Floating Away

A Robotic Camera: About F'ing Time!

I've been trying to figure out since that first ridiculous bore hole, why at the very least they didn't send down some sort of remote control camera.  At the very least, we can surely do better than one hole at a time.  I'm no geologist, but we've sent men to the Moon; we can figure out a way to drill multiple holes.

Is it just me, or does it seem like they've been using the best technology 1999 has to offer in an effort to find the trapped miners?

I understand the instability underground, and I understand why tunneling can't continue.  But I don't understand why we can't find six trapped miners.  It's the very least we can do for their families.

I've been following this story closely since it first appeared as the headline news story on every web page and news program.  20 f'ing days later, still nothing.  As each day goes by, the headlines get buried deeper and deeper down the page.  But then again, I understand we are a nation of short attention spans and thus I understand the importance of reporting on Jenna Bush's engagement and Nicole Richie's 80 minutes in the clink.

As each day goes by, I unfortunately understand why we don't have a chance at catching Osama.  But I guess that doesn't really matter, since we already got the true culprit, Saddam.

[How's that for a rant.  Not the typical style of this blog, but I just read the latest article about drilling a seventh hole, this time to drop a robotic camera.  Just for shit and giggles, how about sending robotic cameras down the other six holes?]

Rilo Kiley Free Myspace Show in Eagle Rock

If you are free Saturday night, you can check out Rilo Kiley at the Eagle Rock Lanes for free by following the instructions below:

Writsbands will be avalibe for pick up after 4PM (NO LINE UPS PRIOR TO 3PM) Friday at the Echo (The echo is located at 1822 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 in echo park - The telephone number is (213) 413-8200)

You must bring a print out of your MySpace profile with both Rilo Kiley & Secret Shows in your top 8.
Entry is limited so get there early to ensure success!

Absolutely no cameras and no camera phones will be allowed in the show

THIS IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, so get there early and stay in line. 

 

First Lindsay, now Matt Roloff

Amy's really going to be pissed this time!  While the story is just becoming public now, it turns out that Matt Roloff, star of my favorite show, Little People, Big World, was arrested on June 19th for DUI.  Here's the mugshot to prove it:

Matt's going to have a much tougher time delivering his didactic sermons to his family and friends with this new association.

Either way, I'm still a huge fan and I'm still trying to convince my girlfriend that we should dress up as Amy and Matt for Halloween this year.  Thanks Matt, but this isn't going to make my argument any easier.

If you haven't done this already, I recommend checking out the "Which Roloff Kid Are You" game on TLC's Website.  If your curious, I'm most like Zach.

One other bite-sized factoid for you that I encountered during my rather robust research for this post (thank you wikipedia):  Matt played an Ewok in the Star Wars TV movie, Ewoks:  The Battle for Endor.  Just when you think Matt Roloff couldn't be any cooler, you find out something like that.

On a final note, please feel free to support the Roloff's and their farm by purchasing merch.  Seriously, these T-Shirts are fantastic!

Vampire Weekend @ The Troubadour 7/16/07

As I have written before, I am thoroughly enjoying the few songs I have heard of Vampire Weekend, so of course I was going to make it out to the Troubadour for Vampire Weekend's first show in LA.  The LA Weekly this week described their music as an "effortlessly appealing brand of jangly, African-inspired indie pop".  Their quick guitar riffs, incredible percussion, high pitch keyboard and rhythmic bass do nothing to negate this comparison. 

While often, the buzz out of NYC can be deaffening, often times, they get it right and the Brooklyn hipsters are definitely right.  Vampire Weekend's combination of world music, pop music, and ska are a perfect combination and are coming at the perfect time.  While bands such as Arcade Fire and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah steal indirectly from early Talking Heads, Vampire Weekend logically continue the trend and steal indirectly from later era Talking Heads.   Top that all off with the band's Upper East Side prepster wardrobe of boat shoes and oxford shirts.   

As the LA Weekly wrote, they do it effortlessly.  In the begin, Vampire Weekend seemed a bit tight and nervous, but as the set continued, the band loosened up and eventually got the youngsters in the front to dance along.  Without sounding too much like the hype machine, I expect some big things from these guys and would love to see them again when I actually know the material.

They will be playing in LA again tonight at Silverlake Lounge with Eastern Conference Champions, Faker and French Semester.  (NOTE: the Eastern Conference Champions were scheduled to play at Cinespace, but they are now playing Silverlake Lounge).  Should be a great line up. 

June 07 Mix

[In an attempt to keep my few readers abreast of what I am listening to, The Monthly Mix Series is a monthly post featuring music that found its way into ears of the course of the past month.]

This mix is coming a bit late and I truly apologize for that.  I have been a bad blogger recently and have a list of things that I have been meaning to write, but just haven't gotten around to it. 

June's mix is sprinkled with some old classics and some new gems.  After hearing a great piece on Arthur Alexander on Fresh Air, I had to include Anna.  I finally got into Emitt Rhodes and have been thoroughly enjoying all of his albums, so expect some more Emitt Rhodes in the future.  The National show at the El Rey was incredible, so had to throw something on there from Boxer.  Still loving Wilco, especially those VW ads.  Myriad Harbor is pretty much one of my favorite things so far this year and Bobby Bare Jr's cover of Where is My Mind is also pretty beautiful.  Toss in some more local stuff (The Little Ones, Tandemoro, The Switch, Dntel) and you have this month's mix. I hope you enjoy it.

