Sunday night at the House of Blues - Dallas featured a great show of two bands that influenced many bands with their sounds in the 1980s and have continued with solid musical efforts since.
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets opened the night with a too short 40 minute set. Most people seem to know the band from the Nirvana Unplugged show from the early 90s where Nirvana covered two classic Meat Puppets tracks. They played both of those on Sunday (Lake of Fire and Plateau). Surprisingly I did not recognize any of songs off their new CD, Rise to Your Knees, which I do recommend. They did throw out an excellent, extended version of Up on the Sun which made the show worth it alone. The band was more fun, looser, and more comfortable from when I saw them at this year's SXSW shows. They did only reunite this year, but they are sounding very good now. They play again at the House of Blues in November, and I hope to see them there again. Meat Puppets CDs that I recommend are Up on the Sun and Meat Puppets II.
Sonic Youth
Here is an indie band that stands as a large influence on many bands. This year they've done a tour to celebrate their classic 1988 release, Daydream Nation. Sonic Youth started with a furious blast of guitar from Thurston Moore and the post punk vocals of Kim Gordon. Throughout the entire set, the crowd had arms lifted and hands were banging. They played a good portion of Daydream Nation, but also included some other choice cuts from their 20+ year catalogue during the hour and a half set (with 2 encores). Two of my favorites of the night were Incinerate and 100%. Those looking for Sonic Youth releases, I'd recommend Daydream Nation and Dirty.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
A Long Way Gone
The autobiography A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider by Ishmael Beah is a fascinating, sad, and disturbing read. The book recounts Beah's adolescent years as a boy soldier fighting in the Sierra Leone civil war of the 1990s.
Beah begins by recounting days of youth enjoying his childhood and playing with friends. It all turns horribly wrong as soliders begin invading the towns, and he and his friends must run for thier lives. Beah went from town to town until he was finally taken by the army and forced into being a solider at the age of 13. Using a mix of drugs and intimidation, the army turned these children into killing machines. It's a tragic story exposed and brought to life by Beah's heartbreaking recollections.
Luckily Beah found a way out where so many perished. The book inspires as Beah finds his way out of the madness, but ultimatey reminds us of the evil present in our world. This is a highly recommended read.
Beah begins by recounting days of youth enjoying his childhood and playing with friends. It all turns horribly wrong as soliders begin invading the towns, and he and his friends must run for thier lives. Beah went from town to town until he was finally taken by the army and forced into being a solider at the age of 13. Using a mix of drugs and intimidation, the army turned these children into killing machines. It's a tragic story exposed and brought to life by Beah's heartbreaking recollections.
Luckily Beah found a way out where so many perished. The book inspires as Beah finds his way out of the madness, but ultimatey reminds us of the evil present in our world. This is a highly recommended read.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Sad Sad City
If you're in any way, shape, or form familiar with the Dallas music scene, you understand the importance of yesterday's loss. Carter Albrecht was well known around here for his greatness in the local bands Sorta and The Sparrows. It's tragic the way that he died yesterday. I saw Sorta a few times and The Sparrows even more times and had always been impressed by them. Listening to Danny Balis of the Hardline, his bandmate and roommate, speak of him today set me straight on what a lot of the reports are indicating about him. I won't link to what was on the Dallas Morning News website as it appears to be a bit negative. I recommend reading what Sarah Hepola wrote that is linked on the Sorta web site.
It's a sad day for the Dallas music scene. My thoughts are with all of you out there who might have known him.
It's a sad day for the Dallas music scene. My thoughts are with all of you out there who might have known him.
Friday, August 31, 2007
The Long Cut
I'm not much of a magazine reader. I'll pick different one's up from time to time based on a friends advice. My current trial is that of The Economist. Since I'm not willing to commit a subscription just yet, I pick them up when I can. Last night, I went into Borders Books to get the latest copy. When I checked out and paid my six dollars and some odd sense for one magazine, I received not one, but two receipts. The first was the smaller, denoting the details of my purchase. It was a bit long for what it was, but my attention shifted to the second one. It was much longer and filled with coupons and lots of "fluff". The two receipts totalled over a foot long. I checked what I had purchased - still one, seventy-five page magazine. So, why the long receipt? We are living in this age of reuse, reduce, and recycle and yet a corporation such as Borders cannot give me a reasonably lengthed receipt for one item.
I wrote to Borders regarding this and they got back to me rather quickly stating that they would make the suggestion to the powers that be. As for now, I am not shopping there.
I wrote to Borders regarding this and they got back to me rather quickly stating that they would make the suggestion to the powers that be. As for now, I am not shopping there.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Head Home
As many of you know, I will purchasing a home in the coming months. I decided to spend the first year of owning this home not only decorating and furnishing, but making it as energy efficient as possible. I know it is somewhat the "in style" thing to do. But I think it has a lot of benefits beyond saving the environment. I'd personally like to keep my water, electric, and gas bills to a minimum. If any of you home owners out there have any tips for me, I'd be glad to hear about them. I'll be writing about these changes as I make them when I buy the home.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
The Absence of God
Talking religion is one my favorite topics. When I learned about and saw previews of the documentary Jesus Camp, I knew I had to see it. Jesus Camp is an inside look at Evangelical Christian America and its Bible Camps that occur throughout the nation. The movement has received quite a bit of publicity over the last few years with its perceived influence over elections.
