all shook down

how to destroy angels

2010-05-18T20:04:00.003-04:00

It's no surprise that I'm breathlessly interested in How to Destroy Angels, Trent Reznor's new band with his wife Mariqueen Maandig. Of course I'm intrigued - Trent is one of the smartest guys in music, and he's responsible for helping a generation through their teens and college years.

The first song is out there, and the video is not for the faint at heart. The video reminds me of Nine Inch Nails' early years, and the Broken videos that were thought to be snuff films. If those were homemade videos on a student's budget, this one is an indie idea on a Jerry Bruckheimer budget.

What do you think?

2010-04-16T13:10:00.002-04:00

Really excited to see Gil Scott-Heron today. He's my number-one must see on Day 1. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm also planning to catch Avett Brothers, She & Him, LCD Soundsystem, Sleigh Bells, and a bunch of others I hope to discover today.

coachella 2009 timelapse

2010-04-11T15:29:00.002-04:00

It looks like this was taken from the corner of the Outdoor Stage area. Very cool. I couldn't get this video to publish correctly, so you're going to have to click here.

gil scott-heron

2010-04-11T10:03:00.005-04:00

About a month or two ago, I was surfing the Paste Magazine Web site and came upon an article about Gil Scott-Heron and listened to a few of the tracks on the site. I was immediately enthralled.

The 61-year old just released an amazing CD called I'm New Here, and he has a heck of a history you can read all about on Wikipedia. His best-known work is a spoken-word jam called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which has woven its way into the modern-day vernacular, regardless of whether people are aware of its origin.

One of my old favorites of his is "Whitey on the Moon."
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
I can't pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
(while Whitey's on the moon)
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
('cause Whitey's on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey's on the moon)

The new CD is dark and quite riveting. This little discovery made me feel like a changed woman. I couldn't stop listening to the tracks I could find online; it was like listening to Ani DiFranco for the first time. I felt like it was a gateway to a whole other consciousness.

Then the coolest thing happened. I realized he's on the bill for Coachella. He's now on my list of absolutely must-see artists for the festival. I'm expecting nothing less than a life-changing experience.

coachella threads

2010-04-10T16:53:00.003-04:00

Right now, I'm completely focused on the anticipation of Coachella 2010. I've been studying the lineup and introduced myself to some great music that was new to me. At this moment, I'm washing a load of Empire Polo Field-worthy apparel that will be appropriate for the glorious 80 to 90-degree weather forecast for the festival. It will probably increase this week to the typical 100s, but a girl can dream.

Deciding what to wear to Coachella is ridiculously difficult. Trying to look like you belong with the young hipsters is one thing. Staying pleasantly cool in the desert heat is another. I'm not your typical alterna-waif either, so a bikini or tube top is out of the question. Multiple pairs of footwear is a must because of the near blisters that develop each night - your feetsies need variety or they hurt even more after that one-mile walk through the dust to the parking lot.

But don't take my word for it.

Stylite: What does one wear to Coachella??
(Any reporter who says you need space in your backpack for band members' phone numbers lives in some alternate universe from me.)

What to Wear: Music Festivals
(You lost me at the $436 one piece you think I'm going to wear and have to take completely off to use a port-a-potty.)

Coachella 2008 forum
(My introduction to the P-mate, a cardboard contraption girls can use to pee standing up, as well as Monistat's non-chaffing cream.)

Just make sure you wear SOMETHING.

i'm back

2010-04-10T15:51:00.002-04:00

I don't know how long this will last, but here I am. In all honesty, I haven't been myself lately. I will sound like a commercial for Cymbalta when I tell you that I wasn't finding joy in things that I typically like, I was feeling detached, I gained weight, and I generally lost track of where I'd been and where I was going.

I'm not back to normal yet by any means, but I'm getting there. At least, now I want to get there.

Which brings me back to the blog, which used to be so fun for me. I figured I'd see if I could find some lost puzzle piece of me here in this one-column layout.

fail!

2009-03-16T17:23:00.005-04:00

I learned about FAIL Blog from my friend Michelle's Facebook status update. There's always a nice variety of photos and videos that make you wonder about the fate of humanity. Actually, it's kind of like your daily uncensored "America's Funniest Home Videos (and Photos)." Here are a few highlights.

Six-Pack Fail
see more pwn and owned pictures

Child Safety Fail
see more pwn and owned pictures

Inflatable Fail
see more pwn and owned pictures

Golf Club Fail

jeff & elliott

2009-03-13T20:15:00.004-04:00

I've written about my love of Jeff Buckley before. He's my muse, and his death was something that still affects me. I joined the staff of his fan newsletter, met his mom at a fan gathering at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and could devote an entire wall of home to all of my "memorabilia" I've collected.

My friend Christy knows exactly how I feel about Jeff because she feels the same way about Elliott Smith. We have a photo with our friends in front of the mural that appeared on the cover of Figure 8 and became a memorial to the singer after his own untimely death.

Today has been one of those days in which everything seemed to go wrong, and I felt like running away and hiding from life.

Then, I came home to this.

Jeff Buckley Retrospective CD/DVD on the Way

Pitchfork.com is reporting that a new DVD will debut on June 2 that will feature some live performances, the Amazing Grace documentary and more. I'm beside myself. It's something to look forward to, even though I know it will be difficult to watch.

While on the same Web page, I see there's a little-seen video on Pitchfork.tv with Elliott Smith called Strange Parallel. It's beautiful to see him smiling, playing music and expressing his sense of humor.

And check out the cameos! Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney and recently of Bright Eyes and The Jicks (with Stephen Malkmus) and director Gus Van Sant of Milk and Good Will Huntingfame appear.

Pitchfork says the video will be posted for one week, so go watch it now.

friday's coachella picks, part two

2009-02-03T23:16:00.012-05:00

How in the world will I fit all of this in to one day?

The Crystal Method
You know them, and you know the song - "Name of the Game." That was years ago, and I haven't followed them, but I'm sure it will be a great set.
WATCH: the video

The Airborne Toxic Event

I learned about this L.A. band very, very recently after reading Carrie Brownstein's excellent column NPR: Monitor Mix. According to guest columnist Sean Wilsey ...

"TATE is a five-piece band, with a single female member (the violinist), and in "Sometime Around Midnight" it's the woman who makes the first move: "She walks up and asks how you are / So you can smell her perfume / You can see her lying naked in your arms."

There's some kind of hookup in the next few lines, but things plummet messily downhill until "you feel hopeless and homeless and lost in the haze of the wine." Soon she ends it: "Then she leaves, with someone you don't know / But she makes sure you saw her / She looks right at you and bolts / As she walks out the door, your blood boiling your stomach in ropes / Oh, and when your friends say, 'What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost!' "

I love it! I think they are going to top my Friday must-see list ... along with Conor, of course.
WATCH: "Sometime Around Midnight"
WATCH: "Does This Mean You're Moving On?"

The Black Keys
I saw The Black Keys open for someone at Hard Rock Live. I can't remember who they opened for, but I do remember how this band floored me. The lead singer approached the mic, and his raspy Jonny Lang-esque voice kicked my ass. How do two guys make so much beautiful noise? They are perfect for rocking out in the desert.
LISTEN: "Breaks"

The Hold Steady
LISTEN: "Sequestered in Memphis"

The Presets
This Australian dance punk duo reminds me of an early '80s new wave band.
LISTEN: "This Boy's in Love"
I'm intrigued.

The Ting Tings
Although they are pretty well known already, I think a stellar Coachella performance may send them into the stratosphere.
LISTEN:"That's Not My Name"

We Are Scientists
I would seriously pay money just to be there for the onstage banter. The sexiness of witty intelligence trumps simple hotness, and the music rocks. Go to the Web site and work out your abs with some high-energy laughter. Did I mention that Keith Murray strongly resembles Conor Oberst? That's just lagniappe!
LISTEN: "Inaction"

White Lies
Another new find for me, White Lies is a London band that's spending some time on top of the U.K. charts. They remind me of something between Interpol and The National.
LISTEN: "Unfinished Business"

friday's coachella picks, part one

2009-02-03T20:51:00.009-05:00

The countdown to Coachella has begun, and although the lineup announcement was disappointing to some, I'm truly excited beyond words. Seriously, we are lucky just that Coachella is even on the schedule. Look what happened to the Langerado Festival, and they had a pretty kickin' lineup -- including Death Cab for Cutie, Public Enemy, Modest Mouse, Deerhunter, Broken Social Scene, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Girl Talk, Bad Brains, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Tokyo Police Club, the Faint, Tricky, Chromeo and Ra Ra Riot.

Allow me to share my excitement with you. First, let's look at the list of performers on Friday, in alphabetical order, not necessarily by thrill factor.

Beirut
Lead singer Zach Condon is just about 22, and he's from Brooklyn by way of Santa Fe. His music is often described as dark gypsy music with an Eastern European feel. He has been known to perform with an orchestra of violins, trumpets, flugelhorns, ukuleles, cellos, accordions and a tambourine.
Listen: A Sunday Smile
Listen: Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Do I really need to add anything here? In my opinion -- and the opinion of others who people listen to with much more vigor -- Conor Oberst is one of the best songwriters around. He never ceases to amaze me, and his first solo album in years was no disappointment. I saw them perform at Firestone a few months ago, and they sounded great. Let me get my boots on, let me get my boots on, let me get my boots back on!
Listen to the album in its entirety

Crystal Castles
I can just picture us dancing under the laser lights of the Sahara Tent. They're from Toronto, are huge in the U.K. and toured last year with Nine Inch Nails.

Franz Ferdinand
You know them, you love them, and they love Beta's jumpah.

Ghostland Observatory
I don't know much... OK, really anything ... about them except that they describe their own music as "a robot making love to a tree." I'm intrigued.

Leonard Cohen
He's the subject of my all-time favorite line from "The Young Ones" - Neil whines, "No one is listening to me. I feel like a Leonard Cohen album." Then along comes the beautiful Jeff Buckley, and new generations of listeners who may have only known his spooky "Everybody Knows" from the Pump Up the Volume soundtrack are introduced to his "Hallelujah." Strangely I was introduced to "Famous Blue Raincoat" during an interview with Damien Rice and "I'm Your Man" from "The L Word."

M. Ward
I met M after he opened for Bright Eyes at The Social. He was so kind. I bought his CD and told him I couldn't wait to listen to it. He seemed so genuine. Now, he's singing with Zooey Deschannel in She & Him. I wonder if she'll make an appearance.

Morrissey
My first memory of Morrissey was watching him perform on "120 Minutes" in front of a bunch of screaming girls who were seriously swooning like I had not seen before. It was like watching The Beatles perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show." I was thinking,"Who is this guy, and why don't I know him?"
Listen: All You Need is Me

Noah and the Whale
They're fun. You may recognize "5 Years Time;" it was featured in a Saturn SUV commercial.
Listen: 5 Years Time
Listen: 2 Atoms in the Molecule

Patton & Rahzel
Mike Patton from Faith No More teams up with former Roots beatboxer Rahzel M. Brown. Interesting.

Paul McCartney
Wha?? I get to see a Beatle? Oh yes!!

People Under the Stairs
Download free track: Funner Than Leather

Silversun Pickups
I love these guys -- I saw them on the main stage a couple of years ago, so I'm surprised they're back so soon. But I'm not complaining -- I'm thrilled!
LISTEN: Kissing Families

And I'm not even finished with FRIDAY! I'm tired. More tomorrow.

let the games begin!

2009-01-30T07:22:00.000-05:00

Go to Coachella.com for all the details.

something i can never have

2009-01-23T22:05:00.002-05:00

I found this amazing version of one of my favorite songs from NIN.

obamanize!

