More Onion genius with plenty of Wisconsin references

OK...here's a way to spend an evening. Listening to James Mercer and learn about the "glory" of tugboats.

DEC 10 FRI 8:30 PMWHITSELL AUDITORIUM — NW TRACKINGTOWLINES: A NIGHT OF FILM and MUSIC with MATT McCORMICK &JAMES MERCERTonight Portland director Matt McCormick and musician James Mercer premiere their newest collaboration, TOWLINES (2004), an experimental documentary about tugboats. The two first worked together in 2002 when McCormick directed a video for Mercer’s band The Shins and they found a fertile partnership. TOWLINES explores the visual and emotional characteristics of tugboats, those hardworking and invaluable contributors to our world and waterways who never seem to get their due recognition and glory. Borrowing the tone of a children’s book, a bit of history, beautiful cinematography and a bright soundtrack McCormick give the heroic tug a loving salute. In addition to the screening, Mercer will perform a set of acoustic material while McCormick fills the screen with projected film loops and sequences and the evening will be rounded out with the screening of several of McCormick’s earlier works, including GROUNDED (2004). (90 mins.)

Just bought tickets to Spoon! It looks like Maritime is going to be opening for them, which violates my (albeit half-hearted) vow not to see the new bands of ex-Dismemberment Plan members. But maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised; besides, I guess they sound a lot more like the Promise Ring than D Plan. Travis Morrison is coming in a couple weeks too, which I think I will probably pass on, unless I get some sign to do otherwise.

So there's a new show on Adult Swim called "Tom Goes to the Mayor." This guy Tom keeps going to the Mayor of Jefferton with stupid new ideas to improve the town. Like set up bear traps everywhere to increase child safety. And buy those bear traps from Jack Black and Kyle from Tenacious D. The animation is extremely bizarre- the characters are just these blue and white drawings that don't actually move. I can't decide if it's actually funny or not.

Oh my God, the Arcade Fire.

I didn't think anything could top Menomena, but . . . holy crap.

I'm not even going to get into the show right now. I'm writing an article for Tinymixtapes's year-end edition about the 10 best concerts I've seen in 2004, and this one is obviously going to reign at #1. I'll just post a link to it when it goes up.

Also, 4 of my top 10 concerts this year came from Canadian bands. Those Canadians . . . they know how to make good music.

And the Spongenapping continues

I am never, ever again driving on the day before Thanksgiving. It took me two and a half hours to reach my monumentous goal of 30 miles per hour. For those of you who know the Chicago drive to Madison, that took me to Hoffman Estates.

Spoon tickets on sale now, by the way. If you live in Chicago, I suggest picking them up at the Double Door to avoid ticketmaster charges- $20 tickets don't need to become $35 tickets if they don't have to.

Also, I just saw a band on Pollstar called "Pieces of Flair." That's hilarious.

The Great Spongebob Kidnapping of 2004. Aka, slow news day.

Wow. That's crazy...If you go to their Web site, you can see some great responses to that email. Some are pretty great.

This is hilarious. Check out the email that was sent to the WLUW music department:

From: AmericanPatriot <americanpatriot2004@yahoo.com>

Subject : Please Stop Playing Skinny Puppy or We Will Boycott Your Station

In the past few months a band by the name of Skinny Puppy has slandered Bush. At several of their concerts over the summer they have simulated an assassination of the president. On their current Fall tour they simulated a beheading similar to the ones happening in Iraq. When the vocalist pulls off their hoods he reveals the terrorists to be Bush and Cheney. This is unacceptable and I encourage you not to play their latest record, The Greater Wrong of the Right, that has been indicated by their record label as being played on your station. Conservatives are currently a majority of the populace now and we have voted into power a majority in every level of government. The people of this country have the power as evident by our boycott of the Reagan miniseries, the Superbowl, and the Dixie Chicks. If you still choose to play their music we have the ability to put financial pressure on your station through boycotts. Please remove Skinny Puppy from rotation or we will have no choice but to boycott your station. Currently, your station is listed on the boycott list found here: http://www.pabaah.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=717 . If you decide to stop playing Skinny Puppy as well as consider changing the format in order to provide more fair and balance we will consider removing you from the list.

- Daryl Mason\Patriotic Americans Boycotting Anti-American Hollywood

http://www.pabaah.com\\\

At the Empty Bottle this weekend, they had these amazing posters for the two Arcade Fire shows stapled up on their walls. I think they're Seripop.

