I decided at work today that I'm going to commemorate my oughts experience on this blog. It'll probably be slanted towards (or exclusively about) music this decade, but who knows, I might just throw a curveball at you, blog reader. Anyway, since I'm already writing blog-related content I might as well keep it up with a new feature I like to call: Things I've been doing lately.
Disc Golf
A fact few people care about... the name Frisbee is trademarked and thus the two sports for which frisbees play the most crucial role (not yet goaltimate, not quite yet...) officially must leave the word frisbee out of their title due to the aforementioned trademark restrictions, thus the names UPA and DGA for ultimate frisbee and disc golf governing bodies, respectively. I guess that's not a very interesting anecdote, but think if the word "ball" had been copyrighted before baseball was invented. I don't think baserecreationalsphere has quite the same ring.
Anyway, my less than rigorous post graduate underemployment has afforded me the opportunity to play this way too much lately. For the most part there isn't much different from regular golf except a) it's free b) there are fewer old people c) in regular golf, one usually doesn't run into bearded dudes well into their forties drinking Icehouse tallboys at 10:45am on a Sunday.
Not Twittering (note to self: I need new things to write about)
I wrote a fifteen page paper about Twitter and it's potential impact on communication, but I've officially decided that Twitter is a long way off from being a legitimate platform of communication instead of glorified public masturbation for 99.9999% of the people who use it. Or it could be I'm just upset I only have 13 followers.
Breaking Two Phones Within One Month:
There's only one good thing about not having a working cellphone... being able to use the word incommunicado. That's all I've got for that one.
Listening to Music:
Two Dancers by Wild Beasts is one of the best albums of the year.
Coming Soon...
A bunch of top 10 lists and possibly me live blogging as I watch random shit on tv.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Bears Game Live Blog
7:00 -
It's about ten minutes til kickoff so I'll give my predictions and poorly researched analysis for the game:
Final Score: Packers 34 Bears 31
I don't see any way the final score is below 50 and I'm guessing it'll probably be closer to 70. A couple mediocre defenses going up against offenses that should turn this thing into a shootout.
Cutler: 340 2/2
Rodgers: 305 3/1
Forte: 83 rushing 60 receiving
Grant: 115
7:10 - I heard on the radio Peanut Tillman is going to play. This is good for a few reasons... first I have an excuse to link this video, second I love getting to hear a grown man being called Peanut, lastly he gives the Bears secondary a shred of credibility
7:13 - They're showing Eli Manning's post game interview right now. I can't think of any professional athlete (or just regular non professional athlete adult male) who reminds me more of an eight year old with some kind of learning disability.
7:18 - Tonight's post is brought to you buy this stuff:
Chili Cheese Dip: saturated fat, cholesterol and pounds of sodium; plus its filled with ass demolishing beans. Frequent bathroom breaks to follow...
7:25 - Normally I would have something critical to say about that Faith Hill sunday night theme song thing, but I guess I'm just thankful it's not that shitty Kenny Chesney nonsense that ESPN plays during all their college football games. Thankfully there are guys like this to write more about that.
7:32 - A white guy just returned the kickoff 45 yards for the Packers. Uh oh..
7:50 - Devin Hester's first punt return was more ballet move than punt return. Watching that guy return punts used to be the most exciting part of a Bears game and now it's borderline cringe-worthy.
7:51 - Atari Bigby has to be a top 15 pro sports name. I should do that list some day.
7:57 - Cutler isn't exactly looking like an upgrade over sexy rexy. He finally got picked after two close calls. And we were so closed to getting to see Robbie Gould kick a field goal...
8:00 - I'm calling it right now... Rodgers hits on a 60+ yard pass tonight.
8:23 - Packers 3-0 halfway through the second. I was just thinking... have you ever met a Packers fan who isn't caucasian? I bet they have the whitest fanbase in pro sports outside of the St Louis Cardinals.
8:25 - Cutler connects on a bomb to Johnny Knox then throws an INT to a nose tackle three plays later. He's been boned by his WRs on a couple plays today, but so far I give this performance a D+.
8:36 - Safety Bears. 3-2. Is this a baseball game?
8:40 - INT #3 for Rex Cutler. Brutal.
8:41 - From a fan's perspective, there are few "no way is this happening" moments worse than watching the opposing team running an interception back.
8:52 - 10-2 Packers. Top 5 "No Way Is This Happening" plays in sports (against your team)
1. Walk off HR
2. INT for a TD
3. Breakaway run/long bomb
4. Game winning shot at the buzzer
5. Rally-killing double play in a clutch situation
8:57 - I officially submit the nickname "Contract Year Wally" for Odewale Ogunleye. This guy is wreaking havoc so far today.
