Hey Venus!

Some of my favorite music contains some sort of contradictions. Lyrics don’t match up to the singer’s voice, tonality and beat don’t match the mood of the lyrics-some measure of irony is always a bit nice.

Other than the obvious and oft-noted disconnect between Morrissey’s upbeat and lighthearted Girlfriend in a Coma-as compared to its subject matter, there are a few other bands that delight with this sort of welcomed confusion.

Gruff Rhys, lead astronaut of psychedelic Welsh band Super Furry Animals (light listeners may remember their hit song “Juxtaposed with U” from 2001’s brilliant “Rings Around the World”) has always had the tendency that many non-native lyricist do--make things up, make them funny and make them weird.






One of the more soothing songs from Rings was Presidential Suite. The mellow horns and minor-chord melody would lead you to believe this tune is simply a love song-an expression from one poor romantic youth to another detailing the “how it should be”s of life. But listen closely to the opening and hear,



Monica and naughty Billy
Got together something silly now

Holy wars out of lusty minutes
Another Cuban cigar crisis

Honestly!
Do we need to know if he really came inside her mouth?
How will all this affect me
Now and later?

Ah, now its quite obvious- an admonition of America’s silly focus on the details of Clinton’s sex scandal, amid other growing tensions throughout the world that could possibly use just a bit more attention. Set to a dreamy pop melody, of course.


On their brand new album, the first in 3 years, Hey Venus! Continues in this vein and blows it all out to space in the meantime.

They still hit the humorous notes, such as in Baby Ate my Eightball, where a baby literally eats the entire package and is sent to the ER. Slow Your Hand reminds of masturbation addiction, but is really about gambling. And Battersy Odyssey is just plain, well, a perfect pop song.

In an interview with Pitchforkmedia, Gruff reveled that the song Run-Away was inspired by listening to 7’’ singles form the 1960’s girl-group “Les Surfs”. Along with this obvious doo-wop inspired tune comes its partner, “Carbon Dating” which sounds like a deviously happy group of freed circus performers, floating through space, still atop their elephants, finally able to make the music their leaders would not allow. Or something like that.

Les Surfs


You should check this madness out. It’s quite inspiring. At least, inspiriting enough to try to get to the bottom on the inspirations, contradictions and relaxations that the Super Furries use to come up with this stuff.

San Francisco

This blog is dedicated to Heather. Mainly because she was an excellent travel partner when we ventured north to the great "REAL" city of San Francisco. Secondly, because some assholes stole both our cameras from the party on Friday.

These are all that remains from those 4 days. And a lot of great memories.

Weekend Rhymes with Drinkend

Tonight:
--Turfy reunion with the boys (Taylor, Jesse, Roomie guy, Colin, etc) come meet us and meat us.
--One of Mario's many celebrations of being palindrincially 33. Live Wire-11-ish.
Try a Long Beach Iced Tea from Matt: Vodka, Tequila, Rum, Triple Sec, Cranberry juice and sweet & sour. KILLER.
--Baking a penis cake for the B-day bash tomorrow.

Friday:
--Electric Warriors Bike Ride from the Balboa Fountain--10 PM.
--House Party here (2220 Front & Ivy) starts at 9. Come early for kegs of Stone beer. Remember: The liquor stores close at 11, so come prepared or stop by the Cherry Bomb across the street and be back for late night dancing.

Saturday:
--beach day in OB in the morning
--SoCo FREE FREE FREE Scarlet Symphony, Delta Spirit, BRMC, and THE FLAMING LIPS. I will personally give you $20 if you honestly do not enjoy their show.
--Dying of exhaustion.
--Booty Basement Ass Shaking contest at Whistle Stop.

Sunday:
--Free BBQ at Tower-2pm-6.
--Sunday Movie day: Rocket Science, 2 Days in Paris
--Intense fear of work the next morning.

Monday:
--Wilco at SDSU-SOLD OUT
--Gogol Bordello at HOB-Prolly Sold Out
--Chow Nasty dance dance party at Casbah
--Gogol After Party at Kava. Wear purple!?!

