Satan's Luau

The title comes from perhaps one of the lamest stage names in entertainment ... and for some of us, we know it as a response to a dorky BBS poster who thought that the original stage name we just talked about was very cool

I don't know why it bothers me so much ... but here is my rant of the day. As you may or may not know, things like broadcast media belong to the public ... or in wing commander: all your air are belong to us

So when I see that "Think About It" segment on TWO local channels ... or when Joe "Sayno" goes off on a tirade at the end of the news, I just want to throw a brick through the tv. And why? because the public is not served by their remarks. Yes, I am fully aware that a certain station has been bought and people will be laid off ... and yes I know that there a ton of controversial issues surrounding our life here.

I don't need some jackass to take up airtime to spout off their opinions about station takeovers, the "quality" of NBC vs. FOX television programming, the whole UH changing its nickname, logo, err umm "unofficial fight song". And, I really don't need someone editorializing at me just because they are the station GM either.

It's abuse, pure and simple ... and I think some people are acting a bit too big for their britches. And why is that? Simply because they have an inflated, misplaced sense of importance. Those spoutings are not important to me, and don't serve the public's interest ... they are not news, they are not a public service announcement, it's an abuse of their license to use the public's air ... and more importantly, the public's time.

On a side note, I was pretty horrified at some people's reaction to Orpah's (and yes, that is an intentional spelling ... that's how the name was supposed to be spelled, Ruth's friend) lashing of that guy whose book is more fanciful than memoir. A word to Orpah and her nation of dumdums who need to be told what to read and think ... and weirdly feel this need to clap each time the big (or is it small, this time) O makes a point ... shudder

DO YOUR HOMEWORK (DON'T BE AFRAID TO THINK AND QUESTION) ... if someone was as sinister a shyster as the story told of, don't you think ... maybe, just maybe that person can't be trusted to tell the truth

In the word's of the Ice-T classic rhyme: You played yourself.

Posted by at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Before I forget, for all you iTs MBE pod subscribers, there is a great session from buzzworthy Irish band, Guggenheim Grotto. Not knowing anything about them prior to listening, I must say it was a nice listen, very accessible. Also, a MBE session from UK breakthrough band, Arctic Monkeys, my first time to get a full taste of the AMs (not bad, at some points a little to hectic for my tastes, but some of their breaks and bridges are excellent).

I don't think I wrote about it but the WOXY Lounge pod featuring The Teenage Prayers ... that was good, too ... their cd is only available on cdBaby, btw. The other WOXY Lounge pod that I thought was really awesome was the one by Benzos.

Hmmm, what else? Now, I have thought that KidzBop was super lame ... and basically unworthy of comment. However, I cannot believe that Devo have sold their look and songs to Disney so that Diz can make a kids band called Devo2.0. All I can say is .... wow, undamnbelievable.

On a side note, there is something that seems really straightforward about these obscure outtakes from mainline, biggie artists. I have been listening to an outtake from U2's recent effort, and although it is decent, okay, fairly good ... I can see why it wasn't included on the album. Basically, it doesn't take off, it feels unfinished, unpolished ... a good idea, but not executed well --- yeah, you can be joebiggestfanever to have it, but don't tell me it's like the greatest thing since cut noodles. There is a reason why it is an outtake.

I borrowed a copy of Along Came Polly from SD a couple or so days ago. It really made me wonder whether Mr. Stiller will be typecast as his role in TSAM for the rest of his acting career, or whether it was just a somewhat mediocre comedy ... for that matter, has Ms. Aniston ever been in a good movie yet? I'm thinking No, and I actually liked Office Space a lot.

Oh and this week, the new solo album from Jenny of Rilo Kiley is out, and we will be doing our review ... at some point after we stop listening to it. iTs peeps, check out the Travelin Wilburys cover, Handle with Care by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins ... fun stuff, and handled in a TW manner with vocal help from Ben of DC4C, M. Ward, and Conor of BEyes

Posted by at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Like killing the younglings at the Jedi Temple

Mamba

81

YAWWWWWNNNNNN ... the Laker boycott continues

(Oh, it gets better all the time, I forgot to mention it was in his 666th career game ... Coincidence? The gods must be crazy)

Posted by at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Image courtesy: AP)

Posted by at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have a feeling that someday we will all just die of flu, slowly. This year's flu is still not washed out of me, and this is now day 9 of slowly weakening symptoms.