9:00 - "This game is starting to look a little too big for some of these Bears receivers" Chris Collinsworth has been money all day with his assessment of the Bears O. He's the best color guy in football... possibly in all of sports. Teamed up with Al Michaels, these guys call a top notch game.
9:01 - John Shoop makes a guest appearance to call the Bears third down play... A draw with 20 seconds left on third and long from the 50 down by 8.
9:05 - Halftime. 10-2 Packers. I'm gonna spend halftime counting the days til spring training 2010.
9:12 - LOLLerskates at this video Deadspin has of the aforementioned Collinsworth...
+5 fantasy points for the soundtrack, +10 to the interweb for existing so I can see shit like this and post it on my live Bears blog.
9:15 - Second half. Let's hope it gets a little better. I'd rather get curb stomped by Edward Norton than watch another half like that.
9:29 - Jay Culter gets his first name back after throwing a pretty little tear drop to Hester down the sideline. Thanks to Nick Collins for taking a moronic angle on the ball.
9:35 - Al Afalava vs Mike Brown. Discuss. Awesomeness of name should not factor into your decision.
9:40 - Urlacher is on the sideline with a wrist injury and Cutler's starting to get into a groove. No other hilarious comments at this time.
9:42 - In a commercial for the new Jay Leno show, they quote Time magazine as calling it the future of television. They do know it's already existed for like fifteen years, right?
9:50 - Bears 12-10. If you could only keep one of these players, who would it be: Urlacher or Robbie Gould? That question is way harder than it should be.
9:57 - 12-10 end of the 3rd quarter. Should be a good finish. I'm still predicting a Packers W.
10:03 - Forte has had absolutely nowhere to run today. Also, I read that forte is one of the 100 most commonly mispronounced words in the English language.
10:05 - 4th and 11, 2 point game, fake punt, not even close. As a coach, you can't call that and not look like an idiot. I mean like physically look like an idiot on the sideline. Obviously it was a dumb call, but when they show Lovie on the sideline, there's nothing necessarily dumb-looking about his appearance, but you can't look at him and not think "now there's a dumb ass". Even The Fonz couldn't look cool in that kind of situation. There's some kind of imperceptible change that occurs in a coach or player's appearance in these situations. I think scientists should research this.
10:06 -
Michaels: "And Lovie's thrown the challenge flag..."
Collinsworth: "Maybe on his own call"
...priceless
10:07 - They just suggested that Patrick Mannelly may have had something to do with screwing up the fake punt. That's a bold accusation against somebody who has his own website dedicated to the art of long snapping.
10:08 - Video replay confirms the above suggestion. I'm still trying to find the section on longsnapper.com about audibling to fake punts deep in your own territory in the second half of a two point game. I'll let you know when I find something.
10:27 - Third and goal down by one. I'm calling Cutler bootleg.
10:28 - I was close...They rolled him out and he airmailed Olsen. 15-13 Bears. +1 to the refs for a bad illegal contact on third down earlier in the drive. They did blow at least one PI call earlier in the game though, so it evens out.
10:33 - Packers ball 2:28 left. I think the Bears D finally breaks, but their pass rush has been consistent all day and they still have forced a turnover yet.
10:40 - Rodgers hits Greg Jennings on a 50+ yard dagger. Nathan Vasher how do you feel?
10:45 - INT #4 as Johnny Knox cuts off his route for the 99th time today by a Bears receiver. Bad game by Cutler, but even worse games by the o-line and the receivers.
I'm gonna go find a small dog to kick, I'll be right back.
10:55 - No small dogs, but I did cut myself and drink half a bottle of mouthwash so now I feel better... Just kidding, I just listened to Tony Dungy's soothing post game analysis. Here's mine...
Positives:
- Wally "Contract Year" Ogunleye is in a contract year. I'm calling 14 sacks for the year.
- The secondary was decent for the most part, if the D plays like that all year they will make the playoffs.
- Lovie will make sure Vasher isn't in a position to blow a game from here on out.
- Cutler looked good in the second half
- They're only 0-1 and the hardest part of their schedule is this first stretch. Even 0-3 (which is a definite possibility) isn't a death sentence.
Negatives:
- The O-line was atrocious, absolutely God awful. Cutler was running for his life all day. With a less competent or less mobile QB, Green Bay either has 8 sacks or 6 INTs in this game.
- Cutler will get ripped for his 4 INTs, and deservedly so, but the WRs were terrible. Earl Bennett is bad at football, and he's the #2 receiver. This is not good.
- I don't think Greg Olsen was actually playing today. Either that or somebody really really doesn't like him.
