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Crowd Control
Good points, as always, Mr. Williams. But, I don't like my music loud. In my car, I never have the stereo loud. Even with my favorite songs. Yet, I never find the concert venues to be too loud. Ever. And I don't wear ear plugs. Also, I always have the TV on at home when I'm doing other things. I think it's insane not to. If I'm on the phone, and on hold, it's great, because I can hear the news stories on CNN or Headline News. If I'm in the othre room doing laundry, or on the computer, same thing. And, if I'm reading a book or magazine, I like to have the stereo on. It's like the Albert Brooks character in Broadcast News. He starts singing "Midnight Train to Georgia" as he's reading. And, as he's singing, he says (to the beat of the song), "I can sing/while I read/Because I'm smart/I can do that." Sure, if some obscure song I haven't heard in ages comes on, I might realize I just went a few pages and didn't really grasp what I just read. But that's rare.— July 2, 2008 12:22 a.m.
Mess With the Bull, Get the Horns
I have a handful of friends, and everytime a teenager will die because they are racing cars and I make a snide comment...they always say the same thing. "Didn't you ever do something stupid when you were a kid?" I always say, "Uh, well, no." Seriously. I did a few stupid things. Every kid did. But, I never tried cigarettes. I never drove the '65 Mustang at speeds over 60 miles per hour, even though I'm sure it could easily clear 100. I didn't want a ticket, or to have my stepfather revoke my driving privileges. Or, didn't want to end up a splatter on the I-5. If a 16 year old can't understand simple concepts like that, it's hard for me to have sympathy for them when they jump a fence at an amusement park, and lose their head.— July 2, 2008 12:17 a.m.
Crowd Control
Well, it's really weird. I heard on some TV show, that a guy wrote a book on things not to do at a rock concert. And, he joked that they were all things he did. It was stuff like "air guitar" and "pretending to play the drums". Basically, things that make you look like a geek. Or, "lip synching the lyrics to Sister Christian." That's all funny. But, here's the thing. I've been next to the talkers. That just never shut up. I've been next to the singers, that never shut up. And, you kind of aren't as mad, because you know they are enjoying themselves. They know every word. But still...I paid to hear Ray Davies sing these lyrics, not them!!!! Then, there is the person that thinks he's Mr. Professor, and has to explain to his trophy wife, every little lyric. He'll say things like "Oh, this song is from their 3rd album. Listen to the second verse. A lot of people don't catch what he's saying, but it's a reference to a Greek tragedy." And, you want to just slap him. And, she probably does, too. But, he wants to show he really knows the lyrics. I often think of the scene from that Woody Allen movie (I believe it's Annie Hall, where the guy in the movie line actually gets half of his points wrong on the playwrite he's talking about). Basically, the crowd has to take concerts the same way they take in movies...that there are MANY people around them, that came to hear the show. If you want to lean in and ask your wife if she wants another drink, fine. If you want to lean in and tell your friend, "Wow, that's cool that they played Kashmir." Okay. But, no running dialog. No sing-alongs. Just shut the F*** up!!!!— July 1, 2008 12:56 a.m.
House of Blues Gave Me the Blues
House of Pancakes -- Yes. House of Blues -- No. One of my friends tried to blame "Live Nation" for taking over House of Blues booking. I dunno about all that. I just know, it's the only venue in town that charges a "service charge" if you buy the actual ticket AT THAT VENUE.— June 30, 2008 6:51 a.m.
Under the Covers
CCR doing "Heard it Thru the Grapevine" vs Marvin Gaye. Tough call on which is better. Russ: I actually like Eddie Vedder singing You've Got to Hide Your Love Away better. But Jan & Deans is sweet, too. It's hard to top the Beatles, fer sure. Aerosmith doing Come Together...well, they add some nice muscle to that track. I remember hearing the Georgia Satellites do a nice cover of "Don't Pass Me By." I thought it was an odd Beatles tune to cover. I read the liner notes, and they said something like "If we're going to cover a Beatles tune, best to cover one Ringo sings. Good idea!!!— June 27, 2008 11:08 p.m.
Dumpster diving for dinner in North Park
A comment for both Ollie and Ernie. Ernie, have you heard the song "Opera Sing" from Cake? It's awesome. Ollie, as a writer, I can feel your pain. But I'm curious. And, I'm sure the editors would have no objections to this (if they do, they can just delete). I've been disappointed with some edits on a few of my pieces. Sometimes, when it was YO DJ pieces, since local DJs are expecting one thing, and if their words come out slightly different, they can be seriously P.O'd. So, a few times, I've posted on this website, the full length of what they had to say. So, why don't you...right here, post (in 25 different segments, if that's what it takes) your original version. And, we can read it in all it's glory. As the piece is now, though, I gotta say, it was a good read. My girlfriend and I were cracking up reading it at Subway the other day. We'd go back and forth with things like "Hey...did you get to the part where...."— June 27, 2008 4:02 p.m.
