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Some Early Afternoon Junk.

Breaking the afternoon boredom can be quite difficult. Luckily there are other kids who have the same problem who send me links on my busy days. Speaking of busy days, today has smelled of suckiness. My boss isn't very happy with me because I told her I never want to work again. She then called me out, but I didn't move from my desk. Now I'm being watched like a hawk (but not a good hawk like Hawkins). Here are some links for your viewing pleasure.

Maybe John Kerry should rethink his campaign strategy. Trading high school kids beer for votes is a genius idea though some may frown on it, (thanks Stevo).

An interesting twist on the idea of reparations. At first glance I thought this kid was just another crazy Jewish dude (are there a lot of crazy Jews? I don't know, maybe I'm just upset because you killed my savior), but after thinking about it, it's kind of logical.

So Cami thinks she can start eating meat and then all of a sudden join this organization? Doesn't she have to earn her stripes by eatting hot dogs at Rudy's on 9th Ave? Well, we are happy to have her anyway. Check out the pictures and find the crazy terrorist beard, (werd to Cami).

Who knew PBR was making a comeback? I mean besides every 18-24 year old in this country? Good bless the Blue Ribbon, (cheers Stevo).

Finally, all of you kids with girlfriends, be careful. If she asks you to "talk" the next couple of days, beware. You may be getting the ax. Just turn the goddamn TV off dude, the worst that could happen is that you might have to have sex.

I Intend To Be Independently Blue.

If you haven't seen Monsters, Inc than take some time out of your day, head to Blockbuster and pick up the solid Disney flick. Why am I such a puff? Well, I'm not. Just see the movie, you'll know what I'm saying. When Liz Costa and I saw it opening night back in 2001 we were smitten with delight. Last night I finished my second round of the animation gem and couldn't have been more pleased. Ok, you're right. I am a puff, but rent it anyway and find a friend to cuddle up with. From what I read its better that way.

So my evening was quite bland. After a couple hours of writing I had to help Lowel move a bunch of stuff for my crippled roommate. Now my back hurts. Maybe I'll break my ankle so my roommate has to do everything for me. Just kidding Kyle. It's my pleasure.

Billy Corgan Sucks.

Tonight, Tonight. It's only 9:09am and I'm already thinking about this evenings plans. Unfortunately I won't be able to see the O.C. live, but rest assured it will be taped. This may come as a dissappointment to some of you due to the cancelation of the O.C. PotLuck. Tonight the rock is calling my name in the form of a trip to Irving Plaza to see The Killers and maybe even Ambulance Ltd and Stellastarr*. My original plan was to watch the O.C. and then shoot over to the Mercury to catch the Sleepy Jackson set, but Sivan has detered me from those plans and pointed me in the Las Vegas direction. Is anyone else planning to attend the show this evening?

Weak Post. Strong News.

The Darkness start a media war over their exclusion from the Glastonbury Festival. I don't see Justin Hawkins apologizing any time soon, especially after Michael Eavis called for it publically.

Filter reveiws the Aussie Invasion Tour that threw down at Irving Plaza on St. Patty's day. This show was so damn predictable and this dude just proved it. Thank god Tom kept his cred by not mentioning anymore Jet songs. Whew! that was close.

It's official. Morrissey will play the Appollo Theater on May 3,4,6,7 & 8. Get your tickets Friday, and don't forget to buy an extra for this poor kid.

Lollapalooza seems to be making a come back with the inclusion of Morrissey, Sonic Youth, Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips and The String Cheese Incident? What the fuck. Why would they put the String Cheese Incident on the bill? I guess its a good chance to attract hippie money while giving those who aren't douche's the chance to goto the beer tent.

John Kerry greases the palms of the Hollywood elite. Of course they are going to support Kerry, who else is there?

Who knew the Dell Dude was in the Secret Machines? Ben Curtis and the rest of the gang get a feature on Filter.

Ok, I just got the worst project ever at work. Now I'm done. Fuck everything.

Today's Ipod mix included: Minor Threat, Salad Days; Warlocks, The Dope Feels Good; The Kinks, Set Me Free; Weezer, Fall Together; Nina Simone, Love Me or Leave Me; Elvis, Way Down; Rolling Stones, My Obsession; Walkmen, No Christmas While I'm Talking; The Strokes, Modern Girls and Old Fashion Men.

New Flavorpill Means New Self Promotion.

Another Tuesday means another issue of the pill has hit most of your mailboxes. If you aren't one of the lucky ones who is on the mailing list than do yourself a favor and sign the eff up. This week I had the pleasure of writing up The (International) Noise Conspiracy show this coming Monday at the Bowery. Check it out here. There is also a great Bent2004 listing by Liz and a killer MF Doom inclusion by Nick.

Being A Kid Was Fun.

Cami sent me this link today. Mash was a great time killer in grade school and it definitely crosses over into the young professional life style. My results were:

You will live in House.
You will drive a Yellow Mini Coop.
You will marry Mischa Barton and have 1 kids.
You will be a Tour Manager in Amsterdam.

How fucking awesome is that? Post your results in the comments section.

I Wear Black On The Outside.

I'm fucking sick of this. If I can't wake up without freezing my ass off then I'm moving. It’s about time to get out of this city and head for high water. My lease (if you can call it that) will be up in December at which point it will be time to hit the road. San Diego sounds like a stretch at this point, but damn it would be nice.

Moving On.

Noah cruised by in the early evening so we could cook some dinner. We made a batch of turkey tacos that were quite delicious. If you didn't know, my new nickname is Ortega.

We got our hang on prior to heading over to the Mercury for another fine set by the Vietnam. We ran into Jen and Asako when we entered the club. Jen told me they now have a permanent 4th roommate in their tiny 3 bedroom. It sounds tough, but she's a trooper. The Vietnam had the early slot on tonight’s bill, but they still managed to play to a decent number of kids. They have a couple of jams that really stick out and last night they delivered. I knew from talking to Joshua outside that he was nicely drunk which may explain why he was so damn sloppy, but their set still shined where it needed to.

Noah, Daylen and I headed back to 186 after the Vietnam's set. The two of them took off for Daylen's place so I just stuck around and got some work done. Around 10:30pm I headed back to the club to see Eugene Mirman's set. He is a stand up comedian that is on Empire's roster (or whatever offshoot of Empire books the comedians). A lot of his jokes flopped and he jumped all over the place, but he did drop a few bombs that had me giving up a healthy gut laugh. The best part of his set was the phone call he had recorded with a collection agency. Mirman also played some videos that were hilarious. One of which was a biographical piece that was so schizophrenic that it had me rolling.

During the changeover I got some chat in with Beach, Dan, Uncle Mike, Cami, DTL, Ben and Liz who had all congregated in the back. Noah and Daylen made their way over before we settled into the lush sounds of All Night Radio. Despite the short set (it felt like 7 songs), ANR delivered the hits including You'll Be On Your Own, We're On Our Wave, and Daylight Til Dawn which was a fitting closer. ANR created huge sound waves that softly swooped through the room and then stormed back down to the floor with some crazy drum fills. Jimi Hey is one hell of a drummer. He was going nuts, but what made him special was the inability to predict where he would take the songs. He was the Bobby Knight of drumming. He abused his kit, but that was the only way he could get what he wanted. They added a bass player to the mix which may be a good decision from what I was told by Noah. With a delightful live show added to their resume, All Night Radio is set to become a favorite in the indie scene.

Fucking People. Not Fucking People.

After work I got a crazy email from one of my best pals back home. He had to tell me that one of our other solids had gotten into some serious trouble and is now in rehab. This kid, who is a dear friend of ours, has developed a habit that requires a lot of money and makes you crazy which lead to him deciding credit card fraud was his best option. He then broke out of his house (his parents had locked him in his room) before being sent to rehab. This is just a minor example of the kids I grew up with. It's starting to fuck with me, but Trevor and I reassure ourselves that this kind of thing isn't going to happen to either of us. With our friends dropping like flies its tough to figure out why we are the last guys standing. All I can say is don't move to Clearfield, PA to raise your kids because though it may seem like candy and kittens when you are young, once you hit 12 years old, things start to get fucked. How did I avoid this lineage? Why was I the one who got out?

Eat My Shorts.

What the fuck is wrong with us?

Does this mean Loretta Lynn is going to fight Marci of the Von Bondies?

The NY Post lets the masses know that Stellastarr* has made with a big profile in the daily. They also take this opportunity to inform us about other unknowns like TV on the Radio and the Rapture?

Cashing in on sucking tits.

Franz Ferdinand get it while the getting’s good. They announce a huge tour.

Another awesome column from Filter. Just kidding.

Junkmedia has new reviews of Runner and the Thermodynamics, Snow Patrol and Broken Social Scene. They all get the same score. Nice and safe.

Har Mar Superstar, whom you may remember from the dance off in Starsky and Hutch, gets heckled by some Texas folk at this year's SXSW. Maybe if he kept his pants on people would stop throwing giant cocks at him.

Today's Ipod mix included: Weezer, Only In Dreams; The Smiths, Unlovable; Bishop Allen, Coupla Easy Things; Pulp, Lipgloss; Pavement, We Are Underused; Led Zeppelin, Since I've Been Loving You.

Have You Seen My Weiner?

As I mentioned below in the weekend recap, Noah helped me do some grocery shopping early Saturday afternoon. What I neglected to tell you is that we found this amazing product in the meat section. After my initial apprehension towards purchasing the product, Noah quickly assured me that it would be the best decision we could make. So we picked up a package of Oscar Meyer brand corn dogs. We cooked them in the oven and were nicely surpised by their goodness. Here is a picture of the victors with their spoils.

We Don't Got No Place To Go.

Tonight All Night Radio will be playing at the Mercury Lounge. My sources just told me that there are still plenty of tickets available so make sure to cruise through if you want to see an amazing show. If you missed it, I wrote it up for Flavorpill this week. Check out the listing here. These guys are poised to be Sub Pop stars so see them at the Mercury while you still have the chance.

Also come through early if you have the chance. The Vietnam will be playing a set around 8:30pm and their guitar rock may make your ears bleed, but their Dylan esque vocals may tickle your fancy.

Monday Worthy News.

The king is dead, but Queen may live on. Justin Hawkins has discussed a possible collaboration with one of his main influences. Though he could never be Freddie, its a pretty good match and should prove to be a lot of fun. In related news, I got a call on Friday night from Paul who had just grabbed Justin's ass at their tour kickoff show in Milwaukee.

The good doctor has given up on Detox! Dr. Dre has decided to 86 his new record. It could have been the hot joint, but Dre (for reasons that seem cloudy) has decided to pull the plug on the project.

The Irish decide that the pub is no place to have a fag.

Do yourself a favor and read some of this.

Morrissey unleases his track listing for his upcoming record. Rumor has it that Moz will be playing five nights at the Apollo Theater. Wait until you hear who may be opening, you may need to change your underpants. In other news, Morrissey hates Clay Aiken.

CNN talks with Kevin Smith about the new direction he has taken with Jersey Girl.

Howie Day can't get laid!

Do you consistently quote films as much as Dan? Can you rattle off lines like its your job? Then try this. I might if it wasn't on the same night as the O.C.

Who knew R.E.M. was so fucking cool.

Culkin lurks among us.

Just When You Think You're Safe.

Leaving the office early on Friday afternoon is a special treat unless you are checking out early so you pick up your roommate at the hospital. The good news is that Kyle's operation went well and he is now into the healing process. The bad news is that he will be laid up for quite some time. He has been a trooper throughout this whole process while slipping through the day on a copious amount of pain killers. When I arrived at the NYU Medical Center, it took me some time to find where Kyle was recovering. Eventually one of the nurses led me to the right place where I waited for D to show up. We went into the post op room and found Kyle all out of sorts. After an hour or two we managed to get him up, in a cab and headed back home. Give him a shout if you have the chance. The kid can only talk to himself for so long.

Everyone You Know Is In A Band.

Friday night was the Stammers first gig with their new line up, but before we could proceed to the rock a pile of kids came over to 186 for some beers. It was my intention to play a song for everyone who came through the door. Let me explain. On Friday I managed to slide into Other Music to catch up on a few releases with the Blue Album reissue being the most important. The two disc release has the original record coupled with a second disc of Bsides, live tracks and rarities. One of these rarities is the song Paperface which has since changed my life. How has this song eluded me for so long? It is hard, fast and a bit of everything that Weezer is not. There are obvious Nirvana riffing nods coupled with emo screeching that make my blood boil with excitement. Simply put, this song is amazing, and if you haven't heard it than do yourself a favor.

My crusade to bring the =w= rock to all those who entered was going quite well. Kids like Dan, Vin and Chris were impressed by the track, but I felt they weren't feeling it to the degree of myself. Speaking of Chris, he busted out his New York ID card and the picture gave me such a laugh that I had to post it. Here it is:

The kitchen began to fill up with kids. At this point I looked around the room and said to Noah that everyone we know is in a fucking band. It's true. Let me give you a quick rundown: Noah (Sam Champion), Sean (These Bones), Simon (Stammers), Dilly and Vin (Arbor Day), Sivan (Demander), Lou (Stammers & The Bahamas), and Dan (Arbor Day & The Bahamas). I'm sure someone is being left out here, and I apologize for it, but good goddamn I felt like we were at a trade show. Let's not forget the Queen cover band who has yet to practice, but call themselves Queens. The entire band was in my kitchen. Fucking right. Sean seemed to be the most excited about the Weezer song. We hung out in the room and talked records for quite some time. Despite his ranting and raving about the importance (or lack there of) of the Blog community for a bands early success, he managed to stay on my good side. At one point he got so excited that he made this face while I gave the finger:

L-R:Me & Sean

At this point the evening had run late. The clock was ticking so Mike, Hawk, Anna and I made haste and sped to the Luna Lounge. My apologies to the kids left behind, I didn't mean to run out so quickly. Well, actually I did because I didn't want to miss any part of Karl's debut behind the mic stand. Just look at how cool he is in this picture with Scott. Notice that Karl is flipping someone off:

So after some brief hellos I made it to the back room as they struck their first note. For a first show together the Stammers did quite well for themselves. Though they were showing flashes of a nervous band, they were still right on with their songs. At this point of the evening I was proper bevvied so I tossed the camera to Mike. He proceeded to a take a few more pictures:

L-R:Scott, Karl, Simon

L-R:Karl, Simon

Louis Miller

It's worth noting that I didn't get any pictures of their punk as fuck drummer, Sascha. Ok, he may not be as punk as he was in the past, but he still plays with the fury and intensity that accompanies the ethos. Mike and Sivan started to pass the camera around, but I was too drunk and too into the music to notice what was happening. With some solid practice the Stammers can perfect some solid songs and finally make a serious go at the game. If you are wondering, Mike gave the band two thumbs up!

After the gig, Mike, Noah, Amy and I went back to my place to pound a couple beers before heading over to 2A where we met Sean, Sarah, Jacklyn, Dallia and Rachel. We had a couple drinks there before trying to meet up with the kids at Sofie's which had become a bust. We ran into Erin and some kids on the street who were on their way to 85A so we tagged along. A tequila shot later I was back at 2A for a night cap before going home and crashing out.

Conan, What Is Best In Life? PBR And Basketball.

Saturday was fucking gorgeous. If you don't live in NYC you may not have been privy to our shitty winter that finally broke on Saturday. It was fucking shorts weather! Anyway, I met Noah in Washington Square Park and he gave me a hand in some grocery shopping. We picked up a ton of food and headed back home to hang out with Kyle. After a wicked corn dog session, Noah and I set up some equipment and had a jam session in my bedroom. It's been a good four months or so since I've busted out the kit. I have been apprehensive up till Saturday, but it seemed like Salsa music was emptying out of every apartment in my building so a little kick and snare wouldn't hurt anyone. Mike, Sean and Greg showed up and we got down before settling into the NCAA tournament. Beach and Oveis joined us for the games. We got tossed while seeing UConn and OKState win bids to the Final Four.

After the games, I got myself cleaned up for Liz's Birthday digs at her crib. When I walked into her apartment she greeted me and explained that her parents where throwing this party. Now I had no idea that her rents were going to be in the house, so I was dressed in my normal Saturday night garb. A little preface would have been nice, but I managed to do fine. Liz was happy with the vodka and mix CD's I presented her and that's all that mattered. It was great to catch up with kids like Nick, Jocelyn, Tony, Melissa, Ben, Aaron, David and Nora. It has been a long time since I've seen some of them, and being in that environment with them was so inviting. Hawkins and Julia showed up for a bit, but as the night grew later, we were itching to go out.

Even though we didn't have the birthday girl in tow, the night turned out great. The three of us met Karl and some kids at Fish Bar on 5th street. I was surprised to see Sarika even though I knew she had returned from London. It's great to know that another possible show companion has returned to the NYC. Ando and I did a couple shots before it was time for me to check out.

No more than a block away from 186, I decided to call Beach and heckle his answering machine. Much to my surprise the warrior was still out raging so I met up with him and some kids over at 2A. All of a sudden it was last call and this blogger was fucking tossed. Miriam and Jeannie were in the same boat so we decided to head out. On our way down Avenue A we ran into Nick who had been drinking at the Library. It was funny seeing the before and after of Nick. He showed up at Liz's fresh from work and with his wits about him. At that point of the evening (4am or so) he was in the same state as me and having a great time with it. Jeannie and Miriam decided to crash at 186 and Jeannie's feet were killing her so naturally I offered the piggy back ride. We all retired and woke up horribly hung-over and ready to waste the day.

Birthday Wishes!

Before I forget, today is officially Liz McDonald's birthday, so this shout out goes to her. Have a great day hot shot!

Sunday's Are For Brunch.

After Sunday's fantastic brunch I'm considering moving to a commune so I can just cook all day long for a bunch of happy stoner kids. Noah and Andrew were the first to show up at 186. Sunday's games were a bit earlier so we knew this meal had to be cooked a bit earlier. As Noah, Andrew and I worked the kitchen, Beach, Oveis and Matt showed up to get their hang on. Noah was in charge of the breakfast meat while I made some chocolate chip pancakes. After I got out of the way, Ackermann cooked up a solid scramble that was packed full of goodness. Beach and Oveis made a Dunkin run for coffee while Matt worked on desert. The food was ready 5 minutes before the games begun and the meal was fantastic. We spent all day watching some top notch basketball. In the end, Duke and Georgia Tech had won the last two spots in this year’s Final Four. Oveis stuck around late and Builder came back to town so we hung out through a great episode of Arrested Development.

Another killer weekend in the books. Little was accomplished, but a lot was done.

Today's Ipod mix includes: All Night Radio, Spirit Stereo Frequency.

Choice Cuts.

So I'm sitting at my desk trying to waste the last 40 minutes of my day. I have to leave early in order to pick up Kyle at the NYU Medical Center at 3pm. While waiting I've come across some hilarious Craig's List Postings. Enjoy.

1. What a head case. Could this guy have been serious? I love skirts too but this is down right scary.
2. This is fucking criminal, but a couple of things in here don't add up. This guy stopped to perform oral sex on her? And what is a reverse 69 position? Does that mean they were back to back or just straight up missionary? Paul, will you explain?
3. What happened to the days of finding a dollar bill or some candy? Now people are finding hard drugs. This guy found coke, but can't he wait to get home? Nothing I like more than being coked up at the office.
4. Yeah, this seems like a dream girl. Donkey punches anyone?

Big News.

Word on the street is that a certain 5 foot nothing wonder child will be joining this line up. It isn't official yet, but additions to the festival are being made.

