books that rock 11 May 2009

I’ve been on a reading binge for the past week or so, and discovered some fabulous new books to recommend.

Monty Python’s Tunisian Holiday, by Kim “Howard” Johnson
Johnson was a young kid in the mid-70’s when he started a fan zine for Monty Python, a group slowly emerging in America. He started a correspondence with a few of the members, became better acquainted, and by the late 70’s found himself in Tunisia on the set of Life of Brian. I read half of Michael Palin’s diary, so I already knew the Python guys were pretty awesome off-screen, and this book only reiterates that. Johnson was on set for six weeks, and has practically daily updates of what went on – what was filmed, what was eventually cut, how the cast and crew spent their days off, things like that. Johnson was an extra, and played a Roman soldier, a peasant, and was a stand-in for a few of the Pythons. You can tell he had loads of fun being a part of a comedy masterpiece. A real joy to read for a fan of anything British and silly.

Don’t Stop Believin’, Brian Raftery
A book on karaoke. Yes, way. I wasn’t expecting much about this book on one man’s journey into the world of karaoke, but was very pleasantly surprised. Not only does he go into his personal history with karaoke, but he also details the origins and evolution of karaoke in both Japan and the world. It’s really fascinating! I’ve done some live metal karaoke, and hold a special place in my heart for it. So does Raftery. He made me want to go out NOW and find some dingy karaoke bar and sing my heart out to Dio and Joan Jett like the good old days. And chances are the book will have the same effect on you. I dare you to not burst into song while you read. (I did a few times, including to “Raspberry Beret.”)

Under Their Thumb, Bill German
A real fanboy success story I can appreciate. German (like the aforementioned Johnson) created a fan zine for his favorite group The Rolling Stones. A few short years down the road, and he’s buddies with Keith Richards and Ron Wood, going to their houses, visiting with the Stones backstage, getting to know the crew, getting to know all the nitty gritty secrets all fans want to know and then regret knowing… it’s a fascinating story. He’s an excellent writer, and puts in all the details a person wants to know. While I’m definitely on the Beatles side of the debate, I’ve gained sympathy for the Stones side. This book made go out and get a copy of Sticky Fingers. But Mick Jagger is a total jerk.

But Enough About Me, Jancee Dunn
A reread, but too fun nonetheless. Jersey girl (poofy hair included) lands a job at Rolling Stone magazine. This is what I wish my life was like! Dunn alternates stories of her quirky family life (is there any other kind?) and rising in the ranks of Rolling Stone and MTV2 with short advice essays on topics such as “How To Control the Panic When Your Subject Is Absurdly Famous” and “Dirt Gathering: Shortcuts to Finding the Least Loyal Person in an Entourage.” Really fascinating stuff. And as Dunn was voted Class Clown back in high school, hilariously written as well. For me it was totally worth it for the reading of her encounter with Dolly Parton, and learning that Ron Wood washes his own socks in the bathroom when he travels.

backlog of music reviews 11 May 2009

IT IS TIME! I’ve been awful and not doing reviews of new music, so I’m going to tackle it now and make it short and sweet. If you have further inquiries, make them in the comments and I’ll get back to you.

The Decemberists Hazards of Love – I love this. Not quite the level of Crane Wife or “Mariner’s Revenge Song,” but darnwell close enough. Shara Worden as the Queen in “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid”?!! *fans self* Whoa. That lady can belt some notes. And the fact that the supposed single is a song about infanticide? So Decemberists. J’adore. And the creepy children’s choir in the third reprise? Oh, Colin Meloy. I would offer to have your tweegoth babies if you weren’t already happily settled. This literary Portland group has yet to fail me.

Mindy Gledhill Feather in the Wind – Mindy is a Utah artist, and like 98% of the artists from Utah, only 2% of the population know about them. It’s a shame because they get insulated and not able to spread their wings, so to speak. Not too long ago, she posted on Twitter that she was performing for orphans in Eastern Europe, and how can you not like a musician for that? Mindy has a fabulous and lovely voice, not affected like most female artists. But the substance of her music is not something that grabs me. I’ve got a good row or two of CDs of female singers who have similar music, and it’s not something I go for much anymore. She great, don’t get me wrong, but her light and airy songs are not what I typically seek out. But I know a number of people on my flist and what-not who would/will adore her, and will be passing on the vibes.

Vivian Girls Vivian Girls – I read about this band in a few magazines, didn’t hear the songs, but knew I needed to check them out. So on my recent trip to Georgia (and the requisite combing of my favorite indie music stores) I found a copy at Wuxtry and felt I’d achieved something. It’s a short album of typical punk-influenced bursts of song, and very retro in mood. I could hear this album being made over 40 years ago and not being all that out of place. If they were more raucous, this trio of females would be on Tarantino’s playlist. Very lo-fi and awesome.

Creature No Sleep At All - A random find, so I know almost nothing about the group itseld, but rooted in punk inflences and fun to listen to. My favorite being “Bridgitte Bardot.” Excellent dance beats, ripe to mixes and remixes. Kind of like a more fun loving CSS with some of the guys from The Sounds. Bands like this just make me happy.

