9/27/2005

This on the heels of Bob Denver- another 60's TV icon gone. Sorry about that, Don. .

posted by Gary at 9/27/2005 12:50:00 AM

9/26/2005

back in college, i had an idea for a musicology paper that i never finished, but that i still kick around in my head from time to time. Concept Albums and Their Common Themes (needs a snappier title) the central observation being that many of the classic rock concept albums touch upon similar thematic content, and how this observation could be one tool by which we can better understand the psychological condition of the pop musician, or the expression of that psychological condition. blah blah postmodernism blah construct and observer blah etc. the main albums under consideration: The Who, Tommy (1969) David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) The Who, Quadrophenia (1973) Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979) Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage (1979) Queensryche, Operation: Mindcrime (1988) Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral (1994) Marilyn Manson, Antichrist Superstar (1996) (certain albums were excluded just because they didn't touch upon these themes, or because their narratives were too oblique to parse: 2112, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, the Kinks' concept records, OK Computer, Pet Sounds, Their Satantic Majesties Request. others fit all the themes perfectly, but were too obscure to count: Snow being one.) (dr. austin caswell, the greatest musicology professor in the world)

posted by Kevin at 9/26/2005 11:10:00 AM

9/23/2005

Carlos Guitarlos has a new album, Hell Can Wait. It's marvelous start to finish, but the genius stroke is the final song, "I've Been Dead Since You've Been Gone." That last one is just him singing and playing, and has this Django-Reinhardt-elbowing-Marc-Ribot-in-the-ribs feel to it.

posted by Kevin at 9/23/2005 02:46:00 PM

9/22/2005

Back from Vegas. Didn't lose my shirt, but lost a sleeve and a few buttons... which means it still counts as a shirt, so fast-food places won't give me the bum rush. Lots of roulette and blackjack at a series of casinos: Circus Circus, Sahara, Stratosphere, Caesar's Palace, Paris. My favorite was the Sahara for its Rat Pack, early-Vegas combination of seediness and swank. That, and their goofy, bikini-girl floor show is free. But my favorite blackjack dealer was Yoshiko at Circus Circus, who dealt a round to us at 5:30am the other morning (we opted for the noctural Vegas experience), and then proceeded to stop. "Where are you three from?" "Cincinnati, originally." "Huh. How many nights have you been in Vegas?" "Two." "Huh. You guys should have some mimosas and stop gambling. I feel that these cards are not going to be kind to you." And so, she proceeded to order us a round, give us some blackjack strategy pointers, tell us about her grandkids in California, smoke a few of Mike's menthols, and do some on-the-fly fortune telling. The other dealers at Circus Circus call her 'Mean Mama,' which she encourages. "I get paid the same whether you guys win or lose, and I can tell you are good people. I want you to win. These cards... they're not your cards." -- At a roulette table the first night, we met an indie rocker who had just turned 21 the night before. During his birthday celebration, his girlfriend had grabbed him by both arms, leaving deep fingernail marks. In the shower the following morning, he saw that his left forearm had five marks. Two then one then two -- in the configuration of the dots on the dice. His right arm had two in parallel. A clear 5 on one arm, and 7 if you counted both. So that night at the table with us, he was throwing big money on 5 and 7, and winning consistently. Probably cleared several hundred dollars in thirty minutes, just from those two numbers. Happy birthday indeed.

posted by Kevin at 9/22/2005 01:19:00 PM

9/19/2005

"Bourbon Relief" was a lot of blurry, slurry fun. Thanks to all who came out and helped Sarah raise about $2,000. A little personal arcana just surfaced from the flotsam... For about three weeks when we were 18, Mike Giddens and I had a band called Dickcinder. If I remember correctly, the rest of the expansive Dickcinder lineup included C. Spencer Yeh (keyboards?), Tom Kuo (gtr?), Dave Hug (sax), J. Couch Frakes (bass clarinet), and Krishna Athota (bass). I played drums. Mike (gtr & trombone) found and digitized the one extant Dickcinder recording, which includes: "David Koresh Starring In 'I Am the Lamb'" (Dickcinder's brief lifespan happened to overlap with the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco) "Fork Knife Spoon" (accidental no wave) "Game Show Theme Song" (mike giddens) i'm off to Lost Wages, Nevada tonight. fortier got in his request for "five bucks on 27 Red." so call if you have any bets-by-proxy you would like to place. p.s.: the Bengals are 2-0. they lathered up the field with the blood of the Vikings yesterday, 37-8. next week, though, it's Bengals vs. Bears, and Chicago's tough this season. p.p.s.: online sudoku puzzles p.p.p.s.: an interview with A. Carl Newman of the New Pornographers (appearing at Bimbo's next Wednesday the 28th)

posted by Kevin at 9/19/2005 12:45:00 PM

9/15/2005

Garrett Kamps wrote up tonight's "Bourbon Relief" show in his Go West column for today's issue of SF Weekly. "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Go ahead, swish that around in your mouth a little bit. There's a distinct bouquet of ... truth, a hint of legitimacy, maybe just a smidge of damn-straight, and a very detectable fuck-yeah finish. Let's order a bottle.

