Pop Renaissance

Hope Chest - If Luck Should Smile Down Upon Us EP

2007-03-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

Hope Chest

"If Luck Should Smile Down Upon Us"

4 Song EP Released 1st Week In April.

October (It Still Comes Once A Year)

I'm Only Trying To Live

Too Tired To Sleep

Beautiful

Covers Album "Handmade Vol. 1" Available On UK & US Tour Dates Only.

The Genius That Is Yacht Rock

2007-01-30T19:23:00.000-08:00

Yacht Rock - Episode 1

Seriously - this is some inspired shit that is just about the funniest thing ever. Methinks Uncanny Canadian would dig this.

Meet Isabella

2007-01-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

My Sweet Alcoholic Baby

? Needs Your Help

2007-01-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

UPDATE, UPDATE, SUPER-IMPORTANT UPDATE:

From Marla:

OK we got pay pal set up finally can you post it.

Go to Pay Pal.com
Click the Send tab
put in this email addressquestionmarkdonations@msn.com
put in the amount, continue and follow the rest of the instructions and
...the donations will go directly to Questions account.

PLEASE BUY A SHIRT FROM QUESTION MARK AND HELP OUT A LEGEND

? and the Mysterians. "96 Tears". Quite possibly the best garage song of all time.

Question Mark (yes, it's his legal name) has headed the legendary Mysterians since the mid-60s and has been covered by many people, The Stranglers namely. Well, Question Mark needs some help:

I'm sorry to bother you, but a emergency has just come up. ? & The Mysterians, has had a HUGE tragedy, We need to get the word out to fans and friends. This past Tuesday night, ?'s home in Clio, MI. that he has lived in with his manager and manager's wife, since 1967, burned down taking with it 4 of his 7 Yorkies, his parrot and everything they have ever owned including his gold records, laptop containing all his downloaded material, photos, posters, all his stage clothes, every single thing he owns. He was in the basement doing laundry when he smelled smoke. He ran upstairs in time to rescue three of his seven Yorkies, two of whom are blind, but could not save the others. They are uninsured and living in their tour bus in the yard, next to their barn as they also raise pigs, chickens and a few other farm animals. I would be interested in putting together a benefit for him, but as of this moment I am looking for some help in getting the word out for donations. Winter is finally baring down on us this week and living in the bus with four adults and three old Yorkies is going to be tough. They don't have clothing, dishes, basic needs as of this moment and at his age to rebuild, (he is in his sixties) is going to be very difficult. He is devasted at the loss of his precious pups and I'm just trying to get him by until he can mentally handle the devistation. The fire department told him it was a electrical fire.

Please contact me and let me know if you can put the word out. Something, anything would be appreciated. If anyone would be interested in helping us do a benefit or something, please contact us asap. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Marla Swartz
Eldar Entertainment
517 548 1780
msswartz@chartermi.net

Question Mark also had a few hundred shirts in his van and he's trying to sell them as well. $25 a shirt (includes shipping). Email Marla and she'll tell you where/how to send payment.

I almost died in a house fire once but our dogs woke us up and got us out. We lost practically everything, but no lives or real livelihood. My heart goes out to you, Question Mark.

WOOHOO!

2007-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm going to see Brian Wilson at the Paramount at the end of the month! These are his last few shows playing "Pet Sounds" in its entirety and Al Jardine of The Beach Boys will be there too. I am SOOO excited. This ALMOST makes up for not being able to see Morrissey at his L.A. shows.

I Guess I Just Wasn't Made For These Times

2007-01-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

Hello again.

To quote one of my favorite songs of the 70s, "Well, I've been one poor correspondent...I've been too, too hard to find, but it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind".

Truth is, I've been under incredible mental strain. Hope Chest is doing very well and LOTS of things are happening: we're very close to getting a couple of major breaks, we're touring the U.K. in May, we've a bunch of talented new members...and everything is on my shoulders. I'm the one creating the possibilities and since it's my band, I must see them through or the "what if?" blame falls squarely on me. All of this has been building for months and when coupled with regular things in life getting in the way, it all lead to a pretty solid mental breakdown last night. All the incredibly sordid details are a bit much, so we'll just say that:

1. Every emotion was experienced to its fullest
2. Beer bottles bounce off of walls surprisingly well
3. I learned how to tie a noose
4. Cats just KNOW shit

This morning I woke up completely lost. No idea of what to do with myself. Having just read bios of Brian Wilson and Syd Barrett was doing me no fucking favors. Though I've been away, I'd kept up with my favorite blogs just lurking up til Thanksgiving when the strain was starting to get to be too much. Today I felt I needed some good company and went 'round the blogs again to find the incredible, surreal, mind-boggling Tucker Carlson / Chuckles saga. To say this brought me out of my mental coma would be an understatement: I haven't laughed that hard in MONTHS. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard and it happened to Chuckles The Toilet Destroyer, of all people.

You never know who your friends are until you need them. And this morning I found out how much I really needed my friends. You gave me the shot in the arm I needed and wasn't sure how to find, and for that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Here's a link to my new demo. I hope you enjoy it. You'll have to cut-&-paste cos Blogger ain't digging links right now: http://www.yousendit.com/download/EsgNFt9nkY95TA%3D%3D

1 Year Anniversary

2006-09-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend marks our 1st anniversary of marriage. Though The Old Lady and I have been together almost 8 years now (!), this is by far the sweetest and most important anniversary we've had. And yes, flowers are en route.

The year has flown by so quickly it seems unreal that a mere 12 months ago I was driving up to Fort Bragg with Paul, both of us hungover in epic proportions. Being someone who previously had completely shunned marriage (my father's advice to me growing up: "Never get married, never have kids. Trust me."), I find myself more in love with The Wife every day, which I never thought possible. To say I'm lucky to have found my soulmate and be married to my best friend would be a total understatement - I've basically won the emotional lottery. There's nothing I cannae do or get through with her there by my side.

We've got a 4-day weekend together and I couldn't be any more chuffed to have my baby all to myself for that time. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I'll see you next week.

Tis The Season For Bronchitis

2006-09-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

UGH.

The Old Lady and I have been sick for a week. Damn near everyone we know is sick. And lucky me, being seasonally asthmatic, I've come down with bronchitis. I hope you are all taking yer vitamins and have a stockpile of soup.

Workin' All The Live Long Day

2006-09-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm training a new employee this week, so I've not been visiting much. I promise to return next week completely partied out with stories to tell.

Lovefest SF is this weekend. Ambient Mafia party that night. Well wicked.

