In an alternate

world, mommy, dad, and Webstie

live happy as clams.

Rainbow colored lads

sync up in honor of a

strange daddy figure.

E' andata a finire che nella mia stanza c'è anche un italiano, con una tipa tedesca che ha conosciuto mentre facevano una settimana in una fattoria "ecologica" e vegetariana, e dunque la serata è cominciata con una gita al Tesco più vicino per comprare il necessario per un ragù alla bolognese (non si capisce perché, visto che lui e' di Torino ed eravamo insieme a tre ragazze tedesche, con aggiunta successiva di uno svedese che abbiamo adottato perché, povera creatura, si e' scaldato una pizza congelata nel microonde. Vabbe'). Nonostante le condizioni improbabili (la cucina dell'ostello era piuttosto affollata) siamo riusciti a produrre un ragù decente, e quello che e' avanzato e' stato generosamente offerto ai ragazzi della reception.

Ah, prima di andare avanti: per non fare lo stesso errore di ieri sera, stavolta ho verificato in anticipo le intenzioni del resto della comitiva, ed era assolutamente previsto un salto in qualche pub. Onde per cui, per affogare gli spaghetti ci siamo recati in un posto tipo il "King's Head", o "The Crane", o qualcosa del genere, e sono riuscito a prendere un paio di pinte (yay!). Per la cronaca, in Irlanda la Guinness sta a 4.10€ la pinta, contro i 3.65€ di due anni fa e contro i 6e (almeno) in Italia.

Già sulla via del pub avevo cominciato a fare il clown (strano, vero?), lasciando poi un po' interdetti i miei compagni di percorso quando ho salutato con entusiasmo una ragazza in un gruppo di musicisti di strada (ma giuro che era la stessa che oggi, a pranzo, mi ha servito una crepes con "ham and cheese", e la cosa curiosa e' che anche lei mi ha riconosciuto, nonostante a pranzo fossi ingiacchettato, ovvero in tenuta da colloquio). Carina e spagnola (delle tre ragazze che lavoravano nel posto dove ho pranzato, beh, ce ne fosse stata una irlandese: le nazioni d'origine erano Spgna, Canada e Italia). Comunque sia, dopo le prime due pinte abbiamo cambiato pub, ma il secondo non mi piaceva e non ho bevuto. Abbiamo ritrovato i musicisti da strada, e visto che stavolta un po' di gente ballava, beh, non ce l'ho fatta a resistere: ho lasciato il borsello a una delle ragazze tedesche e mi sono fiondato davanti al semicerchio di strumenti. Ho fatto il solito spogliarello progressivo (ovvero, mi sono tolto il maglione, usandolo poi come strumento da roteare a tempo di musica, manco fossi Marlene Dietrich o Marylin Monroe, per lanciarlo poi in terra quando il ritmo e' aumentato e ho avuto bisogno di tutte le mie funzionalita' psicomotorie per seguirlo. Sarete contenti di sapere che sono sopravvissuto anche stavolta, ma il cammino fino all'ostello e' stato penoso, non tanto per la stanchezza quanto perche' avevo dimenticato che roteare su me stesso puo' nuocere alle eventuali pinte di birra che si trovano ad alloggiare nel mio stomaco.

Nessuna conseguenza, fortunatamente, e difatti sono qui a raccontarlo. Le tedesche, lo svedese e l'italiano sono andati a dormire, e io mi sono trattenuto con l'unico intento di allietare il vostro risveglio, e saziare la vostra sete di notizie dal paese più verde d'Europa.

Domani, il rientro. Una cosa comoda, Galway - Shannon - Liverpool - Orio al Serio - Milano.

Parto da Galway alle 10.15 e spero di arrivare a Milano non molto dopo le 23.00. Se qualcuno (o qualcuna) vuole invitarmi a cena al mio arrivo, ovviamente e' il benvenuto... :-)

Sure to stir up even more talk as to who’s dating who, the Jonas Brothers were spotted out at TAO last night in New York City - and they weren’t alone!

Joe Jonas and his rumored love, Taylor Swift, along with Joe’s younger brother Nick and his said-to-be sweetheart, Selena Gomez, were caught by the paparazzi as they left the trendy Big Apple nightspot.

The foursome was also accompanied by the eldest Jonas Brother, Kevin, as well as a few burly bodyguards to help clear a path to the car upon exit.

According to a source on the scene, “They (Jonas Brothers) tried to play it cool, but it definitely seemed as if there’s something more than friendship going on.”

We think they day is cutting close to when they'll finally COME OUT and say their dating!!!