- Nathan Vasher is (or at least was) a starting CB for this team. Watch their last play on defense and see why this is bad.
- The Packers D dominated the Bears and the team the Bears play next weekend is a better version of that D. It could be very ugly next weekend. The Bears will be 0-2.
Finally, a trivia question for you. Which one of these is Aaron Rodgers?
Editor's note: Chili cheese dip does not sit well, especially after watching the Bears blow a late lead.
It's about ten minutes til kickoff so I'll give my predictions and poorly researched analysis for the game:
Final Score: Packers 34 Bears 31
I don't see any way the final score is below 50 and I'm guessing it'll probably be closer to 70. A couple mediocre defenses going up against offenses that should turn this thing into a shootout.
Cutler: 340 2/2
Rodgers: 305 3/1
Forte: 83 rushing 60 receiving
Grant: 115
7:10 - I heard on the radio Peanut Tillman is going to play. This is good for a few reasons... first I have an excuse to link this video, second I love getting to hear a grown man being called Peanut, lastly he gives the Bears secondary a shred of credibility
7:13 - They're showing Eli Manning's post game interview right now. I can't think of any professional athlete (or just regular non professional athlete adult male) who reminds me more of an eight year old with some kind of learning disability.
7:18 - Tonight's post is brought to you buy this stuff:
Chili Cheese Dip: saturated fat, cholesterol and pounds of sodium; plus its filled with ass demolishing beans. Frequent bathroom breaks to follow...
7:25 - Normally I would have something critical to say about that Faith Hill sunday night theme song thing, but I guess I'm just thankful it's not that shitty Kenny Chesney nonsense that ESPN plays during all their college football games. Thankfully there are guys like this to write more about that.
7:32 - A white guy just returned the kickoff 45 yards for the Packers. Uh oh..
7:50 - Devin Hester's first punt return was more ballet move than punt return. Watching that guy return punts used to be the most exciting part of a Bears game and now it's borderline cringe-worthy.
7:51 - Atari Bigby has to be a top 15 pro sports name. I should do that list some day.
7:57 - Cutler isn't exactly looking like an upgrade over sexy rexy. He finally got picked after two close calls. And we were so closed to getting to see Robbie Gould kick a field goal...
8:00 - I'm calling it right now... Rodgers hits on a 60+ yard pass tonight.
8:23 - Packers 3-0 halfway through the second. I was just thinking... have you ever met a Packers fan who isn't caucasian? I bet they have the whitest fanbase in pro sports outside of the St Louis Cardinals.
8:25 - Cutler connects on a bomb to Johnny Knox then throws an INT to a nose tackle three plays later. He's been boned by his WRs on a couple plays today, but so far I give this performance a D+.
8:36 - Safety Bears. 3-2. Is this a baseball game?
8:40 - INT #3 for Rex Cutler. Brutal.
8:41 - From a fan's perspective, there are few "no way is this happening" moments worse than watching the opposing team running an interception back.
8:52 - 10-2 Packers. Top 5 "No Way Is This Happening" plays in sports (against your team)
1. Walk off HR
2. INT for a TD
3. Breakaway run/long bomb
4. Game winning shot at the buzzer
5. Rally-killing double play in a clutch situation
8:57 - I officially submit the nickname "Contract Year Wally" for Odewale Ogunleye. This guy is wreaking havoc so far today.
9:00 - "This game is starting to look a little too big for some of these Bears receivers" Chris Collinsworth has been money all day with his assessment of the Bears O. He's the best color guy in football... possibly in all of sports. Teamed up with Al Michaels, these guys call a top notch game.
9:01 - John Shoop makes a guest appearance to call the Bears third down play... A draw with 20 seconds left on third and long from the 50 down by 8.
9:05 - Halftime. 10-2 Packers. I'm gonna spend halftime counting the days til spring training 2010.
9:12 - LOLLerskates at this video Deadspin has of the aforementioned Collinsworth...
+5 fantasy points for the soundtrack, +10 to the interweb for existing so I can see shit like this and post it on my live Bears blog.
9:15 - Second half. Let's hope it gets a little better. I'd rather get curb stomped by Edward Norton than watch another half like that.
9:29 - Jay Culter gets his first name back after throwing a pretty little tear drop to Hester down the sideline. Thanks to Nick Collins for taking a moronic angle on the ball.
9:35 - Al Afalava vs Mike Brown. Discuss. Awesomeness of name should not factor into your decision.
9:40 - Urlacher is on the sideline with a wrist injury and Cutler's starting to get into a groove. No other hilarious comments at this time.
9:42 - In a commercial for the new Jay Leno show, they quote Time magazine as calling it the future of television. They do know it's already existed for like fifteen years, right?
