Gonna’ Be A Mental Toss Flycoon

Want to know what makes Zappa fans tick? Just take a look at this.

The bit around 3:30 still makes me giddy like a schoolgirl. What a fantastic piece of music!

Play ‘Em In The Air, Play ‘Em Anywhere

Remember Hit Stix?

My brother had this toy in the late 80s. Maybe I can find a pair to incorporate into my live show.

Obama’s Barackdrop?

Why all this fuss over tonight’s venue decor? I found this advance video of today’s testing and I think it looks great!

It’s Oooover, It’s Oooooover

Here’s one of my favorite second-wave ska numbers: “Missing Words” by The Selecter.

There’s something wonderful about having this song come up during an iPod shufflefest. My favorite version of this song is a live one from the documentary “Dance Craze.” You should drop everything and watch it on YouTube right now. Do it. Now.

Everything That Happens

The new Eno/Byrne album has dropped today. It’s called “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today” and I’m keeping tight-lipped on any opinions until I’ve got a few more listens under my belt. If anybody has taught me to reserve judgment until familiarity sets in, it’s Brian Eno. This is how “Another Green World” went from WTF status to “desert island” status in under a month.

Eno/Byrne have graciously allowed me to embed a streaming version of the new album on my site. Listen for yourself and send me your thoughts.

Hello Gorby, This Is The White House.

I’m about to make a statement that may seem completely ludicrous and absurd. I assure you that it is fact.

The following song may have shaped my musical tastes and influences more than anything else in my entire personal history of music appreciation. Really.

The song is called “American Soviets” and it is by a Russian synth-pop group called C.C.C.P. The 12″ was released in 1986 and was an ephemeral dancefloor mainstay. My little six-year-old ass was introduced to it through a remix by Cameron Paul which was played (very infrequently) by a DJ on 93.3, The Power Pig.

Here is a link to that version.

The story goes like this: one fateful day, I happened to be rolling tape (one of those gold Maxells, probably) on a day that C.C.C.P. made it into the top 40 rotation. I fell in love with the sound and it became my new favorite song. The only problem was that I didn’t know the title of the song or even the band that recorded it. This wasn’t a huge problem for me at the time — I already had the song on cassette, and I wasn’t yet aware that songs fell out of the standard rotation.

“American Soviets” never became a classic. It was never to be heard again on terrestrial radio airwaves. The golden Maxell was lost and only memories of the buzzy “Arabian” synth lead and thumping bass remained.

The song haunted my memory for the next twenty-two years.

Since the Cameron Paul remix didn’t retain any of the original lyrics, there weren’t any lines to Google. Any faint hopes of cracking the case were relegated to internet forums where I would ask questions about “an Egyptian sounding dance song with weird, unintelligible samples.”

Then, one day — one glorious day — the unthinkable happened. I came upon a random internet message board that contained my pot-o-gold. One of my life’s biggest mysteries (M-theory aside) had been resolved.

This song isn’t available for purchase from any online retailers and was never even released on CD. If you’re lucky, you can find the 12″ on eBay. I was fortunate enough to find a vinyl mp3 rip online.

If you listen to my music (take “Happy Friday,” for instance) you can still hear the influence of this song. A song that I thought I might never hear again.

My favorite song.

Thank you, the internet.

‘Raw’ Show Cooked!

Thanks again to everyone who came out to support the Southeast Music Alliance and local music in general last night at the State Theatre!

What a show! It was so great to see so many friends in one place. Oh, and Katherine — I love you too.

I’ll post a link to the photos and videos when they start showing up. Here’s to next year!

With A Little Help From A Translator

I’ve always wondered what the hell Joe Cocker was saying in the Woodstock performance of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.”

Now I know.

Why has it taken me twenty-eight years to realize that this (drug-fueled?) performance is so unbelievably awesome?

Gearing Up For The Friday Show

We had a brilliant practice tonight with Suzi Q in preparation for Friday’s show at New World Brewery.

Come on out — a splendid time is guaranteed for all. (And of course, Suzi Q will dance the waltz.)

Check my Upcoming Shows section for full info.

Did You Eat Chicken Pot Pies?

Last night, Laura and I went up to her dad’s theater for a late-night showing of “The House of Yes,” a dark comedy produced in 1997 starring Parker Posey, Freddie Prinze Jr. … oh yeah, and Tori Spelling.

Posey plays a mentally unstable spoiled brat with has a sick obsession with Jackie-O and an even sicker obsession with her twin brother.

The film is based off of a stage play by Wendy MacLeod. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something palpably different about a film that has originated on the stage. It’s mostly in the dialogue. There are quick-witted exchanges abound in this script.

Some of my favorites:

Mrs. Pascal: Oh my God, I sounded just like a mother! Didn’t I sound just like a mother?
Marty: You are a mother.
Mrs. Pascal: I know, but I still can’t believe it. I look at you people and wonder, how did you ever fit in my womb?

… and …

Anthony: Would you like a glass of Liebfraumilch?
Lesly: No thank you. I’ll just have a glass of wine.
Marty: That’s the name of the wine.
Lesly: Oh!
[laughs]
Lesly: I don’t speak french.
Jackie-O: Who does?
Anthony: You do.
Jackie-O: Oh, that’s right, I do.
[smiles]
Lesly: So what does that name mean?
Jackie-O: In french?
Lesly: [nods]
Jackie-O: I think it means something German.
Marty: It means, “loving mother’s milk.”
Lesly: You speak french?
Marty: No. German.

I really enjoyed this movie, and it has only reinforced my uber-crush on Parker Posey — the ultimate head-case hottie.