posted by Kevin at 9/15/2005 12:18:00 PM

9/13/2005

courtesy of the great Brad Brooks: a piece about New Orleans by Ray Davies. the rest from Brad: This past May I had the incredible fortune to attend a good friend's wedding in the Garden district of New Orleans. Little did I know that Hurricane Katrina would dismember one of the most brilliant places on earth this past week. New Orleans is amazing because everyone treats you like family in one way or another. By the time you get to the transportation section of the airport, someone has called you "baby", and you loved it. This will not change no matter where the citizens go. In an effort to help in some way this group is getting together this Thursday to perform a benefit at the Red Devil Lounge. We hope you will enjoy the evening and feel good about doing something for the future of this proud musical heritage. 100% of all ticket sales will be donated to Habitat for Humanity's 'home delivery' project (www.habitat.org) and to the Tipitina's Foundation (www.tipitinasfoundation.org). (brad brooks) The night starts with Firecracker at 7:20. Brad and his band are on at 10, and Griddle's on at 11:15. You should really see all nine acts, though. Also, all donations at the door will be doubled by matching funds from the Gap. We hear they're good for it.

posted by Kevin at 9/13/2005 01:19:00 AM

9/12/2005

if you have cable, check out the ASSSSCAT. it's the return, in improv setting, of the Upright Citizens Brigade, the finest american comedy troupe since... hmm... since the original SNL cast, maybe? also, the new album from the new pornographers is outstanding. twin cinema. they made the drums much louder. especially the toms. and you know how i love that. metacritic gives it an 86 out of 100. which is high, sure, but not high enough. but then, it is power pop, that most-derided of all genres. Pat Greene began his Pandora training today, so soon he'll be sifting through the Epitaph back-catalog with the rest of us.

posted by Kevin at 9/12/2005 05:50:00 PM

9/11/2005

Just wanted to let you guys know that notes from the True Margrit tour are up on Margrit's new blog- please visit us! Things are goiung great, we've had at least one show- either in a club or on the air every day since Tuesday. Tommorrow's our in-store CD release gig at Music Millennium in Portland. (And avoid buying gas in Yreaka.)

posted by Gary at 9/11/2005 02:10:00 AM

9/09/2005

from the Associated Press (courtesy of Gary): Nations asking why there has been slow response to offers of Katrina aid wow. For four days, a C-130 transport plane ready to lift emergency supplies to Katrina victims has stood idle at the Satenas air force base in southern Sweden. The aid includes a water purification system that may be urgently needed amid signs deadly diseases may be spreading through fetid pools in New Orleans, and blankets for those left homeless. "We have to get some kind of signal (from the United States) in the next few days," said Karin Viklund of the Swedish Rescue Services Agency. "We really hope we will get it." More than a week after Canada first offered to send military support, three Canadian warships and one coast guard ship departed for the Gulf Coast on Wednesday. Although the government in Ottawa has been careful not to criticize the slow response, newspaper editorials asked why Washington seemed reluctant to accept Canadian aid.

posted by Kevin at 9/09/2005 08:12:00 AM

9/07/2005

BOURBON RELIEF!

BOURBON RELIEF!

posted by Kevin at 9/07/2005 11:19:00 PM

9/06/2005

r.i.p. bob denver.

posted by chris at 9/06/2005 02:48:00 PM

Bob & Ellie's friend Dave is off to the Gulf Coast for three weeks, volunteering with the Red Cross. In the words of Ali G, mad respeck. Meanwhile, two blogs of hurricane workers: Dancing with Katrina and the Interdictor. Meanwhile, Alex Chilton appears to be okay. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that Chilton spoke to Ron Easley (his former bandmate in the Memphis punkabilly group Tav Falco�s Panther Burns) early Monday morning, who said that Chilton had been rescued by helicopter from his French Quarter home on Sunday. In more frivolous news... Triple Cobra was fantastic on Friday. It was a pleasure to split a bill with them.

