Legendary actor, filmmaker, and wildman, Dennis Hopper passed away today at the age of 74 from complications due to prostate cancer. RIP Dennis, you were one of the finest and one my favorites. Here’s a brief clip of one of Hopper’s greatest performances as the psychotic gangster, Frank Booth in the film Blue Velvet (1986).
Chris
Whatchu talkin bout Chris? Yeah, sadly I’m talking about Gary Coleman being dead at 42 after suffering a brain hemorrhage. RIP Gary.
Chris
Once upon a time I was at a party and some gal mentioned Terry Gilliam and I told her my favorite Terry Gilliam film was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). She responded that it was “too mainstream,” a point I beg to differ, but regardless, I was taken back. I tend to pride myself on my love of relatively obscure and non mainstream artists (particularly in music). Now, let’s not mince ;) our words here, I do not base my tastes on how commercially successful or not a piece of music is. It’s simply not a factor. I listen to a song/album and if I like it I do, if I don’t, then I don’t. As simple as that. The mainstream just isn’t my bag and I have a hatred for much of it, there’s no reason I need to be associated with it, like Chomsky and Porn. With that being said, if we Klaymers, especially me, grew up in the 60s, we would be surfing safari on the mainstream. You would probably catch me crying my eyes out with all the ladies in the sea of Beatlemania. Now today, my favorites conist of 90-95% independent, underground artists and 5-10% heavy hitters in the mainstream. If we took Doc Brown’s Delorean for a spin and hit up 1967, it would be vice versa, and even my then unknown faves of that era like the Velvet Underground, were on the majors. Strange. The reason I find this peculiar is because I feel like the whole DIY, Punk ethic and aesthetic and what have you is something I highly value and is a big part of music/art for me. If I was a teen a few decades back I would have a totally different experience. In this respect, I am really glad I was born twenty years ago.
Anyone else’s mind wander like mine or do I just have too much time on my hands? lol
Chris
Amazon placed this children’s book as well as the Lost Sounds’ debut under items I should consider! I already purchased the latter lol.
Chris
I pledge allegiance to the principles of the American Revolution, stated by Jefferson, and for which the Minute Men and Washington’s Army fought: that government’s only purpose is to protect our natural rights to life, liberty, and property; that any government that does more ” than protect our natural rights must thereby violate those same rights and become a tyranny that the people have the right to alter or abolish. I pledge to resist that tyranny by peaceful means if at all possible.
Artists: The Big Big Bucks, Uninhabitable Mansions, Thalia Zedek, and Ketman (we did not see)
Location: Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge, MA
Date: Friday, May 7, 2010
Comments:
The Big Big Bucks: They were a decent band and a good start to the show. The guitars were nice and loud, but not too loud. I could sense they had some pop sensabilities, but the songs did not come all the way through as major hooks. One of their jams, “New Socks,” stood out to me as a little catchy and definitely rocking (and not just because they announced its name, Glen!). Alas, there were some technical difficulties, which truncated the group’s set a teeny bit, but they dealt with the mishap with delightful humor and audience interaction. Overall, I liked them and they served as a good act to warm up for the Mansions. I think I am the only one who has ever referred to them that way lol. Maybe not?
Uninhabitable Mansions: Ahh yes the band we came to see! They created some exciting vibes without being over the top in their showmanship; the songs spoke for themselves. I really dug the adorable Annie Hart and her skillful keyboard playing, something I had overlooked previously while listening to their recordings. The group played a relatively quick set consisting of the classic, “Speed is Deceiving,” which was easily one of the best musical performances I have ever seen. I was like in a trance for a few minutes, it was really that outstanding. The vocals particularly stood out to me as they not only sounded extraordinary, but they also did total justice to the recording, which in itself is fabulous and one of the best from 2009. They closed their brief, but invigorating set with “We Already Know,” another classic from their last LP. Okay, I’ve sucked their dick for enough now, better move on before I start deep throating….
Thalia Zedek: Uhh yeah this is simply music I do not have time for lol. They suffered from the Tulsa effect of playing what seems more like a jam session than a performance of songs. The first number was ok and I was a bit interested, but after that, actually by th end of it, my focus was far from fixed! When that shit is broken, I’m mentally finished with an artist. Perhaps, it’s just me and some other musicians would find real meaning and entertainment in their work, but for me there’s nothing fascinating about it. I typically dig exciting, fun, catchy pop music (what I see as pop, i.e. Jay Reatard). So, if you can’t wow me with explicitly “stuck in my mind, sing along” tunes than you should wow me with something else really unique or mind blowing i.e the performances of Deerhunter and Sonic Youth, amongst others, whom have many catchy songs, but clearly they explore further terrirtory outside the pop landscape and do not rely on the hooks and what have you. If you’re band, as in the case of TZ cannot satisfy these two musical needs of mine than you have lost my attention. Now, that does not necessarily mean the band is bad (TZ are probably decent musicians), it just means I have absolutely no desire to listen to them. Alright, alright, I’ve ranted for wayyy too long lol. So, yeah TZ bored the fuck out of me.
Grade: B
Chris
I wish PJ Soles was my girlfriend :)
Chris
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 