Category: Music

Sleater-Kinney OK!

Sleater-Kinney were better than I expected. The best thing about them was that they sold their own t-shirts. I bought one from the drummer. They sat at their merchandise table and signed CDs and chatted with fans until about 10 minutes before they went on. No rock star posturing for them. It was refreshing. I’m not a huge fan of their music (actually, it’s just the singing that annoys, they sound like a hard rock Go-Go’s), but they were so tight live that I actually enjoyed it more than the shaggy Modest Mouse show the night before.

Evidence wrapped up in the trial today. Tomorrow, we the jury face the closing arguments from 5, count ’em, 5 lawyers. That should take most of the day. On Monday, most probably, the judge will give us his final instructions and we’ll be sequestered until we unanimously decide on a verdict (on each of the 40 counts). Should be a blast…

Things bought recently:

  • Buzzcocks – Operators Manual – This is a great compilation with 25 songs from these Manchester punks. I’ve always been a fan but never owned any of their CDs. I also want to buy more from early Buzzcock Howard Devoto’s band Magazine.
  • This Is Spinal Tap – This brings to 8 the number of DVD movies I now own, without owning a proper DVD player. Sure, I can watch them on my roommate’s computer, but it’s not the same. Couldn’t resist this one. I even have the Voyager CD-ROM with the Quicktime version of the movie…
  • Please Kill Me, The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain – This is a great book, compiled from many many interviews with pioneers of the mostly American punk scene in the 70s. There’s stuff here about the Velvet Underground, MC5, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, New York Dolls, Ramones, Bowie, Dead Boys, Patti Smith, Television, Blondie, almost everyone involved in the birth of the punk movement in the US. If only there were a book like this about the UK scene. Anyone know of one??

Modest Mouse OK!

The show last night was great, but didn’t get home until almost 2 a.m. I was probably about 15 years older than most of the people there, but I tried not to let it bother me. The Shins (and thanks to Jack I got it right even before I got to the show, preventing any embarrassment. No Chins in attendance anywhere) were ok, musically good, but their singer can’t sing. He also chooses to sing at the high end of his limited range for every song. It’s too bad. They had some good songs. 764-HERO were better, their singer reminded me of Bob Mould in his Sugar days. And their drummer is this tiny beautiful woman with short hair. I just stared at her the entire set. Modest Mouse played almost two hours, not surprising for a band whose CDs regularly clock in over 70 minutes. But they did have a tendency to jam a little too long. And parts of the show were more like a sonic assault, with them playing much heavier than they sound on disc. I enjoyed it but was a bit disappointed that a lot of their subtleties and musicianship were lost under a wall of noise. I brought my friend Brent along and was hoping they’d impress him with their quietness as well as their loudness. Isaac (their singer) mentioned that the last time the band were in Toronto, only about 50 people turned up, but this show was sold out, about 500 people. All in all, a good show, but it drove me back to the CDs for reassurance.

You know what I need? I need a US address. There is just so much good stuff available online that just costs me too much to have shipped to Canada. If anyone would be willing to help out, I would reimburse them for shipping the stuff from their home to mine. And if the stuff is re-wrapped, and marked as a “gift,” I don’t have to pay any customs duty. American friends rule!!

Modest Mouse/764-HERO

I’m pretty excited. Not only is the film festival going to be great, but now I have tickets to a show by Modest Mouse and 764-HERO. I discovered Modest Mouse about 6 months ago, and think they’re genius. Not easily categorizable (is that a word?), but excellent musicians of the “speed up, slow down, speed up” school. Check them out if you can. And I’m actually looking forward to 764-HERO, too, after downloading some perfectly legal MP3s from the Up Records site.

American cousins, you will soon bow down before us…

Weekend Purchases

Weekend purchases:

  • The Flashing Lights-Where The Change Is – I know they opened for Sloan on their most recent tour, but thanks go to Jack for turning me on to The Flashing Lights!
  • Galaxie 500-The Portable Galaxie 500 – A selection from their entire 3 CD output, released by Ryko.
  • Withnail and I (DVD) – OK, I gave in. I just got it for a decent price. If Criterion comes out with a better version later, I’ll give this away. More people need to see this film anyway.

I’m starting to get excited about the Toronto International Film Festival. This will be my sixth year going, and I usually see between 10-15 films each year. This is the 25th anniversary year, too. I’ve seen so many good films and also movie stars and directors, too. Last year, Brooke got Ralph Fiennes’ autograph, which made her weak at the knees for about a month. I got John Turturro’s a few years ago, but I’m not much of an autograph hound. I find it embarrassing. I’ll try to report on what good stuff I see, as some of it at least will be released later to wide distribution.

Gun Wounds Again?

More music purchased on the weekend:

  • Everclear-So Much For The Afterglow (used)
  • Sinead O’Connor-Faith and Courage

Also, another fun dinner party with Jen and David, with a funny conversation about job titles on the set of porn films (anyone wanna work as a “grip”??). This week, though, will be hellish at work. We have a big deadline, and I’m working practically alone without much of a roadmap. Should be a bumpy week. Got a funny email last Friday which I forwarded to far too many people. Actual subtitles seen in Japanese films:

  1. I am damn unsatisfied to be killed in this way.
  2. Fatty, you with your thick face have hurt my instep.
  3. Gun wounds again?
  4. Same old rules: no eyes, no groin.
  5. A normal person wouldn’t steal pituitaries.
  6. Damn, I’ll burn you into a BBQ chicken!
  7. Take my advice, or I’ll spank you without pants.
  8. Who gave you the nerve to get killed here?
  9. Quiet or I’ll blow your throat up.
  10. You always use violence. I should’ve ordered glutinous rice chicken.
  11. I’ll fire aimlessly if you don’t come out!
  12. You daring lousy guy.
  13. Beat him out of recognizable shape!
  14. I have been scared shitless too much lately.
  15. I got knife scars more than the number of your leg’s hair!
  16. Beware! Your bones are going to be disconnected.
  17. The bullets inside are very hot. Why do I feel so cold?
  18. How can you use my intestines as a gift?
  19. This will be of fine service for you, you bag of the scum. I am sure you will not mind that I remove your manhoods and leave them out on the dessert flour for your aunts to eat.
  20. Yah-hah, evil spider woman! I have captured you by the short rabbits and can now deliver you violently to your gynecologist for a thorough extermination.
  21. Greetings, large black person. Let us not forget to form a team up together and go into the country to inflict the pain of our karate feets on some ass of the giant lizard person.