Check out Bush song

First off, The Paybacks rocked out Gabe's last night. If they are in your area, don't miss them. That's all that I have the strength to say (after getting home at 2:00AM), but they were really good. Now for the funny Bush song

Garage Rock history

Yo all, I've been a little annoyed by Little Steven, but has a really cool website. Go there and check it out, and in particular, go to Little Steven's Underground Garage, but be sure you have a fast connection.

Clean Joke!

Okay, it's cheesey, but clean jokes that I like are so rare:



Q - Why did the cowboy buy a Dachshund?



A - Someone told him "to get a long little doggie."

Hey, I fixed the link to

the Lean Mean Cocktail Shaking Machine that I posted back on July 15th. Go there and see cruel humor at its finest...

I'm here to give G. Bush shit...because

he is a smirky dumbass...go to this site and enjoy... my brother sent this one to me and he recommend the Endless Love video...I liked that one and many others, including the Daily Show video of Governor (running for Prez) Bush debating Prez Bush (I normally hate shortcuts like "Prez," but I look for any way to not call this chump our Prrrrreeessss.... can't do it).

Okay, Ted Leo really rocked out Gabe's last night (see an earlier post for Ted Leo links). The doors opened at 6PM because it was an all ages show (Iowa City has a stupid ordinance that forces out the kiddies at 10PM), so it was sort of surreal entering the upstairs cavern of musk that is Gabe's. Hey Gabe's guys, if you read this, clean that fuckin' place up! I know there is some appeal in having a gritty club for rock music, but that place has gotten scary. Anyway, as everyone stumbled in from the bright, beautiful day, it was hard to see and hard to get the preshow energy going. A local band Codebreaker opened. They were unabashed a throw back to early 80's synthpop (think Vince Clark or OMD). Their first tune strongly echoed Joy Division, but then they went to the dance beat for the rest of the show. The singer actually hopped down from the stage and boogied on many songs. Part of me wanted to laugh at them, but they were actually pretty entertaining and had a decent sound. The next band was Chicago's Just a Fire. I had heard their CD (yeah, Matt actually bought this hunk 'o dung...sucker!) and didn’t think too much of it (neither did this dude). They seem to be from the Minute Men/Firehose school, but not anywhere near either in talent. The live version was even worse. My god did they suck. They were extremely loud too. Nothing sucks worse than this combination. The singer basically yelled the vocals in one note (a G flat and a half, I think). I'm generally not this harsh on anybody putting out a good effort, but the show was painful. They actually played a really short show, but it was like an eternity. I would rather have spent that half hour hitting my toe with a hammer. Sorry to nitpick. When Ted Leo came out, things got much better, as he started with his sort of hit "Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone," and it only got better. He played a couple of tunes solo on guitar, Billy Bragg style, and I think I liked that even more than him with the very able backing band (the Pharmacists). If you have a chance to go see Ted Leo, don’t miss it.

While your playing...

Go help this drunken German walk a few metres... I've surpassed the 40 metre mark...all that practice has paid off...

go see...

Do go to this wacky site and check out the Lean Mean Cocktail Shaking Machine. Yes it is cruel, but funny trumps cruel every time. UPDATE, I fixed the above link...so go see it...

Bill O'Reilly is a complete DICK

Yo, go read about O'Reilly, and especially the interview that this complete, idiot fuckstick had with the son of a victim of 911. That this guy supposedly speaks to the masses explains why I'm continually amazed at the stupidity of the masses... While in a heated debate, I can readily get to the point where I'm where I'm telling the other person to shut up, at least I'm usually drunk at that point, and at least I'm not portending to speak for anyone but my stupidass self... what a complete and utter dick!

performance review day

I get to sit down with my boss and chat about my performance review in a few minutes, so I don't have much time. If you want to see the movie Alien done in 30 seconds, and by an all rabbit cast, hit here. Also, if you think the democrats are the one's that will take your going to away your guns, think again. I'm psyched about going to see Ted Leo on Thursday and will let you know how that went. Download a tune of his here. I'm just getting to know his stuff, but it's growing on me quickly. Saw a real good, but bummer of a movie last night on DVD called The Magdalene Sisters. Not exactly a feel good film...but a powerful piece of work, and the DVD has the original documentary upon which it is based. Otherwise, I'm somewhat enjoying the new season of 6 Ft. Under, but have not been blown away. I'm rarely one to tire of sex scenes and nudity, but I'm getting very bored with Brenda and her bedroom maladies. And as liberal as I portend to be, watching David and Keith snuggle and smooch on the couch is starting to test the tensile strength of the hair on the back of my neck... I'm more excited about the next season of Deadwood, which many of my friends wrote off after a few episodes, but it really picked up. I highly recommend catching the next marathon they have (usually right before the next season). Bad man Swearengen, played brilliantly by Ian McShane, is now my favorite HBO series character (yes, above even Tony Soprano). Gotta go get evaluated...

