In a capacity of praise, scorn, or, preferably, debate

One of my old roommates - Joe Felice - has been ramping up his own personal channel on YouTube the past couple of months, posting regular videos featuring his always-sharp political analysis; his delivery is full of wit and energy.. and even if you don't agree with him 100% - or don't even think you're into "politics" - he draws you in with on-point observations and enthusiasm.. and a flair for the, um, zany (in a good way!); you'll see what I mean:

Mostly Politics, by Joe Felice
http://youtube.com/JoeFelice

In a similar vein, Joe entered a contest a few weeks ago to be able to cover either the Republican or Democratic National Convention as part of the Broadcasting arm of Project Breakout. There, he posted a video explaining why he was interested in the opportunity, along with some clips from his YouTube channel.

I checked it out..

And you know what - and maybe this is because I know him personally and can't disambiguate those personal feelings; I am human after all (video) - I think Joe is the best of the bunch. I mean, there are a couple of other folks that are ok (although a little too "jokey" for my tastes; they be Daily Show wannabes), but I really, truly, believe Joe is the best political pundit in the contest.

No doubt.

So, without further ado, it's the final week of the Project Breakout competition and, in fact, Joe is one of the top contenders. As such, it's *now* that the votes really count.. so if you have a few minutes, check out his page below and make a few clicks to send Joe to either of the Conventions this summer. He really was born to do this, to be a fresh-faced and crazy-haired political pundit..

Here are some words from the man himself:

My final entry in the convention competition is up and I would deeply, madly, turgidly appreciate your vote in the final week of this endless frigging marathon to the prize (a paid trip to cover one of the political conventions and $2500).

I hope some folks will watch the new video too because it's a good summary of what I've been up to, including my appearance on Al Jazeera last week, and the recent video that got me a shout-out in the official YouTube blog, as well as the old tape of when NPR read my letter.

To watch and vote you just go to this link:
http://broadcasting.projectbreakout.com/media_page/entry_id/197

That's my page. Sign in at the very top (or register as a user if it's your first time). Click the big red vote button 15 times in a row, once a day if possible, until Sunday. Phew! And that will really be the end, win or lose.

I know it sounds like a (minor) hassle, but I've done the clickity-click-deed every day to help get Joe through this last push; once you've signed up, it literally takes less than a minute to vote for him. If you can, do it daily until the contest ends on Sunday (but even if you check it out just one day, the help is appreciated).

In short, Joe brings an erudite spice that would rock the the RNC or DNC. Let's send him there!

And let me know if you have any questions or comments on this whole thing. Or contact Joe directly through his YouTube channel; he would love to hear from you in any capacity of praise, scorn, or, preferably, debate. Word is up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ps. A little more about Mr. Felice: "I have political experience at Dean for America (Iowa Field Staff) and Music for America (San Francisco nonprofit). Now I work a desk job in the entertainment business in NYC (Eric's note: Joe does some pretty cool stuff - involving fresh and still-evolving copyright law - with some pretty big entities in the music industry). Politics aside, my other favorite things are Scrabble, road trips in the desert, and running the lights at local rock shows."

Sparks occasions, few and far between

Wow.

I had a few friends in town a few weekends ago and, among many other things (some mundane, some decadent), I remember a brief conversation about the "black" Sparks, specifically, and how it compared to the other two varieties - the original "orange" and the diet "blue". In short, my friends were of the opinion that the black Sparks tasted the best of the lot, a designation that, in this case, is not only relative, but, really, not saying much. haha. At the time, I had never tried anything but the OG (i.e. orange), so I didn't have much to add besides, um, sparking the topic to begin with and asking some clarifying follow-up (not to mention some reminiscing about other past Sparks experiences).

Wait.. have you ever tried Sparks? Do you know what I'm talking about?

If not, Sparks was one of the first self-contained caffeinated alcohol beverages that broke though to mass market.. or, at least, to cult status. Wikipedia says a bit more here.

