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August 31, 2005
I can die happy now
I just interviewed Adrian Belew, my favorite musician in the world, for 35 minutes.
The interview will run in the paper towards the middle of September. He was a tremendous interview subject, and I think it will prove to be a fun read for Adrian (and just plain music) fans.
Adrian is playing Nightfall on September 23rd and Atlanta's Variety Playhouse on September 25th.
Posted by colrus at 11:48 AM | TrackBack
August 30, 2005
Do not rob Taco Bell
That's. What. I'm. Talking. About.
Posted by colrus at 01:23 PM | TrackBack
August 27, 2005
Up With The Joneses bassist Joe Grubbs dead
Joe Grubbs fell off a cliff and died last night while hiking with his girlfriend on Monteagle Mountain. I ran into the Joneses' lead singer T.J. Greever at Bi-Lo this afternoon as he was buying flowers for Joe's girlfriend.
"I'm just gonna go give her a hug and tell her I love her," he said.
T.J., who used to live across the street from our friends, Jenni and Pat Miles, was visibly upset and mentioned, "It's like someone doesn't want us to play music."
"It's like a big reality slap in the face," he said. "It's really bad. Joe had a lot of friends."
Please say a prayer for Joe's friends and family.
Posted by colrus at 11:32 PM | TrackBack
August 26, 2005
California Guitar Trio at Rhythm and Brews
The stellar California Guitar Trio, who blew it up at Riverbend, will be playing Rhythm and Brews on September 21.
This is amazing:
CGT at Rhythm and Brews on September 21.
Adrian Belew (who I'm interviewing on Wednesday) at Nightfall on September 23...
...AND at the Variety Playhouse on September 25.
This might just be the greatest concertgoing week of my life.
Posted by colrus at 12:31 PM | TrackBack
August 25, 2005
But Bill, why the lack of love for political parties?
Over the last few days, I have been doing a lot of thinking as to why the major political parties have zero place in my life.
...Why, in the greatest country in the history of mankind, the thought of constant, bitter division via a cyclical popularity contest disguised as being "an issues-minded discussion" has little appeal to me and, in fact, elicits great frustration.
To sum it up for me, I'll let John Stossel do the speaking from his (now in paperback!) book, "Give Me A Break." As I re-read this book in the light of current events and the declining social and moral systems of our land, I'll probably be quoting from it often.
"Free markets are better.
The editor of this book challenged me on this, saying, 'How can you draw such distinctions between government and private enterprise? Democracy is a sort of free market. We choose representatives and get exacly what we ask for. Isn't that just as good?' No, because under private enterprise, we get to vote more often, and for more things. Free-market competition demands competitiors adjust constantly (millions of changes a day, if not per second) if they are to keep pleasing (winning the votes of) customers.
Democracy is a kind of market, but a horribly slow and clumsy one. We elect only once every several years, and we don't choose representatives under conditions of open competition. The political class has so rigged the system that 98 percent of congressional incumbents are reelected. Now that incumbents have also enacted contribution limits, it's even harder to raise enough money to mount a challenge.
More important, politics is a package deal; government responds to collective choice, usually the wishes of a majority. You get all of Gore's promises, or all of Bush's promises. But you can choose between 20/20 and a dozen other newsmagazines on TV. There are many different restaurants, with many different combinations of cuisine, quality, and price. Imagine that you bought food like you vote for president. You get two choices, donkey meat and elephant meat (every now and then, another choice is available in certain states, where the food's producers solicited enough signatures on a petition to get into the grocery store). Every four years, everybody gets together and votes for donkey or elephant meat. No matter how you vote, you have to eat what the majority picks."
Consider me a political vegetarian.
Posted by colrus at 12:40 AM | TrackBack
August 23, 2005
Yet another video project update...
Brian Edwards and I shot a few little things last week for the "A Not True Hollywood Story" we're working on. We have one more day of shooting left. I'm still working out a few kinks in the script, but have MORE than enough images to tell the story properly.
