Thoughts best kept to one's self. Shared, anyway

The Rock of La Rocca

2006-02-13T11:35:00.002-05:00

For some strange reason, the first thing that popped into my head was "Meat Loaf." Now, this may have something to do with me having nothing but crackers and it's 3 hours past lunch, or my recent viewing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" which will have my senses warped for at least another week, but really, I can't seem to shake the image of Eddie singing on the motorcycle. Please don't get me wrong, I mean this only as positive insight.

With influences including "a few lads from Liverpool," "The Boss," Nivana, and CCR, the Boss's influence is definitely felt in the vocals, while the guitar solo's definitely scream "Seattle grunge please!" These Dubliners definitely have a driving force behind them and a full hearty song. Definitely good tunes to drink to, did I mention they also like Johnny Cash? Or perhaps name dropping producer Tony Hoffer will get you in La Rocca (Tony has produced darlings Beck and Belle and Sebastian for example.)

I should be comparing them to Jet, The Vines, and Bloc Party, or any other modern rock outfit that happens to think a toy xylophone playing along with the melody is a good idea (which it is, actually). And maybe that's why Meat Loaf as Eddie is a fitting visualization. It's driving, with a hint of playfulness and theatrics. It's fun, you can bop along to it, you can tap your foot, you can sing along. Sing Song Sung has me hungry for the full-length debuting in May 2006.

Push the Heart

2006-02-13T11:35:00.001-05:00

My first exposure to the Devics is there fourth offering, "Push the Heart." In a sea of CD's I picked this one up first based on the playful cover art of a little girl with dragonflies, and haven't been able to part with it since. Two seconds into the first song, "Lie to me" Sara Lov's light and airy voice can be heard over the faint piano twittlings of her "Corsican twin," Dustin O’Halloran.

This boy/girl duo has enough bio and backstory to make at least one movie, but there is focus in the music. While rooted heavily in the "girl sings with piano" genre, other fun things add wonderful coloring and shading of the sound ranging from the standard electric and acoustic guitars to mellotron, toy piano, glockenshpiel, accordian, wurlitzer, and marxophone, just to name a few.

Dustin seems to have the music all under his thumb, having written it and playing most of the instuments on the recording. There are additional players to give that full bodied sound when needed, but even with all the gizmo's this is a very clean minimalist sound pallate. Sara writes and sings most of lyrical content in a vocal style that can only be called "angelic" and it all comes together in a wonderful mellow record perfectly suited for soundtracks and roadtrips.

I got beheaded by the Sword

2006-02-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday, it's 10:02, and the Ottobar is strangely enough giving us the Sword on time. It's loud, it's doomy, and by 10:03 the crowd nodding along has already evolved into long hair flying. The vocals don't quite growl, but certainly have a nice gritty texture and not one comprehensible syllable has been uttered until the announcement of the Sword being from Austin, TX.

I'm fairly sure someone just sparked up a J in the crowd and it wasn't me, but I guess this would be the appropriate time to proclaim the Sword as true stoner rock, eh? They fit nicely in my little collection with Nebula, Mastodon, Sabbath, Metallica, Nile, et. al.

As the set progresses the drummer has magically morphed into a total machine with quite a few furious fills done with precision and accuracy. I can only say that his playing is hard, consistent, pounding, heavy, intricate, technical, and interesting. To sum it up, he's pretty fuckin awesome.

I like this, no pussy whiny lead singer vocals to be heard, the singer is busy playing some doomy riffs so for the most part the music speaks for itself and when he does sing, its not a distraction like some metal vocals tend to be by what I like to call "tries too hard" syndrome. I'm happy, and while I've heard some fairly standard metal riffs, they've been used appropriately, and that's all you can really ask.

The Sword have such a full, solid, exhilarating sound. The bass-lead-rhythm guitar arrangements were very well thought out and perfectly synchronized, plus I loved the unison "hold and scream" which was pulled off without a hitch.

These guys are not pioneers in there genre, but they do it well, and in this case I'd rather hear something done well than something too far off in left field (To paraphase Mr. Heinz.) I highly recommend it to any fan of heavy, doomy, groovy, sludgy riffs. My only complaint is that as the opener they didn't get to play a full set. However I think they have the potential to someday get their very 70's logo on the top of the promo poster!

SHOWS!

2006-01-31T21:25:00.001-05:00

I have decided to post some shows of relative importance. I will probably not make it to all of them since I have a dayjob, but these highlights are what I'm picking from, along with some shows I jotted down for some friends:

Tonight - Sword @ Ottobar
Feb. 20 - Umphrees Mcgee @ Ram's Head Live
Feb 20 - BMRC @ 9:30 Club ($15)
Feb. 22 - Disco Biscuits @ Ram's Head Live
March 2 - Eagles of Death Metal @ Ottobar (not yet on sale)
March 7 - Mogwai @ Sonar (for that I have the tickets in hand)
March 15 - Ben Lee (with a full band) @ Fletchers ($12)
March 20 - Matisyahu @ Ram's Head Live ($20)
May 2 - Isis @ Ottobar ($12)

Wolfies

2006-01-31T21:25:00.000-05:00

January 31, 2006 –

Today Wolfmother’s EP Dimensions hit the streets here in the States and I rushed out to get my hands on copy. All the stuff I’ve read about the band compared them to Led Zeppelin so I figured it was high time to see what these Aussie’s were up to. It’s no small thing to be compared to such a hugely influential name, and it’s an even larger feat to somehow continually get away with it. I was a skeptic at first, but after about 30 second of the title track “Dimension” I was sold.