Under the Covers
Geez...I didn't even realize I only commented on half of your stuff. Uh, okay. White STripes...I love Jacks energy when he covers Jolene. I was standing next to a couple at SOMA, that got in a huge fight when they did it. The guys wife didn't believe it was a Dolly Parton song. I just think it's odd he still sings the line "Don't take my man/just because you can." He has great energy and intensity when he sings it. I swear, a vein in his neck is about to pop. I like their cover of Conquest, too. Which reminds me, Cake does some amazing covers. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. And, best of all, that cheesy disco crap "I Will Survive," they actually make cool. I like that UB40 cover. Although, I prefer Deep Purple cover Neil with Kentucky Woman. I bought the Robert Plant/Krause CD based on how much I loved Gone/Gone/Gone. The rest of the disc was okay, but kinda put me to sleep. (in my best Homer Simpson voice: Stupid bluegrass) Sweet Dreams...I think I'd hate any version of this song.— June 27, 2008 3:55 p.m.
Under the Covers
Cash's version of Hurt. Amazing. Video, showing all those lines. So sad. But yeah, doing Rusty Cage...it sounds good, but it then became this novelty thing. Ring of Fire is also nicely done on Wall of Voodoo's first album. And, done very funny by local comedian/singer Tim MacDonald (back in 70s/80s when he was with Texas Tuxedo then Bird & MacDonald...Ring of Fire was about catching VD...too dirty to print all the words). Van Halen loved covering the Kinks. My fav was Where Have All the Good Times Gone. Not only did Chrissie Hynde look like Ray Davies. She went and married him, for a brief time. Just imagine if they would've had kids. You wouldn't know whether to say they looked more like the dad or the mom. Bib Mama Thorntons version does blow Elvis' out of the watre. Just like Carl Perkins original Blue Suede Shoes does, too. Yeah, hate Kravitz version of American Woman. I hate Madonna's version of American Pie, while we're on "American" cover tunes. Does anyone cover Tom Petty's "American Girl"??? I totally dig the Peppers Higher Ground, but it's such a great song, I'm sure even Kravitz wouldn't be able to mess it up. I like the Peppers "Rollercoast of Love" better, though. More fun, more funk. Nice use of the bullhorn, too. By the way, it's Bryan Adams, and Brian Wilson (beach boys). I haven't heard any cover of "Only the Lonely." Would like to, though. Hard to beat Martha's sultry, torch sounding vocal delivery, though. Hey...I Fought the Law....everyone should cover it. It's that good of a song. And, I almost forgot. The best cover of all-time: Bow Wow Wow doing the Strangelove's I WANT CANDY, which, was sort of a cover of Bo Diddley, since the Strangelove's stole the beat from Mr. Diddley.— June 27, 2008 3:49 p.m.
The Biggest Waste of Money Ever
I love it. Now, the paper is explaining what the school is having done with this "consultant" and the classes being taught to these "teachers". Insane.— June 27, 2008 11:57 a.m.
100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics Ever
Towelhead: I would so put Jim Gaffigan on this list. The problem with Comedy Central NOT putting him on the list, is the same reason Regan wasn't on the list either, or Greg Geraldo (who helped compile the list). They are to new. It's like a list of the greatest rock bands of all-time. They wouldn't want to put a band that had two or three CDs out. Know what I mean? Anti: Dean Martin wasn't really drunk when he did all that, either. That's the funniest thing of all. I didn't realize that about Izzard. I saw a few specials, and he wasn't cross dressing. Someone told me he was a secret cross dresser, so I just believed it was a big "secret". Didn't know it wasn't a secret. I may have also been confused because I met this artist at a party in L.A. He did the first 3 Genesis album covers (forgot his name right now). He did an art show once. He does amazing stuff. Then, later, he came out as a woman, with completely different style of work. Both, blew everyone away. So, I thought stuff like that stayed "secret." As far as "apples and oranges", you're completely wrong. If it was a list of "best bands," yes, how can you compare "The Bee Gees" or Abba, to the White Stripes or Weezer, when genres of music are involved. But comedy is comedy, even if people had different styles of getting there? The bottom line is, making a person laugh. Which again, is why, Andy Kaufmans style of "tricking"...well, at the end of the day, is it really making you laugh? George Carlin was one of the most prolific comedy writers ever. Wrote some thought provoking stuff. I like him a lot. But for my money, I can name a lot that made me laugh more. His facial expressions were just a bit too goofy for me. And, the thing Seinfeld says he loved (that he put his body and expressions into his jokes and stories), were what I hated.— June 26, 2008 1:34 a.m.