thanks

Thanks to all who came to the show last night.  Great crowd, good friends.

i really enjoyed seeing Ballroom Dancing and Codaphonic.  Ballroom Dancing’s stage show was crazy.  They had stuffed animals everywhere, they danced and flailed and sang fun songs.  One song was about a shark.  Fun stuff.  Codaphonic had a solid set of upbeat diddies that put me at ease before i headed toward the village (sleepytime).  And as always, the 5 Spot was great.  They’ve been making improvements.  Going to see Shirock and the Katies play there on Friday, hopefully.

Bears eat monkey

Here’s the story.

This happened in May, but man, this is some funny funny stuff. Maybe it shouldn’t be, but wow. My co-worker and i have arranged an entire scenerio of how this went down.

Bob Bear: That monkey is so annoying.
Frank Bear: No kidding.
Bob Bear: I’ll totally give you a month’s worth of fruit if you take him out while he’s dancing and showing off and then bring him over here for us to snack on.
Frank Bear: Seriously? A month’s worth of fruit?
Bob Bear: Oh yeah. But you gotta stop that guy now. He’s driving me to the brink of insanity.

You have to read the article. It reads almost like a comedy sketch. Nature is amazing.

Movie: London

I watched London last night, which had nothing to do with the city, which was the first of MANY disappointments with the film.

A good story is more important than being cool. The movie that i watched last night, London, was just bad. The filming wasn't bad, and some of the acting wasn't bad. But the story was almost non-existant. I kept waiting for something to happen that would be worth anything, and when the movie finished, i was dumbfounded. This movie was worse than the Squid and the Whale. At least that movie had a good title.

i really have no interest in a movie about people who snort coke and complain about sex. That's basically my summary of the film. Filled with profanity and people arguing, the movie really had little value to me.

Last, the main character, Syd, was a complete tool. There's no reason that any woman should want to be with this kid, let alone why anyone would want to be his friend except that he gives them free blow. i could barely stand to hear the guy breathe after an hour. Honestly, i'm amazed that i didn't turn it off, but just like the Squid and the Whale, i hoped there would be something at the end that would redeem the film. This movie was so much worse that the Squid and the Whale.

D-.

Emergenza finals

For those who remember, lowercase collective took part in a battle of the bands called Emergenza this fall and winter.  We made it to the second round, and we got to play at the Exit/In, which was very cool, but the whole thing was based on audience voting.  The tickets were very pricey, so we didn't push them that much, and we didn't move past the second round.

So last night, i went to the finals.  14 bands, i think, played, and one of them got to move on to the next round, which is in Atlanta.  Two bands that i have an affiliation with, Shirock, and the Roman Empire, played to try to move on.  Shirock was the first band to play, and they started at 6:30pm.  The sad thing is, the Roman Empire didn't go on until 10:40pm.  I'm not sure i can really go into how sad this was.  There were a few ok bands that played, but it was mostly amatur hour at the Cannary Ballroom.  There is so much great music in Nashville; so many amazing bands.  Sadly, those bands (apart from the two i know) didn't play last night.  At least not at the Cannary Ballroom.  I had to stand through almost 4 hours of Nu Metal, Craprock, and other stuff i don't really have a name for.  There was a dirt-covered gem or two, but won't even name them on my blog. 

Shirock and The Roman Empire both did well.  i have no idea who made it to the next round. 

lyrics to new lowercase collective song

concrete

the city smells like concrete
the trees keep us alive
the ground stays warm from digesting the sun
i'll lay down in the street
if you give me 5 bucks
i'll bury myself neck deep
if you'll help shovel the muck

i'll take a spill
and hurt myself
i know i will
and then you'll feel it

i'll fill your mouth with gravel
punches thrown with awkward motion
toothbrushes remove stains
the ground's much closer now
it seems darker outside
when you can only open one eye

yeah i know yes i know that i made a mistake
all these words yeah these words coming out of my face
and i know you'll hit me once again
i guarantee you will and then

all those things stupid things that i know that you said
throwing fists late at night throwing fists at my head
if you do it one more time
i know you will do it and then

Goodbye Fletchers

Our good friends, the Fletchers, are moving to Californina, leaving tomorrow. It's sad when people leave that you've grown close to over a short period of time. i wish them well and hope that they don't fall into the ocean. Here are some words of advice for them or anyone that's planning to move to California tomorrow.