Right now Wolfmother is in Sydney (Australia, duh) doing a few more shows for the Big Day Out and then they’re off to Seattle, Washington, USA. Myles Heskett, Scorpio and drummer, took time off his lunch to talk to me while I taped American Idol (8pm, Eastern). I just love time zones. Here’s a taste of what transpired:

I’m missing American Idol to talk to you right now.

Are you taping it?

Yes, but what do you think of American—err, Australian Idol and shows like that?

I don’t personally watch it. I have trouble watching it, I feel ill, it’s a strange thing. I don’t like the whole elimination of the bad singers – bad singers are more entertaining. I’m starting my own where the bad ones stay called Evil Idol.

Yes, so stay tuned folks for that gem. I did take the time out to let Myles know that if you watch during auditions you get plenty of “bad ones” and they make TV specials, at least here. He seemed excited and hopes to catch some of our worst singers. But we’re not tying up international phone lines to discuss the wonders of horrific singers…

So, Dimensions came out today and I was really into it, are any of these songs going to be on the album?

Dimension and Mind’s Eye are on the album. There are going to be about 12 tracks on it, so they’ll be more stuff.

What is your part in the song writing process being the drummer?

I don’t write any of the lyrics or anything. A lot of the songs come out of jamming and locking ourselves up in a room. It’s really a group effort.

How long have you been playing the drums?

I started in high school just mucking around, but was never a drummer or anything. I always jumped on the drums as soon as the drummer would leave the room. I just kind of gravitated to them just for fun. I never had any lessons or anything. They’re the most fun, the most loud.

Who has influenced your drumming?

There was a band called Rocket Science here with a drummer named “Kit,” like "drum kit, and anyway he was just full of energy and exciting to watch. When I saw Trans Am I was blown away, that guy was like a machine.

How you feel about the comparisons to Led Zeppelin?

It’s understandable. We’ve got that really old sound. I was more into metal and Metallica, Kyuss too. I was reading about them and they talked about Pink Floyd so I picked some of that up. Sleep was an amazing band. They had a heavy Sabbath influence. I was more into Sabbath than Zeppelin. I don’t have any Zeppelin. I like them but never really got into them. Andrew (our singer) really likes them. I also like funk.

Like James Brown Funk?

Yeah, I got into that earlier in playing the drums, now I’m like applying that groove to rock. Jon Bonham was a funky drummer actually.

We furthered our discussion into metal which somehow allowed me to shamelessly profess my love of unicorns and also get in a cut about a guy that used to listen to metal being in a band with a song called “The White Unicorn” and how hard you can be and still like unicorns. Eventually we got back on track to talk about the upcoming tour.

So, you’ll be coming to the states in a few weeks. Anything you’re looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to exploring a little bit. We’ve only been to New York and LA. I’m looking forward to San Francisco. LA is a little strange.

Yes, I agree.

I love New York. There’s Chicago, really it’s fun going anywhere. We’re kinda just doing clubs in major cities right now. We’re going to go back and forth to the UK and built it up.

Do you have any thoughts or anything else you’d like to say?

I guess I’m going to have to write something down. People keep asking me that and I don’t know what to say. I’m not good at coming up with something to say. Stay calm, don’t panic, don’t pay too much attention to your TV, we’ll be there soon. Don’t kill anybody. Hopefully we’ll make it over to see the bad singers on Idol.

Yes, Myles, I hope so too.

BRING BACK LEAD SINGER/DRUMMERS!

2006-01-10T18:24:00.000-05:00

While watching TV on my 1/2 day off work, I stumbled upon an infomercial for a new Time Life Music Collection. This was very interesting in deed. I was out of my MIND at the time and the graphics were, dare I say, "groovy" or, perhaps, "trippy man."

Not only that, but they were the GAYEST things I've EVER seen on TV in my LIFE. Holy Crap. Did they REALLY think that all that puffy hair and bad (pre-80's even!) spandex and glitter and shit looked good? FOR REAL? Many of the Songs in this collection are pretty much the 70's stuff my mom listened to.

Chicago, Captain and Tennille, so white bread...oh yes, and BREAD.
I'll admit it. I want this damn thing. I want to re-live the time before I was born that girl's were drummers, and on top of that, the lost art of the drummer-lead vocalist.

Man, they had to show at LEAST 5 clips with that in it. What gives? Drummers of today - fear not having to choose if you want to be the front for the band or just the backbeat like all that bullshit with Genesis or whatever.*

Anyway, this is my top, #1, all time favorite rated infomercial in the universe. Yes, even better than Billy Blanks and that "You can do it" Ponytail Guy.

If someone in high places could slip me a copy of Time Life's 70's Explosion (of man juice...) oops, I mean, this wonderful CD collection I'll give you a kind review, I promise. I’m only pickin’cause I love you. Just PLEASE, PLEASE HURRY. I NEED IT!

http://www.timelife.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=2045&

*This is not a cut on Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, etc. It's mearly an observation that they had issues.