promised reviews for early July:

Howdy all (or any)…



Pedro the Lion with John Vanderslice at Gabe’s Oasis in Iowa City on July 2, 2004:



Only caught the last 2 songs of Vanderslice, which sucks (Matt, Gary: we must seek help for our gambling problems), but he seemed like he would be a good guy to see headline some time. I really like his latest album, Cellar Door. I didn’t realize Pedro had such a following. There were throngs of young, delirious fans mouthing every word of every song. I thought that many might be trippin’, but then I remembered the Christian bent to Pedro’s music and guessed that they were probably infested with the spirit. I dug the show, particularly when Vanderslice came out and provided some much need harmonies, but was pissed that they had Vanderslice’s sound so muted compared to Pedro’s. Gabe’s only kicks on the subs and the serious power amps for the headliner, which sucks. I hope they bring in Vanderslice as a headliner some day. I like Cellar Door much better than Pedro's Achilles Heel.



John Kerry in Cedar Rapids on July 4, 2004:



Went to a rally in Cedar Rapids because a friend at work gave me “preferred seating” tickets. Since he will likely be the next president, I thought we should go. Plus, I thought there was an outside chance that he would announce Vilsack as his running mate (glad he didn’t, politically speaking). Unfortunately, the preferred seating was no seating (but was up close and personal), and during the hours of waiting, it rained. Still, we persevered, as my huevos were still dry, but by the time Kerry came out, big freakin’, cold-ass raindrops started pelting us in high numbers. This sucked way to much to hang around and listen to rhetoric like “this rain may not go away, but Bush will go away in November!” While I agree with the sentiment, this was drenching shit. So, we skipped the fireworks and went home.



Fahrenheit 911 at the Campus III in Iowa City, IA on July 5, 2004:



First off, I hate the Campus III theaters. They come from that era in theaters that fell after the era of grand palace theaters but before they started making smaller theaters with bigger screens, stadium seating, and great sound. So they suck. The location is great, so they should rebuild. I haven’t caught Kill Bill 2 because it would be better on DVD than at the Campus III. Anyway, I was shocked to find a line when I arrived, and it almost sold out. I’m not an unbiased reviewer, as I think that Bush and Cheney and the rest of the administration are the most evil group to run our country, certainly in my life time, and maybe ever. The movie seemed right on to me, and most of the attacks on it seem to be about minor points in the movie (go here to learn more about those) rather than about its larger messages. Go see this movie. Not only is it important, but it is was more entertaining than most of the crapola in theaters.



Ho hum...

Wow, a good 3 day weekend comes to an end, and that part sucks. I will have reviews of all of the Ho Hum things I did soon. For now, check out a little tune I recorded for Matt and Gary, who hate The Eagles. Okay, that wasn't me, but was the newest humiliation phenom named William Hung (which are words my Dad always wanted to say...but take it from me, it can't be true). In case anyone had any doubts, it is shit like this that spells the end for us ALL!! Listen to Rocket Man, and notice that they have taken this tone deaf sorry bastard's bad singing and digitally chord shifted him until it doesn't sound fucked up...which makes it more fucked up. Yeash! Anything for a fucking buck anymore...man am I getting crotchety...and that don't mean I smell!

Help me eradicate the menace of DHMO now!

I have a M.S. in chemistry and feel it is my duty to enlist everyone's help in eradicating the menace of dihydrodogen monoxide. Let me know what you think! Watch out...



Now that I've done my public service, let me tell you about my weekend. Tonight I will see Pedro the Lion and John Vanderslice at Gabe's Oasis, which should be good. I'll also catch the Salsa Band down on the ped mall (part of the Iowa City Jazz Festival). (Now that I know how to put in links, I just can't stop...) When the Salsa Band plays, lots of hot looking chicks get out dancing, and salsa dancing at that. Since it is an art and multiculturial, I can gawk at them and not look too creepy...even with my wife nearby. Speaking of hotties...have you seen the new tennis phenom Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon? Like Kournikova, she is hot, but unlike Kournikova, she can really play. On Saturday, I will watch Sharapova and Serena Williams battle it out for Wimbledon title. Yes, I'm one of 3 or 4 Americans that actually watches tennis. And, I'm voting against both of the Americans in the final (go Federer and Sharapova!). On Sunday, I'm going to a July 4th gig featuring John Kerry,(see, I can't stop making links, but do go donate at this site to help make sure the Monkey Boy does not get 4 more years) in Cedar Rapids. So goes Ho Hum...

Will this day end?

Of course it will... It will go by really fast once I'm off work. This is my first blog entry, so now I'm as big of a dork as Matt or perhaps bigger... I will doubtlessly have deep, insightful things to say in the future, but this is it for now... If I bored you, do go to this site and try everything: unlike Ho Hum, this is fun I will hopefully go see Pedro the Lion and John Vanderslice at Gabe's tomorrow and so I will let you know how that goes...