Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Chatty Cathys, or the lack thereof

Hi there, good to not hear from you! Or whatever. I just took a silly online survey about www.spun.com, which I barely ever use, so I'm in the mood to bombard you with questions about what will get you to comment on my blog, but feh, who cares. And our phone is disconnected, so communication via wires is currently at an all-time high.
Dave aka Davekwon aka Willy D is back in town, so look out for flying straw wrappers! We went to Bernies Sunday night for some hip-hop, but saw none of the actual (non-DJ) performers because they hadn't started yet at 1 AM, and I had to take Dave home. Sonofabitch. I hear they were good. That brings to mind one of the many Rush songs I hold near and dear to my heart, one of the greatest rock songs of all time, "Working Man." Beautiful, right Lee?
Saturday night was the night I had been looking forward to for a long time. Two shows: Gallagher and RJD2/Diplo!!! Andy was my rockin' sidekick for the evening. Gallagher, you know, Lee's favorite comedian, was pretty good, except that he went FOREVER!!!!! He started at 8, with 15 minutes of tossing ice and fruit into the audience, and was still going strong at 11:15 when we decided that we had to go. His actual standup was okay. It would have been alot better without his blatant homophobia and redneck conservatism, like his basic view that America's international problems are the fault of the Clintons or France. But he smashed alot of stuff, and spent hours explaining the science behind his combinations for smashing pies and the tricks he has learned over the last THIRTY YEARS! Sadly (I can see Lee crying now), it sounds like he might be near the end (at 58 years of age) because he is getting sued by some woman who got a Rolo lodged in her eye and he might lose his insurance and all that. So I'm glad we went! We got to Little Brothers too late to see any of Diplo's set, which was too bad, but that didn't stop me from buying his album. Two people I talked to really liked it, and two thought it was meh, so I guess that's not bad. But RJ killed shit! He changed up a good bit of his show from his release party show at the Wex in May, and it was niiice. His show is the kind of show you can see over and over again, though, because he's always mixing together various bits of his songs and other songs and you're always gonna catch new things. I got the single for "1976" at Mags the other day, mainly for the B-side "Get Off My Spaceship Bitch!", so I'll let you know how that is.
Duck! Movie Reviews!
1. Resident Evil 2 blew. Don't see it.
2. Shaun of the Dead, on the other hand, was pretty flippin sweet. It was funny, including lots of music jokes, and it was a decent story. "Who played this?" "It's on random!" SEE IT!
3. Garden State, also sweeeet. Zach Braff came up with a winner. Interesting story, interesting presentation, still funny.
OK, we'll wrap it up there, since this has taken me two nights to write. Tomorrow I'm gonna see Free Space, a sweet jazzy jam band from Chicago, at Ruby Tuesdays. It's been two years since their year-long stay in Columbus, and two years since I've seen them play. This way, I'll be in the middle of rocking when Rocktober commences! Friday night I want to see John Wilkes Booze at Club 202 downtown, and Saturday night is a battle between the Heroes of History and everybody else benefit show at Ruby Tuesdays, and the Grand Buffet/Wicked Lung & the Wookalar show at Ravari Room. It begins. Oh yeah:
Random Fact of the Day:
(I hate the internet soooo much for making it difficult to find a picture to put right here!!!)
You can currently buy a 7-inch single from the '70s by Yaphet Kotto at www.dustygroove.com for $29.99. What a steal!

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Rocktober......so close!

Why hello there, friend. This year, at least in Columbus, Rocktober really lives up to its name, so I figured you needed the game plan. This is all tentative, as you will notice some nights that have two or three possibilities, or shows that would be nice but won't happen, like the Pixies. But if you would like to see any of these shows, feel free to let me know, as well as if you have any other ideas. Rocktober is a helluva thing.