People in Planes EP

2005-12-23T09:44:00.001-05:00

I picked this up as an impulse buy from the local independent record store (Record and Tape Traders in the Baltimore metro). The first 15 seconds or so had me regretting my purchase, but it turns out it was just a bad intro because the rest of the song was pretty good. The display at the story compaired People in Planes to Muse. It's a fairly accurate comparrison. I'd like to hear a little more before I form an opinion on the band overall. It was a good effort, but probably no smash singles or anything like that. I would think People in Planes to be worth checking out as an opening band for sure, and in time this could turn out to be a pretty nice little band. They just need to find their groove. If you see the EP around pick it up so you can say you heard of them second (I obviously heard of them first), especially if you can find it for 99 cents. They are also offering it online for $5, which is a pretty good deal. Look for the full length out in Spring 06!

So I'm a little behind...

2005-12-23T09:44:00.000-05:00

This is a list from a set I DJ'd in my car on the way home from Thanksgiving. I know, but I was bored out of my gourd and always like to intro my little brother to my favorite oldies and some new stuff I've come across, plus mix in a little of what he brought along. While we may not be the coolest siblings in the world, we seem to know some pretty cool people that have influenced our musical tastes, plus each other (well, he knows me at least). So, here is the setlist from Thanksgiving, posted just in time for Christmas (because I really have my shit together during the holidays.)

This set, by the way, was completely impromptu, and started by me playing "Tiny Dancer" for my brother (he loves EJ) and evolved - formed from what was in our CD binders that we packed for the trip.

Tiny Dancer -Elton John
Tricky - Black Steel
Tracy Bonham - Black Dog
Joseph Arthur - Honey and the Moon
Neil Diamond f. Brian Wilson - Delirious Love
Giant Drag - Kevin is Gay
Phantom Planet - Always on my Mind
The Bravery - Rites of Spring
Alanis Morrisette - Not the Doctor
Her Space Holiday - Missed Medicine
Elvis - A Little Less Conversation
Basement Jaxx - Jus 1 Kiss
Sugababes - Overload
Cake - Race Car Ya-ya's
STP - Sour Girl
The Perishers - Sway
Radiohead - Just
Pink Flloyd - Breathe
Frank Black - Burn Today
Wallflowers - Laughing Out Loud
Cat Power - I Don't Blame You
Beatles - Within You Without You
Tea Party - Temptation
Led Zeppelin - The Ocean
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
OLP - Angels/Losing/Sleep
REM - Nightswimming
Autumn Fox - Ground Floor
u2 - Bullet the Blue Sky
Big in Japan - (track 3)
The Like - Falling Away
The Cars - Just What I needed
Ben Folds - Rock this Bitch/Philosophy
Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye

2005-12-13T17:04:00.000-05:00

The Filter Music Alliance... a community of like-minded,passionate music fans, webmasters, bloggers, who host the Filter Magazine Top 5 Picks feature module, updated weekly with 5 artists/new songs that we think are great and want to cumulatively give more props to! Recently FMA featured artists include: The Grates, Cat Power, The Go! Team, Silversun Pickups, Amusement Parks On Fire, Giant Drag, Nine Black Alps, Dungen, Dirty On Purpose, Sigur Ros, Nada Surf, The Clientele, (dios) malos, My Morning Jacket, Sleater-Kinney, Sufjan Stevens, Youth Group, Rilo Kiley, Sloan, Kinski, John Vanderslice, Hot Hot Heat, The Blue Van, EELS, Shout Out Louds, The Arcade Fire, The Mars Volta, Bright Eyes, Earlimart, Danger Doom, The Concretes, Wolf Parade, The Album Leaf, Nick Cave, TV On The Radio, and many more!

2005-12-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

I think the title “Giant Drag” is witty enough without my punch line.

I love Giant Drag. I really do. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it, but they had me at “meow.” I saw them in DC not long ago, I told you about it. It was killer. I am a sucker for good beats, guitars, and sing-a-long CD’s. Giant Drag is what I play for everyone in my car when I feel like showing off a really cool band that they should have heard of.

When I got the call about doing an interview I had to say yes, and then figure out how not to be outrageously star-struck. I requested Micah out of my love for picking on the drummers. Besides, interviews with cute boys are all the rage.

First I asked about Annie and her mumblings at the 9:30 Club. Turns out she knew a Dr. and he said she might have that subcutaneous whatever. Turns out he was wrong, she was fine, just had some tight muscles in her back. Glad to hear your lungs weren’t leaking Annie. Closure is such a wonderful thing.

Giant Drag is set for a West Coast tour with The Like and after some quick math I just had to ask, “Micah, isn’t The Like an all girls band, and then there is Annie.” Micah’s reply, “It’s fine, Annie says it’s payback for her being the only girl on the bus when we toured the UK with Nine Black Alps.”

Ah, yes, the UK tour with the Nine Black Alps. About a month ago Giant Drag returned from touring the UK to do more US touring. Micah said the UK tour was “so much fun, everyone on the bus was great, they were great people. I’d never been there before and I got to see a lot of cool music places. When we were in Liverpool is was like, wow, this is where the Beatles hung out. And when we were in Bristol it was all about Portishead, and then Manchester, like a million bands are from there including our tour-mates so that was really cool.” I had nothing to say. I was jealous.

