardon the indulgence
with elvis on the grassy knoll
he was the king

where's the missing footage?
lost in zapruder ether

these pictures have not been doctored
they are authentic


E was there
so was the VB

the velvet ones, part one

long, long ago

in a lounge far, far away

in a time now forgotten

was a band

they were nuts

disorganized

costumed

under-rehearsed

eclectic

brilliant

stupid

ahead of their time

authentic

cheesy

and i miss them like hell

a hundred years ago

What tender days we had
no secrets hid away
Well, it seemed about
a hundred years ago

The last time Charlie came in, we nearly missed each other. He and his girlfriend wanted to go to the Comedy Club. I didn't say anything to him about the place, but politely said I'd meet them afterwards. Well, an awkward moment and a long story short later, we got to meet.

Charlie truly has a razor sharp wit. The years have not dulled it either. The guy can make me laugh like few can. Here's an excerpt from his recent email:

Atheist guilt and why it doesn't work

Father: "Son, won’t you come to WV with me you know your Grandparents won’t be around forever.”

Son: "Yes, but then again all of our lives finite; your point? "

Father:"This is why atheist guilt doesn’t work; damn the eternal nothingness of the universe .”

I had to share this. You may cast your stones as you wish, but my old buddy Charlie sent this photo of us when were young.

Year? I'm guessing 75? 76?

Man, were we ever that young? Thin? and so cocky looking?

classical CD liner notes

Je suis le hack.

There are levels to writing that I will never be able to come close to. This is cheerfully accepted . There are no Mount Everests in these pages, no E=MC2, nay. Merely meat-and-potatoes observations by an average guy (quoting Stephen King) trying not to mess things up too badly.

To quote the poet thus againe:

Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;

At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—

Almost, at times, the Fool.

Most scribblers, bloggers and local scribes surely recognize when they are outclassed when they read passages from Dickens or Tolstoy (or insert another name from the Gallery of Greats). But, one has to marvel at the writing style/level of liner notes of classical CDs. They have the unmistakable pungent air found frequently upon the bucolic fields of bovines, which we may regard in the vernacular as cow patties. In short, there may be nothing more useless than classical CD liner notes, except the equally trying-way-too-hard jer-no-lism of popular music magazines.

For example: (talking about Schumann's string quartets) "whose atmospheric qualitites managed to formulate the disquietude of the "poetic" as something new: not in the sense of heroic defiance, but in the-still subdued-forms of crumbling pathos."

Huh?

File this under: I'm a big boy now and gonna make mama real proud by writin' all these perty werds.

OR: Since this is serious music written by a dead European composer whose name is already on the roster of names we must revere, I must write something which sounds like saying something; which I'm not. Perhaps no one will realize this if I obfuscate (Nice, yes?) any meaning with verbal diarrhea.

The string quartet, like the liner note dude, was trying too hard. It ain't Beethoven man, let up on the gas pedal.

Crumbling pathos? Crumble some more feta on my salad, salad boy and snap to it!

To quote a great man:

Chop, chop, pussycat!

For those who need their quotient of quotes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/quotes

Derek Smalls: We're lucky.
David St. Hubbins: Yeah.
Derek: I mean, people should be envying us, you know.
David: I envy us.
Derek: Yeah.
David: I do.
Derek: Me too.

TRUE QUOTE:"The first time Steven [Tyler] saw it he didn't see any humor in it. That's how close to home it was. He was pissed! He was like, That's not funny!" —Brad Whitford, Aerosmith (Spin, May 1997)

When I was interviewing an artist recently, I thought I'd be clever (There's a fine line....) and ask about Spinal Tap. I asked if whenever he was on stage, did he ever think about Spinal Tap, Nigel, et al? "No." was the clanging-like-a-lead-pipe-off-concrete answer. A real dud, that one.

A week or so later, in his online blog, he writes about the guitarist in his band leaving in a somewhat dramatic way. And in the middle of this post comes the golden words:

"this is spinal tap"

I envy me.

Yeah, I do.

Peter Boyle

Peter Boyle

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=244850&GT1=7703

Stocking Stuffers

Get off your cynical horse and get hoppin' out there in shopping land! Get those music lovers in your life some cool discs. I submit these for your kind consideration.

1. C.P.E. Bach: Symphonies 1-4/Cello Concerto in A with Andrew Manze, the English Concert

Yes, I actually like what I play on that "other show". If there is someone in your life that could appreciate this style of music or could grow to appreciate this, this disc is a winner. Andrew Manze and the fab-o English Concert are setting the gold standard of our times for this style of music. These are not boring academic performances, but performances that sound like the musicians are really having a good time playing old CPE. How could that have happened??

2. Nine Horses-Snow Borne Sorrow

Quite simply, one of 2005's best and one of Sylvian's best as well. Engrossing, innovative music matched with great lyrics. This is great music with a brain and a soul.

3. Novelle Vague-Bande a Part

What could be a musical joke-take 80's pop songs and arrange them with a 60's-bossa nova-lounge twist-becomes great music. Fun, ironic and downright sweet.

4. Kekele: Congo Life

I am new to these cats, but this album has some sweet music on it. Know anybody with an ear for world music? This is a good choice.
Is there any better Afro-Cuban harmony on the planet? Unlikely.

5. BT: This Binary Universe

For electronica fans
of the listening variety (I hate to say space music because that is such a baggage laden cliche.), BT is a solid choice. This is no mere bleeps and blips music, but well-crafted music. He's currently on tour with Thomas Dolby (Ye olde ones remember "Blinded Me with Science"?).

6. Astro Bar-Various Artists

Hands-down and one hand in the air, this is still the best little compilation of chill out music that I've heard. Water Music Records

7. Dom F. Scab-Binary Secrets

Electronic music, which may have the latest technology, but sounds warm and analogue old school to me. This is the stuff of exquisite sequencers percolating echoing synth lines that speak of contemplation of the celestial evening sky.

8. Gabriela Anders-Last Tango in Rio

If you want an album that sets a romantic mood, then baby, this is the one. Anders may not be the most gifted in the vocal department, and I don't mean that in mean way, but her delivery rules.

Others: Ursula 1000: Here Comes Tomorrow-Perfect urban party music. Brazilian Girls: Talk To La Bomb-BG album two is a little harder edged, but still a worthy follow-up to the debut.Urban Legend: tranquilidad cubana-more like an ep, but this reggaeton stuff is addictive. Joseph Arthur: Nuclear Daydream-Crazy Jo can sure write 'em. Memorable lyrics, great hooks and bear-your-soul singing. Good stoof.

I am the pickiest listener, but these may give you some ideas. Post your own!

The Wire is over

HBO's The Wire, Season Four, is over. If you missed it, I both envy you and feel sorry for you.

The Wire is one good reason to own a TV and put up with cable's high prices.

The Wire makes the argument that the best writing is on HBO.

Do yourself a favor. When you get the time, rent this series from the beginning.

Wolf At the Door

Be careful. There could be a wolf at your backdoor.


(Or a Wiggle Pie).



Or even a Blue Witch!