Floating Away

Basketball, Politics and the Valley

 

So, yesterday I caught the end of the story on the radio that Congressman Brad Sherman wants to name the Reseda Post Office, the John Wooden Post Office.  He introduced legislation yesterday that coincided with UCLA in the Final Four.

Several years ago, after Chick Hearn died, I read a blurb in Sports Illustrated that said the Encino Post Office was named after the late great Lakers announcer.

Turns out, Brad Sherman was behind that one too.  Is that all he does?  I am all for memorials, but are post offices the best way to remember our childhood heroes? and is this really what we want our legislators working on?

All this talk really made me wonder about what is next.  If Brad Sherman had his way, where would he stop? Here are some ideas:

The Tom Lasorda Italian Deli
The Phil Jackson Fishing and Outdoor Depot
The Ervin "Magic" Johnson HIV/AIDS Center (too soon?)
The Vlade Divac Czechoslovakian Embassy
The Seth Cohen Anime Depot
The Marty McSorley Montessori School
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Center for Women's Rights

What's Brad Sherman thinking next? Any ideas?

 

The National, TalkDemonic at The Troubadour | Pics

I love the National. I am not hiding any sort of big news here, but their music is just wonderfully incredible and I was really pumped for this show.  Jason and I got there early to catch most of TalkDemonic's set.  I had never even heard of this band before and loved what I heard.  One of those two piece bands that have really big sound.  The drum, violin, sample combo was really cool and while I could have used a third member instead of a powerbook, I still liked what I heard.

The National started with "Secret Meeting" and it was clear right from the start how talented these guys are.  They are incredible musicians who care deeply about their music.  The lead singer was clearly sick and mentioned many times how the sudafed was affecting his head, but that didn't affect his performance.  They were amazing during "Abel" and "Mr. November" and the crowd responded appropriately. 

They didn't play some of my favorites on the album ("City Middle", "Karen"), but the new stuff (or new to me) was really great. 

Going back to TalkDemonic. Apparently, these guys are blowing up and I just missed the buzz. I really loved what I heard and if you have the opportunity to see them play, you won't be disappointed.  Coincidentally, this morning Pitchfork praised their second album with a stellar 7.8 / 10.

To hear some samples, Jax at Rockinsider and Aquarium Drunkard have some MP3s.

Floating Away Profile: Bob Sacamano

We've learned not to use condoms given to us by Bob Sacamano nor to buy pocket organizers from his father, Bob Sacamano Sr.

Helping my sister with her TKAM project, I came across an interesting post about Bob Sacamano which got me thinking about this television legend.

So who is Bob Sacamano?  I learned from Wiki that Bob Sacamano was a real-life friend of writer, Larry Charles.  Shortly after Charles introduced the fictional Sacamano character in "The Heart Attack," he and the real Sacamano had a falling out.

Most of us have a Bob Sacamano in our lives.  So today, as we celebrate the working class, let's remember one of the hardest working salesmen of our time.  Without Bob Sacamano, we wouldn't have toy paddles with rubber bands and balls, and NYC tourists would have a harder time finding knock off Russian hats.

One of my favorite Bob Sacamano references occurred when Jerry and Kramer switched apartments because of Kenny Rogers Roasters.  You can watch the entire episode at here.

Love Monkey Lives on at VH1, Arrested Developed Officially Dead

Good and bad news for TV lovers:

VH1 has picked up recently cancelled CBS show Love Monkey.  While no new episodes have been ordered, VH1 will air all 8 hour long episodes beginning next month.  The show was cancelled three episodes in, but they filmed a total of 8. 

Arrested Development, on the other hand, seems to be an official no go.  AD creator, Mitch Hurwitz threw down this sad, sad quote:

The fans have been so ardent in their devotion and in return ... I`ve given everything I can to the show in order to try to live up to their expectations, he said. I finally reached a point where I felt I couldn’t continue to deliver that on a weekly basis.

So, it's our fault for loving the show so much?

Now, in what world does Love Monkey find a home, but Arrested Development lives on in DVD form.

The National: Tonight @ Troubadour!

As I mentioned earlier, I am still loving a lot of last year's great albums.  In my opinion, Alligator by the National was the best of the best and I have not gotten tired of it yet.  It's songs are sad and wonderful and full of incredible lyrics that stick in your head for days.  I find myself humming "Secret Meeting" or "Karen", even though I haven't actually heard the album in days. 

Even though I was living in New York when these guys were getting big in Brooklyn, I never had the opportunity to see them.  Last year, when they made their first big national tour, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah opened and took the spotlight away from, in my opinion, a much better band.  They played the Troubadour in late summer and it was just when I moved here and acted too late on the tickets. 

But, now they return, months later at the Troubadour again.  I am pumped to finally hear this music live that has been haunting my brain for months.

Will I see you there?   

More Hollywood Bowl Updates

There are tons of great shows coming up this summer, but I couldn't be more excited for the Belle and Sebastian show at the Hollywood Bowl.  Just bought my tickets and Andrew will be flying out to watch with me as B and S takes on their favorite songs with the LA Philharmonic. 

Added to my excitement is the news that The Shins will be opening for Belle and Sebastian.  Talk about a super show. Get your tickets now.

MP3: So Says I - The Shins
MP3: Another Sunny Day - Belle and Sebastian

As for other Hollywood Bowl shows to be pumped about:
July 23 - Brazilian rockers Os Mutantes added to the bill opening up for Flaming Lips
August 27 - Jose Gonzalez and Zero 7 added to the bill opening for The Gotan Project
September 10 - Ryan Adams and Neko Case added to the bill opening for Willie Nelson

 In other news, The new Zero 7 album, The Garden, will be out this May featuring a song with Jose Gonzalez called "Future."  Zero 7's website is running a 30 second preview of the clip.