Giant Drag is a good team, or at least they haven’t “hit that wall yet.” No, I don’t mean to stir up trouble, according to Micah they usually go in the same direction as far was songwriting, recording, and live sound. He’ll “meddle” in her songs and say, “Hey, try this,” and generally they agree. I agree they are completely awesome.

And while Giant Drag is in heavy rotation in my life, Micah’s iPod has told him that he’s been rocking the Lilly’s lately. He got an early copy from his friend Don who played on the album and on Giant Drag’s album as well. I guess it comes with his seal of approval when it comes out.

Micah’s favorite drummer’s come from back in the day. Elvin Jones from the John Coltrane Quartet is up there along with James Brown’s Clyde Stubblefield. Of course Jon Bonham is right up there. I would have made Micah keep listing until he got to Jon Bonham; he got there 3rd, and preceded him only with some of the finest in Jazz and Soul, so that’s fine by me!

Micah needs a new record player for Christmas. He has vinyl and keeps buying more, but has nothing to play it on. *wink*

2005-11-10T11:58:00.000-05:00

i watched batman begins, and aside from wishing miscarriage on katie holmes for the sake of our planet, i was buggin about how baltimore really needs batman.

christian bale rocked as always - and everything else was so kick ass - but WHY katie holmes. i KNOW this movie was made before everyone else thought she was a dopey-eyed 'tard and was still loving her for dawson's and all that. but - as many people who personally know me KNOW - i have ALWAYS referred to her as britany spears retarded twin sister. (to date i think they are equally tied for sweet-voiced droppy eyed FAS babies with too much cred.)

but back to the batman...really baltimore - or dc. dc may be better for batman due to the high concentration of poverty and politics, but i am selfish and think baltimore should be cleaned up first. name another city in the WORLD who's ex-police commission gets a radio show...which bumped this other radio show off the air...which happened to be MY replacement. MY replacement was replaced with some guy that took money from the city to go down to the block and get busy. GREAT.

batman, we need you.

2005-11-03T14:11:00.000-05:00

Be Brave - and wear sunglasses...

Who's idea were those lights anyway?

I went to Sonar. I saw Bravery. I swore I never would see them. I was right, mostly. Yes, I attended the show - but no, for about 1/2 the time I could not see. Damn those big floodlights set on strobo-matic.

Aside from the spots in my eyes for days, it was actually an enjoyable show. I think it served it's purpose. If the purpose of a tour is to promote the latest album and connect with fans then this should prove to be a highly successful tour and album.

I must honestly say it was the middle of the show that I was most content. I had a few brews in me, I knew the songs they were playing, I found a spot on a couch in the back of the room with a table for me to write this on...good good and good!

There was a lot of banter with the crowd and lots of b-more shout-outs, because b-more is synonymous with shout-outs, which should be noted. This made for plenty of hooting and hollering in the crowd and the objective of "connecting with fans" was met. There was a lot of singing-alonging as well. The objective of "buy our stuff" was met. This was proven with the long lines at the merch table, plus someone must have bought stuff before the show, again with the sing-along as proof.

Yes, good show indeed. I think it gets a nice solid "B" for b-more - with the only deduction for musical originality.

2005-10-18T16:49:00.000-04:00

In the middle of the desert, there is no cell phone reception...

There is no such thing as a fucked up harmonica

The Go! Team

The go team is currently on tour and has just finished checking into an Arizona hotel. Cell phone reception isn't great on either end of the line. But fear not, one day The Go! Team will visit here, someday, maybe next year...

I'm just going to go straight into this little conversation with Ian the Inventor...!
*parts of this interview may have been altered by Cingular Wireless's inability to deliver services paid for*

So, from your point on view, how do you think the live shows effect your sound?
It's even more noisy really, more wailing guitars...And Ninja adds her bit which really makes it interesting. It is certainly different from the album, different entities really. We had to evolve a little to make things work.
Do you prefer the instrumental tracks or the ones with vocals?
I look forward to the noisy ones where we get to trash around.
What made you take your homemade music out of it's box and bring it on to the international scene?
Actually, this was always meant to be a live band, but I just had to figure out how to do it really. I've always preferred the live band. The song writing using the laptop was really just a preparation for this and then it was just a matter of figuring out how to do it.
What was the motivation to put together such an eclectic and multinational group?
It was just thinking, "How can I actually do this?" It was just finding the right people. There were no real auditions or anything. It was more like, if you like music and can play it, you're in the band. I mean, you know who fits. I needed people that could play many things. We have two drum kits, recorders, the harmonica, everything.
What was the experience like reworking the album to clear in the US?
It was a painfully grim moment when I found out we had to redo it, but not as painful as I thought it would be. It was a chance to revisit the album. It's a little more boomy, the American version. It really came down to either paying out all this money or making music that we could play.
Do you personally check your message boards on the internet?
I have a look now and then, it's interesting. It's a different perspective. It's really funny to get a million different responses and opinions on just one thing, whether its a song or a show, all these people with all these different opinions on the same thing.

