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February 26, 2004
John Vanderslice and The Wrens
Knitting Factory, Los Angeles
February 25, 2004
The Drive
I left work early at 6pm to get to my once a week C# Programming class at Santa Monica College. Sitting in the passenger seat of my coworker and classmate's leaky jeep, the rain was almost unbearable. Loud, cold, causing unimaginable confuision among the already confused Calinfornia drivers. The walk from the payper-park lot to the far side of campus served to soak me about as thoroughly as one can be soaked.
Class wrapped up fairly early and a different coworker/classmate (there are three) rounded me up and placed me in his '86 CRX (also in parked across campus) and we headed off to the show. We had both skipped dinner for class and were in dire need of food. By the way, there is no decent fast food between SMC and the Knitting Factory.
The rain was blinding, several streets near the club were closed off, we got confused and parked in the wrong garage... and walked three blocks in the wrong direction before turning and walking five blocks to the club which, as it turns out, is situated directly over an underground garage.
We walked in during John Vanderslice's second or third song and were immediately taken aback by the uneven sound in the room. Whether it be the fault of the room, the sound system, the sound tech, or the band, the levels continued to hinder the performance throughout. The drums seemed weak and aimless, the bass loud, lumbering, and lacking finesse. The rhythm section of Rob and Dave Douglas was clumsy as a unit and either too much or too little at all times.
John Vanderslice's guitar always sounds amazing. He is one of my favorite producers, if only for his use of amazing and unique sounds and tones. Unfortunately, his guitar was too queit and muffled almost entirely by the bass. Only on the more upbeat songs when he stomped on the fuzz and Scott Solter picked up a guitar as well did the guitars really even make an appearance. His voice, though, was sounding incredibly strong. Possibly stronger than I've ever heard it.
The group played songs from all three albums, including crowd favorites Speed Lab and The Mansion. Most came off well enough and the crowd responded. Scott Solter's guitars and keys were a nice addition, and he honestly appeared like the only person other than Vanderslice who had any idea how to perform on stage. Maybe it's because the last Vanderslice tour was as a three piece with two incredibly talented musicians that my expectations were set so high. On the other hand, this was the second of 6 weeks of shows to come, and I can only imagine that many early bugs and jitters will be worked out.
The Wrens are crazy people. Absolutely crazy. Not knowing them from a hole in the ground, I was shocked to see them come out on stage appearing 15-20 years older than I might have expected. They had fun telling us all that they've been a band for 14 years and have lived in the same house since 1991. They look like rather unassuming 30-40 year olds. Perhaps office managers. One quite closely resembled Patrick Norton, host of TechTV's Screen Savers.
To hear them play, you can tell that they're from a different ilk than most. Influenced heavily by the late 80's and early 90's brand of discordant indie rock, I could hear nods to Rocket From The Crypt and even Drive Like Jehu and several songs. The leapt about stage, screamed, yelped, instructed the crowd when they wanted applause, and left most of us wondering what the hell was going on and why we were enjoying it so much. There was plenty of well-scripted noise, alternating guitars, and upside-down bass playing. They all sang. The musicianship all around was top flight. The tones and levels were appropriate. This was one of the most unique and jarring performances I've seen in months. Do not miss The Wrens. Although I can't imagine anyone outright disliking the performance, I'm dead sure that everyone will be surprised by them at least once during.
February 22, 2004
Web Sites I'm Diggin'
Just thought I'd list a couple web sites I'm currently groovin' on. So here's they are:
Aamer Taher design studios
FRONT Design
Starsky & Hutch
neostream interactive
...more to come.
(lunch time).
February 21, 2004
I have seen the future, and it is OLED
Vodafone is one of the world's largest mobile telecommunications network companies. They're based in England, so if you're wondering why your phone says Sprint or (god help you) AT&T, its because Vodaphone aren't here yet. Why do we like them so? BEcause they've made it a habit to push the envelope in digital cellular hardware and software, and they've brought the cool new toys to the British 20 somethings before we'd even read about them in Dwell.