9:50 - Bears 12-10. If you could only keep one of these players, who would it be: Urlacher or Robbie Gould? That question is way harder than it should be.
9:57 - 12-10 end of the 3rd quarter. Should be a good finish. I'm still predicting a Packers W.
10:03 - Forte has had absolutely nowhere to run today. Also, I read that forte is one of the 100 most commonly mispronounced words in the English language.
10:05 - 4th and 11, 2 point game, fake punt, not even close. As a coach, you can't call that and not look like an idiot. I mean like physically look like an idiot on the sideline. Obviously it was a dumb call, but when they show Lovie on the sideline, there's nothing necessarily dumb-looking about his appearance, but you can't look at him and not think "now there's a dumb ass". Even The Fonz couldn't look cool in that kind of situation. There's some kind of imperceptible change that occurs in a coach or player's appearance in these situations. I think scientists should research this.
10:06 -
Michaels: "And Lovie's thrown the challenge flag..."
Collinsworth: "Maybe on his own call"
...priceless
10:07 - They just suggested that Patrick Mannelly may have had something to do with screwing up the fake punt. That's a bold accusation against somebody who has his own website dedicated to the art of long snapping.
10:08 - Video replay confirms the above suggestion. I'm still trying to find the section on longsnapper.com about audibling to fake punts deep in your own territory in the second half of a two point game. I'll let you know when I find something.
10:27 - Third and goal down by one. I'm calling Cutler bootleg.
10:28 - I was close...They rolled him out and he airmailed Olsen. 15-13 Bears. +1 to the refs for a bad illegal contact on third down earlier in the drive. They did blow at least one PI call earlier in the game though, so it evens out.
10:33 - Packers ball 2:28 left. I think the Bears D finally breaks, but their pass rush has been consistent all day and they still have forced a turnover yet.
10:40 - Rodgers hits Greg Jennings on a 50+ yard dagger. Nathan Vasher how do you feel?
10:45 - INT #4 as Johnny Knox cuts off his route for the 99th time today by a Bears receiver. Bad game by Cutler, but even worse games by the o-line and the receivers.
I'm gonna go find a small dog to kick, I'll be right back.
10:55 - No small dogs, but I did cut myself and drink half a bottle of mouthwash so now I feel better... Just kidding, I just listened to Tony Dungy's soothing post game analysis. Here's mine...
Positives:
- Wally "Contract Year" Ogunleye is in a contract year. I'm calling 14 sacks for the year.
- The secondary was decent for the most part, if the D plays like that all year they will make the playoffs.
- Lovie will make sure Vasher isn't in a position to blow a game from here on out.
- Cutler looked good in the second half
- They're only 0-1 and the hardest part of their schedule is this first stretch. Even 0-3 (which is a definite possibility) isn't a death sentence.
Negatives:
- The O-line was atrocious, absolutely God awful. Cutler was running for his life all day. With a less competent or less mobile QB, Green Bay either has 8 sacks or 6 INTs in this game.
- Cutler will get ripped for his 4 INTs, and deservedly so, but the WRs were terrible. Earl Bennett is bad at football, and he's the #2 receiver. This is not good.
- I don't think Greg Olsen was actually playing today. Either that or somebody really really doesn't like him.
- Nathan Vasher is (or at least was) a starting CB for this team. Watch their last play on defense and see why this is bad.
- The Packers D dominated the Bears and the team the Bears play next weekend is a better version of that D. It could be very ugly next weekend. The Bears will be 0-2.
Finally, a trivia question for you. Which one of these is Aaron Rodgers?
Editor's note: Chili cheese dip does not sit well, especially after watching the Bears blow a late lead.
Bears Game Live Blog Tonight
Since I'm watching the game by myself tonight, I'm gonna do a little live blogging for the game. But first, I'm gonna go try to find 10,000 calories worth of food to stuff down my gullet and spill on my keyboard. Stay tuned.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The new Raekwon video is crazy.
This video is unreal... it's easily the video of the year so far.
p.s. - expect a post with real sentences and maybe even paragraphs in the next day or two
p.s. - expect a post with real sentences and maybe even paragraphs in the next day or two
Thursday, September 3, 2009
I saw a concert last week
After milking my Lollapalooza experience as much as I could, it's time to move on and prove to my loyal readers that I am indeed still alive. Since concert going seems to be such a good well to dip into for content I decided to go to another show. Here is my, until now, unreleased review of the Cool Kids and The Clipse in Grand Rapids, MI.
I'll leave out the diatribe on how crappy Grand Rapids is... alright maybe not crappy, but seriously how is there not a fast food join anywhere in "downtown" and why does it take 45 minutes to make a patty melt in a bar and grill.