I suppose I should talk about the two rumors that never end ... exhibit A, the elusive second U2 show ... exhibit B, the supposed Stones show mid to late April. Now as an aside, coupled with the two Elvis Costello w/ symphony shows at the end of March, with its high ticket prices ... it would be a near financial disaster to see all three for most people here, given the going rate of tickets

So anyways, here goes ... so in my renewed fascination for U2, I have been hanging around their BBS. Needless to say, the err umm "world" is shocked that the one stadium show has not sold out here yet. When you consider the err umm "world" is about 50 hardcore U2 fans, well the world is a planet of hardcore and should be viewed skeptically as such.

I have found fascinating the speculation of the second show and the announcement of the first show as "NEWS". It's almost as if local newscasts do not have enough "news" to report in their 22 minutes, that they spend a segment on U2 tickets on sale ... and then that interminable babble between newcasters about how they got tickets, want tickets, didn't get tickets ... the point is, who cares? give me my same everyday weather forecast already, I could give a shirt about how you set up two computers, your cell, and your landline ... or went to Times early in the morning

The other rumor that will not die is that the Stones will play here in the waning days of the Bigger Bang (than the last big bang than our last tour ... whatever whatever, give us your money) Tour. Initially speculation circled around a summer date ... oh and then that pesky European leg happened, shattering that dream. Lately, it has been as is always the case after a mega act does a Japan or Down Under, the flyback rest stop to do a show or few.

So the date bandied about is April 22, and the venue ... of course the Homage to Rust. But, now to stir the pot a bit, there is a new rumor that the Glimmer Twins and band will do an "Eagles" and play a handful of shows at the arena ... and wait for it ... yeah at those lovely extortionate prices, since our arena is comparatively tiny. I have said on a number of occasions that this is one of the few bands that I would see anytime and anywhere ... but you know, three shows at high prices in less than a month ... hooboy, not good

Speaking of odd pricing, I saw today that they had laid out the price plans for the Diamond Head crater show, featuring the most relevant of the relevant, Steve M Band and War. Okay, so the plan is to sell 7.5K seats ... so guess what the pricing is? Good Lord, you should fail for other reasons than stupid approaches ... yeah, I so want to go to a show in the crater that I will not really care a bit about who I'm seeing

So in the final analysis, there is drought ... and there is plenty. And sometimes when you wish too hard for plenty, it all crashes into itself, hurting all shows involved ... and making it appear like this place is not a concert viable destination. I give up.

But before I say Uncle ... I have been listening pretty regularly to DLR's radio show ... and surprise of surprises, it is pretty good ... mostly coherent, which is a good thing, trust me ... and funny, even if it sometimes is shticky Diamond D. One of the things I found interesting is that Dave is really still obsessed about VH, so here are some tidbits that I gleaned

1. Dave fully expects a reunion ... still.

2. Dave has unreleased VH tracks from the "Van Failen" reunion that he wants to play on the air, that he says are mindblowingly good ... never one not to be the King of Hype

3. Dave totally dogs Sam

4. Dave fully believes that "not having" anything in his life will re-focus Ed

4 supplemental. Dave has heard that Ed wants to do some kind of reality TV thing ... and this may include participating in the second season of MSN's Rockstar program ... yeah the one where INXS picked a jackass to replace their dead lead singer

That being said, good show so far

Posted by at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I had heard of this concept in a different context ... but I think that it seemed interesting to me to talk about the differences between fanatics, followers, and fair weathers

After re-immersing myself in the world of music fandom recently, it had occurred to me that I had missed the point about certain aspects of being a fan .... of anything --- whether it be a sports team, rock band, comic book, movie, etc.