An interesting idea was brought up by Mesh today: "Why don't you have some of Jonathan's 'friends' talk about him in the film?"
Since this piece was originally conceived in 2000, I've gone back and forth in my mind as to what to/not to include. My thought has always been that if the piece is funny, people simply won't notice what's not there. I'm teetering and might just add another character or two to it, though. Of course, the problem then becomes whether or not I've beaten the joke into the ground. It's a balance thing. We'll see. I think what I'll do is finish it as intended and then see if other stuff can be added, and if the new stuff will add anything to the piece.
Either way, I'd like to publicly give props to Brian, who is a fantastic collaborator and a way better actor and writer than he knows.
Posted by colrus at 12:14 AM | TrackBack
August 20, 2005
D.J. Shadow's ...Endtroducing
...is simply one of the best albums ever made. I've had a couple different incarnations of it since it first came out and I never fail to hear something new in it each time I listen. Also, depending on how loud or soft you play it, different things emerge. Brilliantly bizarre.
It's no wonder that Shadow's career has pretty much just eeked by since. Even he had to be shaking his head once this thing was finished.
The Deluxe Edition is almost too much.
I could listen to only Adrian Belew, Yo La Tengo and DJ Shadow for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.
Posted by colrus at 10:31 PM | TrackBack
Weird Night
First, a barely breathing rabbit appears in my hallway thanks to my cat, Nicky. Neither Melissa nor myself saw him bring it in, but it was quickly decided that I should take it outside. I brought it outside and placed it behind a row of bushes outside the house so it would have a chance to get away. I'm not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the animal world, but I've heard that rabbits can play dead and that they also scare easily and can quickly suffer heart attacks. As much as it pains me, I think it was somewhere in between. There was really nothing I could do for it. I hope it's OK.
Then, I stumble upon a link to a story (complete with pictures) about an art exhibit in Tampa featuring dead bodies encased in sillicone.
Reading the story and looking at the pictures, I became a tad grossed out, though I'm pretty sure I'm OK with the whole idea. My reaction seems to be shared by many, including some lawmakers. My libertarian streak is being polished more and more each day thanks to things like this that test my sensibilities. For most severely edgy art, I'm of the "do what you want" persuasion. There's no law saying I have to participate. And -- with rare exception -- I'm of the opinion that I have no right to tell you that you can't.
Posted by colrus at 01:10 AM | TrackBack
August 16, 2005
Great Replacements/Husker Du article in Magnet this month
Husker Du
(left to right: Grant Hart, Greg Norton, Bob Mould)
There is a great article in Magnet this month (sorry, no online link: you'll have to buy the issue or steal mine to read it) about the Replacements and Husker Du.
Posted by colrus at 01:19 AM | TrackBack
August 14, 2005
I Cannot Stop Listening to Yo La Tengo
I hate to sound nuts, but this might just be the PERFECT band. For me, anyway.
The interesting thing about them? ALL of their stuff -- even the stuff on their first albums -- sounds good. No, make that great. It doesn't sound crappy -- like the songs weren't recorded inside of a bong -- like the whole trendy crappy audio thing that virtually all "hip" and "important" indie bands have repeatedly forced down our throats.
Click here to download "Little Eyes" from Summer Sun.
Posted by colrus at 10:49 PM | TrackBack
August 12, 2005
More on My Victoria
My Victoria: Ray's on the left.
(Click for larger pic)
Earlier this week, I received a copy of My Victoria's EP, Out Loud All Around, and I can't stop playing it. The group's bassist, Ray D'Antuono, played with me in a band in Connecticut in 1995 and also composed all the original music for my On The Other Hand TV show.
While the description below more than adequately describes the band's sound, I'd just like to mention how good they are. Really good. As in I would love their stuff even if I didn't know the bass player. The band is collectively and individually strong, and their songwriting is a pleasant marriage of chaos and extreme slickness -- with hooks aplenty tossed at you when you're not looking.