...I guess I lied, but seriously Grand Rapids, I'm disappointed in you.
Anyway, I actually went up to there see a concert, a pretty good one as a matter of fact. The show was at some joint called The Intersection, a pretty decent spot considering the town it in which it resides. The two opening acts were the worst live acts I have seen to date. The first was a group called AB Coconut Bra (or something like that), and they pretty much sounded how one would expect a group called AB Coconut Bra to sound. It was basically a rapper (think really bad Common wannabe) with a five piece band... a bassist, drummer, trombonist (a dude who looked like he got plucked off a marching band practice field and was horribly out of place) a guitarist (who looked like he was plucked out of a pool of rejected Tim McGraw studio guitarists) and a chubby sax player complete with sideways Detroit D cap who pantomimed everything the rapper said when he wasn't squawking on his sax... I seriously had to look away half a dozen times because I was so embarrassed for this guy. After they finished the most painfully long 20 minute set in music history, some group called Almost Famous who hailed themselves as "straight out of Grand Rapids" (always a promising start for two white rappers) proceed to hop around the stage with songs about how they like 18 year old girls and how they can run really fast from the cops... I'm still not sure if they were serious, but I think/hope they were some kind of satire of life in Grand Rapids, and now that I think about it, I guess they were whether they know it or not..
Eventually the professionals took the stage. At first I was surprised The Clipse came on first, although I guess it did make sense since half of the the Cool Kids duo hails from nearby Detroit, but still... I've only heard one Cool Kids song on the radio ever. The Clipse proved they are the more polished act of the two headliners, ripping up an hour long set of most of their notable tracks from Hell Hath No Fury and Lord Willin', although club banger "When the Last Time" was absent from the set... which the audience was reminded of when the dj played it immediately after they finished their show, They finished their set with the second single "I'm Good" from their forthcoming album Til The Cakset Drops, a song I've had trouble getting out of my head since.
The Cool Kids played a fairly mediocre show about two thirds of which was from their recent Gone Fishing mixtape, which I prematurely described as almost classic, but in reality is fairly mediocre. My bad. The best two tracks of which are described as interludes on the track listing and were absent from their set. The beat on track "Oscar the Grouch", one of my favorite Cool Kids tracks, sounded like it was being played on shitty computer speakers instead of a live stage and pretty much ruined the song...probably on the dj since the sound quality was decent otherwise. Overall I wasn't disappointed, but the Clipse definitely set the bar high and the Cool Kids didn't live up to it.
One of the night's highlights came via Pusha T of the Clipse who actually walked around and chatted with the crowd between the Clipse set and the Cool Kids's and actually stood in the crowd for most of the Cool Kids show. I think he was probably just riding out his high, but even so, what does that say about Grand Rapids nightlife when a rap star has nothing better to do than stand in the audience he just played to...
I'll leave out the diatribe on how crappy Grand Rapids is... alright maybe not crappy, but seriously how is there not a fast food join anywhere in "downtown" and why does it take 45 minutes to make a patty melt in a bar and grill.
...I guess I lied, but seriously Grand Rapids, I'm disappointed in you.
Anyway, I actually went up to there see a concert, a pretty good one as a matter of fact. The show was at some joint called The Intersection, a pretty decent spot considering the town it in which it resides. The two opening acts were the worst live acts I have seen to date. The first was a group called AB Coconut Bra (or something like that), and they pretty much sounded how one would expect a group called AB Coconut Bra to sound. It was basically a rapper (think really bad Common wannabe) with a five piece band... a bassist, drummer, trombonist (a dude who looked like he got plucked off a marching band practice field and was horribly out of place) a guitarist (who looked like he was plucked out of a pool of rejected Tim McGraw studio guitarists) and a chubby sax player complete with sideways Detroit D cap who pantomimed everything the rapper said when he wasn't squawking on his sax... I seriously had to look away half a dozen times because I was so embarrassed for this guy. After they finished the most painfully long 20 minute set in music history, some group called Almost Famous who hailed themselves as "straight out of Grand Rapids" (always a promising start for two white rappers) proceed to hop around the stage with songs about how they like 18 year old girls and how they can run really fast from the cops... I'm still not sure if they were serious, but I think/hope they were some kind of satire of life in Grand Rapids, and now that I think about it, I guess they were whether they know it or not..