Rocktober
1. John Wilkes Booze @ Club 202
2. Heroes of History, etc @ Ruby Tuesdays, The Sun @ Little Bros.
3.
4. Pixies/Thrills @ Vets
5. Addison Groove Project @ Little Bros.
6.
7.
8. Black Keys/Blueprint/Cuts @ Newport
9. DeVotchKa @ Café Bourbon Street
10. Lucky Boys Confusion, etc. @ Newport
11.
12. Red Elvises @ Little Bros.
13.
14. Illogic/Envelope/Bru Lei @ Blues Station, Killers/Ambulance Ltd @ Newport
15. Bob Log/Town Bikes @ Club 202, Black Heart Procession/Enon @ Little Bros.
16. Lotsa rock, but I'll be at a WRASSLIN SHOW!!!
17. Decemberists/Apollo Sunshine @ Little Bros.
18. LL Cool J? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
19. Rev. Glasseye/Radio Nationals @ Bernies vs Blonde Redhead/Liars @ Little Bros.
20. North Miss. Allstars/Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ Newport
21. Cake/Northern State@ Promowest
22. Cobra Verde @ Skully’s, Stretch Lefty/Chuck's Junk @ Little Bros.
23. Moving Units/Chinese Stars @ Grog Shop, The Shantee @ Little Bros.
24. Mclusky @ Little Bros.
25.
26. Trachtenburg @ Little Bros.???
27. Antibalas @ Southgate House (Cincinnati)
28.
29. Charlie Hunter Trio @ Beachland Ballroom (Cleveland)
30. Camper Van Beethoven @ Newport
31. Blueprint Release Party @ Bernies

And I probably forgot a few! Plus there will surely be some more shows announced in the near future. So feast your eyes on the rock 'n roll splendor, bitch!

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Well, I guess staying up until 5 could make it #5...

but I'm just tired of the streak, so maybe not. What up yos? Lee, I'm jealous of your PJs exploits. Maybe I'll write this real fast and then go get some. Or maybe not. But the Fat Rat is singing its soothing song of love, la-la-la-la-la-love, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-love, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-love, luh-huv. Or maybe that's something else. Anyhoo, Kehn threw a Fall Equinox party on Friday that was pretty kewl. It did the job, that's for sure. And I finally saw his swank digs. Clintonville's my home, what the fuck can I say?
Quick! Rock Reviews!!!

Before the aforementioned party, Lucas and I went to a CD101 Low Dough Show at the Newport featuring The Von Bondies, (Melissa) Auf der Maur, and The Sun. Of course, I had to be the rock 'n roll idiot, think the show would take longer to get going than it did (8 o'clock sharp! Maybe even 7:57!), and we missed most of the Sun-set. But we did get to hear "Girlfriend," so I was OK. The song is awesome (from the new Did Your Mother Tell You? EP due out September 28th), and the animated video is even better! You can watch it (one frame shown above) and another video (or listen to the whole EP) at the band's website right here. Auf der Maur blew. She is a bassist from Montreal who has played with both the Smashing Pumpkins and Hole, and her music sounds like some generic form of that stuff, I guess. Well, one song sounded like "Barracuda" run through the shit machine, and another reminded me of Queensryche with the vocal effects. So Lucas and I yelled things like, "Vive Jay Sherman! Vive Quebec!" "Operation: Mindcrime!" and, our big closer, "Auf der Maur??? More Like AWFUL der Maur!!!" It was great. You know what else was great? Katie being there and buying us beers! Finally, the Von Bondies came on and rocked like they've done to Columbus before. If only these Low Dough Shows attracted less 17 year-olds, right Lucas???
Friday night, the first night of the Andrew and Lucas Rock Adventure, was supposed to be the big This Moment in Black History show at Bernies, but they did not show. Booey hooey hooey. Their historical counterparts, the Heroes of History, were all in attendance, but no dice. The three punk bands (in order of quality: The Feelers, The Krunchies, The Orphans) were OK, but even the scary yelpings of the girl-bassist from the Krunchies could not make me overlook the no-show. Oh well, such is rock.
Thursday night, Andy and I saw Gris Gris, Shell Shag, and Di Di Mao at Cafe Bourbon Street. It was my first time seeing the hot local-chick-ness of Di Di Mao, and I enjoyed it (mmmmmmmm, Little Brothers sound-woman playing drums, mmmmmmmmmm), the rock I mean. Shell Shag, an awesome two-piece band from San Fran that Andy had just seen open for Les Savy Fav (cuz Andy's a fuckin hipster like that), rocked damn hard! A good ol' lo-fi dance party, y'knawmean? Gris Gris, the crazy San Fran psychedelic band, also put on a good show, just like they did when opening for The Modey Lemon and The Apes, but it was kinda mellow for a drunken hangout at Bourbon Street. Still they did that song about Mary and everything was right with the world.
And oh yeah, last night, I went to see Robert Randolph and the Family Band with Citizen Cope, which was also a helluva thing. Citizen Cope played alot of those songs from that album I liked 3 years ago, and some new jams from the new album, so what's not to like? Randolph jammed for over two hours, including covers of "Axel F", "Inner City Blues" (both with Citizen Cope), "Papa was a Rolling Stone", "Don't Worry Be Happy" and "Billie Jean." Wow. They didn't even play "I Need More Love." I always feel like Columbus Randolph shows must be special because Danyel, the bass player, is a hometown boy. I stood next to his brother in the front row. They also had about 100 girls on stage for "Shake Your Hips," which was nice. Robert Randolph is a man to see live.
So after 11 bands in 4 nights, there was no rock tonight. Just a trip to O'Reillys in honor of Ashley's last non-school-night for the year. I don't think there's any rock on tap this week until Friday (downtown political party??? With bands? OKAYYYYY!!!) and Saturday, the day of days, the day Andy and I see GALLAGHER and RJD2 in one night (two different shows, though if that was one bill.....DAMN!), which will be stupendous. So keep rockin', and I'll catch y'all on the flipside.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Four = On The Floor

