Reason 576 why Austin, TX is a cool city… Fun Fun Fun Fest. I am jealous I was not there. Really jealous… Seriously look at this line up!
I’ve been to festivals that had good line ups in my time but it seems as if Fun Fun Fun Fest takes the cake. They have some special means of attracting some of the more obscure bands for a weekend of awesome and I only wish something like this could happen in my area.
I took a few moments tonight to look for some fan shot footage. Here is what I found:
Face To Face was there. They told everyone they were back…
The Jesus Lizard proved that age does not matter…and that chubby is sexy (to some)…
(*Editor’s Note – Thanks to my reliable laptop crashing this was postponed for quite sometime.)
Before I even start I would like to publicly kick myself in the ass for not attending last night’s Mike Doughty concert at the Beachland Ballroom (Oct. 10th). I know I missed a good time and I am the one to blame for missing it. I just had too much going on and not enough green paper in the wallet so I decided to sit it out and today am regretting it. I also had the flu of sorts so it just was not happening.
Luckily I got my hands on his new album so at least I have something to listen to and talk about.
I always admire the musicians out there in the world that have overcome hardship and feed off the fan reaction rather than make music for pure financial purposes. One performer in particular that comes to mind when I think about a hard working true music maker is Mike Doughty. Doughty, as many know, was the lead man of the 90’s alt rock act Soul Coughing. Sadly the band called it quits thanks to constant battles with drugs and also financial hardship but Doughty kept going on doing his own thing.
He started recording solo material and soon had a cult following who worshiped his every word and sang along with to every song. I was one of those folk who took a huge liken to him. I loved seeing Doughty on stage alone with guitar in hand singing folky and rocky songs to an ever loving crowd.
Doughty took his fan’s reaction to his 2008 solo release Golden Delicious and used it to mold his next release titled Sad Man, Happy Man. Some of the fans loved the rock pop heavy Golden Delicious while others hated it. Perhaps the dis-likening came from the more upbeat fun styles that were bursting from the tunes over former albums.
Having such a huge step up from his widely known solo material was credited with Doughty’s “dude theory”, an idea of recording music that sounds like a bunch of dudes playing music for the fun of it. The result of his dude music won new fans and also caused some of the more so diehard fans to go so far as calling him a sellout for doing what he did. Not taking the negative reactions personal he used it to his benefit and began a different approach when creating new material.
In fact he used the responses as a fuel of sorts to making something better in his current release and admitted that his previous album sparked an array of feelings by saying:
“…some hated it, some loved it better than Soul Coughing. I tend to take sharp left turns. Every time I put out a record, the audience seems to like what I did two years ago better. You’d think I could shrug it off because that’s what always happens, but it always gets to me.”
As a fan of everything Doughty has done since the days of Soul Coughing I have to admit that I was one of the fans who liked Golden Delicious. It was a change in his style but still catchy to my ears. Just check out my review I did on it. I was happy from start to finish and the album is still played here and there when I am looking for something fun to jam out to.
When I heard that Doughty was going back to his roots when recording Sad Man,Happy Man I was eager for the release. After hearing listening to it (over and over I might add), it is clear that Doughty reached back to his solo roots as well as the days when he was in the popular 90’s act and pushed aside that poppy feel Golden Delicious had going on. This time around there is more of a Soul Coughing vibe and less of the more pop rock he achieved previously.
“Nectarine (Part II)” sequel to song on Golden Delicious was acoustic with a brief add of Irresistible Bliss horns. “(I Keep On) Rising Up” continued with Doughty’s signature raspy hypnotizing voice moving through a more personal jam (he wrote it during hardship in a relationship). Just after a couple of tracks and it was perfectly clear he was stripped down and focused on the acoustic.
“(You Should Be) Doubly (Gratified)” was a nice smooth rock song with long time touring pal Andrew “Scrap” Livingston taking bass duties. I should add that this album is just Doughty and Livingston with Doughty providing not just the singing and guitars but also the drum programming and keyboards as well.
“(I Want To) Burn You (Down)” was a poignant acoustic jam reminiscent to the days when Doughty would play shows and would sell CDs himself from the stage after wards when he was trying to get back on his feet. “Pleasure On Credit” clearly reached back to his witty Soul Coughing days. I don’t think it was possible for me to enjoy this song more so than I did the first time I heard it.
Ending the CD with a Daniel Johnston cover completed this album for me. Hearing Doughty’s take on “Casper The Friendly Ghost” had me smiling. The version was not nearly as depressing as the original schizophrenic take but still held on to Daniel Johnston’s eerie original.