This Is TOO Much

2006-09-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

This is really tripping me out right now.

UPDATE: Okay, this is tripping me out even more.

Okay, I've Stopped Crying Over The Zombies

2006-09-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Cos next week a veritable POSSE of us are going to see:

Who is supposed to feature:

And opening the show is:

So I guess things have been worse.

Oh yeah: me and my crew The Ambient Mafia are gonna tear this fucking gig UP. Miss at yer own peril.

OH MY FUCKING GOD

2006-09-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

THE ZOMBIES ARE PLAYING 12 GALAXIES TOMORROW NIGHT.

Seriously. The fucking ZOMBIES. It's $20 and I am sooooo fucking skint right now after moving it's not even funny. I think I am gonna cry. No, I take that back - I KNOW I'm gonna cry. In fact, I'm gonna go do it right fucking now. Jesus Christ on a popsicle stick...The Zombies...FUCK.

I Like 3 Day Weekends

2006-09-05T10:00:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Cos I didn't.

Moving SUCKS, even when it's right next door. I spent the majority of the weekend going through boxes and bags in our new garage/practise space/recording studio. It has become painfully apparent that The Old Lady still loves holding on to EVERY SINGLE CATALOGUE she's ever been sent. However, it's about 80% done and looking pretty freakin' cool. The huge white sheet for the slide projector is the piece de resistance, though - looking at an enormous Audrey Hepburn projection when yer practising is nothing short of inspirational.

And thanks to the 3Bulls! post from last week, I saw the video for and heard M. Ward's "Chinese Translation" for the very first time. To say it blew my mind would be an understatement. I immediately ran to Mod Lang and bought the album (BTW - Mod Lang is now about 5 blocks from my house, which is great for my ears and bad for my wallet) and couldn't be more pleased. I highly recommend it.

HAHAHA!

2006-09-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

I am off at 2.30p today. And you are not.

It is a damn shame, because I will be drinking and smoking and you won't be there.

More for me, I guess.

This has been a Public Service Announcement.

I like this picture:

Sharing Is Caring

2006-08-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

Only you can prevent visions like this - stay off the drugs kids!.

Work is freakin' KILLING ME. Boo fucking hoo and all that. So because I love you and because I'm fucking DROWNING in filing, I'm giving you a very good song today as a token of my affection. A fairly honest reflection of my desires today, here's a link to download Cody Chesnutt's "Smoke And Love".

Cody Chesnutt - "Smoke And Love"

So Tired

2006-08-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

I am tired today. I went to bed late. Sue me.

Here is Hope Chest in a photo booth earlier this year.

Tomorrow Night @ 330 Ritch

2006-08-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night Hope Chest goes electronic with a brand spankin' new set of sequenced tunes. All electro-pop from yours truly, so come on out and hear our new songs before they come out and before we play the Headphone Festival. I've no idea how the other 2 bands are, but DJ Steena Lynn spins seriously good indie music (last time we did a gig with her she spun Joy Division right before we went on - total class). A good time is promised, so come out and support local music and our first gig at 330 Ritch!!

...What The...?!?!

2006-08-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

MAAAAAAAAAAAAN...what the fuck happened?

mdhatter sent me an mp3 mysteriously titled "Relaxing.mp3", so I played it. Fucking thing was some crazy hypnotizing subliminal message. Next thing I know I'm waking up and it's over 2 months later, I've got this Dennis Wilson / Rip Van Winkle beard, and mdhatter is claiming control of my blog.

Of course you realise this means war.

(P.S. Hope Chest plays 330 Ritch this Tuesday!)

Still Alive

2006-06-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

STILL no home computer, so blogging is (obviously) just not happening. Work is really busy and the band is even busier.

We will be on the International Pop Overthrow CD this year with our version of "To Claudia On Thursday", as well as playing the IPO Festival in San Francisco this August.

In a week or so, our computer will be fixed and I will torment you all again.

Don't forget the upcoming gig: Sunday, June 25th - The Makeout Room, S.F. Celebrate the end of gay pride weekend with a band of straights.

Hope Chest Headlining Gig, 6.25.06

2006-05-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

BE THERE.

Slowly But Surely

2006-05-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

...I will be blogging more. I've just been REEEEEEAAAAAAAALLLLLLLYYYYYYYY busy with the band and new tunes, gigs, recordings, etc. But honestly, the way we've been sounding it's all been worth it. Next up:

June 17th - House of Shields, S.F. - Cool Waves SF Fest w/ Venus Beltran and Tomihira
June 25th - Makeout Room, S.F. - Headlining, with Montana and Oceans of Fire

Dave of Venus Beltran will be joining us onstage both shows for some very special covers. The Makeout Room is our first headlining gig in ages so you all had BETTER be there, dressed nicely and nicely drunk.

Home computer is still in a coma, so internet access is patchy at best.

Off for a bath with one of these.

Oh, and Non-Girlfriend: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! YOU'RE ADDICTED NOW, TOO!!!!

Tonight - Studio Z

2006-05-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hope Chest, Foxtail Somersault, Venus Beltran, and Sentinel
$3
Studio Z, San Francisco
8p
New Songs
Dave from Astral joins us onstage
The spirits of Syd Barrett and Andrew Eldritch will be there

WE GOT IT!!!!!!

2006-04-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

These super-duper short notice things NEVER work out. EVER. But apparently I had a karma chip to cash in, cos it's a full-on go.

Friday June 2nd - Cafe Du Nord
Red Lightning (feat. Alain Whyte, Morrissey's guitarist & songwriter) * 1st Bay Area Show!
Hope Chest

Details as they arrive. Time to fucking celebrate.

I am expecting every fucking one of you to be there. Dressed nicely.

Oh yeah: fuck this guy.

Best Blog Post EVARR!!!1!

2006-04-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Seriously - this is genius, and perfect for a Friday. Go there and pay homage.

This is how cats come into the world:

No storks or, even more ridiculous, Mama Cats. Nope, they come from UPS. Almost full grown.

FUCK ME RUNNING - THE GIG IS 90% CONFIRMED

2006-04-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

I should know tomorrow if it's a "yes" or "no". And it's lookin' like one big motherfucking "yes".

If you believe in God, pray for me. If you don't, drink for me (that's what you call a "win-win situation").

Amazing

2006-04-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

This just may be the coolest website ever, and, indeed, justification for the internet as a whole.

I Am Cracked Out Right Now

2006-04-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

I have had 3 cups of coffee and an email with potentially the most important gig we've ever played today.

