11/30/2005

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOLLY!! I'm blog-quiet this week because I'm in the midst of Pandora training for the Latin Music Genome. So I'm kneedeep in Tumbao bass, Cascara timbales, Montuno piano, and 3:2 versus 2:3 Son. Keep the home fires burning. My brother and I recorded some piano and vocal duets in our garage (him singing). "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Night and Day." Much much fun.

posted by Kevin at 11/30/2005 11:44:00 AM

11/28/2005

want to meet my brother Rob? then meet us at Doc's Clock at 9 tonight. (Mission between 21st & 22nd.) It's their "Industry Night," so $2 Fernet and $1 off-call drinks.

posted by Kevin at 11/28/2005 03:10:00 PM

11/24/2005

Here's the MP3 of Adam Curry kicking off yesterday's show with "Available," from Beak. (And his shownotes.) And hey... we're getting played in Germany and on the British UltimateMix too. I am a jelly donut. For those Germans and Englanders who don't celebrate Thanksgiving, we wish you good sex. And lots of stuffing. (edinburgh castle, the real one)

posted by Kevin at 11/24/2005 01:44:00 AM

11/21/2005

Molly got new water dragons last week, to supplement the supply of dragons at Garcia House. They are beautiful. Two young-adult Chinese (read: Green) water dragons, whom their previous owner had named Bruce and Penelope. (Strange coincidence.) Molly kept the girl's name, but changed the boy from Bruce to Oscar The Dragon. For Bruce to work as a name, it would have to be an Australian dragon -- c'mon, doesn't anyone remember what Monty Python taught us? Anyhow, when Oscar and Penelope lived in San Anselmo with their previous caretaker, they lived in separate tanks, but now that they have access to the luxurious sprawl of Molly's terrarium, she figured they could cohabitate peacefully. And being young, consenting adult dragons... Are you ready for it? Are you sure? Dragon p0rn? It is a Monday, after all. In case anyone's viewing this at work, I wanted to make sure it was "below the fold." So scroll down if you're ready. The soundtrack is Gregory Abbott's 80s slow-jam masterpiece, "Shake You Down." (oh well, oh well)

posted by Kevin at 11/21/2005 12:22:00 PM

"The first use of Feedback was The Beatles' I Feel Fine." "Pete Townsend invented the power chord." "Jeff Beck (while in the Yardbirds) invented feedback." "Eric Clapton's last 15 years of records are boring crap." All wrong. (Guess which one.) R.I.P. the one, the only Link Wray. Got to see him a few times in recent years, including a great gig at a small club in NY with Los Straightjackets.

posted by Gary at 11/21/2005 09:59:00 AM

11/18/2005

With unlimited time & boundless discretionary income, I would see all of these: Tonight, Starry Plough in Berkeley: Spaceheater (with Evan Francis on sax) Scott Amendola, Will Bernard, and Wil Blades with Darren Johnston on trumpet John Schott's Dream Kitchen Tomorrow, Bottom of the Hill: Subtle Jel DJ Sodapop Facing New York Sunday, the Sweetwater in Mill Valley: The Family Arsenal Ariah Firefly Band (with Dan Eisenberg on wurlitzer & Jeff Anthony on drums) MaryAnne Marino

posted by Kevin at 11/18/2005 12:13:00 PM

11/17/2005

Q: How fucking rad is this? Before you answer, I should tell you what it is. (The answer, by the way, is "fucking rad, man.") David Byrne has converted a Stockholm paint factory into one giant instrument, based around a pump organ. "The organ's keys and stops are linked to dozens of clear plastic tubes that pump air through the factory vents to make a range of whistle noises, bang hammers that clank against hollow iron pillars and start four engines ranged on the roof." There's audio and video of the "Playing the Building" exhibition at David Byrne's site. What else is rad are the animations over at PaperRad. Click on the Gumby to see more:

posted by Kevin at 11/17/2005 06:01:00 PM

11/16/2005

Now that I am in New York and a little more settled, I am officially debuting my new and improved blog space. New in the sense that you all can post a comment. Improved in the sense that I will be writing on it daily. Or at least several times a week. And so Laura invites us all to check out her blog over at the Little Red Menace Website, now improved with Extra! Blogging! Action!

posted by Gary at 11/16/2005 12:55:00 AM

11/15/2005

Pants Pants Pants is an instrumental trio from San Francisco, and their new video is a shot-for-shot remake of the Full House opening credits.

posted by Kevin at 11/15/2005 12:54:00 PM

11/14/2005

November is National Solo Album Month. It's too late to sign up for this year, but keep in mind for 2006. From Doug Wolk's guidelines: Q: So, for the purposes of NaSoAlMo, what exactly is a solo album? A: An album of music you have written, played and recorded entirely by yourself*. The shortest inarguably awesome album that a lot of people have heard** is the first Ramones album, which is 29:09 long, so your solo album must be at least that long. Beyond that, its form and content are up to you. *Since Ramones includes a cover of "Let's Dance," your NaSoAlMo album may, if you wish, include one cover of somebody else's song. **It has been pointed out to the administrators that Slayer's Reign In Blood is 29:03 and that Nick Drake's Pink Moon--which actually is a solo album--is a mere 28:22. You may set your personal goals accordingly, if you wish. You're welcome.

posted by Kevin at 11/14/2005 12:29:00 PM

11/12/2005

Pandora has a free version now, so go enjoy some personalized radio from the Music Genome Project. "Captain Beefheart Radio" is a flavor that I tried earlier and got some interesting DJ selections. Speaking of beef heart, Where are you all for Thanksgiving? If anyone wants to eat ham & green bean casserole with Molly and me in San Leandro, let me know. That's where we'll be.

