I was very happy this evening to learn that my good friend Pete Miller was interviewed on Seattle's NPR station. He runs a great Seattle organization called LOCCAL (League of Citizens Concerned About Literature) and one of their first projects was to put up poetry mini-posters about hygiene all over Seattle. I wrote a poem for one--it was fun, and wound up on one of the posters...and, in one of the coolest bathrooms in Seattle (Ali Baba's), no less.
So, today, Pete was interviewed on the radio, and, naturally, it was really interesting and enjoyable. Here's the NPR link, where you can listen to the whole thing: http://www.kuow.org/defaultProgram.asp?ID=13950
Or, you can listen to his interview here, in two parts--he is literally cut off mid-word, but still...
Pete's doing great work up there, and it's really cool to hear him talk about it.
So, naturally, I will be commenting on the great new Bruce album, Magic, in the coming days and/or weeks. However, until then, here's a really good article from this weekend's New York Times about it. I really like A.O. Scott as a film critic--it is cool to see him write about music here.
Click here for the article that makes it even more painful that I couldn't get tickets for the LA shows!
(And, if you're really into reading about all of this, here's another great article. Admittedly, I may be the only one who needs two, but still...)
My favorite writer has a new novel out, and I just picked it up...for some reason, I thought it was coming out in November, so it was a real happy surprise to stumble upon it. This is his first "proper" novel in ten years (not counting the wonderful and under-appreciated novella, The Name of the World, of course), so my excitement level is particularly high. If you've never read anything by Johnson, you can really pick up any of them and get one of the best books you've ever read.
My favorite place to see music in LA (possibly of anywhere I've lived, for that matter), Largo, seems to have a movie coming out. Based on the trailer, too, it looks like the film will capture what makes it so special:
Over the years, I've seen a lot of great people there: Aimee Mann, Jon Brion, Fiona Apple, Michael Penn, Colin Hay, Gillian Welch, the Naked Trucker and T-Bones (on several occasions), Paul F. Tompkins...the list goes on. If you've never been, and you live in LA, you should go immediately. If you're not in LA, hopefully the movie will do it justice.
Of the numerous wonderful shows I've seen there, one always stands as the quintessential Largo night. We went to see Jon Brion, who played for nearly two hours (a mix of originals and great covers, including Bowie's "Moonage Daydream," and, by request, "Freebird," which he turned into a sci-fi "Linus and Lucy" Peanuts-themed piece, which I know makes little sense here)...then, he took a break, and returned with Fiona Apple, who played a number of songs (and covers, including "Every Day," by Buddy Holly). Then, Benmont Tench (of the Heartbreakers) came out to play piano...and then, the bluegrass/folk group Nickelcreek came out to join them all for a number of songs. The whole thing lasted about four (fantastic) hours, ending with Brion alone, playing "Waterloo Sunset," by the Kinks, which he (perhaps rightfully) described as the best song ever written.
It was an amazing night, and I was really happy to see that someone had video from it online, even. This is the moment when he returned from intermission with Fiona Apple. Enjoy...and, if you're one of the people who was at the show, listen for our clapping...
It slid just in under the wire of the seasons, but I think I may have just seen my favorite movie of the summer. I've seen some good ones over the past few months (notably, Superbad, which is also fantastic), but after seeing this movie, I was sparked to post about it.
It's in limited release right now (in LA, at the Laemmle in Pasadena as well as the nice new Landmark Theaters on Pico), but worth seeking out. Just watch the trailer:
It is a funny, warm movie. Someone pointed out that it was kind of like a Christopher Guest movie, and I tend to agree (does that mean we can trade in For Your Consideration, then?), but in the best possible way. It would have been easy to make this movie one big joke at the subjects' expenses, but I never felt like I was laughing at them. It's just a great movie, and you'll have to see it to believe me when I say it is actually sweet, too. Oh, and the audience cheered at the end, even...
Coming out in October...performing in LA in December...
