iPod Discovery

I Am Funky

It's only appropriate that the iPod decided to serve up Lou Donaldson's Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On) this afternoon as I was lounging on Thrillits' couch because last night I came as close to funky as I think I've been in a while.

Thrillits and his buddies have put together a pretty sweet little recording studio in what was once the garage and have stocked it well.  There's a piano, drum set, bass, banjo, and several guitars plus a mixing board and computer set up for recording and editing sessions.  Needless-to-say, with them all being bachelors these days, a lot of time is spent playing around in the studio.

Last night after I got to town we met up with some friends and headed out for a nice, leisurely dinner.  By the time we were finished it was 1:30 am and time to begin heading home - not to sleep but to lay down some drunken jams in the studio.

I've fooled with guitar for a while but never took the time to become really any good like Thrillits and his boys.  So what usually happens during these jam sessions is that I get bored/frustrated after a while and give up.  Last night was no exception.  However, something came over me and I jumped behind the drum set for a laugh.  After getting my bearings I actually realized that I wasn't too bad, perhaps decent even, given that I've sat behind a drum once before about 20 years ago.

After about an hour and a half we were fully rocking and I was moving my groove into high gear, ending the last song with a perfectly timed finish.  Luckily we recorded the entire thing - look for it coming to a store near you soon: Blog Boy and the LA Bachelors sounds about right.

Better to Burn Out

Ah, serendipity.  What a wonder.

So I'm sitting here reconfirming my flight to the city that God puked Lalaland so I can kick it with Thrillits SoCal style this weekend and what should the iPod decide to play for me?  Why nothing less than a live Phish cover of The Grateful Dead's West LA Fadeaway with none other than Mr. Bobby Weir sitting in.  Sometimes the iPod scares me.  Seriously.

Regarding the concert, I was at that show with my wife - it was her first (and last) Phish concert experience.  And as anyone who has been to at least one Phish show can tell you, it was always an experience, or at the very least, a scene - never just another evening out.  Even after 40+ shows, I'm excited about each one I remember attended.

Thai Massage

I'm not going to get into how I feel about Beyonce.  I'm not going to tell you how overrated she is.  I'm not going to say how overexposed she is.  And I'm not going to say what a joke it is that she gets the "diva" label.  By God, there was a time when "diva" meant something beyond being a mediocre pop singer with an attitude and having your picture in US every week!  One used to have to posses talent to be a diva, e.g. Adelina Patti, Diana Ross, etc.  What a joke.

But I digress.  Today the gods of shuffle decided to throw me a curveball with Crazy in Love - obviously one of my wife's songs that I happened to rip onto my laptop when digitizing our CD collection.

After an especially long day at the office I was pleased by the memories that Beyonce's worthless pop song revived of my honeymoon/30th birthday celebration in Thailand.

How's that, you ask?  Well, as it happens, Beyonce and I share a similar fondness for The Oriental Hotel in Bangkok.  And more specifically, Ms. Knowles and I have treated ourselves to the The Oriental Spa.  How do I know?  My masseuse told me so.  In addition to Ms. Knowles, the masseuse has also treated Demi Moore, David Beckham, and the Sultan of Brunei with her magical hands.  No, perverts, no "happy endings" involved, just two hours of complete relaxation.

The next time you find yourself in Bangkok, seek out The Oriental Spa and treat yourself like a movie star, a soccer hero, a rich man, a no-talent pop singer, or a loser blogger.  Trust me.

My Philly.com Twin

My friend Renee forwarded me this article from Philly.com (reg. req.).  Even though I don't own an iPod Shuffle - and have no plans to pick one up - Daniel Rubin and I are on the same track.  Or, should I say, train.

So this is random.

I'm walking the dog for her morning constitutional, with the new Apple iPod Shuffle hanging from my neck like a sleek, white IV line.

The Shuffle has had its pick from the 3,932 songs stored on my computer, and what does it come up with first?  Radiohead's "Bones." Good iPod.

Classical Twist

If you're like me intelligent, cultured, devastatingly handsome you have the capacity to enjoy classical music and may even be able to recognize a few of the usual suspects - Beethoven's 9th/Ode to Joy, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, etc.  Chances are that you don't really have a lot of classical in your collection.  Well, I've got something for you to add to that collection that will impress your grandparents as equally as your girlfriend (or boyfriend).

Of course I'm talking about True Love Waits, a fantastic album of "classical covers" of Radiohead songs by virtuoso pianist Christopher O'Riley.  That Mr. O'Riley chose Radiohead as a subject says as much about the depth and complexity of their music as it does his talent.  Perhaps he'll take a stab at Dark Side of the Moon to give us a compliment to Dub Side of the Moon, another album you should check out if you haven't already.

Take a Number

It's been a busy 24 hours here at the Smith household - my wife and I have been getting the place ready for a dinner party tonight.

I know, so disgustingly domestic for a couple who used to regularly party until sunrise on the weekends.  But close friends are coming to see our new place for the first time and there's plenty of wine so the situation could be much worse.