Eventually the professionals took the stage. At first I was surprised The Clipse came on first, although I guess it did make sense since half of the the Cool Kids duo hails from nearby Detroit, but still... I've only heard one Cool Kids song on the radio ever. The Clipse proved they are the more polished act of the two headliners, ripping up an hour long set of most of their notable tracks from Hell Hath No Fury and Lord Willin', although club banger "When the Last Time" was absent from the set... which the audience was reminded of when the dj played it immediately after they finished their show, They finished their set with the second single "I'm Good" from their forthcoming album Til The Cakset Drops, a song I've had trouble getting out of my head since.
The Cool Kids played a fairly mediocre show about two thirds of which was from their recent Gone Fishing mixtape, which I prematurely described as almost classic, but in reality is fairly mediocre. My bad. The best two tracks of which are described as interludes on the track listing and were absent from their set. The beat on track "Oscar the Grouch", one of my favorite Cool Kids tracks, sounded like it was being played on shitty computer speakers instead of a live stage and pretty much ruined the song...probably on the dj since the sound quality was decent otherwise. Overall I wasn't disappointed, but the Clipse definitely set the bar high and the Cool Kids didn't live up to it.
One of the night's highlights came via Pusha T of the Clipse who actually walked around and chatted with the crowd between the Clipse set and the Cool Kids's and actually stood in the crowd for most of the Cool Kids show. I think he was probably just riding out his high, but even so, what does that say about Grand Rapids nightlife when a rap star has nothing better to do than stand in the audience he just played to...
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Lollapalooza 2009 Diary - The Killers Set, Trendspotting, Regrets, and Some Lists
I have a few bits and pieces left from the weekend. Enjoy...
The Killers Set:
At Lollapalooza four years ago, the band I most looked forward to was The Killers. About 10 months removed from the debut of Hot Fuss (which remains one of my favorite albums of the decade), Brandon Flowers took the stage in a flannel jacket and parked behind his rhinestone-covered synth for the entire hour of the show, playing through the first 6 songs of Hot Fuss and a few b-sides (“Glamorous Indie Rock n Roll” and “Under the Gun”). Between songs, Flowers would say a couple words to his band, and in his longest speech, pretty much apologized to the crowd for not having a “gift for the gab.” A lot has changed in the past five years. While they’ve always concerned themselves with style, the band that took the stage to close out Lollapalooza this year went from being concerned with style to being obsessed with it. While the music is still good, Flowers acted like he was allergic to his synth, only touching it on two or three songs and even exporting it to some asian guy in the corner of the stage on some songs. The lowlight came on some awkward-sounding piano version of “Smile Like You Mean It” a song that relied heavily on Flowers’s synths. Flowers’s stage presence has taken a turn for the worse as well. While he appeared uncomfortable in front of the Lolla crowd during the ’05 show, he seemed to embrace the spotlight this time around – albeit very awkwardly The show consisted of several “what the fuck” moments from Flowers, including some pointlessly long, meandering story about their flight to Chicago, and some weird interlude about love in the middle of the already unlikeable “Bling” . It’s apparent now that Brandon Flowers and the Killers (maybe an official name change is the next move for them) aim to please –everybody; and while the soccer moms and teenie boppers will continue to eat up the pyrotechnics and palm trees, they are trying way too hard to become U2, and I’m not buying it.
Regrets:
Not seeing Peter Bjorn and John:
I passed by their stage on the way to Of Montreal and heard an amazing song (which I later found out to be be “It don’t Move Me.” I turned to my brother and said “Fuck, I bet we missed a good show.” If I had it to do over again, I would have left the Decemberists earlier to see PB&J.
Not Going to Perry’s:
The stage looked sweet and there were a few acts that sounded good when I passed by. I feel guilty for not making that happen.
Top 5 performances:
5. Crystal Castles
Sounded good from start to finish and Alice Glass’s antics were fun to watch.
4. The Knux
The best of a small selection of hip hop.
3. Of Montreal
The most bizarre stage show to go along with some of the best music.
2. Passion Pit
Their bubbly dance/pop came at the perfect time of the weekend.
1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
They pretty much needed to play an all-timer of a set and they did.
Top 6 Songs:
6. The Knux – Cappuccino
I was going to make this a top 5, but I couldn’t leave a song off the list that got the crowd chanting about coffee.
5. The Killers – Dustland Fairytale
The best song they play live now; their light show is perfect for this and Flowers’s overly-theatrical personality actually works with it.
4, Of Montreal – “Moonage Daydream”
I don’t know if there was a more fitting song for them to cover –played fantastically.
3. The Decemberists - “The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid”
Shara Warden’s ground shaking vocals killed during this song.
2. Miike Snow – “Silvia”
One of the rare slow songs that really worked this weekend. The highlight of a good set.
1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - “Maps”
I decided that Karen O messing up the lyrics made this even better, and the acoustic version was incredible.
