November 28, 2005

The Cribs at Mercury Lounge

Hey, I saw the Cribs at the Mercury Lounge. I was just going to post these photos and leave it at that, but they look so lonely up here without any text to go along with them that I was compelled to write a little something to keep them company.

So The show was actually quite good. The Cribs were another recommendation by my friend Bob and, as always, he was right. I really liked them alot. In fact I would have picked up their cd at the merch table after the show but it was mobbed and there was no actual vending going on yet. Then the surge of the crowd carried me outside and I figured I'd just look for it online or something. As of yet I have not done that.

Here's a shot of their drummer who was a maniac - jumping up and standing over the set as he played. Shaking his head and swinging his arms wildly over his head. Having been raised on early Who with Keith Moon - that's pretty much everything I look for in a drummer. Slightly manic, definitely crazed, certainly on the edge.

November 27, 2005

Turkey Day

I had a fab T-Day with my friends out in New Jersey on Thursday. I was lucky to be adopted by the Ferguson family in the absence of my own. So much good food! Sleepy Turkey magic!

Despite generous portions of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, veggies and sweet sweet beer, I was still able to rally that evening and head out with Ron for more drinks at the new restaurant/bar that recently opened in their town. We met up with some friends of his there and threw back a few pints before heading back to watch Shaun of the Dead.

Friday morning we all headed out to Dewey's Comic Book Store in Madison to take advantage of the sale going on all day there. Somehow I managed to get out without buying anything. I did note, however, several things that I might have to pick up at the local comic store here in Brooklyn. In the late afternoon I took the train back to the city.

It really was a wonderful holiday and I was so fortunate to spend it with the Ferguson clan. So along with everthing else, this year I am particularly thankful for all my good friends and wish them much happiness.

November 26, 2005

Please leave message at the tone...

Falling behind.

NaSoAlMo

I've been very busy lately and not particularly attentive to the postings. Aside from all the normal activities that keep me busy, I have also immersed myself in National Solo Album Month. This is a challenge inspired by National Novel Writing Month, only the goal here is to, well, write and record a solo album within the month of November. The album must be 29 minutes and nine seconds long and may contain one cover song if one so desires. These parameters are not arbitrary, but rather inspired by what the creator of NaSoALMo considers the "shortest inarguably awesome album that a lot of people have heard" : The Ramones first album. A couple of other album alternatives have been posted this year including Nick Drake's Pink Moon (28' 22"), so the final length seems to be up to interpretation.

I signed up for this last year and fell miserably short of the mark. Determined not to make the same mistakes this time, I changed my strategy, tried not to get too hung up on certain aspects of the project (like lyric writing and recording) and now feel quite confident about producing... something... by November 30th. Whether or not it will be worth listening to is another matter. Some of it perhaps. Three days left, right? Yeah. Ok.

I have over 30 minutes of music recorded; twelve songs with multi-tracked guitar parts and scattered percussion. If worse comes to worse, I at least have an "instrumental" album ready to go.

November 10, 2005

F Breath

So a woman breathed on me today. I mean, like a full on exhale with audible sigh. It happened on the F train, of course, where all of these things seem to happen.

I was reading my book and pushed up against the opposite side door when we stopped at Jay Street. One stop before I get off on my way home, Jay Street always means a sudden crush of people transferring from the A or C. This time it seemed we spent a little extra time there to pack in even more people than usual. This woman got on at Jay and threaded her way to stand right beside me. I was conscious only of another human form next to me and my strong desire to get home and drink something alcoholic. Then, just as the doors closed, she just exhales on me. I think my hair blew to the side a bit and a few pages of my book turned back with the sudden gust. At least her breath was cinnamony fresh; and although it reminded me of Big Red gum (and I despise Big Red gum) I suppose I should be thankful for that.

What else? I have decided to take drum lessons again. It has been 25 years since the last time I took any sort of drum instruction, so I guess it's something like an anniversary. I can't really adequately explain 'why now' - only that I felt the need for some sort of structured learning environment and I have a deep-seated suspicion that 15 years of sitting in front of a computer may have seriously impaired my rhythm.

I'll be going on Tuesdays which actually coincides with my first structured lessons so many years ago. In fact, I remember the first class I was to take when I was 12 or so was going to be on Ringo's birthday. This I immediately accepted as some sort of fortuitous sign. Obviously I was meant for percussion greatness if my very first lesson fell adventitiously on Ringo's birthday. Unfortunately, due to car trouble I was unable to make it on time for that first lesson - another sign I imagine. Crushed and humiliated, my first drum lesson turned out to be on Gerald Ford's birthday instead.

November 06, 2005

Ow.

I've gone and hurt my foot somehow. A sharp shooting pain that starts at the base - right in front of the heel. I limp. I'm lame. I have a feeling it has something to do with Converse sneakers.

You see, out of insouciance coupled with footwear laziness, I pretty much wore Converse all week. By Saturday morning I began to notice a bit of discomfort. By the afternoon the discomfort became full fledged pain. As soon as the symptoms started I pretty much knew that the Converse were to blame. Feet slapping the pavement with only a thin pitiful Chuck Taylor sole for support and protection. Of course, by the time I acknowledged the problem, it was already too late. Switching footwear at this point was a mere vanity - the damage was already done.

So now I am sitting in my apartment - shoeless - hoping that the problem will somehow correct itself by morning. Either way I have learned a valuable lesson which I hope I will not soon forget: alternate the Converse days. For the love of god, alternate the Converse days.