I am bouncing off of fucking walls right now.

If this gig actually comes off, HO-LEE FOOKIN' SHIT. WATCH OUT.

I will keep you posted - cross yer fingers.

Back In The Saddle

2006-04-24T09:53:00.002-07:00

I am back and in fine singing voice once more. Yes, I am still handsome.

This was some awful shit. A good diet, but horrid in every other way.

Tomorrow I have 21 bath bombs coming from Basin. Can you say "FUCK YEAH!!"?

I have exactly 3,915 emails to read...oh wait - 3,896 are spam.

The secret word of the day is "sushi". Scream any time you hear someone say it!

I'm gonna go around give everyone some love, so be patient and wait yer turn - apparently Jesus loves kids who do that shit.

Oh yeah, the new Hope Chest songs KICK ASS.

Hope Chest live, courtesy of Fulsome.

Strep Throat For The Past 5 Days

2006-04-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

...and all you get is this lousy blog post.

I still love you, it just hurts my throat to say it.

Here's a nice pic of the Salford Lads Club, suitable for desktops.

And here is Isabella watching the fish.

New Hope Chest Single Out Next Month

2006-04-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

Our new single will be released next month. The "My Huckleberry Friend" EP will be available on 7" vinyl (that's a "record" to you analog luddites).

A: Lipstick
B1: Three
B2: My Huckleberry Friend

Dig it.

If You Have 5 Seconds To Spare...

2006-04-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

...I'd like to expand upon my feelings about the post below and the importance of those remembered below. The links are to pages where you can download the songs I am reminiscing about. I'll update the links as I have more of them available.

While I grew up listening to Gene Pitney on the radio, it was the classic "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart", his duet with Marc Almond that made me love him so much. An iconic singer/songwriter paired with the only vocalist I love as much as Morrissey, singing some of the most romantic lyrics ever to an amazing score by a big band (in the classic sense)...let's just say that there were MANY wistful minutes spent staring out of windows, daydreaming.

Everyone who watched The Partridge Family basically knew The Cowsills - it was based on them. They would've actually been on the show themselves but producers decided on actors who were musicians. They had their hits, but the song that has always been my favorite is "The Mystery of Life", a brooding song that resonated with me far more than it should have at such an early age (kinda like my obsession with "In My Room" by The Beach Boys when I was 6). When I heard about the flood and the worried family, the lyrics to it immediately sprung to mind and the tears came. Now, with the way history has been written with Barry and Billy, the tears fall even more readily.

Gilks was the drummer for The Wonder Stuff, an amazing, acerbic Brum pop band. It always seemed like pop gems just flowed from them like water from melting snow. They were one of those bands you'd listen to after a break up and say "yep - that's exactly what I'm going through". Can't Shape Up, indeed...

Requiescat In Pace

2006-04-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Gene Pitney

Billy Cowsill * Barry Cowsill

Martin Gilks

Pics From Last Gig

2006-04-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of my guitar player's girlfriend, Heather.

May 9, 2006

2006-04-01T11:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, now THIS is gonna be fun...

May 9, 2006 - Studio Z, San Francisco

Hope Chest
Astral
others TBA

This will be the return of the Hope Chest light show and a return to sequencers for half of the set. We're playing a bunch of new songs. We may even have a special guest for a special song. And Astral is just fucking great live. We don't usually play this early in the week, but we'll ALWAYS play a show with our mates.

UPDATE: We will have a guest - Dave from Astral will join us on-stage for a special cover. Hell yeah.

My Mind Was Drifting...

2006-03-30T07:05:00.000-08:00

I'm reading an old Alfred Hitchcock collection of stories and came across a stunning paragraph in one of them. Here it is:

Time is the great healer, it makes you forget; sometimes it makes you forget literally and with great cruelty. I knew a man whose wife ran away, and he never saw her again. He missed her so much he thought he could never for a moment forget it. A year later, reading in his living room at night, he became so absorbed in his book that when he heard a faint familiar noise in the kitchen he called out without looking up from his book and asked his wife to bring him a cup of tea when she came back into the room. Only when there was no answer did he look up from his complete forgetfulness; then his loss swept over him worse than ever.

I Am Addicted

2006-03-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

This is a bath bomb - I can NOT get enough of these things.

I take a bath every night to relax, read, and smoke out. We discovered bath bombs on our honeymoon and baths have never been the same since.

Basin is the store we got them at and they have online ordering. Last week I received about $65 worth of bath bombs - they are already half gone. Order a couple and see if you can take a regular bath again. I recommend "Therapy" - it's far and away my favorite.

Lameness, Thy Name Is Pinko Punkass

2006-03-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

Great night with the band last night. Many thanks to David James for impromptu roadie duties, and to Fulsome for helping me coin the phrase "Pinko Punkass". The other bands were great, especially A Northern Chorus. Yo Fulsome - let's see those pics.

This week has almost killed me...thank GOD it's almost over. There is a bath in my very near future.

Thursday March 23rd - Edinburgh Castle, S.F.

2006-03-23T10:44:00.000-08:00

A wonderful night of dream-pop.

Hope Chest
A Northern Chorus (from Canada)
Sianspheric (also from Canada)

$5 * Show at 9p - Hope Chest on first * Dig it

Yeah, I bumped it - whatcha got to say about it? Thought so. Punk ass.

The Sisters Of Mercy

2006-03-23T00:06:00.000-08:00

What a fucking show. There are some nights you want to go out and communicate with your audience, and then there are some nights you want to go out and just fucking DO IT HARD, which is what The Sisters did tonight. Loads and loads of new songs that sounded wonderful, especially since the sound was better than Vegas (although the sound kept "dipping", like someone was occasionally leaning on the master volume). Andrew sang better in Vegas, but was still in fine form. "Alice", "Temple of Love", "First & Last & Always", "Dominion / Mother Russia"...ahhhhhh, the heart just melts. Vera, our backing vocalist, said afterwards: "I've NEVER seen you rock out like that before!" What can I say? It was the fucking Sisters.

And it seems like 25 years...

Belle & Sebastian

2006-03-22T00:05:00.000-08:00

...was a fucking BLAST. Great set-list tonight ("Dog on Wheels"!) and the band was in stunning form; even the most fey songs had some serious ooomph behind them. Fulsome, Fulsome's wonderful lady, myself, The Old Lady, my guitarist Paul and his girl all shimmied our way through the evening quite happily. There were, oh I don't know, about 174 comments between Fulsome, Paul and I that all went along the lines of "can you believe this is Belle & Sebastian?!" or "holy SHIT - they are rocking OUT!".