Trendspotting at Lollapalooza:
Cheap 80’s shades:
XRT was either giving them out or they were selling them for really cheap. I kind of like them, and I bet Chevy Chase is pleased with this latest pop culture development.
Umbrellas:
These things partially ruined the Ben Folds and Decemberists shows. Anybody who is too dainty to get wet at a fucking rock concert and opens up an umbrella is pretty much just sending a big “F you” to everybody behind them. I think it’s only fair to sentence anybody who does to 10 years in a North Korean labor camp.
Guys Drinking Bud Light Lime:
If you’re going to get drunk in public, please just drink regular beer. It’s embarrassing to see grown men drinking fruit flavored beer at an alternative music festival. That type of thing should be done in private.
“The Vault” videos:
Kudos to those who run Lolla for playing clips from old concerts during the wait between shows at the main stages. A little more variety would have been nice, but the clips they showed were cool and helped take my complete attention away from the sweaty mob I was stuck waiting in.
Top 10 Bands I’d Like to See Headline Next Year:
Apparently Perry Farrell hinted that Aerosmith might be a possible headliner next year. Yeah, about that... please god no. Anyway, if any 3 of these acts are booked next year, I’ll be a happy young man. I’m guessing an iconic 80’s act will make the bill as well as a huge alt rock band from the 90’s and a band that comes out with an album some time around the new year that builds a lot of buzz leading up to the headliner announcements. I’m also going to guess that two hip hop headliners will be on the bill next year. Here’s my wish list…
10. Soundgarden
The rumors have already started about them, and they would be a perfect fit for the fest
9. Wu-Tang Clan
This won’t happen, but Ghostface and Raekwon are both scheduled to release new albums and would be sweet if billed as a mid-tier act like they were at Pitchfork last year.
8. White Stripes
Again, probably won’t happen but might only be another year or two away,
7. Beastie Boys
If everything goes well with MCA and they go back on tour, I think they could easily end up at Lolla.
6. Franz Ferdinand
Probably too small to headline, but would awesome in the 6th headline spot or as a solid second-tier act.
5. Lil' Wayne
I don't know if he'd be the type of hip hop headliner Lollapalloza would look to, but I would most certainly be pleased and Jay-Z is a similar act and he headlined at All Points West this year.
4. Arcade Fire
Put on a classic show in 2005 and have a large enough fan base to generate headline-level crowds
3. Beck
I think he’s been rumored to play like every year Lolla has been in Chicago, and I don't think anybody would complain if it finally happened.
2. Outkast
Would be the perfect hip hop headliner. So perfect that it has to happen at some point.
1. The Strokes
a) Due to release an album next year b) have a big enough following to headline c) Allegedly a great band live… please let this happen, please let this happen, please let this happen…
The Killers Set:
At Lollapalooza four years ago, the band I most looked forward to was The Killers. About 10 months removed from the debut of Hot Fuss (which remains one of my favorite albums of the decade), Brandon Flowers took the stage in a flannel jacket and parked behind his rhinestone-covered synth for the entire hour of the show, playing through the first 6 songs of Hot Fuss and a few b-sides (“Glamorous Indie Rock n Roll” and “Under the Gun”). Between songs, Flowers would say a couple words to his band, and in his longest speech, pretty much apologized to the crowd for not having a “gift for the gab.” A lot has changed in the past five years. While they’ve always concerned themselves with style, the band that took the stage to close out Lollapalooza this year went from being concerned with style to being obsessed with it. While the music is still good, Flowers acted like he was allergic to his synth, only touching it on two or three songs and even exporting it to some asian guy in the corner of the stage on some songs. The lowlight came on some awkward-sounding piano version of “Smile Like You Mean It” a song that relied heavily on Flowers’s synths. Flowers’s stage presence has taken a turn for the worse as well. While he appeared uncomfortable in front of the Lolla crowd during the ’05 show, he seemed to embrace the spotlight this time around – albeit very awkwardly The show consisted of several “what the fuck” moments from Flowers, including some pointlessly long, meandering story about their flight to Chicago, and some weird interlude about love in the middle of the already unlikeable “Bling” . It’s apparent now that Brandon Flowers and the Killers (maybe an official name change is the next move for them) aim to please –everybody; and while the soccer moms and teenie boppers will continue to eat up the pyrotechnics and palm trees, they are trying way too hard to become U2, and I’m not buying it.
Regrets:
Not seeing Peter Bjorn and John:
I passed by their stage on the way to Of Montreal and heard an amazing song (which I later found out to be be “It don’t Move Me.” I turned to my brother and said “Fuck, I bet we missed a good show.” If I had it to do over again, I would have left the Decemberists earlier to see PB&J.
