Driving Blind
Posted on January 20, 2005 at 1:56 pm | No Comments
I swear, when I left my house this morning my windshield was crystal clear. But by the time I hit the turnpike, it was a mess of kicked-up, fast-freezing, snow-dirt spray. When the a.m. sun hit me, heading east into downtown Boston, I was lost in the glare until I hit the wiper fluid… to discover it empty. The blades streaked across the glass only to open a sliver of sight near the bottom, and I crouched down squinting, white-knuckled and focused on the bumper of the car in front of me.
Always nice to start the day with an injection of adrenaline. Kinda thought I was gonna die.
So the Blunderer in Chief got sworn in again, and some are marking the occasion with Not One Damn Dime Day. I was initially apathetic about the idea, figuring not enough people would refrain from spending today, either through lack of knowledge or unavoidable habit, but an old friend named Cheryl made some good points in the comments section down below. Check it out.
So I figured I’d give it a shot, keep my money in my pockets, do my very small part to protest the inauguration of a guy who failed miserably in so many aspects of his job, yet got rehired just the same.
Then, of course, in a sleepy haze, I bought a coffee and banana on the way into work. And some friends are playing music tonight, so I’ll probably be checking that out. So much for the not spending. I am weak. I’m protesting with my thoughts, though. Sigh. I kinda like what Jen did, though.
From The Big Takeover mailing list:
Rob Dickinson, ex-Catherine Wheel Frontman, Finishes Long Awaited First Solo LP
At last, after several years of rumor and speculation, The Big Takeover has confirmed and can exclusively report that Rob Dickinson, formerly of our huge favorites, Britain’s Catherine Wheel, has completed his first solo LP for release in 2005, his first record since Catherine Wheel’s swansong LP Wishville in 2000. We regret there are no other details at present or other information on release, label, etc. but we will have that and report it in the weeks or months to come. Also, no word on the long-rumored Catherine Wheel live LP…
It’d be real nice if his record lived up to my fond Catherine Wheel memories… although so many frontman solo outings fall short. Fingers crossed.
The Wedding Present hitting North America in April? YES. New British Sea Power album in March? YES. (add that to my ‘looking forward to in 05’ list). Thanks as always for the info, chromewaves. Also, new Lucksmiths EP on the way. ‘Bout time.
I’m a CD Baby fan (love their attitude, and their customer service), so when I can, I buy my music from them. Really surprised me to find out that you can actually get my very first band’s one & only disc there. Yes, you can literally listen to me learn how to play the drums during each song. And to think, we actually kept our most embarrassing stuff offa there (thus the disc’s title of ‘almost everything‘. duh.)
The very kind (and very tiny) label/fanzine that released it, Dewdrops, officially retired in 2003, and their entire catalog is up at CD Baby. Very cool.
While we’re on the subject of embarrassment… y’know that unfortunate ‘Rockstar‘ thing that reality-tv uber-producer Mark Burnett has devised? The one where the once-good-then-not-so-much INXS travels the globe looking for a new lead singer to replace a deceased Michael Hutchence? The show that makes me cringe at the very thought of it?
Well, watchout, because here comes the sure-to-be-hilarious audition action… and they’re hitting Boston. At the Middle East on February 9th, to be exact. The horror! But y’know, I’ll probably watch that episode. Like I said, I’m weak.
(congrats to Kevin & the crew at the M.E. by the way, for winning the Boston Phoenix ‘Best Rock Club’ award for 2004)
I’m not weak enough to watch an entire episode of the O.C., though… even if they are using a Walking Concert song in tonight’s installment. Yes, it’s true, according to the W.C. mailing list. If you’re watching, listen for the song “Hands Up!”.
So I heard a song by the Radio Dept. on a Tracks Up the Tree podcast the other day, and loved it. Coincidentally, Bob Mould offers up one of their mp3s today. Going to have to investigate them further, I am I am.
Treasure troving: This Elliott Smith fansite has a bunch of great video clips up, this Franz Ferdinand one has lots of audio to share, and this excellent Kings of Convenience fansite offers up a bunch of live stuff and rarities. (KoC heads up courtesy bedroom dancing)
So whaddya think about that Fantastic Four trailer? Me, I’m not so psyched. Serious b-movie potential goin’ on.
I’m really digging Mystery and Misery lately.
Hollis says that Shearwater is really good, and she rarely steers me wrong. Gonna have to check ’em out.
Everyone (and their hipster brother) has already linked this, so here’s a reminder: New Postal Service video, directed by the Napoleon Dynamite guy. Yup.
Hey, my pals Colin Clary & the Magogs made Dave Heaton’s Top 20 of 2004 over at PopMatters. To quote the man himself: “Yow!”
LHB called me “red hot“. Actually, the red is ‘cuz I’m blushing.
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