2005-10-18T01:57:00.000-04:00

take a step into my real life. the truth is better than fiction. i am a total fuck up. i leave the truth for you to decide. this is the truth. i just almost died.

oh my god
i just almost died!
i just ate so fast
i vomitted
mark under cooked the rice
and I started choking!
and puked like
TEN TIMES
out of my nose and everything
seriously
oh my god
i came on to blog about it
because it was so weird
i HATE puking
so much
i still have rice in my nose!
and NO voice
i sound like a 50 year old smoker
i'm still burping!
just laugh at me
for taking a big spoon full of undercooked rice
its not funny
it was scary as shit
i'm just glad i'm smrt
and knew to go throw myself over the toilet
mark was trying to kill me
he told me to drink more water
and i was like
NOPE
i'm pukin
it wasn't really like real choking
that's the thing
it was practically like
anofelatic shock or whateverlike asthma
i just cooked the rice for a little longer, i'm overchewing it.
ha! i'm still eating it.

2005-10-14T15:59:00.000-04:00

No Power for Cat Power at the Ottobar...

(which is lame since they have a Cat in their logo)

Let's start with the fact that I was still standing outside in the rain when Chan (Cat Power) took the stage. My guest was the last person to get in that didn't pre-order his ticket. By the time we made it in, the main room was packed and we were banished to the back area where the bar is. I decided to get a beer and watch the show on the bar TV.

It's very hard to write about Cat Power when you can barely hear and you have to watch Chan on TV. The room was her trademark "no lights" decor and her bangs were hiding her eyes, so there wasn't much to see on TV. People in the back with us were so busy yapping about not being able to see that they caused the inability to hear.

I don't even know what's song she's playing right now. I can barely tell she's playing at all. I hear some chords and some soft vocal melodies - the things that sound like Cat Power. There are just so many people in such a small space. That's the norm at a good show, but most good shows aren't so quiet. I don't recall anyone else so profoundly quiet taking the stage at the Ottobar.

Well, I can tell you she is playing her guitar right now. I just ran into an old friend from college. I can tell you that some people are now shushing each other and asking the bartenders to do something about the volume. What I can't tell you is the song she's playing because I'm at the bar listening to drink orders.

So, my wish is granted, the sound gets turned up. Sadly, this is countered by people talking louder. We should have come sooner, but that would have meant waiting in the rain longer. I want to be telling you how awesome this show is. There are people enjoying the show. I can see them down by the stage. The people that can see, the people that can hear - they look like they are having the times of their lives. I am not. I would have been better off at home watching this on my big TV.

A few recognizable notes make it through the noise. Perhaps the song just played was one I knew, perhaps its a new one. There is no way to tell. People got louder again, the bar-back just broke about 6 glasses right in front of me, and I guess we were just lucky to have both made it in. But after the broken glasses, I don't think there's a need to stay and wait for an encore.

2005-10-13T15:04:00.000-04:00

Just go for the opening band...

I took my goofy pills this morning, and harassed a rock-star in the afternoon.

It's been a very good day indeed....

I guess a good place to start is that the rock-star in question was Gunnar, the drummer from The Exit. On a personal note, I would like to say that he is definitly a fun one, and I look forward to buying him a bottle of wine and hope he doesn't forget the crazy straws. Now that the silliness is out of the way, well - there is more silliness to follow.

After a brief introduction, I couldn't help but just go crazy with this guy. This is why I chose to take on the drummer, funness. So, here are some key excerpts and some other random bits that flowed out one rainy fall day...(I will be bold, and he will be italics, ok?)

So, what's your sign?
Libra

Oh happy birthday
Thanks, actually it was 13 days ago

(long pause)
So it was the first?
Yes

Sorry, I'm not really good at math
It's ok, that's why my phone has a calculator

Yes! A kindred spirit! Now, the problem with two people that don't know each other being forced to talk on the phone for 30 minutes is usually dead silence and cookie cutter Q & A. This style of interview is very easy to quote and brings nothing much else to the table. This was not that kind of interview at all, so how to explain to you what happened is near impossible. All I can say is that there was no phone sex involved.

So first of all, the only place Gunnar recommends "black and white" cookies from is at 96th and Broadway in Manhattan. Gunnar is actually from Manhattan and currently lives in Queens. This is contrary to belief that he is from Brooklyn as stated elsewhere. The band did spend some time in that area, but currently are all residing in different boroughs in the city - therefore, they are not from Brooklyn (not that there is anything wrong with that) even though the internet says different.

So, I heard you just got back from Canada. How was that?
It's cool, we did more talking than playing. This is our first time doing press like that. We're a band and we're used to doing more playing than talking. Canada treated us well. It's so relaxed there -- and then you go home. The media here is different. I didn't miss the news, but I did miss the food. New York City has the best food.

So, you're about to start a new tour next week, do you have any favorite bands you've toured with?
Well, we are very excited for the 311 tour. They have a very dedicated fan base that we can't wait to play for. We've toured with RX Bandits which is an amazing band. We played with Against Me, which rocked my socks off. And the tour with Muse was a definite highlight. This tour with 311 is going to be a little bit different. Instead of doing a "leg" of the tour they have us staggered pretty much every other show which is interesting.