Note To Self: Flask, you bastard. Get a fucking flask.

Observations:

* Fulsome is about 6 foot 14 inches tall. I used to think he was taller.
* The Hotel Utah is one dusty freakin' bar.
* Paul is my oldest friend.
* It makes more sense to roll a blunt than to roll 3-4 joints.
* I like concert shirts.
* I am happy being an alcoholic, and, thankfully, am a very happy drunk.
* The Sisters of Mercy is gonna be a weird gear shift from tonight. Heh.

Let The Games Begin

2006-03-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Tonight:

Belle and Sebastian with Fulsome, The Old Lady and my guitarist.

Tomorrow:

The Sisters of Motherfucking Mercy - say it loud, bitches.

Thursday:

Hope Chest at Edinburgh Castle with a bunch of good bands and mates.

Friday:

World domination.

Hope Chest / New Order Podcast Tomorrow

2006-03-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

So as it turns out, you WON'T be able to vote for us and our cover of "1963" if you weren't a member of the NewOrderOnline community already, but no worries cos you can still listen to it and all the other songs.

Our face-off starts tomorrow (Saturday). There are 2 other bands doing versions of "1963" so we're excited, as all the entries have been a blast to listen to so far.

Go here for the podcast. Go here for our artist page. Go here for all the artists.

Listen to a few of the face-off podcasts. Very well done overall by the NewOrderOnline folks, and you can hear some really amazing versions. Gigi Translator did a fantastic "Blue Monday" that won them their face-off - I danced my ass off to it as I made tacos. What a mess...

Go and spread my gospel.

Light Posting

2006-03-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

I probably won't post again til late next week. My head is firmly up the ass of the album we're recording and it is taking all my time, not to mention sanity - that and band practises have me pretty much sapped of energy. Plus we're still trying to square away the artwork. Not to mention we've written 2 songs in the past week we want to get on an album that's over half finished, which means they need some lyrics now or, preferrably, yesterday. Sounds underwhelming, I know, but I'm losing sleep and not all "there".

"Ecstasy On Main Street" will be out in August.

UPDATE: Bumped for relevance.

One Last Thing

2006-03-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

Buy me all of these. That is all.

...Oh, And By The Way

2006-03-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

"Sensitivity" by Ralph Tresvant is the muthafuckin' JAM. We all know who the REAL talent of New Edition was, though Johnny Gill was pretty good. Don't get me started on Bobby or Bell Bitch DeHoe.

In conclusion...

Pimpin':

Not Pimpin':

You Know You Should...

2006-03-06T15:06:00.002-08:00

Stop being a selfish punkass - go buy some goods for the library that teh l4m3 runs out in the boonies. They don't have one single Upton Sinclair book! For shame!!

It's the least you can do for the wonderfulness that is teh.

Monday's Lyrical Musings

2006-03-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

"I don't like Mondays"
- The Boomtown Rats

"I'm not a sea, I'm not a forest, I'm not a drug eating away. You'll never see me walk in a nightmare, I'm not the son you sent away..."
- The House of Love

"We walked until the sunlight died - how could I breathe without your love?"
- Clan of Xymox

"I wrote for luck and they sent me you."
- Happy Mondays

"Counting the days in the haze around you, Susanne let the ether fall"
- The Sisters of Mercy

"There are too many ways that you can kill someone, like in a love affair when the love has gone"
- New Order

"As free as the wind, and hopefully learning why the sea on the tide has no way of turning"
- Roxy Music

"And as I wander down to where you lay, the blood rushed up to meet the roses in your hair"
- Arcadia

"If your god bestows protection upon you, and if the USA doesn't bomb you, I believe I will see you somewhere safe, looking to the camera, messing around and pulling faces."
- Morrissey

New Order Tribute

2006-03-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

So we've entered a contest to get on a New Order tribute CD - our page is here.

When the time comes, you will be ordered to vote for us.

That is all for now.

WHOA...

2006-03-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

Our building may be evacuated - the emergency system is going off and the Fire and Police Departments are here. And we're one floor from the top...fucking GREAT...

UPDATE: Don't know what it was. Took AGES for the "all clear", but it seems yer stuck with me a bit longer. Tacos at my place.

Loveless

2006-02-27T00:49:00.000-08:00

Fingers pressed down on your jeans
Your eyes downcast
See where you're going all too well
You laugh and say you're fine
But I know I hear you sighing all the time
I think I've heard this 2 or 3 or 4 times now
But I still don't understand
Cos what you're wanting
Could well be where you're at now

Because we'd be fine if you'd start trying
To stop getting your attention through tension

I'm not sorry if it seems I can't care less
When it goes over your head you've gone
From sore eyes sight to sore all over
Almost overnight
Because it's hard enough for me
To come right out with what so easily stays in
And that's what I need you to see when I'm all sighed out
And I'm all sighed out because we'd be fine if you'd start trying
To stop getting your attention through tension...

(From The 1st Album - Download Here)

Heaven or Las Vegas

2006-02-23T13:40:00.000-08:00

So we did have quite a splendid time in Vegas. The food options for vegetarians SUCKED - it was pure hell. We didn't find a good restaurant til the last day, but at least we found it. We will have that sussed out next time.

Flight there was ROUGH (with my fear of heights and flying) but manageable with the ganja, Xanax, ganja cookies, and pints of rum in the airport bar, not to mention The Smiths on the palm pilot. I almost snapped The Old Lady's femur when I grabbed her leg during turbulence. Flight back was easy cos I was passed out the whole way.

The Stratosphere was a decent enough place, but with paper-thin walls. At the far north end of the strip, we had the best views of the Vegas ghetto. The service started out good and got progressively worse. One of the most disgusting buffets I've ever picked at (is it too much to ask for real mashed potatoes?!). We won't stay there again.

After checking in, we went to the casino floor to get it started. There's a bar next to the elevators...perfect. Order beer for The Old Lady, Scotch for me (what they have against the Irish in this town I'll never know). Naturally there's video poker machines built into the bar, so I decide to gamble my first couple of bucks. 5th hand and I get the mother of all hands - the Royal Flush. $65, baby!! Curses for betting only one quarter!

The luck stuck: $100 bucks on one spin at a "The Price Is Right" slot; $90 at roulette playing our birthdays and anniversary numbers; $12 bucks just getting rid of a few quarters in my pocket. And so on. It was great cos everything we bought (tour shirts, photos, etc.) was paid for by winnings. Not bad for a kid on a farmboy's wages.