Beach told me there were plans for a Franz Ferdinand show in the mix. Then I checked Product Shop NYC and it was confirmed. They will be playing Webster Hall on June 17th. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 2nd at 11am. This Fire is so fucking out of control.

These Times Are A Changing.

So I’ve gone a whole week without going to a rock show. I did post some options last night, but as mentioned the lure of the futon was too great. This prompted me to think about getting my act together while still maintaining the love of the rock. While sitting on the couch I got to thinking about how my desire for certain vices has steadily decreased. Once the New Year hit it was bye-bye to the worst kinds of drugs. Since Lent started it’s been adios my little green friend, (though I did relapse for a weekend but have pulled it back together). Though my drinking habits have yet to see a decrease in their frequency, I feel like there has been a reduced consumption rate. The funny thing is that I’m saying all this on the day of a friend’s show which is in my neighborhood. This is a laugh because if I see any of you later, I’m sure to be blistering drunk. Call me a light weight. Call me a school girl. Just don’t call my cell phone.

The Stammers Debut Gig!

Tonight Bourbon Hallo, I mean The Kick, I mean Red Circle, I mean the Stammers are playing their first gig at Luna Lounge. Throughout the past few years we have all supported these guys in their many different lineups, but tonight they become the super group we’ve been waiting for. They have shed the old material and that kid Tim who danced around a bit too much. Tonight they will be playing under the banner of The Stammers. The lineup is: Karl Roman (vox), Scott (guitar), Simon (guitar), Louie (bass) and Sascha (kit). I’m interested to see Karl as a lone front man. That kid’s personality should carry him a long way. As for vocal ability, I’ll make a decision on that after tonight. They have a pile of new material and rumor has it that they won’t be playing any of the old songs. The gig is at Luna Lounge (read: FREE) and they should be hitting around 11:30pm. Come out and support the kids! Lou will be there, but he won't look this scary.

In an effort to spread the rock and help the boys fill the room, I want to invite you all to a preparty at my crib which is only 2 blocks from the venue. If you aren’t going to the show, then I don’t want to see your mug. Sorry, dem is the breaks. Let’s get shitfaced early and go have a great time. Call me or email me if you don’t know where the apartment it. Builder is out of town so we can trash his room, and Kyle will be recovering from his surgery so we can kick his leg and steal his pills!

But I Just Can’t Look. It’s Killing Me.

Last night’s games were tough to watch. With Pittsburgh’s loss, I’m pretty much out of the pool. A miracle could push me through since it’s still very tight, but right now it’s not looking good.

After work I met up with Noah to celebrate the completion of his colloquium at Bside. Kristen met us at the bar and she updated us on her dental work that has been needed since her spill at Lit. Sivan hooked me up with a Demander demo since I am writing up that gig for Flavorpill. It’s pretty damn good, but I’m having trouble thinking about what I’m going to say. It will come after a few more listens, but I’m afraid Karen will be pissed with any comparison that is drawn. After a couple drinks I noticed a slight buzz so my exit came quickly.

After a Subway visit Beach came over to catch some basketball action before heading to Mercury for the big show. Noah, Oveis and Stevo came through and we got our drink on while watching the games. Eventually Noah went to the !!! show without me because I decided to pull the plug on the evening. We hung out and finished up the games while discussing the obscene amount of nudity that occurs at Yale.

You Think NYC Rocks. Try Milwaukee.

Despite being hung like the bottom of an exclamation point, Paul Bothe isn’t such a bad guy, (when he’s not trying to rub you off). If you don’t know him by now, maybe you will meet him at Coachella where we will be reuniting and causing pain to all those who lay eyes on our retarded drunken asses. In the mean time, Paul has been warming up and taking some nods from Good Times Roll. He has been checking out a lot of great bands as they pass through the Midwest. He recently wrote me this email explaining that we should give homage to the birthplace of cool, Milwaukee. All you hipsters (this includes me) take note. Just look at this picture. It says it all.

Hey gayness.. Do you believe in a thing called cum? Just listen to the rhythm of my nuts. Seriously though...do you know where The Darkness are opening their US tour? Do you know what day it is? That’s right motherfucker---tonight in Milwaukee. I'm stoked. The reason I'm telling you this is because alongside all the shit I talk about your website I actually take a lot of it in, and I've been checking out things that you speak highly of---The Darkness being one of these bands--which I’ve fallen in love with like a pre-teen for Ryan Seacrest.

Secondly, along the same line, two other bands that I’ve checked out (and really liked) on your recommendation are playing in Chicago at the empty bottle tonight—Franz Ferdinand and TV on the Radio---not together (FF is playing at like 7:00 then TVR at 11), but I had to skip over those motherscratchers to see the Darkness. Oh well, I believe in a thing called Coachella. Oh yeah---and one more awesome thing about the Darkness---no NYC shows, but a tour opener in a little city that Pabst built.

This brings me to my last point. Now, I don't want to sound like a cock, but a lot of the hipster thing is fundamentally based on the culture of Milwaukee...Pabst, High Life, Schlitz, Hamm's, mesh caps, chain wallets, shitty haircuts---I mean give us a little credit because decades before all that fucking crap became fashionable in New York, we Mil-towners were wearing our mesh caps and shitty haircuts into the factory with a sixer of Pabst in a cooler in the car for the ride home...and none of us had even heard of Vice magazine and the only 'The' band we were into was Frankie Yankovic and the Yanks (made popular by polkas like "In Heaven There Is No Beer" "Champagne Taste and Beer Bankroll" and the "Too Fat Polka" which was immortalized by the timeless lyrics, "I don't want her you can have her she's too fat for me-hey! She's too fat for me-hey! She's too fat for me-hey!"). I hope this didn't burst any bubbles, and I know central Penis-vania has its share of colorful rural culture, but I thought it was important to properly represent this fair city. Take it easy brother, and thanks for turning me onto those bands...I hoped I turned you on to a little history of Milwaukee, or I hope I just turned you on. Kiss it.

---Righty Lefty Bothe

Today's Ipod mix included: The Rentals, My Summer Girl; Broken Social Scene, KC Accidential; The Killers, Mr. Brightside; These Bones, Rugburns; Ambulance LTD, Primitive; Bob Marley, Redemption Song; The Smiths, Rubber Ring.

Can You Feel It? Intensify.

Dilemma's are such a bitch. At 3pm I'm stuck in the office contimplating the evenings various options. The most attractive dish on tonight's menu seems to be the never getting off my couch because I'm too busy watching basketball entree. With my lack of genuine energy (I'm idling off a fading coffee buzz) and my need to see these games, the Sweet 16 sounds like a little touch of heaven. But alas, there is rock to be heard.

Unfortunately the Dios, Clearlake & Decemberists show at the Mercury has sold out. Those of you hoping to see these acts are a bit out of luck, but you do still have the chance to see them (minus Dios) at the Bowery tomorrow night (but I believe it is sold out as well). I may try to sneak in to see Dios tonight, but it will be tough.

If you are in the mood for a cheap show with some serious potential, than look into !!! (chk chk chk)'s gig at NYU. It's in Kimmel Hall, but I don't know exactly where. Noah and I are planning to hit this one up, that is of course if the lure of the couch isn't too strong. But a little bit of dancing could do a body good. Don't they look fun? Drop a Comment and let me know what you are planning.

Ch-Ch-Changes.

So they may be little, but they are significant. As you may have noticed, I’ve figured out how to add pictures to the blog. Though it is difficult for me to do so from work since I don’t have an FTP program, but I’ll do my best to steal images from the web and work from home to make this site a little more visually pleasing.

There is also the added option to post your own opinion on this page. I’m sure it will open the flood gates for gay jokes from Paul, but it should make this blog a bit more exciting. So if you don’t agree with me or you want to comment on my general awesomeness, all you have to do is click on the Comment option at the bottom of each post and fill out the link.

Whoa, Now I’m Confused.

How many plot lines does it take to complete an episode of the O.C.? After last nights barrage of twists and turns, I was left drooling uncontrollably on my couch. First of all can we run down how stupid Seth and Summer have become? Where is Anna? I want my Anna back. Summer could use a donkey punch or two. What does Cohen see in this girl besides a pair of tits? And trust me; tits can only get you so far. Wait, calm down, it’s just a TV show.

Can we take bets on what method of suicide Marissa will attempt next? After the bombshell that rocked her world last night, she is sure to try something drastic. Next weeks previews showed her running to Chino for help. What the fuck is up with that? She would never do that. She is such a dunce. Donkey punches for everyone!

O.C. Order In.

Despite the lack of promotion, the O.C. hang turned in some big numbers. It started off slowly, but by show time 186’s living room had Kyle, Builder, D, Miriam, Oveis, Karen, Dan, Sivan, Mikey and Stevo crammed into it. It was great that all these kids knew it was a new episode and that they should stop by. We put a gigantic order into Tiny’s and despite their tardiness; everyone was full and happy by the end of the show. Stevo, Builder and I hung out for awhile after everyone trickled out. I was all set to crash out by 12am, but a tape of the Sopranos caught my attention and kept me up till 3am. Now I’m paying for it.

It’s funny how a lack of funds can turn you into a TV whore. Speaking of TV whores tonight is the first day of the Sweet 16. What are we doing for the games?

Lot Of Action. Double Down.

The Beatles at Shea. Hammer playing for Oakland. The famous Disco Sucks scene in Chicago. These are just a few of the links that rock has had to the baseball diamond. Check them all out here. Enjoy this one Yaps!

The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand are the latest to throw their hats in the boycott of MTV Europe due to the reduced royalty fees. Let's bring MTV to their knees!

This could get ugly. And this almost got scary. Last year it was Jeter... and this year? Whew, it was just a false alarm.

If you didn't already know, Snoop Dogg is the fucking man. He sits down with Spin to tell us which of his co-stars is whiter and why the hell he loves AOL so much. This guy is hilarious. I want him to be my brother.

Do you hear that? Seriously, what is all that noise? Oh, wait never mind, its just the sound of the devil fucking Ray Charles in the ass. How does it feel Ray? You are off the artistic payroll.

Cami! I didn't know that your boss is running from the law.

Finally, an interesting column from Filter, but it does pertain to Hip Hop. Chza is lying out is a basic skeleton for all genres of music that have been rapidly commoditized since there conception. Reproducing the urgency and necessity of the originals is nearly impossible and even a rebirth of any genre can only get so far. When something "new" and exciting is created, it is more often than not wrapped around a rebellion or a set of circumstances that induces a public struggle. We can't expect artists who spend hours in studios and afternoons in their 3 bedroom apartments to reproduce the struggle of the forefathers anymore than some artist like Nelly or John Mayer who are in it for the scratch.

Damon Albarn fans, look away. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Your daily dose of Libertines news: The Libertines are slated to launch a new London club night that sounds like a good time. Are there any English readers who can find me a flat for $100 a week? Or free. Free is awesome.

Ronnie, how could you hurt us like this?

The notion of "Cult Classics" gets a modern makeover. Film fiends who were once turned off by the genre are now changing it to mean something entirely different. Basically this link is for Leah.

I bet Morrissey secretly loves In and Out Burger. It's probably a serious vice that only a few of his dearest friends know about. In public he is all Meat is Murder!

And I thought Rush was a bunch of pussies. Guess I was wrong.

Richard Simmons gets cited with assault charges for bitch slapping some guy in the Phoenix airport. Can you imagine seeing that pile of man love slapping some dude? It's enough to get Paul off.

Jay likes to dance. Bring it on.

The Hold Steady get a solid review from Pitchfork. Did I mention that when we saw them live at their Mercury Release show, they had a saxophonist with them who reminded me of Rob Lowe from St. Elmo's Fire? Yeah, its that cool.

Today's Ipod mix includes: The Jam, 'A' Bomb on Wardour Street; The Jam, News of the World; Television Personalities, Family Affair; Stephen Malkmus, Church and White; Velvet Underground, What Goes On; Primal Scream, Jailbird.

Kyle Is Going In For Surgery.

It's official, Kyle is going to get his ankle operated on this Friday. Here is a picture of our fearless hero. Wish him luck in the newly added Comments section.

Yeah, that's right. In one day I've added a comment link and pictures. Look out Pitchfork, I'm coming.

Learn Something New Everyday.

Well, I've been dicking around all day and I've finally figured out how to add pictures to this blogger. How fitting is it that I have Dan from Arbor Day as the first picture. Funny enough he has a Jager shirt on which could be considered the catalyst to the breaking of Kyle's ankle. Hopefully more pictures will come, (picture from Jasper's site).

Sign Of The Times.

As some of you know, my friend Liz works for VH1. This afternoon they were given "Go Bags" that include a radio, flashlight, water and a mask. They were also advised to bring in sneakers and perishable food items. Her office is in the heart of Times Square. Are they preparing for the inevitable or do they know something we don't? The world is so fucked up these days and our President isn't helping much. How does it feel being a walking target?

The Lighter Side Of Politics.

I was reading Stereogum this afternoon who had a link to this sight which posted jokes from various U.S. Senators. Wouldn't you know it? Rick Santorum of my home state couldn't think of a joke. Luckily those who oppose him have made a joke out of him.

Greasing The Palm.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting Tang again. If you missed last weeks post regarding the restaurant in the Gershwin Gallery Hotel, than allow me to explain my involvement. As many of you may know, Hawkins is supervising my final 6 credits as an internship for Candis Communication. We are doing some PR for the Gallery Lounge, and one of our responsibilities is to assist in branding it. We have been in the process of putting together an event that will fuse the outstanding food of Chef Sho with some element of the music business. At this point we are hoping to have advanced listening parties with the possibility of dj's, prefix dinners and a little bit of dancing. It is still in the proposal stage, but keep your ear to the ground because these parties (if open to the public) should not be missed.

Anyway, Hawkins and I met at the gallery and waited for a rep from Caroline Distribution to show up. He arrived with his lady friend around 7pm and we settled in for a long dinner coupled with some solid brainstorming. The dinner included some more of that Almond Crusted Seared Tuna which is absolutely spectacular. I could eat a bowl of it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also had some tangy Whitetail Ceviche and some Octopus Carpaccio that was dressed with radishes and baby dills which gave it a light pickled vinegar flavor. Muy Bueno! The dinner consisted of all of Sho's specialty rolls that span a unique spectrum of taste and texture. My favorite has to be the roll with sliced apple thrown in the mix. It may sound strange, but its a welcomed surprise.

After our first round of rolls, Karen showed up. She had been working out at a gym in the neighborhood, so it worked out perfectly. She took a seat with the rest of us and jumped right in. Then we were served some pieces of sushi with my favorite being the Arctic Char which is a fresh water trout from Canada and Alaska. As the rest of the table got up for a mid dinner cigarette break, Karen and I were able to catch up a bit since the band spent half of last weekend in Providence playing their first gig. When they returned we were graced with a couple more rolls including the infamous Sex Tang with its special sauce.

Dinner finally wrapped up around 10pm and we all went on our ways overly stuffed and pleasantly buzzed. Karen and I headed to the subway singing Bouncing Souls tunes, (be still my heart). We hopped the F train and separated at Delancy Street where she made her transfer while I started my walk home. Another great night was had at Tang, and I highly recommend you check out the menu if you have the scratch.

It's Wednesday Already!

The day has finally come. Three long weeks of waiting and now the day is upon us. The return of the O.C. will be glorious. I can't wait to see who hooks up with Paris Hilton, but rumor has it, Seth gets a little num num. The kids are headed to L.A. and debauchery will most definitely take place. There is no cooking tonight (sorry Ms. Pancake), but we do plan on hanging out and watching so cruise through 186 by 8pm so we can get our order on. Ms. Pancake, I will cook you all the flapjacks you can handle next week.

But I Don't Want To Be A Pirate.

Things are not looking to good for the King of Pop. The kids he is accused of fucking will be testifying at his trial. Oh Michael, when you asked us all "Who's Bad?" we didn't figure you were the answer.

Atlanta's The Hiss are in CMJ's Artist Spotlight. Though you may have yet to hear these guitar rockers, they have gotten some serious attention overseas. Their show at Sin-e a while back wasn't anything special, but they are young and have a lot of room to develop.

David Byrne takes his audience in a different direction. Instead of songs like Psycho Killer, his new album will feature some opera tracks. Can I get a collective, "What the fuck?"

Elvis Costello puts down the guitar and picks up a pen. So what if he uses a laptop, pen sounded cooler. Either way, this could be interesting.

The Darkness are in high demand in the U.S., but I still haven't heard about them stopping into NYC. Will someone give me the inside scoop?

The Unicorn's also respond to requests for more. They have extended their tour and released a 7". Go check them out at the Knit or at a city near you, but make sure you are happy drunk because its more fun that way.

Lots of good records were released yesterday including albums from Lou Reed, The Fall, Dios and The Vines. Let’s not forget about the Weezer DVD and reissue of the Blue Album with bonus tracks. If you have gotten either Weezer release, please invite me over for a viewing, burn me a copy or just buy them for me. I will love you forever.

Mischa Barton likes Stellastarr* among others, (Link from Whateves).

Sometimes I wish John Lennon was my dad.

If you haven't noticed, I fucking love the Libertines. I get a lot of shit for it, but listen to their record, it is a good one. They have been playing new and old songs at secret shows all over London. It's enough to make me want to pack my bags. Expect me in line for their new record.

I'm going to cut out the middle man here. Listen to the Bob Dylan and Jack White collaboration here.

Former Hogan Family star Jason Bateman interviews with the A.V. Club and talks about his new hit show Arrested Development and sharing the camera with Knight Ridder. If you haven't seen this yet, take a moment to pull yourself away from the Sopranos and watch it. It gets both Oveis' and my own stamp of approval.

Usher finally realizes he is a man. Poor guy.

Today's Ipod mix includes: The Pleased, Don't Make Things.

My New Favorite Blog.

Go to Casa de Punk right now and read his most recent post. It feels like something I would have written. It makes me feel bad, but at the same time it completely redeems me. It’s nice to know that I'm not the only wannabe nice guy out there. Its true. Though I try my hardest to be sweet and sincere, I find myself doing the wrong thing more often than not. Why is that? Can anyone tell me? What the fuck is wrong with me? As many of you already know, I'm what doctor's call girl crazy, but as soon as one gets close to me, I find some dumbass reason to push them away. Is there any hope for me? I'm guessing no, but why is that?

Can I break this down? Should I try to dissect? Probably not, but my boss is out sick today so I've got some time.

First of all, what’s the deal with dating? Am I the only one who is sick of this practice? Maybe it isn't so much the idea of dating that makes me never want to get out of bed, but quite possibly the act itself. I must choose my words wisely here because I'd say that I'm seeing someone now. You know who you are, so please don't take any of this personally. This is just me ranting, and I'm happy where we are, but that doesn't change how I feel about dating. My jadedness toward dating could stem from the fact that I've been doing it for over a few years now. As some of you might remember, my last serious lady friend used to live with me on 12th Street and as trying as that whole situation was on a 20 year old kid, I'd like to give it another shot just to see if I'm still capable of those emotions. Since that time there has been different girls who have come and go (including some incredibly sweet ones), but I've yet to feel that same connection that got me so dedicated to my X. There are girls out there, who have me by the balls, but relationships with them have never worked out and I'm finally realizing that they never will. So here I stand, left in dating limbo. Forced to hide feelings, protect my interests and at the same time convey to a young lady that I do care about them without letting my guard down.