Tell me more about this duel writing style that goes on...
I think that's a little bit of a misconception. I don't just play the drums, I'll go throw in a lyric here or do a lot of the arrangements and some of the music. It really is a team effort. "Already Gone" was just put together in the practice room and then Ben and Jeff went off to trade lyrics - and they do alternate lead vocals, but people assume that the singer wrote the song. We all have a part in it and I like the variety. Different people sing, but it's a band effort. Like Lennon/McCartney, and they did it so well.

How do those myspace comments make you feel saying you are the best drummer ever?
Well, first of all I refuse to have my own account but I do check on the bands page. I like to know what the real people are saying, myspace is where it's all at. But those people are cool. I'm trying to be [the best drummer ever], so it's cool. I like those people.

Who is a better drummer, John Bonham or Ringo Starr?
I love them both so much actually. John was a bigger influence as a rock drummer but Ringo is silly and the coolest. Both for a different reason really. I was actually Ringo for Halloween last year.

Where does the cowbell fit into all of this?
The Will Ferrell sketch made people more cowbell conscious. I actually saw one in a store once and picked it up because at the time cowbells weren't being featured in rock bands. I just don't want people to thinks it's a gimmick. I've been hearing a lot of "more cowbell" at shows. I'll keep doing it for now, but if it gets old I'm thinking about using a tin can.

Where did you get the name Gunnar?
Gunnar is, I don't know...I don't mind if people assume it's my name. It's a nickname for another band when there was another person with the same name. It's kind of a joke because my middle initial is G. And I always said it stood for Gunnar. It kind of took on it's own thing. A birthday cake that said "Happy Birthday Gunnar" clued me in on that. I would name my son that though.

One last question, it's kind of personal, but I need to know. Do you plan to keep growing your hair out?
Yeah, it's going to be long. I'm growing it out because it's cool to rock out with a mop. Kind of like Dave Grohl in the Nirvana era. I go through phases every few weeks where I hate it, but I must admit that right now I'm really diggin'' the hair.

Me too, thank you, me too.

So, we chatted a few minutes after that "official stuff," which is where the bottle of wine with a straw comes into the picture. We talked about a few Baltimore venues and I made it clear that I hope they come to town soon.

THE END.

2005-10-05T23:34:00.000-04:00

"You fuck like my dad..." or "I don't want a pin stuck in my back, I'm not a balloon."

Why you should have already heard of Giant Drag.

Remember that cool indie-rock band the White Stripes? Well take them, minus the color palette thing, switch the members, and then make it cooler. One boy on the drums, one girl on the guitar and the mic. Simple. Perfect. Especially when the chic's voice is sweet and effortless - everything I try to sound like in the shower...

This particular set was littered with Annie's musings about having to see a doctor after the show, something about "subcutaineous emphysema," which seems to be about as hard to spell as it was for her to say. But the beats went on accompanied with bar chords and girl singing.

One highlight was that Annie announced she was going to play a song she wrote when she was eight that her boyfriend stole from her and made his own. Hmm, oddly enough the opening hardly sounded anything like 8-year-old writing and about 5 notes into it, the lightbulb went off. It was an excellent cover of Chris Issac's "Wicked Game." Tricky thing, but she did make it her own, complete with light show, and caught the attention of the frat boys that were there (for some unknown reason.)

So, finally the moment I was waiting for came. Kevin, is indeed, gay - or so the song goes. This is why you should already know who Giant Drag is, because I told you about them when I checked out the Filter Magazine sampler. That song kicks so much major ass. That song is why I went, and I was not disappointed.

Check them out if you like: Go-Go's, Janis Joplin, Nirvana, White Stripes, Breeders, Bangles, Veruca Salt, or music...as in the stuff you listen to....

Grinding riffs, catchy hooks, pounding beats, sing-along-able...I don't know what this chic's on, but I want some.

2005-09-29T11:41:00.000-04:00

The Perishers, like Lingonberries, are an unexpectedly a tasty treat...

My first impression of the Perishers was, "Hey, move out of the way, I can't see Tracey Bonham." Because (naturally) I was at the bar enjoying a slice of Key Lime pie and a Copperhead Ale. The second thoughts that passed through my mind occurred when I first saw them take the stage. "Oh God, the band is actually the guys that were just in my way." And, "Oh, wait, I didn't see that one, he's cute!"

And while the sight of a skinny white boy with shaggy hair and tight jeans is a personal favorite and would have been enough, I had to do a double take because I actually liked what I was hearing. I spent the rest of the first song in a garage-pop daze until the next song gave me a case of the toe-taps to a well harmonized hook that sent me back to the days of Andreas Johnson.

To be honest, I have no idea what I'm hearing. I came tonight to indulge in one of my guilty pleasures, Aqualung. But this is actually good, good like, "I bought the t-shirt and CD at the show good." So, at that moment, I was being treated to a soft-rock, piano infested ballad and I did take the plunge and go to the merch stand to grab a copy of the LP (because they have LP's!) They were only 2.3 songs into their set.

Then the band took a second to talk and introduce themselves. This is where I found out they were Swedish. Turns out the lead singer, Olef, has a great sense of humor since he, "Hails from the land of Ikea," which made all the girls scream for some reason. I know I enjoy my "lack" end tables as much as the next person, but I guess those girls just like theirs a little more.