Not Believing VS. Believing "Not"

As Im sure some of you know, over the past few years I've decided to embrace reason, rationalism, and reality-which, to me, have no place in the Christian faith.

I'm always pleased to read articles or statements from other Athiests, Agnostics or people who just believe that there is more mystery to this life than can be explained in one of man's top 5 concocted religions.

NPR had collected essays from various celebs/writers entitled "I Believe".

Teller, big man of Penn and Teller, wrote a very simple message on his belief in NO god, rather than, "not believing in God".

Here's an excerp:
"Believing there's no God stops me from being solipsistic. I can read ideas from all different people from all different cultures. Without God, we can agree on reality, and I can keep learning where I'm wrong. We can all keep adjusting, so we can really communicate. I don't travel in circles where people say, "I have faith, I believe this in my heart and nothing you can say or do can shake my faith." That's just a long-winded religious way to say, "shut up," or another two words that the FCC likes less. But all obscenity is less insulting than, "How I was brought up and my imaginary friend means more to me than anything you can ever say or do." So, believing there is no God lets me be proven wrong and that's always fun. It means I'm learning something."

Decemberists News: Spreckles!!!

I just found out that The Decemberists are playing 2 night in November at Spreckles. It's a disappointment that they can't play Mt. Helix, but we'll find someone else.

If you missed their LA Philharmonic show, I'm very very sorry. This should be at least 1/2 as good.

They are playing December 1st and 2nd. "The Long and Short Of It" Tour means that one night they will be playing their short, more pop-oriented songs, and the other, their epic, long, fighting-in-the-belly-of-a-whale songs that are rarely heard live.

Of course I recommend going to both nights, but if you had to choose, pick the Long night.

Pre-sale tix go on this Saturday, the 25th. You have to be a member of their fan club to have access to the password.

www.decemberists.com

Kill Me Friday

Ye Old Cat Dirt, over at catdirtsez.blogspot.com, has made a short and sweet little introduction to, well, 2 kinds of people in life.

In the preview for Denzel’s new baddasss movie American Gangster, he coldly speaks “In this life you’re only one of two people: you’re either somebody or your nobody”.

Not that I think partiers are somebody and homebodies are nobodies, but you get the point.

From the blog:

“Oh my word the haters. They just sit around all day, playing Xbox and crying about "the scene" and how everyone sucks so much. And then there are people who do stuff.”

Tentative Excitement + Cats = Dan Deacon Afterparty

So, somehow Heather has worked her booking magic and gotten wacky electro goofball Dan Deacon to play an afterparty in the Ivy House Basement.

Cool. His show at the Epicentre (blehhh) is on September 27th, also the night The National returns to the Casbah. Conflict of interest, says I.

I imagine this is going to be a very unique and interesting night, so we’re thinking costume only. That’s your ticket in, a costume. Anything really, it just has to get you past our ardent doorman of wonder, Chris Mutter.



Again, all tentative. Hate that word, but must use it for something like this!

Costume:


No Costume:

Radiohead Blows up the UK

Always fishing around the net for some Radiohead news (boo, hiss all you want), I’ve come upon and interesting eBay auction.

The MAG foundation, which raises money to clear the UK of landmines, got all of the artists from London’s V fest to sign a Fender Strat. Im surprised that with 20 hours left on the auction, the highest bid is around $2000.

Aparently Sir Thom Yorke (is he knighted yet?) rarely signs, well anything, even if it is for a good cause, as this is. Landmines kill someone every 20 minutes somewhere around the world.

Check out the ramshackle collector’s item here.



In other, and a bit more disappointing Radiohead news, turns out their new album will not be released in 2007. BOO! HISS!!! How shall I make it through the dreary holidaze?

Hmm, Halloween. Fall. Cold. Yes, that might be nice.

SLAVES!!!

Thank you!

