Month: June 2005

Spiraling: Out of Control

Last night I went to see a gig I helped hook up: Spiraling at Sticky Fingerz. Tom, Marty, Bob and Paul are all so insanely talented, humble, fun guys. They gave me several CDs and I bought as much as I could. After the show I led them to the nearest Motel 6, conveniently located next to my office. Then I led them to a party over Sherman St. where the Localist boys were having their last big hurrah before Davey departs for superstardom. I talked at length with Tom about his tenure in Yes, wherein he made a big splash by getting a reluctant Steve Howe to perform “Owner of a Lonely Heart” for the Yes Symphonic Live DVD and tour. Tom played the Trevor Rabin guitar solo so Steve wouldn’t have to. That’s what a great guy Tom is – not only can he play the keyboard like a maniac, but he’s also a diplomatic, thoughtful guy (unlike some people). Best part for me was getting to talk music with him, Bob and Marty. Turns out Bob is an insane guitar player as well, with some shred-monkey roots like mine. Marty is a fellow Jellyfish freak. Later on, we took them to Heather’s porch where they showed me the chords to “Girl on Top of the Piano” and I impressed them with hatchet-job versions of “Mediterranean Sundance” and random Steve Morse tunes on Heather’s neighbor’s 12 string guitar (minus 1). Good times.

Overthrowing the AP Style Manual

A client pointed out recently that “Web site” is how the AP Style Manual dictates the proper terminology for what you’re viewing right now. Curiously capitalized, “Web site” is an unwieldy two-word phrase moving toward compound status in the much sleeker and more concise “website.” It just makes good sense. You wouldn’t capitalize “brochure” would you? So why capitalize “Web site”?

It is up to all of us to dictate usage. The AP Style Manual is not Usage God, it is merely Usage Archive, marking the boundaries and storing information for uniform reference. It is not flexible enough to keep pace with the rapidly changing world in which we live. If it were up to the AP Style Manual we’d all still be saying “To-day” and “To-morrow.” So get out there, kids, and make “website” your terminology of choice!

Saturday Happiness

Saturday one of my favoritest bands of the last couple of years is coming to town for the first time, Spiraling. 9PM at Sticky Fingerz. Only $5. Plus American Princes and The Boswells. Opening acts that don’t suck.

Before that I think I’ll try another grill out in the backyard. Maybe around 3 or 4PM until it’s time to head to the show. Bring food and friends.

A Theory

Perhaps my more psychologically knowledgeable colleagues can back me up on this, but I’m beginning to think that, as people spend time together, their interaction produces some sort of neurochemical signature that is specific to their relationship. For example, two people in love will have a unique, literal chemistry together, and will very likely become neurochemically dependent upon each other. When these two people are separated, certain signs of chemical dependency are exhibited, namely, withdrawal.

Sometimes pictures help.

No Disassemble Number 5

As if it weren’t bad enough that President Bush is taking shots at Amnesty International, he has to do it by senselessly murdering innocent words:

Mr Bush said its accusations therefore stemmed from “people who hate America, people that have been trained in some instances to disassemble, that means not tell the truth”.

As if it weren’t bad enough that me meant “dissemble,” he has to go and attempt to define the word he’s misusing.

This comes after last week’s charming bon mot:

“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.”

Because the Domesticat Is She Who Must Be Obeyed

Because Amy demands it, a music meme:

Amount of music on your computer?

A lot, but probably not as much as most people I know, as I haven’t really downloaded many tunes since the demise of Napster. I’m always snowed in with CDs, so I don’t have time to download anything. That would just lead to more CD purchases, and that’s just not what I need right now. I mean, have you seen this ridiculous thing?

Currently listening to?

Sonny Landreth – Grant Street (live)
Steve Vai – Real Illusions
Stereolab – Margarine Eclipse
The Perceptionists – Black Dialogue
The Mercury Program – Confines of Heat

Five songs that mean a lot to you?

That’s too broad. How about:

Songs that make me want to roll down the windows and sing like a carefree, overly caffeinated nerdboy:

“New Mistake” – Jellyfish
“I Won’t Worry” – Jason Mraz
“What a Drag” – Sugarbomb
Everything by the Merrymakers, Tories, and Churchills

Songs that tell great eternal truths:

“People are Strange” – The Doors
“Everybody Hurts” – REM
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – The Rolling Stones

Songs that reduce me to a sobbing blob:

“Inconsolable” – Jonatha Brooke
“Dreams to Remember” – Otis Redding
“The Lighthouse’s Tale” – Nickel Creek

Songs that have described my life in startling detail:

“Neon”- John Mayer
“1983” – John Mayer
“Beautiful (Coulda Woulda)” – The Churchills
“What a Drag” – Sugarbomb

Top five albums (7 because Moses Leroy and UNKLE will not be silenced by arbitrary numerical conventions):

De La Soul – Three Feet High and Rising
Steve Vai’s Passion and Warfare
Dream Theater – Images and Words
Jellyfish – Spilt Milk
The Merrymakers – Bubblegun
UNKLE – Psyence Fiction
The Incredible Moses Leroy – Electric Pocket Radio

Last album bought?

The new Churchills and Jackdaw4 from NotLame.com
4th Avenue Jones – Stereo: the Evolution of Hiprocksoul
Jupiter Jazz – Jupiter Jazz
A couple Of Montreal discs

Recent discoveries?

4th Avenue Jones
Jupiter Jazz