On a pure taste level, I am totally *not* a fan. haha. That said, I *am* a fan of uppers when I'm wanting to maintain a full night of rockin' out, and enjoy the theoretical underpinnings of doing so.. further, I'm glad somebody went out and took the essence of "Red Bull and vodka" - that's really the OG of this whole (legal) scene - and put it in a gaudy, and convenient-for-on-the-go, aluminum package. I just wish they didn't make it taste like s***. haha.

In any case, such nights are few and far between, but I've certainly had a few fueled by Sparks (especially when the aforementioned friends are in town).. I remember one distinctly where I was up for two days straight because I couldn't fall asleep, given the levels of caffeine consumed.. all.. night.. long. Yeah, that sort of thing can be good or bad, depending on who else is along for the ride, and your capacity for latelatelate night silliness; you take your chances. ;)

My most recent experience with the stuff was fairly recent, this past Thursday, in fact, before the Ghostland Observatory concert at Mezzanine. You see, I was a little bit early for meeting a friend out in front of the venue - I was the man with the tickets-in-hand - and decided to step into one of them lovely all-night convenience stores on 6th St. for some liquid refreshment to help me pass the time. I surveyed the refrigerated scene and, ultimately, I couldn't say no to the black battery pack that is "Sparks Plus", at 7% alcohol and "more caffeine".

I could use a little more pep, I said to myself.

And you know what?; it *was* better than the orange Sparks.. and still, it sucked. haha. I mean, I'm sure I'll indulge again in the future - I never say never - but it just tastes so artificial and sickly-sweet. I'd rather make my own vodka/gin mix with Red Bull, Amp or Vitamin Energy filling out a glass over ice; I'm a much bigger fan of those flavors. And that's not even getting to the already-opened-and-done-been-indulged-in bottle of Kubler absinthe I've got sitting in my "special" liquor cabinet; that's a whole 'nother experience right there..

Or, I don't know.. maybe next time I'm looking for that certain sort of hyped-up buzz, I'll try some "Cocaine" instead. You guys have any experience in that?

Interested in personal musical selectionals

Just back from a weekend climbing trip to Pinnacles (maybe to be discussed in a future post), and my calendar says that - ooh yeah! - it's time for more live music this week.

First up, I *might* be recruited into going to back to Popscene this Thursday - so soon, I know - to see Scottsman wunderkinder Calvin Harris do his R&B-influenced dance electro act before he goes on to play Coachella Saturday. While his music doesn't blow me away - it's not quite "full" enough for me - I think it'd be fun to see live; in fact, I think it'd be more than acceptable (video).

On a more definite and must-see note, I've got tickets for the Cut Copy / Simian Mobile Disco (SMD) show this Saturday at Mezzanine; this thing is madsoldout.. and with good reason. Cut Copy is one of the most underrated groups putting out bright, guitar-driven new wave dance music (live and direct from Australia); their latest album "In Ghost Colours" has really grown on me; I play it all the time, sometimes in the background and sometimes when I'm getting psyched-up to go out (it's that versatile). Check out some of their new tracks on their myspace page.

And as for SMD, well, they've been crazyprolific this past year, releasing an awesome buzzing dance album called "Attack Decay Sustain Release", DJing 'round the clubs, and doing some great remixing/producing this way and that. Yeah, these guys have been on heavy rotation everywhere - mix CDs galore - especially via the singles (and various mixes of) "Hustler" (video) and "It's the Beat" (video). If you haven't heard the album in its entirety, get thee to Aquarius Records or Amoeba and give it a go!

This last opportunity just came across my desk late this past week. It seems The Bloody Beatroots are back in SF - remember I saw them at Popscene a few weeks ago? - and playing a DJ set with the LA Riots at Rickshaw Stop a week from Tuesday (i.e. the 29th). The show is FREE with rsvp (because it's part of a small, 4-city tour sponsored by Scion - the car folks). Yeah, so I've already mentioned that I loved seeing The Bloody Beatroots throw down their crazy Italian bangers, so I'll leave it at that..