I rode the random train whilst doing my chores and running errands and the shuffle gods decided to give me a bunch of Zero 7 selections - pleasant enough as I recently discovered the group after tracking down a closing song to a Sex in the City episode.  (Save the wisecracks - there was enough nudity on that show to justify any red-blooded male paying rapt weekly attention and you know it.  If you didn't, your loss.)

Anywho, I'm in the queue at the bank and what comes on the loudspeakers but Zero 7's In the Waiting Line.  I had to laugh to myself at how appropriate the song was at that exact moment in time.  Life really is better with a soundtrack.  To boot, I'd heard the track earlier in the day.  The shuffle gods must have wanted me to post about the tune for some reason.

Tomorrow's a big football day so I don't know if I'll get a chance to post.  My squad, the Philadelphia Eagles, are poised to finally take the conference title by kicking the shit out of Atlanta in Philly's version of the frozen tundra.  Anyone want the Falcons and five points?  I'm looking for some action.

A Smokin' Doobies Day

Settle down, you potheads.   I said "a smokin' Doobies day" not "a doobie smokin' day".  Damn.

(Ah, well. Here's a bone, so to speak, for those of you so inclined.  Scroll down as soon you get to page.  Note: I will refer any and all questions about my knowledge of this particular site to my attorney.) 

What I'm referring to here is my day of Doobie Brothers madness.  First, on my way to work I'm treated to Black Water, a song I haven't heard in ages.  Later, as I'm standing in line (iPodless) for a sandwich at the local shop, what should come over the speakers but Takin' It to the Streets.  Today's post was a no-brainer.

My most vivid Doobies memory has got to be their guest appearance on What's Happening.  C'mon, you remember.

The Doobie Brothers are set to put on a concert at the guys' high school and they leave Rerun to get the tickets.  However, by the time Rerun gets to the ticket booth, they're sold out.  Later, two shady characters offer Rerun free tickets if he just tape records the concert.  It is only later that Rerun learns that they are bootleggers and they threaten Rerun, Raj and Dwayne if they don't comply.

Then, in part deux...

The bootleggers force the guys into tape recording the concert but while everyone is jumping around, the tape recorder falls out from under Rerun's coat and right in full view of the Doobie Brothers.  After some explanations, the guys and the Doobie Brothers set up a trap to catch the bootleggers.

Quality television, oh where, oh where have you gone?

Talkin' MLK

Public Enemy scared me when I first heard them back in the late '80s.  At the time I identified as being a young Republican and I guess the hard-hitting nature of Chuck D.'s lyrics made me uncomfortable.  Unfortunately it's not an unheard of reaction - fearing that which one doesn't understand.  Luckily, with the benefit of new experiences and a wife who has taught in an inner city school here in San Francisco, I can safely say that those days are behind me.

Every Martin Luther King Day I queue up By the Time I Get to Arizona.  The song articulates the anger felt by many people after then-governor Evan Mecham repealed the holiday in Arizona in '87.  Even though the holiday was reinstated a few years later, the song remains relevant as a reminder that there's still much work to be done in this country regarding civil rights.

One more thought on MLK Day: If it's a federal holiday then why did so many people I know have to work today?  I'm aware of those "floating" holidays that some companies make available but I'm surprised that more fuss hasn't been made about fully recognizing MLK Day as being on par with other holidays.  After all, no one works on Thanksgiving.  Is there a tacit suggestion that the struggle for civil rights is less important to acknowledge and remember than the celebration of a bunch of English settlers and their successful establishment (invasion?) in a new world?

Croc Rock

So I headed out to the Croc Cafe last night for something called "the Iron Composer Series."  I soon discovered that this is the Seattle rock scene's version of the Food Network's Iron Chef TV show.  From the best I could follow it goes something like this: take two local rockers, in this case the previously-mentioned Chris Ballew of PUSA fame and Rachel Flotard from Visqueen (more on Rachel later), dress them in chefs outfits (complete with requisite headgear), ply them with shots, have selected audience members relate humorous anecdotes, add more shots, mix in tap-dancers, a house band, "Chairman Min", and assorted scenesters.  Then have the rockers bake impromptu songs that include the audience's stories.  Toss in a few more shots for good measure and let the whole thing loose.  What you get is a totally wacky, totally Seattle hootenanny.  I only wish I had my camera with me - it was quite a scene.

About Rachel, she rocks.  She won the "competition" and I had the pleasure of meeting her afterwards.  Of course the shots by then had begun to take their toll on poor, little Rachel but she was super cool and even offered to put me on the list for Visqueen's show down in LA since our visits overlap.  (My first blog-related tix hook up?  Hey now!)  If their music is as good as Rachel seems talented, I'm sitting pretty.

For those whose interest has been piqued, Visqueen is heading on tour next week - you should check them out.  Tell 'em the dork with the blog sent you.

On the Road Again

No, not the Willie Nelson song.  I'm traveling on business and didn't have a chance to ride the random train today.  However, I'm making up for it by heading to a show at Seattle's famous Crocodile Cafe tonight - something to do with "the Iron Composer Series", whatever that is.  How Singles of me, I know.

Actually, Chris Ballew, the lead singer of The Presidents of the United States, appears to be involved in some way so this could be cool - I've always dug that Peaches tune (coincidentally the only PUSA song I know).  Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes.