Broken Stories Of My Life

I don't have anything to say

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:45:31 GMT

...as I'm about to head off to play a concert and attend a party...

...but check out this shocking deleted scene from 'V'.

(oh boy, I can't wait to get home tonight!)

NABLOPOMO COPOUT

What song should I record first?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:37 GMT

The options:

"Feeling"
"New Year's Resolution"
"Enlarged Heart" (full-band version)
"Two Vines Entwined" (a tender acoustic ballad)
"Alone With Everybody" (a song I previewed on FB a while back)

The first three can be found on theutah.org.

I'm the new Berlin Wall baby

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:34:46 GMT

Monday was the 20-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Better Berlin Wall-related movie:

Hedwig & the Angry Inch

or

The Lives Of Others

Discuss!

Thursday! Day... 5?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:32:34 GMT

Let's write a post that everybody can read!

What did I do today?

-In what may be an ill-advised splurge I bought two pre-sale tickets for Live105's Not So Silent Night, which I'll be attending for the first time since 1998. Appearing this year:

Muse (HELL YEAH)

AFI (MEH)

30 Seconds To Mars (I hear their fans get pissed when you call them "Jared Leto's band")

Vampire Weekend (Cool)

Metric (I love that one song so much)

Now what to do about that second ticket...

-Had lunch with me mum in South Beach at Java House where I'll be playing a show on Saturday afternoon (with other singer-songwriters including Mr. Andrew, Ruce, Meredith Edgar and Thomas Trono). It's a pretty cozy room, and the five of us should be able to fill it quite tightly. I wonder if some of the cafe's grizzled regular clientele will be there, and if so, how they'll deal with us touchy-feely indie songwriter types taking over their prized anachronistic waterfront greasy spoon.

-Ran like a fool at the Larkspur Gold's.

-Taught an unusually smooth and efficient class in Marin tonight.

-Stopped by Bazaar Cafe, arriving JUST as they were wrapping up the open-mic. Aw nuts. I would've heard the last 45 seconds of music if I hadn't stopped by Andrew's car, where Charlie (the world's third most awesome dog) was sitting in the backseat.

-Everyone has a show on Friday night!

Hey, there was an election today!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:45:10 GMT

Didn't ya hear?

Well, nothing big to vote on in the Bay Area, although my drive through downtown Fairfax today suggested that a great many middle-aged people are ardent supporters of local candidates and measures.

National Rundown, in case you missed it, or, you know, had a life...

Virginia Governor: Republican Bob McDonnell defeated the very, very lame Democratic candidate Craig Deeds, who ran a lackluster, moderate, non-Obama-embracing campaign, suppressing Dem voter turnout.

New Jersey Governor: In a race that went down to the wire, Democratic governor John Corzine was ousted by the GOP candidate, the amusingly-named Chris Christie. Neither candidate ran a particularly positive campaign, and it didn't help that in the current economic climate, the Democrats were supporting a governor who used to run the maligned Goldman-Sachs.

New York Mayor: Michael Bloomberg, now an independent, was supposed to cruise to a third term at City Hall (you know, where Carrie married Big), but the results were shockingly close, with little-known Democratic candidate Bill Thompson losing by only 4%. How little-known? Thompson's current job is city comptroller. Just a step above dog-catcher. The Dems should've run Brad Lidge, lol.

Maine Proposition 1: Aka the equivalent of California's Proposition 8... passed with 52% of the vote, thereby re-banning same-sex marriage in Maine. The results were nearly identical to those of last year's election here in Cali. A sad development, but the comforting thought is that this will be the final generation for which the forces of homophobia can muster anything near a majority of the voting public. 2012 will be a big year for righting wrongs on the front of marriage equality.

House of Representatives, California District #10: Ellen Tauscher was the Democratic Rep for this district, but left to take a job in the State Department. In her place, Lt Governor John Garamendi won convincingly, holding a somewhat swing-ish district for the Democrats without much of a fight required.