It’s great to see that Mike Doughty keeps on going and Sad Man, Happy Man shows no form of slowing down. It sounded throughout the album as if he was just having fun without getting too serious and to me that is what I admire him most for. With all the hell the man has been though he never seemed to stop having fun doing what he loved – play music, and loving it while doing so.
Not just a musician but also an outspoken blogger. Check out Mike Doughty’s blog site. He’s not just a clever song writer you know…
Looks like I missed out on a little Q&A at the Beachland… The tour was called the Question Jar Tour. Looks like they took it very literally. Damn me for getting sick!
One of my pals since the easy days of sitting on milk crates on Saturday night on the side of a Dunkin Donuts has been telling me a lot about something out there I need to check out. He even went so far as to asking me to do a little write-up about said entertainment.
I had a better idea. I told him to do it. Not because I am lazy and did not want to, but I wanted his excitement for the podcast put into words for all to read. At first Kevin was hesitant and after strong force and blatant threats he agreed.
So now I turn it over to Kevin… Thanks pal.
Remember the days when you were a sophomore in high school and you were so into that one awesome band? You listened to them all the time, sported the t-shirt, and told everyone about them just trying to share the love. Sadly people just gave you an idiot stare while asking if you still had to pee in a cup before school. The wanted nothing to do with you or that stupid band you were in to.
Shockingly a few months later those same people that you were wildly raving at are telling you about the same new band that they discovered. You knew deep down inside that you though were the OG of that band, you knew about them all along…
I’m about to relive that glory once again, but not with a band this time. This time it is with a podcast.
WAIT! Keep reading.
I know that there is a lot of garbage podcasts out there, especially in the comedy section. Just because you have $20 for a mic and your mom told you that you were talented doesn’t make it OK to have a show. There is talent out there, you just have to look.
For the past few months I have been listening to Bill and Will make some comedy magic on something called The Vomitus Prime podcast.
What is Vomitus Prime you ask? I took this direct from their site to give you a little insight on what they are all about:
Vomitus Prime has nothing to do with transformable robots. It’s a rotating cast from the tail end of Generation X. They spend about an hour roughly once a week reminiscing their past glories, dreaming up derelict things to save money, and mocking others. Sometimes high-tech, sometimes classless, sometimes culinary. Always worth every cent.
Now that I have your attention…
Bill is currently working on his 121st episode with his 3rd4th5th 6th co-host, Will. The show takes place somewhere in the Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin tri-state area, it’s exact location remaining a mystery.
Actually, now that it’s getting into winter you might be able to find the hideout by the glow of the depression light via Bill’s desk. Bill is a man with the social skills of The Unabomber and a sense of humor reminiscent of Bill Hicks. His partner, Will, is an ADD-afflicted nymphomaniac whose curiosity takes the show on wild tangents.
When you get your weekly dose of Vomitus Prime you’ll get a mix of politically uncool humor. Everything is fair game, and don’t worry–you’ll get used to getting the stink-eye from folks at the grocery store when you let out a maniacal laugh from the show.
Listening to Vomitus Prime keeps you at age 25 – forever. Its a time when life’s early milestones have been passed. You are no longer carded because the bartender can see the pleading in your eyes for a drink. Golden and amber refreshment is the only way to replenish the bit of your soul that is taken every day in Cubicleland.
Much like happy hour, an hour of Vomitus Prime lets you rant about the day, laugh about it, and point on the doll where life has maliciously touched you. Its enough to get you through it until you have to go right back at it tomorrow.
In each episode, members of The Vomitus Party call in their Vomications for all of the cool stuff in their world, and vehemently Decepticoning the merciless ways the life can put you through the wringer. Other features of the show are the drunken cooking tips from Wolfgang Drunk, knowing the value of a “dollah”, and remembering all of the awesome things in life that for some reason disappeared in Bringin’ It Back.
It is one of the few podcasts I’ve found that strongly encourages audience participation and they do it with great results. The place where Vomitus Prime eclipses most all other comedy shows is the chemistry between the hosts. You have Bill’s viciously clever wit that melds with Will’s obscure, yet relevant observations.
If you’re new to podcasts this is a good place to start. If you’re still looking for a good comedy podcast that’s more than dick and fart jokes from the morning zoo, (Vomitus Prime have only the finest fancy dick and fart jokes), head over to www.vomitusprime.com or find them on iTunes and see, rather listen to, the nonsense I speak about.
I’m not into video games like I used to be. This realization almost hurts the geek in me because there was a time when I was more than obsessed with picking up a controller and losing my mind for hours. Video games have surrounded my life starting with Atari back in the late 70’s.