So they go on to their next song, which is something that starts with an "s" and ends in something thickly accented. I don't know what he just said, but I don't mind. Whatever it is, it is a pretty solid love song that has the boys and girls all over each other. The best part of the song though had to have been the skilled use of the tambourine.

The Perishers remind me of something that I can't put my finger on. There is a 50's sensibility to it, with a 60's groove, and some 70's licks, with a little bit of a folky feel, and an indie rock twist. All I know is that there are six Swedish boys on the stage, all playing with excellent musicianship, a respect for the rock God's that came before them, and really hot accents.

I'm just waiting for them to bust out into Freebird...

2005-09-21T10:31:00.000-04:00

Rockstar INXS? That band is dead to me without Michael. Period.

So, I followed the show a little bit, but mostly online while I was supposed to be "working" and tuned in last night for the finally. Marty was always my favorite. MiG was my second, and that damn JD idiot should have been sent home after the first week. It's not a bias against his Canadianism, no, he is just a squished face hot-head and does not deserve the band. Or so I thought.

INXS is dead. Has been dead. To me it was really just watching Michael slither around singing mid-orgasm. No Michael = no band. This new kid is ugly and doesn't even have long hair! Then I took a closer look at the remaining members of the band. It's pretty obvious why they picked him. There are all old fat rich men now, and they want this kid that looks like a Backstreet boy to lead their band because....because they are out of touch old men who's band died a long time ago.

Still, I was outraged about the JD thing - until Marty got his prize. Marty may just be getting his own band and opening for the resurrected INXS. Hmmm, front geezers - or OPEN for geezers...Opening means getting your own band and your own records and NOT having to be put up to my standards of sex god. Too bad for Marty he's blond. At least he lines those babyblue's in black...He has sex god potential though. He can sing "Wish you were here" and gimmie chills - and his skill at pretending he's Kurt Cobain earns him MAJOR points with me.

To me, he's the biggest winner. JD - take your old man band and new role as fill-in, I'll be waiting for Marty to come rock my socks...

2005-09-19T15:37:00.000-04:00

Complilation disks are from Heaven, as long as you don't have to pay for them...

Well, today I got a new comp. disk. Not really, I got an e-comp disk. There is a real copy out there though - you can pick it up in the new issue of Filter Magazine actually. Well, as comp. disks go, it's pretty solid. It's even multi-genre in fact! Some highlights:

Track 2 is from Death Cab for Cutie and if you heard of them depends on a few things. They've been as cool as sliced bread on the indie/college scene for a million years and this song seems to have gotten them onto the corporate airwaves as well. So, if you're under a rock and have no Infinity owned alternative station- check out this poppy little love song and fall in love with Death Cab.

Track 5 is a refreshing new offering from Blackalicious. Stupid name, good music. Thumpin bass, gravely voiced - fast paced rhymes...good stuff indeed, just drop the Beyonce inspired name and well, you may just get a few steps farther. I saw them open for Nikka Costa a few years back - catch them live if they're in your town.

Track 11 - This one got my toes a-tappin'. King Elementary "Hit the Mirror" I dunno, it reminds me of something, maybe a bit Moth-ee or something. I dunno I LOVE it though. In the same vein as everything "cool" on the radio but has something unique to offer.

Track 15 - Giant Drag "Kevin is Gay" I have many reasons to like this song. One is that when I forget a guy's name, he becomes Kevin to me unless otherwise stated. Then, there is all the meowing, which I like to meow along too. I have yet to test this song around my cats, but can only assume it's amusing. It's girly and guitary and poppy and just *sigh* I need more!!!

The rest is good, but you need not a play-by-play, you need to get a copy of Filter and get yourself an education!

2005-09-18T14:13:00.000-04:00

Anime Newbie Review: Ghost in the Shell

Siskel & Ebert gave it 2 thumbs up. Too bad now they're Siscal and Roper. Ah, the joys of being a newbie in a world once thought to be the dribble of Bebop and Moon. This movie was put out in 1996, before I even glimpsed at the previously mentioned shows. In fact, at the point in my life I think I was more concerned with Kurt Cobain and memorizing the lyrics to Pearl Jam records, if only I had this masterpiece to set me in the ways of anime...

Honestly, this may be the most beautiful anime I've seen so far, but I haven't seen all that much so it's hard to say - but as far as animation in general it's SPECTACULAR (and I've watched my share of cartoons)

I started out watching the English dub which seemed to be a little off with the sound effects tracks. Quiet talking, loud helicopters - I had to keep my hand on the remote to help ease the transitions. Sadly enough, I started watching this movie too late in the evening and had to finish the second half today. Well, maybe not too sadly, I restarted the movie and couldn't get the English to work so I watched it with subtitles instead.

My issue with subtitles, especially in a movie like this in which some characters have blond hair and blue eyes - is imagining all the little Japanese men doing the voice work. Now, I know that in the English version there may not be a 300 pound blond, blue-eyed man doing the work, but mentally it makes enough sense to me that I don't think about the voice-actor.

The good news: the sound effects were mixed much more evenly with the dialog tracks, so I traded reading for constant-remote handling and found the movie to still be awesome!

