So the time has come for the annual Chicago hipster convention known as the Pitchfork Music Festival, coming up this weekend. Last year the music was okay (with the notable exception of Mastodon which should have preceded its show with a message warning the crowd that it was about to be slayed), but mostly special since I had just moved back here from San Francisco, I got to spend time amongst rock and good ol' friends and the weather was awesome.
So this year I'm more excited about the lineup, and at this point I'm going to see:
SATURDAY:
- The Hold Steady
- !!!
- Vampire Weekend
- Fleet Foxes
SUNDAY:
- Spoon
- Spiritualized
- M. Ward
- Les Savy Fav
- The Apples In Stereo
- Cut Copy
July 15, 2008
July 7, 2008
My working Lolla list
So I guess it's Radiohead I'm most psyched about. Other notable psychedness includes the Black Keys, Wilco, Black Kids, Girl Talk and The National.
Here's my working list.
Here's my working list.
July 2, 2008
Dark & Stormy
So my new favorite drink is the Dark & Stormy. Well, it's probably been around since Jesus was in third grade, but I've declared it my new summer drink.
The recipe's simple, though I have never made one myself. It's 2 parts dark rum, 1 part ginger beer, all parts awesome. It's delicious and very summery and boozy.
The recipe's simple, though I have never made one myself. It's 2 parts dark rum, 1 part ginger beer, all parts awesome. It's delicious and very summery and boozy.
June 30, 2008
Dinner in Kansas City
It's a good thing to be afforded the freedom and wherewithal to answer the question "What are you doing tonight?" with "Having dinner in Kansas City." I guess it's a benefit I have of the little place I've been able to make for myself in life at this point.
4 of my married buddies and I flew down on Saturday morning and immediately hit Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue. Joe's is a barbecue joint in a gas station. Not kidding. 'Member the line from "Vacation" when Clark W. Griswold says, "I'm so hungry I could eat a sandwich from a gas station!"? Well, I was so hungry I ate BBQ from a gas station. Darn good BBQ, I might add.
Then we spent the afternoon going from bar to bar drinking martinis, beer, bloodies, etc. Nice little runway to liftoff at Plaza III Steakhouse. Had the Kansas City ribeye, which is different from the New York ribeye in that it is without the bone. Then we crashed some engagement party in the restaurant and headed to a totally crazy mega-party at KC's Power And Light District. Having been thoroughly entertained, I headed back to the hotel where I did not get enough sleep.
The next day was a wash, though relaxing.
4 of my married buddies and I flew down on Saturday morning and immediately hit Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue. Joe's is a barbecue joint in a gas station. Not kidding. 'Member the line from "Vacation" when Clark W. Griswold says, "I'm so hungry I could eat a sandwich from a gas station!"? Well, I was so hungry I ate BBQ from a gas station. Darn good BBQ, I might add.
Then we spent the afternoon going from bar to bar drinking martinis, beer, bloodies, etc. Nice little runway to liftoff at Plaza III Steakhouse. Had the Kansas City ribeye, which is different from the New York ribeye in that it is without the bone. Then we crashed some engagement party in the restaurant and headed to a totally crazy mega-party at KC's Power And Light District. Having been thoroughly entertained, I headed back to the hotel where I did not get enough sleep.
The next day was a wash, though relaxing.
June 27, 2008
The Last Waltz
Finally saw "The Last Waltz" last night after finding it cheap on Blu-Ray and hearing just so many references to it over the years as the greatest rock movie of all time.
Having never really been a fan of The Band, I had no idea what to expect. But I felt with Marty Scorcese directing and the cast of ridiculously awesome talent, it was probably going to be pretty good.
What a great Thursday night! It's not so much that The Band was the most talented group of musicians in the world, it's that they came together in a way, well, you just don't hear anymore. I guess it was the vocals that stood out the most, supported by both piano and organ. Virtually every track was a thoroughly enjoyable piece of history.
Clapton's help with "Further On Up The Road" was my favorite since I'm a Clapton dork. But just seeing Muddy Waters and hearing...that voice...wow. And Van Morrison seemed a little soaked, but he whaled nevertheless. Neil Young nearly made me cry like a little girl on "Helpless", despite him appearing to be not so aware of much at all.
But it was Rick Danko's lead on "It Makes No Difference" that made me really sit up and listen. He's not the best vocalist or bassist, and he clearly can't groove on stage. But rock isn't about that. It's about feeling, IMHO, and The Band nailed it on this one. Wow.
Anyway, what a great movie to see with a big TV, a decent sound system and a cold, cold beer.
Having never really been a fan of The Band, I had no idea what to expect. But I felt with Marty Scorcese directing and the cast of ridiculously awesome talent, it was probably going to be pretty good.
What a great Thursday night! It's not so much that The Band was the most talented group of musicians in the world, it's that they came together in a way, well, you just don't hear anymore. I guess it was the vocals that stood out the most, supported by both piano and organ. Virtually every track was a thoroughly enjoyable piece of history.
Clapton's help with "Further On Up The Road" was my favorite since I'm a Clapton dork. But just seeing Muddy Waters and hearing...that voice...wow. And Van Morrison seemed a little soaked, but he whaled nevertheless. Neil Young nearly made me cry like a little girl on "Helpless", despite him appearing to be not so aware of much at all.
But it was Rick Danko's lead on "It Makes No Difference" that made me really sit up and listen. He's not the best vocalist or bassist, and he clearly can't groove on stage. But rock isn't about that. It's about feeling, IMHO, and The Band nailed it on this one. Wow.
Anyway, what a great movie to see with a big TV, a decent sound system and a cold, cold beer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