If you've been tuning into the Receptacle station over the last few months, you've heard me repeatedly tout oLed as the greatest new thing on the horizon. Easily the most exciting development in the last decade, and sure to revolutionize EVERYTHING about both entertainment and active marketing. Well, Vodaphone hopes to be first on the street with a new breed of wireless networking devices using oLed display technology and they've put together a truly brilliant web site to tell us about it. Go there and know your future.
UPDATE: I'm an idiot and the Vodaphone link was not correct until I fixed it only moments ago. Check out Vodaphone Future
February 12, 2004
Bush in 41.2 Seconds
Click here to watch "Bush in 41.2 Seconds," a parody political ad made by Mark Spittle in honor of the MoveOn.org "Bush in 30 Seconds" promotion.
Mirrored here as a courtesy.
For more humor by Mark Spittle and the best serious Liberal analysis on the web, visit: Liberal Oasis
Also read "Don't Be An Asshole, Vote Democratic" by Mark Spittle at Salon.com
February 09, 2004
The Notorious MSG, muthasuckas!
"Just three Chinese restaurant workers out to stir fry the face of music as we know it, and at the same time shatter Asian stereotypes."
Just amazing.
thanks to Matt Kim.
February 06, 2004
Repercussions of Janet's boob exposure
God I hate this country.
Nipple shield sales through the roof.
February 05, 2004
Nerdnews: 64 bit Windows OS - free preview available now
This only applies to those of you running a spiffy new Althon 64 processor, and I'm sure you're both already heard the big news: Microsoft is offering a free trial of their new 64 bit Windows operating system right now via download or cd. This is the first true 64 bit operating system available to the consumer.
Before any Apple fan-boys jump down my throat, I will concede that, technically, the new G5 is the first 64 bit capable processor to hit the streets. But the OS is not, in any way, a 64 bit platform, and neither is any of the software running on it. For all intents and purposes, the G5 is a 32 bit machine, but by releasing a 64 bit capable proc before anyone else, they did win some well deserved kudos from the rather tight-fisted PC community.
Anyhoo... here the Windows trial link:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/downloads/upgrade.asp
February 02, 2004
Coachella bound
I think I have to go.
Here's the latest confirmed line-up:
| Saturday
* Radiohead | Sunday
* The Cure | No Date Given
* Air |
| RUMORED but with a strong possibility based on numerous factors: | |
Morrissey British Sea Power The Hidden Cameras Dizzee Rascal Damien Rice The Chemical Brothers Pretty Girls Make Graves Outkast The Kills | Dan The Automator 311 Kings Of Leon Jet Felix Da Housecat Ed Harcourt James Lavelle Cat Power The Coral |
The system is down
Here's some fun stuff:
Homestar Runner's system is down
Bender Soundboard
Simpsons's MC Superbowl ad
Pingvin Flash game
Half-Life 2 gallery
The 100th Monkey
Jacksons are weird
UPDATE: Ok, this was funny at first, but now it's getting ridiculous. Jackson, Timberlake, and their respective reps may be facing fines. MTV has been refused the honor of producing next year's Half-Time Event. CBS is being attacked for allowing such a "classless, crass, and deplorable" behaviour to air.
IT'S JUST A TIT.
In most european countries, full nudity is to be found on every station, at every time of the day, and used in just about any context. Car ads, public service announcements, news programming. It's not considered perverse or depraved to show the human form on television. Here, a 2 second long, distant shot of an accidentally revealed and greatly obscurred nipple, has caused a national uproar.
If there is any display on television or anywhere more perverse than the Superbowl, I fail to call it to mind. An accidental glimpse of an honest-to-goodness human breast, is easily the only honest, genuine piece of humanity ever associated with this grotesque display of American excess and bravado.
Go Pats!