But the LA Riots should also bring a great party; I've been looking out for these guys to come up to San Francisco ever since I started hearing about them (and checking out their work) on Discobelle and Disco Dust (and other in-the-know Internet peeps). These guys are best know for their remix work for such heavy-hitters like Justice and Kylie Minogue, but they throw down at the clubs pretty regularly (as far as I can tell). Check out one of their many mixtapes online to get a feel for their rockin' - rockin' in the freshdancebangers sense of the word, of course - aesthetic. I say yes! to their selection of Das Pop, MSTRKRFT and Count & Sinden; the LA Riots should be very proud. haha.

In any case, I haven't really put the word out on this one yet, but if anyone is interested, let me know; I can pretty easily be mobilized. Just note that this shizz is on a schoolnight, so be prepared to limp into work Wednesday morning. ;)

Movies by the truckload, some free

What are *you* doing on Monday night?

Well, it's been a few weeks since the last one, but *this* Monday night is movie night at The Independent, and that beloved "indie" exercise in quirk (and sass!), Juno, is on the bill.

You see, The Independent (concert venue) runs a free movie night on any Monday that they don't have a show scheduled. And they just posted movies for the next two weeks (godbless 'em):

April 21st: Juno
April 28th: No Country for Old Men

Not too shabby, huh? I'm on the fence for Juno, but I'll make it out for No Country, for sure.

By the way, there is a "two drink minimum" for the show, but noone really checks (not that it would ever be a problem, beer by the pint or pitcher). ;) And they usually have free popcorn, which is a nice touch for making it "homey" (well, as much as a medium-sized concert venue in SF will ever been homey).

Doors open at 7:30pm, show at 8pm; and I'd recommend getting there on the early side if you want a good seat. I've certainly been there when it's very chill, seats no problem, but I've also been there when it was standing room only (most people made do by finding some sort of non-chair seating in various nooks and crannies).

Oh, and out of a somewhat unfortunate coincidence, the Red Vic Movie House is showing Juno on the 21st as well (and also on the 22nd). Even if you catch the free showing at The Independent, definitely give the Vic some love; they are an awesome arthouse institution here in SF, always with a top-notch lineup of films. In fact, I caught Persepolis there earlier this week with a friend and plan on going to see The Big Lebowski tonight. I don't really smoke (green or otherwise), but I can appreciate that they have an annual Lebowski showing around the date of 4/20. Too silly, but oh-so-appropriate. haha.

What doesn't happen when you're drunk?

File this under "que será será":

Drunk Russian sleeps off knifing
by BBC News
Published: April 17th, 2008

So, some guy does some drinking with one of his coworkers "at the office"; that is, they are drinking *at* their workplace (but after work). They apparently have an argument over the course of the night and one of them stabs the other in the back with a 6" blade..

But the guy who was stabbed passes out drunk at some point - before or after the wound: who knows? - and wakes up in the morning, takes the bus home, eats some колбасы, and crashes for another few hours before his wife wakes him up.. because the knife is STILL IN HIS BACK (and he doesn't even know it)!

Wow.

The amazing part is not that he's still alive - no real damage was done - but that he basically blows the whole thing off. He quote at the end is awesome, not a care in the world:

"We were drinking and what doesn't happen when you're drunk?"

Man, where does this guy party? Although.. now that I think about it, I'm up for a lot of things, but I'm not really up for being stabbed - in general, but definitely not when I'm out and about, tossing back a few. But, to each their own, I guess. haha.

New pages for my wonderful little book

Man, my passport looks a mess.

I picked it up this afternoon from the US Passport Agency here in San Francisco; I needed to get new pages added in order to get a Chinese visa for an upcoming work trip. Crazy fast turnaround: I dropped it off this morning (along with an $60 expedite fee, which I'm *ahem* putting on my expense report).

The passport folks threaded in 24 fancy new pages in the middle of my passport book - which is all well and good - but they totally don't match: these high tech sheets are new and crisp, for one (my passport has taken a lot of abuse over the years and the condition of the old pages tell that story well), and two, they are of a slightly different size than the old passport pages (slightly taller, and narrower), so they peak out the top a little as if to explicitly proclaim their superiority.