Side one: Logan Square Auditorium, 11/25
Side two: Empty Bottle, 11/26

Some of them were split in two to represent the two different shows, but some of the posters up were in full form. So on Friday I'm bringing my staple remover. I counted 9 staples in the one I have my eye on. Should I slowly remove them throughout the night or just take it down all at once after the performance?

I hope there isn't a battle for it, because I will take someone down.

I've begun compiling my top 20 albums of 2004. The top 10 were easy, the second 10 much more difficult.

I also plan on writing a year-end article for tinymixtapes on the 10 best concerts I saw this year. There's a slight chance Menomena will be on that list :)

Matt Pond PA was ok last night, but Menomena just spoiled me for concerts for awhile. Though I did like Chin Up Chin Up- they had a great sound, though it took me awhile to get into the vocals. Next big show - Arcade Fire this Friday at the Bottle!

Spoon at the Double Door, Fri. Dec. 17!!!

Tickets are $20, which is pretty steep, but then again, they last played at the Metro, which is phenomenally larger. I'd suggest buying tickets when they come out, because this show is definitely going to sell out.

And more info on that show

This sounds awesome:

Wednesday, December 15
RedEye and Metromix.com present:
Wes Anderson Rocks...

THE AUTUMN DEFENSE
ANDREW BIRD & KEVIN O'DONNEL
THE SAFES
ABSTRACT GIANTS

Tickets $Free for RedEye Rewards Members
If you don't have a RedEye Rewards card, go to http://www.redeyechicago.com/rewards to sign up and receive your free tickets.

18 & over
Doors: 7:30pm / Show: 8:30pm

Bands will perform songs from Wes Anderson's films in addition to original material to celebrate the upcoming release of the new Wes Anderson film "The Life Aquatic".

Good shows this weekend:

Madison:
Friday, November 19: Pedro the Lion w/ Starflyer 69 and Elf Power at the High Noon Saloon
Friday, November 19: Sufjan Stevens w/ Nicolai Dunger and Awry at the Catacombs Coffeehouse
Saturday, November 20: Castanets w/ the Elanors, Dietrich Gosser, and Lichens at the Catacombs Coffeehouse

Milwaukee:
Friday, November 19: Castanets w/ Lichens at the Onopa Brewing Company
Sunday, November 21: Sally Timms w/ Johnny Dowd at the Bremen Cafe

Chicago:
Friday, November 19: Wolf Eyes w/ Psychic TV at the Empty Bottle
Saturday, November 20: Lucero w/ Matt Pond PA, Chin Up Chin Up and Old Canes at the Empty Bottle*
Saturday, November 20: Richard Buckner at the Hideout*
Saturday, November 20: Sally Timms w/ Johnny Dowd and Julie Doiron at Schubas

* Shows you will find me at

The Norweigan Kylie Minogue. Check it.

Cross dressing- it's like experimenting with drugs.

In work news that is the opposite of cool, I just got to call the NRA!

So I just called up this snowboarding magazine in California, and their hold music was INTERPOL. I didn't want to get off hold!!!!

Correction, ODB had 7 children. Only 4 illegitimate.

Ol' Dirty Bastard died this weekend, survived by his 13 children.

Now that it's not 4:30 in the morning, I'd just like to reiterate how freakin' HOT Menomena was. I mean the music, not the band, though they were all cute in their own right. Their voices, the saxophone playing, the drumming, their voices . . . mmmmmmm. I can't believe they didn't headline, the crowd visibly cut in half after their set was over. One of the best performances I've seen in a very long time.

HOT.

Saw Menomena tonight. Words cannot even describe how amazing they were. Actually, here are some words: hot. Sexy. Drool-worthy. I think I officially melted into the floor while they played. More tomorrow.

Tonight: Apostles of Hustle and Menomena! Word on the street is, Apostles of Hustle (a Broken Social Scene side project) are amazing live, and I have high hopes for Menomena. I'll be writing this one up for Tinymixtapes.

Another TMT writer reviewed the Interpol show I saw a few weeks ago. Now I liked the show and everything, but I definitely didn't have the religious experience he did.

My Plastic Constellations review is now up on TMT

You Minnesotans are too nice.