Not Going to Perry’s:
The stage looked sweet and there were a few acts that sounded good when I passed by. I feel guilty for not making that happen.
Top 5 performances:
5. Crystal Castles
Sounded good from start to finish and Alice Glass’s antics were fun to watch.
4. The Knux
The best of a small selection of hip hop.
3. Of Montreal
The most bizarre stage show to go along with some of the best music.
2. Passion Pit
Their bubbly dance/pop came at the perfect time of the weekend.
1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
They pretty much needed to play an all-timer of a set and they did.
Top 6 Songs:
6. The Knux – Cappuccino
I was going to make this a top 5, but I couldn’t leave a song off the list that got the crowd chanting about coffee.
5. The Killers – Dustland Fairytale
The best song they play live now; their light show is perfect for this and Flowers’s overly-theatrical personality actually works with it.
4, Of Montreal – “Moonage Daydream”
I don’t know if there was a more fitting song for them to cover –played fantastically.
3. The Decemberists - “The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid”
Shara Warden’s ground shaking vocals killed during this song.
2. Miike Snow – “Silvia”
One of the rare slow songs that really worked this weekend. The highlight of a good set.
1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - “Maps”
I decided that Karen O messing up the lyrics made this even better, and the acoustic version was incredible.
Trendspotting at Lollapalooza:
Cheap 80’s shades:
XRT was either giving them out or they were selling them for really cheap. I kind of like them, and I bet Chevy Chase is pleased with this latest pop culture development.
Umbrellas:
These things partially ruined the Ben Folds and Decemberists shows. Anybody who is too dainty to get wet at a fucking rock concert and opens up an umbrella is pretty much just sending a big “F you” to everybody behind them. I think it’s only fair to sentence anybody who does to 10 years in a North Korean labor camp.
Guys Drinking Bud Light Lime:
If you’re going to get drunk in public, please just drink regular beer. It’s embarrassing to see grown men drinking fruit flavored beer at an alternative music festival. That type of thing should be done in private.
“The Vault” videos:
Kudos to those who run Lolla for playing clips from old concerts during the wait between shows at the main stages. A little more variety would have been nice, but the clips they showed were cool and helped take my complete attention away from the sweaty mob I was stuck waiting in.
Top 10 Bands I’d Like to See Headline Next Year:
Apparently Perry Farrell hinted that Aerosmith might be a possible headliner next year. Yeah, about that... please god no. Anyway, if any 3 of these acts are booked next year, I’ll be a happy young man. I’m guessing an iconic 80’s act will make the bill as well as a huge alt rock band from the 90’s and a band that comes out with an album some time around the new year that builds a lot of buzz leading up to the headliner announcements. I’m also going to guess that two hip hop headliners will be on the bill next year. Here’s my wish list…
10. Soundgarden
The rumors have already started about them, and they would be a perfect fit for the fest
9. Wu-Tang Clan
This won’t happen, but Ghostface and Raekwon are both scheduled to release new albums and would be sweet if billed as a mid-tier act like they were at Pitchfork last year.
8. White Stripes
Again, probably won’t happen but might only be another year or two away,
7. Beastie Boys
If everything goes well with MCA and they go back on tour, I think they could easily end up at Lolla.
6. Franz Ferdinand
Probably too small to headline, but would awesome in the 6th headline spot or as a solid second-tier act.
5. Lil' Wayne
I don't know if he'd be the type of hip hop headliner Lollapalloza would look to, but I would most certainly be pleased and Jay-Z is a similar act and he headlined at All Points West this year.
4. Arcade Fire
Put on a classic show in 2005 and have a large enough fan base to generate headline-level crowds
3. Beck
I think he’s been rumored to play like every year Lolla has been in Chicago, and I don't think anybody would complain if it finally happened.
2. Outkast
Would be the perfect hip hop headliner. So perfect that it has to happen at some point.
1. The Strokes
a) Due to release an album next year b) have a big enough following to headline c) Allegedly a great band live… please let this happen, please let this happen, please let this happen…
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
News from The Strokes
A brief stop at their website revealed some signs of life from my favorite band, (and an early favorite to headline Lollapalooza next year) The Strokes. News that they are in the studio and still on schedule to release an album in early 2010 is welcome, although not new. However, what I did not know is that lead singer Julian Casablancas is scheduled to release a solo album at some point this fall. He even has his own website now! ...Although it only consists of two embedded Youtube videos of him talking (and I think we all know it takes more than embedded youtube videos to make a good website), but he does seem sober which I guess is something new. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. This probably is bad news for any kind of Strokes tour if Julian decides to go on some elablorate tour (which he has already made reference to), but who even knows anymore.
Sigh...
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