2009-01-22T21:12:00.004-05:00

Great new ap -- make your own "Obamicon," thanks to Paste Magazine. You can upload a picture or use a Web cam shot, play with the color saturation and then add a word or two at the bottom. Here are a few I made this evening while I was supposed to be doing some homework.

the rebuilding of a nation begins

2009-01-20T19:42:00.005-05:00

It's my 300th post, and it's one that I type with overwhelming emotion. I cannot begin to explain the hope and excitement I felt today watching the inauguration of President Barack Obama. His speech was so eloquent, so moving and so inspirational. There are many, many amazing photos on Flickr -- be sure to browse the Inauguration 2009 pool. Below is the text of Obama's inaugural speech.

My fellow citizens,

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them— that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence— the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

dirty, dirty twitter

2009-01-18T11:54:00.002-05:00

I subscribe to Diablo Cody's Twitter feed. She's the screenwriter who earned an Oscar for Juno. Here's her latest tweet:

"OMG, I'm at Baja Fresh and they have a Diablo Taco. I'm like "Me too, IN MY PANTS."

i got my wiiiii fit, i got my wiiiii fit, i got my wiiiii fit

2009-01-15T20:00:00.004-05:00

I've been wanting a Wii Fit since I first saw the video online and they were available only in Japan. It seemed like such a cool idea and a great way to rid my life of as much stress as I can in a fun way. Where else can Conor Oberst throw hula hoops to you? Yeah, I'm a nerd. I actually made a Mii of Conor. I love seeing him pop up in crowd scenes and bowling alleys, on the jogging track and on the face of a marble.

As soon as the friendly delivery guy handed over my new Wii Fit, I ripped open the box and set up the balance board. What a great game! I completed my initial testing and learned my Wii Fit age was 5 yeas younger than my actual age. Not too shabby!

I tried out the yoga, strength training -- someone please teach me how to do a push up! -- aerobics and balance games. I really enjoyed it. The only bad thing was that I think Tilly was annoyed that she wasn't the center of my attention.

Actually, even getting the Wii Fit is quite a story. I haven't been able to find them anywhere, so I took a tip from Gashapon and went to amazon.com. I have grown to love that site. I did most of my Christmas shopping there and had everything sent directly to my brother's house -- great convenience!

But that was nothing in comparison to my snagging of one the hottest toys on the market. I signed up for Amazon Text Alert. As soon as the game was in, I received a text message, and I immediately texted back "fitbuy." I had already goven them my credit card number, so all they needed was a quick OK from me. Within minutes, I got a confirmation, and the Wii Fit was on its way to my messy abode. According to James, you gotta be quick with the texting. I was lucky that I had my phone right on my desk at work and got the message immediately.

If you're looking for a hard-to-find item, I recommend trying this service. It was so easy, and now I'm working on my ski jump!

coachella confirms??

2009-01-12T21:22:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure where they're getting all of this, but ConsequenceOfSound.com has announced "confirmed" artists for Coachella, which is scheduled for one week earlier than normal this year, April 17-19.

The one I'm most excited about is Fleet Foxes. Other little thrills include Noah and the Whale, Basement Jaxx, Girl Talk, The Black Keys, The Hold Steady and The Killers. It's going to be another best weekend of the year.

It's starting. And my heart is officially skipping beats.

Blogging the Globes live from my sofa

2009-01-11T19:53:00.024-05:00

OK, let's do this thing...

OK, I just took advantage of the commercial and read through my blog so far. It's stupid. I'm retiring early. Next time, I'll invite some friends, and we'll use CoverItLive.com. That would be more fun.

8:33 p.m.
Drew Barrymore seems to be channeling Marilyn Monroe. Is it working?

8:31 p.m.
I love Anna Paquin, and I love her show "True Blood." Go Anna!!!! And I saw Stephen Moyer during the pre-show. He seemed like such a nice guy and very cute.

8:29 p.m.
Zac Efron is truly a cutie.

8:26 p.m.
Eva Mendes -- I always say her name when I'm trying to say Eva Medved.

8:23 p.m.
Who do you think Demi Moore is calling on her cell phone?

Break for a phone chat with Devan.

8:14 p.m.
Simon Baker. *exhale* I think I just fainted -- or was that a blackout everyone saw?

8:13 p.m.
This is a bit harder than I anticipated. My new goal is to just get through the first hour.

8:09 p.m.
Ohh! A shout out to Clarence Clemmons!
I want to see The Wrestler. The last time I saw Mickey Rourke, I was in a movie theater with Pallie, Chris, Lauren and Mike Emmert watching Wild Orchid.

8:08 p.m.
The Best Song category is full of heavyweights. The Boss? Peter Gabriel? Glad Bruce won. He hasn't aged in 15-20 years - how does that happen?

8:07 p.m.
Ha! Sting walked out, and the audience looked a but surprised. Now I see why. Is that Bono or Sting?

8:03 p.m.
Kate Winslet -- she looks stunning. I love her. Awwww, she's kind of shaking.

8:02 p.m.
I hear lots of cutlery.

8:01 p.m.
OK, we're kicking off with J-Lo and the award for supporting actress.

7:59 p.m.
I didn't realize there was a red carpet show on NBC. I like Tiki Barber, but on the red carpet? In the two minutes I saw, I was already aggravated. Glad I was watching E!

7:57 p.m. Ryan Seacrest is truly a professional -- for all the silliness, he's really good at what he does. OK, I am turning over to NBC for the show.

7:52 p.m.
Megan Fox -- She's a hot mess. First she tries to announce that she's ugly by insulting Alan Alda and the transsexual population. Then, you try to get people to like you by saying you're insecure? Whatever!! And then you drop that you have a 22-inch waist! Go get a sandwich.

be sure the kids are out of the room...

2009-01-11T13:09:00.003-05:00

No, it's not really puppy porn, more like the cutest thing ever!

found at cuteoverload.com

my new favorite toy!

2009-01-06T21:05:00.004-05:00

Poladroid is a new application for macs and PCs that allow you to enhance your digital photos with a vintage make-under. I love, love, love Polaroid photos. There's something so fun about hearing that sound as they spit out of the camera, smelling that hint of chemicals and waiting in breathy anticipation as the image starts to fade in. I love it! This little Poladroid program reminded me how even the colors of these photos make me sentimental. Here are a few I made today.

paula was right, opposites attract

2009-01-04T11:47:00.003-05:00

It's 2009, and it seems like the right time to get back into the habit of updating my blog. "I'll try and do better" -- it seems like that's my motto lately. I have a big need for some personal improvement. So, here's a step in the right direction. Writing makes me happy, and I always seem to learn more about myself.

So, here's my first entry; a moving "CBS Sunday Morning" segment that warmed my heart. As soon as I saw it this morning, I knew I wanted to share it. (There's a quick commercial in the beginning.)

Watch CBS Videos Online

american blues vol. 1

2008-10-10T22:19:00.002-04:00

This is a new song from Pete Yorn. He said that he wrote it on July 4 of this year when he was overwhelmed by all the bad news he was reading in the newspaper. I think that's a pretty popular sentiment right now. Here's the video for the track.

Pete Yorn - American Blues Vol. 1

holy stereotypes, batman!

2008-09-29T20:41:00.006-04:00

I stumbled upon this Web site Sociological Images: Seeing is Believing. Very interesting stuff. The first post is a take on what our favorite celebs would look like if they were Midwesterners. Can you name them?

In my mind, these are not funny because they are supposed to be "Midwesterners." They're funny because they look like our fave celebs with the bodies of our own family members. You could just as easily say they are stars as "white trash" or "Southern rednecks." Why do we resort to stereotypes? Would it be just as funny if it was titled "When Celebs HIt Middle Age and Let Themselves Go"?

And why am I in such a preachy mood?

The credit for the original post went to Jeremy Enke, who gave the Photoshop credits to PlanetHiltron. All the sites look like they are worth a visit... with an open mind.

By the way, that's Nicole Kidman, Johnny Depp, Ashlee Simpson and Pamela Anderson up there.

save bitch!

2008-09-20T16:29:00.004-04:00

So, if you know me, you also may know the story of a job interview I had a few years ago in which I tried and failed in my effort to refrain from saying the word "bitch." Yep. I said it in a job interview. With the director of communication and the vice president of public affairs. I didn't get the job.

But the VP remembered me, and when I saw him about nine months later at a conference, I re-introduced myself to him, and he said, "Oh yes, you're the one who talked about Bitch Magazine. You didn't want to say it, but we made you." Three months later, I was on his team.

I like to think that Bitch Magazine helped me make a lasting impression. During the interview, I mentioned a story on NPR and an NBC news story from earlier that morning. He said that it sounded like I kept up with the news, and he asked if I subscribed to any magazines.

My inner feminist let out a crooked smile.

"I listen to a lot of music, so I have subscriptions to some music magazines, as well as some feminist literature."

"What kind of feminist literature? A magazine?"

"Yes."

"What's it called?"

"Um, it's called 'Bitch.'"

It was like my grandma when she was trying to make my young mom's high school boyfriend squirm in front of her. Knowing full well the ultimate answer and enjoying it immensely, she asked him, "Where are you going?"

"We're going to a dance."

"What's the name of the dance?"

"Um," he said, backing away from my German grandma and nearly tripping over the glass coffeetable. "It's called Get Naked."

I like what subscribing to a feminist magazine says about me. I explained that it's a thought-provoking magazine that illustrates the feminist response to popular culture. Diversity is important to my company, and I believe my opinions and values are appreciated. I'm just glad that the mag isn't called something like "Vivacious Vaginas." I can't lie. I would have had to say it.

All that to say that Bitch Magazine is amazing. It's a great publication, and it's a nonprofit. The staff sent out a plea for help recently, and they were overwhelmed with the results. They raised $46,000 in about a week, maybe less. That ensures another issue, and possibly some stability in the future, too. I know it's a lot to ask especially when people are losing money right and left, but if you can support the Bitch cause, please do. At the least, you can subscribe to the mag. You won't be disappointed.

For a taste of Bitch, check out their Web site. It will make you want to shout Vivacious Vaginas Unite!!

isn't anything sacred?

2008-07-15T05:38:00.003-04:00

Sarah Silverman & Jimmy Kimmel have apparently broken up. Her publicist confirmed it to the Associated Press. It's sad enough that they are ending a 5-year relationship, but the fact that our local news anchors get to add in their two cents about how unfunny they think they are -- yes, i'm talking to you WESH-TV morning crew. It's like, "You're a loser in love, and by the way, you're not funny." Sarah is hilarious -- her show is genius, and so is her video with Matt Damon.

In other news of the bizarre, did you hear about the people who claim their retinas were damaged during a dance party in Moscow. Lasers were too strong for the small venue, and it burned their retinas. That's crazy! It probably harmed their hearing, too, but that won't show up for a few years. I sound like an old biddy! Click here to read the story.

the feminist stylings of an '80s icon

2008-07-14T21:28:00.003-04:00

Although it freezes on a very unfortunate image, this is actually a pretty cool video from Mark & Ari about one of the biggest feminists of our time, Ms. Pac-Man.

happy fourth!

2008-07-04T21:03:00.000-04:00

From CollegeHumor.com

new tilly tune

2008-06-22T20:25:00.001-04:00

The kids look all growed up!

Pot Kettle Black from Team Love on Vimeo.

Tilly & The Wall will play an early show at The Social on July 22.

an eye for orlando?