1. Anna - Arthur Alexander
2. There's A Pot A Brewin' - The Little Ones
3. Make Me Belong to You - Fats Domino
4. Latchmere - The Maccabees
5. Rock My Boat (Ft. Mia Doi Todd) - Dntel
6. Taken - Bill Callahan
7. Green Gloves - The National
8. Fresh As A Daisy - Emitt Rhodes
9. Stars - Tandemoro
10. The Thanks I Get - Wilco
11. Melody Day - Caribou
12. Crazy - The Switch
13. Myriad Harbor - The New Pornographers
14. Where is My Mind? - Bobby Bare, Jr.

DOWNLOAD MIX

DOWNLOAD ARTWORK
Previously:
January 2007 Mix
February 2007 Mix
March 2007 Mix
April 2007 Mix
May 2007

Patrick Park @ Spaceland 7/5/07

It's just great to go out and see Patrick Park perform.  He is so talented and there is no reason that he should have been playing to a half empty Spaceland last night.  Like Duke, I have seen Patrick Park perform many times around town and agree that his debut album doesn't really do him justice.  I have heard his albums many, many times and yet after seeing him live, I am constantly trying to remember songs to see if they are on any of the CDs or EPs I have of his.  Last night was no different.  He played half a set of solo acoustic and then brought out a great back up band to add some beautiful arrangements to old classics and some new songs.   

I am really hoping his new album, coming out August 7, does him justice and makes Patrick Park the star he really should be.  Some of the songs that have been in his live repetoire for a while are truly great.  My favorites so far are "Arrive Like A Whisper" and "Everyone's in Everyone".  The new album (this time on Curb Appeal Records) has both of those songs as well as some other gems.  More info on the record here. 

Patrick Park will be playing every Thursday at Spaceland and every Tuesday at the Living Room (NYC) in July.  Definitely pencil it in, you will not regret it.

Thursday Nights at the Hammer Museum

The Hammer Museum's free Thursday night music line up continues once again.  The line up this year is solid, so don't miss an opportunity to see some of these great bands on the Westside.  More information here.

TONIGHT: Foreign Born and Great Northern
Thursday, 7/12: The Pity Party and The Little Ones
Thursday, 7/19: Castledoor and the Fields
Thursday, 7/26: Sea Wolf and Midnight Movies

The Yellow Mustard Belt is Back!

I certainly hope everyone watched what I watched this morning as Joey Chestnut made history in Coney Island at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.  Chestnut rocked the international food eating world as he set a new world record with 66 HDB (hot dogs and buns) in 12 minutes and beat six time champ, Takeru Kobayashi.  Chestnut, as the winner, gets to bring the coveted yellow mustard belt back to America.  As usual, the competition was broadcast on ESPN and while the contest was entertaining, the real highlight was color commentator Richard Shea who sprinkled in some true gems during the twelve minute contest. 

Here are some highlights:

"I dont know if you have ever had your wisdom teeth removed, but its a pain like a Peyton Manning cell phone commercial."

"You google hero tomorrow . . . American hero, you're gonna get Abe Lincoln, possibly Neil Armstrong, Taylor Hicks, and then this man, of course, Joey Chestnut."

"Well Curt Schilling be damned. Kobayashi is bringing it, he's just two hot dogs behind Chestnut right now.  We have nearly four minutes remaining in this competition.  The table enders now not even in focus because the entire world . . . the entire free world is focused on these two men."

"This would be the greatest moment in the history of American sports if Chestnut can bring the belt home to Coney Island."

"He [Chestnut] may have indeed changed the course of this nation . . . Chestnut is a true American hero."

"It's a great day for America."

It truly is.  Thank you, Joey Chestnut for letting me watch sports history.

Radars to the Sky and Henry Clay People @ The Echo 6/30/07

It's been a surprisingly busy week with friends in town and Independence Day Celebrations, so I have not had the time to properly post these pictures and write a review.

Radars to the Sky brought their A Game to the Echo last Saturday night and played a rocking set that should have showed the large crowd that they were here to play with the big boys.  Their double guitar sound is a total throwback to the mid to late 90s sounds of Pavement/Built to Spill/Modest Mouse and other noodly guitar bands.   The band is incredibly tight and new parents Andrew and Kate were back as a force after giving birth literally weeks prior to the show.  Pretty impressive.   

We got there in time to see the Henry Clay People, who despite their loudness (god I sound old), put on a great show in the same vain as Radars to the Sky.  These guys have gotten great reviews from other LA music blogs and they are definitely a band to keep your eyes on.

Radars to the Sky, Henry Clay People Saturday Night at the Echo

At the risk of me sounding like I work for Jax, I am incredibly excited for Saturday night's show at the Echo.  Seemingly overnight, I have become a Radars To The Sky groupie and I am looking forward to seeing them headline their first show in LA.  The band was able to pick the lineup and they did a stellar job of adding fellow up and comers The Henry Clay People and Tigers Can Bite You.  The show is sponsored by Rock Insider, KXLU and Radio Free Silverlake.  Print out the flyer below and the show is only $5 to get in.