posted by Kevin at 11/12/2005 03:09:00 PM

11/10/2005

Chris's mom, the lovely, talented and gracious Pam, has a new site for her artwork, named for her sons (Chris+Sean). Griddle is playing tonight, you know. And debuting a ne'er-before performed song. See you there.

posted by Kevin at 11/10/2005 11:20:00 AM

11/09/2005

Chicago's Shedd Aquarium Admits Panda Exhibit Was Ghastly Mistake Cousin Wil reminded me of this site's distracting qualities: the Church Sign Generator. I'm analyzing Ozzy Osbourne's new covers album right now. He tackles "All The Young Dudes" and "In My Life," among many others. Odd.

posted by Kevin at 11/09/2005 02:50:00 PM

11/08/2005

VOTING DAY! voting day. don't forget. hey, hey, voting day. (repeat) information resources: Smart Voter (League of Women Voters), which has information for each county, or Easy Voter if you have very little time. The 8 state propositions up today: Prop 73 - Parental Notification About Abortion Prop 74 - Public School Teachers Prop 75 - Government Employee Union Dues Prop 76 - State Budget and School Funding Prop 77 - Political Districts Prop 78 - Prescription Drug Discounts Prop 79 - Prescription Drug Discounts and Medi-Cal Prop 80 - Regulation of Electric Service It looks like the moderate left and the more outspoken left are in rare consensus, as the Democratic Party, MoveOn.org, the Green Party, the CA Federation of Teachers, the CA Labor Federation, & the Bay Guardian all agree in their endorsements: No on 73 through 78, Yes on 79 and 80. The best source is this Berkeley site that charts it out, organization by organization.

posted by Kevin at 11/08/2005 12:32:00 AM

11/07/2005

Hey folks- Turns out the Red Devil does not have a video projector in-house. Any idea where we can borrow one for Thursday's gig?

posted by Gary at 11/07/2005 01:26:00 AM

11/05/2005

This is really sad. It was forwarded to me this morning by Dr. Midnight. ========================= Hello. It is with a lot of grief and weariness that I announce that tonite's DMBQ and friends show @ Club Exit has been cancelled following a tragic car accident today. DMBQ's van rolled from I-95 in Delaware en route from Baltimore to Brooklyn this afternoon. All members of the band have been hospitalized, as well as Michelle Cable from Panache Magazine and booking, who has been managing their tour. Mana "China" Nishiura did not survive the accident. China was DMBQ's drummer, as well as the drummer in Shonen Knife. China will be missed. Michelle Cable is conscious following surgery for a head injury. The other members of DMBQ are stable but sedated and are expected to recover. That's all the information I have. None of the bands tonite nor I felt up to a rock show following the news. We are tentatively planning to continue with tomorrow's show @ Kingsland Tavern as a benefit to cover DMBQ's travel and medical expenses. If the bands and I decide we can't go through with the show, I'll send out a cancellation. Thank you for you support and your understanding. Todd ===================== I only got to see DMBQ once, last April at 12 Galaxies. It was one of the most energetic shows I ever saw. I couldn't take my eyes off China, which is something when you consider that: a) She was tiny, so much so that I had to stand on a table at 12G just to see her, and b) guitarist Shinji Masuko was literally running around the upper inside rim of the 12G balcony at the time. In fact I was so trained on the diminutive yet fiery, Keith Moon-like drummer that Masuko ran right into me on his climb to the balcony, knocking me over. I hope DMBQ will continue, though replacing China will be a very tough call.

posted by Gary at 11/05/2005 01:42:00 PM

11/04/2005

posted by Kevin at 11/04/2005 02:04:00 PM

11/03/2005

R.I.P.: A great American musician with perhaps the best name ever to grace a popular musical artist:


the great 'Skitch' Henderson. I met him once. I was working at Bell Sound in NYC, recording the foot taps for one of the Breoadway Show re-creations in the 1975 Macy's Thanksgiving's Day Parade. (You ever try tap dancing on asphalt?) He was a real gentleman. Serously, can you beat a name like "Skitch?"

posted by Gary at 11/03/2005 08:37:00 PM

A few new albums that have been really making me happy as of late, partly for the ways they use keyboards in rock arrangements: - 31Knots, Talk Like Blood (Polyvinyl Records) Songs on Myspace : my favorite, "Welcome to Stop." Great stop/start dynamics and drama, rhythms & reverbs that work like paranoid dub - Facing New York, s/t (Five One Inc. / Platform Group) Songs on Myspace : my favorite, "Paper Shepherd." Best use of Rhodes on anything this year, and I'm a sucker for a good Rhodes... fantastic Copelandesque drumming too - Minus the Bear, Menos el Oso (Suicide Squeeze) Songs on Myspace : my favorite, "Hooray." More deadpan and less dynamic, but I like the chilled, woven sheets of mathy guitar arpeggios. Those guitar tones are really clean but 3D. Here's their video for "The Game Needed Me." (Facing New York, who are from Berkeley, i think)

posted by Kevin at 11/03/2005 12:52:00 PM

11/01/2005

so Curran, right... one half of the Giddens twins, of Cincinnati OH... former guitarist of the short-lived Big Slick, that live-band collaboration with DJ Aaron Pope... check out some of the 3D animation he's been doing. sheeee-it. ...and an update from Curran. this past Sunday, our classmate (fellow Indian Hill Class of '93) Greg Gall was arrested for running onto the field, grabbing the football from Brett Favre, and heading for the end zone. the CBS affiliate's news report (the top one of the three videos) is the clearest telling of the story. Curran, Mike, Greg, and I all played on the same basketball team in fifth grade.

posted by Kevin at 11/01/2005 10:57:00 PM