posted by Kevin at 9/06/2005 08:34:00 AM

9/02/2005

Yay, Podsafe Music Network. Yay, Sue. 1-24! Some places where our songs have been spun: "FAIREST OF THE MALL" ---- Daily Source Code #229 with Adam Curry in the UK (mp3, 33:00) ---- Daily Source Code #251 with Adam Curry in the UK (mp3, 23:15-30:45) ---- Daily Source Code #264 with Adam Curry in SF (mp3, 32:58) ---- Spelchek Speaks #10 with Cody Chris (mp3, 1:50) ---- The Word Nerds #23 with Howard & Dave Shepherd (mp3, 26:20) ---- Fuzznik #27 with Michael Bollman (mp3, 7:05) ---- Five Pound Bag #2 in NYC with Patrick Ainge (mp3, 10:03) ---- Berkanlia #1 in Chicago with Aaron Berkowitz (mp3, 0:00) ---- Pod Playlist #9/7 (mp3, 0:00) ---- Opinionated Ramblings #6 in New Hampshire with Ceejay (mp3, 5:25) ---- Coffee House To Go #9/19 in Illinois with Mike Potter (mp3, 0:00) ---- BareFT Podcast #20 in Wisconsin with Briton (mp3, 0:00) ---- AndyCast #007 (mp3, 2:23) ---- The Sofa Coaches #10 (mp3, 0:00) ---- Arnaud Hubert (Cette semaine) from France (mp3, 14:31) ---- Soundcheck #44 with Andy Hayes (mp3, 20:25) ---- Warsaw Insider #1, a teenage podcast in Poland (mp3, 0:00) ---- Jesus on the Radio #10-23 at Bard College with Peter & SarahKat (mp3, 0:00) ---- Riding With the Window Down #24 in Houston with CDogg (mp3, 0:00) ---- Guzen Radio #5 in Japan (mp3, 0:00) ---- Old Man Radio #6 in CA (mp3, 0:00) ---- Jawbone Radio #69 in Cleveland with Len & Nora (mp3, 0:00) ---- Buckeye Drive Time #15 from 12.4.05 (mp3) ---- Paul and Lynn Show 12.9.05 ---- The Binary Drill #17 with Florian Schmid from 12.12.05 (mp3) ---- ZeroDay Revolution #1 from 12.11.05 (mp3) ---- Bridget Rose Podcast #10 from 12.31.05 (mp3) ---- Lynn Parsons #22 in the UK from 1.5.06 (mp3) ---- Top of the Podsafes #15 from 1.8.06 (mp3) ---- Buckeye Drive Time #26 1.12.06 (mp3) "DR. BECKY BOLANKY ---- Bandtrax #10/5 with Renamarie and Canis Lupus (mp3, 18:02) ---- Seattle & Beyond with Ken Clark (mp3, 17:45) ---- BareFT #29 with Andy Briton (mp3, 0:00) ---- A'sf 10/16 Radio with Thin-P in Japan (mp3, 0:00) ---- Soundcheck #45/46 with Andy Hayes (mp3, 0:00) ---- AndyCast #11 (mp3, 0:00) ---- Seattle and Beyond with Ken Clark 12.16.05 (mp3) "PREOCCUPIED" ---- From Japan, Thin-P's A'sf Pod Radio #8/03 (mp3, 7:40) ---- Daily Source Code #233 with Adam Curry in the UK (mp3, 30:25) ---- Zach's Blog #8/18 with Zach Karst (mp3, 25:20) ---- Daily Source Code #251 with Adam Curry in the UK (mp3, 23:15-30:45) ---- Jesus on the Radio 10/16 with Peter and SarahKat at Bard College (mp3, 6:40) ---- Ramblecast #2 in Indiana (mp3, 0:00) ---- The Late Night Cast 12.21.05 (mp3) "GIVE IT UP" ---- Madpod #60 with James Donnelly (mp3, 6:45) ---- The Delicate Art of Noise Pollution #7 from the Netherlands (mp3, 38:21) ---- The Aardvark's Nest #5 in Kentucky with Dr. John & Ms. Sally (mp3, 0:00) ---- Heavier Than Most Show #2 with Paul Puri in California (mp3, 0:00) ---- Rick's Podsafe Mix 12.21.05 (mp3) "THE HIT PARADE" ---- From Sweden, Another Visitor #10 (mp3, 17:04) ---- GayPr0nTalk #16 with Paulie & Evan, 8/19/2005 (mp3, 0:00) ---- JIMM #19 with Dan Johnson, Jr. from Cincinnati (mp3, 2:51) ---- Revolution Radio 12.5.05 (mp3) ---- Top of the Podcasts 12.11.05 (mp3) ---- Paul and Lynn Show 12.15.05 (mp3) ---- Pinguinux Music Podcast 1.1.06 (mp3) ---- Revolution Radio 1.9.06 (mp3) ---- Top of the Podsafes 1.11.06 (mp3) "POSITIVELY JACKSON" ---- BandTrax 8/26/05 with Sue Fleming (mp3, 15:10) ---- Extra Super Action Show #42 with Big Mike Branum (mp3, 0:00) ---- Pod Weather #9/17 (mp3, 0:00) ---- Radio Gold #11 with Seth Goldin (mp3, 0:00) ---- Schwagcast #6 in NY with Jerry Mallen (mp3, 0:00) ---- House Of Gigs HOG-cast #4 in Tampa (mp3, 0:00) ---- Podsafe Music Daily 11.30.05 (mp3) ---- Jeff's Audiblog 12.6.05 (mp3) ---- Paul and Lynn Show 12.30.05 (mp3) ---- Underway in Ireland 1.6.06 (mp3) ---- The Hour of Dave 1.12.06 (mp3) "METRO TO NORWOOD" ---- Pod Playlist #10/2/05 (archive) "SO SLOW (PART 2)" ---- Extra Super Action Show #70 with Big Mike Branum (mp3, 6:00) "AVAILABLE" ---- Pacific Coast Hellway #108 in LA with Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff (mp3, 0:00) ---- The Random Show 1.3.06 (mp3) "BOXCARS" ---- Adam Curry's Podshow on Sirius Satellite Radio Ch. 148 with C.C. Chapman (8/16/2005) ---- Seattle & Beyond #31 with Ken Clark (mp3, 0:00) ---- Accident Hash #12 with C.C. Chapman (mp3, 5:00) ---- Pressure-TV #7 in Manchester with Keita Kobayashi (mp3, 0:50) ---- A-sf 10/16 with Thin-P in Japan (mp3, 0:00) ---- Paul and Lynn Show 12.8.05 (mp3) "AIN'T IT GOOD TO BE ALIVE?" ---- Odeo #11 from Oklahoma (mp3, 0:45) ---- Extra Super Action Show #26 with Big Mike Branum (mp3, 0:00) ---- ALFizz 1.14.06 (mp3) "LOSS FOR WORDS" ---- Seattle and Beyond #31 with Ken Clark (mp3, 0:00) ---- The Scene Zine #44 with Marcus Couch (mp3, 15:50) ---- Wind on the Plains 12.19.05 (mp3) ---- Comic Geekos 1.7.06 (mp3) ---- Podcast de T610yZ600.com 1.15.06 (mp3) "BERLE" ---- Accident Hash #55 with C.C. Chapman (mp3, 0:00) ---- Extra Super Action Show #3 with Big Mike Branum (mp3, 0:00) ---- Pressure-TV #7 in Manchester with Keita Kobayashi (mp3, 13:41) ---- New Music Lab 12.5.05 (mp3) ---- DreamExtreme 12.8.05 (mp3) "I'LL KEEP AN EYE ---- Seago Go #9/2 (Destiny) with (mp3, 0:00) "MUTINY" ---- IT Conversations (mp3, 0:00) ---- Revolution Radio 1.11.06 (mp3)