House of Representatives, New York District #23: This race garnered a lot of national attention. Here's the story:

-It was a three way race in a longtime-conservative district, previously represented by Republican Congressman John McHugh, who vacated the seat to become President Obama's Secretary of the Army. Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava faced off against underdog Democratic candidate Bill Owens. But then, along came hardcore conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, who ran on the Conservative Party ticket.

-Hoffman gained attention from the anti-Obama teabagger crowd, notably the two intellectual pillars of the modern Republican Party: Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. Both of them threw their support behind Hoffman, labeling Scozzafava an unacceptably-moderate RINO (republican in name only).

-The teabagger crowd's support for Hoffman drained some support from Scozzafava, to the point that the latter dropped out of the campaign, an event that was certainly a goal of the Hoffman supporters on the far right, who wanted to "purify" the GOP and purge moderates.

-This was a huge scalp to claim for the righties; FoxNews was thrilled, so much that they spent 36 hours after Scozzafava's departure claiming that she'd thrown her support behind Hoffman, when she never did. In fact, she ended up endorsing Owens, the Democratic candidate, going as far as to record a robo-call for him.

-Cut to today's election... and Owens claims a 4% victory over Hoffman. How'd that work out for ya, Glenn/Sarah? The Democrats added a House seat they hadn't owned in many, many years, and Speaker Pelosi can add another vote in favor of the public option to her whip count.

Still, the teeth-gnashing mouth-breathers who make up the GOP's far-right base will be energized; their next mission is to defeat the re-election campaign of Obama-friendly GOP governor Charlie Crist in Florida. They have a far-right candidate, Marco Rubio, running in the primary campaign against the comically-tan Crist. Stay tuned for early next year...

Aaaaaand I'm spent. Goodnight, NaBloPoMo!

NOVEMBARRR

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:49:22 GMT

Happy NaBloPoMo!

This is my toe-touch post to get it in by midnight, just in case I'm not home by then.

I'm at Bagdad Cafe after Carly's show. She was fantastic, if you missed it we'll be doing it all again on the 22nd.

Real post later!

Beck-o-ween!

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:00:53 GMT

Glenn Beck.

I tell you whom to fear and whom to hate.

I give America spelling lessons.

...go to my Facebook profile to see lots more!

Halloween update

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:51:01 GMT

I was set on being Dexter for Halloween, but I wasn't inspired when I went shopping for it this afternoon. Had no idea where to get the right apron for it anyway.

Sooooo I came up with a much better idea tonight.

I'll be in character for it.

And it gives me an excuse to wear one of those shiny ties my ex-girlfriend got me in New York a while back.

Stay tuned... this will scare small children and sane adults alike...

All we hear is, Radio Carly (clap-clap)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:42:28 GMT

Carly's on the radio right now promoting her show. All I can picture is the radio interview from Wayne's World 2, where Harry Shearer (aka "Handsome Dan") keeps going "mhmm?"

Isn't that right, Mr. Scream?

YYYYEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH-HAAAA-HAAAA!!!!!

Uh oh, she just plugged the Alanis Morissette song she's doing, on which AWWW SHE JUST PLUGGED ME!!!

I could die.

Now the radio station's playing Tina Turner's cover of "Whole Lotta Love". Awesome. Best I've heard since Lambert's, hehehe.

Video from Hotel Utah

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:48:58 GMT

For the handful of you who are friends with me but not with secretnthewings,

And of course, I'd appreciate any ratings and comments you'd like to provide. :)

(That's Lea Grant, another very talented singer-songwriter, on piano, and that's Ash being a Wayne Campbell-style fanboy at the end of the video)

"Feeling": now in audio form!

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:14:09 GMT

Here it is, performed Monday night at Hotel Utah.

Speaking of The Utah, I'm very excited to see how the videos of my feature show turned out!

American Idiot

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:23:30 GMT

Hi, I haven't seen it yet, and you all have.