There are only a handful of the truly hardcore in the world of fans of anything ... these fans will quite literally schedule their life around something if it involves their passion, and that in and of itself is only moderately fanatical. Some may think having every commercial release, single, b-side, rare mp3, live cut, poster, concert shirt, etc. constitutes fanaticism ... however, I was made to think that there are other aspects of true fan-aticism that make me think that with respect to my many interests, there are very few that I am truly fanatical about.

Let's talk about the most expensive thing first, I suppose ... would you travel to see the thing you are passionate about? I mean, would you go and air travel to see the digital cut of SW because your town has no digital theatres? Would you travel INCLUDING foreign countries to see your favorite band play live ... MULTIPLE times on the SAME tour? Would you travel to remote signings in NYC or some other big city to get your book signed?

I have travelled to other cities to see concerts, but I would not travel to multiple cities on the same tour ... some say it's a matter of expense ... I say HA, to expense. That's what credit cards are for ... at least that is what I have been told repeatedly lately by the hardest of hardcore fans of a particular supergroup

Some things like sports require the moon and stars to lineup in proper configuration before you can see something special ... like your favorite team in their league championship, which for something like the SupBowl can cost several thousands of dollars in travel and expenses. For example, this year one of my favorite teams could make it to Detroit ... and I won't go largely because of the location --- so even if it may be a once in a lifetime thing, I must say that I will pass

But what I have learned is that the true fanatic will go, make it happen, no matter the expense. Perhaps what I am saying is that I lack that kind of eternal passion about common things that people get really fanatical about ... I guess in many ways that just makes me a follower of a band, a team, a movie... and not the hardcore ultimate fanatic.

Perhaps that means I don't have stalker tendencies or other obsessive tendencies ... I thought however that it might be cool (on paper) to find something to be truly a zealot fanatic about. Have you noticed all the Jordans, Peytons, Dylans, etc. in this world? That's something a fanatic would do ... tattooing yourself with an insignia, logo, some album art, that's pretty tame in comparison. Having your funeral be themed after your favorite sports team ... I even saw things like a casket for the painted face Simmons, Stanley and Two Dudes. Would a wedding look good with black and gold themed everything ... I think not, that's what makes me less than a fanatic

It doesn't mean that I don't cram several metric tons of comparatively useless information into my head about the interests that I follow ... or spend inordinate amounts of time consuming things I am interested in.

I guess at the end of the day, I remain stuck on the proposition I had realized only recently ... does your fanatical interest love you back? I mean, if I shook the hand of members of my favorite band and took some p/roids with them, is that getting something back ... or getting your favorite player to sign something, is that love returned?

Ehh, not to be a partypoop but I think that many of these things do not love you back ... one's fanaticism and interest are in many ways one-sided. You like something because it means something to you in the context of your life experience at that time ... it's related to something that you enjoy, something that is meaningful ... but it doesn't mean that your life has captured the essence of the thing you are interested in

The thing that you are interested in ADDS color, flavor, texture, meaning, whatever to your life ... and a great deal of enjoyment as well, let's not discount that. But I will never become my interest ... my interest will never play more than a curiously entertaining blip on the landscape of my life.

I guess what I am saying is that my life is enriched by my interests, but I will never be anything towards my interest besides a consumer ... I will never have a personal and direct interest in the things I follow with a goodly amount of passion, and that is okay for me. I'm okay with not being so hardcore about several distinct interests in my life.

Posted by at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A somewhat enigmatic title, I know ... but like, there are some points in your life where you say, I know how this will shake out, so I don't need to pay some expert to tell me something ... well something they have told me a number of times before

So, as the new year's variety of flu strikes me ... I don't need to be put on hold at the doctor, to talk to a nurse, who will ask me questions, tell me to rest and drink plenty o'fluids, take some suda and tyle, and then be told okay, if you get worse, call us

Why would I? Same stuff, different year ... someone wake me when we discover the cure for the common cold

Posted by at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

First, we have the show that no one knows about other than Steve M. Band will play ... that is the renewal of the D-Head Crater festival on ... perhaps the most ironic of days, April Fools. With so little info at this point, you have to wonder if this show will go off or not