So I just got my haircut at a new salon. After telling my new hairdresser about my music aspirations, she told me about her friend from Touch and Go Records, and how she could talk to him about potential opportunities there. I gave her my email and she said she'd get back to me in a couple days. This is the coolest hairdresser on the face of the planet.

Check it out- I just bought this compilation for Chicago label Kranky on the Kranky website for SEVEN DOLLARS- it's a two CD compilation!!!! No shipping and handling! They're craaaazy! I've always wanted to check out some of their bands but never got around to it. Rockin'.

Heavenly States last night was good, though it would have been better with a raging crowd of some sort. They'll be in Madison on Thursday for all interested parties.

I finally got Jon Stewart's "America: The Book" in the mail! It's set up like a textbook and has a picture of the Supreme Court's heads on naked bodies. Should be good.

There is just so much that's funny about this abcnews article.

Heavenly States tonight at the Double Door, be there or . . . don't be there.

A red and blue map of the country by population I found on Salon. It draws out the country based on population rather than size. I don't think I described that well. It'll make sense when you look at it.

OH MY GOD.

I just heard Ratatat's "17 Years" in a HUMMER COMMERCIAL. I'm going to have to seriously reconsider my love of that song. I had no problem with Modest Mouse's "Gravity Rides Everything" being used to sell minvans, I understand artists need to make money, but I draw the line at selling Hummers. Anything but Hummers.

Last night I finished the last episode from my DVD of Freaks and Geeks, and now there is a void in my life that cannot be filled. The show rocks. Go rent it. Or, if you live in Chicago, borrow it from me. Sigh.

One option

Once again, the Onion comes through on its headlines:

America Comes Out Agin The Gay Marryin'
Bush Does Victory Lap Around World Trade Center Site
MoveOn CurlsUp InCorner
Poll: Youth Totally Meant To Vote In Record Numbers
Despite Republican Victory, Bush Supporter Has Tiny, Tiny Penis

Quite possibly the funniest music news ever. The Postal Service and the Postal Service, working towards a cooler Postal Service.

Courtesy of my mom:

>

At least I can be proud that all three states I've ever lived in (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois) are blue. The upper midwest should start its own country.

After I move to Canada, I'm starting a band called The New Florida.


A couple articles/blog postings that have very accurately reflected the things I've been thinking this morning:

The Internet makes it easy to find people we agree with. After Election Day 2004, maybe it's time to kick that habit

I'm not depressed, being filled with far too much healthy loathing for millions of my fellow Americans to let myself droop

On a slightly lighter note, the Karaoke Dokie's last night at Schubas were awesome. It's karaoke with a live band! If I'd been in better spirits, I would have gotten up there too- next time they play somewhere I'll take the opportunity to feel like a cool rock star for a few minutes.

Oh, my Black Heart Procession review is up now on TMT

I know it's old news and I had meant to post it sooner, but this is just too funny.

I voted this morning . . . on a punch card ballot. Talk about archaic. Now I see what was so confusing in Florida. Oh well, now my anxiety can begin as I check Salon.com every three minutes at work . . . come to Schubas tonight!

Tomorrow night Megan and I will be tabling for WLUW at Schubas for their Election night party. We'll be there from 6 PM until Kerry wins, so if you live in Chicago and need a few cold beers to get through the night, come on over. Details below:

Tuesday, 11/2/2004 - 6:00 PM
18 And Over

A Night Of Apocalyptic Possibilities featuring DVD Screenings of "pARTicipation" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" plus Rock 'n' Roll Karaoke with The Karaoke Dokies

6:00 p.m. - "pARTicipation"
7:30 p.m. - "Fahrenheit 9/11"
10:00 p.m. - Live Band Rock 'n' Roll Karaoke

After you vote on November 2 come to Schubas for the premiere of pARTicipation, the just completed documentary about the Interchange Festival, which took place throughout Chicago in August. The doc. includes performances by Andrew Bird, Bobby Conn, Diverse, The M's, Tortoise and more. After pARTicipation stick around for Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, followed by the Karaoke Dokies. Perform your favorite rock songs, with a live band, in front of the election returns on the big screen.- What better way to celebrate, or commiserate, than over some movies and amateur rock performances? - The whole night is FREE!

Still recovering from Saturday night's craziness Monday morning, sad to say, enough so that I left work early. At least Chicago hasn't established a yearly Halloween riot though.