You may ask why do you have to put up a guard? Well my friends, I don't listen to emo (despite my affinity for Seth Cohen) and I was never one to wear my heart on my sleeve. My Grandfather was a man of little emotion, and he tried his hardest to pass that down to me. His old school attitude (he lived from 1901-1997) severely rubbed off on his only grandson, Jay M. Belin. So I've never been one to cry, use the word love lightly or even show my emotions outside of being perturbed. In no way am I a tough guy, but my up bringing is the root of my inability to convey my true feelings. This hasn't always been the case, and I've laid things on the line before, but these kinds of chances have only served as a recipe for thickening my skin.

So what the fuck does any of this mean? Right now I can't answer question. Having idle time to mill over it doesn't really help out. Distraction has been the only means of keeping my sanity throughout the years, but now it seems as though these distractions have substituted meaningful relationships which doesn't seem all too healthy. I'm so fucking tired of being distracted, and in the middle of a city with millions of other people, I'm tired of being empty.

Ok, so there has been an inner deliberation regarding this post, but I'm going to throw it up anyway. It's not the best decision I've made today, but it is the first. Did it make any sense? At this point I could give a shit.

Thanks to Casa de Punk for provoking this. I won't be lucky enough to score a lesbian girlfriend like yourself, but everyone should have those simple pleasures. And you mentioned the O.C. Fuck yeah!

New Week. New Listings.

Sitting behind a desk all day with nothing to do can be detrimental to your mental health. With eight long hours to let my mind run wild, I've grown increasing skeptical about everything. This idle time, coupled with my consistent cynical trend does not create a situation that is conducive to being happy, but if I want to continue operating in our capitalist system then the game has to be played. This leads me to options for passing the days away without going absolutely crazy:

Option 1: Find a Sugar Mommy to love me, fund me, feed me and pay for everything that is needed for me to accomplish my goals. I'm not (that) gay so a Sugar Daddy will do, but my preference lies in the female sex.

Option 2: Read the new Flavorpill in which I contributed a couple of solid listings for a party at the Coral Room and the All Night Radio gig at Mercury.

Right now I'm going to stick with the latter option and hope things pick up a bit.

Strikes And Gutters.

When I decided to give up the green for Jesus, there was no particular reason why. I felt tired. I felt old. I felt like it was time for a change. This weekend I went back on my promise to the son of God and smoked a battie with some kids. Since then I've been back on the team, but this morning I'm reconsidering. Not only do I feel like a cloudy mess, but I didn't do a damn thing last night. Ambition has been replaced with the desire to drift. So once again I'm jumping back on the train, because its just something that needs to be cut out of my daily routine. Sorry to tease you, but as Jay-Z would put it, "it's so necessary".

We Believe In Nothing.

Yesterday I paid a visit to Kyle who has been staying over at D's while he awaits his appointment to set up the surgery. He was in high spirits despite being all hocked up on Vikes. We hung out for a bit before I returned to 186 where Josh and I hung out. Kyle had passed some of his pills off to me so we split one and I fell asleep so early. That was the extent of my evening. Nothing done. Nothing accomplished. In fact, who knows if it really happened?

One Reason To Keep The Habit.

If you live under a rock, then you didn't hear about the assassination of Sheik Ahmed Yassin who is the Hamas spiritual leader. He was gunned down by an Israeli helicopter missile attack outside of a mosque. With all the uncertainty in that part of the world, do Israeli leaders believe this will help the situation? Making a martyr out of Yassin could strengthen the loyalty of his followers and create a radical faction hell bent on revenge. This revenge has been sworn against Israel and the United States. Why us? Because this could never have happened without our approval. This kind of sanctioned killing is not going to help our international relations. Condoleezza Rice needs to get her story straight. If she keeps giving flip flop addresses, then we are going to be in a world of trouble. First she claimed that he is a terrorist and that the region should begin to rebuild without him. Later she condemned the Israelis for their actions. The Bush Administration had better make the right moves if they want to keep Homeland Security intact.

Diversionary Tactics.

Arethea Franklin has been hospitalized, but all those who are close remain tight lipped on the Queen of Soul's condition.

Pete Townshend's kiddie porn arrest will be part of a documentary. Way to go Pete!

I hate Lesley Barger and I hate her columns. This is preposterous. How does this get past the editors? What's your fucking point Lesley? Are you claiming that records that have stood the test of time should have to endure the same scrutiny of a record released last month? Should the phrase "instant classic" be over used just so we feel like our generation is contributing something new? If you are the voice of my generation, remind me to dislocate myself from your label.

The NY Times covers Sunday night's Sun Kill Moon show at the Bowery. Even Mark Kozelek of the Red House Painters has Courtney Love fever.

Speaking of the dreaded Ms. Love, one man finally has a chance to cash in on sucking her breast outside of Wendy's. This guy is a serious bag of snacks. Does he really think tonguing her titty will make him famous? This guy had the gull to be offended when people labeled him as homeless, "It was an assassination of my character. I'm not homeless. I graduated from SUNY-New Paltz last year. I majored in public relations." Yes, he did just say it was an assassination of his character.

Morrisey has decided to play in the city that may love him as much as Manchester. Los Angeles shows have been scheduled for late April. Does this mean that he will be playing NYC in the near future? You can bet the farm on it.

I want my MTV! Well, maybe not if they keep black balling the artists. Do they still play videos anyway?

Malcolm MacLaren tries to get back on the bike. He is claiming that 'Chip Music' or Gameboy rock is the next big thing. This sounds like a last ditch effort to create something cool by a man who helped shape and define a youth revolution. Whatever he is trying to do, he still sounds full of himself.

Someone needs to help me out and burn me some of their better material. I don't know much about My Bloody Valentine because the kid who used to listen to them at my High School was really scary and he would try to push their records on to me, but I was to busy with the latest Lookout! release. JR was his name. He has since gone bald, but he would still be excited about this.

When I think Joaquin Phoenix, I think Johnny Cash. Maybe not, but a lot of people will.

Beavis said it once, and I have to agree: Sluts Rock.

Today's Ipod mix included: Dirty On Purpose, Monument & Go Back to Sleep; All Night Radio, Daylight Til Dawn; Black Lipstick, Voodoo Economics, Hot Sinners & Ease Back.

Show Update!

Check out the show listings on the side of the page. I've updated those along with my Top 5 records for this week. The new shows list has some gems from My Morning Jacket, Brendan Benson and the Prosaics. Make sure to get tickets early because most of these will sell out.

Now I'm off to comfort Kyle by kicking him in the foot.

The Culkin Registers Its Worst Injury To Date.

Friday night's shitfest started early. Christie and I met Beach over at Nice Guy Eddie's for a bite to eat and some 2 for 1 beverages. We quickly took over the place when kids like Matt, Justin, Liz, Stevo, Oveis, Kyle, D, Alister, Builder, Jordan, Chernin, Travis, Ryan and Matt all showed up. We started at 7pm and left the bar somewhere after 11pm. Our $342 dollar bill is a testament to some serious damage. My favorite part of the evening was when Beach and Oveis had sugarless cheesecake with a single candle in it sent to me along with a tequila shot. The waitress put it down in front of me and said, "Those guys wanted you to look like a gay fag." A Gay Fag! First of all, they didn't even ask her to say anything, but the fact that she picked those words really makes me believe that Nice Guy Eddie's is hiring the cream of the crop.

We stumbled out of that bar and headed in the direction of Grassroots where people were celebrating in honor of Flynne and Lou's birthdays. The place was packed with new and old friends. For awhile it felt like the good old days. Bouncing from conversation to conversation while cruing in and out of shot sessions sent me back to a time that I used to want to forget, but on Friday it had a strange comfort that was a little off putting. In any event, we all got trashed and rowdiness ensued.

It almost became necessary to stand with your back to the bar or something solid because Culkins were abound. The first official victim (many were tried before this) was my roommate Kyle. Builder and I pulled a picture perfect Culkin of the kid. He went down with little grace and proceeded to give me rib shots after getting back to his feet. The next Culkin was performed on me. I don't know who pushed me, but Builder was definitely behind me. The first push came and I threw my arms out in an attempt to grab anything I could. For a second my body indicated that I had prevailed, but a second push came and put me down. To my own credit, I managed to spill a beer all over Builder while going down.

The final Culkin of the evening was most devastating. Though the story has yet to be fully confirmed this is what has been going around. As Dan went to get down for a Culkin on Stevo, he brushed against his leg which tipped Stevo off to the whole deal. Stevo proceeded to give Dan some swift kicks to the ribs. Dan then rolled over in avoidance of the kicks, but he rolled up onto Kyle's ankle. Kyle looked at me and said his ankle was fucked and he needed to go.

We got him in a cab and were on our way down to 186, but halfway there Kyle pulled the puking out of a moving cab move. It was pretty classic and though I feel sorry for the the kid, it was pretty damn funny. We got him out and he was sitting on the pavement, with no shoe on looking like quite the vagrant. Eventually we got him upstairs so we could ice and elevate the softball size ankle. The plan was to assess the situation in the morning and decide whether or not he would need to see a doctor.

Saturday morning came and I quickly rolled out of the house to go watch the NCAA Tourney with Beach and Noah. Around 4pm Kyle called and asked me to come help get hit in a cab so he could go to the emergency room. After helping the crippled kid out, I went back to basketball. Beach, Oveis and I were in Quizno's grabbing a sandwich when I called D for an update. She told me the horrible situation. Kyle broke his ankle in three different places and had to get surgery. He got a plaster cast on and is now waiting for the swelling to go down before he goes into surgery later this week. He is going to get a plate and some pins inserted. So its safe to say that if you have some time or something, you should give the kid a call and wish him some luck. The poor guy is hurting.

So went my Saturday night. Christie and I awaited his arrival, and once he got home we got him buzzed up as quickly as possible. My Saturday night ended up being so uneventful, but I didn't want to leave that kid hanging. Dan came over to chill for awhile and he is now claiming that he will no longer be drinking. Fat chance, but the kid does have a serious will.

Sunday slipped in and out without any real happenings. Noah, Beach, Oveis and I popped back into Nice Guy's to do battle with some more chicken wings. I cruised up to Bside to hang out and play some records in the quite of Sunday afternoon. Thanks to kids like Builder, Karl, Alex, Janeanne, Lou, Hole, Ando, Will, Hawk, Sivan, D, Nate, Laura and some others the afternoon wasn't a bust. We had a great time hanging at the bar and listening to some records. Laura promised to take me along to the next Misshapes so I could shake my ass. Josie took great care of me, like she always does. She may have my vote for my favorite Bside bartender that is of course if you discount Sivan.

The night ended with a hang back at the apartment. We managed to catch Arrested Development on Fox. Did anyone else catch it? David Cross is the man. And also, if you have HBO (I'm looking at Oveis and Leah) on demand, can I come watch the Sopranos episode? Do they replay it tonight? Someone help me out here.

The O.C. Returns With Big Surprises.

If you noticed that there has been a lack of O.C. talk on Good Times, its because there hasn't been much to report. The show has been on hiatus until this Wednesday when it returns. Fox is pretty excited. They even have an official countdown on their website. This means that the O.C. PotLuck will once again be in full effect. A decision has yet to be made on food. We don't know whether we are cooking or ordering, but I'll keep you in the loop.

A Heroic Dose.

Green Day is going to record 35 tracks for their upcoming release. They will all be 20 seconds long. Ok, they won't be 20 seconds long, but with 35 songs, they have to be short.

Pitchfork claims to like the On! Air! Library! record. This Brooklyn band should prepare for take off. They are the talk of the town. Apparently they didn't like the set of Bsides released by Broken Social Scene. I'll have to make my own judgments. Can anyone burn me these records?

Speaking of burning me records, Adam! I have to get that Seachange record from you.

The Irish lads that make up The Thrills are back in the city creating a follow up to last years So Much for the City that has won them some praise.

The band Jordan manages, Runner and the Thermodynamics gets some press in CMJ. I haven't heard the record yet, but this review seems like it could be right on. This band needs to be seen live. The fucking kill.

If you don't like this band you are crazy. White diner jackets? I can't wait for the new record.

Start saving your money now. Trust me.

More new records. This one is coming from Trail of Dead. They plan to get weirder than they have been. Make sure to bring ear plugs. This could get noisy.

So I want to go see this movie very soon. Michel Gondry rocks. Everyone has been creaming over it.

The NY Times has a feature on last weekends SXSW festival. Watch out, now they know what we are doing. They will start exploiting us more than usual. They also cover our scene. This could get scary.

Today's Ipod mix includes: 50 Cent, In Da Club; Beastie Boys, Check Your Head; Creedence, Fortunate Son; Queen, Somebody to Love; Shins, Know Your Onion!

Friday Night Shit Show.

It's not to often that we all come together for an evening of debachery at the rediculous level of last night, but I want to say I'm proud of each and every one of you for your efforts.

While I won't waste my time trying to explain the incidents that lead to Kyle being at the emergency room as I type, but needless to say, a full report is on the way.

This post is to remind you all that Sam Champion is playing tonight at Tribeca around 9:30pm. Come on down to the show to catch the boys play a improv set. Following SC is Rana who will be playing 2 full sets so smoke some grass and come enjoy some big guitar solos.

Busy Lips.

I'd like to publically apologize to the lovely Flynne Wiley for not including her on my birthday wish list. Flynne shares the same birthday as Mr. Miller, but she can rest assured that I'm saving all my birthday kisses for her. Sorry Lou, you are cute and everything, but I've been waiting for an excuse like this for years.

If you want to join in the celebration for these two fantastic kids, we will be getting down at Grass Roots Tavern tonight (Friday!) around 11pm. Grass Roots is on the south side of St. Marks Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. We are going to throw down old school!

Birthday Kisses.

If you are a girl (and fuck it, if you are a boy) make sure you find Louis Miller tonight so you can give that cute fuck a birthday kiss. That is of course, if you can steal him away from me.

Best Friendster Ever!

Do you think you are cool with the witty remarks and foreign films that litter your Friendster profile? Do you believe your picture makes you stand out in the midst of all the hipsters that resemble closely you? Well you are wrong. Unless you are this guy, (thanks mike).

One More Thing Concerning Courtney.

Did you think I was going to stop at the nipple. No way! Noah just passed me this link regarding the death of her former husband Kurt Cobain whom you may remeber from a little known Seattle band called Nirvana. This site claims that his death was not a suicide and come April 3rd they a will be able to release more information regarding this claim.

Stachen for Compassion

Currently Whitney and I have been bouncing back ideas about a possible "Beautiful People Rock n' Roll" party we are looking to throw down in D.C. We have considered my birthday as a date since it falls on a Friday and I've been itching to get out of this city. Besides that, Whitney has decided to start growing a moustache. You may remember that besides myself, Whitney may have the least facial hair out of anyone you may or may not know, but things are changing for him. He is beating me in the almighty race to puberty. This is an email I receive from Mr. Sweet regarding his new campaign for world peace.

Dearest Friends,

Once again I am sorry to send you a mass e-mail thing. I am sure you are all busy people and hate this informal shit, but deal with it because I think I've stumbled upon something good. My boss has been out of the office for the last week, so I've been able to fall behind in the shaving department without getting in trouble. Today I was playing black jack on my cell phone in the bathroom and I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror (I looked stunning of course) and noticed that The Whitness had the beginnings of a little moustache. It looks like everyone's favorite little guy's all growed up now. Perhaps it won't grow into anything comparable to my step father's (for those who have met Doug, you probably understand the radicalness of his moustache) or anything good at all, but I decided I am going to try to grow the motherfucker out anyways. Then I thought that it wouldn't be fair to everyone else out there! if I embarked on this wonderful journey just for myself. That's right guys, I'm not shaving my upper lip until we have world peace. Phase one of "Stachen for Compassion" has begun. Really the motives behind this campaign are three fold: 1) To rid the world of violence and hatred. Those things are bad and I don't like them. 2) Because it is beyond me that I am 23 years old and not yet famous. I need the press. 3) To finally erase Ghandi from history. I do now have a digital camera and a pirated internet connection in my apartment, so I will do my best to keep you and the rest of the world updated on the haps of my stache. If anyone wants to write an article on "Stachen for Compassion" to get the ball rolling on me saving the world, I thought this headline might work: "Confronted by bloodshed and death, one man faces these horrors with a hairy upper lip. Whitney Sweet is Stachen for Compassion,"! Thanks for your time folks, and yes, you are all welcome for me saving humanity.

Whitney Sweet

Just when you figure its impossibe to laugh, Whit hits you with something like this. Thank god I met this kid.

Stevo Likes Boobies! We Love Courtney!

Good Times Roll is in transition to becoming the newest Courtney Love fan site. Not because we like the media whore, but because it's easy as hell to report on someone when they do things like this! Did she have a botched boob job? The bottom of that piece of flesh looks a bit strange. I know they aren't all super model boobies, but that looks unnatural. The pictures on this link sum up a roller coaster trip Courtney took through NYC this week, (good looks Stevo).

Let The Games Begin.

Yesterday marked the beginning of this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship race. The first game may come to characterize the tournament. It saw the Manhattan Jaspers (12) managed to beat the pants of the Gators of Florida (5). Though the Jaspers had a great season, many enthusiasts did not believe they could stand up against a SEC team, but they did it in impressive fashion. Syracuse, the defending champs, won a heart stopper against Air Force while Arizona, normally a team that hangs around through the first couple rounds, was bounced out by the Pirates of Seton Hall. DePaul managed to fight off first round elimination by squeaking past Dayton in double overtime. If you didn’t get a chance to watch some of the great “win or go home” basketball, settle up to a couch this weekend and make yourself comfortable.

Free Dinner? I’ll Take Two.

Last night a press dinner was held at Tang which is the new Japanese restaurant attached to the Gershwin Gallery Lounge. Hawkins did a fantastic job organizing this event and getting butts in the seats. We invited a few people who we hope to collaborate with on some upcoming events. Look out for these things in the near future. We plan to mix amazing food, great records and some serious good times. You will want to be there.

Anyway, I met up with Liz outside of the Lounge and had a drink at the bar before we were seated. Once we got in the actual restaurant portion of the joint we saw Jocelyn and Jake walk in so we had them pull up a table with us. I did a bit of running around and introduced myself to a couple people, and then we buckled down for a top notch dinner that was made even better by the fact that it was free.

I started with a seared Tuna appetizer that really knocked my socks off. Jake had the same and was duly impressed with the starter. My meal was phenomenal. The chef in this joint has the magic touch. My entrée platter consisted of an eel cucumber roll, some roll called Sex Tang and a couple pieces of sushi. It was a delightful meal, and if I had the cash I would eat like that as much as possible.

As great as the meal was, the company was even better. It’s been way to long since I’ve last seen Jocelyn, but we still manage to fall into our old rhythm. I used to have such a good time at the Flavorpill office and it was mainly due to Jocelyn’s presence eat time I rolled through there. It was also a treat hanging out with Liz since our time together has been minimal lately. She is always a welcomed breath of fresh air. We are planning to meet up on Saturday so we can go say goodbye to Momma Jen at her party. She is moving to Philly soon and she will be sorely missed.

After the dinner I returned home to watch some basketball. Karen called to tell me that Demander had to leave last night in order to avoid their storm on their way to Providence. This is going to be their first show as Demander, and I hope it goes flawlessly. They are all pretty professional so there should be no problem there. She stopped by for a quick hello before going to the practice space to pack up their gear. My night quickly faded after her departure.

Friday's News Shorts.

Tomorrow night Brits all over... well, Britian will be tested by BBC One. This whole idea seems kind of strange. Is it a way to measure patriotism or is it an IQ test? Either way it will be on television, so if you have BBC throw your hat into the ring.