posted by Kevin at 9/02/2005 01:16:00 PM

R.I.P. R.L. Burnside

posted by Kevin at 9/02/2005 11:43:00 AM

9/01/2005

a few amendments to the information on THIS FRIDAY, Sept. 2: it's only $5, not $10. the Ooh-La-Luz have been replaced by another Yard Dogs project called Punk Bitch From Jersey. And there will be a Punk Rock Beauty Pageant, with $100-dollar prize money going to the winner. To win, you must walk the catwalk. it is still at the Oakland Metro, & it's all-ages. Griddle at 9, Triple Cobra at 10, Punk Bitch From Jersey at 11. Beauty Pageant at midnight-ish. (triple cobra)

posted by Kevin at 9/01/2005 11:11:00 AM

8/31/2005

In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.

posted by Kevin at 8/31/2005 10:50:00 AM

Happy to announce the arrival of the new True Margrit record, Seaworthy! It's waiting for us at Andrew's place in Tacoma, so we'll have it available at shows starting with the first show of our Pacific Northwest Tour next week in Eugene. (If you have friends up in that region, we're also playing in Salem, Portland, Bellingham, Olympia, Vashon Island and Chehalis- please let them know we're coming. We need the gas money! Ouch!) We're returning to San Francisco for a FREE noontime show on September 22nd at 3rd & Folsom, part of the "People In Plazas" series being presented by the Musician's Union, to be followed (at a date to be determined) by the official Record Release party (hopefully featuring Griddle on the bill!) Big shout out to Seal & Xifer, who were always ready with an opinion when we needed one. We're quite proud of Seaworthy indeed! (Streaming samples are online now.)

posted by Gary at 8/31/2005 10:38:00 AM

8/29/2005

our lovely drummer, Chris McGrew, played on the new John Vanderslice album, Pixel Revolt, which hit stores last week. All Music Guide had the good sense to give it 4 and a half stars. here in the Griddle camp, of course, we know that a McGrew appearance is worth four stars in and of itself. (john vanderslice) hey kimo, i think you should ask your question about the aristocrats.

posted by Kevin at 8/29/2005 04:56:00 PM