Friday, December 31, 2004
This whole Wes Anderson shit has gotten under my skin
Just came back from The Life Aquatic and all I have to say is "Wow!" First, screw Ebert and Roeper for not liking it. It's better than 95% of the crap released all year. Plus it's got so much heart. When was the last time you saw a movie with heart? This whole "father and son" theme has been eminent throughout Wes Anderson's works. But every time he reinforces it with a different punch. This time its quirkiness comes from Bill Murray's brilliant body language and his inactions. What makes this movie effective is that it goes deep into your emotions. Makes me want to listen to Cat Stevens.
Going to a Wes Anderson movie is sort of like a ritual now, kinda like going to a Woody Allen, Whit Stillman or Alexander Payne movie. I haven't seen Bottle Rocket, but of all three films I have seen by Anderson, it's three out of three. Not a bad track record. Critics can be a little delusional or picky at times, which I believe is the case here. But who cares? He has made a film for himself.
So come to Willie and Reed's tomorrow night. I miss my friends.
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Thursday, December 30, 2004
NYE party
I'm cordially inviting my blog readers to attend the following event:
Clarence Turner Blues Band featuring yours truly
NYE Party at Willie & Reed’s
Date: Dec 31, 2004
Time: 9 pm
Address: 4901-A Fairmount Ave, Bethesda MD
Reservation: 301-951-1100
Cover: $20
Join us for free champagne, hors d’oeuvres and countdown!!
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Clarence Turner Blues Band featuring yours truly
NYE Party at Willie & Reed’s
Date: Dec 31, 2004
Time: 9 pm
Address: 4901-A Fairmount Ave, Bethesda MD
Reservation: 301-951-1100
Cover: $20
Join us for free champagne, hors d’oeuvres and countdown!!
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Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Afternoon delight
70's music. Nostalgic. The freakin' tsunami. Help. I'm back in business, but what? The world is suffering. Christmas vacation was very, very good and relaxing. Lots of prime rib, red wine, and Asian Americans. I was induced by sentimental Christmas songs and washed up by family love. Passed by the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood with palm signatures. Had a semi-successful gig with lowlight at the Pig.
It all seems so distant, yet it was just yesterday when I was stuck in the plane for 2 hours because of fear of potential thunderstorm (things get out of hand when it's raining in LA) and lack of fuel. So instead of trying to speed-reading through Angels & Demons, I started watching I, Robot and Anchorman on the flight. After all, it was free and the headphones were readily available. Anchorman had the potential to be a good retro flick with 70's hair and mustaches. Did anyone mention Will Ferrell resembles too much of Chevy Chase and the hype over Will is all because we have missed Chevy? Well, despite all the flaws and unfunny parts in the movie, it cracked me up when Will and the gang start singing Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight." What a scene!
Other highlights included my cousin's wedding in Vegas, the van almost running out of fuel on its way there, and many other distorted memories. Meet the Fockers were entertaining enough to keep me laughing throughout the movie. Napoleon Dynamite was so funny I laughed so loud it wasn't even funny. It was nice to catch up with all the movies I missed. Now I want to see Steve Zissou. Some people really hate it; some are inspired. I gotta judge it for myself.
No mistletoes, no yuletide by the fireside, no snow, just good ole' Christmas tunes like Nat King Cole's and Dean Martin's to keep me company and warm. The food was amazing; DC and Maryland ought to be ashamed. But who am I to say anything? I miss driving my Camry. Everything seems so new all of a sudden. I guess Santa heard me.
Happy new year, everybody. I'm back with a vengeance.
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It all seems so distant, yet it was just yesterday when I was stuck in the plane for 2 hours because of fear of potential thunderstorm (things get out of hand when it's raining in LA) and lack of fuel. So instead of trying to speed-reading through Angels & Demons, I started watching I, Robot and Anchorman on the flight. After all, it was free and the headphones were readily available. Anchorman had the potential to be a good retro flick with 70's hair and mustaches. Did anyone mention Will Ferrell resembles too much of Chevy Chase and the hype over Will is all because we have missed Chevy? Well, despite all the flaws and unfunny parts in the movie, it cracked me up when Will and the gang start singing Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight." What a scene!
Other highlights included my cousin's wedding in Vegas, the van almost running out of fuel on its way there, and many other distorted memories. Meet the Fockers were entertaining enough to keep me laughing throughout the movie. Napoleon Dynamite was so funny I laughed so loud it wasn't even funny. It was nice to catch up with all the movies I missed. Now I want to see Steve Zissou. Some people really hate it; some are inspired. I gotta judge it for myself.
No mistletoes, no yuletide by the fireside, no snow, just good ole' Christmas tunes like Nat King Cole's and Dean Martin's to keep me company and warm. The food was amazing; DC and Maryland ought to be ashamed. But who am I to say anything? I miss driving my Camry. Everything seems so new all of a sudden. I guess Santa heard me.
Happy new year, everybody. I'm back with a vengeance.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
New quote from Washington Post
We made the "Editor's Pick" of Washington Post's mp3 site. This is what the Post had to say about the Clarence Turner Blues Band: "Wailing harmonicas and soulful swings show one thing's for certain: This band knows the blues."