Does anybody want to go again?

Given that I've had the album pretty much memorized since it came out in '04, it's quite relevant to my interests.

"Time For Miracles"

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:20:06 GMT

He got the chorus absolutely right, so it doesn't matter if the verses are formulaic pop.

Or, to put it another way, it's "Serenade" in a higher key. Yeah. I'll think of it like that. (:

tear

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:35:37 GMT

Could that friggin Swell Season album come out already? I'm listening to a full-album stream of it on NPR.org, and I can't leave for Marin until it's done.

"Okay, I'm not what I promised you I would become.
I know, we're not what I promised you we'd be by now."

The amazing thing is, I thought this album would suffer from real-life events (Glen and Marketa's breakup), but instead it makes this music so much more impacting. If anything, it reminds me of Rumours in that way.

If this album was to become another musical, it would take place in a claustrophobic bedroom, with two devastated, frazzled lovers combing and sifting through everything over the course of one sleepless night.

ART

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:55:43 GMT

I love this painting.

It's like the Sgt Pepper cover for Christian fundamentalists.

(Wait until this guy hears about the other stuff Adams, Jefferson and Franklin had to say about Christianity)

Better get crackin' on those Post-It notes

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:54:47 GMT

Just bought my SMHS 10-Year Reunion ticket.

Why did I do that?

Honestly, whom am I gonna see there that I want to see, outside of those I could see on my own time anyway?

All the girls who rejected me for dances?

(Well, no, not all of them... just the ones from '99)

At least it's at the W Hotel, that should be nice.

And I look nothing like I did back then, that should be nice.

***

In un-related news, since a little health ordeal the other night, my appetite has yet to recover.

CBS has better copy editors

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:32:48 GMT

...than Fox does.

ImaletyouLJ

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:32:20 GMT

Dammit Kanye, get out of the way, I'm trying to LJ!

Okay fine, I'll get an iPhone

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:18:16 GMT

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

2 great albums

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:30:44 GMT

Pearl Jam's Backspacer and Muse's The Resistance are both amazing.

The former is so much fun (Eddie is in a great place lyrically, as evidenced by the cheerful jealousy of "Johnny Guitar" and the bold proclamations of "Unthought Known"), while the latter is the successful marriage of Queen and Chopin.

As for the latter... track #1 is a stylistic concession to fans of Black Holes & Revelations, and track #2 is a stylistic concession to fans of Absolution, but from there on it is all bombast, sorrow, strings, piano concertos and epic vision. Is there a better chorus lyric than that which adorns "Undisclosed Desires"*? Is there a need for Maroon 5 ever again after "I Belong To You"?

Love 'em both!

*
I want to reconcile the violence in your heart
I want to recognize your beauty is not just a mask
I want to exorcise the demons from your past
I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart

FOR CASTLETON!!!

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:25:03 GMT

One of my favorite sports columns is Tuesday Morning Quarterback a weekly NFL column written in clever and long-winded fashion by Gregg Easterbrook, who is in all other things a douchebag. (case in point, he spent 8 years telling a tall tale that Bush's environmental policy was "misunderstood")

He mixes in NFL commentary with a lot of other random observations and running items, including "Obscure College Score of the Week", where he highlights a matchup between the football teams of two little-known universities. This week's edition caught my eye:

Obscure College Score of the Week (Item returns.) Castleton State 42, Anna Maria 28. First public-university football game in Vermont in 35 years! Located near Rutland, Castleton State both boasts of having a "Green Campus" and of installing air conditioning in the library. You don't need air conditioning in the mountains of Vermont! College president David Wolk's opening convocation remarks from last week are delightfully loopy.

Tee hee hee.

Off to a meeting (huh?), later.

PLZ come support me at Martuni's tonight!!! (:

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:10:57 GMT

Trauma Flintstone and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy present
THE 2009-2010
CABARET SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN
CONTEST #3
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th, 7pm
(Labor Day Weekend)

On Sunday, September 6th at 7pm, we continue our monthly cabaret contests at Martuni's. Yes, we bring you the SECOND A NNUAL CABARET SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN -- the 2009-2010 series. We continue our search for the best and brightest new singers in the local cabaret scene.

