Boo!

Seal Pile

As the temperature starts to dip, the cats love us even more --- because we are warm things to sit upon. Lately, I've been feeling blissfully close to realizing my dream of the warm seal pile.

Ubu Roi

The one panel I was not going to miss (aside from the one I was on) was titled "Disposable Content -- Has the availablity of affordable recording equipment and the permeation of the Internet devalued music?" The topic itself has been discussed often in my world of music geekery, but the reason I could NOT miss it was that the moderator was none other than David Thomas. David Thomas! The perpetual grump who is the founder of Pere Ubu. I like grumps. Grumps are my idols.

I took notes -- but it was one of the few times I wished I had a video camera with me. As it was, I found myself madly scribbling to jot down these King Grump quotes:

"Music has been reduced to a fashion accessory for teenage girls."

"Fuck the artist. Fuck the audience. Preserve the art!"

"Thom Yorke is still a cross-eyed whiny pimple-headed geek. I'm tired of him whining in my ear."

"Creative individuals have to take it upon themselves to know that they are being watched by the dead faces of history."

Now you owe it to yourself to go listen to "The Modern Dance." I can't promise that you will like it, but it's one of those magic records that changed my life.

Birthday King

Happy Birthday to The Chef, my favorite person (and celebrity cocktail blogger) in the whole wide world. We are celebrating with er, um, fancy cocktails. Three cheers for The Chef! Turns out I'm not the only one who likes to take his picture in our kitchen.




Photo of camera w/ picture of chef cutting lemons as held by Chronicle photographer taken by Haus Frau. Confused yet? We are.

NYC Office

That's right. Scooter Parking. It's hard to accept this as reality.

Brooklyn

The first night I took the subway to Brooklyn to hang out with Joe. He runs a indie scenester record label now.

Brooklyn at sunset....

The door to Social Registry (and a hundred other art/music n' interesting stuff studios.) It's in an old building that was a pencil factory -- the first company to make pencils with erasers.

Speaking of firsts -- it was the first time I had seen Joe without a beard. Ever! Also, first time he's ever revealed himself as "office guy."



I took Joe out to eat and we discussed the last 15 years -- or longer. I forgot all about that cheese bribe I sent to Homestead Records in a failed attempt to win the entire catalogue in a student radio contest. Catching up with people you've known for a long time is one of the pleasures of getting older.

We spotted this guard dog on the way to the Social Registry/K/Asthmatic Kitty showcase at the Glasslands Gallery.

Jeremy Jay -- on K Records. They sound British so I forgive them for being from L.A.

My new friends Christy & Emily. Before their set, they asked me if I wanted to go drink whiskey and I said "OK!" Joe seemed worried, but they told me all about how they went on a European tour with The Nightingales. The Nightingales! I like Christy & Emily. Check out their amp...

Back from NYC

Back from NYC -- where I took lots of taxi rides, saw bands, went to Brooklyn (twice!) and wandered around like I didn't know where I was going. More stories to come...after I sleep.

Spicy Tofu

Just in case you were wondering what we had for dinner last night.

Collides and Careens

I was watching my favorite show "30 Rock" when Tina Fey (as Liz Lemon) said something that made me stop laughing because it's too close to home. She called one of her writers "C-h-o-c-o-l-a-t-e R-a-i-n." on NBC. Tina Fey. I stopped laughing and paused the Tivo. Do you know they explain these kinds of things in newspapers now?

Hardly Strictly Mekons

Blue Angels

Supporting the war machine (to be used for entertainment purposes) from the top of Bernal Hill. It's Fleet Week!

Nick Lowe

This was right before an old fella ripped down the geezerish poster of (the still fabulous) Nick Lowe off the wall at Great American Music Hall. This fan guy behavior was witnessed by the aging Geek Girls Music Club (who felt like youngsters at this particular concert). Thanks to PVC who halted the rippage until this photo could be snapped.

When I was in high school, I convinced my parents to let me ride the Greyhound bus to Madison where I dragged my (silly) sister to Headliners (with fake ID entry) to see Nick Lowe perform. Even then, I was so obsessed that I waited to go backstage to get his autograph on a 7" single import. It was the start of my long history of meeting my favorite musicians and stuttering profound things to them like "I just love your music!"

What I still love about him -- Rockpile (pub rock!), "What's So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding", "Cracking Up", "The Beast in Me" and a multitude of perfect pure pop for now people. Plus, he produced a few of my favorite records (The Damned! The Pretenders! Elvis Costello!) and mastered the style of boosting the vocals to be front and center in the mix -- loud, clear, and right in your ear. His show last night fit that same bill.

Thanks Nick, I just love your music.