But before we talk about the aftermath of more parties, I must address the bevy of comments I've received in the last week:
1. Abele knows - Complaining gets fresh bloggins baked!
2. SadLee, the Brave Combo show was last Thursday. Andy and I thought about it, but came up with a cheaper, equally appealing option (see below). I'm sure they rocked the house, but as I only know one song of theirs, oh well. I'm sure the polka gods are preparing to strike me down with thunder and leiderhosen as we speak.
3. "Medeski Martin & Wood, I wish you ILL." - David Drake, 2004.
4. Yes, Andy "Matches Malone" Napier won last week's contest, and someday will pick out a fine prize I'm sure. Don't worry, you too will get a chance soon.

Ahh, that's better. This past Saturday was Bacchanalia in Wooster, marking four weekends in a row with major parties for this guy. Bacch is a Wooster tradition, as all sorts of Wooster students, alums, professors, and townies gather for a night of outdoor debauchery at Beck's Campground. There were some bands, but they weren't that memorable (Don't get all worried about me, I know the names of most of them and COULD describe their sound, I just don't feel like it). Not like the infamous Barman debacle of '03. Anyway, it was good to see Dusty, Todd, Margaret, Murray, Stein, David (who will hopefully have something nice to say about that Envelope EP I dropped on him SOON, wink wink nudge nudge say no more), and all them youngsters. I think Chops and I will be in our 40s and still making the trek.

Friday night, Andy and I caught one of the Bustown Reunion shows at the High Five, featuring the Lone Catalysts, Envelope, Racist Joe, and the Night Shift (insert pics I wish I had here). It was mostly a riotous good time. The Night Shift (Jun the Concept and the other guy) was good, it was my first time seeing them. Racist Joe, the duo of DJ Bombay and So What, was funny. It was also my first time seeing them (wow, same for the Lone Cats too), and So What was pretty damn drunk. He still led a rousing version of "Bitch, You Don't Know Shit," and other funny short songs. It was impressive that he made it through the set. The highlight was definitely the set from Envelope and DJ Amos Famous. It might not have been technically perfect, but everyone was really into it and Envelope played with the crowd pretty well. I mean, I was yelling along with the hook of a song I had never heard before. Definitely a Bustownian to look out for. After too long of a break (I mean, DJ Pos2 was killin shit on the tables all night, but that gets old after a while), the Lone Catalysts, J Sands and J Rawls, came out with an OK but not-thrilling closing set. Alot of people left after Envelope. In my opinion, the Lone Cats burst onto the scene around 5 years ago with some classic singles, but haven't really matched those since. But the new album, Good Music, features Masta Ace and MixMaster Ice, so who knows? Anyway, the show was a great time and I wish I had made all four Reunion shows.