2008-06-20T21:57:00.001-04:00

7775007-R6-031-14_3.jpg
Originally uploaded by steph1874

The Great Wheel Corp., a company based in Singapore, is expected to announce next week that Orlando will be the first North American home of ... well ... a great wheel. Similar to the London Eye, which I fell in love with a couple of years ago, the 400-foot-wheel will hold 40 passengers in each glassed pod. It's rumored that the skyline-changing icon will be near SeaWorld off of I-Drive.

I'm excited. Sure it's another tourist attraction, but if it's anything like the London Eye, it will be a must-see.

lazy sunday

2008-06-15T17:29:00.002-04:00

As soon as I get out of bed in the morning, Tilly is right there to take the prime spot on the pillow. I can't get upset -- she's too adorable.

show your obama pride

2008-06-08T07:29:00.003-04:00

MoveOn.org is giving away free stickers to show your support of Barack Obama. Get one for free, 10 for a $5 donation or 100 for a $25 donation.

coldplay returns to orlando

2008-05-27T21:58:00.003-04:00

Coldplay just announced a show at Amway Arena on Nov. 7. No support act or ticket prices have been announced. The band is following up the next day with a show in Miami.

In other toe-tapping concert news for Orlando ...
- Tilly & The Wall are playing an early show at The Social on July 22. Tickets are $15, and doors open at 5 p.m.
- And don't forget about Nada Surf on June 1 at The Social. Tickets are still available.

get your FRINGE on!

2008-05-18T15:19:00.007-04:00

Oh yes, it's that time again in Orlando. The FRINGE Fest is in full swing at Loch Haven Park, and there are a lot of promising shows on the schedule -- everything from one-(wo)man shows, to dancing, to live music, to plays with lots of characters and costumes.

As soon as I realized the performers were posted online at orlandofringe.org, I started looking for my dishpig. Greg Landucci was the star of last year's FRINGE, as least, in my little world. Dishpig was an intense, hysterical and incredibly creative ode to life as the lowly kitchen employee at a restaurant where he's trying to keep up with the insanity of being a dishwasher, dealing with crabby chefs and maybe get some action from the hot hostess.

This year, Landucci (pictured right) is back, and he's musing about his time as a radio-station mascot. I can't wait to see it! His rapid-fire delivery of tongue-twisting philosophies and observations makes you wish you could take home the script. There's genius in there, and you know it, you hear it -- but you want more time to let it seep in and flow through all the convolutions in your brain.

Yesterday, Devan, Beta, James and I caught two performances -- VarieTEASE No. 24 and TJ Dawe's Totem Figures. The latter came highly recommended from Devan, who saw Dawe's (pictured below) performance last year. I guess he's kind of a staple at the fest, much to the delight of everyone who FRINGEs. He co-wrote and directed Dishpig, by the way.

We all loved it and some of us even went home and Googled some of the people Dawe described in his one-man show. Truly amazing writer, observer of patterns and performer, Dawe made me want to go home and make my own Sgt. Pepper's album cover.

VarieTEASE was colorful, musical and full of pretty people. It was odd, intriguing and maybe about 10 minutes too long. Still, it was the definition of FRINGE -- you just never know what you're going to see, sometimes even when you're in the theater.

get some free goodness

2008-05-12T20:18:00.009-04:00

That's right. Click the box above and you can sign up to receive a free sample of Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

Or, try this. Kashi is offering free samples of its new Mountain Medley granola, described by Kashi like this: "We begin with our heritage Seven Whole Grains, freshly harvested and then gently rolled to preserve their nutty flavors and unique textures. They're mixed with a touch of golden honey and the grains are then baked into perfectly crunchy granola clusters. Finally we added lots of goodies like chewy fruits and crunchy nuts to create granolas that are both tasty and good for you." YUM!

So, you've got a snack and a beverage -- how about some free music? Verbena Selected 3: The Aftershow Party features your favorite bands' selections of their favorite electronic tracks. Here are a few of the tracks in the lineup, and yes, it's a free download. (It came across as one track -- bizarre and annoying, but still free.)

Adventure Kid: "De Lorean Motor Company" [Selected by I'm From Barcelona]
T2: "Heartbroken" [Selected by the Pipettes]
Uffie: "Ready to Uff" [Selected by Sohodolls]
Does It Offend You, Yeah?: "We Are Rockstars" [Selected by Zookeeper]
Autokratz: "Pardon Garçon" [Selected by Kaiser Chiefs]
Björk: "Wanderlust (Ratatat Remix)" [Selected by Tilly & the Wall]
The Bug ft. Killa P & Flow Dan: "Skeng (Kode 9 Remix)" [Selected by Bright Eyes]
Black Moth Super Rainbow: "Sun Llips" [Selected by the Go! Team]
Orange Juice: "Rit It Up" [Selected by Stars]
Gary Numan: "Are Friends Electric (Andy Gray Remix)" [Selected by the New Pornographers]

Notice how much Coachella is included? I love it! Thanks, Pitchfork for the music tip and Hungry Girl for the coffee and granola.

the slip

2008-05-05T20:07:00.003-04:00

God, I love Trent Reznor. Today, he released a new album on his Web site, and everyone and their mom can download it for free. Huh, whaaaa???? That's right, you heard me.

Download the slip. Trent says he'll release it as a CD and on vinyl in July. He also adds on the download site,

"we encourage you to
remix it
share it with your friends,
post it on your blog,
play it on your podcast,
give it to strangers,
etc."

And as if you're not completely wowed and probably stopped reading because you clicked your way to a new soundtrack to tomorrow, THERE'S MORE.

This may not be new, but I just stumbled across it for the first time. Nine Inch Nails fans can access free music to create their own remixes and post them for other fans to stream and download. Trent has made his music available for years as GarageBand files for fans to remix, but here's a little playground (remix.nin.com) with slides, swings AND a merry-go-round!

Day 3

2008-04-27T13:31:00.004-04:00

Two down, one more to go. Saturday was a lot hotter and many more fans poured onto the polo fields. I finally saw the Speedo guys that I see each year, and I finally saw the purple one. Prince was amazing, and I am sure he'd tell you that himself. He started the longest set in Coachella history (I'm making that up, I don' really know -- but it ended at 1 a.m., way past the midnight noise ordinance.) with "You are at the coolest place on Earth tonight." I'll have to write more about his set, but I just need to add that he covered Radiohead's "Creep" and transformed a self-loathing loser anthem from "I" to "You" with lyrics like "I wish you were special." and "You're a creep, you're a weirdo."

It was also the night of special guests -- Mark Ronson delivered with Tim Burgess from the Charlatans, Kenna, as well as the lead singers of the Klaxons, Kaiser Chiefs and Kelly Osborne - where has she been? Other special guests were unknown to me, but they were great little surprises that made for an outstanding set. Kelly and I were right up front, so I captured lots of video I'll share soon.

Today is supposed to be the hottest day of the weekend with temps in the low 100s. It just adds to the amazing adventure that is Coachella. I need to soak up as much as I can today because the real world is calling, and I need to return soon.

Day 2

2008-04-26T14:03:00.002-04:00

Friday was amazing. In typical Coachella fashion, there were the bands that overwhelmingly delivered on the hype I placed on them and those that delighted and surprised me. Friday was a constant rush between stages. Today should be a bit more laid back, maybe. I'm looking forward to getting a closer look at the art and some of the cool Coachella lagniappe you just happen to stumble upon.

Coachella '08 begins!

2008-04-25T11:35:00.003-04:00

I'm the only one awake and looking out the window onto the mountains and blue sky, I want to scream with antici ....... pation! It's going to be a hot day, but still 10 degrees cooler than last year. So I'm packing the SPF 30, have lots of $$$ for water and have my Blackberry because I am Twittering from the desert right on up to URB.com.

coachella metrics

2008-04-19T11:05:00.003-04:00

LA Weekly's music blog takes a quasi-scientific look at the numbers that are Coachella 2008. Goldenvoice will never win awards for gender equality on the main stage, but in all fairness, some of the best shows I've seen at Coachella were full of estrogen -- Sleater-Kinney, Tegan & Sara, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, Metric, and so on. I missed Imogen Heap, but her set wowed James enough to encourage us to catch her at The Social about a month later -- and she was amazing.

Check out the article for more pie charts and graphs about everything from YouTube hits to ethnicity. I applaud LA Weekly for at least trying to cover the show from a completely different angle.

i told you vedder was a love god

2008-04-10T19:39:00.003-04:00

According to Yahoo News ...

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Sean Penn and his wife, Robin Wright Penn, have withdrawn their divorce petition.

A Marin County Superior Court commissioner has dismissed the divorce proceedings between the couple, who call the community of Ross, Calif., their home.

Neither attended Tuesday's hearing, and no comment has been released on the latest development.

The dismissal came a day after they attended an Eddie Vedder concert at the University of California at Berkeley, where the actor reportedly went on stage to dedicate a song to Wright Penn.

They filed for divorce in December.

it's official: the desert will glow purple

2008-04-09T19:37:00.003-04:00

The rmors are true! According to Coachella.com, Prince has been added to the lineup and will headline the second night of the three-day festival.

music saves

2008-04-06T21:41:00.010-04:00

Music, as defined in one of the coolest tattoos I‘ve seen, is the "sounds used to symbolically recreate human biological rhythm."

I love thinking about that definition because it reminds me of that feeling you get when you hear a song that truly moves you. You’re transported, you fill with this indescribable feeling of completeness. I assume that it’s the same feeling the religious experience at church. Everything makes sense, if only for the moment.

This weekend, I was lucky enough to catch two documentaries during the Florida Film Fest about the power of music to help people heal, find their inner strength, bridge the gaps that isolate us and enjoy life to the fullest.

Young@Heart will probably be the best film I see all year, or at least the most genuinely moving and the funniest. The British documentary follows the seven weeks preceding the Young@Heart chorus’ May 2006 performance of “Alive and Well.” The average age of chorus members is 80, but you’d never know that from the vivaciousness of its stars.

Eileen, a feisty 92-year-old British woman, opens the film with her solo performance of The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” It’s a perfect scene, and it sets the tone for the whole show.

In rehearsals, Bob, who leads the chorus, attempts to teach the group songs from The Talking Heads, Sonic Youth and Allen Toussaint. It’s hilarious. And it’s also extremely heartfelt. The chorus members invite the film crew into their lives. We meet their families, see them at home and learn how many of them have survived illnesses that brought them close to death. But then, they’re old and fully aware that they’re living close to death every day.

These people live to sing and perform. In fact, I think it keeps some of them alive. There’s a lot I wish I could say about the film, but I firmly believe it’s best to know as little as possible about a movie before you see it. I will say that I won’t listen to Coldplay’s “Fix You” the same again, and I’m better for it.

On the other side of the age spectrum, there’s Girls Rock!, a documentary about the Portland girls camp that invites 8 to 18-year-olds to learn an instrument, join a band and perform in front of 700 people – all in one week.

Similar to Young@Heart, Girls Rock! introduces the audience to people who are fans of music but are ultimately unaware of the life-affirming impact it will play in their lives. These are young girls of course, and as the filmmaker points out, they are battling the media images of Britney and other scantily clad video vixens who make it nearly impossible to feel significant or even just good enough.

The camp counselors, who seem like some of the coolest girls you’d want to meet, help the girls find their voices, literally. I completely related to one of the admin ladies who said girls are always apologizing for their opinions and the space they take up – something our male counterparts do not. So the campers are encouraged to scream into microphones, talk through the problems they’re having with their new bandmates and … well … rock.

There are so many moments in both of these films that are hilarious because they capture the genuine innocence and honesty only kids and elderly folks allow you to see. Music saved me as a young girl, and I think it's going to keep me alive as part of the AARP crowd, too.

falling slowly

2008-04-06T11:36:00.002-04:00

Mike was telling me about this site PeopleFallingDown.blogspot.com. Although it hasn't been updated in a couple of years, these videos -- at least those that are still live -- are timeless. This one is my favorite -- I laughed through the whole thing.

young @ heart tonight!