BBS take note!
P.S. Great news for DC teenage boys. Jenna Bush's coming to town.
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BBS take note!
P.S. Great news for DC teenage boys. Jenna Bush's coming to town.
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What a delight...
..to hear one of my favorite piano players playing one of my favorite songs. Bill's rendition of "Christmas Time is Here" is just awesome. Thanks Bill for making my day.
I'm off to California for a few days. I'll be back in time for the New Year's. Behave, my peeps, behave. Have a holly, jolly Charlie Brown X''mas.
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I'm off to California for a few days. I'll be back in time for the New Year's. Behave, my peeps, behave. Have a holly, jolly Charlie Brown X''mas.
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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Is it going to pour tonight?
So Gavin's coming back. He says he wants to get back into some "real playing." Right on, bro. In terms of that, he sent the e-mail to some real people like Ron Blake, Lenny Robinson, Marshall Keys, Talib Kibwe (TK Blue), and surprisingly, myself. So I guess I'm amongst the real cats now. Thanks Gavin for treating me like a real person.
Speaking of real, Jeff turned this vicious blues song into an mp3 and call it a "friggin' phenomenal session." Between hate mail and unsolicited lingerie advertising, I get encouragement too. In addition, Washington Post's mp3 site just added Clarence's and my profile. Double whammy baby!!
The 3 hour-drive each way to Camden, NJ was so not worth it because they didn't even give me a certificate, have my name (or anybody's) called, and my right hand raised.
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Speaking of real, Jeff turned this vicious blues song into an mp3 and call it a "friggin' phenomenal session." Between hate mail and unsolicited lingerie advertising, I get encouragement too. In addition, Washington Post's mp3 site just added Clarence's and my profile. Double whammy baby!!
The 3 hour-drive each way to Camden, NJ was so not worth it because they didn't even give me a certificate, have my name (or anybody's) called, and my right hand raised.
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Wednesday, December 08, 2004
What a blockhead!
Yesterday I had a daydream. Santa asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I said without hesitation, "Natalie Portman."
Howard Stern interviewed this retarded guy this morning. He asked the guy to describe his girlfriend. "Does she have moustaches?" "Yes, under her arm and on her breasts." Robin and Arty were dumbfounded. Howard was smart enough to figure out he thought tattooes were moustaches. Laughed my ass off. It's stuff like this that makes me love Howard.
Saw the Charlie Brown Christmas Special last night. What a treat! I never saw the second installment, but it was fantastic. The gags are a little bit fragmented and not tied together, but some moments were just brilliant. For example, this ugly next-door neighbor goes to Charlie Brown's house to demand his X'mas tree back, he says, "Hey, do you have a sister who has yellow hair or something?" Yes, he's referring to Sally. And what adults say don't mean shit! Gotta love that.
I found this interesting article in which the author compares Charles Schulz to Sartre. This is fascinating stuff. The author even puts Schulz in the same league as Vonnegut and Heller. He concludes the article by saying, "If any character has shown us the difficulties in existence, it is Charlie Brown."
That said, Christmastime is here, folks.
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Howard Stern interviewed this retarded guy this morning. He asked the guy to describe his girlfriend. "Does she have moustaches?" "Yes, under her arm and on her breasts." Robin and Arty were dumbfounded. Howard was smart enough to figure out he thought tattooes were moustaches. Laughed my ass off. It's stuff like this that makes me love Howard.
Saw the Charlie Brown Christmas Special last night. What a treat! I never saw the second installment, but it was fantastic. The gags are a little bit fragmented and not tied together, but some moments were just brilliant. For example, this ugly next-door neighbor goes to Charlie Brown's house to demand his X'mas tree back, he says, "Hey, do you have a sister who has yellow hair or something?" Yes, he's referring to Sally. And what adults say don't mean shit! Gotta love that.
I found this interesting article in which the author compares Charles Schulz to Sartre. This is fascinating stuff. The author even puts Schulz in the same league as Vonnegut and Heller. He concludes the article by saying, "If any character has shown us the difficulties in existence, it is Charlie Brown."
That said, Christmastime is here, folks.
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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Between emotional roller coaster and roller coaster, I prefer the real thing...
So the Grammy nominations came out today, I'm glad they included Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone, and Eric Clapton's tribute to Robert Johnson CD. I don't think Grammy's the best indication of good music out there, but they always remember to nominate people who have been around forever like Steely Dan, James Taylor, B.B. King, etc. I can do without the Usher, Beyonce stuff, but it's something. Let's hope Ray Charles wins big this year.
Despite that we lost the competition, there were some nice photos. Without further ado, here they are.
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Despite that we lost the competition, there were some nice photos. Without further ado, here they are.
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Friday, December 03, 2004
I need to...
...jump into a hot tub and forget about my troubles and my past and mean people who read my website and leave nasty comments and Talipups who have no swimming pool etiquette or table manners or those who say to Pam Bricker, "You've done your homework."
Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby" is such an ingenious song that most people can relate to it. "I've haven't had a drink this morning/But I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree."
Go away.
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Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby" is such an ingenious song that most people can relate to it. "I've haven't had a drink this morning/But I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree."
Go away.
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