Moustaches

MoCASD held another TNT (Thursday night thing) this past week and it was better than most. It's basically a free night of entrance into the museum, combined with a couple of free bands and decently cheap beer. Arrogant Bastard tall cans were $5. This helped the giant furniture exhibit look a whole lot better.

There was a station where you could create moustaches, and needless to say our group had fun with that:

It's an arrow, obviously

US Military: Ultra-Sonic Assholes

This story is yet to be picked up by a national news source, but there are plenty of articles all over the nets and the blogs covering it. Apparently, at the exact time and location that the bridge in Minneapolis went down, there was a "massive" ultra low frequency (ULF) 'blast' emanating from Latitude: 45° 00' North Longitude: 93° 15' West at the "exact" moment, and location, of a catastrophic collapse of a nearly 2,000 foot long bridge"

Aliens? George Bush? Sadam from Hell?

Funnily enough, "... reports further state that one of the United States primary research organizations into acoustic weapons research is Augsburg College, and which is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and most importantly less than 1 mile from the Interstate 35W Bridge collapse."

Hmmm...

Let's not forget about Muslims. Always something to do with them:

"To the exact reason of why the United States would be targeting Minneapolis with such a massive ULF "blast" we can find in the exact neighborhoods that surround the Interstate 35W Bridge, and which are home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, including over 30,000 Somalis who are outraged by the U.S. sponsored invasion of their home Nation by Ethiopian forces. "


Check out the original article here

Chin up!

ROCKtail Pictures

These will be on the Myspace page v. soon.
Thanks to everyone who made these party exceptionally fun.
Special thanks to Ashleita for taking this pretty pretty pictures.

Open Studio in Ivy House

We have the studio downstairs available. Its pretty big and private. Downsides are that you have to walk up to the house for the bathroom (not far) and there is only one window.

There is space for a Queen bed, desk and even couch in there. The closet is a bit make-shift, but the people down there have had no problems so far.

Rent is $475-WOO HOO! that's cheap. Deposit is the same. Utilities are usually around $35. Internet is $15.

We have a big party once a month, that's all you'd have to put up with.
Decently clean house where we expect roommates to clean up after themselves and help with house chores.

2 small dogs-Pug and Pomeranian

We prefer someone with a very steady job who likes to keep to themselves somewhat and wants a peaceful environment.

Let me know if there are any more questions!

Weekend Rhymes with Drinkend

This week has been a slow one and my body is craving some goingoutness. Good thing San Diego nights start on Thursday this time of year.

Thursday:
-TNT with Society! MoCA-Drink are expensive, but get one to start the night out right.
-Casbah for Muslims, Slits, Tenderbuttons-Always enjoy most of these guys and Casbah is down the street
-The Return of Skull Kontrol at Live Wire-They better not play 'Mr.Postman' one more time, get some new doo-wop out there, boys, I know you got it in ya! Yah Long Beach Iced Teas as made by Matt.
-Southpark episode (but this ends every night)

Friday:
-4 O'Clock Fridays with Violent Femmes-they always play and I've never seen them. Might be hard to make it thorough traffic though
-Bourne Ultimatum-GET ME JASON BOURNE!
-Silent Comedy/Silverbird-Beauty Bar. Ehh, going to BB tomorrow and twice in one week might be too much on the soul.
-Reel Big Fish at HOB. WOW. Might relive 15 if its free.
-Blue Ice Vodka Promo Party @ The Pink Elephant ($3 Blue Ice Vodka Drinks)-I feel about Vodka the way Homer feels about beer. MMMM vodka...

Saturday:
-Snorkeling at La Jolla Shores-great this time of year if you swim past the tourists.
-Stop by Borders to pick up Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book. Uhh, how did I not know about this??? Thanks to the guy at Record City for shooting the shit about Crazee Eyez Killah.
-Delta Spirit/Skullz at Beauty Bar. Yes, Beauty Bar.
-Walk to Tower for the end of Vena Cava, Down In The Dump. Spy on punkboarders. Get free PBRs (ha. ha. ha.)

That's as far as the eye can see for now. Sunday seems too far away.