Thursday night, Andy and I saw your pals and mine, the Heroes of History, at Ruby Tuesdays. I was happy to initiate another newbie into the wonder that is the Heroes. They played the usual load of great songs, and kindly agreed to play my screamed request of "Your Mom," which is a brilliant piece of songwriting, if you ask me. They are playing another show at Rubys on October 2 with a ton of other bands, so let's go, OK?

Future Plans:
Friday night: The Orphans and This Moment in Black History at Bernies. I don't know the Orphans, but TMIBH is a quality crazy rock band from Cleveland that supposedly has a good album out and killed shit at 2003's OSU Springfest. Hopefully Lucas and I will be there, will you?

Saturday night: The Von Bondies and Auf der Maur (if absolutely necessary), CD101 Low Dough Show at the Newport. Hmmm, 3 Von Bondies shows in about 6 months? Me likey much much, mmmmm mmmmmmmmm. Let's posse out yo!

Sunday night: I wanna see Robert Randolph & the Family Band at Promowest, do you?

A Review, perhaps?

Wow. I'm not exactly the biggest electronic fan around, but Mishaps Happening by Quantic is a helluva thing. Listening to it on the way back from Bacch, Jerome and I would have been fine if the opening title track had lasted for the whole album. But crazy funky beats kept on coming. GET IT NOW!

OK, that's enough. And oh yeah, I GOT GALLAGHER TICKETS, MWAHAHAHA!!!!!

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Ummm, what comes after DEUX???

Another gap in posts! The world shrieks in horror!!! Or at least, that's what I assume you're doing since nobody has commented in many a moon. It might be partially my fault, but that's no fun, I'm writing, so it must be YOU! But just so we can prove who is NOT at fault, the first person who comments on this post (with a reaction to something I wrote!) wins one CD from the funky, funky stash of stuff I don't listen to! You there, start typing!
Here's an album cover for inspiration:

I got End of the World Party (Just in Case) by Medeski Martin & Wood in the mail today, one day after it was released and one day after I was supposed to get it, which I guess ain't bad (I still feel robbed). I'm definitely diggin' it. It's not as funky as some of the tunes on Uninvisible, but I think it's more consistent, so far. Of course, there are those of you who are not fans of said band, like this guy here, but we can't all be awesome.
To honor one of my more loyal readers, my old college pal Chris Abele (DAT'S MY ROOOOOMMAAATE!!!!!) was in the area from Pasadena for the Labor Day weekend, and more importantly, the triumphant return of Woostock. So yeah, that party was a helluva thing. 21 brave drinkers downed 2 kegs of tasty Yuengling beer in the hills of Pennsylvania. Sure, such consumption can lead to varieties of bodily and interpersonal problems, but everyone survived, hahahahahaha. Damn good time. Evan Berliner is a man to be reckoned with, that's all I got to say. And the Goose is a HELLUVA CAR!!!!!
When Abele and I weren't hangin in the hills, WE WERE ROCKING COLUMBUS TO ITS VERY CORE! Thursday night we caught the weekly New Basics Brass Band shindig at the Ravari Room. They were funky as ever, and Abele and I chatted a bit with the guys, they're pretty cool. Now they just need a gig opening for the Dirty Dozen or Youngblood, and they'll be set. Sunday night, despite being quite worn out from the weekend behind us, we did manage to catch Fat Girls by the Snack Table at the renovating High Five. Man, that's a good band. Yes, a bit weird and a bit of an acquired taste, but those are some tasty tunes! We also made it a few songs into the set from This Bike is a Pipebomb, but their loud yet rural rock was a bit too much at the moment. I might have to check them out in the future though. It was good to have Abele in town, can't wait till next Labor Day.
The future could also be a serious good time. Though I should probably do nothing tomorrow night, I'm tempted by both the first night of the Bustown Reunion at the Scarlet & Grey Cafe and the Brave Combo show at Little Brothers. I mean, I haven't seen a good polka show in a long time, haha. Anybody wanna go? Friday night should see me catching the second night of the Reunion, featuring Lone Catalysts, Envelope, Racist Joe, and the Night Shift at High Five with Andy and maybe my cousin in town from Seattle. Saturday night though, we turn the rock up a notch with Bacchanalia 2004 at Beck's Campground in dear ol' Wooster. Can't wait.
Alright, I've spent long enough on this. I got music to listen to! God bless the "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" sale from my friends and yours at Ubiquity Records. Adios.