Back when I was just a small child my folks brought home an Atari 2600. I would play that system until the controllers would break. At the time it was the greatest thing ever. I was able to take a square figured guy and side-scroll him while dodging scorpions and alligators. Sometimes I would fall into the holes and sneak past the harder parts. (Yes, I speak of Pitfall)
Throughout my video game years I’ve saved the Princess thousands of times, took the Browns (or Cleveland equivalent) to the Tecmo Bowl, defeated a creepy fat mustached villain thanks to a blue hedge hog, and saved Zelda a bunch after recovering the Tri-Force. I’ve beat countless countries in Super Dodge Ball as well as even once TKO’d Mike Tyson after he beat me thousands of times. I’ve won races, done impossible skateboarding tricks, killed a robotic Hitler, and even round the reverse world on Super Mario World.
“Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Select Start” actually means something to me and is not just some random group of commands. I am a video game junkie, I know this.
The systems just got better and better as I grew up. My eyes would open wide with excitement when I would hear about new systems being created. My folks tried their best and not cave in and buy every system that came out but between my brother and I begging them as well as saving out pennies we did good. Nintendo, Turbo Graphix 16, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis – yeah, we had em.
Obviously as the years passed the gaming systems just got more insane. The first time I saw the graphics on a Nintendo 64 my mouth dropped open. Remember Goldeneye? What a game… That and Perfect Dark. I remember playing Twisted Metal on my friend’s Playstation for the first time. Then there was the first time I saw someone play Tony Hawk Pro Skater – I am sounding like a complete nerd now. Deal.
I remember these things and it freaks me out sometimes. Why did I get so excited and further more how is it that many of my memories revolve around video games. I remember when I was 16 I played Super Baseball 2020 at my friend’s father’s condo in Strongsville. People are not supposed to remember things like this!!!
I guess one of the reasons I never grew out of video gaming and loved it so is because it was around me all the time. Video games were not just eye hand coordination, they were escapes from reality. Once Grand Theft Auto came out it was turning into a violent stress reliever. Halo took away many hours of my life but I have no complaints at all, I was having fun.
Xboxs, PS2s, 360s, DSs, Gamecubes, Wii’s… They got better and better and my money was well spent on them. True story – I have waited in line more than once for a Nintendo product. I was #101 for the Nintendo Wii when it came out in 2006. I waiting in the cold at a Best Buy just so I could be one of the firsts to have it. Why? Because video games rule… I also waited in line for the Gamecube when it came out as well as waited in line on 9-9-99 for the Sega Dreamcast. Call me what you want, I am aware I was a video game junkie.
Forget the fact that sometimes there is a layer of dust on the Wii or the 360 some days. I am a busy person and don’t get to play the systems like I used to. In fact I have at least a dozen games I keep telling myself I need to play/beat and I never get to them when I have a day off. I really just need to drop everything and play those games but then things won’t get done around the house… UGH – I am turning into an adult.
I have the systems here at the BHP ranch for when I have time to drop a couple hours in a virtual world on rare occasion. I prefer the 8-bit games usually because of the nostalgia and perhaps the simplicity of the game but I still like some of the games on the newer systems.
One game in particular is Guitar Hero. I tried avoiding that game as much as possible but got sucked into it. It is funny to imagine me, a 32 year old, standing in front of my tv and playing this game. As if that is not funny enough, imagine the thoughts going on in my head as I play it. There are moments I feel like I am the Guitar Hero, a rockstar. Who cares if there are no strings on the plastic child sized guitar? I don’t, I just rocked out to a Coheed & Cambria song and got 98%.
Still even Guitar Hero gets repetitious and I sometimes just put the plastic Les Paul down for months on end.
I have not been intrigued over a game for a while. I have not played Madden in years, have no idea what players are in Tekken, and to this day have not tried the newest Grand Theft Auto. Some of me tells myself that I’ve played them before and it is nothing new. I guess I am bored with it.
Then comes DJ Hero.
This game looks AWESOME. I want. I want. I want.
I love the art of spinning and scratching. It amazes me and now thanks to a video game once again I can pretend I am something I am not and love it.
I have not caved in yet and purchased it mostly because the price of the game is $120. That is a lot of money for me to be spending on something that quite possibly may pick up dust in the near future. Still, I want this damn game.
Why? Because it looks fun and Daft Punk is in the commercials and I can pretend I am a amazing DJ and so on and so on… The game really does look well created. I really should go to a store and try it out but that would be a huge mistake and if I did like it as much as I am thinking I will, it would come home with me.
Looks as if I still am a video game junkie after all…