2008-04-05T11:43:00.001-04:00

Showing tonight as part of the Florida Film Fest ...

more like bountiful than nada

2008-04-05T10:32:00.007-04:00

Trying to get on to ticketmaster.com this morning was like trying to get from one side of the Magic Kingdom to the other during SpectroMagic!

I was trying to purchase tickets to see Nada Surf at The Social, which is crazy exciting, of course. And I'm sure it's going to sell out, so I was trying to be good and get mine as early as possible, so as to avoid the disappointment I suffer from missing Iron & Wine this summer.

The site must have been on the screens of about a gazillion computers at the same time because I could get through all the screens up to the one where I actually make the purchase. My computer kept timing out because "the server stopped responding." So, I do what any concert kid would do, I pick up my phone and try to get the tix old-school style. After lots of busy signals, I get in and purchase three tix. Because I'm an emo soul, and I worry that my friends might miss out on the show, I decide to get 3 tickets.

I relax, play some online solitaire, and I check my e-mail. Holy cranberries! There's an e-mail from Ticketmaster confirming my online order for 2 tickets. Seriously? Seriously, this is 21st century technology?

So, um, I'm a real "Happy Kid," with 4 more tix than I actually need for the show. Any takers? You Coachies get first dibs, of course!

get your banana seat over to bikes, beans & bordeaux

2008-03-30T20:29:00.008-04:00

This weekend, my good friends Jamie & Rob introduced me to a new place in Winter Park that's a real gem. Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux is located on Corrine Drive, in the strip mall just east of Winter Park Avenue. It's just skipping distance from Park Ave CDs and Stardust.

I met Jamie & Rob there for dinner before catching Spamalot at the Bob Carr. The show, by the way, was hysterical and was a definite crowd-pleaser. I've never seen a standing ovation begin immediately after the curtain falls. Usually at Bob Carr, it takes a while for people to start getting off their butts to show their appreciation. Apparently, British humor goes a long way with Orlandoians.

But back to Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux, which the owners refer to as B3 on the Web site. I got there a bit late thanks to the gridlocked parking lot known as I-4, but it was great timing for me, as the appetizer had just arrived. The Hummus Wheel. I love hummus. And this hummus was delicious. The pita bread was baked in some kind of buttery delight, and there were carrots, pickles, celery and zucchini all sliced and fresh for dipping. I had no idea how good carrots and hummus would be together. Yum!

I had half of a turkey sandwich (on the menu as Tyler Turkey, a.k.a. The Floyd) and a bowl of black bean soup. Both were good and filling -- not spectacular, but solid. After the show, we returned for dessert. My friends each enjoyed a cupcake, and I indulged in the best chai latte I've had outside of Starbucks. And dare I say, I think it was better than Starbucks.

The owners are big cycling fans, and the theme is evident in the decorations and the menu. Even the widescreen television is always tuned in to a bike race somewhere in the world. The location of the month's big race is also the home of the featured beers that month -- very clever.

BTW, B3 has a couple of comfy sofas and free wi-fi. And the employees there Saturday night were lovely. They fit in perfectly with the relaxed atmosphere of the cafe -- very laid back and kind. Just one thing to note -- you need to go up to the counter to order, and they'll bring your food to you. Yeah, I didn't realize that at first.

B3's hours
Monday - Closed
Tuesday-Thusday - 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday - 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday - 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Support local businesses!

sarah + matt

2008-03-30T18:34:00.004-04:00

I know this is old -- but I'm posting it because I'm playing catch up. You don't even have to have a crush on Sarah Silverman, like I do, to fully appreciate the fantasticness of it all. And has Matt Damon ever looked cuter? I laugh out loud each time I watch it.

Call your BFF, it's the FFF!

2008-03-30T09:46:00.007-04:00

Hallelujah, a new post! I was beginning to get razzed about my lack of posts over the last few months, so I figured I needed to get a move on. I started a new job in January, and it has kept me busier than ever. When I come home each day, I have a hard time finding the creative umph to post. But I miss it, so here goes.

The Florida Film Fest is here! Here are just a few of the ones that make me want to get the popcorn ready. Go check out the official site and buy your tickets early -- this is one of the cultural events that make me happy about living in Orlando!!

Girls Rock!
Saturday, April 5, 9-10:30 p.m. at Regal
Sunday, April 6, 7:30-9 p.m. at Regal
I remember hearing about this camp because of Carrie Brownstein's participation. She's one of the members of Sleater-Kinney, one of my favorite bands, and one that I refuse to label as "now-defunct." I'll let the official film summary do its job ...

Portland’s Rock ‘n’ Roll camp for Girls isn’t just a week-long retreat where preteens learn how to become the next Joan Jett. It’s an incredible feminist project that reclaims the Spice Girls-tainted concept of girl power by helping young women ranging in age from eight to 18 love girlhood in all its awkwardness--while they play power chords with their amps set at 11. This doc focuses on the kids -- campers like Laura, a Korean adoptee obsessed by death metal; Misty, who is emerging from a life of meth addiction, homelessness and gang activity; and Amelia, an eight-year-old who writes experimental rock songs about her dog Pipi.

Young @ Heart
Friday, March 28, 6:30 p.m. at Enzian
Saturday, April 5, 6:30-8:20 p.m. at Regal

Since 1982, Young @ Heart, a New England senior citizens chorus, has been defying expectations and delighting audiences worldwide with its unique covers of songs--everything from The Clash to Coldplay, James Brown to Talking Heads, The Zombies to Dylan, has been part of their eclectic repertoire of punk, R&B, and rock. Led by Bob Climan, their strict but talented choral director, the group of retirees (average age: 80) are given the task of learning six new songs for their upcoming show titled Alive and Well just a few weeks away. Numbers such as Sonic Youth’s discordant “Schizophrenia” and Allen Toussaint’s tongue-twisting “Yes, We Can Can” prove to be particularly challenging.

Disfigured
Sunday, March 30, 6:30-8:05 p.m. at Enzian
Thursday, April 3, 4:30-6:25 p.m. at Regal

Lydia is a charming and confident overweight woman who belongs to a “fat acceptance” group that’s just a bit too unaccepting for her easy style. Along comes Darcy, a recovering anorexic who wants to join the group. Darcy sees herself as fat even if no one else in their right mind does, and wants to learn to accept her appearance. What she doesn’t say is that she’s pretty much starving herself and is reaching out for help. Lydia and Darcy fall into a rich, unlikely friendship. Even when Lydia starts a sexual relationship with Bob, an attractive overweight man, the real relationship is between the women.

Pageant
Sunday, March 30, 2:30-4:15 p.m. at Regal
Thursday, April 3, 9:30-11:30 p.m. at Enzian

Meet the men behind the makeup. This revealing film features five gay men competing in the 34th annual Miss Gay America Pageant, including Robert Martin (stage name: Chantel Reshae), an Orlando resident who works for Disney as a "Wellness Coordinator." They are all beautiful, talented, hormone-free female impersonators, and confident they will win. The film takes us behind the scenes as the men primp, practice, and otherwise prepare for the 2006 competition held in Memphis. Musical numbers are stunning, and interviews are engaging. The filmmakers go far beyond the typical drag show into the reality of how wigs, waxing, and wardrobes transform the not-so-common into the truly incredible. Not only do we get to know these people well, but also their friends, families and support mechanisms that will help them make their dreams come true.

hallelujah, a new jeff buckley video!

2007-11-04T16:32:00.000-05:00

so adorable, it's SCARY!

2007-11-01T07:37:00.000-04:00

It was Ashley's first Halloween, and I can't imagine how much fun it must have been! Her costume is absolutely adorable. Yes, the photos made me cry. I'm a proud auntie!

makin' my baby daddy my man

2007-10-23T18:52:00.000-04:00

Marry Your Baby Day?

"An all expenses paid wedding extravaganza, celebrity wedding dress designers, vendors and wedding planners are on board to make this a memorable and important moment in the lives of some very 10 fabulous, loving couples... Marry Your Baby Daddy Day is an effort to strengthen 2-parent homes and promote marriage and family values."

For all of those couples who love each other but can't afford a wedding, join in this one. Sounds noble, but of course, if you're gay, you're still out of luck.

i left my heart in new orleans

2007-10-22T20:24:00.000-04:00

Metro Three has some new T-shirts! They have some cool totes, too -- perfect for your grocery store trips. Now why don't they make one that says "Making Groceries"?

ashley's crawling!

2007-10-21T19:47:00.001-04:00

My niece is growing up so fast. She'll probably be dating before I do.

ben still does it for me

2007-10-21T17:20:00.000-04:00

steal you will

2007-09-17T20:28:00.001-04:00

ahhh, trent. i love you.

Trent Reznor of my beloved Nine Inch Nails spoke out about the high cost of his CDs in Australia several months ago. You can't say no one was listening because I guess he got a lot of crap for it from his record execs, but he didn't forget it. If you keep watching, there's a nice version of "The Day the Whole World Went Away" following.

steal you will

2007-09-17T20:28:00.000-04:00

ahhh, trent. i love you.

Trent spoke out about the high cost of his CDs in Australia several months ago. You can't say no one was listening because I guess he got a lot of crap for it from his record execs, but he didn't forget it. If you keep watching, there's a nice version of "The Day the Whole World Went Away" following.

ella, ella, ella

2007-09-09T11:14:00.000-04:00

Elevate. Listen. Love. Appreciate
an upcoming celebration of the female Florida artist

i want someone to eat cheese with

2007-08-28T23:42:00.000-04:00

This new Sarah Silverman flick looks really funny. And check out all the cameos!

hot knives burn bright

2007-08-20T21:56:00.000-04:00

I just saw Bright Eyes' new video for the first time, and I love it. You can see all the elements of the live show I enjoyed so much (bright eyes at hard rock live) including Janet on drums, the live art, the white suits, the tiny orchestra and the ridiculously passive Nathan on keyboards. Enjoy.

"Hot Knives," Bright Eyes

There's also a really great interview posted on MTV.com that mentions Conor's famous performance of "When the President Talks to God" on "The Tonight Show" and where yours truly was right on the front row. Some of those screams you hear are mine! Ow! Ow! Ow!

it's on my list

2007-07-26T23:08:00.001-04:00

When I first moved to Orlando, I heard about the jazz strolls at Leu Gardens, and I thought it sounded so romantic. A moon-lit evening with requited love and live music under the stars sounds lovely, doesn't it? There are even candles lining the sidewalks!

Ten years later, I still haven't had the planets align and actually be dating someone at the time Leu Gardens was hosting its little love fest. Now, I have the opportunity (oh joy!) to add to my list of wonderful ideas to, if I may quote Kool & The Gang, cherish the love here in O'do.

Here's one that will be just as tricky -- having a date on the same day as a shuttle launch that won't be scrubbed because of astroaut intoxication.

A Day Away Kayak Tours offers outdoorsy couples the chance to paddle up a canal to a site that's only seven miles from the launch pad and offers an unobstructed view of the shuttle's ascent. Yes, it's a two-person kayak, and, yes, ou might even see a manatee. It's $30 a person.

I better get my Match.com profile ready because the next opportunity is on Aug. 7. If it all works out, I'll be at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge with someone who's a lot older and heavier than their online photo.

There's also something called "Moonlight Paddles." I'm not sure what that is, but if my online match also spends time in the S&M chat room, then my stock is gonna skyrocket.