And you know what, they actually *are* a bit superior to the old-style pages. Each two-page spread is a little advertisement for classic American iconography, eagles lording over rugged mountains (bison too), cowboys running longhorn cattle ragged, and all. The limited use of color and anti-copy protection patterns put a less-than-subtle haze between the action and the viewer, making these (potentially) syrupy scenes palatable. In other words, I find the American icons' delivery somewhat subversive via the medium, even if that wasn't the intent (of course it *wasn't* the intent!). And so I say: kudos to the passport people! haha.

Beyond the pics, the new pages display some patriotic quotes; luckily, most have meaning beyond a strict patriotic interpretation. And, so, I'm sure I'll find myself meditating on the meaning of lines such of these, next time I'm traveling out of country (and sans other reading materials):

"Democracy is based on the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people." -- Harry Emerson Fosdick

And,

"We live in a world that is lit by lightening. So much is changing and will change, but so much endures and transcends time." -- Ronald Reagan

In any case, yeah, it's nice to look through the ol' passport every once in awhile; each stamp - or even just the feel of the well-worn cover - sparks the memory, trips both (insanely) lovely and (insanely) mundane rotate again to the conscious surface (where else can I remember?). And I smile.

What a wonderful little book (looks aren't everything); I'm glad we'll be together awhile longer..

In the Realms of the Palmsonntag

For those of you in the NYC area, outsider artist extraordinaire, Henry Darger, is risen (again)! A new show of his work opened today, posthumously, of course, at the American Folk Art Museum:

Dargerism: Contemporary Artists and Henry Darger

"The American Folk Art Museum is home to the single largest repository of works by one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century, Henry Darger (1892 - 1973), who created nearly three hundred watercolor and collage paintings to illustrate his epic masterpiece, The Story of the Vivian Girls, in what is Known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion, which encompasses more than fifteen thousand pages."

Who knew?

This particular exhibit incorporates works from about a dozen contemporary artists who have made reference to Darger's naked-child-filled (and dreamycreepy) fantasy world of Abbiennia, to the creation of new worlds through shear force of the individual mind (of which we only glimpse timeslices through the artists' work). I wonder if all these artists made the conscious decision to echo some of the themes in Darger's work (life?), or if it was just coincidence? No matter, really (for a causal artfan - like myself). Outside of this show, Henry Darger has certainly been an explicit touchstone for many a creative folk; check out some of the pop culture references listed at his Wikipedia site: Natalie Merchant, Neil Gaiman and Sufjan Stevens, represent!

The general format of the show reminds me of the "Picasso and American Art" exhibit at the SFMOMA, early in 2007. I remember going to it with a friend and we both thought - I think we both thought this; maybe it was just me? - that it was a bit cold and clinical. That is, I found it super-interesting to see American art reflecting various Picasso works (in many a genre) over this huge time span - decades of Picasso production! - but the layout of the rooms at the SFMOMA left me without any emotional reaction to the art itself. In short, I found the curation lacking.

But getting back to the Henry Darger show at the American Folk Art Museum, I hold out hope for better selection and arrangement, and do want to check it out en vivo. In fact, I've wanted to see more of his work ever since I saw the 2004 documentary "In the Realms of the Unreal", which gave a glimpse of this odd man, his odd life and his odd obsessions. And since the show is up until September 21st, there's a pretty good chance I'll be able to make it happen (if I remember); I do my fair share of hanging in the Big City each year.

In other art-happening-in-notSF news, Anselm Kiefer has an installation called Palmsonntag up at the First Baptist Church in Los Angeles (in conjunction with a gallery showing of Kiefer's paintings, sculpture and collage at Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills). This too, I'd love to check out.

You see, my favorite show (ever!) at the SFMOMA since I started going regularly (say, 2004) has been "Anselm Kiefer: Heaven and Earth"; it was up late 2006.. (although I did enjoy the pomp and spectacle of the "Matthew Barney: Drawing Restraint" show too, also in 2006). Large scale works of (only semi-imagined) dystopian landscapes, crawling with unnatural biological vibration in a framework of environmental regularity: they crush my soul.. yet still, I would step right inside any one of them if I could. Like many people, I have an unnatural attraction to Kiefer's hypnotic paintings (truly - you can fall into them), which I guess is why he is one of the most well-known German artists alive today (internationally, speaking, that is).