The Sisters of Mercy...they should be called The Sisters of Merch, cos they have the best shirts ever. Fucking great show, mix a little muddy, and I screamed like a bitch the whole show. Next day I could barely speak. They played a bunch of new stuff that sounded great alongside the old faves, and I met a bunch of people I can honestly call new friends (see you next month, Gus!). One even paid for our cab back (thanks Mike!)!

Best part was when the soundguy's girlfriend asked me to stop whistling cos it was too loud for her. After clarifying that was indeed what she was asking of me, I leaned in and let her fucking have it. "Let me tell you what the deal is: we have come all the way from the San Francisco bay area to see one of my favorite bands ever. A band I haven't seen in over 10 years. I paid for my tickets over 2 months ago..." She tried to cut me off with an "Okay, okay", hoping I would shut up - no fucking way, bitch. I said quite curtly, "I'm NOT done yet. (Her eyes get huge) Understand this: I have no desire to make you uncomfortable and I'm not whistling in your ear on purpose, but there is no way I am going to stop whistling for this band. I travelled a long way to be here and will be as excited as I want to be, as loudly as I want to be." She took off shortly thereafter. Fuck with the bull, get the horns - fuck with my good time, get a VERY bad time in return.

Cirque du Soleil's "Mystere" is so mind-boggling I cannae do it justice. VERY interactive with the audience and one hell of a stage. Needless to say, we want to see the other shows they have going up there, including the naked one. Got a really good pic of us in our seats, and they even served one of my fave drinks - strawberry Captain Morgan daquiris!

Wayne Newton is a pimp, pure and simple. He's lost a bit of the smoothness of his voice, but he can still belt 'em out and is one hell of an entertainer. Funny, great band, classic songs...it was the Vegas we craved. Got to meet him afterwards: dressed in a black robe, wearing posh cologne, mackin' on tha ladies. He hugged me, kissed The Old Lady, and we got a couple of good pics with him. We fell asleep that night smelling of Wayne Newton's cologne.

All in all, it was an exhausing trip. The buildings are so huge, everything looks much closer than it really is. All the walking and shite food made me miss home so much...I almost cried when we got back and I saw my kitties. I had missed them so much I dreamt about them almost every night. Isabella, true to form, acted hurt and abandoned for a minute, then attacked me with kisses a minute later. I don't do well without the kitties, so I need to win the lottery so I can be one of those rich twats who takes their cats on vacation.

Oh, and by the way: $15 to ride a rollercoaster one time is for crackheads and rich people. Pics soon.

...Back!

2006-02-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

We have returned.

It was quite a time and I will tell you all the sundry details tomorrow or the next day. My voice is almost back, thankfully, after screaming like a little bitch at the Sisters show on Thursday. I still cannae sing certain notes which is pissing me off, but as Macca said: "It's getting better all the time".

The Old Lady was incredibly smart - she slept all day Sunday and yesterday. Yesterday I was up at 8a gardening and had a recording session all day. Needless to say, I'm fucking useless and she's perky as all hell. If she wasn't so fucking cute I'd hate her guts right now, but she is so I don't.

Oh yeah - go here and listen to our newest recording, "Killjoy". I put it there cos I love you. If you don't listen it will hurt my feelings, and since this is my first day without an hourly pint of Scotch I'm on shaky ground as it is...

Gone...

2006-02-14T21:04:00.000-08:00

We're off to go stay here.

They have this ride, and there is no motherfucking way I'm gonna go on it.

The reason for the season - here is Thursday night's entertainment:

Then we have Friday night's entertainment:

...and do NOT forget Saturday Night with Mr. Las Vegas!

WAYNE NEWTON!!!

Come home Sunday and curl up with The Old Lady while laughing about our adventures.

You can party here while we're gone, just make an effort to clean up after - we're leaving it spotless so show some love.

See you kids real soon.

48 Hours Til Vegas

2006-02-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

...and the clock ticks...SLOWLY. I'm like a kid a couple of days before Christmas.

There will be no posting til Sunday or Monday, unless Miss Modular finds the time to post something.

Here's a download for you, but SHHHHH - we haven't released it yet:

Hope Chest - Monica's Light (Railway Children cover)

We're recording a ton of covers right now: Robyn Hitchcock, Brighter, New Order...fun.

Here's a picture of Wendy James for you:

When I win the lottery, I will make The Old Lady dress like this every day.

Well, every day that it's warm.

I hope I win $112,037.25 on the slots. I don't think that's too much to ask.

I stole this amazing time-waster from Smartypants (my current high score: 116). Smarty: yer the bee's knees (but so am I).

Piss Off!

2006-02-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

Can't Swing A Dead Cat Without Hitting A Concert (Updated)

2006-02-10T23:23:00.000-08:00

Holy CRAP - this is what my current concert calendar looks like.

2.16 - The Sisters of Mercy
2.18 - Wayne Newton
2.24 - The Wedding Present
2.27 - Robyn Hitchcock
3.2 - Stereolab
3.4 - A DJ gig at some crazy candy raver party...should be fun
3.10 - Voxtrot
3.21 - Belle & Sebastian
3.22 - The Sisters of Mercy
3.23 - Hope Chest gig

Good heavens. Do you realise how much whiskey that adds up to?!?!

And for the record, I AM SO MOTHERFUCKING PISSED OFF that I didn't know David Gilmour is going on tour. He's gonna be at the Paramount in April, which is about 3 blocks from my work and incredibly beautiful. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckety fuck. FUCK.

UPDATE: Added Stereolab. Gotta love the Bay Area. I am also pissed I will miss Saint Etienne whilst in Vegas. That is all.

Thanks, mdhatter

2006-02-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

This comment in the "Ninja Kitties" post:

"...right before they killed a solicitor"

...was he selling feather dusters? My kits love their feather duster.

...was a total fucking JINX. We woke up yesterday to the front room literally COVERED in yellow feathers. I honestly thought we'd thrown the fucking thing away months ago, but it was hidden and Hazy somehow found the god damn thing and fucking destroyed it.

Next time, yer cleanin' up the mess, mister.

I Can Sometimes Be A Cunt...