A little background information is probably appropriate. The lead vocalist in this band (The Dixie Chicks) made some inflammatory statements about our current President. She was asked to apologize, and she refused. The media got ahold of it, and the band started getting some very negative press. The hate mail & death threats followed soon after that. This song is their first single after about 2 years off. It is very bitter.

Does the sinful bitterness make this particular video non-art, or does it just make it art with a bad message? I have an opinion, and you're going to see it in tomorrow's post, but I want to know what you think.

Don't get me wrong, I love this band. Death Cab for Cutie is one of my recent favorites. I even love this particular song, but the video leaves me scratching my head wondering what was in their artistic vision.

Are you still hanging in there with me? If you're up for it, I've got one more video. It will follow in just a few more hours.

Yesterday, I sold "Rusty," my Gibson ES-333. I hadn't played Rusty much for the last several months, and even though I used him on a recording recently, I just didn't feel that attached. It was a bit of a sad occasion, but I'm looking forward to replacing him with something else. Besides, testing new models from SAINT Guitars will be absolutely awesome!!!

When the producers of Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift needed a stunt driver, they called upon Tanner Foust. When the director of The Dukes of Hazzard shot action scenes with General Lee, he called upon Tanner Foust. And when casting a co-host role for theAmerican version of the UK's massively popular Top Gear, you got it…someone called Tanner Foust. What Tanner Foust can do with a car would make a grown set of tires cry, and the magic doesn't stop when the Hollywood cameras quit; no, Tanner is one of the top drivers in the organized drifting series Formula DRIFT. With the 2007 Formula DRIFT championship neatly tucked underneath his firesuit, Tanner Foust is back at it again in 2008. With that, another MyRide With.

Continue...

Five protestors were arrested at Edinburgh's Queen's Hall today and charged with disrupting the performance of the Israeli Jerusalem Quartet, musicians, who enjoy a double status as ‘Cultural Ambassadors of Israel’ as well as ‘Distinguished IDF Musicians’.

While the siege of Gaza continues, Israel should not be allowed to conduct ‘business as normal’  and musicians associated with the murderous Israeli Army, its state, or its illegal occupation should be denied any platform.

About a dozen music-lovers returned their tickets at the gates after realizing the concert was a means for Israel to legitimise its ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.  Gratifyingly, a further small but significant number of the audience left and expressed their support, one couple thanking the demonstrators inside and out ‘for awakening our consciences’.  One music-lover who had complained about the harsh ejection of a demonstrator from the hall was told to leave as well!

Earlier this week, local Jewish writer and journalist, Marion Woolfson had written to festival organisers asking that they rescind their invitation to “the representatives of a country that practices ethnic cleansing and a form of apartheid which even those who have lived in South Africa have said is worse than anything thought up by the former rulers of their country.”

Police prevented protesters outside the venue from setting up a simulated checkpoint. Graham McVitie, spokesman for the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign that organised the protest said that the checkpoint was designed to mimic one of around 600 Israeli controls scattered throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories: “These checkpoints are designed to restrict movement within Palestine and strangle its economy.”

Mick Napier, Chair of the Scottish PSC, said: 'Everyone loves music, but Israel's mountain of crimes against the Palestinians weighs more in the scales than some Scots enjoying a piece of music, or a cricket game, or a film, indifferent to the crimes their government supports.  People stopped games by the old South Africa's apartheid sports teams; we can do no less with the cultural ambassadors of Israel's apartheid and ethnic cleansing.'

Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Press contact: asif Dean  00 44 (0)7740 796 790

In 2006, during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Edinburgh International Film Festival organisers returned sponsorship money provided by the Israeli embassy.

Israel is also under increasing pressure from Trade Union boycotts. Last year, Britain’s University and Colleges Union (UCU) caused unrest in Israel when its conference voted to discuss a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

Former US president Jimmy Carter also faced heavy criticism last year on publication of his book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, in which he compares Israeli policies with those of Apartheid South Africa.

Miley Cyrus is at the center of another three-ring ticketing circus, and this time, the hubbub is for a single show. On September 27, the Hannah Montana starlet is scheduled to perform at the 4,000-seat MGM Grand arena at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut -- but getting tickets to the event might be a gamble.

Due to expected high demand, the casino has set up an elaborate system for obtaining much-coveted tickets to Cyrus' performance. The process requires potential buyers to register on the venue's Web site by August 29 at 11 p.m. in order to be entered into an e-mail lottery of purchase dates, times and single-use access codes.