So, with my ladyfriend out of town, I indulged in a mini horror movie marathon last night, with my frequent co-hort for all things nerdy. Instead of watching any recent movies, we played catch up with two classics that, somehow I have never seen: the original Dawn of the Dead and John Carpenter's The Thing.
It may be hard to believe that the person who may have created things like this, this, this, this, and this has never actually seen the original Dawn of the Dead, and it is, in fact, hard to believe. Much to my delight, it was everything I hoped it would be--certainly worth checking out. If this trailer doesn't do it for you, I don't know what will:
And, as for The Thing, it also, for lack of a better term, was awesome. Since seeing Grindhouse last spring, I've rediscovered Kurt Russell, who is just perfect for these kinds of movies. However, what really stood out to me was not Russell, but Wilford Brimley, who was in it...and he is pretty nuts in it, too. Think about this the next time you eat your Quaker Oats.
I was struck, watching both of these, at how I must be getting old, because as The Thing ended, with a quiet, eerie image, I just kept thinking that they don't make horror movies like that anymore. Or, with Wilford Brimley.
It took a lot of doing, and it looked like it might not happen, but I managed to get a pair of tickets to the instantly sold-out Stevie Wonder concert at the Greek Theater...Needless to say, I am particularly happy--both for myself, but especially for my special ladyfriend, who has always wanted to see him live. As he barely ever tours, I made getting tickets a mission. It should be pointed out, too, to his credit, he could have charged a lot more for tickets. Of course, like every concert, they're still overpriced; however, compared to other people of his generation (I'm looking at you, Rolling Stones) and younger (you too, Police), he kept the price relatively low.
As a taste of why I'm excited, here's a little clip..
And, of course, this has nothing to do with music, but I like any excuse to watch this..
And, if the title of this post rings a bell, you grew up in the 80's, as well, watching "The Cosby Show."
This is just about a perfect poem, in my book. By the new Poet Laureate, Charles Simic.
It has been a long, long, long time since I have posted, but after seeing this guy last night, I was reminded of the blog, and the thousands of readers left in the cold by my absence. Some day, I'll write about my mystical journey that has kept me from writing on here, but for now, the matter at hand.
Last night, we went to my favorite spot for music in LA, Largo, for a night of "Songs of Protest." A really interesting night, with lots of great music--it was the closest to a hootenany I think I've ever been to...plus, Victoria Williams, one of my favorites, played a couple of songs. (My only complaint is that, the way it was advertised, it made it seem like she was going to be more of the "featured" artist of the night, as opposed to a "guest," but, as I enjoyed the rest of the performers, it was OK...) Anyway, in thinking about protest music, I've been thinking all morning about my current, favorite "protest" songs. That's a loose term, to say the least (I think these are really more "politically relevant," perhaps), but here are a few that I'm actively listening to, in no particular order...
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, "This Land is Your Land." Not only is Sharon Jones one of the best live performers I've ever seen, and this is a great version of the song.
Bruce Springsteen, "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?" A fantastic version from the recent Live in Dublin CD. This is an old Blind Alfred Reed song, with, in folk tradition, has some added material, written after Katrina. It doesn't take a lot of reading between the lines to know who this is about: He took a look around gave a little pep talk, said "I'm with you" then he took a little walk.
...and, hell, while we're talking about it, this is an amazing version of "Eyes on the Prize" from the same collection--here, as a duet with Mark Anthony Thompson.
Randy Newman, "Louisiana." This is an old one, but I've been playing catch up with Randy Newman as of late. Dylan played this on his radio show, and while it isn't overtly political, the echoes are obvious. This is a recent, solo version, and it gives me goosebumps.
Patton Oswalt, "The Dukes of Hazard" and "Alternate Earth." Not protest "music," of course, but these sure do make me laugh. It's a sign of amazing stand up comedy when you can listen to it a bunch of times and not get bored with it.
And, of course, there's this...