By the way, the Leu Gardens Annual Fall Jazz Stroll will be held at Leu Gardens on Nov. 3 and dates are not required. Instead of walking hand-in-hand, you can pop a squat on the lawn with your picnic basket and declare your independence.

my new addiction

2007-07-26T22:25:00.000-04:00

If you can't get enough of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart -- and really, who can't? It's the fastest 30 minutes in the whole 24 hours of the day. If you need more sassy humor in your life, then try out the new online game, The Most Important Trivia Game Ever.

It's addictive! You compete in a series of mini-games against other "journalists," and you'll need to know geography, history, popular culture and current events to win. You also have to be quick with the mouse. Good luck -- unless you're playing me. I want to win!

ashley is so punk rock

2007-07-22T16:29:00.000-04:00

It was Crazy Hair Day at day care on Friday. I don't think punk rockers are supposed to be this adorable!

another reason to hate the falcons

2007-07-21T17:45:00.001-04:00

It's just the way that it is. New Orleans Saints' fans hate the Atlanta Falcons. I don't use the "hate" word lightly. We hate them.

Any respect that I had for Michael Vick as a talented quarterback has been completely drowned out. He was indicted late last week for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring. Apparently, Vick and his cronies ran a fighting ring "where losing dogs were often killed in the ring or executed by hanging, drowning or electrocution," according to NPR.

Dog fighting is a felony in 48 states, and if you're like me and naive to the popularity and history of this disgusting practice, then you might be shocked to know how "trendy" it has become. Although its beginnings can be traced back to the Romans in 43 A.D., it's sounds like almost a status symbol now.

Vick faces $350,000 in fines and six years in prison if convicted of the charges. The dogs don't fare quite that well. All of the dogs that survive the ring are eventually killed because they are conditioned to be aggressive to other dogs. They're anti-social and probably very scary. And it's not their fault.

According to one of the news reports I read, "Officers reportedly found equipment associated with dogfighting, blood stains on the walls of a room and a bloodstained carpet stashed on the property. They reportedly removed more than 60 dogs from the property."

The more I read about this, the more disturbed I get. I cannot imagine anyone finding dog fighting fun. It's inhumane, and Vick deserves to be knocked down from whatever pedestal Nike, the NFL team owners and fans have put him on.

slumber party!

2007-07-20T22:31:00.000-04:00

Walt Disney World has Cinderella's Royal Chamber -- a luxurious suite where lucky Guests can spend the night right inside the Magic Kingom. It's magical, and people would pay big bucks to stay there if they could.

In Norway, there's a similar must-have experience. Slumber parties at IKEA!

From July 23-27, IKEA fans can shop until they are so exhausted, they fall asleep right there in the showplace. People will actually be able to spend the night in special rooms set up in the store, including:
* Bridal suite, with a hanging chandelier and a round bed
* Luxury suite -- includes breakfast in bed
* Family rooms for parents and kids

A company spokesperson said, "It will be like an alternative hostel." Guests will check in at 10 p.m. -- just an hour before the warehouse closes -- and need to be up and have the bed made by 10 a.m., when the store opens. No need to wash the sheets -- IKEA is giving them away as a souvenir! They also get bathrobes with the IKEA Hostel logo on it and slippers!

simpsonize!

2007-07-20T21:17:00.000-04:00

Look at me, I'm a Simpson! You can be one, too. Upload your photo at SimpsonizeMe.com.

wii have lots of fun

2007-07-19T22:03:00.000-04:00

These videos really speak for themselves. I love me some Coachie Wii!

Wii are silly

Wii look ridiculous

Wii love to play

Wii are really running this joke into the ground

Wiiiii'll never stop

Wii need a rest

when disaster strikes

2007-07-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

These impactful new bulletin boards, sponsored by the American Red Cross give viewers a realistic look at the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake. The billboards are part of a campaign to promote earthquake preparedness in San Francisco.
(Photo credit: Jill Palmer)

Speaking of American Red Cross, whoever is in charge of their merchandise line deserves a raise. I've donated money to the Red Cross before, but the idea that I can help others and get some cool merch, well that's just sauce!

let's get digital

2007-07-17T22:07:00.000-04:00

Insound just put up a full album of free downloads it promotes as "fifteen tracks of the hottest smooth light jazz you’ll ever hope to hear." There's a catch, though. IThe songs are only free for one week, then you gotta pay up -- so start clicking!

Here's the tracklist:
Justice - "Phantom"
Takka Takka - "Draw a Map"
Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass"
Mirah and Spectratone International - "Credo Cigalla"
1990's - "You're Supposed to be My Friend"
No Age - "My Life's Alright Without You"
Architecture in Helsinki - "Heart it Races"
Okkervil River - "Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe"
Minus the Bear - "Knights"
Turbo Fruits - "Pocket Full of Thistles"
Tiny Vipers - "On This Side"
Rocky Votolato - "Postcard from Kentucky"
Editors - "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors"
Ferraby Lionheart - "Small Planet"
Portugal the Man - "Shade"

In other music news, the shortlist for the Mercury Prize were announced today. The judges chose these as the top albums of the year from British or Irish artists. The winner will be announced on Sept. 4.

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Basquiat Strings (with Seb Rochford) - Basquiat Strings
Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold
Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
Maps - We Can Create
New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
Fionn Regan - The End of History
The View - Hats Off to the Buskers
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
The Young Knives - Voices of Animals and Men

the rage continues

2007-07-13T21:25:00.000-04:00

I don't know anything about the new Spanish zombie film REC, but the trailer below definitely intrigues me. According to Moviephone.com, the film is an "experimental frightener about a terrifying television broadcast." Here's the synopsis...

While covering the night shift at a small-town fire department, an ambitious young television reporter and her cameraman follow the crew on a call to rescue an elderly woman unable to escape the inferno that is consuming her home. Upon their arrival at the scene, the calm midnight air is pierced by the sound of horrific screams, and the television report takes an unexpectedly dark turn.

Hank!

2007-07-11T23:06:00.000-04:00

Thank you, Henry Rollins, for always stopping in Orlando on your spoken word tours! Henry is set to return to the House of Blues on Sept. 23, and I couldn't be more excited! I've been lucky enough to catch him three times already over the last 8 or 10 years, and the man keeps getting better and better.

The last time Henry visited O'do was in October 2005. It was soon after Hurricane Katrina, and America was getting war weary. It's funny, because I remember that in his performance prior to the 2005 visit, Henry told the audience that he thought we were definitely going to war because George Dubya had "put his dick out there." He explained that because we put out the ultimatum, there was no way we would go back with our missiles between our legs. Several months later, of course, we started bombing.

I remember thinking, damn, I hope that's not true. I hope we can still pull back because we can. We won't look cowardly, we will look like the mature, confident country we are (or should be).

But Henry gets it. He just does. You gotta hear him.

bipolar movie weekend

2007-07-08T18:37:00.000-04:00

I saw two movies this weekend, and they were polar opposites of each other.

Once
Today, I finally saw Once, and I loved it. The low-budget Irish film sometimes needed subtitles for my American ears. Once the singing begins, though, everything makes sense. It stars Glen Hansard, the lead singer of The Frames, and Marketa Irglova, a Czech musician.

The grittiness of the film and the hand-held camera shots gave the movie a documentary feel. And then there's the music. It's achingly beautiful, and it tells the story more so than the sparse dialogue.

There's a lot about this film online, so I will cut to the chase with some quick facts I learned. By the way, if you want to see the film, don't read too much about it online. In fact, the article I link to below includes some spoilers -- but none below.

* Cillian Murphy was originally cast in the lead. He bowed out partly because the director chose a non-actor in the leading female role (according to the NY Times.

* Filming was complete in 17 days for $150,000, most of which was paid for by the Irish Film Board.

* The title of the film, according to director John Carney, refers to fellow Irishmen and women he would encounter in bars: “They say, ‘Once I do this, then it’ll be great.’ But they never do it. It’s a great Irish tradition of vacillating.”

* The bandmates in the film are indeed members of The Frames.

* Fox Searchlight Pictures purchased the film at Sundance for $500,000.

* In limited release, it has already earned nearly $5 million worldwide.

Transformers
Saturday, I caught Transformers, which made more money in one hour than I probably will my entire working life. Yes, the effects are truly amazing, and yes, I laughed at moments that weren't supposed to be funny. Gratuitous cleavage (see photo below), bare midriffs and corny dialogue were abundant. But all in all, it was a fun summer flick, especially if you see it sharing a whole theater row with your best friends.

Still, the film was nearly over-
shadowed by one of the previews, a clip that was so mysterious, it created a huge buzz on the Internet. All we know is JJ Abrams has something to do with it, and it's coming out on Jan. 18, 2008.

Some Web sites are referring to it as Cloverfield or The Parasite. I won't pretend to know more than that, but I am officially hooked and anxiously awaiting more details. One good place to look -- the film's official Web site, 1-18-08.com. There's not much there now, but I bet there will be soon.

know hope

2007-07-08T11:09:00.001-04:00

Know Hope is an Israeli artist creating some truly amazing art from corrugated cardboard and candles in Tel Aviv. These are beautiful.

According to the artist ...

The lanterns deal with the frail, temporary aspect of putting up art in street. Take the best case scenario: nobody takes the piece after a short while and there are no extreme winds or rain, the longest life span of these pieces will be that of the candles, which is probably just a few hours. Therefore, when someone runs into one of them on the street they know that it was placed there not so long ago and they, by coincidence, got there in the small time frame that the piece was "active", hopefully giving them the feeling that it was placed there especially for them, and maybe guiding them, following them home and subtly lighting up their way.

More photos are posted on Flickr.

do you feel lucky? well, do ya?

2007-07-07T09:09:00.000-04:00

show some indie love

2007-07-06T21:45:00.000-04:00

Interpol heads out on the road

2007-07-03T21:38:00.000-04:00

... and they're making a stop in Orlando on Sept. 18 at the Hard Rock Live. You can get a taste of their live show on July 10, when the band plays on "The Late Show With David Letterman." For a very long list of tour dates, check the Pitchfork Media site.

A couple of other cool shows announced recently:
* Eisley special acoustic tour - Aug. 18 at The Social
* John Vanderslice - Sept. 17 at The Social

grab the popcorn!

2007-06-28T20:29:00.000-04:00

There are some great new films headed to Orlando, and I'm not talking about Transformers, although it may be a very good flick.

2 Days in Paris - Julie Delpy, who starred in two of my most favorite films (Before Sunrise and Before Sunset) was nominated for an Oscar along with Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke for best original screenplay for the latter film. In 2 Days in Paris, Delpy serves as the writer, director and star.

Adam Goldberg plays Delpy's boyfriend in the film. Interesting fact: Goldberg has an uncredited role in Before Sunrise as "Man Sleeping on Train" and also appeared in Linklater's Waking Life, which featured a clip of Hawke and Delpy as their Before Sunrise characters. Confused? Just watch the trailer.

Starting tomorrow, a film that has a lot of buzz and a soundtrack that is good enough to atract you to the film, rather than the other way around.

Once - according to IMDB, the film is "a modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story."

Are you familiar with the Frames' "Falling Slowly"? It's a beautiful little ditty, and it's on the soundtrack. In fact, Frames' lead singer Glen Hansard stars in this Irish film as ... wait for it ... a musician. Actually, it sounds really cool. Fun facts, anyone?
* The two main characters actually wrote all of the songs in the film.
* Director John Carney used to play bass for The Frames.
* Hansard and lead actress Markéta Irglová, a Czech musician, fell in love during the filming of the movie.
* The film earned the World Cinema Audience Award for a dramatic film at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

Turn up the volume on your computer and watch the trailer.