I would have paid $100 to sit in on this interview. Little Richard is the man. He has been around since the beginning, and by the sounds of it, he has a lot to say.

Filter reviews Snow Patrol's Final Straw which finally came out in domestically. These guys are great, and I suggest you see them when they hit the Bowery next month.

!!! talk new record, new 12" and new tour. Polish your dancing shoes. It's that time again.

David Bryne formerly of the Talking Heads, sits down with Guardian to discuss some of the records spinning at his house. My favorite part was that he brings up the fact that he was talking to Brian Eno on the phone. How cool is that?

NY Daily News does a preview of this weekends No Fun Fest out in Brooklyn.

Holy Shit! I know its old news, and this has been reported before, but today's Guardian has a report on the mysterious death of Elliot Smith. If anything, read this for the Courtney Love quote. What about Kurt? What about Kurt?

Speaking of crazy Courtney, NME has a recap of her ranting last night at the Bowery.

Popmatters has a sit down with Noah's favorite band.

That's it. I'm fucking sick of this.

Today's Ipod mix included: Creedence, Proud Mary; Devo, Uncontrollable Urge; Iggy & the Stooges, 1969; Sam Champion, Company Dance; Joy Division, Digital; Justin Timberlake, Senorita Like I Love You; Primal Scream, Rocks.

Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends.

So some friends of mine have big things going on right now, and I want to help everyone out so take a look at this stuff and do the following: vote, rent, drink and rock.

1. You know Sivan. You know Bside. What you may not know is that Sivan is obsessed with Neighborhoodies. Sivan and Kelly (the other half of the Bside tandom) are up for Neighborhoodie of the week. All you have to do is click hear and vote for these lovely ladies in their Bside gear.

2. Ms. Daylen has recently rented a new apt on the L.E.S. This place looks oh so solid, and she wants to let you in on the deal. She is renting 2 (count um 2!) rooms at this joint on 1st & 10th. Email her at dld227@nyu.edu for more information.

3. Your favorite video director, Jon Watts needs your help this Saturday. He will be shooting a time lapse party which will be used in a music video. He is promising a DJ and all the booze you can drink for FREE. This three hour shoot with be at 256 Grand Street in Bklyn (2nd Floor, above where Luxx used to be) from 9pm till 12am.

4. The recently dubbed Ear to the Ground band, Sam Champion, will be playing at Tribeca Rock Club this Saturday with the boys of Rana. Come see them play your favorite indie pop sing-a-longs.

If you didn't know by now, I will be playing an early set at Bside this Sunday from 5-9pm. Details will be posted tomorrow, but come early to get drunk before watching the Sopranos!

Botched Culkin Attempt.

I would like everyone to know that last night at approximately 10:15pm a Culkin was attempted on yours truly by one Huevos Beacheros and one Daniel Rosotdon't. They tried and they failed. Now they must be destroyed. Don't fuck with me boys, I will bring the pain.

Who Has Courtney In The Death Poll?

In yet another display of sheer junkie attitude, Ms. Courtney Love was arrested last night after she played a secret gig at Plaid. She was charged with wreckless endangerment for throwing a mic stand off the stage which struck one of the fans in attendence. NME has coverage of the story.

Two things come to mind when reading this report: 1. As a fan at a show, let alone a show fronted a wannabe punk rock junkie, you have to be ready for this kind of erratic behavior. That doesn't mean I condone this type of action, but you must constantly be aware; 2. Why would you throw a mic stand into a crowded room of fans. Smack could be one answer.

I wonder which funny man will have a helmet on at the Bowery show tonight?

Also, check out a rundown of her late show with Dave appearance. What a crazy broad!

Who Didn’t Get Drunk?

No green beer. No Irish breakfast. No Guinness. My St. Patrick’s Day was filled with few things associated with the holiday.

The night began with Kyle and I sipping PBR until Dan, Karl and D made an appearance at the apartment. We hung out and watched the first of Ryan Seacrest’s masterfully hosted American Idol. When 9pm rolled around, Dan and I mobilized for a show at the Mercury Lounge.

This was the third day in a row that I’ve come home from work, gotten some dinner and then headed to the Mercury. Though I could never grow tired of this practice, the days have been blurring together. It’s not a problem, but my days now feel like weeks, and my old man memory can’t determine which show was when and who played with who.

British Invasion: Day 3 (The Final Installment).

We got to the Mercury with enough time to say hello to the Head Set before The Veils went on stage. Their set opened up with their lead singer, who is only 19 years old, taking the stage as a solo act. He pained his way through a beautiful acoustic song. At this point it was evident that Finn and the rest of his band were going to play with some serious intensity. Their songs were dowsed in indie style with a vocal style that screeched and howled throughout the entire set. At times it felt a little too Johnny Rotten, but Finn managed to pull it off without looking to unconvincing. All and all these boys came in a close second in my 3 day run of Brit bands who were making their first United States appearances.

During changeover a group of kids that included Beach, Stevo, Christie, Erin, Leah, Chris, Builder, HawkRock, Daylen and Julia rolled into the club for The Head Set show. Elliot, Jordan, Mike and Brett took the stage with their normal swagger, but they played a set that boiled over confidence. Their sound is quickly becoming their own. They do reference all the proper NYC points, but they blend these and other poignant influences with a pop sensibility. This mixture creates a catchy sound that relies on its simplicity to really bring the sound together. Each part adds its own layer to the cake. Make sure to catch their next show, you won’t be disappointed. Keep an eye on Elliot's fast action guitar riffing, it will make you dizzy.

That was the end of the night for this guy.

Big Birthday Wishes.

I have to send a shout out to my Pops. Today would have been his 57th Birthday. Happy Birthday old man.

I Hope You Read This Shit.

Today marks the beginning of the NCAA Tournament. This year's field is chalked full of talent so make sure you catch some of the games. It is so wide open that there could be a definite surprise come April 5th.

Ricky Gervais of the hit BBC comedy The Office, lends his acting style to Alias. I've never seen that show, but I'm sure the role is all wrong for this comedic genius.

Bob Dylan was joined by city hero Jack White during the last of his three shows in Detroit.

How could you allow Michael Jackson to have any kids around him? Granted I don't believe in taking children away from their parents, but when your father is a baby fucker then the grounds for removal are pretty valid.

Yesterday I reported that Filter will be covering SXSW for all of us who weren't lucky enough to make it. See their half assed efforts so far.

Cake get set to release a new record this summer. These guys rock.

Jim Farber lets midtown know what he thought of the Aussie Invasion tour that featured Jet and the Vines. Don't worry, he didn't say anything we don't already know.

GNR Breaks Up! Again! No more Bucket Head which is a shame. Is it better to burn out or fade away?

This one is for Stevo. A Probot profile on Spin.

Today's Ipod mix included: The Bouncing Souls, The Good, the Bad, the Argyle; The Faint, Dance Macabre; The Cars, S/T.

Goddamn Hippies.

A friend of mine, Adam Mandel, was in attendance at last night's Jammy Awards. If you are not familiar with the Jammy's, its an annual award show for jam bands and all things hippie. Adam sent me a run down of last night's festivities and it is quite humorous so I wanted to share. Here is what Adam had to say:

Award for biggest wank-a-thon is between Dickie Betts and Derek Trucks. Who am I kidding? They're both wankers. Slick Rick performed with the Disco Biscuits which was both horrible and hilarious at the same time. Solomon Burke had to get wheeled out on a throne b/c he's so damn fat. Edie Brickell sang a little bit but looked so bored during the 10 minute guitar solo that you could see that she was making mental notes for her grocery list for the next day: "what else? oh yeah Paul wanted me to pick up some brie. Can't forget the brie."

There was an award for best live show, which I think is sort of redundant. As soon as this was announced the hippies in the audience just started yelling out random dates: "dude, 2/28/03!"- unfortunately that wasn't one of the nominees.

There was actually a category called the "New Groove Award" which is amazing enough. A band called Psychedelic Breakfast took home the prize beating out such other "winners" as Raisinhill, Hot Butter Rum String Band and Nero. These are really their names, I couldn't make this shit up if I tried. I was laughing so hard when they announced each name that I yelled out "they aren't even trying anymore!!!" Apparently all you have to do to become a jam band is pick some lame hippie name and add some sort of food to it i.e. Buttermilk Squash Groove Odyssey- then proceed to wanking. Before you know it, its >award time. I think the awards must have gone on for over 5 hrs. I only made it thru about 2, the only highlight for me was when Dr. John came out with George Porter of the Meters and Toots of the Maytals and each played one of their hits. This was tolerable. Let's see, what's next? Uh, more wanking. Jesus, am I bored. I am standing up only to give the band a proper "thumbs down". Meanwhile the hippies are loving it.

The only reason I even went was a) because it was free and 2)to see why Perry Farrell was scheduled to appear- except I couldn't last that long. Apparently he played "Idiots Rule" with the fuckin' String Cheese Incident (one of the worst bands on the planet earth)- thank God that I missed it. Also, Flava Flav was supposed to be in the hizzie, but he cancelled at the last minute. I think he realized that what little street cred he has left would be tarnished forever if he went on stage with Widespread Hispanic (an actual band). Yawn.

Happy St. Get Loaded Day!

Today is St. Patrick’s Day which means hordes of New Yorkers will be getting smashed to celebrate a holiday whose traditions are as Irish as a leprechaun. I’d like to know how many of the jackasses who use this day as an excuse to get tanked on green beer really know what this holiday’s back story. We should find more saints to equate with liquor. What if St. Francis had a celebration where patrons celebrated by drinking jager till they puke? Or we could start celebrating St. Maxamillian Kolbe’s memorial day with a shot of heroin. He was the patron saint of drug addicts. We could also go around fucking ugly people on St. Drogo’s day. He was the patron of unattrative people. Why are Christians so weird?

Does The Pope Shit In The Woods?

Last night I managed to up the biggest Big Lebowski fan in existence. While at the Mercury Lounge, Dr. Beach asked me if I would like a cocktail. I retorted, “Does the Pope shit in the woods?” This didn’t come across to clear so I repeated myself for him. He had no idea what I was talking about so an explanation ensued. I claimed that it was one of The Dude’s lines, but he remained positive that it wasn’t. He attempted to bet $100 on his certainty, but the $16 I have in the bank wouldn’t really cover it. We decided on a tequila shot. After returning to the pad, I popped in the DVD and confirmed that The Dude replies to Jackie Treehorn’s question regarding a refill of his White Russian with that quote.

Moral of the story is: Nobody fucks with the Jesus. And by Jesus I mean

Living With Kids.

Yesterday it dawned on me that I may have the two best roommates in NYC. Despite my anal nature and fickle attitude when it comes to a clean ship, Kyle and Builder are so easy to get a long with and they make it impossible to be in a bad mood. For instance, I returned home last night pissed because of the weather and the long day that accompanied it. Kyle was already home and the place wreaked of the good stuff. Kyle emerged from his room properly pie eyed and ready to chat. He told me the longest story about having to carry a meat slicer around Manhattan. His sensation story telling methods will make your sides split. Couple him with Builder who recently taught me the Merlin, and you have a recipe for good times.

British Invasion: Day 2.

Last night Stevo, Oveis and I met in front of the Mercury Lounge in less than ideal conditions. The weather wasn’t going to stop us from catching sets from a couple of Brit bands who were both performing their first gig in New York City and America. I sincerely hope one of these bands that we’ve caught makes it huge so I have something to affirm my coolness. You can bet I’ll be telling my grandkids I was in attendance when Razorlight played their first gig. Grandkids? What the fuck am I talking about?

We strolled in and caught up with Beach before heading to the back room to see the four beanpoles, which make up Razorlight, take the stage. These guys looked like picture perfect junkies. They were skinny as hell, scruffier then hobos and were spouting out jumbled messes of words in barley discernable English accents. The lead singer reminded me of Iggy Pop with out the self mutilation though they did have a song about it. His entire appearance mirrored Iggy. He should check his birth certificate to make sure he isn’t illegitimate.

Their set didn’t knock me down, but it did deliver hits like Rip it Up and Stumble and Fall. Their songs have a grit and grime to them, but they don’t shy away from the pop sensibilities of their predecessors. To be quite honest, they are like the Libertines, but not as punk rock. Their guitars could have been louder, but they did the trick. They didn’t seem very practiced which is something I really like. It adds some space for messing up, which they did, but the integrity of the music isn’t hurt because it never really existed. It’s easy to see why they have been selling out venues in the U.K. (they even dropped the Brixton Academy name), but they may have a tough time breaking in the states. If they start getting press in major U.S. publications, than their mugs could carry them into the land of Pete and Karl.

Athlete was slated to close out the evening’s affairs. They are another U.K. four-piece who made their first pilgrimage to our shores. They played warm pop songs that had a white boy reggae feel to them. It was as though some one was trying to make a Sublime / Postal Service mash up. It definitely leaned to the former band, but they tried to layer some of their songs with blips and beeps that make Postal Service so much fun. It isn’t my particular bag, but they were having a lot of fun which translated over to the crowd. It was a sweet piece of the pop pie that may see some success in America.

A Dash Of News.

Courtney Love might be the dumbest person ever. She can't keep her mouth shut in court, but her hearing was granted a delay. I bet the kids with tickets for the Bowery show are excited to see this crazy bitch in action.

Why don't I own the new Descendents record, Cool to be You, yet? Because no one will buy it for me. The same goes for this record. I need to burn a copy from Sullivan.

If you are unlucky like myself, you will be braving the snow while our brothers and sisters bask in the heat of Austin. At least Filter hasn't forgotten about us.

What were you doing in grade school? Certainly not selling out CBGB's or getting press in the Guardian much like Lil GNR.

If you have yet to hear the new Strokes tune featuring Regina Spektor, I recommend you do so immediately. It's great even though she sucks.

50 Cent actually cares about his music. That's something rarely seen in an artist that has as much exposure as 50.

This show would have been amazing. Mick Jones, who produced the Libertines debut record, joined them onstage. The gig also featured the insane 80's Matchbox Bline Disaster and Miss Black America.

Can you imagine having a class with Dre from Outkast? Well, it may become a reality.

The new Voice catches up with the rest of the press. This week they have features on TV on the Radio and the Liars. They also published the new Consumer Guide.

CTC get some big coverage in the NYT.

Enjoy some new Do's and Don'ts international style.

Today's Ipod mix included: LCD Soundsystem, Yeah 12"; Junior Senior, Shake Your Coconuts (DFA remix), All Night Radio, Spirit Stereo Frequency.

Give Me Your Sound Track.

As Julian Casablancas once said, "You talk way to much", so I want you to do the talking for me. A lot of blogs are doing mix tapes these days, and I'd be lying if I claimed those damn things aren't on my mind twentyfourseven. This could be blamed on the ease of their creation thanks to iTunes, but either way they have been consuming me, and it seems like my tapes always have similar tracks on them. In an effort to broaden my horizons, I'd like to hear from all of you. What I'm asking for is your opinion. Give me the 10 tracks you'd put on a mix tape if you made it right now. Email me your lists. I hope to make a Good Times greatest hits so your choices will be used. The best part is, if I haven't heard the songs, I'll be downloading like a maniac and subjecting myself to your tastes.

Also, I'm in the process of purchasing an URL for the site. Do you guys like www.thegoodtimesroll.com? I don't know how I feel about the "the" in the link, but I'm warming up to it. Any thoughts are welcome.

Just Can't Get Enough.

If you are planning to brave the snow, then come on down to the Mercury Lounge where Razorlight and Athlete are hitting on the earlier side of things. Check out what one writer has to say about them in this weeks Flavorpill. Answer the question and win a pair of tickets! I'll see you there.

You can also check out what I have to say about tomorrow's Group Sounds, The Veils and The Head Set show at the Mercury. If you have a good St. Patty's day story, you can win a pair of tickets to this gig as well.

Like A Little School Girl.

It’s not as though this is big news, but I’ve come to the realization that I am indeed a poseur. How does this happen to a kid like myself? Self deprecation is a dumb concept, but when you realize that you listened to the same song all the way to work, two days in a row, it makes you feel like a school girl who just got Tiffany’s new single. Yesterday it was Perfect Day and today it was The Killer’s Mr. Brightside. That song seemed perfect for my hung over jaunt into the office. The lyrics are worn territory, but the nail is hit on the head Daniel LaRusso style.

Arbitrary Weather Notice.

Look out your window. Now I have something to talk about with the people I see in the elevator. I’m the king of bullshit and let me assure you that I shovel more than a rodeo clown. Maybe we will get an early dismissal. Damn grade school antics. When will they leave my mind?

Perpetuating A Stereotype.

Ok, it’s unfair to say everyone who waited for the 2nd Avenue Deli Roll Back Celebration was Jewish, but for a day they were. Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the New York City staple and to celebrate there was a special menu featuring the prices from the day it opened. Hawkins and I cruised over there after work in hopes of getting our pastrami on, but the line spanned from the restaurant all the way down to 9th Street where it took the corner and made it half way to 1st Avenue.

Early Dinner. Late Rock.

Apparently Mondays are the new Fridays. Well, that’s what appeared to be the case yesterday. The night ran long and the drinks didn’t stop coming.

After our collective dejection in regards to the 2nd Ave line, Hawkins and I decided the best way to combat our hunger lied in the Japanese steak house just down the block. If you have yet to try Yakiniku West, find yourself a date and do yourself a favor. Luckily I had Hawkins and Hawkins had me. Make sure to score one of their meat diners. They are fantastic and the amount of food you get is absurd.

British Invasion: Day 1.

After dinner and a quick hang, I swung over to the Mercury to catch a show. Beach, Daylen and Warrior Perry were in attendance. But I really need to focus on the rock.

First on the bill was Seachange who are a six piece English band trying to break in the states. Last night was their first New York gig before they head to Austin for a big showcase with Mission to Burma and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Their full length record has yet to drop in the U.S., but Matador claims it’s coming out on April 6th. Let me tell you right now, you will love this band. I can’t thank JB enough for getting me to the club early to catch their act. But enough praise, let me focus on the band.

When they took the stage I immediately wrote them off. There were so many of them, and their style couldn’t have been picked out of a police line up with other UK/NYC bands. On top of this, they had a violin so I figured we were in for some dream pop snore sound that would put me asleep and make me concentrate more on tired legs than their performance. Little did I know they were poised to hammer us with a rock assault that is well ahead of the originality curve.

At times Seachange sounded like a mixture of all things new and most things U.K. Oasis and a little Ash easily come to mind, but they are flares of other great artists in the mix. More recent artists like Interpol, Franz Ferdinand and Trail of Dead seem to contribute to a melting pot (yeah I used that phrase) of ideas that are pulled off beautifully. The jagged dissonance that made My Bloody Valentine or Sonic Youth so popular is interlaced with somber violin solos. The violin was also used to substitute for rhythm guitars while the boys with axes revved up and ripped out some tough as fuck rock. Their lead singer had a great swagger and rough vocals that swung from indie crooning all the way to hardcore howls that would make anyone’s throat bleed. There songs could be compared to the scariest roller coaster in the world. As they took the crowd up the first hill with a towering intro, they manage to bring a major calm before erupting into a storm of rock that will be the next big thing.

If you haven’t gotten your tickets for the GBV Bowery show yet (April 24), then I suggest you do it soon. With a chance to catch Seachange before Pollard hits the stage, you should run to the box office like you are being chased by the cops.

