BARK

This blog had gradually submerged deep into an inaccessible area of my hippocampus until about ten minutes ago when I was reminded of the immense power of music. Off went a spark along some neural network from my amygdala to my frontal cortex to my hippocampus, and this little forum's existence came bubbling up. "Sure you hate your writing, but you should sack up."

I won't accord music some metaphysically unique position among the arts as Schopenhauer did, but my 23 years of interaction with the world leaves me with little doubt that music is man's greatest pursuit. What else can affect us at such a visceral level? What else offers such a complete escape, a reprieve from reality? What else has such a capacity to capture and transform us?

People have written of the strong link between our sense of smell and memory, but what of the link between music and memory? A few notes flood my mind with vivid images of spring days smoking hookah on the fishbowl, my first kiss, summer road trips, the hot prospy who I almost - almost - hooked up with freshman year, center court pong series in our red basement, simultaneous smiles from two friends upon listening to the first track of a long-awaited album. Waves of nostalgia pull me into my past when the right tracks starts rolling. Is this a universal phenomenon or am I unique in tying specific music so closely to life events, be they mundane or noteworthy?

Dignan recommended "I Got Shit" when I was down and out over issues with a Barr-bodied companion, and that single track made the emotional load so much lighter. To lose myself, to unleash the anger and the sadness for five minutes, to go crazy eyes and Neanderthal jaw - it felt so fucking good. One part catharsis, one part expression, two parts pure escape.

Half an hour ago I felt numb and depressed. I meditated and it did little to improve my state. But twenty minutes with an album from my high school days that I am too embarassed to mention by name and my insides are brighter, like a fucking star was born in my heart. How does music do that? Because it involves us like nothing else, it transplants us into its own universe and releases us changed men.

Absolutely Nothing's Changed...

Actually, untrue. I'll get back to that. Haven't posted in awhile. I'm discovering what it really means to be a consultant. Sorry. Haven't had time. I know I've disappointed a loyal and vast following.

So, back to things changing. Since I've last been here, Barack won an election. Very big. I also met and saw another half Kenyan celebrity from Chicago perform. Tom Morello. Of Rage. If you need these past few words explained, never read this blog again. I apologize. The herd must be thinned. Back to the show. Morello was good. He is a hell of a guitar player. Really innovative. However, the most impressive moments of the night came when he spoke. Intelligent. Harvard political science grad. One could tell.

So. Time for some complaining. Rolling Stone just released their "100 Greatest Singers" list. I have disagreed with every single one of these lists they put out, but this one is ludicrous. The magazine is raving about the "Blue Ribbon" panel they had vote, but I don't buy it. Rolling Stone has been sucking at the teats of the Beatles and Bob Dylan for too long to think this is true. No offense to either artist - but they should not have made up 3 of the top 10 singers in the rock era. Dylan may be a legend... but he is a terrible singer. I'll skip all the other issues I have to focus on the main one. Fucking Kurt Cobain. No way in hell should this man be the 45th best singer of "all time." I like Nirvana, but come on RS, stop sucking their dicks. I may be biased, but EV is ten times the singer Kurt would could ever hope to be, but he doesn't show up on the list. Goes to show what eating a shotgunsicle can do for a man's legacy...

Fall Back...

Fun weekend. Weird weekend. It seems like the fall is always hard on someone close to me. I'm actually having the best one in recent memory. I'm a wimp (haven't made a move on this girl I should have) but oh well. Things are good. Except in the music world. What the fuck happened to Kings of Leon? They were so good early on. Now they are loser emo/indie boys. Since when has turning to that side been the way to make money and gain fans? Since when has touring with Pearl Jam made bands lame? Things are changing. But, there was an extra hour of sleep today. Can't argue with that.

Anything else? Hmm. Watched Easy Rider. It's pretty bad that a lot of the issues there are still happening. Damn.

Well, that's it.