Paris Je T'Aime - This one is already out in theaters, so you should probably hurry if you want to catch it. The film is made up of 18 different vignettes - each about the City of Love. There are beaucoup A-list actors, including Natalie Portman, Elijah Wood, Steve Buscemi and Juliette Binoche. The different stories were created by different directors, including Alexander Payne, Wes Craven, Gus Van Sant and the Coen Brothers.

Watch the trailer here.

flight is the shite

2007-06-25T20:15:00.001-04:00

Oh my God, I love Flight of the Conchords.

Not only is it hysterical and musical, but it features yet another doppleganger for Mike Britton. His name is Bret McKenzie, but with his adorable New Zealand accent, it sounds like "Brit."

Coincidence??? I think not.

"Oh my God, she's so hot. She's so flippin' hot. She's like a curry. I want to tell her how hot she is, but she'll think I am being sexist. She's so hot, she's making me sexist.. Bitch."

Classic.

She might be able to do a better job ...

2007-06-24T15:25:00.000-04:00

My blog was never so controversial than when I spoke out against Old Navy and its obvious display of sexism, or at the least insensitivity. All I am asking for is that the corporate execs use some common sense when they green light their summer clothing lines.

Perhaps more onesies like this one ... It's perfect!

My sister-in-law's friend Amber bought this for Ashley in D.C. See Old Navy, you don't have to be inappropriate to make a profit.

the voodoo that you do

2007-06-22T23:17:00.000-04:00

Organizers announced the list of performers scheduled to appear Oct. 26-28 at this year's Voodoo Music Experience at the lovely City Park in New Orleans. The headliners are festival darlings Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine and Willco (I am loving the new CD!). Then there's Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Sinead O'Connor, Kings of Leon, and -- according to the official site -- Clap Your HANS Say Yeah. Let's hear it for the proofreaders.

This festival was never known for being cutting edge -- the list is pretty safe, but it does offer a pretty solid three days of music. There's also Spoon, Paolo Nutini, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dr. John, Tiesto, and Quintron and Miss Pussycat, who opened for Peaches earlier this year. The festival offers a great introduction to some of the native musicians and their unique sound.

Hopefully, all of the festivalgoers will take a couple of extra days and explore the city, spend money and help revitalize NOLA.

Check out video performances from past festivals, including Green Day, The Pixies, The White Stripes, Nine Inch Nails and Social Distortion, on the Voodoo site.

you're making me laugh ...

2007-06-22T22:22:00.000-04:00

This looks like a casting tape for Days of our Lives.

This video is such a perfect illustration of the Disney College Program. It's silly, unforgettable fun with people you'll never forget. It's the X factor.

and then UNSHUN ...

SHUN!

your concert calendar

2007-06-20T19:32:00.000-04:00

Here are some recent announcements and a few reminders of some good shows coming to O'do. (Do you think that if I keep calling Orlando that, it will catch on, or is it a lost cause?)

6.25 - Dancing with the Stars - Amway Arena (OK, it's a guilty pleasure.)
6.28 - The Working Title - The Social
6.30 - Satellite Party - House of Blues
7.2 - Jesse Malin - The Social
7.15 - Morrissey - Hard Rock Live
7.20 - The Format - The Social
7.30 - Travis - House of Blues
8.8 - Ben Kweller - The Social
9.4 - The Rentals and Copeland - House of Blues
9.12 - Tiesto - House of Blues
9.13 - Perry Farrell's Satellite Party

And one we have a long time to get excited about ...
10.24 - Low - The Social

If your first impulse after reading that is to turn your jeans pocket inside out to illustrate your lack of fundage, you can catch some great artists on Austin City Limits this season on PBS (WMFE Channel 2 in Orlando). Here's the remaining schedule ...
6.30 - Corinne Bailey Rae and KT Tunstall
7.7.7 - The Pixies
7.14 - Death Cab for Cutie and My Morning Jacket

happy father's day

2007-06-17T09:52:00.000-04:00

To the two most wonderful dads in my life ...

My daddy ...

And my brother, who's already a great dad ...

I love you guys!

if you're not outraged ...

2007-06-14T20:55:00.000-04:00

I have this bumper sticker that says "If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention."

Some people are paying attention. I'm not the only one who is pissed that Old Navy is introducing newborns to sexism before solid foods. I've received a few more comments on my post about the Old Navy onesies that tout "Stripes are slimming." However, I am surprised that no one else has raised the issue in a more public forum.

At least one other person felt the anger and put fingers to the keyboard -- check it out at raggamuffin.wordpress.com.

Here's another head scratcher ...

You may have heard about Hallmark's recent and very major faux pas. The card company put a Father's Day card on store shelves that was clearly homophobic. The front of the card features a serene picnic setting for two and reads, "Dad, how about a Father's Day picnic?" When Dad opens the card, the punch line reads, "Too queer? Yeah, I thought so too."

Once The Advocate magazine questioned Hallmark about the card, the company acknowledged its poor judgment and agreed to pull the card from store shelves. A spokesperson said, “[Hallmark’s business unit] reviewed it today and did all agree that it was in poor judgment to include the card in the line. We are stopping the shipping of the card, and we will not produce it again. Hallmark's intent is never to offend, and we're truly sorry if that is the case here.”

(Betamike, I'm still waiting to read your post about this.)

But where's the outrage? The only reason I know about this is because a friend found the card at an Orlando Publix and couldn't believe the bigotry right there in Stationery.

And finally, just one more bit of crazy ...

"Kittens vs. Cougars. There's going to be a catfight." Have you seen this commercial yet?

This one really takes the next step in offensiveness. NBC's new reality dating show "Age of Love" promises to take feminism back a couple of decades. It's pretty formulaic. Take hot thirtysomething guy, introduce some hot women to him, watch the sparks fly. The twist with this one is that once he gets comfy cozy with ... gasp ... the fortysomethings, the producers will introduce a bunch of even hotter, scantily clad (or so the ads promise) twentysomethings.

What pisses me off? NBC advertises the introduction of the younger "kittens" as offering up "temptation." It's pushing this stereotype that young women are all sexy looks, loose morals and sharp tongues, while the older women are boring intellectuals. And of course, the competition is pitting woman against woman.

In one TV ad, a woman asks for a synonym for "old." Someone answers, "decrepit," and lets out an evil chuckle. Well, props for the big word, but what the hell are you thinking?? It's just maddening to hear women treating each other this way. And the fact that NBC is playing up the "catfights" just makes me cringe.

Ugh.

just a few things ...

2007-06-12T18:25:00.000-04:00

According to Pitchfork, The White Stripes will release their eagerly anticipated CD (at least in my house) Icky Thump next Tuesday and adding an interesting, high-tech twist for fans. They are also making the music available on pre-loaded USB flash drives -- and you don't even have to look for them in bathroom stalls! You can buy them next week, too. They even look cool -- one like Jack, and one like Meg.

NPR is streaming a Webcast of Rufus Wainwright's recent show at the Gramercy Theatre in New York. You also must check out the slideshow of pictures from the concert, including some sexy photos of Rufus in drag. He's got some hot legs!

The Discovery Channel Store is going out of business, (at least the physical stores are; I am not sure about the Web site.) and you can find some pretty good bargains. I went to the store at Millenia Mall over the weekend and purchased a pen with a laser pointer in it. Sweet! My dog loves to chase the little red dot around the house. Hours of fun!

old navy introduces sexism to infants

2007-06-09T19:36:00.000-04:00

I went to the new Old Navy store near the Mall at Millenia today, hoping to find great bargains on some summer clothes, and instead, I left the store with my blood boiling. I saw something very disturbing.
Stripes are slimming

The description of the little onesie read like this: "Sweet animal graphics and sassy slogans make baby's bodysuit wildly cute! Stylish zig-zag stitching and puff short sleeves add a girlish twist, with snaps in back and along inseam for easy dressing."

What is sassy about a 3-month old being self-conscious about her weight? Seriously. I think about my little niece, who is the most beautiful thing in the world, and I don't want her to grow up with body-image issues or feelings of unworth because of a sexist culture. And moreover, I don't want society implanting those thoughts in her innocent little head. Her Buddha rolls are beautiful.

Right beside that monstrosity on the clothing rack was this little number ...
Bat your eyelashes

Again, Old Navy is reinforcing the stereotype that females get what they want not by working hard and earning it, but by using their sex appeal. It's an ill-conceived product line, and I can't believe it made it all the way to the stores.

But Old Navy doesn't stop there. When I went on the company's Web site to pull the image of the sexist apparel, I found more examples of inappropriate and uncool clothing.

This cute little number was sold only in the boys' section ...
Future class president

And this one was sold only in the girls' section ...
Future American Beauty Queen

You don't have to be a card-carrying member of the National Organization for Women to see what's happening here. Is that what American expects of my young niece? That the best she can hope for is to score big in the swimsuit competion so she can be a spokeswoman for curing diseases? While the little boy who laid just a few feet from her in the hospital nursery will be where the power players are, making the real difference.

And let's be fair, Old Navy is only about the boys who are "real boys."
MACHO just like DaddyI'm not a girl

I don't believe that I am over-reacting here. Real change can't happen until we acknowledge that these things make a difference. Just because the baby doesn't know what's written on her chest, other young girls and boys can read it, and it reinforces the culture of valuing men and women differently. Do you remember when Abercrombie thought it would make a profit off of sexist T-shirts that read "Who needs brains when you have these"? (See previous "girls kick Abercrombie's ass" post.) I think another girlcott is in order. It's irresponsible, Old Navy, and you should be ashamed.

a year of sigur ros

2007-06-08T19:06:00.000-04:00

Artist in Residence, or A+R, is a new quarterly music publication that may bring a new level of understanding and appreciation of your favorite musicians. The first issue is available now and focuses on Sigur Ros, which seems to be an incredibly smart move. There's a certain amount of credibility earned for choosing a band that's stunningly talented but not swimming in the mainstream.

In a Frozen Sea: A Year with Sigur Ros follows the band through their native Iceland during last year's Takk world tour. Fans will get a 32-page book of beautiful pictures of Iceland -- which I truly must visit soon -- along with interviews of the band that, according to the Web site, capture the band "in their words, in their world." But first, you'll have to decide: do you want the standard “classic” edition ($20) or the “limited edition,” which features seven records, including vinyl versions of four previous Sigur Ros albums ($150).

According to A+R's mission statement, the publication is "developed for artists who want to showcase issues of central importance in their world... Free from the conventional constraints of traditional media, A+R gives the artist complete freedom, letting them shape the look and feel of their issue."

You can check out some of the photos, watch a video or two and order either version of the issue at the A+R Web site. It's an intricately designed site, and one that you could spend a good amount of time exploring. The content in the various "rooms" will change with each new issue and new artist in residence.

the hottest state

2007-06-06T19:59:00.000-04:00

I read The Hottest State as soon as it hit the bookshelves in 1996. At the time, I was hung up on my own twenty-something angst -- think Reality Bites. Ethan Hawke embodied the musical, witty, hottie, intellectual slacker I thought I wanted most. And now he was writing a book? Sign me up!

I remember being deeply moved by the book and easily feeding into its dark melancholy. William, the book's main character, was lost in an oblivion of emotions so intense, it turned him inside out. I remember liking that it was William -- "the guy" -- who was pining after his love, feeling rejected and lost and trying to make sense of life at an age where feelings seem too raw and all-consuming to bare. The fact that a male writer wrote such a complicated character with weaknesses I could relate to was enlightening.

I also recall reading rumors that the book's publisher was a bit concerned that the fictional novel was, in fact, too auto-biographical. The main character's love interest, but the way, is also rumored to be based on singer Lisa Loeb. Interesting.