The venue is also limiting the amount of time patrons actually have the tickets in-hand. According to the registration site, tickets can only be picked up at the box office on the day of the performance by the original buyer. Additional guests must be present with the buyer to receive wristbands, without which even a ticket-holder would not be granted entrance to the venue.

According to a statement from MGM Grand, "Placing a show on sale at a particular date and time lends itself to unfair use of automated ticket buying programs. Our process will ensure a fair and equitable means for all of Miley’s fans to have a chance to buy tickets."

Though MGM Grand is hoping to prevent a repeat of last year's Hannah Montana ticket controversy, the secondary ticket industry is still predicting a ticketing fiasco.

"Consumers should expect very few tickets to be sold to the public for this casino show, less than half the tickets that the venue has and the least desirable tickets," TicketNetwork CEO Don Vaccaro said.

Last year's tour, starring Cyrus as her Hannah Montana alter ego, came under fire for the practice of ticket withholding. Several weeks after Cyrus' concert series had sold out, the event's organizers released an additional 45,000 tickets.

Vaccaro explained, "[Connecticut] Attorney General [Richard] Blumenthal attempted to make the practice of withholding so many tickets illegal in the last legislative session, but met stringent opposition from TicketMaster’s lobbyist."

As a result, MGM Grand could legally withhold any number of tickets in the first round of registration and sales for the Cyrus show at Foxwoods. However, the size of the venue could also factor in to any future ticket pandemonium.

"It appears as if Miley Cyrus is attempting to create hype of her tour by exploiting fans in Connecticut by playing in an arena that holds roughly 25 percent of the Hartford Civic Center and projected hold back of many tickets," Vaccaro said. "This hype will serve her well at the expense of the least educated live entertainment fans."

Even MGM Grand has stated that there's no guarantee all registered fans will get tickets through the lottery system.

"There is no way to exactly determine when a sell out will occur," the venue said in a statement. "But your chances are still better with our process than with more traditional ticketing processes."

What about her fans who can't purchase that high ticket sale??? At least the Jonas Brothers do free concerts for their fans!!! :)

Jacko celebrates

fifty with pee-jay bottoms

and tuxedo top.

Yesterday's video was a little bizarre. I know it. It wasn't from a genre of music that I would say is inside my traditional set of "likes", but it wasn't just about entertainment. It was about communicating a message. The question is, did they go too far? Did the weirdness get in the way of their message? That is the question. Today, we have a different video. This one is in a genre of music that I enjoy. Thrice is the band today, and the music video is called image of the invisible. It is about the modern slave trade which is one of the serious social justice issues of our time. Again, this video isn't just about entertainment. It is about using music, movement, and imagery to communicate a truth. The question is, does a political or cultural agenda make a piece of art any less artistic?

More videos coming later today. Hang in there with me. This is going somewhere, I promise.

Click here to join!!!

First off we've got a band out of New Jersey called the Silver Jews. This band originally started as a side project to what would become the infamous 90's Alt Band PAVEMENT. The Silver Jews were formed by David Berman and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Berman is indeed the soul of the band, spanning the band's some-odd-teen years as the only consistent member. He sings and plays guitar, much like Malkmus in Pavement, and writes and performs with a style stale and almost a little bit refined in the name of "Lo-Fi". He sings and plucks with a twang, from Jersey as opposed to the South, and writes with a wit rarely seen in either region. The Silver Jews will be playing The Triple Rock Social Club on Wednesday the 8th (October).

Moving from Art/Alt/Indie/Pavement-esque Rock into the world of the more progressive, we've got a band called Deerhoof, who oddly enough (well, maybe not if you hear them) come from a Oakland/San Fran/Tokyo mixture of locales.  Deerhoof is one of these new bands to come out in the last 5 years or so who are really pushing LOTS of limits as far as Rock music is concerned.  When most people read that in combination with hearing the band they'd think: "well he's just referring to the fact that they're an American band with Japanese female vocals".  No, not at all.  The idea of Japanese Female vocals certainly doesn't HURT pushing these envelopes, there's so much more going on here experimentally, particularly with the guitar.  This guitar playing is some of the best sounding, and most original sounding, I've heard in a long time.  It very much resembles chaos, unpredictability, and oddly enough bravery and confidence.  Deerhoof will be playing First Ave's Main Stage on Tuesday the 14th.

In keeping with this theme comes a pair of shows by another amazing, exciting, entertaining new bands (this time out of Brooklyn) TV On The Radio.  The band must love playing here, because the last time they came they added more shows to the original one because they enjoyed it here so much.  TV On The Radio will be playing the Main Stage at First Ave on Monday and Tuesday (the 20th and 21st) to support a new album called "Dear Science," which will be releasing in September I believe.  Nothing much to say here other than this band kicks ass live and won't ever be successfully copied or imitated, that's just how good they are.