One week later, those four guys that still haven't found what they're looking for will play here at the Homage to Rust ... and it seems like everyone and their brother abroad knows more about this than local people here. I fear one thing, and that is that local people AGAIN will get the short end of the stick and ultimately a great number will be shut out from the show ... not because of high prices but because of so many dikfors messing with the ticket pool and placing even fan club presale tix on eBay already, and so many people from here and yon need to GREEDILY see the band, 30 times on this tour

So here is the somewhat ironic, mostly non-brilliant issue that I had ... for example, there are a few bands that I truly love, and would gladly see them at any time ... RS, Met, VH, etc. etc.

That being said, for all the love I have for them, have they ever loved me back? This is why I am beginning to think that people who basically obsess about being the #1 fan of a pro team, performing artist, etc. I mean, get some balance in your life, sheesh

Admittedly, I have gone to other cities to see shows, but only when I know there is absolutely NO CHANCE it will play here ... and note, here is not necessarily some chopped liver little town in the middle of nowhere either where you get zero nada shows anyway. But then again, seeing these guys is very tricky, I recall being one of the lucky ones to get LA tix in 92, that sold out in SIX minutes ... a reported 2-3 million people tried calling, yeesh

Ultimately I couldn't go, so I hope that this time ... which may be my last chance to see them without having to globetrot, will go well.

Posted by at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You know, I was in for an eye opening experience today as I was checking out some preliminary info on that band led by Paul Hewson at the Homage to Rust.

Well, can't say that it's about ticket prices ... I mean, expensive tickets to see top acts are not really that surprising to me

What was surprising was ETS, which also does these personalized once in a lifetime type trips to see the mega-acts like the Stones, and of course, that second band from Dublin after Thin Lizzy

Well, for two people, NO FLIGHT, four days in the Waiks, a "loo-ow" on Friday with the trib band the UnforgFire, a ride in a van to the show and back, and 2 seats in premium reserved ... came out to a lovely suggested price of $2118.00

It almost makes me stunned that our #1 industry is tourism because that is like full-on unconscionable pricing ... and I don't think that's really out of line for a "Owhyhee-ian" vacation.

DAMN! What would happen without tourism here ... I shudder to think

Posted by at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I suppose I should say something about Bill O. on Letterman a couple of nights ago ... well, I was going to and then I couldn't find a suitable link that wasn't some pinhead spouting off garbage either way about who was right and who was wrong

Well I found a link and you can judge for yourself rather than have someone distort you into compliance. Yes, using your mind is good

Posted by at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Happy New Year

And to all the Dog year people, this is our year

I've decided after basically a 20 year boycott of the band, that I am back in the fold as a ... dareIsayit, a U2 fan

It sounds almost silly and ridiculous ... I know how the people who jump off bands after they "sell out" feel. MTV really introduced me to U2, and I was a pretty big fan of theirs all the way through Unforgettable Fire. Although many consider Joshua Tree to be the masterpiece, quite frankly I didn't ... I began to waver in my enjoyment of the band, and as years went on, all the experimentation and political stances really drove me far far away as a fan

Sure I would dabble with a few songs, but I felt that the best days were long behind, the energy, the soul ... a funny thing happened over the past two days ... ironically, upon hearing "Bad" while watching Alias. Much like the Grinch's heart grew three sizes larger, suddenly my boycott of the band began to thaw ... and actually I found that Dismantle (which I had been dabbling on the edges of for a year), to be almost a return to form for all us irrelevant nostie old peeps

I will still always cling to everything pre-JTree as very precious and enjoyable music, much like I cling to pre-Black album Met or pre-Sam Halen ... or even Perry era Jrny for that matter. I would love to see an old school tunes U2 show, but I guess that's what Under a Blood Red Sky is for

For the first time since hooo ... maybe the late 80s I actually wanted to see the band play live. In fact, I hope they can iron it out for shows here, because I think I would actually go ... even if it is at the Homage to Rust -- with Elvis Costello playing here the week prior, it would really be a great beginning concert-wise to the YOTD

Posted by at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)