1. Watch out for bears, sharks, mountain lions, and hobos.
2. There are a lot of people in California, including bears. If you are to meet a bear, lie on the ground in the fetal position, rather than throwing rocks at said bear. The same goes if you run into Gary Coleman. Don't agitate that guy, or he will chase you, and you can't simply get away from him by running up a tree because he can climb trees. Not that there are many in California, but something to consider.
3. If you get the chance, hug a fisherman.
4. When riding in a car to the long state, be sure to stop at a 7-11 at some point to get a cold, refreshing beverage.
5. Dance, if you want to. Leave your friends behind.
6. Wear sunscreen.
7. Tic Tacs are refreshing, small, and low in calories. Eat some.
8. Do your own stunts.

Well, good luck in everything, and for everyone else, call up someone and tell them something.

Fiona Apple at the Ryman

great news, kids.

i scored tickets to see Fiona Apple at the Ryman, Friday, August 4.  2nd row of the balcony, center.  Amazing seats.  Here's the good news: i purchased 2 extra seats, so if someone wants to join me, let me know.  The tickets are a touch pricey, but i think they'll be well worth it.  i'll just charge you what i paid.  Fiona Apple.  Ryman.  magic.

Let me know soon.  They probably won't be around forever. 

New haircut

Thanks, Mark.

Upcoming CD releases of interest

i recently noticed that there are some great bands coming out with some potentially great CD's soon, so i did a little research and realized that i need to start saving up for some stuff. there have been about 5 or so albums that have released recently that i still haven't purchased, but here is the list of stuff that is coming out this summer and fall that i may or may not pick up on the release day.

20 Jun Tuesday
Nelly Furtado – Loose (not sure about this one, but i liked what i heard on SNL)
Keane – Under The Iron Sea (maybe)

11 Jul Tuesday
Muse – Black Holes And Revelations (maybe)
Thom Yorke – The Eraser (was there any question?)

18 July Tuesday
Helmet – Monochrome (who knows?)

25 July Tuesday
Midlake – Trials of Van Occupanther (oh yes)

Other, more ambiguous release dates
Arcade Fire
Radiohead
Doves
Modest Mouse
Pixies
Polyphonic Spree
Justin Timberlake
and a list of indie bands that i'm still trying to figure out if i like or not.

Here's where i got my information, if you want to look for bands you like.

Frank

When we first moved into our house, there was a tree behind our house, and a few of the same kind of trees in the neighbor's back yard.  This tree had been planted the year before, and was probably 8 or 9 feet tall, and maybe 2 to 3 inches thick.  It was explained to us that the tree was some sort of scientifically enhanced, genetically modified tree from Japan called a Polonia.  i will now tell you that Frank (the tree that resides in our backyard, well, more so in the neighbor's backyard, but considering that our houses are practically on top of each other, i'll just say our backyard) is well over 2 stories tall, and is almost 2 feet thick.  As in, i could wrap my arms around him, and my hands may or may not touch.  That's three years, kids.

Frank has gigantic, elephant ear type leaves, and bizarre purple blooms in the spring.  His shade covers almost half of the yard.  He, this Shelley-esqe plant monster, is a complete freak of nature, and sometimes i'm not sure if i should be in awe of him or frightened out of my mind by him.  i tend to recall that scene from Poltergist (or was it Poltergist 2?) where the tree broke through the boy's window and grabbed him.  i hope i never anger Frank.