I found the documentary to be very compelling. I didn't grow up in an evangelical household because Catholics just aren't (or weren't) evangelical. But I did find myself identifying with some of the negative messages that these children were being given surrounding Christianity - such things as sin, the devil, and repentance. In my adulthood, my spirituality has been mostly centered around positivity and empowerment. I was immediately sensitive to such messages and found myself disappointed in the adults in this film for making these kids feel so bad. Many of them were to the point of crying.
The run of the mill contradicting viewpoints that are widely held by such individuals were quite prominent throughout the film. The lead up from the evangelicals standpoint to the liberal Air America Radio talk show host opinion was clearly contrasted and hit a climax as they appeared on the radio show to dispute such points of view.
I'm not writing this review to pick on the Evangelicals. Rather, I am encouraging all to view this well done documentary to see what I believe to be a small fraction of the population that is perceived to be larger than they truly are. As someone who claims to be a social and religious liberal, I found it to be quite interesting and scary from a human rights standpoint. I don't personally read (nor enjoy) Harry Potter, but prohibiting a child from their potential enjoyment of it because there is magic within the story seems a bit ridiculous and irresponsible to me. But this is America, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion and philosophy of raising their own children. And that is what makes this documentary so interesting.
I found the documentary to be very compelling. I didn't grow up in an evangelical household because Catholics just aren't (or weren't) evangelical. But I did find myself identifying with some of the negative messages that these children were being given surrounding Christianity - such things as sin, the devil, and repentance. In my adulthood, my spirituality has been mostly centered around positivity and empowerment. I was immediately sensitive to such messages and found myself disappointed in the adults in this film for making these kids feel so bad. Many of them were to the point of crying.
The run of the mill contradicting viewpoints that are widely held by such individuals were quite prominent throughout the film. The lead up from the evangelicals standpoint to the liberal Air America Radio talk show host opinion was clearly contrasted and hit a climax as they appeared on the radio show to dispute such points of view.
I'm not writing this review to pick on the Evangelicals. Rather, I am encouraging all to view this well done documentary to see what I believe to be a small fraction of the population that is perceived to be larger than they truly are. As someone who claims to be a social and religious liberal, I found it to be quite interesting and scary from a human rights standpoint. I don't personally read (nor enjoy) Harry Potter, but prohibiting a child from their potential enjoyment of it because there is magic within the story seems a bit ridiculous and irresponsible to me. But this is America, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion and philosophy of raising their own children. And that is what makes this documentary so interesting.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Sing For Me
I might be done with karaoke.
Per the request of a couple of friends, I went to McKinney Avenue Tavern last night for karaoke. I realize that the idea of it is that normal people who can't sing get up on a stage and make fools of themselves. I get that. I've done it several times myself after a few drinks. But I think that the MAT has become an enormous tool shed. There was a time when I could walk in there, know a few people, and have a great time. Those days are gone. The karaoke crowd has beaten that place down. I wrote a few weeks ago that I can't take Neil Diamond singing Sweet Caroline. I sure as hell cannot take some shmo singing it. As for my own singing, I got up there in the spirit of being a good sport and sang Nirvana's Lithium. Unfortunately, the only people in the bar that knew it were a few of my friends. Proof that the masses are, indeed, asses.
The only positive thing I can say about the place and the experience was that of the effort of a few girls there at the door taking donations for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. For a five dollar donation, the MAT would let you have happy hour prices all night. They should be commended for that. On the other hand, they let in some goon dressed up as Captain Morgan show up with a band of nookie girls to put on some lame ass pose contest to win a trip to Las Vegas. Tools.
I might also be done with cheesy bars.
Per the request of a couple of friends, I went to McKinney Avenue Tavern last night for karaoke. I realize that the idea of it is that normal people who can't sing get up on a stage and make fools of themselves. I get that. I've done it several times myself after a few drinks. But I think that the MAT has become an enormous tool shed. There was a time when I could walk in there, know a few people, and have a great time. Those days are gone. The karaoke crowd has beaten that place down. I wrote a few weeks ago that I can't take Neil Diamond singing Sweet Caroline. I sure as hell cannot take some shmo singing it. As for my own singing, I got up there in the spirit of being a good sport and sang Nirvana's Lithium. Unfortunately, the only people in the bar that knew it were a few of my friends. Proof that the masses are, indeed, asses.
The only positive thing I can say about the place and the experience was that of the effort of a few girls there at the door taking donations for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. For a five dollar donation, the MAT would let you have happy hour prices all night. They should be commended for that. On the other hand, they let in some goon dressed up as Captain Morgan show up with a band of nookie girls to put on some lame ass pose contest to win a trip to Las Vegas. Tools.
I might also be done with cheesy bars.