2006-02-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

...but at least I'm never a twat. A comment from the oh-so-racist RedState.org, regarding the funeral of Coretta Scott King:

"You evidently did live during the civil right era.
There was nothing peaceful about it.
If the truth be told, it was an extortion scam to enrich themselves. Mrs. King carried on this tradition. Anytime you wanted to use anything that was MLK, Jr. you had to pay Mrs. King.
Don't forget who the pupils were of this scam; Jesse Jackson, Joesph Lowery, and Hosea Williams. They practiced this extortion of Corporations all of their lives and some are still doing it.
So lets be honest, praise Mrs. King for the loss of a husband and who had to raise her children by herself, but don't latch on to a myth and try to make it true. "

The Civil Rights Movement of the 60's was an extortion scam. WOW.

UPDATE: I beat Digby to the punch! I AM THE MAN!!! From his post, another comment:

"They used the same tactics that Jesse Jackson uses to extrort money from Corporations. You pay or we picket."

Some dickheads live in glass houses with their pockets (and heads) full of rocks. I imagine it sucks to be this stupid, coupled with such a short memory.

Ninja Kitties

2006-02-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

You can tell they are ninja kitties cos their eyes are glowing - it is a sign of their amazing power. This was right before they killed a solicitor (he was in the wrong place at the wrong time).

Weekend Ruminations

2006-02-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

* The Super Bowl refs SUCKED.

* Though I was rooting for the Hawks, much props to the Steelers cos they are simply a fucking ace team (and as a Cowboys fan, that's not easy to say).

* Blackouts are occurring with more frequency when I drink a liter of whiskey.

* Recording sessions get less and less tedious over time.

* The Rolling Stones sounded like utter shit, but nowhere near as bad as that pre-game music. You've got Stevie Fucking Wonder up there - who gives a shit about his daughter or Joss Stone? Let the man fucking sing.

* Aaron Neville, whose testes never dropped, needs to go away.

* Homemade chili could bring world peace, if you made enough.

* I need to get a massage.

I Love This Guy

2006-02-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

CANNAE FUCKING WAIT

2006-01-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

New Morrissey Album Out April 3rd. Life Is GOOOOOD.

Reverse Cowgirl Pandas

2006-01-30T15:26:00.000-08:00

Yup.

It's Gettin' Better, Man

2006-01-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

2 weeks and 15 pounds later, I am back in the saddle.

I'm a bit out of it, since all I've done is lay in bed. I walked to BART this morning and felt like I was on another planet - my blood hasn't pumped like that in awhile.

Since Saturday I have heard approximately 21 times: "God DAMN - you have lost a LOT of weight." Obviously it shows. The Old Lady and her mom have been saying, "Fuck a diet, I need to catch pneumonia."

Gonna visit y'all very soon.

Hello, Hello - it's good to be back, good to be back...

STILL Sick

2006-01-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

It was only last night that my fever broke, after 5 days. I still feel pretty damn bad, though - everything still hurts. I'm going to the doctor this afternoon, so hopefully they'll give me something to get rid of this crazy Pelican Flu, or whatever it is that is killing me slowly.

UPDATE: Fuck me running - I've got pneumonia. And not the Rockin' kind that is followed by a Boogie-Woogie Flu, I've got the "Come back in 2 weeks after these meds" kind. Shit.

I Hate Being Sick - Friday's Download

2006-01-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

I am ill.

Physically. Mentally...well, I cannae remember a time when I WASN'T mentally ill. And I do believe my wife can confirm that.

The DayQuil is kicking in and making things go all fucking pear-shaped. Any comments I post today should be interesting.

Here's a brilliant, obscure song for you - 2m4s of psych-pop genius. Click the title to go to the download page.

The House of Love - Plastic

It feels like summer
Gosh my skin's so itchy
Not a feature on my face
Just a piece of yellow plastic
I never thought I'd sink so low
So slow...

Morning's always weak
God, it's hopeless when I'm talking
I'm lonely in the field
Just a baby treading water
It's red and dark
And God is my friend....
The end...the end...

Stumble on the dress
She's screaming that she loves me
It's not the way to give
It's the cruelest way to lie
I got myself a gun today
Hey hey.

Pink Heart

2006-01-18T12:27:00.000-08:00

Your Heart Is Pink

In relationships, you like to play innocent - even though you aren't.Each time you fall in love, it's like falling for the first time.
Your flirting style: Coy
Your lucky first date: Picnic in the park
Your dream lover: Is both caring and dominant
What you bring to relationships: Romance

What Color Heart Do You Have?

Fookin' Twat

2006-01-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

This is what passes for humor over at Pajamas Media:

"Sue and I have the Iranian Flu – it’s led by an irrational cough, fed by a religious fever, and it feels like I have a nuke hidden in my brain. It also wants to “wipe me off the map” as well.
Pretty weak, I know, but what the hell do you expect? I’m sick goddammit!"

Hehehehehehe! Get it, Virginia? Iranian flu - religious fever? HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!

I could write shite like this for a hell of a lot cheaper than $7m.

Pandora

2006-01-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

We are experimenting with Pandora (per Kate Lilac's recommendation from way back) at work today - I am VERY impressed so far. Not only has it played what we told it to, but its first guess at what we may like was completely out of left-field and 100% correct (Tanita Tikaram's first album).

We have been lovin' on Yahoo!'s Launchcast (per indygirl's recommendation) a lot lately, but this seems to have more obscure stuff that is right up my alley. Hopefully it continues this way.

UPDATE: This thing is starting to suck pretty hard. Alanis Morrisette, Corey Hart...GAG.

Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey

2006-01-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Yup.

Belle And Sebastian

2006-01-17T12:19:00.000-08:00

WHO LOVES YA, BABY?

Belle & Sebastian / The New Pornographers
March 21st, San Francisco, Concourse @ The SF Design Center

Tickets cost $30 ( plus booking fee ). Tickets will go on sale on Sunday January 22nd at 10AM.

Tickets will also be available at The Independent (628 Divisadero, SF) box office beginning at 11AM on 1/23 for $1 service charge.

Many Thanks

2006-01-17T12:12:00.000-08:00

...to everyone who made it out to the Hope Chest gig this weekend. We had a blast and it was great to hang out with everyone. A couple of impressions:

1) That bartender in drag, while terribly frightening, was probably the one person at Kimo's I would want with me in a fight.

2) Fuck me running - Fulsome is freakin' TALL. I knew it already, but he seemed even taller with Kimo's low ceiling.

3) Pinko on loads of caffeine would be a SCARY thing. However, I think a really stoned Pinko would be even scarier.

4) teh l4m3 is frighteningly funny. The Old Lady loves him to death and wishes he lived a lot closer so they could hang out.

5) Polk Street has WAY too many cops driving up and down it. Makes bowl-packing a bit of a chore (mental note: roll joints next time).