The next band on the bill was the Irish boys of La Rocca. They didn’t come close to touching the intensity of Seachange, but at times their pop rock was endearing. The lead singer/guitarist seemed to be a bit of a puff with his dumbass hat, but they still pulled of a sound that had hints of their brethren, The Thrills. At times their songs reminded me of the poppiest side of the Libertines, but they couldn’t stack up. The show was stolen by the infectious character that was behind the keys. He looked like he was having a better time than an 8 year old on Christmas morning. They are worth tracking down, but who knows when they will return.

More Food?

Beach, Ian and I went to get a quick bite in the neighborhood after the show. Beach had a hilarious bathroom incident that will has been formally stamped with the two week rule, but ask him about it some time. It is inexplicable. Hawkins cruised in so we finished up our Margaritas and headed to Welcome to the Johnson’s to close out the evening with cheap PBR and Tequila. We ran into to Stevo and his new roommate so we partied pretty late and now, I’m paying for it.

The News Is Back. Kind Of.

In case you are wondering about Muse and the excitment surrounding the announcement of their Bowery Gig, check out Filter's profile of these boys. You can also check out their video for Time is Running Out.

A Spice Girls reunion tour is upon us. I hear shotguns loading all over the country.

Mark Spitz lets us know which rockers will kick our ass.

A fine television program is saying so long.

The Unicorns hang out with Pitchfork and continue to be weird as hell.

Today's Ipod mix includes: The Killers... I told you that already! Tred lightly with the iPod or this could be you, (thanks Builder).

Big News!

Just got word that Muse will be playing the Bowery Ballroom on April 14. Beach said there will be a dumptruck full of tequila outside the club so get your tickets soon.

Tonight's Rock!

Just a quick hit to say I will be at the Mercury tonight to see Seachange, La Rocca, Hurry Up Offense and Oxford Collapse. Will you be there?

Why Is Ultragrrrl So Fucking Awesome?

Last week Ultragrrrl brought us all a cut from Bloc Party and this week she links to a mash up featuring Weezer and Jay-Z. Check it out here, but don't tell me about it until later. I don't have speakers at work. Why isn't it 5pm yet!!! Thanks Sarah.

In Between Days.

I’m officially a lobbyist. From this day forward my motto is “26 Just for Kicks”. This is my new effort to expand days to include 2 extra hours. You may be wondering how this could happen. Time is a relative notion. Does it really exist? Time is a human invention unfairly imposed on all of us. What I’m purposing would blur the lines between night and day. On a 26 hour cycle, our days and nights would be in constant fluctuation. Is this crazy? Maybe, but I really need those two extra hours everyday. If “26 Just for Kicks” doesn’t catch on, then I’m going to start pulling for the 3 day weekend, though that could hurt more than it may help.

Take Me Out.

Someone get me out of this city. I’m thinking about going home this weekend. Well, I really want to go home or go to someone else’s home where we can just sit all weekend and do nothing. Who’s with me?

You Just Keep Me Hanging On.

You may recall that line from Lou Reed’s infamous song, Perfect Day, which may be my number song all time. Ok, that’s a gross exaggeration, but it would definitely make the Top 10. That song makes me want to cry, hug my mother, kiss the love of my life, and jump out of a window all at once. Something that powerful should be bottled up and buried somewhere near this planet's core so subsequent generations are deprived of the chance to feel these emotions. Why am I writing about this song, because I can and if you have any sense, you will download it, buy it or burn it and listen to it all day. Lou walked me all the way to work this morning, and his lyrics are now permanently burned on my pupils. It’s all I can see.

Enough I say. Enough.

Allow me to stop sounding like a blathering idiot and focus on reality. The weekend started a bit early for me hence the lack of update on Friday. My intentions were good, but when I sat down to do some writing at home, my ideas were focused elsewhere. Anyway, let me catch you up on the haps of the craps during the past few days. If you are wondering, I used haps of the craps in the hopes that Jessica will find it humorous and use in her imitations of my writing.

Where It All Began.

Thursday was the beginning of a no joke kind of weekend. This was a blurry, drunken weekend filled with strikes and gutters along with piles of good times, but the bricks were laid a day early.

Following my day in the office, I went home to do some personal work. Once this was done, I cruised up to Bside to say hello to Karen and Sivan. My plan was to head straight down to the Mercury Lounge after a quick drink at Siv’s joint, but I got sidetracked when Cami called and invited me over to her place. It had been a long time since I was at her studio, so a visit with Canadian Club in tow seemed appropriate. We played with her telescope while sipping the goodness before heading down to the club.

We were arrived as Inouk was finishing their set. I asked Beach to describe those kids to me, but he couldn’t come up with much. He said it’s something I’d have to see for myself. Cami and I got drinks and headed to the back room where we ran into Rubi, Uncle Mike, Daylen, Tumbleweed and Lucy. Everyone was there for the Occasion who was next on the bill. By the time they reached the stage, I was fairly sauced due to the lack of alcohol intake that characterized the early part of the week. Honestly, I can’t say much about this show because I didn’t pay any attention to the music. There were a couple Occasion songs that caught my ear, but nothing was lasting. All memories have fleeted, and now I’m left with nothing. These shows are really starting to blend together.

The Hong Kong took the stage last with their new keyboard player who has a million times more personality then their last one. Their former keys player never looked excited to be playing and she was really quite a bore. The Hong Kong blew their load early by opening with Mazerati, but I did stay in the back room until I heard Rock the Faces. By the time they played that track, Cami was surly and going on and on about how bad she thought they were. At the time, I couldn’t have agreed with her more, so we headed back out front where we had tequila shots with Beach and Jaclyn. My night wound down in the back after the place had emptied and by 2am I was in much need of some rest.

Round Two, Fight!

Friday morning was met with more sore throat action. I figured my best bet would be to call in sick and lay low all day resting up. Like a dumbass, I didn’t sleep late. By 9am I was deep into How Soon Is Never which I finally finished that morning. Then I watched the second season of The Office before having brunch with Daylen at Clinton Street Bakery. We rapped over egg and cheeses before I headed back home to hang out with some of Builder’s friends from Pittsburgh while watching some episodes of those judge shows and talking politics. I forgot about their unique trailer trash beauty. It’s a real snippet of Americana that makes me realize how Bush got in office.

Friday night was ushered in with a visit by the wonderful Cathy Bishop. She recently scored a full time gig at Google, and though I’m upset that will keep her out of my reach in the near future, it makes her trips back to NYC so much fun. Cathy, D, Kyle, Lowel, Dan and I headed over to Cami’s where we were met by Leah, Cami and Jessica. We had a couple drinks before heading to Korova Milk bar for Christie’s birthday. I just want to say now that that bar has never appealed to me, but it was the birthday girl’s choice since Rififfi was so crowded. The Juicebox Dj must have thought it was 1997 and Three Dollar Bill Y’all had just dropped. His selection of shitty rap metal fusion made me want to puke. The redeeming aspect of the evening was that Christie had managed to get a lot of old and new faces together. It was really great to see everyone, and I hope to do something like that again soon.

Cathy, D, Kyle and I broke out and made our way to Lit in and effort to do a little dancing. Unfortunately that bar was extremely packed as well. I ran into some Flavorpill people there along with the Cali crew. We managed to dance to a couple songs, but it was so out of hand we decided to jump out and cruise over to Sophie’s to finish the evening. After a barrage of shots with Dan and Karl along with some drunken ramblings with Leclare, the four of us headed to Sal’s to grab some pizza. We got in a little tussle with some retarded Brit who was running his mouth about how the Japanese are a virus. This prompted D and Kyle to start a drunken verbal battle that had no ending. Eventually the night ended with a solid pass out.

Do What You Can.

Saturday began with another great brunch at Mogador with Hawkins, Leah, Barbs and Cami. That place has a fantastic brunch that is rivaled by few. There aren’t many prefix options, but stick to the Middle Eastern Breakfast, it aims to please and delivers with a bull’s-eye. That brunch, well this whole weekend for that matter, transported me back to few years prior when life seemed a lot simpler. It had a lot to do with the company, and it’s something I look to practice more in the future.

After the big brunch session, I went back home to finish up a late addition to this weeks pill. Make sure you take a look at my listings this week because there are a couple of rock shows that should not go unnoticed. I’m sure they will be mentioned here, but check them out anyway because Flavorpill kicks some serious ass.

Speaking of Flavorpill, my Saturday afternoon was graced by a visit from the always lovely Liz McDonald. She was in the neighborhood buying the biggest cashews ever so she made a point to pop in. Usually I’m adverse to the pop in, but when it’s someone like Liz, whom I’m rarely, get to see, it is more then welcomed. We got a hang on while listing to records and chatting about M3 which she attended last week. It was evident that she was telling the truth because she was so damn tan. Thank you Ms. Sun we appreciate it.

Later that evening Beach and Chernin stopped in for a quick minute before we headed out for Mexican food. I know what you are thinking, but this time we skipped on the Festival and went for El Nuevo Amanecer on Stanton Street. We met Jack, Kirsten and Ackerman for an awesome meal. This place was a bit pricier than my local favorite, but it had some killer fajitas and bitchin margaritas. The food was no match for Jack’s story about a crazy Texan who tried to get him a hooker in Vegas.

Beach and I rolled down to the Bowery following the feast. We walked in while Hopewell was on the stage. Again, I’m not ready to dive into a critique of the music because it all seems a little blurry. They were ok, but it had this alternative college rock feel to it that rubbed me the wrong way. Eventually Karen, Daylen and Action showed up and we got our serious drink on.

Between Hopewell and Kaito some dude from the Moldy Peaches got on stage and performed a few songs. Nothing to memorable, but him and his partner in crime ended with a cover of A.R.E. Weapons track Don’t Be Scared. It was a hilarious cover, and it kicked the shit out of the original.

Kaito took the stage and blasted through their best Yeah Yeah Yeah’s impression. This band did not appeal to me in any way. It felt a bit trite especially with the recent fizzle of the Brooklyn dance-punk scene (read: Liars completely flipping that shit inside out). The trading vocalization was tedious, indiscernible and often times shrill. It made me want to donkey punch the girls who were doing it. When I heard their record none of this came to mind, but the live show had visions of Culkins running through my head.

After a good hour of standing around and watching their roadie set up their magical forest, British Sea Power took the stage. If you haven’t seen them yet, make sure to jump on the train the next time you see their name on the marquee. They were fucking fantastic and seemed to make a confusingly drunk night make sense. They wowed onlookers with tunes like Blackout, Fear of Drowning and Apologies to the Insect Life. For a darker side of indie rock type band (meaning Joy Division and more recently Interpol) they sure looked like they were having fun and they got rowdy as hell. The lead guitarist was intent on destroying the shrubbery laid before him while the keyboard player ended the set on the shoulders of a band mate after running through the crowd pounding a drum. Their lead singer seemed to be the most intense in the lot, but even he had to smile at some of the outlandish antics of his band mates. Yet another gem from the crew at Rough Trade. They sure know how to pick artists. Some one give their A&R rep a raise.

The night rounded out at Bside where spinART and Rough Trade sponsored an after party with free Brooklyn Lager. I missed the free booze, but that wasn’t a problem because I was already a mess. I saw a lot of people, but don’t remember any of the conversations or happenings. Well, don’t remember or choose to forget, which ever it was, it’s all a bit hazy.

Sunday Slow Down.

Sunday began with much trepidation, but it evolved into a splendid day. After a morning fighting a horrible hangover, Alister, Builder and I hit up Café Orlin for some grub before we met Hawkins and Tony at Union Square to take in Starsky and Hutch. Let me tell you, Todd Phillips hit another home run. Though I missed his Hitchcock like cameo in this film, he did well to bring together a couple of actors who should always work together. Stiller, Wilson, Vaughn, Farrell, Bateman, and fucking Snoop Doggie Dog all on one screen. Be still my heart. It wasn’t as side splitting as Old School and it lacked the fart jokes of Road Trip but it was well done and probably comes in at a close second in his hilarious portfolio.

After the movies I met Flynne, Stephanie and Cami at an apartment that Flynne was house sitting. This place was absolutely ridiculous and belonged to some NYU professor. Who knew being an academic could pay so well?

Cami and I broke out and headed to Leah’s where we joined her, Erin, Barbs, Dan and Lou for some wings and Sopranos. The episode left me feeling as though I had missed a whole season, but I’m sure I’ll be caught up as soon as the next episode comes around. We also caught the season finale of Curb which grinded to a boring halt in the second half. Quote of the show: “I’d fuck her with a Bush mask on!”

So Cami and I busted out and shared a bottle of wine while she packed for her half week away for work. Now I’m struggling through my work day due to a weekend devoid of good sleep and chalked full of heavy partying.

Today’s Ipod mix includes: Desendents, Milo Goes to College; Bouncing Souls, The Bad, the Worse, the Out of Print; Elefant, Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid.

Holy Weekend Batman!

Good Goddamn, you know the weekend must be looking H-O-T, hot if I'm already talking about it on Thursday afternoon. There is so much to do this weekend, and it's all layed out so nicely. Do you have plans yet? If not, allow me to clue you in on some things that should be penned into those date books. Here they are in a particular order:

1. Bishop Allen @ Lit Lounge on Friday. It looks like they will be hitting around 11pm. This is a must see. Their record is so fantastic, and they seem like really great kids.
2. Christie "Z-Money" Zangrilli's Birthday Celebration @ Riffifi. The lovely Christie will be getting there around 11pm. I'm cruising through right after the gig at Lit, and I'll be ready to dance, so save one for me. And make sure they don't play any Pulp while I'm not there.
3. British Sea Power @ Bowery on Saturday. These guys will be fantastic. Let me know if you are going, I'd love to pregame at my place if at all possible.
4. Bristish Sea Power / Kaito After Party @ Bside. You know the bar. You know Sivan. You know I'll be there. (Don't tell anyone, but there will be free beer from 1-2am). Come and make out with us!

So that is the ground work for what may be a killer weekend. I hope to do something active on Saturday, but if not, I'll be glad to sit around and watch you get high. Also, I'm going for a Mogador brunch at some point. All I want to know is... Who's coming with me?

An Evening In Midtown.

First of all let me set the record straight. My world doesn't expand from the small piece of Manhattan carved out especially for kids like us. Rarely do I make the trip across 14th Street or below Delancy. I'm prone to crossing the East River now and again, but really, my life is on the L.E.S. When a trip is taken out of this area, it reinforces the notion that I will not be able to move out of my neighborhood for quite some time. Living anywhere else would be a push. It would be like settling for vanilla when you want chocolate chip. It would be a cheeseburger without french fries. It would be like Weezer without Rivers. Basically, it would not compare to what I really wanted and what I've grown accustomed too.

Noah met me in the lobby of my work and we hopped on the ACE train for a trip up to Madison Square Garden. About a week ago Beach had the idea for a boys night at the Garden to see a couple games in the first round of the Big East Tournament. We arrived in the mess that is 34th Street after 5pm, and began to walk around with the other aimless bunches of tourists. Eventually we made our way to the Triple Crown restaurant for a quick bite to eat before heading to some bar for a quick drink. I had promised my body that no booze would enter it, but that promise was barely broken when I sipped a Canadian Club and Water to take the edge off. My body hasn't revolted, but then again, I'm still not healthy.

After Henry's Bar we headed to the Will Call area where we met up with Beach, Oveis and Justin. Builder ended up being a no show. Apparently he had to go back to work or some lame excuse in that vain. Ok, it was legit, but it would have been bitching to have him along. Anyway, we made it into the Garden and headed in to find some decent seats. The place was over half empty, and we figured we would have our pick of the litter. Little did we know that there was an usher with a hard on for kids just like us. This man was a machine. He was skinny as a rail and decaying at 50 years or so. This man had his radar on high last night. As soon as we sat down he was giving us the third degree so we moved on. He quickly hunted us down at our next selection and told us he would throw us out. He started waving his finger at me so I got mad and told him to piss off. We managed to get some seats around the way. These seats had a perfect view of this guy kicking all the kids out of his section. What a blow hard. Does MSG pay him more if people aren't sitting in his section? I didn't understand the conviction behind his asshole tendencies. This guy should have been Culkined, twice.

Both of the games were fantastic. Both contests were decided by 1 point. How often does that happen? I'll tell you its not regular occurrence. The first game featured Notre Dame versus West Virginia. The Irish played a sloppy final 12 minutes of the game. They blew a double digit lead and allowed West Virginia to pull ahead. It was ridiculous, but they pulled it out in the end. The second game was just as solid. Seton Hall lost to Villanova because one of their teammates blew 2 free throws at the end of the game. The second one was an air ball. How embarrassing.

We exited the Garden and took a cab back down to the neighborhood. I met up with Karen and we got a hang on. The night ran a little late, but I still managed to lay off the booze. Tonight may prove to not be as easy as the last.

Get Your Politics On.

Ace reporter and #1 Kerry supporter that I know, Alec Oveis has started a political blog. Check out Purple States and get educated.

Huey Lewis Loves The News.

What the fuck is this? Why would you even try to go against Coachella? Didn’t anyone tell these organizers? Why try to one up the big show. Well, it will work because all the southern kids who don't listen to country are stupid anyway. Except Hawkins.

She may sing, but she still sucks.

Look at how sweet George Michael can be. He will no longer release records that will be for sale. They will be available on line for free. Paul is excited. Sorry George, you aren't going to start any trends with this move.

Rap is being watched.

The Von Bondies respond to Jack White's guilty plea. This is just more press for the Detroit scene, but if you haven't seen a picture of Jason's fucked up face, or you want to relive it. Click this link.

The Strokes and Jet end their little tiff. The 9 pretty boys kissed, made up and then gave each other hand jobs by the pool.

Check out the man live at San Quentin. Rolling Stone previews the Man in Black's famous performance that will air later this month.

Why don't I own this yet?

Gus Van Sant is scheduled to direct a fictional piece on the grunge period. This should be tastefully done well, especially since Gus is the man. Word is that he is planning to work with this star from The Dreamers.

Kind of a weak post, but deal with it.

Today's Ipod mix included: The Smiths, Louder Than Bombs.

Who Knew?

Being sick sucks. For some reason I was having a really good winter season and then since mid February I've been stricken with illness. There are many things to blame: the weather fluctuation, the lack of pot boosting my immune system (?), and most importantly Noah, (just because it’s easy to blame him for things). This week my new aliment is a sore throat. It’s put me down since Saturday, but you can be sure it hasn't put me out. Today has been the worst of it. In fact it feels like I'm swallowing glass, but not the delicious glass that we all love to eat, the horribly sharp glass that makes you bleed. Anyway, I'm now blaming this sickness on Miriam. She has the same symptoms as me, and she had it first.

Nothing's Stopping Me Now.

My post work / pre-going out time was spent wisely. I managed to get some Flavorpill writing done before heading to my bedroom to get my read on. The plan was to meet Cami for dinner to discuss one of her recent works, and I wanted to make sure I had a clear idea of how I was feeling about the piece. A reread and a shower later and we met on the corner of Ludlow and Houston. Our plan was to check out something new (possibly the Pink Pony since I haven't had more than a glass of wine there), but upon our arrival, we both realized that we are addicted to Festival, so we headed down to our favorite restaurant.

Heeding my inner advice, I layed off the hooch. This was my first time at the Mexican paradise without a margarita, but I knew the night would be long, and my body was hurting. As we mowed through our plates of tostados and quesadillas, we dissected her story. Cami is a bloody talented writer, and the story base was definitely there, she just needs to expand on what could be, and already is, an intriguing idea. Cami and I also had a conversation about this blog that has really made me rethink my aim. I don't know what’s going to happen, but expect some sort of drastic change in the future; for better or worse.