My Victoria bio:
Alternately sweet, low-down and dirty, My Victoria thrashes out sounds from a diverse background of influences -- post-punk, new-wave, psychedelic surf -- that coalesce into pure rock and roll. The angular bass lines, two-note chords, and the occasional stunning drum solo create a cohesive, infectious mix that's putting My Victoria on the lips of the city's indie rockers. The magic starts behind the mic, where front woman Diana Past's raspy vocals switch from croon to scream, striking a chord of salvation in the chaos.
Even after a sweaty, intense 30-minute set, My Victoria's music is still there, glued to you. They are on one hand, as canonical as a band could be, yet on the other, compulsive envelope-pushers. The music effortlessly blends experimental indie rock with raunchy punk, catchy pop melodies, and danceable party beats. Crafters of perfect 3-minute gems, they always leave the audience needing more...
Loosely formed in the bitter Williamsburg winter of 2004, the intrepid foursome has performed in New York's most prestigious venues alongside some of the city's biggest acts. After 5 months in the studio, the band is releasing their 6-song debut EP Out, Loud, All Around. Completely self-produced, mixed, mastered and packaged, it models after the group's raw, DIY aesthetics. Possibly the best sex you will ever have with your ears.
Posted by colrus at 02:09 PM | TrackBack
Video Project Ramblings
Settling into the video resuscitation of "A Not True Hollywood Story: Jonathan Lipnicki," it is quite evident to me that I am not the same editor I was (at all) when the piece was first conceived, nor the same editor I was during the "On The Other Hand" days, nor the same editor I was during a HORRENDOUS, concurrent tenure at a HORRENDOUS local commercial video firm.
I am approaching this project (and any future projects I take on) as little gems desperately in need of a polish -- and taking old, partially succesfully executed ideas and (finally) doing them creative justice. This current piece is scary. It is (dare I say it) turning out to be good.
Working without time restrictions (see: a broadcast TV deadline) has freed me up to TRY THINGS and POLISH the material until I am completely satisfied. I can take extra time with the script, explore different effects, search for better (see: legal) music, and really get the timing cemented.
Planning/casting/writing/shooting/editing comedy is TOUGH -- so many things have to fall into place to ensure that that "great" idea you thought up at lunch is properly (if not even better) displayed on the screen.
...but when it works, it's pretty damn amazing. And I think this one is going to work.
Thankfully, Brian Edwards still looks like a 30 year-old Jonathan Lipnicki.
That helps.
If I can just maintain my patience long enough (see: don't rush through the steps) to properly finish these little video ideas, I might even surprise myself.
Not a bad little hobby.
("A Not True Hollywood Story: Jonathan Lipnicki" -- and possibly a couple of other pieces -- will be shown at the Firefly Film Festival later this year.)
Posted by colrus at 02:43 AM | TrackBack
August 11, 2005
Trashing our History: Troops in Iraq
Yet another stellar piece from Mr. Sowell.
PLEASE read and discuss.
Posted by colrus at 11:36 AM | TrackBack
August 09, 2005
Shucks, why isn't the U.N. more effective?
I dunno. Could it have anything to do with corruption? I mean, why would ANYONE fear the authority of an organization that they can bribe so easily?
Posted by colrus at 02:41 PM | TrackBack
August 04, 2005
Where Is I Be This Week?
Sorry. Long time, no post.
Melissa and I are with my family in Pawley's Island, South Carolina, enjoying the family reunion my dad got us as Christmas presents last year.
I'll explain later.
Anyhoo, much excitement (and Chattanooga Film Blog posts) will appear early next week. For now I have to get back to tending to my severe sun poisoning!
(Tip: 1. Before going to the beach, apply sunscreen. 2. Swim, frolic, have fun. 3. When drying in advance of sitting on your towel for an hour, PAT yourself dry with your towel. DO NOT wipe yourself dry with your towel. If you do, all your sunscreen will disappear and you will spend the rest of your much needed vacation shouting and throwing things around your cottage because you suddenly have the worst sunburn of your life...regardless of the fact that you grew up in a beach town much like the one you're visiting and should already know better.)
Posted by colrus at 08:43 PM | TrackBack