Anyone out there have the full song?

2006 so far . . .

I was looking through my iTunes playlist the other day and noted that the cds I am listening to the most (The National, Sufjan, Hockey Night, Jose Gonzalez, Antony, Animal Collective) are still from 2005.  I have been doing my share of buying new music from 2006, but nothing has really kept me going back and back like the above named albums have.

My timing couldn't be better as SXSW just finished and the hot new buzz bands are being thrown around by every blogger.  I made a point to listen to a lot of these songs and here are some songs that have really been keeping me singing along and bobbing my head.

MP3: Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds
My freshman year, I walked into Dave's room and he was listening to tubthumping on repeat on a cassette. I was confused and he explained to me that he recorded just that song on one side of a tape and listened to it while studying. I want a one sided mix tape full of Hospital Beds.

MP3: Trains to Brazil - The Guillemots
You know when you get a new car and all of sudden you only see the car you just bought?  Were those cars always there and you just never saw them or are you now more conscious of the fact that this car exists and your brain is somehow seeking them out?  I am not sure the answer, but I feel like last week was that way for the Guillemots and me.  I downloaded this song and then proceeded to see their name again and again and again.  I missed their show at Hotel Cafe last week, but will not miss these guys when they return.

MP3: Peace and Hate - The Submarines
Loss Leaders posted about these guys recently and all he had to do was compare them to Stars and The Postal Service to get my attention.  I don't know much about assembling a rock band, but I will listen to anything with a male and female singer who sing about breaking up.  I think that must have been my parents love of Fleetwood Mac that is rubbing off on me.  Check out their other songs on their website here.

MP3: Band of Horses - The Funeral
I know I have posted this song already and everyone else has too, but this song is incredible and I am hoping to scrap some money together to buy this album today.

What music have you been listening to lately?

Jose Gonzalez @ Jensen Rec Center | Pics

Jason saw Jose at the Hotel Cafe on Monday night and warned me appropriately: He will blow you away with his talent and his voice, but he is not very personable.  Last night, all of that ringed true as we trekked down to the Jensen Rec Center to see Jose make magic with his guitar.  Chone compared him to David Copperfield as several points in the show, it was unclear how he was playing all those parts on his guitar.  He said maybe six sentences, five of which were "Thank you very much" but he, like us, loved the Jensen Rec Center.  What the hell is that place? It was so bizarre, yet so hip. Anyone know what the place is about?    

The show itself lived up to every expectation I had.  He played all of my favorites and the covers that he has played elsewhere (Joy Division's" Love Will Tear Us Apart" and Massive Attack's "Teardrop")

In other Jose news, Mute Rec0rds will re-release Jose's acclaimed debut album, Veneer, on April 4. The album, which is already gold in the UK, was first released here in the States by Hidden Agenda last summer. The Tripwire says that a new Jose album could be released later this, though it may be pushed to early 2007.

If you still have not heard the incredible sounds of Jose Gonzalez, check out So Much Silence's post on him from SXSW or just buy his album here. You will not be dissapointed.

 

Division Day @ The Echo | Pics

Thanks again to indie dont dance for introducing me to Kevin in Division Day.  We met before their set at the Echo and he shoved my pockets full of Division Day goodies.  I listened to the new album on the way home and really liked it.  Their songs jump all over the place, but their best stuff is the loud, fast, rocking music on Tigers, Catch Your Death, and Tap, Tap, Click, Click.  Their live show definitely got better as the show went on.  Minus a noise deafening sound that is still ringing in my ears, the set was a lot of fun. 

Division Day has one more Monday in their free residency at the Echo.  Next week they play with The Movies who I have never heard of but Kevin assures me are "really really good".

The new album officially comes out next Monday (they will be selling it at the shows) and is produced by Scott Solter.  Solter works with John Vanderslice at his Tiny Telephone Record Label in San Francisco. 

MP3: Tigers - Division Day
MP3: Catch Your Death - Division Day
MP3: Rock in the Slingshot - The Movies

While I loved the Division Day set, the best (and most entertaining) part of the night came from the band before them, WE.  WE is from Oslo, Norway and apparently in Oslo, 80's biker rock is HUGE.  The lead singer has a hat fetish and one of the guys was wearing all leather.  It was pretty amazing. 

WE:

More pictures of WE after the jump.   

This Week in LA 3/20 - 3/26

While there are always great shows coming in and out of Los Angeles, this week seems to be bursting a the seams with great shows. I have tickets to a lot of these and expect some write ups in the next couple of days. 

We can't go to all of them, but we will try. Here is a sampling:

Monday
Jose Gonzalez @ The Hotel Cafe
Division Day @ The Echo
Belle and Sebastian @ Amoeba Records (3 pm)
MP3: Tap, Tap, Click, Click - Division Day
MP3: Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez (live on KEXP) from So Much Silence

Tuesday
Tapes 'n Tapes, The Cold War Kids @ The Knitting Factory (Early Show)
Jose Gonzalez @ Jensen Rec Center
MP3: Insistor - Tapes 'n Tapes
MP3: Hospital Beds - The Cold War Kids

Wednesday
Earlimart, Band of Horses @ King King
Tapes 'n Tapes @ Spaceland
The Sounds, Morningwood @ Henry Fonda
MP3: Omaha - Tapes 'n Tapes
MP3: Funeral - Band of Horses

Thursday
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ The El Rey
Metric, Islands @ Henry Fonda
MP3: Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Friday
Beth Orton @ Avalon
Filter Magazine Party w/ Dntel @ MOCA

Saturday
KCRW Sounds Eclectic Evening w/ Death Cab, Goldspot, Sia and more @ Gibson Amphitheater
Page France @ Hotel Cafe