Following dinner we walked over to Pianos where Surefire had just taken the stage. There is a lot of hype surrounding this four-piece made up of young New York boys, but I don't really understand it. There songs are well done, and they have a level of professionalism that is barely matched by bands that have been in the business for years, but their songs were a bunch of crooning rock that left me wanting something more. Something loud. Something distorted. I know that isn't their aim, but their inoffensive brand of love songs kept me thinking, "these guys can really give Rooney a run for their money." There were some bright moments when the rhythm guitarist traded his ax for a keyboard, but the authenticity of they lyrics were all to questionable. They looked like really young kids (I believe they are either still in high school or fresh out of one) who sing songs about love lost and yearning for the feeling, but have they truly experienced it? Keep in mind that this criticism is coming from a jaded 22 year old who thinks he was in love once, but grows uncertain of it ever passing day so my validity can be questioned as well. They have a bright future ahead of themselves, especially if they don't allow the glitz and glamour to blind them, but right now a little growing up could severe them (and me for that matter) well.

After a quick cigarette break by Cami, we made our way back into the room and found a table. Eventually we were joined by Erin and Oveis who had come to witness the increasing goodness of Arbor Day. By the way, last night Vin informed the crowd that they have website in the works. Go there and check out the music video they did for Another Thing. The website has yet to be completed, but the video will surely impress you. Throughout my five year residency in NYC I've seen Arbor Day play many times. They have songs that have made it all the way from the Hayden Cafeteria (R.I.P. Milo) to the stage at Pianos. Tonight they really turned in a great performance. Mixing the soft with the rock. The loud with the subtle. Dan's skills as a drummer are improving and he can really hold it down. If you have the chance, see their next show at the Mercury Lounge and keep an eye on the big Italian in the back. He makes some crazy faces. I may have written this before, but I'm really starting to appreciate Vin's role in the band. He doesn't overplay as a rhythm guitarist, but when he does its spot on. He ranges from jammy pieces that add unique layers to the shinny pop all the way to intense freak outs that make you want to jump up, applaud him and then give him the finger. The one thing I would like to see from this band is a boost of confidence that would let Dili's stage banter run wild and Joe to look up from his bass.

I popped into the Luna Lounge to see if some friends were still there, but it was to no avail. A quick walk home and I was in bed watching old Family Guy episodes. And just so you know I didn't have one single drink last night. That's two full days of complete clean living. What the hell is this world coming to?

Raise Your Goblet Of Rock.

Just so we are clear, Rock means Basketball. Tonight a group of guys are heading to Madison Square Garden to see a couple games from the first round of the Big East Tournament. I'm psyched because the 7pm game pits the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame versus West Virginia. Go Irish! I was born bleeding navy and gold so I'm pretty lucky that we got this game. The second game is Villanova versus Seton Hall. I'm going to be representing for Jessica Moser on this one. Go Nova.

You Write Way Too Much.

The BBC release their list of Top 20 Songs that Saved Your Life. The Smiths' steal the top spot with I know It's Over. Other great tracks include The Cure's Pictures of You, Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart and The Darkness' I Believe In a Thing Called Love.

Franz Ferdinand get what’s coming to them. They signed a huge deal with Epic in the U.S.

Fat Mike Fucking Rocks. I don't care what you have to say about NoFx and their brand of speed punk. It's fucking great music, and I'll always be able to mosh in my bedroom with Mikey and Builder to I Heard They Suck Live or belt out the lyrics to Punk in Drublic with Jack and Lance. Even if you don't like the band, you have to respect this.

Josh Homme, formerly of QOTSA, gives VH1 some insight on why the band split. What kind of bitchout is this? They broke up because their bassist partied to hard. Laaaaame. Maybe they should read the Motley Cure Biography.

Jack White drops the self defense cry and pleads guilty to assault and battery. He will now pay a fine and court fees along with being forced to take anger management classes.

Snow Patrol is getting set to plow through the U.S. They will domestically release Final Straw at the end of the month. Get your tickets to their upcoming Bowery gig while they are still available.

Oasis give Death in Vegas the boot, but reassure us that their next record is close to completion.

More problems for Courtney Love. She gets charged with disorderly conduct on top of everything else. If you haven't noticed yet, she will be playing a show at the Bowery on March 18th. Get your Tickets now!

The A.V. Club takes a gander at the new Superchunk DVD. If you bought this, let me know. I'll cook you dinner and we can watch it together.

The Giraffes get some press in this weeks Village Voice.

Today's Ipod mix includes: Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights; The Stooges, S/T; Weezer, Pinkerton.

Tonight's Menu Will Include.

Arbor Day will be fixing to get down this evening at Pianos. Come on down to the L.E.S. to see some rock and roll by this NYC based 5-piece. They will be hitting at 10pm, but get there at 9pm to see the young lads of Surefire. They are gaining a major fanbase in the area, and their skills will carry them well into the future.

Let's Get Dirty.

Today the Florida Primary is occurring, which is the state that gave Bush the election. It was that close. Oveis and I had a discussion Sunday and he informed me that a state such as New Hampshire, that went Republican last Presidential Election and normally has little electoral impact, could have been the state that kept Gore out of the White House. Oveis assessed that Bush has no where to go but down. A race that close coupled with a term characterized by economic devastation could only mean that our democratic candidate, no matter who it is, stands a good chance to beat the billions of dollars pumped into the Bush campaign.

But we all know that John Kerry has won the democratic nod and will be our nominee. With close to eight months to go before the Presidential Election, the political crossfire has begun. I'm going to be nauseous by the time we step into the booths to vote for our next Commander and Chief. Eight long months of Peter Jennings starting the six o'clock news with segments about how much mud is being slung by each camp. It will get exhausting, but my hope is that Kerry won't waver to far from the issues. GWB's main objective is to paint the decorated senator as a flip flop artist, a man who can't stick to his guns. Kerry's record has shown that his opinion has shifted in the past, but what’s really wrong with that idea? Retrospect gives us the ability to make educated decisions. Why not change your stance on the war, if the reason for war was never validated? Can't we focus on the real issues? Kerry leads most polls that ask which man will better lead the economic recovery. Kerry also leads environmentally conscious polls. Come to think of it, the only poll that Kerry consistently loses is in regards to terrorism. Voters believe that Bush is better equipped to deal with terrorists and their ongoing threat. Expect to hear a lot of fear rhetoric in the coming months. Its the one card that the good old boy from Texas can play, and he'll beat it into the ground. Don't be surprised if the CIA lets another slip through their grasp before the November Election. Kerry is right in questioning Bush's 1 hour sit down with the committee. Why can't our president devote more time to an investigation into the tragedy his platform is using to levy votes?

Sorry, sometimes I get carried away. It makes me feel like my father which could be dangerous.

Kicking It Lazy Style.

Last night came and went with a blink of an eye. I did some writing and sat around trying to pound through Marc Spitz's novel How Soon Is Never. For some reason it feels like I've been reading this book for years, and now I'm making the push to finish it. It feels like I'm reading some real life hipster soap opera in which the characters are people I know, kids at the same shows as me and older men whom I will eventually grow to imitate. Its a bit on the spooky side, but I digress.

I also fell asleep watching The School of Rock which came out on video last Tuesday. I almost forgot how great this film is. Jack Black is hilarious and at the same time, a really big sweetheart. He does so well with his students. If only I had a teacher like him, I may be playing music rather than trying to pen my opinions on it. Also, if Barbs is reading today, is the little white backup singer you from childhood? Every time that girl was on screen, all I could think was that they took you, put you in a time machine and placed you int that movie. Come on Jessica, tell me the truth!

Let The News Do The Talking.

I hope that all my friends who were in Miami last week for M3 were at this panel that featured Dj Danger Mouse discussing the success and dangers of his Grey Album. If they weren't at the panel, hopefully they were at his set. I can't wait to see Burton do his thing at Coachella.

There are some big releases today. Franz Ferdinand comes out domestically while TV on the Radio finally drops their full length debut. Also look out for a Dead Kennendys live record and a Disco Inferno reissue.

Look kids, they like it. They really really like it! I thought they might try to pull a fast one on us, but they realize that it’s just music.

In another review, they kind of like it. I'm buying this record today. No question.

The Von Bondies sophomore record also gets a proper domestic release. Rolling Stone has something to say about it. Spin has a great sit down with Jason regarding all things Detroit. If you are a fan, this one is worth the read.

A troubled hipster wastes more of our time. These Filter columns have no real direction. Who approves these pitches? This girl is a dime a fucking dozen. A troubled scene queen who wants so much attention, but is to stuck up to admit it.

Gary Libertine gives us and explanation of why Pete ran off stage the other night. I guess this will do, but who really believes that? Tell me how much heroin he was on.

The European Union gets medieval on file sharers' asses. This is a serious directive that may allow authorities to freeze bank accounts and raid homes in order to protect the new Britney single.

William gets well Hung. Koch has signed the failed American Idol participant. This boy is poised to take over the world. Its a perfect example of how media coverage is the main ingredient in making an artist. Talent comes further down the pole.

This link is for Karen. She is an accomplished viola player, that’s why!

Napster may go under. Their sales are falling and the HP diss didn't help much either. What the hell is Eric Garland talking about in this article? He claims people thought it would be easy to take on the pirating sights. That is crazy. Free versus not free. You make the choice.

More on Franz Ferdinand. Why do they make dance rock? For the girls, stupid. These Scots may take over the world.

Today's Ipod mix includes: Razorlight, Stumble and Fall single; The Strokes, Reptilia single (with unreleased bside featuring Regina Spektor); Modest Mouse, The Lonesome Crowded West.

Attempted Blogger #1.

Though I've tried to forget about this blog for quite some time, Noah thought that it deserves some linkage. This was my first attempt at blogging over a year and a half ago. There are some great recaps including a Bahamas show, Sam Champion gig and a Realistics show at a crazy venue. Enjoy and then forget.

Get Out Your Calenders.

Today's lunch hour was spent updating the list of shows found on the right side of this page. Check out the NEW! editions and mark your calenders. There are a lot of great options on the horizon. Let me know what you are planning to hit. I'm always looking for a partner in crime.

Mixed Drinks. Mixed Feelings.

Every once and while God or something sends you an early warning to take it easy. It could come in many different forms, but on Friday night, it came in very clear and I didn’t take the hint. Maybe a new listening policy is in order.

Friday’s Are For Rock.

Early Friday evening Cami and I met for our new favorite activity, dinner at Festival. We managed to get the front window seat and despite the constant attack by the plants, we had a great time. It’s come to my attention that Cami now has the ability to bully me into a tequila shot, especially when we are at Festival. In fact, many people hold this ability, but I will elaborate on it later.

We walked the two quick blocks north to the Mercury Lounge because I wanted to catch the Mobius Band’s early set. It’s been awhile since I’ve arrived at the Mercury before the rest of the crowd. I’ve grown accustomed to the practice of getting off my futon and heading to the club five minutes before the act I’m going to see takes the stage. Friday was a bit different. We got drinks and headed to the back room which was empty besides one other patron. The floor looked strange. I’m used to a beer splattered, cup littered piece of wood, but tonight I caught a glimpse of a clean and bare room. Anyway, the three-piece from North Hampton took the stage and filled the room with aural delight. Their sound is much akin to Radiohead mixed with some Postal Service type percussion and blips. As they played their set, the room began to fill with familiar faces like Beach, Liz, Justin, Tumbleweed, Lucy, Daylen, Windskill, Sivan and Karen. After their set, I caught up with everyone. Then Cami and I thought it would be a good idea to jump over to 186 for a quick shot of Jack before Alaska! started their set.

This is the point where the higher power intervened and tried to send me the message to stay home and call it a night. Once we got back to my place, Cami proceeded to the kitchen while everything caught up with me and lead me to the bathroom where I emptied my stomach in homage to the almighty. The thing is that puking is something I’m all too familiar with. If you know me outside of the friendly settings of any bar, then you know that I have the weakest stomach this side of the Mississippi. You wouldn’t think it by looking at me and it rarely holds me back, but it’s true; I puke more than most Americans. So my incident on Friday was quickly written off, and we headed back to the club.

Oveis managed to find his way to the show and we had a couple drinks at the end of the bar while Alaska! finished their set. Next on the bill was Runner & the Thermodynamics. I was really excited to see these guys, not only because of all the good press they have received, but because Jordan, who is the guitar player in Demander with Karen and Sivan, is their manager. They took the stage and blasted out a set of powerful rock that was extremely playful. The best part about this band is that they really appear as though they enjoy being on stage together. They are light hearted guys who don’t take themselves too seriously. The songs are tight, but the only thing I could have asked for was more guitar solos. Karen thought this idea was crazy, and she absolutely dug these guys, but everyone is a critic (and some are dj’s – that’s a Hold Steady reference). Also, I can’t recall when my eyes have laid on a drummer who was that outrageous. He played with an intense fury matched by few. This cat played so hard that he broke his snare drum and had to borrow one from Mobius. Next chance you get, give them a shot.

Following the show, we strolled over to Oveis’ crib to finish up the booze from last weekend’s bash. There was so much there, that we hardly even dented it. Dan and I managed to shotgun a good 4 or 5 beers a piece which may have not been the best thing considering the battle I had earlier. To put the icing on top, I took some speed which kept me rolling till late night. Not a smart idea when you feel imminent sickness. Thankfully the party wound down by 3:30am which got me home at a decent hour.

Listen To Your Body. It Knows What Its Doing.

Once Saturday officially became Saturday, I began to realize something was gravely wrong with my health. Living in a constant state of denial is a bad way to fight a sickness. After Karen departed for practice, I went to meet Cami for brunch, but after she didn’t show, I quickly called Hawkins who was kind enough to meet me at Rue B. I’m lucky that guy didn’t bolt on me, especially with all my bitching, but he stuck it out and we managed to have a great brunch. It put me in better spirits, but I was still feeling the effects of last night, or so I thought.

After a late afternoon nap, Beach, Noah and Sean showed up for a few beers before Beach and I headed to Sin-e to catch Dirty On Purpose’s set. We ran into DTL and Jin at the show along with Nicole who was shooting the show for the band. Beach and I got PBR’s and set ourselves up in the back. During the set Builder called so I ran outside to take it. While talking I ran into Sarah (aka Ultragrrrl) who was Dj’ing the evening. We had a chat about all things Smith’s before heading back into the club. She told me that a fellow writer at Spin, Mark Spitz (not the swimmer), had taken a cup Morrissey used at a recent interview for her. She informed me that she is going to get his DNA from the cup and make herself some Moz babies. Good luck Sarah!

As we cruised back into the main room, DOP was playing through a couple of tracks off of their great 4-song Ep. If you haven’t heard this, pick one up as soon as possible. These five Brooklyn kids have a soothing sound that walks to the edge of rock, looks over and decides making the leap might not change things for the better. Their soft, trading vocalization is so pleasing to the ear that you could put them on repeat and drift off into dreamland. During the next change over, I ran into Dennis Cahlo who was due up third on the bill. He told me I clean up nice due to my jacket and collared shirt, and I informed him (with much disappointment) that I wouldn’t be able to stick around for his set.

I left the club to go meet up with Builder, Miriam, her friend Rob and Chris. We were planning to take the F train out to DUMBO in order to check out Mike Rothfeld’s work at a gallery, but much to our dismay, the F train was a bastard. We then decided to hop in Builder’s car in hopes of finding the joint despite Chris’s apprehension. We managed to find the space on Jay Street with little or no trouble. Walking into the gallery, one of the first things you notice is Mike’s work hanging on the sidewall. It is huge an impressive. This boy has the touch. Here is an example of the work he had on display and here is a link to his page incase you need some professional work done at a reasonable price.

We bolted from Brooklyn and were back in the city by 11pm. At this point my sickness had taken total control over me, but I forged ahead to Sofie’s in hopes of seeing the birthday girl for a single drink. To my added dismay she was not in the bar yet, so I said hello to all those in the joint, informed them I was under the weather and walked back home to catch some much needed sleep.

Peer Pressure Still Exists.

Sunday I woke up feeling as though hell had taken residence in my throat. I laid in bed until 12pm when Beach, Oveis and Builder congregated in the living room to figure out how to get to Elizabeth, New Jersey. This past week we had planned a trip to Chilis and Ikea, but at this point I was out. Close to an hour later, I decided I couldn’t miss out on a trip to a Jersey Mall to eat at Chilis.

We made it out to the restaurant by 2:00pm, and we were seated 10 minutes later. At this point we had gigantic margaritas with the exception of Oveis who was drinking a big beer. We were seated in the back of the establishment, where Evelyn, our lovely waitress could properly serve us. We started with a bunch of appetizers that included chips and salsa, an awesome blossom and boneless chicken wings. At this point Beach and I ordered another margarita. My margarita’s name was the El Nino. Let me tell you, it may have been a great storm, but it is definitely a better margarita. Those two things got me so buzzed. The highlight of my meal was the half rack of babyback ribs. They were delicious, and now I can understand Beach’s fanatic like affinity for Chilis. After paying the bill, it took little prying for Beach to convince me to top things off with a college size shot of tequila. This tequila thing is becoming a problem.

While Builder and Oveis were satisfying their sweet tooth, Beach and I unsuccessfully attempted to Culkin Oveis. I’m blaming this one on Beach, but a Culkin is a team effort and one player can’t lose it for the team. Anyway, we headed to Ikea in hopes of finding some gear for Johnny’s new apartment, but the sheer size of the place had everyone a little freaked out. If you haven’t been to the Ikea in Elizabeth yet, take a trip out there. It’s American consumerism at its finest. The illusion of choice has been extracted from the political realm and projected onto millions of products that allow us to think we have a actual role in deciding what we want. There must have been five to seven thousand people in that store, and it was all too much to handle. We failed miserably and didn’t manage to buy one thing.

Back in 186 Beach, Builder and I all passed out for a good hour. The nap was necessary after a day characterized by gorging. By 8pm I realized that my sickness was going to prevent me from seeing the season premiere of the Sopranos, so I hope someone can accommodate me this week when HBO airs it again. Luckily Karen came over to cheer me up and make me feel a bit better. I don’t know if she is certified, but she should be. I’m feeling much better today, and I’m owing it all to her.

News Update.

May 18th will be a huge day for many. Morrissey will break the silence and drop his new record.

When will Pete Doherty calm down? Hopefully never. Does he use Iggy as a model?

One Brit gets pissed at his own country's award shows. And who the hell is this band Busted. Should I even be calling them a band? I wonder if our pop culture is worse than theirs. Of course it is, but they take a close second.

To combat pirated copies of the event, Live Aid organizers have decided to release the 1985 concert on DVD by this Christmas. It will feature acts like U2, Queen, Bowie and Dylan.

The Liars have a sit down with Junkmedia and attempt to explain the direction of their new record.

If I didn't have enough reasons to move to London, here is one more.

Pitchfork gets critical of TV on the Radio's debut full-length, but come on now, its their debut. You can't compare them to an Ep that was put out in their infancy as a group.

AFI has cancels their spring tour due to a vocal chord injury to their lead singer Davey Havok. Who couldn't see this coming? This guy screams more than Flanders.

If you are bored today or any day, check out Ricky's explanations of the slang used in the hit BBC comedy, the Office.

It's about time I bought their fucking record. Especially when James Mercer highly recommended it. I know I say this a lot, but I'll never forget the time we saw them at Hank's with the Black Lipstick and was totally blown away.

Gagging scientists will not help the environment. The U.K.'s top scientist is ordered to limit his contact with the media after reporting that Global Warming is more serious than the threat of terrorism. This is one of the many reason's I will never have a kid.