I should also mention the short running time of only 82 minutes. It was enough time to definitely lay out a plot and maybe even a bit of a climax - but then stops dead in it's tracks - the good news is that there are 5 more disks of material at the Hollywood video that I can access. So, without further adieu (sp?)

Should you rent it: yes
Should you buy it: unable to decide at this time
Strong points: Sci-fi, futuristic, stunning animation
Weakness: English dub sound-track needs remastered or my TV needs to go to the shop
If this is a part of a series will you continue with it: mos def

2005-09-17T15:21:00.000-04:00

Well, tonight I'm supposed to be seeing the Doves. However, I forgot to buy the tickets, and when I buy them at ticketbastard I stumbled across the listing for the Pixies tickets which was supposed to be hush-hush. Sonar's website and myspace just left it as "what happens when arena rock comes to a small clubsetting" (or something like that) so, I passed on Doves and went for Pixies.

Did I do the right thing?

I think I did because this was a rare opertunity to get close the the Pixies - so, in stead of seeing Doves I am going to watch "Ghost in the Shell" the first movie, and if I like it I will watch the 4 disks of show and the second movie as well. I think I will like it though, it was put out by the same people that did Blood: The Last Vampire - and aside from being partical to Vampires, I did like the animation as well.

Sorry, I don't have a thing to say about something new until next Thursday when I will make the trip to the depths of DC to the 9:30. Which I just found out Jimmy (with the hottest tattoo on the planet) from Ours will be at Sonar. If I knew about it - I would be seeing OLP at the Troc.

2005-09-15T14:57:00.000-04:00

A little something to knaw on...by me, for me.

You.
You with those eyes.
Mine are just.
Full of it.
I'm.
So sick of it.
Where are you?
Get me out.
I grow weary of your stand-in life.

You.
You with those eyes.
What about mine?
You know their pain.
Without seeing them.
You diluted it best as you could.

You. Still with those eyes.
Can you feel mine?
Burning a hole.
Through a screen.
Looking for you.
Can you feel it at night in your dreams?

You.
Your soul.
Where are they now?
Are they looking for me?
Unclouded or tainted.
A perfect ideal.
That these eyes cannot fill.

2005-09-14T17:07:00.000-04:00

An avid myspace blogger seeks a new home! Othersites tried: live journal, xanga, friendster. But those are all about friends and networking and fun and such. This is to be about the thing I got learned about in school. No, not grammar - music.

I will start by tooting my own horn, which I actually had to borrow from my brother, because HE played the horn, I never did - well, I tried a few times but didn't like the numb-lips. But really, all lame attempts at wit aside, I really do know what I'm talking about.

Perhaps a resume should tickle your fancy?

BA - Mass Comm, minor - music industry, history, concentration in Russian studies (don't ask about the last one)

March 2002 - May 2003: Infinity Broadcasting, WHFS Lanham, MD Intern. Part-time On-air.

May 1998 - October 2002: Radio Hanover Inc. Hanover, PA. On-air personality.

Has studied: voice (for like a month and quit), piano (for like 10 years or so, quit), concert snare drum (like 15 years of that, quit), and then assorted other percussion along the way like marching band and musicals and yippie! Oh yes, and guitar in there too - dabbling with that for like 5 years on and off and still not any good. Right now, mostly hand drumming stuff though - and if I dare say, I'm not too terrible.

And if a degree and being an ex-radio hoe don't do it in...Let's review my current schedule of things musical:

Sometime in June: PIXIES (I think it was the 13th)
A month ago: NEIL DIAMOND (YESSSSSSS!)
2 weeks ago: Ted Nugent (ok, it was just to say I did)
Last night: Allman Bros Band (now we're talking)
Next week: Our Lady Peace (maybe not relevant, but close to my heart)
The week after: Aqualung (it's cute, it's sad *wink*)
A few days later: PIXIES (small, sold out club show!!!)
And 2 weeks later: Mono (something a bit more chill)

If it's not clear, I have a varied interest in music and adhere not to any scene. I listen to what I do. I will listen to anything once...Usually. I am not really feeling country, but some songs are good. I like commercial gangsta rap for amusement only - and have no opinion on Biggie vs. Tupac. I can't tell one electronic artist from another, but it's great background music. The only redeeming quality of jam bands is the drum/percussion solo's, that and it keeps hippies off the streets - always a good thing.

Yesterday was Tuesday, new music day. I didn't get anything though, but if I did, I'd review it. I'm sure I'll comment on my upcoming shows. I'm always open to new bands - so go ahead and recommend something. I like amazon.com a lot. Corporate, yes. Stupid, no. I usually buy used CD's from the independent sellers there, but read the reviews and listen to the clips. I've even written a few there.

Also, I am an anime newbie. It started with my friend making me watch Cowboy Bebop and Sailor Moon. I hated them BOTH. Equally. Terribly. Then Daft Punk did that "one more time" video and left me wanting more. Interstellar 5555 is probably the first anime thing I bought. I got into Gundam Wing in college and now have of those on VHS. I have a few things around - and being a newbie have a fresh perspective on all that. I can list that stuff another time. This was SUPPOSED to be a brief introduction.

Things I am not good at: being patient, being brief, sharing pickles.