If Ever A Week There Was…
Posted on October 8, 2004 at 1:12 pm | No Comments
Well, that was a week right there, I tell ya. Waking up every morning a little more drained than the one before, refusing to believe that I really shouldn’t be staying out so late on weeknights.
On Monday evening, Amie and I spontaneously ended up at the Red Sox Rally, and old-school pep rally in Fenway park to kick off the playoffs. The team was out in Anaheim, practicing on an off-day, and being interviewed live on the big screen for a crowd of cheering thousands. Remy and Orsillo hosted the two-hour event from a stage that was extended from the dugout, and we were just a few rows away. The much-missed NESN hosts (I’d turn the tv down and listen to the radio if there wasn’t a freakin’ time delay) were visited on stage by Sox prez & CEO Larry Lucchino, former Sox pitcher Oil Can Boyd, and catcher Rich Gedman. Team mascot Wally the Green Monster worked the crowd like a pro, even leaning in for a quick cell-photo with Amie…
Cross-country interviewees included Millar & Manny (showing off what was probably the fastest, craziest Red Sox celebratory handshake yet), along with Ortiz, Wakefield, Timlin, and more. We also got “Go Sox!” video clips from author Dennis Lehane, Denis Leary, Jimmy Fallon, Lenny Clarke… and John Kerry, to equal parts cheers and boooos.
So why the booing from the homestate crowd? I’m guessing it’s less politics and more this (see news & notes). The guy may never live that ‘Manny Ortez’ mistake down, but hey, he’ll still win in New England.
I’ve always hated the whole “Yankees Suck!” approach to being a Sox fan (not only is it classless, but they, um, don’t suck), and was kinda embarrassed by (and for) all the idiots who incessantly chanted it that night for the TV cameras. A pro-Red Sox rally, for a playoff series against the Angels (aka not the Yankees), and they still can’t leave that crap in their livingrooms? Ultra-weak. Unsurprisingly, I noticed that a lotta the people shouting that were the same ones who booed Kerry. Red Sox Nation has more than it’s share of no-class citizens.
Tuesday night was Rilo Kiley, of course. Still buzzing from that excellent show, I hardly caught up on sleep before Wednesday night’s late Red Sox/Angels game. Up until 2am, early to rise for a long workday and another show… this time the Green Magnet School reunion show at the Middle East. Great to see those guys on stage after so long, they rocked the post-1AM crowd mightily, in two different lineups. Here, check out one of the songs they did. My mp3 recorder is workin’ out pretty well.
So that was early this morning… to bed at 3am, up for work four hours later. I’m draggin’ like Beaver Dragon, hurtin’ fer certain, runnin’ on energy I don’t have. But it’s Friday afternoon, and there’s an early quitting time on tap for a hopefully-satisfying Sox game. I can’t believe I’m putting my faith behind a head full of ill-advised corn-rows. Today, they really are the Bo–Sox. (so funny, matt)
Black Hearts at Wal-Mart
You’ve gotta read this unbelievable Wal-Mart story over at Micki’s. As if people didn’t already have enough reason to loathe the place, this one puts ’em over the edge.
You’ll Wish You Had Less Fun…
Great interview with Sealab 2021 co-creator Adam Reed over at Suicide Girls. He speaks of how Sealab came to be, and how hard they were hit by the loss of vocal-genius Harry Goz (Captain Murphy). Visit S.G. for the words… stay for the pictures. Oh, and if you’re looking for some sweet Sealab sounds, swing by the Pod Six music section. Bunch of mp3s from the show, including “Fishin’ Hole” by Dr. Virjay the Mahatmamas. I’m laughin’ just thinkin’ about that episode.
Taking His Job and Shoving It…
Wow, this man is angry. And rightly so. Read it and you’ll understand. You’d be hard-pressed to find more frequent use of the word ‘suck’ on the web and not be at a p*rn site.