Now, The Hottest State is headed for the big screen. Ethan Hawke isn't slacking this time -- he's the screenwriter, director and even appears in the film. Mark Webber (Broken Flowers) and Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), pictured below, are the stars.

The film is scheduled to hit theaters on Aug. 24, but the self-deprecation can begin even sooner because there's a kickin' soundtrack ready for release on Aug. 7, featuring Willie Nelson, Feist, Bright Eyes, Emmylou Harris, The Black Keys, M. Ward, Norah Jones, Cat Power and a few others.

If the film carries any of the intensity of Before Sunrise or Before Sunset, which top my list of favorite movies, I'll have to add a new DVD to my library of films to watch on sad Sundays.

When did VH1 Classic become nostalgic post modern?

2007-06-06T19:42:00.000-04:00

Where have I been? I just discovered that VH1 Classic (Bright House Channel 172 in Orlando) broadcasts old episodes of "120 Minutes" -- or at least videos that played during the show's run. I stumbled across it while searching for something in the "guide" mode. I set my DVR for it -- early Sunday morning, 4-6 a.m. The first video t was Peter Murphy's "Cuts You Up," which happens to be one of the songs that defined my 1990. I had an unnatural obsession with that song. It was my gateway song to a whole world of better alternative music.

Here's the playlist of the episode. It runs the gamut of '80s New Wave to '90s grunge. This is why nostalgia can be a dangerous drug. I want my old flannel shirt.

"Cuts You Up" - Peter Murphy
"Carnival" - Natalie Merchant
"Doctor Doctor" - Thompson Twins
"Never Enough" - The Cure
"Weird Science" - Oingo Boingo
"Do You Love Me?" - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
"Fake Plastic Trees" - Radiohead
"Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down a Mountain)" - INXS (I always loved the way Michael Hutchence danced.)
"Evenflow" - Pearl Jam
"Wonderland" - XTC
"Round & Round" - New Order
"Grey Cell Green" - Ned's Atomic Dustbin (Ahhhh, great song, awesome concert!)
"Stand & Deliver" - Adam and the Ants
"Sheila Take a Bow" - The Smiths
"Vogue" - KMFDM
"I Want Candy" - Bow Wow Wow
"Rain in the Summertime" - The Alarm (I had this on one of my favorite mix tapes.)
"There She Goes" - The La's (The first time I felt cool buying a cassette tape. The guy at the counter called out to his friend that I was buying The La's. Maybe they were making fun of me, but I felt like a cool little kid outside of the mainstream because it wasn't crazy popular at the time.)
"Mexican Radio" - Wall of Voodoo
"Driver 8" - R.E.M. (Classic!)
"Who Was in My Room Last Night" - Butthole Surfers (Or, as they identified them on the pop station in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, during my college years, The BH Surfers.)
"Turning Japanese" - The Vapors
"Wild Wild Life" - Talking Heads (Starring a thin John Goodman)
"Policy of Truth" - Depeche Mode (Ahhhh! Isn't Violator the soundtrack to everyone's high school years?)
"Beautiful World" - Devo
"Big in Japan" - Alphaville (I haven't heard this one in years! It's the definition of an '80s video!)

Incredible! I feel like I'm right back in high school with no self confidence, a zit-ridden face and the wrong shoes. Granted, it wasn't all good, but it was entertaining!

And there was something about this music that always gave me hope. I might have felt like no one understood me in college, but I knew I wasn't completely alone, partly because of music like this. Sappy, I know. But it's true. There's this bolt of electricity in my tummy when I hear certain music from that time of my life, and even though I know a lot more now than I knew then, it still conjures a very naive hopefulness that isn't altogether bad.

i'm hopping for one of these

2007-06-05T20:30:00.000-04:00

I tend to get really giddy about new technology, and then I have to wonder -- do I really need this, or do I just really want it because it seems so damn cool?

iPhone - um, yeah, I want and need that! Apple just announced that it will be released officially on June 29. I'm going to have to save up for that one. It's too much of a luxury item right now.

The answer to the big question when it comes to the new Nabaztag is simple. I just want one because they are so damn cute! I want to join the rabbit community!

All you do is plug your little friend into your wi-fi connection, and you have the personal assistant you always wanted, minus the sassy attitude and threats to write a tell-all book after he's fired.

Nabaztag is one smart rabbit. He serves as your alarm clock; reads the weather forecast, top news, your incoming e-mail, comments left on your blog, text messages and more; talks to other Nabaztags that your friends have; and even reads your kids a bedtime story when you're too drunk.

I searched YouTube to see if I could catch these little cuties in action, and I found this clip from HGTV.

If this next video is any indication, I would bet that Nabaztag is a big fan of the dance tent at Coachella.

OK, after watching that, I have to wonder, is Nabaztag going to be that guy at the party who won't stop talking? Will he/she read my unwanted spam e-mails to me? Will he/she keep me up at night playing bad music that some conniving friend of mine is sending me in the wee hours of the morning?

Go check out the Web site -- if only for the cool music that streams as you learn about all the ways Nabaztag is going to enhance your mundane life. I would definitely ant the striped ears -- they are adorable!

conchords are about to take flight on hbo

2007-06-04T22:38:00.000-04:00

The Flight of the Conchords are migrating stateside in a big way. They are by no means "new," except to me, who is woefully behind the times in discovering them. They profess themselves to be "New Zealand's fourth most popular digi-folk paradists."

I am right on time, though, to jump on the bandwagon for the duo's new show on HBO, set to debut on Sunday, June 17. You can watch the first episode now, in its entirety, right here. The setup sounds like it could be similar to the Sarah Silverman show, except with an all-access pass to unadulterated profanity, sex and the like. It's premium cable, kids!

Here's how HBO describes the series ...

The series revolves around a pair of transplanted New Zealanders, Jemaine and Bret, who are now living in NYC within a one-block "comfort zone" in the East Village. Bunking up in an apartment decorated with the finest furniture and artwork a garage sale can yield, the two break into song at a moment's notice to let us know how the often-mundane experiences of city life make them feel. Among the friends and acquaintances they cross paths with are Murray (Rhys Darby), who works at the New Zealand consulate (not a stressful job) and is their none-too-astute music manager; Mel, a female fan obsessed with the Conchords (especially Bret); and several characters portrayed by real-life members of the NYC comedy scene, including Arj Barker, Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman (who plays their landlord), Demetri Martin and Eliza Coupe.

By the way ...
* You can download some free video podcasts of the guys on iTunes, including the first HBO episode.
* The guys also will appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on June 11.

ben kweller's getting social

2007-06-03T16:54:00.000-04:00

Ben Kweller will play The Social on Aug. 8. He's sure to put on a show of pop gems and pleasing melodies. Beta and I saw saw him there several years ago, and now Ben has lots more great music to share.

Check him out on MySpace, where you can stream his cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Today."

keys to the ... (gag) ... VIP

2007-06-03T16:50:00.000-04:00

Is it April 1 again already? Is this really a TV show? Are people actually making money on something so cheap and sleazy?

It's called Keys to the VIP, and it's causing my blood pressure to rise with every word I read.

I saw a commercial for its upcoming debut on the Fuse channel, and I seriously questioned what I was hearing and looked it up online -- I thought I was being Punk'd.

The Web site is so over the top, I am still not completely convinced that Ashton Kutcher won't be knocking on my door this evening. In the producers' words, here's the description of the show...

"Men, our time has finally arrived. We have been portrayed as sniveling, crying, sensitive, spineless, mamma's boys. And now is the time to turn it around. We finally have a show that allows us to demonstrate our true nature as hunters, alpha males and masters of all we survey! Welcome to Keys to the VIP, a show that encourages, nay demands, the seduction of women. Set in the nation's hottest nightclubs, each episode will showcase the unique approach of two players as they compete head-to-head in a 3-round skills competition. Each round is a challenge carefully designed to test a player's ability to seduce women in a real-life playing field. That's right, in case you didn't get it... a Professional League for Players."

Are you kidding me??!!??

And the photos of the hosts online are bathed in just as much ridiculous pretense. They're smoking cigars and have a tub of Cristal at their fingertips, because I guess that makes them more manly and attractive to other men who want to be 'big pimpin' playas."

From left, Peachez, Alen, Sheldon and Chris
The panel of hosts is made up of:

Alen - He's the moderator of the panel, and is described as having "the ability to cut through the crap and get to the heart of the matter. Honest to a flaw, his cutting and poignant comments have been best described as being "Bertuzzied" by words." I am going to suppose that he's honest to a flaw when it comes to pointing out the inadequacies of other men, not when it comes to meeting women.

Chris - The metrosexual of the group, apparently Chris is also the sensitive one. According to the Web site, "He believes in the art of seduction as a means to discover your soul mate and life partner. It is Chris's philosophy that in the pursuit of becoming a better "player," one can actually become a better human being more capable of finding true love and ultimately true happiness." That sound you hear is me throwing up.

You can also read about Chris's "technique" online ... "Creating a comfortable environment through mutual respect and proper manners is how Chris plays the game. He'll create a fun and spontaneous atmosphere and then offer up a dark side to be explored by a willing lady."

I just vomited again. Just to be sure you're catching all this, because it's a lot to read without wanting to scream, Chris is sharing his tips on "playing the game." Am I the only one that has a huge problem with that? In one sentence, you are talking about how to find your soul mate and life partner, and the next, you're demeaning it by acting as if it is only there to occupy time when you are bored.

Peachez - It gets worse. His technique is described like this. "Whether studying game-tape of opposing QB's or the latest lady in his sights, Peachez relates many aspects of his approach to sports to the art of seduction. Peachez has the uncanny ability to "read" the defense and exploit the opportunities to make the big play, while rarely getting flagged for "misconduct.""

It's uncanny! His ability to make "the big play" without getting flagged. What does that really mean? Jazzy wordplay doesn't cover up the fact that you, sir, and your phony friends are pigs.

Sheldon - Sure, he's hot in that sweet, Donald Faison way, but he admits that he uses his innocent sophistication to "slide under the radar." But be careful ladies, the producers warn, "His charm and sophistication should however never be mistaken for an unwillingness to get down and dirty." Thank God! He may look like sugar and spice, but when it's time to pay up, us women can count on him to be as much of an ass as the rest of him.

Because it is essentially a game show, "Keys to the VIP" features three games in which the contestants compete. For example, the "player," in all senses of the word, has three minutes to get a woman to buy him a drink, or get a woman's phone number while only talking about himself and never letting the woman speak.

I am sure that's a recipe for high-spirited hijinks for the guys playing and watching, but what about the girls involved in this dogfight? Do they know they are pawns? Do they realize that one is the thimble, one is the puppy, one is the shoe, and so on ...?

It's all one big Mysogynopoly, and shows like these are screaming at women to not pass go, not collect $200.

eureka!

2007-06-02T16:44:00.000-04:00

I finally figured out where I caught this terrible cold.
No more kissing camels for me.

Devan and I met Sir Gus the camel at the Orlando Fringe Festival last weekend. Put a carrot in your mouth, and he's all tongue. OK, not really, but I did linger a bit and took home some Gus germs.