Check out the goods below:

Halloween

Interesting time. The weather is still in the 70s here every day. Not complaining. Went to an Avalanche game yesterday. It was a terrible game, but got to see a Big Green hockey player. Kind of ironic that the person likely making the most money I went to school with is in no way using his education. The minimum NHL salary is now 450k. Guess math isn't where it's at. Who knew?


Anyways.

Today - PJ. Seattle. 11/6/00. Last show of the tour that included Roskilde (http://www.fivehorizons.com/feature/roskilde.shtml) . Lots of energy and intense emotion. Chili Peppers opened.

Felice Bros.

Just saw the Felice Brothers at the Fox Theater in Boulder. Great show. Lots of energy. Shitty people. But, I guess that is what this town gives ya. It's hard to think people are "hippies" here when the median household income is nearly 100k. Yes, the median. Not mean. The other day a person asked me for change on Pearl to do their laundry. Come on. Laundry?

Ah. At least there is good music.

Come on, guys.

Why are they doing this? Zeppelin without Plant? I'm sure Chris Cornell would step in. He has no issue ruining his own legacy these days, why not contribute to the same with Zeppelin? Want proof on the Cornell thing? Click here and listen:

http://www.chriscornell.com/

"After weeks of rumor and hearsay, Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones has all but confirmed the band will soon hit the road again. Unfortunately, the reunion this time won’t include Robert Plant. As Jones said to a Manson’s Guitar Show in England last weekend, Jimmy Page, Jason Bohnam and himself are all “itching” to hit the road after reuniting in London back in December 2007. However, Plant has been occupied with his tour with Alison Krauss. So while Plant hopes to reunite with his Led Zep bandmates “in a couple of years,” Jones said Led Zeppelin will instead go on tour with another vocalist in place. “As soon as we know who it is, we’ll let you know who it is,” Jones said of the new singer. This may all be just posturing in an attempt to force Plant’s hand to join them on tour, despite Plant’s claims that he won’t tour again “for at least the next two years.” In news that Led Zeppelin fans might enjoy more than the prospect of seeing the band with another singer, Jones also hinted that the band’s legendary reunion concert from London’s O2 Arena might eventually be released on DVD." - Rolling Stone, 10.27.08

New Movie

PEARL JAM: VOTE FOR CHANGE? 2004 TOUR FILM


A film synopsis by directors Rick Charnoski and Coan Nichols

In April of 2004 we were deep in the San Bernadino, CA skating a few of the dozens of pools left empty by the fires that swept through the area a few months earlier. Jeff Ament, bass player for Pearl Jam, had come along to take advantage of this opportunity. Jeff has been a fan of our skate films (Fruit of the Vine, Northwest, Tent City, etc.) for a few years and asked if we would be interested in doing something with Pearl Jam. He mentioned that they were planning a "Vote For Change" tour right before the election and maybe we could come along and make a film.

We worked it out and ended up in Seattle in the beginning of October 2004 in time to shoot some rehearsals and meet the other band members. We didn't really have much of a plan and we hadn't shot much live music before, but we figured we'd just wing it and see what we got. We brought a few Super 8 movie cameras, a video camera and loads of film and just started shooting.

We flew from Seattle to New York, then followed the tour in a van to Reading PA, Toledo OH, Grand Rapids MI, St Louis MO, Asheville NC and ended up in Kissimee FL. Along the way we met with and spoke to hundreds of fans and just ordinary people about voting, democracy and politics in general. We cut the interviews into the live performances from each city, along with a few exclusive interviews with each band member. It is the first rock and roll tour film that WE know of shot entirely in super 8mm film with an amazing sound track recorded live and mixed by Brett Eliason.

We got home and cut the film, but never showed it to anyone. The enthusiasm for the project dwindled due to the outcome of the election. Ironically, we feel like Bush's reelection may have made the film even more important/ valid and we think now is a great time to dig it out and remind people why it is so important to vote. We love this film, it's like nothing we have ever done before and we are stoked to finally have the chance to show it.

From pearljam.com