This link was pulled off of Gawker. Check out Sean Lennon's list of recent fame ridden conquests. I love the last line of this column. Is he still in Dopo Yume? What a dork.

Finally, at Oveis' request, read this Op-Ed piece from yesterday's Times. It will get you more comfortable with the idea of John Kerry being our next president. He loves great films, better poets and rock.

Today's Ipod mix included: Nothing! My Ipod is a piece of shit right now. I'm very close to using it as a hockey puck.

Erin Ediken's Birthday Party

Since I'm so hungover and fresh off of brunch with Hawkins, I don't think much can be done at this point of my day besides sleep. I want to let you all know that we will be celebrating the Dike-FaceKilla's birthday tonight at Sofie's. If you don't know by now, its on 5th Street just east of Avenue A. Kids will be showing up around 11pm and I'll should be back in Manhattan by then.

If anyone is interested, I will be heading to Sin-e to check out Dirty On Purpose. Its been a long time coming. Ms. Jinners manages this Brooklyn based band, and their Ep is stellar so make an effort to get down there early because they have the 8:30pm slot. Then I'm heading out to Mike's showing. Find the link below. Hopefully I see you somewhere down the trail.

Beware of Mutant Frogs.

Mike sent me this link. He was sent the link from Katie. Anyway, take some mushrooms and check it out. A three headed frog is found by school children. Some genius figures this could be a sign of environmental problems to come. Well, no shit.

Tonight is Getting Crazy.

Wow, tonight is going to be hectic. First up, Cami and I are catching eats at Festival. Let me know if you want to get down on some margaritas. We are eating at 7pm or earlier since I want to be at the Mercury by 8pm. Call or drop an email. After Runner plays, I want to attempt to skip out to DUMBO to see my friend Mike Rothfeld's work in an opening. A few of his pieces with be a part of this large exhibition. Check out the link here. It should prove to be as interesting as it is a damn good time.

There may be a late night party popping up following the shows. I'll keep you informed if you give me a shout later.

A Correction.

Uptown Thom was nice enough to send me this correction the NY Post ran regarding the claim that Strokes' drummer Fab was cheating on Drew Barrymore. Now that the record is straight, I must plead to Drew; please stop calling me. It's getting a little weird.

In other Strokes news; Newsweek has declared a war on the Strokes! Ok, maybe not the Strokes, but yeah, the Strokes.

Also, this morning I wrote that Beach said the Vietnam make Spiritualized look like the Grateful Dead when in fact he said they make them look like George Michael. It has been corrected below. And who is the kid who has been laying off pot? Yeah, its me.

Take My Beer And Save Me.

Ah hell, I'm hung-over again. It's not a bad thing, but I had another crazy dream last night. Well, two crazy dreams. The first dream was set in a bar from my home town called Busters. The funny part was that the bartender was Will from B-side and 224, but he looked like Brandon of Alabama Black Snake and Odessa. Anyway, I was playing pool with the older guy who is always at B-side. You know the one. He has a cowboy hat on and he is clad in a dirty denim jacket. Our conversation was going well, but only because I was telling him my stories of being a war vet. It seemed as though all of my conversations with people were predicated on lies which for some reason pissed Will/Brandon off. I told one girl that my brother was waiting for me out side. This lie was the straw that broke the camels back. At that point Will asked me for my ID. I apprehensively handed it over in fear of what the small rectangle of plastic could uncover. He swiped it through some machine and a huge document began to pour out of the bar's printer. Will began to spill my secrets to the entire bar. This enraged me and caused me to pull him over the bar. I slammed him against the wall which caused a huge brawl to break out. Once I started throwing punches, I awoke from my slumber.

The second dream just pitted me in an outdoor ring wrestling Macho Man Randy Savage. It was at the Clearfield County Fair in front of the big grandstand. Last thing I can remember was Macho Man running at me with a chair raised in the air fully ready to bring it down on my head. Can anyone explain this reoccurring theme of my hometown and violence? This could open a can of worms no one wants to eat.

Shut Up Already.

Apologies all around for making you sit through that retelling of last nights unconscious thoughts. Let me tell you what went down on Thursday night. Rob and I were hanging out watching the tube while I rushed to finish the Shins interview that has been on the back burner for quite some time. Eventually Builder and more of his friends from home cruised into 186. It is always good to see kids like Chris who, funny enough, was inquiring about my health since the last time we hung out I was in the grips of some heart troubles.

Around 9:30pm I headed over to the Mercury Lounge in hopes of catching some of the Oranges Band. I ran into Nate outside of the club and we stood around until Karen and Jordan (both of Demander) showed up. We got a drink and settled into the back corner of the club just before the Hold Steady ripped into their first song. Last night's show was a record release show for their debut effort, Almost Killed Me, that was released on Frenchkiss Records. Their lead singer, Craig Finn, who some of you might remember from Lifter Puller, rambles on and on in a unique fashion. He doesn't even stop talking/singing when he pulls away from the microphone. He is like a kid with a serious case of turrets, but he is able to cultivate his nonstop steam of musing into great pop rock songs that reference everything from Panama Jack to Alice Cooper. Tunes like Hostile, Massachusetts and Sketchy Metal really made me want more from these guys. They closed with the solid track Killer Parties and left the stage in a bit of a hurry. Their brand of rock is heavy on the classic rock references but it lacks the structure that made some rock of old all too tedious.

Following their set, during which Hawkins and Beach rolled into the club, Beach, Lucy, Tumbleweed and I ran back to 186 so those kids could partake in a kick knifer. While waiting outside of the Mercury for Beach, I ran into Sivan who was on her way to Josh's and in no mood for the rock. It is always a pleasure to see her though. Brian and his lady friend, Rebecca, came through as well. A quick nod to everyone, and we were off to 186 for a frantic session before returning to the club in time to see the last five songs from Vice Record's Vietnam.

My first impression was that these guys were way too loud. There were only three musicians in the band, but they had their amps cranked so loud my ears could have been bleeding. It cleared a lot of people out of the room and out of the club. Beach, Oveis and I bore the pain so we could hear some of their dirty boogie that is characterized by vocalization that mirrors Bob Dylan. While watching them I was thinking about writing something like the Vietnam are what Dylan would have sounded like if he had balls, but in a strange way, it made me appreciate Mr. Zimmerman's music even more. The Vietnam may have yet to garner a following worthy of headlining a Mercury show, but its my belief (like the rest of the garbage you read on this page) that they are going to make a terrific record that will see heavy rotation in my stereo. Beach may have put it best when he said, "These guys make Spiritualized look like George Michael." Their stripped down, loud as all hell, psych dowsed rock may be the next best thing to tripping on acid while listening to The Byrds.

After their set Beach, Oveis and I joined Hawkins and Karen in the front room of the Mercury to end the evening with a couple of pints and some weekend planning. We have high hopes for the next two days. Let's just hope we can pull it off.

Tonight's Looking Strong.

What are you planning to do this evening? Well, let me tell you that there are numerous options to pick from. Feast your eyes on these:

1. The Head Set @ The Luna Lounge
2. The Regs w/ The Izzys @ Plaid
3. The Spicy Rizzacks @ Acme
4. Mobius Band w/ Runner & the Thermodynamics, Lake Trout @ The Mercury

At this point I know I'm going to be at #4 with the hopes of sliding over to #1 to catch their set before returning to #4. Did you get that? Choose one, but choose wisely. All these options have serious potential.

Maybe We Partied. But I Don't Remember.

The RIAA is claiming that the recording industry has suffered losses of more than 30% since 1999 and they are blaming it on piracy. Well no shit. Thanks for the information. Let me think about this. Record labels push artists to put out a record with one or two singles, three other decent songs and then 5 filler tracks and they expect consumers to buy it in the midst of a horrible economic period brought on by the Bush Administration? Get fucking real. Maybe these artists should be given time to mature and develop worth while songs that have some replay value. Where are your priorities?

A New Nirvana video? Not exactly, but this artist's installment is intriguing enough to get me off the couch. I have a seeking suspicion that Kyle will get to this before I do.

Pitchfork looks favorably on Kill Me Tomorrow's new record. I bought their last Ep and wasn't impressed at all, but I'm willing to give The Garbageman And... a chance.

If you are going to SXSW don't forget your Ipod. You will be able to download free music throughout the festival.

The NY Daily News gives the Cooper Temple Clause a little coverage. By a little I actually mean a little.

Take some more acid and watch TV on the Radio's video for Starring at the Sun. It has a cool feel to it as well as a decent concept, but it gets to be a little much. Either way, the song kicks ass. This Filter link also has the complete listing for their upcoming tour.

The Independent has a sit down with Pete Libertine to discuss drug abuse, industry maneuvering and his new work under the moniker Babyshambles. This guy is a rockstar.

This link is for Builder. Virgin Records readies Eno's classic albums for reissue. Hopefully they will have some extra stuff to make my roommate happy.

Another single is on the way from Franz Ferdinand. I can only pray that it has a non-album bside on it.

X-Rage Against the Machine and current Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello gets set to take down Taco Bell. Morello is fighting for the farmers in Florida who are poorly paid for picking the veggies for the fast food chain.

And finally, Pop Matters does a huge profile on the King of France. I haven't seen these boys yet, but Noah stands by them and every once and awhile that kid has top notch taste.

Today’s Ipod Mix Included: Postal Service, Shins, The Kills.

Who Wants Their Ass Kicked?

This guy! Excuse me for a second ladies, but some dudes can be real pussies. Check out this link I received from the infamous Katie Notop. This boy should be forced to join the football team. Someone needs to beat some sense into him. And why does he have to drag Weezer into his little cry me a river post? This is why I fucking hate emo kids.

Fuck Bloomberg.

The NY Post does a piece on the resurgence of smoking in NYC establishments. I could care less about the smoking ban. A couple positives to come out of it is that my clothes don't smell like ass in the morning and its an easy way to meet cute ladies. I am in favor of anything that will help business. So we have a bit of a double edged sword.

Are You Mad?

Just in case you forgot that Mad Magazine may be the coolest publication ever, check out this movie poster for Lord of the Bling: The Jewelry Never Ends. My favorite part is Ja Rule as Golem and the Special Technical Advisor credit for Don "Magic" Juan.

Less Bang For More Bucks.

So its been over a week since my Lenten promise was put into affect, and I have yet to see a major difference in my life. Outside of better remembering my dreams, which isn't always a welcomed change, my daily life is still chalked full of the procrastination and laziness that characterized me nearly 8 days ago. Complaining might not be in order just yet, but if something doesn't light a fire under my ass soon, I may end up the grumpiest 22 year old in the L.E.S. Think about this for a second. If the only side effect of lying off the smoke is that you can remember a dream about getting a girl pregnant in high school and subsequently having to raise the child by yourself while living on welfare would you quite that vice? Maybe not, but you know what? I'm going to stick with it if not for the crazy dreams, than for the big man upstairs. That's right Jesus, this one's for you.

Another strange development to spawn out of this fasting of sorts, is that much like last year my promise has pushed me into a deeper, more focused state of alcoholism. I've been drunk every night since Ash Wednesday with the exception of last night when 3 or 4 PBR's had the ability to knock me out. Some may look at this as a problem, but I, on the other hand look at it as good chance to get reacquainted with an old friend.

Can't Forget The O.C.

Despite those bastards at Fox's need to deprive us of the O.C. until March 24, I could really make out with any of them. Not like a "lets get naked make out session", but more like a "let's go to the bar bathroom and have some fun", make out. That show is amazing. All you haters better check yourself, (I sound like Tupac. Now I sound like a white boy. Now I'm shutting up). Last night's episode was full of emotion, bad music and even worse acting. It was a little piece of perfection in the teenage drama genre. I bet there is already a class at NYU that uses clips of this show to analyze the activities and attitudes of modern youth. In fact Erin, Leah and I took that class a couple years ago, and I believe my final paper was about that Fox show Undeclared that aired for nearly a full season.

Anyway, let's give a collective sigh for having to witness Anna's escape back to Pittsburgh. She was definitely my favorite female character on the show, and to make it doubly painful, she was the cutest. It was extremely humorous to watch Jimmy Cooper get one step closer to exposing Julia and Luke's naughty love affair. Another comic gem was the fact that Ryan got knocked into the food table by Eddie, so Ryan knocked Eddie into the table full of dishes and silverware. Did anyone else notice that Jimmy and Luke collaborated on throwing Eddie out of the house? Genius!

So the O.C. PotLuck hasn't been in full effect lately due to my busy schedule and the aforementioned laziness. Last night was no exception. We still managed to pack it in. Mike, Sivan, Karen, Rob, Matt, Builder, Kyle, D and Noah hung out and slugged PBR while the goodness unfolded in front of our eyes. We also put a big order into Tiny's which consisted solely of Tuna Melts. It was a good time, but by the end of it I was so tired all I could think about was the pillow top.

Let's Talk Tonight.

Is anyone else planning on going to the Mercury Lounge tonight? The evening kicks off at 9pm with the Oranges Band. I've been meaning to check these guys out. I haven't seen them since CMJ a couple years ago. At 10pm the Hold Steady will hit. If anything, go out to see this band that includes some x-Lifter Puller fellows. Finally, the soon to be officially on Vice records, the Vietnam will round out the bill with their dirty psych rock that is so solid. I'll definitely be there. Let me know if you're going.

BIZ.

Did the Thrills really postpone their Irving gig so they could go on a proper spring tour with Phantom Planet? This is all hearsay, but come on guys, the tour opens in Philly. Can't you squeeze us in? Well, I heard they suck live anyway.

The Rapture also prepare to embark on a major U.S. tour that will culminate in Indio, CA at the Coachella Festival. Does this mean I shouldn't shell out to see them at Roseland? Say it with me now: Yeeeees!

Prong is back, (written while throwing slayers).

Filter bashes the Canadian born Stills. Their claim is that good looks have gotten them as far as they have come. I disagree. Though the record isn't anything to flip your shit over, its a solid effort and has good promise for the future. It was a debut record, so what can you expect? For all the bitching they did about the Stills, they only dedicated half a paragraph to Denali whom Filter claims, stole the show.

Pitchfork looks favorably on the Von Bondies new record. I should really stop covering these guys. I think they get a mention nearly every day.

Scroll to the bottom of this link for information regarding David Cross' second full length comedic album. It will be dropping on all of us May 4th. If you haven't heard the 1st record, wait till Easter, buy some pot and then come over to my apartment for a listen.

Sean Fanning, who many of you remember as the founder of Napster, has had his balls cut off. He is now developing a project that will allow labels to see where and when their music is being shared. What happened to sticking it to the man?

Jay-Z continues to allow Dj's to cut up his Black Album and lay it over white boy foursomes' music.

Yet another Walkman interview on Prefix.

Hell insiders claim that Satan is pissed at Fred Durst. Apparently Durst isn't holding to his end of the deal.

Rock to the Roll.

A Sick Fucker.

If you were not lucky enough to meet Paul Bothe before he graduated and moved back home to work at his father's dildo factor, then you have not been subject to rants or raves in the fashion of the following piece. Paul is purposing a drastic shift in one of America's oldest institutions. His concepts are backed by scientific figures and his reasoning is rooted in his own love of the matter at hand. If Paul had it his way, this would be a topic fit for the dinner table and it would remain a major issue in the Presidential debates. If extreme Christians had their way, Paul would be sentenced to death before he could put his stubby little paws on their prepubescent daughters. Either way, we all get this rare chance to pier into the mind of a man who will wrestle with Medomalacuphobia while rotting away in a prison after getting charged with more counts of child molestation than a Catholic Bishop. Enjoy!

THE NEW NUMBERING SYSTEM

For anyone who's ever witnessed me vomiting, you know that it's a violently memorable experience which takes you on an emotional roller coaster through peaks of crazed fear and valleys of deplorable disgust. The sound itself conjures up visions of exorcisms and satanic rituals amplified through the tailpipe pf a 73' Riviera with no muffler. Seriously, if you've ever listened to "Stairway" in reverse, just picture that sound blasted through a blown out speaker with every level and EQ set to 11. The sound has even been described as "like someone yelling at a toilet." I've literally had several friends witness this and never speak to me again. Yes, it's that bad.

Unfortunately, at least for all of those within several blocks of me, I have been known to enjoy a cocktail here and there. I've also been known to enjoy enough cocktails that this violent torrent of shit-colored puke is an inevitable event, whether it be on the night of alcohol consumption or on the morning after the said consumption. Sometimes it looks like the drinks I had that night. Other times it looks like the food I had a week ago. Once it even looked like a distinct blend of Yoohoo and baked beans. But enough about me...you're probably asking yourself what this has to do with you.

Simply put, vomit, though often overlooked, is the last bastion of simple and pure scatological gross-out material. Where piss and/or spit used to be considered to be liquids of varying amusement and mild disgust, they've both, like Lynyrd Skynyrd, become watered down (sic) versions of their former selves. In terms of bodily fluids, piss and spit are like floppy old lady boobs...I don't necessarily want to lick and fondle them, but I don't mind if they occasionally brush up against my shoulder. For the sake of brevity and whatever remaining shred of respect you might still have for me, I will leave cum, earwax, and blood (and a mixture of the three that's been affectionately dubbed 'The Beethoven.') out of this discussion. But you're probably saying, "Paul...what about shit??? That's pretty fucking disgusting too."

Undoubtedly, shit is one of the most disgusting things that I've ever washed off my balls and certainly the most awful thing I've paid a Haitian boy to smear on my blindfolded face. But let's be honest... without taking a survey of your functions, I can safely say that you shit somewhere in the range of 0-2 shits daily. Averaged out at 1 shit daily per person (times 6 billion people in the world) means that there are around 6 billion shits each day, not counting dogs, horses, or the mighty elephants of the dark continent. 6 billion shits. EVERY DAY. Now let's be honest...how many times do you throw up in the course of a day? Hopefully not a lot. Let's just say for argument's sake that each person throws up once a month or 12 times annually (and we'll assume that any bulimics are averaged out by people with iron guts who never throw up). I'm not going to pretend like I'm capable of long division, but even with that high estimate of vomit frequency, that breaks down to 30 shits for every one puke. This brings me to my point.

Any item’s gross out capability is based on more than the grossness that it embodies, but also the frequency with which it occurs. For example, for me, I would absolutely dread having to stick my finger in someone’s asshole, but for a doctor who does this daily, suddenly a finger-letter in the male-box doesn’t seem so shocking. Or a mortician. Or Freddie Mercury’s dry cleaner. Its basically scientific fact that the more you encounter something the less gross it is, even where the grossness is a constant. So assuming that turds and puke have a similar level of grossness on their own, the much lower frequency of vomit makes it exponentially sicker than poop’s.

So, what I am proposing is a new numbering system to replace the antiquated system of piss=#1 and shit=#2. Under my new system vomit will be bumped up to #1, shit will remain at #2, and piss will fall to #3. I know it’s going to take some getting used to but remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. So the next time you puke, shit, or piss, take a minute to think about your old Uncle Asshole, because I can guarantee I’ll be thinking about you.

Love,

The Heinous Anus

Today's Theme: Party

Thanks go out to everyone involved in last night's edition of Rheingold's New Music Showcase. A huge thanks to all of you who came out to support both myself and the bands. I hope you managed to get shit-toothed on Rheingold and enjoyed all the tunes.

As I rolled down Houston Street with my milk crate full of CD's, apprehension began to settle in. As many of you already know, I'm no professional Dj, nor do I aspire to be one. But last night was a real gig playing for a club full of people, most of which, I didn't know. Trepidation continued to mount when I entered the club and was told to set up the decks. Set up the decks? What the fuck? Michelle, the pretty lady doing sound, told me to plug in and run it through the mixer. Yeah, um… the mixer. Unfortunately she was busy sound checking the 1st billed act. After some serious playing around, the foreign machine began to take a familiar shape. By the time the doors opened, I was bringing the hits.