Yeah, so.. two shows far away from me; but I thought my friends farther afield would like to know. If you do check either of them out, I'd love to hear your take. And if you don't (due to distance or desire or whatever), you've still got a few new arty things to say at your next cocktail party (yo). So, you're welcome either way. ;)

Music for days, new and used and mixtified

While I'm *actually* listening to the wind rustle the tall trees in my neighbor's backyard - a gentle sound occasionally punctuated by the rr-buzz of a powersaw or the k-thapp of a hammer employed somewhere in the neighborhood - I could be drowning out all those external sounds with the help of my laptop. You see, over the past couple of days, I've brought a mad amount of new music into the house and haven't really dug into it yet.

This haul comes in three batches, the first of which is a bunch of dancey blog downloads.. and since I haven't really listened to them yet, I can't really comment (and steer you down the path of up-to-the-minute bliss). For now, just check out the links under "Aural Delites", and get these beats direct from the, um, horse's electronic mouth (note to horses: you might better be served by carrying a USB flashdrive here in the 2008). Carry on!

My commentary only starts with this second batch, five physical CDs I brought back from a work trip to the Raleigh Durham area of North Carolina this past week.

1. NEW: Body Language Vol. 6 by Junior Boys
2. NEW: Ghostland Observatory - Robotique Majestique
3. USED: Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F♯A♯∞
4. USED: Godspeed You! Black Emperor [sic] - Yanqui U.X.O.
5. USED: Lansing-Dreiden - The Incomplete Triangle

I love Godspeed You! Black Emperor [sic]; I've mentioned this before, for sure. And, so, I couldn't resist buying up CD Alley's selection of used GY!BE albums (CD Alley is an awesome gem of a music shop in Chapel Hill, NC; and I always make it a point to go there whenever I'm in the area). Having the physical CDs in this case is a special treat because GY!BE CD cases + liner notes contain lovely artwork and ramblings supplemental to the music. I highly recommend all of GY!BE's work - and CD2 of Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, in particular (a CD I already have); listen in a time of quiet reflection (or if you want to get there). If you see them - or any of their related projects - back on tour, let me know!

After satisfying that small indulgence, consumer bloodlust sank in and I searched the rest of the tightly-packed store; I was going to buy more music.. I mean, I download so many mp3s from a variety of sources (some more legitimate than others), so I do cleanse my conscience from time to time at great local shops like this one (including my hometown slice, Aquarius Records).

Next up, Lansing-Dreiden is a group that you love or hate.. or love to hate. I think more people would enjoy the music if they didn't know about their backstory: they sell themselves as a nameless, faceless, art collective that mixes their buzzing pop sound with a bit from other genres, including 70's glam or crushing metal - sounds good so far - but they also add a whole lotta ostentation (which you figure out when you start reading their liner notes or any other of their printed manifestos.. or attend any of their art shows).

I don't know.. even after seeing their West Coast debut - Myth By Method - at New Langton Arts last year, I can separate out the high-falutin' attitudes from their audio projects. In short, I like their stuff, but won't overly gush over it; it's good to play in the background. The irony is that me "separating out" anything from their body of work is antithesis to the holistic image that they have been trying to cultivate, but, well, what you gonna do? ;)

What I really would like to tell you about is the Body Language mix series. Just out of luck - and faith in the Junior Boys - I grabbed its latest installment (Vol. 6) from CD Alley's just-in selection of new CDs without ever hearing about it before; in fact, I hadn't even heard of any of the songs in the mix.. and only had heard of a handful of the artists involved. Still, I *had* heard about Junior Boys' selector skillz, and a knew of their general aesthetic so - again, I was on a spree - I threw it down in the pile. Buying a CD without having heard it before is such an old-school concept in an age of instant-access media, huh?