During TV On The Radio's second show, across town in St. Paul a little band out of Texas called The Toadies will be rocking Station-4 Club on, you guessed it, Fourth St. in downtown St. Paul.  From what I've heard, the "reunion" this time around isn't really a reunion, more of a reiteration of a band lost and whom will most likely never reform the way they once were.  Not like that matters that much to a guy like me, who's NEVER seen the Toadies and has been a fan since they debuted.  If bands like Deerhoof and TV On The Radio aren't doing it for anyone, The Toadies should.  Even the Burden Brothers, who are essentially THIS verison of the Toadies, know how to bring the shit live.  It's no serious business, but it's no joke.  This is dirty, loud Rock the way it originated.  Here's to (raises glass) them not playing much new stuff, I heard the album blows, but I really could care less.  Cause I just wanna have sumthin' to do [that] night.

The last show I'll talk about, in the veins of Rock & Roll, is the Electric Six/Local H lineup in the Mainroom of First Ave. on Sunday October 26th.  Both these bands know their dynamics quite well (Local H has it easier with their lineup).  They know what they do well, they know how to push a crowd, they know how to play their songs, and they know how to Rock.  It'll be interesting to see the mixture of fanbases, and even the mixture of music that night.  These are two bands that are known for rigorous touring in order to promote those very albums that strive to keep Rock alive in an age lie today.  If DeerHoof and TVotR are pushing the envelope, then E6 and Local H are licking the flaps and stamps, and slapping them sloppily onto the envelope.

-Sonny

To have been a fly

at this meeting of the minds—

squash me ’tween black nails.

Though the band is Brazilian, the name is Spanish for "the brothers", which would be "Os Irmãos" in Portuguese.

History

They recorded two demos that eventually found their way into the hands of Paulo André, the producer of the Abril Pro Rock festival, in Recife. The band was then invited to perform on one of the biggest alternative music festivals in Brazil, the Superdemo. Their self-titled album, released in 1999, became a huge seller on the back of the hit single "Anna Júlia". The success of "Anna Júlia", in a general sense, overshadowed the rest of their career, leading some to think they are a one-hit wonder, despite experiencing success among fans and music enthusiasts with other works. The song has been covered by many different artists, including Jim Capaldi with George Harrison.

After the success of their first album, the band released in 2001 Bloco do Eu Sozinho, leaving behind the hardcore sound that highlighted their debut to a mix of rock, samba, and other Brazilian rhythms. Bloco do Eu Sozinho did not make much of an impact in the mainstream media (it had only two hits, "Todo Carnaval Tem Seu Fim" and "Sentimental"), but it is still regarded as one of the best Brazilian rock albums of that year.

The follow-up to Bloco do Eu Sozinho, Ventura, was released in 2003, and the band sound was even more influenced by samba, choro and bossa nova. Although these albums weren't as commercially successful as Los Hermanos, they were acclaimed by critics and consolidated the band in the alternative scene, mainly because of their lyrics, considered clever by many, and their mixture of Brazilian rhythms with rock.

Their most recent record, simply titled 4, was released in August, 2005, with mixed reviews. The record led the band into MPB rhythms with a more melancholic lyrics and melody.

In 2006 the band toured Portugal with Portuguese band Toranja.

On April 23, 2007, after ten years of uninterrupted career work, the band announced a recess for undetermined time span (hiatus). The note on the official website affirms there were no quarrels whatsoever among the band components, the reason for the recess simply being each one's need of time to dedicate to other personal activities. In the same note the band also announced its three final performances on June 7th, 8th and 9th, 2007 in Rio de Janeiro.

The lead vocals, Marcelo Camelo (pictured above), will release his own solo album very soon. The first single, Doce Solidão, is already on the radio. 