I’m gonna propose a small shout out section, but do not get upset if I forget your name. Thanks to These Bones, The Boxes and The Affair (I will comment on their music later). Thanks to kids like Kyle, Builder, D, Karen, Sivan, Josh, Stevo, Big Brother, Ghory, Mike, Amy, Cami, Rosato, Leah, Anna, Dave, Flynne, Danielle, Daylen, Uptown Thom, George, Wendy, Noah, Hawkins, Jack, Lance and Wackerman and any friends these cats may have brought out, for coming down to the club. Again, if I forgot you, I’m a schmuck, but I still love you.

It was also a pleasure to work with the people from Rheingold. Though Tom, the C.E.O., had to do one of those introductions, he meant well, and his shout out was embarrassing and appreciated. Jackie was even cooler than I could have imagined. She made sure I was well taken care of and continued to check on me throughout the night. She was a sweetheart. In fact, anyone who got handed a beer from yours truly has Jackie to thank. I asked her if there was any access to free beer, so she gave me a red ticket, took me by the hand and lead me to the bar. At that point, I presented the bitching bartender (who many of you may have remembered from our hallowed days at Barrow St Tavern) with my red ticket and she proceeded to hand me a case of Rheingold. Jackie is top notch. Also, it was good to see Matt despite his delayed arrival due to prior basketball commitments. He really helped push the show and was a big reason the night did so well. And let’s not forget the oh-so-cute Nicole who faithfully worked the door and handed out Rheingold gear. She is a gem. So I’m a renewed believer in the Rheingold Beer Company, and hope that you all feel the same way. With great people like these, they should continue to standout in the crowded alcohol industry.

Sidenote: It’s a shame that deli’s can parade around scallion cream cheese for their bagels, but those so called scallions are just matured onions that make the cream cheese taste like butt.

Anyway, after my first stint on the decks, Chesterwhite took the stage. I don’t have much to say about these dudes, but they did do a cover of Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love. They seemed to play forever, so as soon as they walked off the stage, I cranked Primal Scream’s Rocks. The Boxes had asked me to feed them some Darkness before their set began because it pumps them up. Who am I to deny four lady’s request for some superior rock sounds? Right before they ripped through their punk as hell set, I graced them with I Believe In a Thing Called Love. If you haven’t seen these girls yet, go do it. I’m sure they draw obvious comparisons to the Donnas, but as they continue to mature as a band, they will blow them out of the water especially if they continue to cover AC/DC’s T.N.T.. Their set was followed up with some Iggy and the Stooges and I even managed to sneak some Sam Champion in there. Flynne asked me to play the Cure’s Just Like Heaven, but I informed her I only had a few of her songs. At this point she gave up on the idea and went back to her Rheingold.

So The Affair played 3rd on the bill. They have some solid dance tracks and have been lumped into the Blondie revival bunch a little prematurely. I don’t think they have the new wave twinge that made Blondie so popular, but just like the rest of the bands, a snowball effect may be in order. Their rhythm section really held the band together, while the lead singer’s voice seemed to sound like a perfect fit. My only gripe would be that she refused to face the crowd.

After another quick set that included some Creedence, Bowie and L.C.D. Soundsystem among others, These Bones took the stage and ripped through another set that was dripping rock’n roll all over their hungry fans. All I can think about when I see this band is that their songs are so radio friendly, that there shouldn’t be anything holding this band back. Tracks like Rugburns and Time Capsules have a mass rock appeal that could lead them to the promise land. They closed their set with the MC5 esque tune Rock / Roll that makes me want to punch someone in the face, take their girl and go make out in the bathroom. Well done Bones. Mother fucking well done.

I stuck around and played a few more tracks while the bar began to close down. I did manage to sneak in Dr. Dre’s Ain’t Nothing But A G Thang. Following the gig, I said my goodbyes and headed home where a very drunk Builder was sitting up. We headed to Dunken Dounuts for a late night snack. Eventually Karen came over to make fun of me in my highly intoxicated state, but she wasn’t fooling me, I think she was drunk too.

And Then There Was One.

As many of you already know, yesterday was Super Tuesday. The crucial primary day gets its name from the fact that nearly half of the delegate votes needed for the democratic nod are at stake in 10 different primaries. John Kerry turned out to be the big winner. He swept 9 of the states losing only Vermont to the now defunct Dean campaign. This sealed Senator John Edwards’ fate. He took the cue and dropped out of the race to the White House. With Edwards’ out of the picture, Kerry is now the man who will take on special interest and hopefully destroy the horrible Tower of Babble constructed by the Bush Administration.

Some Industry News And Notes.

A New B Boy's album is promised in June! YES! YES! YES! Now if only we can get some news that they will be making a Coachella appearance, my life will be complete and ready for a mid May ending.

Filter reviews Franz Ferdinand's show in Philly that took place last Friday. They didn't manage to say anything new or anything about the live performance (outside of their hair styles). Why can't I write for you Filter? Why?

The Von Bondies single is getting some attention north of the border. After their last Bowery gig Karen and I had an discussion of which VB was hotter: Marci or Carrie. Naturally I went with Marci, but she thought I was crazy. You be the judge.

Trouble in paradise. Drew's very own Stroke gets caught in the act. Say it ain't so Fab? Why screw up something like that? Fucking rockstars.

With a title like Fuckin' A, could the Thermals go wrong? I'm so excited to hear this record. Noah, hook a brother up. I also really need to hear the new MM record... can I get some help.

Do you love Bob Dylan? Than read this. If you don't love Bob Dylan, read it anyway and understand why most do.

Numbers pump out more of the same, but Junkmedia wonders if this is such a bad thing?

Albert Hammond Jr. is starting his own Strokes rumors. Could there be a Strokes / Pixies collaboration in the cards? Probably not, but that would be killer.

Which assbag at the NY Daily News wrote this lead line? Anyway, who gives a shit as long as we are promised that this show will be returning on Sunday. Watch out O.C. You now have some competition.

The Vines are back. They got the cover of Spin and a sit down with Mark Spitz whose book I've been dying to finish.

That's it! Thanks again for the support last night. I had a great time. I hope you did the same.

Super Tuesday.

Tonight's the night. The first Rheingold sponsored music showcase is going down at Sin-e this evening. If you aren't my friendster or not on the mailing list, the information is posted below. Make sure you come out to catch some killer rock bands like The Boxes, The Affair and These Bones, but most of all, come out for FREE beer and the chance to hear me on the decks during change over. Here are the specs:

New Music Showcase
Tuesday, March 2nd (doors 7:30pm)
@ Sin-e (Attorney between Houston & Stanton)
$5 at the door
FREE Rheingold Beer from 8-9pm (get there early)
w/ These Bones, The Boxes, The Affair, Chesterwhite
& J Good Times on the 1 & 2's (starting at 7:30pm)

If this is not enticing enough, allow the Rheingold Weekly Mailer to throw some more fuel on the burning rock flyer:

Tonight,if you head down to Sin-é for the FEATURED PICK,say 7:30ish, you will witness the first ever, unparalleled event of a lifetime. Free beer included. Yes, it's the Rheingold Music Showcase Series Part I, just a taste of what we have planned to offer NYC's emerging artists, and you, in the year ahead. Come treat yourself to fab music and fun peeps with four bands and an eclectic mix of sounds-These Bones, The Affair, The Boxes and Chesterwhite-will keep you interested in Rock. These Bones have great tunes AND a beautiful website, The Affair kicks ass, The Boxes keep the female factor in check, and Chesterwhite...see for yourself. When that biatch Sivan from B-Side introduced me to J Good Times, I knew I had to have him DJ. He works the crowd and likes it in the can!

This shit is gonna be hot hot hot.

Super Tuesday Squared.

If you haven't gone out to vote yet, then get out there and let your voice be heard. Today is know as Super Tuesday because there are 10 big democratic primaries including New York, Ohio and California. Unfortunately, I can't go to the booth today. Why you ask? Not enough time? Broken leg? Nope, keep guessing. That's right folks Mr. Belin is a registered republican. Before you go throwing me off the donkey, allow me to explain. Back in 2000 my mission was the same as it is today; keep George W. Bush out of the White House. I registered as a republican so I would have the ability to vote for John McCain in the 2000 Republican Primary. It came to my attention that my party affiliation would have to be switched a year prior to voting. If this isn't true, may burning Chernin rest in hell. Ok, that was drastic, but get out and vote anyway. The fun is just beginning to start.

Oh, and can you answer me this question. Is a former president permitted to run again? Meaning, if Bill Clinton wanted to run for president, does he have the right to do so? Is the presidential allotment 2 terms or 2 consecutive terms? Someone confirm, but you better be absolutely positive.

The Answer To The Aforementioned Question.

Pretty Paul Bothe has answered the question I posted above. He sites the 22nd Amendment for explanation purposes:

Amendment XXII

Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states by the Congress.

Thank you Paul. With this effort your retain your status of King of the Cumdumpsters. This also means that I have to take 2 tequilla shots with hot sauce. Fuck.

Preparing For Tuesday.

Yesterday was a bit of a snooze, but I did manage to burn a lot of records for tonight’s gig at Sin-e. I also downloaded the file sharing program, LimeWire. This has spawned another question. With all the people getting sued for illegally downloading music files, how is it possible for a site like LimeWire to exist? Why hasn't the government intervened and shut down this and other websites that perpetuate this so called crime? I'm guessing Mike will be the first to answer this question.

Speaking of Mike, he cruised through to hang out with the roommates before him and Builder headed to Otto's Shrunken Head to see Josh Stein's set. I was just too broke and too tired to go anywhere. Kyle, D and I sat around watching the grand finale of Average Joe II which turned out to be very disappointing. First of all, the vindictive bitch who was making the choice broke the poor Bostonian's heart. Though I'm all for seeing a Red Sox's fan get hurt by something as stupid as this, she really lead that poor guy on. She went with the buff Floridian chap who seemed, in the words of Johnny Rotton, pretty vacant. The final twist was that the lady on the show had to reveal that she used to date Fabio. The blonde model type promptly walked off the show and for what, I don't know.

Anyway, Miriam, Builder and Karen all showed up and we caught the Simpson's episode that chronicles Abe Simpson's WWII adventures in the fighting Hellfish. God bless those top notch episodes.

Enough About TV. Here Is Your News.

Today a great man that had a large part in shaping most of our lives by encouraging us to read would have turned 100. R.I.P. good doctor.

Franz Ferdinand fight the man. Industry schmucks are claiming that the band has sold out. What the fuck is wrong with the people making these claims? Franz made a great record, and the people have recognized them for it. What's the problem here? My dear Scottish boys, don't listen to these worthless allegations. Just keep churning out dance hits like it's your job. We will continue to love.

Nas gets set to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of his hit record Illmatic with a double-disc reissue of the record with remixes of some of its better tracks. I can't wait to hear what Jay-Z has to say about this.

Pitchfork reviews the Walkmen's second single off of their new record and decide to give big props to their drummer. Props that are all too overdue. That guy is a little ball of energy that keeps me interested in the sleepiest of songs.

Exclaim! explores irony in modern rock using bands like the Darkness and Ween as their model. Oh, and they open up this article with an O.C. quote, but be careful, I think they call Freddy Mercury lame.

Junkmedia joins the rest of us in our collective love for the Shins. I've got to get my interview with them done so you all can see how much I love them.

And finally, the Unicorns remain a mystery. There music is great, but I think the act will loose it's allure.

That's it folks.

Almost Criminal.

I would hate to begin this post discussing something as arbitrary as the weather, but it is just too wonderful to go unnoticed. My walk to work this morning was a little bit of amazing. Does anyone want to eat lunch in Washington Square Park today? You know what this weather means. If you guessed skirts, you my friend, are correct.

Weekend Update With Jay Belin.

Anyway, let me talk about this weekend for a couple minutes. It was quite grand despite my lack of funds. Friday night Kyle, Noah, Oveis, Beach and I headed to Festival for a big dinner complete with margaritas and tons of guacamole. It was a fantastic meal that laid the foundation for a great night. I ran out of dinner in somewhat of a rush in an effort to catch the Spicy Rizzak's set at Sin-e.

The Rizzak's show was an all ages gig which is something I haven't been privy to in a long while. It felt like I was transported back to the Crowbar in State College, PA. This was my old haunt through the latter stages of middle school and through high school. This venue played host to my friends and I while we struggled to brand our identities with our musical tastes and flasks full of whiskey. So might think this kind of flashback would be welcomed, but upon reflection, it is a scene I would have rather left forgotten. Don't get me wrong, I'm not ashamed of that period of my life, but watching the kids at Sin-e run around all drugged out and disrespectful really made me want to puke. For instance, I was standing at the bar with Karen when the Rizzak's began their set. A train of 6 or 7 girls started dancing their way through the crowd only to run full on into Karen which caused her to dump half her beer down the front of my jacket. At that point I wished it was curfew hour.

Once the kids started dancing around and making out, I decided it was time to slip to the back of the venue so I could concentrate on the music rather than my utter disgust of the scene. The Rizzak's style could best be described as punk-a-billy, but they really lean on the Misfits influence but their songs are more playful. Their lead singer's muse is obviously Glenn Danzig, but he manages to throw in hints of Elvis. Josh seemed to be the anchor of the band. He laid down some serious bass lines that were fast enough to make Fat Mike proud. I also enjoyed the Creedence esque guitar solos that could have used a bit more amplification in the mix.

After their set, I sped back home to catch an hour nap before D, Kyle and I headed to Lakeside lounge for Jeff Pfiel's birthday celebration. We were met out front by Leclare who informed me that I forgot to mention our run in post Von Bondies show. Are you happy now Leclare? We cruised inside and gave Jeff hugs and kisses. He was wearing some serious ice that really tied his outfit together. I don't know how or where he got the "Jigga" belt buckle, but props to all those involved. There were tons of kids at the bar, and it would be impossible to mention everyone, but some of the night's highlights included: Taking a shot with Lou, a photo booth session with Flynne and Stephanie, the girl who was puking out of a beamer that was parked outside the bar and Jessica kissing me then saying "Put that on your blog".

Saturday started with what might be the best brunch I've ever had. Noah, Sivan, Hawkins, Builder and I met at cafe Mogador on St. Mark's Place. While waiting outside of the cafe we ran into Lauren Blitzer who I haven't seen in ages. It was strange seeing someone I haven't spoken to since my sophomore year at school, but it is always nice to catch up. Sivan used to work at the restaurant so we got the red carpet treatment. Free juice, tea and dessert were hooked up through her connections to the cooks and wait staff. There is a new weekend rule that Sivan and I must eat there every Saturday or Sunday.

Following brunch I ran into my older brother, as he likes to call me, at Kate's on Avenue B. I chatted him and his lovely company up for a few before returning to 186 where Builder and Noah were hanging out on the fire escape. Eventually Builder, Kyle and I piled in his car and headed out to Mikey's in Brooklyn to chill out in his back yard while smoking some big cigars. The sun went down and the cold came back so we retired to the kitchen where we sat around bullshitting for quite some time. Katie and Noor showed up with some delicious snacks and then Katie tried to help me out with my monetary situation, but to no avail. If you were there, you know what I'm talking about.

We came back into town to prepare for Saturday night. The original plan was to head out to Crown Heights for Brody's birthday party, but I flaked on it after a bunch of kids showed up at the house. Noah, Lance, Jody and his lady friend whose name escapes me at the moment, Jack, Kyle and I played some asshole in the kitchen after buying the corner deli out of $4 six-packs of PBR. It was genius. Eventually we all got a bit tossed which lead to Lance, Jack and I geeking out in my bedroom to my annexed case of CD's. We went from NOFX to Suicide Machines and everything in between. It was embarrassing, but the PBR helped cover that up. Karen and Sivan rolled through after a show at the Luna as did Sean and Sarah. Around 12am or so, we all headed to Oveis's crib where a party was going down.

If you have yet to meet Oveis or see his apartment, take it from me, its gigantic. It is prime local for a big party and this one delivered. There were a lot of kids there I didn't know, but it didn't stop me from helping myself to the huge table of alcohol. A few Captains and Coke later, and I was proper bevvied. Kyle managed to get a bit too sauced so he went back to D's apartment. At this point D and I got into some drunken conversations about what, I couldn't tell you. Later in the evening I found myself in Alec's room rocking out to the Bishop Allen Ep before Beach, Stevo and I executed a perfect Culkin on Mr. Chernin. Beach managed to get Noah turned around at which point I dropped to the ground and he got the push from Beach and Stevo. Noah went down hard, but he was a good sport about the whole incident. Everything after this point is hazy, but I can guarantee that a PB & J sandwich was involved. I managed to make my way home, and I probably kept someone up with my drunk snoring.

My internal clock woke me up with just enough time to take a piss and sit down for the final Democratic debate before tomorrow's primaries. If you ask me, and many don't, Kucinich came out as the winner of yesterdays proceedings. He seemed to be the only candidate that could give a straight answer. While Kerry was busy attacking Bush, Edwards was going after Kerry. This left the good Rev. Al Sharpton a single target, the moderators. Poor Dan Rather, he must have been crying on the inside. Oh, and a question, what's with the negative stigma attached to the word liberal? Is it truly a bad idea? Why couldn't Kerry give a straight answer on anything? If this debate had any affect it probably was added confusion to an important decision many American's have to make tomorrow.

By 3pm I was growing restless so I met Stevo and his buddy Matt at the corner of Houston and A. We cruised up to Tompkins Square Park to toss the football around. While at the park we ran into Ruby who could handle pigskin like the best of them. Apparently her father was a linebacker at UCLA so football is in the blood. Travis and Max showed up as we all tried to soak up some of the beautiful weather. We made our way over to the dog park where we were joined by Builder, Hawkins and Christie before heading up to B-side to see Adam on the decks.

At B-side we had our run at the pool table and we might have drank the place out of the Budweiser short stacks. Sivan and Hole were sitting in the joint when we walked in. Mike also showed up and we sat up front with Adam while the kids had their run of the bar. Josie was sweet enough to keep the drinks rolling in until she was replaced by Carlos who hooked me up since I passed him a burned copy of the Grey Album. Daylen, Jack and Noah cruised through B-side after their viewing of The Passion of the Christ. Their reviews of the film added to my Catholic born apprehension to avoid it. I've read the story enough to know what happened. I don't need to see Mel Gibson's take on the crucifixion of our apparent savior.

Noah, D, Kyle, Daylen and I went back down to 186 so we could score some Tiny's and watch the Oscar's. I know it’s been mentioned before, but their tuna melt will kick your ass in an enjoyable fashion. I didn't make it long after the sandwich was gone, so if you were like me, here are a list of the winners. It was nice to see TLOR team get their just desserts, but I was pulling for Sofia.

Ok, that's all for now, I'll try to add some links later this afternoon. And don't forget about Sin-e tomorrow night, its going to be a good time.

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Monday, March 29, 2004

Friday, March 26, 2004

Thursday, March 25, 2004

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Monday, March 22, 2004

Saturday, March 20, 2004

Friday, March 19, 2004

Thursday, March 18, 2004

Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Monday, March 15, 2004

Thursday, March 11, 2004

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Tuesday, March 09, 2004

Monday, March 08, 2004

Saturday, March 06, 2004

Friday, March 05, 2004

Thursday, March 04, 2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2004

Tuesday, March 02, 2004

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