September's contest is for BEST ORIGINAL MATERIAL.

With two guest judges plus a huge decision determined by audience vote, each singer will present two songs. And some talented devil will take home the top prize.

Join us! Help foster the talent of tomorrow and hear some great new voices.
SING US A SONG, YOU'RE THE PIANO MAN ...

I WRITE THE SONGS THAT MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD SING ...

Folks who write their own songs. Singer/songwriters. Folks who sing the original music of the unpublished talents of tomorrow. That's what we're seeking.
And two notes of advice here:

- Contestants should prepare a minimum of two songs. They should bring along a third song, in the event of a tie or run-off.

- There is no accompanist provided for this particular contest. We expect our singer/songwriters to accompany themselves (or bring along their accompanist). Guitarists, pianists and clicktrack ("karaoke"style) are all welcome.

If you are at all able to come support me for this, please please come! I will love you forever! If I have already pledged to love you forever, I will do so for two! Two forevers! Ah ah ah!

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:49:21 GMT

Q: What happened when the dyslexic Shakira didn't say hello to you?

...

A: Lips don't "hi"

Outside Lands: Day 3

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:39:27 GMT

Atmosphere: B Saw about 2 minutes of rapping to reasonably sophisticated beats. No problem I suppose, I was just on my way to see...

The Avett Brothers: A- What great energy this 4-piece from North Carolina has. Sometimes bluegrassy, sometimes indie rock, all fun and harmony-filled.

Modest Mouse: C- I've seen them three times now, and they refuse to connect with the audience, particularly Isaac. The opening one-two-punch of "Gravity Rides Everything" and "The View" was solid, though. I was amused at how disappointed the youngsters around me were that the band didn't play "Float On". Frankly, Modest Mouse will always work better as a live act on a smaller stage.

Lucinda Williams: B+ Got to hear the last 15 minutes of her set after I raced over from the main stage. When you hear one of her songs, you swear that it's been around forever. Her music is that timeless. Really glad I got to her "Joy".

Brett Dennen: B+ This guy... must be... the happiest man on Earth. He's like a hippie version of Ned Flanders. Except that he looks like Ron Weasley's lesbian aunt.

Band Of Horses: A- Solid set. But let's face it. A few songs aside, I was only there to hear "Funeral" and have my eyes well up while listening to it. I don't care how many Ford commercials it's featured in, that song makes me cry.

Tenacious D: B+ The myth, the legend, THE D. 90 minutes of Jack Black and Kyle Gass being wacky boys, can't go wrong there. Especially when they challenge the Devil to a musical duel, and when they play rousing renditions of songs like "Tribute", "Wonderboy", "Kielbasa", "Fuck Her Gently" and a medley of songs from The Who's Tommy in the encore. "I want to fuck all of you," said Black. "But I know I can't, because that's impossible. But I will try."

Pics -- and lots of them -- up soon. Goodnight!

Outside Lands: Day 2

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:38:42 GMT

Didn't stay very long today; you don't know how much pain my feet were in after 12 miles of walking on Friday. Okay, so some people run marathons and all that, but hey!

Let's see...

Jason Mraz: Blah. Was too far away, and I find his music lightweight anyway.

TV on the Radio: Okay, okay, I get the hype, they're really good.

Conor Oberst: Finally got to see him live, and it was nothing short of a revelation. Sooooo good.

Dave Matthews Band: Amazingly, I left. Wanted to see some friends play a show at Bazaar, and I'd seen DMB like 8-10 times already, and I had little chance of getting close to the front, so that was that. Apparently I missed a "All Along the Watchtower"/"Stairway To Heaven" medley during the encore. (So I guess "Watchtower" as among their final five songs! HA!)