The Fringe Fest, by the way, was stellar. We caught some really funny shows and met some cool, very talented people. Support the arts!!!

a smashing set from the pumpkins

2007-06-02T11:33:00.000-04:00

There are no Orlando stops announced yet for the Smashing Pumpkins' half-reunion tour, so this may be as close as I am going to get this year. There are some pretty high-quality mp3s from the band's set in Brussels on May 26, 2007, on ThePumpkins.net. There are some new songs, like "Tarantula," and old favorites, such as "Hummer," "Rocket," "Tonight, Tonight," "Disarm," "Zero" and oh so many more. Enjoy.

sarah's hosting movie awards

2007-06-02T00:14:00.001-04:00

It's reason enough to turn MTV on for the first time in over a year ...

your guide to a D-list summer

2007-06-01T17:53:00.001-04:00

My youth is officially gone. I know this because Scott Baio is 45 years old. Apparently, this summer is all about celebrity reality shows, and Baio has one of his own. Just take a look at some of the shows on tap, as described in USA TODAY:

• VH1 will pair "Baio" with "Rock of Love With Bret Michaels," which is aimed at helping the frontman for heavy-metal band Poison attract women — as if he needed any help.

MY THOUGHTS: Hmmm, I thought Bret Michaels was sexy ... when I was 14! Do you have any idea how much sex that man has had since then? Mama doesn't want syphillis this summer! I may need some shots prior to tuning in. As for "Baio" and its "one man's journey of self discovery," it sounds like that will be the kindler, gentler celeb-reality show.

• Bravo Network will showcase American Idol pixie Paula Abdul as an entrepreneur and all-around go-getter in the much-anticipated "Hey Paula!" and is launching a third season of comedian "Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-list."

MY THOUGHTS: I love Kathy Griffin's show. Favorite moment - Kathy performs for the troops on a USO tour, and she opens with "I usually start my show with 'OK, where are my gays at?' Not today." If Paula's show has the same feeling, then it will be golden. But with Paula's drug/alcohol-influenced streams of consciousness, it also has the potential to go the way of the Anna Nicole show.

• A&E will air "The Two Coreys," featuring former troubled-teen '80s pinup boys Corey Haim and Corey Feldman living together.

MY THOUGHTS: Uh, OK, I was a fan back in the day. The Lost Boys is a classic. But reading about the show makes me kind of cringe. USA TODAY says "The story line: Haim, unemployed, single and slovenly, moves in with Feldman and Feldman's wife, Susie Sprague (married by fellow celebreality star M.C. Hammer on a 2002 Surreal Life episode) in a threesome in the style of You, Me & Dupree. Although Haim concedes some plotlines were contrived, he's hoping for a payoff. "This could be a wonderful steppingstone. Will this be my entire future? Absolutely not. I'm a movie actor by birth."" You mean Reality Shows aren't REAL?? Whatever, the curiosity factor is too strong on this one -- I must check it out at least once.

• ABC is weighing in with NBA basketball star Shaquille O'Neal's "Shaq's Big Challenge," a fitness show for obese middle-schoolers, and car-race competition "Fast Cars and Superstars" with William Shatner.

MY THOUGHTS: A pre-pubescent "Biggest Loser" should have more heart than the rest of these, and it could definitely be a crowd-pleaser, especially with Shaq's gentle-giant ways with children.

• NBC will serve up tennis pro Mark Philippoussis dating twenty- to forty-something "kittens and cougars" in "Age of Love."

MY THOUGHTS: I've seen the commercials for this one. On the plus side, it has the whole "Bachelor" and "Average Joe" vibe, and on the negative side, it has the whole "Bachelor" and "Average Joe" vibe. Come on, isn't that tired? If I am going to marry someone, I don't want that person to be sleepless the night before struggling with "Which one will I choose?" It shouldn't be a toss up. If you're not sure which one, the answer is no one. And what is this "kittens and cougars"? That is so misogynistic. I'm sick of these male fantasy shows. And don't think that a "Bachelorette" version of the show makes it equal. It's still offensive.

i'm sick of being sick

2007-06-01T16:46:00.000-04:00

I am ailing. I've been home sick for nearly four days. I have never missed three days straight of work, or school, or anything! For the last three days, I have barely left my bed. Ughhhhh.

Dr. K, you've arrived just in time.

No, I'm not really seeking any life-ending assistance, but I am happy to see that Dr. Kevorkian is a free man again.

Being in bed alone for three and a half days, I have had some time to click around the Internet, and here are some of the things I have found.

There's a new "English-humor-influenced" advertising platform for our UK friends. Headlines like "Dry? We were never dry." I gotta say, that's pretty genius. The horrible stories of Hurricane Katrina won't attract the number of tourists the city needs to stay ... ahem ... afloat. So, I guess enough time has passed that a little tongue-in-cheek" humor is OK. Here are some of the ads ...

Matthew Pryor, of The Get Up Kids (one of my all-time favorites) and the New Amsterdams, said he quit TGUK because he wanted to spend more time with his family in Kansas. You can't get out that easily, Matt. That music bug never reases its grip. Now, Matt has entered the best of both worlds, recording If You Ever See an Owl as part of the band The Terrible Twos.

According to Vagrant's Web site, Matt said, “My initial wave of inspiration was just to do something different,” he explains, “something fun that there’d be no expectations for. And then I started thinking about all the children’s music my kids were listening to and how a lot of it really wasn’t very good. I think that’s because, in a lot of cases, you have adults assuming what kids like and then trying to manufacture that. With The Terrible Twos, I just wrote what I liked, and as it turned out, my kids liked it, too.”

Here's a sample lyric from the song “Pizza and Chocolate Milk”:

“Spaghetti, yes/ I want spaghetti on my plate/ Don’t try to force me to eat vegetables I hate/ You may think I’m kidding/ That I won’t win/ If I keep screaming, you’ll cave in.”

I love it! Between this and the Lullaby Renditions series (Nine Inch Nails, Bjork, No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins) (Thanks for the tip, James!) I am already introducing my young niece to good music and the bands that made a difference in my life.

Stream music from the Terrible Twos at CDBaby.com.

remembering jeff buckley

2007-05-29T20:33:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago almost to the day, I was living with my friend Michelle just down the street from where I live today. She was staying over at her boyfriend's house. I woke up about 10 minutes before my alarm went off -- I hate when that happens; I feel so cheated. Knowing that MTV News, in that decade at least, was broadcast at about 10 minutes to the hour, I decided to get up and go into our living room and turn on the TV. I still have no idea why I did this. I don't know what made me get out of bed to turn the TV on.

Kurt Loder appears on my screen and tells me that Jeff Buckley has been missing for a couple of days after going swimming in the Wolf River, and his body has been found. He was in Memphis, Tennessee, and he was dead.

It was like getting hit by a Mac Tools truck. I had no words. And of course, there was only about one minute devoted to the story, as fewer people knew about him then. It wasn't like the day Kurt Cobain was found dead in his house. There wasn't even a computer in my apartment, so I couldn't go online and try to find more information or visit a MySpace page.

Without sounding too melodramatic, my life changed a bit that day. Later, I would join the staff of JBIN, the official Jeff Buckley International Newsletter and interview musician Holcombe Waller, travel to Cleveland all by myself to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame for a fan gathering, meet Jeff's mom and go to dinner with her, Jeff's half brother and other Jeff fans from around the country and Canada.

I used to feel guilty that I cried more about the death of a musician who I didn't even know than some of my own relatives who I loved dearly. I think now that it's partly because of the tragic nature of Jeff's death at such a young age -- he was only 30. And it's partly because I feel like I know Jeff in a way that's more intimate than the kinds of relationships we have with people we know.

It's art and its honesty, nakedness and truth. The openness that artists allow themselves is so attractive to me. I know that I can be naive, but I do, in fact, know that just because a musician or a painter can create a feeling in someone doesn't make it real or true. But it does tell me something about themselves.

Mike sent me an article last week about Trent Reznor, and his truths are brutal and free-flowing. The man does not hold back. He's content to share his viewpoints, his disappointments and his struggles with depression and addiction. That's more than some of my own friends and relatives, so I relate to him in a way that I may not with someone I see everyday. Weird, huh?

Anyway, I miss Jeff Buckley. My heart gets so heavy thinking about how unfair it is that he's gone. If there's a Heaven, and God sees to it that I find my way there someday, I will be reunited with my grandparents, friends and family members who have died. And Jeff will be singing. That's my Heaven.

By the way, if you're a fan of Jeff's, Merri Cyr's collection of photos, A Wished-For Song is a must have. And there's a new CD of his music, So Real, the Music of Jeff Buckley available now on Columbia Records.

Listen to NPR's take on the 10th anniversary of Jeff's death.

This electronic press kit could make anyone a fan. It always makes me cry. I actually first bought a DVD player in 2000 because Jeff Buckley - Live in Chicago was being released, and the DVD version included special extras -- especially this electronic press kit. I found it recently on MySpace.
Jeff Buckley epk

bright eyes at hard rock live

2007-05-27T18:47:00.000-04:00

There may be no better feeling on Earth than unexpected delight and surprise. Those OMG moments when you don't even care that the silly grin on your face is giving it all away.

I had a ticket to osee Bright Eyes at Hard Rock Live on May 17, and I was going solo. It was one of those days where I could easily have bowed out because there was no one to disappoint, the money was already spent a couple of months ago, I still had to pack my suitcase for a long-weekend jaunt to Houston to watch my niece be baptized, I was battling explosive digestive conflicts and it was raining for the first time in seven months.

But it was Bright Eyes. So I went. We're talking about one of my favorite bands, so I have no idea why I was so indifferent about it.

Oh my God, I am so glad I went.

First, as the band took the stage, all dressed in white -- suits, dresses, skirts, scarves, tights, what have you -- I caught a glimpse of the drummer. It was Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney. Holy crap! I knew she helped out on the new album Cassadaga, but I had no idea she was touring. Who knows how long this Sleater-Kinney hiatus will be? I was thrilled to see her, Janet, the woman who made me want to learn to play the drums. She's just amazing.

OMG Moment #2 -- There was a huge screen behind the stage where images were projected. Two songs in, I realized that a guy just six feet away from mr near the sound board was putting on this little show live with a bunch of little props he had within arm's length and a powerful overhead projector. It was simply fascinating to watch; other concertgoers were straining to see the live art unfold, and some were even recording it on their cell phones.

The first show within the show that i watched was the guy gently moving a small purple flower under the lens, twisting its stems and pulling off each petal one by one. It looked simply beautiful on stage, and I felt like I had a seat backstage. For the next song, the guy just used different colored markers, drawing aimlessly, it appeared. But when you looked up to the performers, you could see it wasn't so spontaneous. That's why they are wearing white! Conor's suit was yellow in a color-outside-of-the-lines kind of way.

It was fun to watch all the different setups, and it gave me lots of ideas for potential photo sessions.

OMG Moment #3 -- Conor is often ridiculed for his setlists and the lack of variety. With such a strong, prolific repertoire, Conor has hundreds of songs to choose from, he rarely strays from the band's current release. Not tonight.

Early in the set, Bright Eyes launched into "First Day of My Life," then later "Gold Mine Gutted" and then "The Calendar Hung Itself," "I Believe in Symmetry" and "Lua." The crowd, of course, went wild with each song that was more recognizable than anything on Cassadaga.

Always one to bring his friends with him on tour, there were 10-12 musicians on stage throughout the show. For the closer, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning," which is truly the best closing song on any musician's setlist, there were 19, count them 19 people on stage.

All in all, the band hasn't veered too far from its earlier, more intimate shows. Sure, there were synchronized lights and formal attire, but it still had a very DIY feel, Nate still looked bored, Conor was still very quiet between songs and fans were still yelling asinine things like "I wanna have your baby, Conor."

Some things will never change.

Góðan daginn!

2007-05-05T10:37:00.000-04:00

That's "hi" in Icelandic, in honor of Bjork's show in New York tonight. James is there, and I am jealous. I can't wait to hear about it in his own words. I can just picture his smile already! Luckily, NPR is planning to stream the show live tonight at 8 p.m. Read more at npr.org, and while you're there, download a complete show from Peter Bjorn and John. Awesome!