6) Kimo's has not changed in almost 10 years. Not sure if that's good or bad.

Rock on, people.

PINKO - either send or post yer pics!!!

Another Flyer

2006-01-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Sarai's Spine. See you Sunday.

4 Days 'Til Kimo's

2006-01-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

This Sunday.

Kimo's in San Francisco.

Hope Chest live.

Bunch of new songs.

Show starts at 9p.

$5.

Be there.

GOTCHA, BITCH!

2006-01-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

This post from the all-too-brilliant The Smoking Gun goes to show what happens when you just believe, believe, believe and cannae be arsed to do a little background checking. It amazes me that an editor would just swallow this incredible story wholesale, without some serious proof. And Frey pretty much pins it on his publisher and editor, saying in effect "Hey - they said it was cool to print."

So Oprah was denied the opportunity to buy a handbag in Paris, and look how effective what she did was. Now, this dude made her look like a tool on her own show and she made him a millionaire for it - if I was her, I'd rip him 3 new assholes and demand everyone return their books to the publisher. She got punked, big time.

Many props to The Smoking Gun - seriously fantastic reportage.

Look Out Gavin M.!

2006-01-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

Dean Assmay probably soiled his shorts in glee when he read this.

Las Vegas, Anyone?

2006-01-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Old Lady and I are gonna make our first trip to Las Vegas in a little over a month, flying out to see The Sisters of Mercy at the House of Blues on February 16th (damn band JUST scheduled a S.F. date - oh well, gotta go to that one, t00).

So - anyone got any Vegas suggestions? Things to do? Things to avoid?

We're probably gonna take in a Cirque du Soleil show on Friday night, with The Sisters' gig the night before. Past that, we're in the dark completely. We could especially use restaurant suggestions. Been to a decent strip club? Cool! Which one?

There's so much shit to do out there and we only have a few days to do it in, so any enlightened comments would be oh-so-welcome.

CONTEST!

2006-01-04T21:46:00.000-08:00

Go here and see how you fare...

Recovering...

2006-01-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

I am recovering from a week's worth of non-stop drinking. MANY thanks to Pinko, Chuckles and Fulsome for coming by the house and making my birthday a very enjoyable one.

2 weeks til Kimo's! Flyer courtesy of Sarai's Spine.

Dig it.

Best On-Stage Quote EVER

2005-12-29T11:49:00.000-08:00

"It's all a matter of technique. We have it, and you don't, so if you shut the fuck up, we'll play some songs and everyone'll be happy."

- Andrew Eldritch, The Sisters of Mercy

(Rumor has it TSOM are playing Vegas in February. If true, I will sell a fucking kidney to be there.)

UPDATE: WE GOT OUR TICKETS - KIDNEY SAVED! WE'RE GONNA SEE THE SISTERS IN VEGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even The Best Laid Plans...

2005-12-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

So I've been excited since Thanksgiving that The Old Lady and I were going back to Fort Bragg, the place we got married, for New Years with her parents (whom I adore cos they party as hard as I do). Get out of town, stay in the same place we did when we got hitched, go to breweries and wineries, have good meals, walk the beach, drive back celebrating my birthday on the 2nd...brilliant. And better than going out to some expensive whatever with a bunch of fucking amateurs making asses of themselves.

But LO! Here comes Ye Olde Weather God, who proceeds to piss on our parade (read: there's gonna be a SHITLOAD of rain up there this weekend). Storms and 6 hours on windy roads do NOT a pleasant vacation make, so instead of being holed up in our rooms with wet dogs, playing Monopoly, we cancelled our plans. New Years and my birthday will have to be spent here in the Bay Area.

SO CHUCKLES, YOU SHIT-TALKING BIATCH: THE SHIT YOU TALKED IS NOW COMING BACK TO HAUNT YOU. I WILL be around when you are here; I WILL be able to meet up with you; and, oh fucking PLEASE rest assured, I WILL MOST CERTAINLY drink yer ass under whatever table you are unfortunate enough to drink with me at. I hereby even invite you to my humble abode beforehand for a large homecooked meal, cos I don't want you to have any crybaby excuses like "But I had an empty stomach!" when you wake up in the gutter somewhere with nothing but bar receipts and Polaroids of us standing around your passed-out ass in yer pocket.

The ball is in yer corner. Whatcha gonna do?

New Republican Talking Point Alert

2005-12-28T10:49:00.000-08:00

I wonder how long it will take until this story ends up in a Bush speech or vomited up by O'Malkin as the obvious reason why we need to invade, invade, invade.

(I was going to put an ugly pic of Malkin here, with an appropriately witty caption, but realised I do NOT want that ugly bitch's face on my blog.)

I Wish I Was At Home...

2005-12-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

It is a very grey day here in the Bay Area. The Old Lady is at home ill, which doesn't help, cos days like this make me want to be at home anyway. Days like this make me want to play guitar and be poetic and shit. Anything, really, but working.

Plus, I have no Bailey's Irish Cream at my desk to doctor the office coffee.

If I got to go home today, I would...

Take care of the important things first. Then...

...grab me a rocks glass and pour a whiskey (3 ice cubes).

Heat up some of the Mexican food I made before going to band practise yesterday.

Make Matchstick DJ for me. I would make him play songs by...

...Lego Morrissey. Cos everyone knows Moz is perfect for grey days.

Then I would curl up with my poor, sick wife like the kitties here and watch old movies, flu or no flu. I hope my baby gets well soon, and this day is over even sooner.

Gone X-Mas-ing...

2005-12-23T11:51:00.000-08:00

Fuzzy holiday love to all of you.

One Of Those Strange Moments

2005-12-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

So, it's a Sunday a few weeks back. I am doing my usual Sunday ritual: fending off sobriety with incredible panache and effectiveness. Sitting on the futon in the front room, I am drinking vodka & coke and watching a football game (GO COWBOYS!!) and enjoying some ganja when I get that feeling...

You know that feeling.

That feeling that either someone is watching you, or when you get that weird compulsion to look in a certain direction. Sometimes a combo of both.

This was both.

I turn and see my kitten Hazy Monday sitting at the other end of the futon. Not laying down or propped up on his front paws, like cats do - I mean REALLY FUCKING SITTING THERE. Chilling with me. Watching the game. He turned his head and we sat there staring at each other.

So, naturally, I did what anyone else would have done in the situation: I asked him in a confused tone, "Ummmm....Hazy? What are you doing?"