The Von Bondies Love Hate and Then There’s You – The Von Bondies had the respect of the hipster community for all of five seconds back in 2003/2004, but were then completely overshadowed by lead singer Jason Stollsteimer getting pwned by Jack White in a Detroit nightclub in late 2003. Poor band gained fame because their lead singer’s face was beated to a pulp and everybody knew it. So that’s what I think of when I think of the Von Bondies. Sorry guys. The new tunes aren’t much of a departure from their 2004 mainstream breakthrough Pawn Shoppe Heart, but it ain’t all that bad, either. “Pale Bride” is alright, but it really just sounds like what you did five years ago. And yet I still feel drawn to it. Maybe the next release will actually have something to inch past the Jack White Shadow.

I need to keep this up. If you hear of anything good, pass it on!

keef 5 May 2009

Say what you will, but Keith Richards was a babe back in the day. (You know, until shooting heroin into his muscles and all that started to show…)

rock week: international week of mystery 4 May 2009

Yes, another lame attempt at a tagline for my “rock weeks.”

So the last weekend in April I was lucky enough to fly down to Georgia and see some of my old friends. Taylor and I are founding members of a group of friends called Gajataash (we took the first letter of everyone’s name and invented a word) who met while at Jump, Little Children’s Dock Street 9 performance series. We’ve since shortened it to Gaja to accomodate other friends who have become close. The website I linked is incredibly out of date, but I prefer it that way. Whenever we get together it’s like when my mom and her sisters get together – loads of rehashing of old stories. Despite the fact that a triple murder occurred nearby, the trip was a blast.

Well, once I got back I got a message from my friend Vivian who happened to have a spare ticket to the Flight of the Conchords show the following night! Of course I took her up on it. A co-worker of mine swears she saw Jemaine walking a block away from our store entering one of the four-star hotels next to us, and as I left to meet up with Vivian I saw a big tour bus circling the block, so I’m sure my co-worker was correct. Their opener was the comedian Eugene Merman (the guy who plays their landlord on the show) and he did this great bit about why he hates Delta Airlines with the intenisty of a thousand suns. It concluded with John Wesley Harding taking the stage, along with a member of the Mekons, to sing a song Harding wrote especially for Merman’s hatred of Delta. Then Merman handed out postcards he’d printed up that read “I hate you!” with his story on the back, and instructed us to deluge Delta with them. Awesome.

Then the Conchords themselves took the stage. I’m afraid I haven’t seen anything of their show’s second season (I don’t have cable), but I devoured their first once it came out on DVD. And their album. “Foux du Fafa” is still a favorite. Luckily for me they didn’t play loads of songs from the second season (though they’re so funny out of context it didn’t matter), and were very charming on stage. Before their “political” song “Think About It” they said they were very concerned with current issues, and said they want to raise money to get tissues to the pigs! They get swine flu, too, you know!

At one point they announced that they were touring with the New Zealand Symphony, and introduced the Symphony to the stage – which turned out to be one guy with a cello. (I guess you had to be there, but I was in stitches.) They said that due to budget cuts it was just the cellist, but it used to contain a trumpeter and one dude who danced in the corner. And one interesting choice they made was to not play “Robots” or “Business Time” – two songs I would claim to be their hits. But I can respect that. After seeing Jump, Little Children and Jay Clifford a few dozen times you kind of wish they don’t sing “Cathedrals” and replace it with something more obscure. In the end it was a fantastic show, and I was grateful for the last minute ticket opportunity.

Thursday I FINALLY got to see Franz Ferdinand. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s been a thing with me for a few years to see Franz Ferdinand. Ticketmaster gouged me a little, but I kept saying it would be worth it. I’m sorry to say, it wasn’t totally. I think the main problem was I attended the show at the Riviera by myself. I had no one to bounce energy off of. The opener (I never caught their name) sucked. Just… blah. I don’t understand how so many blah groups get great opportunities like opening for Franz Ferdinand and not be better. Luckily they had a short set.

Franz had a screen behind them with some lights set up, and during many of their songs images and video loops would play behind them. It was pretty hot, I do say. I was amused to notice that the setlist was composed of almost the entirety of their debut album, a number from their latest release, and hardly anything but the single from their second. (Their sophomore album just wasn’t up to snuff, and I have yet to hear the entirety of their latest.) So I liked that. Nick, the guitarist, busted his foot somehow earlier, so he was seated the whole night, leaving Alex, the lead singer, alone in his stage-thrashing. But that boy has moves. And what a luscious voice! I think people underrate his singing talents. Just the same, I didn’t find their show all that special, and really wanted to leave by the end. I stayed for the encore out of some groupie/fangirl force within me that would be insulted if I left earlier, but it was rather dull to say the least. Well, at least I can take that off my checklist now. I still say the band’s debut album is a classic, but that’s it.

Saturday my siblings and I saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine. TOTALLY worth it for the Hugh Jackman factor. I adore that man so much. However, it lacked actual origins. Who was his father? How did he and his brother survive? What was it like during the wars? I’m not a comic book aficianado, I just dig some of the films, so I know I’m missing loads of info by not reading the comics, but please. The film was a tad annoying with it’s confusing storyline. And the after-credits scene? What a gyp. But Hugh Jackman (and the way-too-little-on-screen-time of Ryan Reynolds) made the film watchable. Really, honestly, that’s what the ladies wanted.