04.21.07
REVENGE!
Hot Chip 4.20.07 Webster Hall.mp3
04.19.07
RATATAT
Ratatatatatat! Dudes rocked Webster Hall last night. Two Brooklynites playing guitar and bass over heavy programmed beats. Electrock might describe it. Eric Strong called it "A guitar solo", which is also an apt description. The guitarist wore an AC/DC shirt and the bassist just put out his hip-hop remixes vol. 2. Any way you add it up, it amounts to awesome. Explosions of energy throughout the evening.
Next up at Webster Hall: Hot Chip, tomorrow. If you don't remember my last Hot Chip at Webster Hall show, you should probably review the November 2nd blog entry. And my return falls on 4.20...
04.15.07
Sea of People (Realized)
We did it yesterday. We saved the planet. That might be a bit optimistic, but it's also the best perspective. The rally was very positive and that's the key. It was not a protest because that would have focused more on the negative aspects of pollution and the villians in government who are paid to keep it that way. Here, people were talking about good and possible change. That is something everyone can rally behind. Well, almost everyone... This guy has issues! But at least we inspired him to make art and express himself, just as we have done, so in fact we are united in this cause!
The event was a great success. The speakers were all inspiring, as was the blue tide of people. I brought a bag of instruments and we jammed through the streets of lower manhattan. Why doesn't this happen everyday? Wouldn't life be great if everybody was making music in the streets all day?
Here is a video I made of the day. As you can see, we were definitely having a supergood time.
Here are two songs I made as soundtracks for Sea of People/ Step It Up 2007 promo videos. Watch the videos at vimeo, a great video sharing site that beats youtube in quality.
04.11.07
Sea of People
Wouldn't it be unfortunate if global warming actually changed our climate enough to melt a considerable amount of the polar ice caps which in turn raised the sea level so that huge swaths of earth were swallowed up by the encroaching ocean? Unfortunately, this scenario seems inevitable, but perhaps if we took action NOW, we could avoid this catastrophe. What is required is nothing short of a complete revolution in our consumption habits. It seems daunting, but so does the alternative, and in the end wouldn't you be ashamed to say you did nothing to stop it?
And you, government? What did you do? Hopefully a major policy shift led to a massive reduction in carbon emmissions and brought our planet's artificial heating to a halt. I really hope I can read this blog entry in 50 years and say, wow, we really did it. We saved earth.
Please join us in showing your support of this cause on SATURDAY APRIL 14 at THE SEA OF PEOPLE in New York City. Wearing blue, thousands of people will outline the 10-foot water mark in lower manhattan. Come send a message that we are united in this conservation effort and they will hear. We hope to see you there.
04.07.07
Monkey Band
Have you ever wondered what a band of monkeys would look and sound like? Well, wonder no more. This groovy group formed over thirty years ago and is preserved on youtube. Please watch and consider our current MTV music culture.
Lancelot Link and the Evolution Revolution
04.05.07
Good Friday
Happy Good Friday. Today we celebrate Good. Be Good, today everyone. And Be Good tomorrow, too, on Good Saturday.
The Onion
The amazing Onion Newspaper has recently created an online video series of reports. In true Onion fashion, the stories are simultaneously completely serious and completely ridiculous. This humor is my humor. I say stuff I don't mean all the time. I'm not lying, am I? But I am lying. I also assume you know I'm lying, so I'm not doing it to hurt you. In fact, I do it to make you happy. I just want to be clear that I'm not dishonest. I also was surprised to see Ryan Karels, a friend from Hell House, playing "Steve Baylor" (you could have just used my real name!) in one of the spots. I am going to see him perform tonight in Gutenberg: The Musical, which still ranks as the funniest show I've every seen. See November Blog for my initial review.
Check out Ryan and The Onion here.
04.05.07
Vermont
I had the privilege of going to Vermont twice last month, and both trips reaffirmed my love for that state. Two days of skiing at Stowe, one spent in powdered glades and one in spring delight. Two nights spent there at chateau Blake, one night in Burlington and one in a giant cave with a frozen pond inside. Check out this video by Blake himself. Since my college years in Middlebury, I have always held a special place in my heart for Vermont and every time I visit, I know exactly why. Every season is a great time to be there and I hope it will remain a part of my life forever.
04.03.07
Baseball is Back
The arrival of spring and opening day always serve as a turning point; it is from the bottom of the winter tunnel as we start to climb and see the summer light ahead.
And then the Red Sox lose to the Royals. I know it's a long season, but every loss is a reminder, and a warning, that true victory comes to few each season. It does me no good to rationalize this logic because I am already in. Big Blind. And even one bad card on opening day won't make me fold. And plus: Daisuke! Yes, I'm buying that hype too. Daisuke is The Dude. I think we're in for a great summer.