Here's one of my favorite songs of theirs, 'O Vencedor', followed by the aforementioned 'Ana Julia', that everyone loves (well, those that haven't heard it too many times, lol) 

#1. Isn't it amazing how God uses us in spite of our sin? He anoints us, He allows us, He forgives us and uses us. History proves this time and again. Flawed man = God's vessel. But keep in mind, we need to deal with our stuff and we need to seek help in order to fight for the freedom that Jesus fought for on the cross. So, there's nothing right about what Mike did, in fact, it's terrible in every way. The lying, the manipulation and the sin of it from top to bottom. Wrong. All wrong. [He is getting professional which is what is absolutely needed here, no question. Anyone else struggling in the same way should seek full and complete medical and psychological help.] Which leads me to my second point, and the most exciting of the two points:
#2. Mike's very powerful and anointed song is just as powerful and true today as it was when he wrote it, in fact - more so. Mike was being tormented by his sin, the lies, the deception, his personal hell he has been living in, addictions and all - without help! The song, although not about cancer for him (but for others, it was) was his confession that God is his Healer and the One who calms his 'raging seas'. He confesses that God walks with him through fire and heals all his disease. He continues, 'I trust in You, I trust in You. I believe You're my Healer, I believe You all all I need, I believe You're my portion, I believe You're more than enough for me, yes You are all I need, You're more than enough for me'.

Ok, so tell me what is wrong with this song. How is the 'song' deceptive? It's a cry from a broken soul to his Saving God. It's a perfect song from an imperfect man. Just like we are imperfect. I think this song is the perfect song for a sinner to sing. When I first learned the song, I sang it, not as a cancer-victim, but as one who has been broken and who continues to fight for freedom everyday. I sang it not from a hospital bed, nor with an oxygen tank, complete with tubes into the nose, but as a girl who is in need of a Savior, a redeemer - yes, in desperate need of a God who is more than enough!

This is a song about God, not about a man. The truths of the God who it is written about, is truth - regardless of who is singing it. If Madonna sang the song 'Here I am to worship' - is the song any less true because it's her singing it? An openly 'non-Christian' woman singing a song about God - if the theology is correct, the song's truth doesn't change because she's a sinner, any more than if I, myself a sinner also, sing it.

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Mike wrote a song about his disease. The disease that he absolutely needs to get healing from and like all of us, must not hide any longer. He must seek the truth and freedom that only comes from an Almighty God and the beautiful gift of His son, Jesus. The cross is our only chance for healing, whatever the affliction it is that you are struggling with.

♥erin

Selena Gomez's new music video for her single "Tell Me Something I Don't Know," has been released!!!

And we love it! :)

The new song is featured on her new movie and the soundtrack to Another Cinderella Story, which will be released on DVD this September!

What do you think of the video!?!?!?

I've always considered Brian Eno an artist first; an innovator, a sculptor. Far more than a musician he experiments with sound. He did some of the first samplings in music when he and David Byrne produced My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (which coincidentally I found the book with same title years ago, by Amos Tutola about an African shaman--I never quite finished it as it's very nonlinear). I love some of his early albums, which to me have not become dated because they're just so different. Taking Tiger Mountain and Another Green World are two of my favorites. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_eno

Eno's Ambient Music (for airports etc.) never did strike me as being more than sophisticated musack but he was working with nearly subliminal perceptions and gradual changes in music that go unnoticed until you go, hey, that changed somewhere along the line. I always liked the quirkier stuff. I don't have everything and need to still find a lot of these in CD, if they exist. Eno and Cale have always been a bit more eclectic and experimental and the pop rock crown may never have heard of them. But anyone who is a serious musician, especially knows of Eno's work. He's been listed on some albums as playing the Eno or something may have been Enoized.

One of my all time favorite albums ever is Wrong Way Up  by Eno and John Cale, he of the Velvet Underground. Unfortunately I had it only in tape and was hoping to transfer it to CD before it was stolen from my car (who steals tapes these days?). So now I'll need to see if I can buy a CD. I'm hoping it exists. You can never tell with these guys.

Anyway this is their new album, Everything that Happens Will Happen Today, exclusive through the internet right now, and that's where you order it.  http://www.everythingthathappens.com/

They are probably grouped together with someone under some umbrella movement by somebody who likes to categorise their music in that way but when I think of The Red House Painters I don't think of them in connection with anyone else. They were doing something different and Mark Kozelek is still trying to do that.

They have a lambent beauty, a gentleness and serenity to their music that was not present in that of many of their contemporaries. I have heard people dismiss the sound as depressing because it travels at a fairly slow speed but for me it just seems that the group have crafted the perfect framework for the most human and poetic of lyrics.

'Shock Me', 'Grace Cathedral Park', 'The Katy Song", just to name the first three tracks off of the Retrospective CD are songs that inhabit another world -- the world of those evocative album covers. To say that they should occupy a larger place in the canon of American indie music is to express an idea that you at once feel it is right to voice and also something that makes you feel perversely glad because it's not true -- they are the kind of band that remain a secret that people stumble across; a backroad; a forgotten path; an untouched area of beauty. I love listening to them -- they take me into a wonderful headspace.