Free Download Overload…
So much music, so much hard drive space, so little time. We’ve got live recreations of every Swervedriver album over here, a few live tracks from American Analog Set over here, tons of random Sigur Ros songs over hnah, and a whole lotta Lou Barlow download links courtesy of this mp3 blog over hyah.
“… This Is Your Lucky Day!”
Discovered yesterday that Walter Schreifels’ Walking Concert is hitting Boston on October 18th. That’s awfully close, and a guaranteed sell-out, so I grabbed my ticket last night. Highly recommend you do the same if you’re around here.
S’enough for today, I suppose. Time to think about how I’m going to sneak outta here for the first pitch at 4 o’clock. My boss is a Yankees fan (it’s ok, I like him anyway), so he’s not giving me any sympathy. His response: “The real game’s not on until 8!”. Yeah, we’ll see about that.
Rilo Kiley – Live In Somerville
Posted on October 7, 2004 at 12:45 pm | No Comments
Tuesday night’s Rilo Kiley show at the Somerville Theatre surpassed some pretty lofty personal expectations. New stuff, old stuff, I love it all, and was really looking forward to the change of venue (the Theatre’s sound is usually far far better than the Middle East downstairs… hell, my basement could sound better), and was psyched to hear they’d added some more musicians to the band this time around. A sold-out, enthusiastic, and notably youngish crowd stood at their seats for the whole 18 song, hour and a half set.
Sir Frank of Chromewaves wrote up the Toronto show, and pretty much nailed the opening bands, except I may have been even more unimpressed by Now It’s Overhead than he was. Actually, they could be a band I’d like on disc but not live… you’ve gotta have more dynamic or stage presence if you’re following up the infectious catchiness of Tilly & the Wall. Their secret weapon is a pair of tap shoes, and they’re not afraid to use ’em.
Unlike Toronto, however, the sound at our show ruled the school, and I’m damn glad I took the opportunity to try out my new Sony clip-on stereo microphone with my old Archos mp3 recorder. For an audience recording, I’m pretty happy with it, so here’s the whole dang set for ya …
Rilo Kiley
Live at the Somerville Theater
Somerville, Mass., October 5th, 2004(note: files removed on 1/31/05)
01. It’s a Hit
02. My Slumbering Heart
03. Love and War
04. More Adventurous
05. A Better Son / Daughter
06. Portions For Foxes
07. Three Hopeful Thoughts
08. Paint’s Peeling
09. Absence of God
10. The Execution of All Things
11. I Never
12. Pictures of Success
13. It Just Is
14. Don’t Deconstruct
15. Does He Love You?
16. Ripchord
17. Let Me Back In
(an unreleased one!… anyone know the real title?)
18. The Good That Won’t Come Out
I’ve got a few more semi-blurry photos over here, and I took a quick shot at the lyrics for the new song. It’s a little ode to Los Angeles, and I’ve called it “Let Me Back In” until I hear different…
Rilo Kiley
Let Me Back Inlet it be printed, let it be known
i’m leaving you, i’m going home
and all you can do is just watch me goi’ve put you down, talked you up
defended your honor, and then packed it in and picked it up
and all you can do is just watch me gofrom the eastern seaboard, the landlocked midwest
the keys, the alps, the black hills, and budapest
with my heart in a sling, tail between my legs is swingin’
i’m sorry for leavin’…but when the palm trees bow their heads
no matter how cruel i’ve been
l.a., you always let me back inyou can bury me when my body breaks
in the earth that created me, in the golden state
by my mama and her brother and their mama, too‘cuz i had a dream i was carried on the backs of a thousand green birds
and they carried me into a place without words
and there was nuthin’, but there was everything(tap dancin time!)
and when the palm trees bow their heads
no matter how cruel i’ve been
l.a., you always let me back inand when the palm trees bow their heads
no matter how cruel i’ve been
l.a., you always let me back in…back in… back in…
Sounds like Jenny’s response to fellow postman Ben Gibbard’s “Why You’d Want To Live Here“, doesn’t it? Kinda makes me want to get serious about visiting my friends in L.A…