He merely put his paws in his lap and LOOKED at me. Looked at me like I was fucking stupid for even asking. The look that said "What the fuck do you THINK I'm doing? The same goddamn thing as you, watching yer fucking Cowboys have to come back in the 4th Quarter AGAIN."

I turned back to the game and packed another bowl.

October (It Still Comes Once a Year)

2005-12-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

If I liked things as they were,
I’d be blind
And so unbelievably sore
In a very short period of time
Hitched my lead to a star
…Could be fine,
If only it promised I’d find
Some semblance of peace of mind
And I know that you’ll understand
(Cos you’re clever, we know)
When I say I don’t shake
With that hand
I’m nostalgic, not narrow

Yes, I’ve still got the pillow
And the single we got him to sign
I’ve forgotten the year, though…
But I never forgot the time.
No, I don’t have the photos
But if you ever feel so inclined
To dig them out of your wardrobe
Then give me a ring on the line
…Any time…
On my dime.

(DOWNLOAD HERE)

If

2005-12-19T14:33:00.000-08:00

If I were a swan, I'd be gone.
If I were a train, I'd be late.
And if I were a good man, I'd talk with you more often than I do.
If I were to sleep, I could dream.
If I were afraid, I could hide.
If I go insane, please don't put your wires in my brain.
If I were the moon, I'd be cool.
If I were a book, I would bend.
If I were a good man, I'd understand the spaces between friends.
If I were alone, I would cry.
And if I were with you, I'd be home and dry.
And if I go insane, will you still let me join in with the game?
If I were a swan, I'd be gone.
If I were a train, I'd be late again.
If I were a good man, I'd talk to you more often than I do.

Just In Case There Were Any Doubts...

2005-12-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

This stuck out like a sore thumb at me and I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet.

From the Pretzeldent's speech today:

"Where it is going to be most difficult to make the case is in the public arena," Bush said. "People will say, if we're trying to make the case on Iran, `Well, if the intelligence failed in Iraq, therefore, how can we trust the intelligence on Iran?'"

Iran.

Holy SHIT.

This fucker is NOW using Iran as a future example.

Never mind Osama Been Laughin'. Never mind the endless fuckup that has become Iraq. We are now using Iran as our analogy to "get it right".

We are SCREWED.

Monday Morning Music

2005-12-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

A crapload of Belle & Sebastian. They just get better and better...

Gone Partyin'...

2005-12-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

Have a great weekend, everyone!

MOVE OVER, STEEL RESERVE!!!!

2005-12-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

Holy CRAP. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a challenger.

This, my friends, is Hurricane High Gravity. I had never seen this til recently, when one of our locals started carrying it. For $1.25 and 8.1% alcohol, I figured I should see how it stacked up to 211, the mighty Steel Reserve.

The first thing is that you can actually drink the stuff - it doesn't taste bad, really, at all. Not great, but I've had FAR worse. Like 211. There is something about Steel Reserve (I think it's the crack they put in it) that takes a good 4-5 sips before you acclamate to the turpentine-y-ness of it.

But the real payoff is the drunk - one of those bottle-of-Thunderbird, dear-god-what-the-FUCK-did-I-DO-last-night kinda drunks. Thankfully I'm a particularly happy drunk who only gets told stories of how I did something like start talking like a pirate (which is odd, cos I couldn't talk like a pirate if my life depended on it while I'm sober).

WE HAVE A WINNER!!

Party People In The House

2005-12-14T19:32:00.001-08:00

This weekend is the annual weekend in San Francisco with The Old Lady's parents. A very good lot, they party harder than I do and it's always a fantastic time. So if any of you can make it out to The City this weekend, DO IT.

First round and joint, and probably second, is on me.

Homo On The Range

2005-12-14T14:43:00.000-08:00

"“Brokeback [Mountain] is the ‘Perfect Storm’ of Hollywood’s war on morality,” said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) Culture & Family Institute (CFI). “It combines high production values with a lowdown attack on morality. It’s a mockery of the Western genre embodied by every movie cowboy from John Wayne to Gene Autry to Kevin Costner."

You know, to be really, truly, 100% honest here, Kevin Costner was more of a mockery of cowboy movies than a couple of kissin' cowboys.

Come to think about it, Kevin Costner movies overall could realistically be described as "cruel and unusual punishment" (see: "female; Sandra Bullock" or "illiterate twat; Keanu Reeves").

Cherry People

2005-12-14T11:51:00.000-08:00

Last.fm

2005-12-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

So my good friend Sandy told me about this site some time ago, and we were looking at our mutual friends' song statistics. I found it to be interesting, but a bit too Big Brother for me. Then the Bulls posted about Last.fm and its wonderful radio function. You put in a favorite band and it plays what it thinks you like and want to hear - pretty simple and pretty smart. It sounded like a no-brainer, a win-win situation.

If the fucking thing worked it would be genius.

Being the Morrissey lover that I am, I put The Smiths as my band. What do they play? Fucking Rolling Stones "Dead Flowers". Crappy country rock with worse singing (I truly hate Mick's vox on this one). So I ban that track and continue on...and it just gets fucking worse. Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, SOUNDGARDEN?!?! Seriously, for every one song I could stand listening to there were at least 12 songs that make me want to scream (in anger and frustration, not the "hoo yes, motherfuckers, shout at the devil!" party scream). Who the FUCK thinks of The Smiths as a classic rock band?

It is also a bone of contention that they never even play the god damn band you list as your favorite. Why the fuck else would I list them?

So it's not perfect. I DID get to hear a couple of great songs I hadn't heard in donkeys, but it just wasn't enough. The band that returned the best results was the Cocteau Twins. Subsequent attempts have been better, but still seriously lacking. I think I could only use this sparingly, like when my Duran Duran mp3 cd goes missing, or I would be at my wit's end.

Ultimate Spinach

2005-12-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

It Was 25 Years Ago Today...

2005-12-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

John Lennon. 10.9.40 - 12.8.80.

January 15th, 2006 - Kimo's, San Francisco

2005-12-06T17:32:00.000-08:00

My band, the almighty Hope Chest, will be playing our first gig in almost a year next month, now that our guitarist isn't travelling the country. We'll be debuting a new song or two and will play a few songs that we've played maybe once in the past 5 years.

January 15th, 2006
Kimo's, San Francisco
21 + Up - $5

Y'all bitches BETTA be there.

Monday Morning Music

2005-12-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

The "Fading Yellow" Comps - Sunshine Pop Brilliance.

Huh, No Shit (indygirl) Tribute

2005-12-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday

Tonight I have band practise

We'll play Monkees songs