Well, the Boys lived up to their reputation; I've been pretty much playing it every day since I got back to town (when I'm not rock climbing at Mt. Diablo State Park or cycling around Nicasio Reservoir over the kickass weekend). Each of the tracks has an underlying structure composed of the brand of warm minimal techno that the Junior Boys themselves are known to produce, but any given track could be influenced by disco, house, or electro - and come from some of the top names (I later find out) in the biz (name check, for example: Matthew Dear, Prins Thomas Miks, Todd Terje); they make great beats. It's definitely some soundtrack for your next afterparty where you're still wanting to get your seductive dance-on (without diving into the cliché of Al Greene or Cafe del Mar). ha! It's got me wondering what's going on with the five prior Body Language releases..

In any case, before I dive into the third batch of music, check the last CD I picked up on my trip to Chapel Hill: the new full-length from Ghostland Observatory, Robotique Mystique. I've mentioned these guys a few times before, so let me just say that I've seen them twice now, en vivo, and I couldn't *not* get this album, if only because seeing their name reminds me of their rocking liveshow. In fact, I'm seeing them again this Thursday at Mezzanine with a friend, so I should use my new CD to study up on some lyrics right now (as if you need to *really* know the lyrics to enjoy the sonic swagger of Ghostland Observatory). All I know is that I'm ready to get my sweat on. ;)

Whew!

I guess this brings me to the last bit here, where I found a nice surprise on a Saturday morning: multiple mix CDs, homemade and musically diverse in my mailbox; it seemed to be the time of the year to reap the mix-CD-by-mail bounty that I done sowed at the end of February. I noticed that the mixes are definitely more "indie rock" heavy than I typically listen to these days - same as in the last mix CD "cycle" - but I guess part of the charm of this friendly (and friend-of-friendly) program is that I have a chance to listen to things that aren't on my usual laser-focused radar. So, King of Prussia and Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, here I come! Or, rather, they come to me! It's a good system. haha.

So that's that.

As a bonus, let me direct you to the new Sam Sparro music video for "Black and Gold" - in case you missed its debut last month. I like (video). But maybe that's because I do love me some post-production gold dust à la Chromeo's Needy Girl video? I can say that that's certainly part of the appeal (ha!), but "Black and Gold" - as a song - has been one of my favorites from Mr. Sparro since even before the single was officially released last year. So, I say to you: enjoy it now!

Visiting the Gold Tips motherland

Let me sing you - if you could get me singing anything while I'm NOT in the shower - the praises of the Yunnan Gold Tips. This type of tea is the basis for the hot honey wine in my cup, lightly steaming, as we speak (write). It's total cheese (I know, I know), but I'm breathing in the malty aroma, and, in doing so, I breathe in a bit of smooth contentment. (CUT! - this commercial is a wrap!)

It's sorta making it hard for me to work. haha.

My taste for (the preparation of) loose leaf tea comes and goes; certainly for the past couple of months I've been a straight-up teabagger (um.. yeah), but I was inspired last week.. I *had* to break out my little tote of Ito-En teas from their dark hiding place - one of the many stashes of loose-leaf tea in my apartment - and indulge in some of this quality China snuff.

I mean, I brought so much tea back from my summer travels.. beyond this Ito-En shizz (acquired from their flagship store), I gots greens and blacks from Russia, from Kyrgyzstan.. Rainbow Grocery too! My Beehouse has been awaiting for me to fill it with more than just Honey Ginseng Green from Republic of Tea or the "new" Black Pearl pyramid tea bags from Lipton.

It's been waiting until this week, that is. My snooty little teapot got what it's been asking for; I'm glad to be an enabler. And, as I alluded to above, my favorite taste thus far has been the Yunnan Gold Tips from Ito-En; their look sets them apart from other black teas, but, once prepared, you can't beat the smell of that sweet, sweet, liqueur.

Ah, this reminds me.. I need to totally bring back mad amounts of tea - Gold Tips or otherwise - when I go to Beijing for a work trip this coming month. I'll, basically, be in the motherland! ;)