Thursday, July 30, 2009

Monster-about-to-chomp-babe of the day, special LP edition: ‘Warner Brothers Presents ... Montrose!’ (1975)

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Not featuring Sammy Hagar. Bravo to Warners for getting their name on the front cover three times.

(HT to Jake, with apologies for taking so long.)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

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Front-page headline today in my hometown paper, the Daily Gazette (formerly and still unofficially known as the Schenectady Gazette):

Hemingway look-alike sweats out contest win
Key West victor David Douglas has local roots

Lede:

Crediting his beard and a wool sweater, a Scotia native won the annual Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest in Florida on Sunday.

“You know, we always told him he looked like Kenny Rogers,” said Paula Mountain of her brother, David Douglas. “We used to tell people he was Kenny Rogers and they really believed us. But I guess now he looks like Ernest Hemingway.”

Stories that did not make the front page:

  • City urged to hire 10-15 more police
  • Official: Senators knew mortgage deals were ‘sweet’
  • Gates 911 caller didn’t mention race to police
  • Source: Anesthetic likely killed Jackson
  • Limits on energy trading proposed
  • Real estate market shows signs of revival

A storm at the lake


Pixies ‘Doolittle’ tour update

Europe in October, and then America:

PIXIES ANNOUNCE U.S. "DOOLITTLE" TOUR DATES

LOS ANGELES, CA — July 28, 2009 — Europe may get them first, but the Pixies will tour the USA late this year.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of their classic 1989 album Doolittle, the band — Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering — will kick off the very special US "Doolittle Tour" at the Palladium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 4. The U.S. tour will hit a total of nine cities, including three dates in New York City. On-sale dates will vary city to city, but some tickets go on sale as early as this Saturday, August 1 and can be purchased at the venues' box offices or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ See below for full itinerary and on sale information.

On this tour, the Pixies will perform all of the songs from Doolittle and its related B-sides, "Weird at My School," "Dancing the Manta Ray," and "Bailey's Walk" among them. Doolittle, the band's third album and the first to chart on Billboard's album charts, includes classics such as "Debaser," "Wave of Mutilation," "Here Comes Your Man," "Hey," and "Gouge Away."

"We wanted to do something special for Doolittle's 20th anniversary," said Black Francis, "and we thought his was a good opportunity to play all of the songs from that album, something we don't normally do at a regular gig."

With the first date in the UK still three months away, the band is brainstorming on Doolittle-related surprises that will also comprise the nights' entertainment.

[...]

Dates and on sale info for the Pixies US "Doolittle Tour" are as follows:

NOVEMBER
4 — The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA - on sale TBA
8 — Fox Theater, Oakland, CA - on sale August 16
9 — Fox Theater, Oakland, CA - on sale August 16
12 — Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA - on sale August 1
13 — Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA - on sale August 1
14 — Hult Center, Eugene, OR - on sale August 14
16 — The Fillmore, Denver, CO - on sale September 12
20 — Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL - on sale September 12
21 — Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL - on sale September 12
23 — Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY - on sale August 14
24 — Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY - on sale August 14
25 — Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY - on sale August 14
27 — Wang Center, Boston, MA - on sale September 12
30 — Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. - on sale September 11

Monster-about-to-chomp-babe poster of the day: ‘The Nest’ (1988)

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Thursday, July 23, 2009

They had me at 013750C7A180815D18F5FD8598C879CB

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In re this.

Correspondence file: Isaac Asimov smacks me down

June 1989. I’m 15, wrapping up the ninth grade. My friend Jason and I have some kind of extracurricular project — I don’t even remember what it was exactly, but based on the evidence below, it had something to do with trying to interview big sci-fi writers about how they changed their styles (?). (Manowar would not have been impressed.)

I doubt the project ever went anywhere; most likely we spent most of our time talking about Star Trek and the Velvet Underground, or something. But we got at least one response: the following postcard (sent to Jason’s house, although I apparently made off with it), in which the mighty Isaac Asimov dismisses our punk asses in 52 efficient words.

I wish I could say that we were truly schooled by this, but I think we were just kind of psyched to get the autograph.


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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

“Dear 013750C7A180815D18F5FD8598C879CB...”

Now that’s customer service to warm my hexadecimal heart. Another smart new move from the folks at eMusic.


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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

APB from MGMT’s mgmt: iPod stolen!

Shocking news from New Zealand, via the blog set up for news about Chris Knox after his stroke.

MGMT did a DJ set on Monday as a benefit for Knox, who is reportedly recovering well. (The Tall Dwarfs had apparently been booked as their opening act somewhere — wow.) And some unkind soul stole an iPod from one of those poor boys!

This information is attributed to the group’s manager, whose title as MGMT’s mgmt is second only to “the producers of ‘The Producers.’ ” Either the manager, or the band, or Chris Knox, or the Bacco Room, or Toto restaurant, or the nation of New Zealand is offering the thief amnesty.

From the Knbloxg:

Hi All – MGMT’s manager David has contacted me saying that someone stole one of the band’s iPods on Monday night. I can’t believe how uncool this is! MGMT put on a show to help Chris out at a really terrible time in his life – they took no profits, organisied the show in a rush, & are great guys to boot...

If anyone out there can help locate the iPod we’d be really grateful. If it could be returned to the Bacco Room or Toto restaurant there’ll be no questions asked & we won’t press any charges.
(Link.)