When Life Gives You Crappy Pics…
Photoshop and call them “art”…
(see full show review tomorrow at Music Savvy Mom.)
Silversun Pickups drummer Chris Guanlao at The NorVa. 10/11/2009
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"You give me that funny feeling in my tummy…"
So, today in the car, on a mundane trip home from the grocery store, my three year old pipes up from his carseat in the back:
“MAMA. May I have the Rollercoaster song, PWEEEEAASSEEE?!?”
Yes…he meant RHCP: Love Rollercoaster. (now playing over there —> )
And yes, he can sing along with the chorus, the “ooh, ooh, ooh, oooh oooohs” AND the “one, two, one two three” parts.
And yes, he can sing along with the chorus, the “ooh, ooh, ooh, oooh oooohs” AND the “one, two, one two three” parts.
*sigh*
As if that wasn’t enough to plaster a stupid grin on my face, next he asked for:
“The Woo Hoo song, Mama…the Woo Hoo song!”
Oh, yes. He meant Blur: Song 2
Polite kid that he is, he LOVES the “pleased to meet you” part, and sings along with gusto.
Polite kid that he is, he LOVES the “pleased to meet you” part, and sings along with gusto.
To complete my afternoon o’ happiness, he finished his set request with:
“Mer’yun Toast Burning, Mama! C’mon!”
Seriously. My son LOVES Beat Soup: Miriam, You Toast is Burning .
Asks for it over and over and over.
At three, he’s into obscure ska. I friggin’ LOVE it!
At three, he’s into obscure ska. I friggin’ LOVE it!
(You’ll need to stop the music player to the right to start this youtube. Not the greatest – the album version is much better, but it’s all I could find on the web.)
Am I a proud Mama? Ohhhh, yes.
He may not have any idea what the “Wheels on the Bus” do when he gets to Pre-School, but I don’t consider that any great loss…heh.
Posted June 26th, 2009. 1 comment
Guest Shuffle featuring my Midwestern Neighbor!
No, I don’t live in the Midwest.
But, if I did, our guest shuffler, dm would HAVE to be my neighbor. Wanna know why?
(a.) She always has beer, and usually vodka, and would not above putting some in a cup measure if I desperately banged on her back door unannounced and said “Can I borrow…?”
(b.) She’s an absolute computer WHIZ. Seriously – those of us in the know refer to her as “The Media Goddess” – she can do things with music and video files that boggle the mind. Best of all? She very patiently explains how. Score!
(c.) She has the kind of personality that makes you internally scream “Winner, winner! Chicken Dinner!” when you remember she’s your friend. (Not because she’s as cheap as a two dollar bet…oh, nevermind – that should be self explanatory!)
(d.) She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, and damn good taste. That a combination made of pan seared Awesome topped with a Kick Ass & Rock On chutney, served over a bed of Aural Ecstasy…is what you are about to experience firsthand.
Remember way back HERE, when I said the first commenter to list five shuffle songs would get to do a Guest Shuffle for me? (Second prize was a set of steak knives…) Well, I had totally forgotten that dm won until the other day when I was bemoaning the fact that I’m still in a slump. So, I shot an email to my Neighbor, and she complied with the following list, God love ‘er!
Thanks, sistah. I’ll be right over with that cup of sugar. Heh. 
Enjoy:
The Faint: The Geeks Were Right
Shinedown: What a Shame
Metallica: Master of Puppets
Kanye West: I Wonder
Pete Yorn: Strange Condition
The Wreckers: Stand Still, Look Pretty
Radney Foster: Just Call Me Lonesome
Iron & Wine: Ressurection Fern
Kate Voegele: I Get It
Now, be sure to comment…even if it’s just to tell me you like her shuffle better than mine. It’s okay – I’m tough, I can take it…
Posted June 14th, 2009. 1 comment
I’m in a slump. Rally caps, anyone?
Seriously.
I mean…how sad is it that on a blog called VACUITY, I can’t find anything to say? It’s not like I’ve set any lofty literary goals, here. Sheese.
Well, I’ve at least gotten off my prodigious derrier long enough start a new playlist.
(It’s over there ——->>>>>>>>>>)
I did a Shuffle of the songs I’ve played recently. So…there you go. Perhaps one of you wise, wise readers can tell me if there’s some connection between the music I’ve been listening to and my utter lack of motivation?
That’d be nice.
And way cheaper than therapy.
Thanks in advance!
psst. The old player is “Archived” way at the bottom of the page. Down there vvvvvvv.
PS: I bet this is all Helen Hunt’s fault. Bitch.
Posted May 3rd, 2009. 1 comment
Miss me?
Yeah, didn’t think so.
In case you’re wondering NOW where I’ve been…(y’know, now that I’ve brought it up, and now that you feel guilty for not thinking about me at all for a week)…I’m feeding a new addiction.
Posted April 22nd, 2009. Add a comment
Duelling Shuffles
So, as “Music Managers” go, I have two. iTunes for my iPod and Rhapsody for my cell phone.
I’ve discovered that the “Random Shuffles” on them are decidedly not random. These things are posessed. Now, I have the SAME music on BOTH of them – the entire library is identical. Should be random draws, right?
Well, you tell me. Here’s what came up not five minutes ago:
Rhapsody:
Black Crowes – Remedy
Squeeze – Another Nail in My Heart
The Cure – Friday I’m in Love
The Smiths – How Soon is Now
Go On, Say It – Blind Pilot
iTunes:
Lyle Lovett – That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas)
Neko Case – Jettison
Billy Bragg & Wilco – Caliornia Stars
Pat Green – Wave on Wave
Shane Nicholson – You and Your Enemy
See? I’m not nuts – see??? Today Rhapsody wants me to be all rock/punk/new wave. iTunes wants me to be altCountry.
Is it any WONDER I can’t get shit done? Even my music players are conspiring against me!
(By the way…which do you think won this round?)
Posted April 11th, 2009. 1 comment
I bet he wouldn’t make me go to Confession…
… if I skipped Mass today
and just listened to the song that’s playing right now instead.
It’s Church by Lyle Lovett and His Large Band.
Yes, I said large.
Because it’s not big – it’s large.
Y’know how I love Townes Van Zandt and Billy Bragg?
(you would if you’ve been paying attention.)
Well, we can add Lyle Pearce Lovett to that list.
Yes, I love him, and I think he’s hot,
and I think Julia Roberts was an idiot to divorce him,
and (if I were not married to my wonderful husband)
I would most definitely NOT kick him out of bed for eating Animal Crackers.
He’s got that smooth as butter but hard as gravel voice that gives me the auditory swimmies. He’s witty, intelligent, sensitive and deep without taking himself seriously.
He makes everything seem natural and effortless.
His lyrics paint beautiful pictures and stories.
He’s a good ol’ Texas Boy.
He’s awesome in bed.
(At least in my head he is – I haven’t actually met him, so I can’t give you that assessment unequivocally…yet.)
Keep listening…see if you don’t agree with me.
Posted April 5th, 2009. 1 comment
Free Music Alert!
NPR has a link for a free download of ten songs by artists from the South by Southwest Music Festival. (Thanks for the heads up, faith. You’re awesome.)
(And if you don’t know about SxSW…quickly but carefully extricate yourself from beneath the rock under which you obviously live and go HERE. Sheese.)
I’m listening right now, and have fallen IN LOVE with Blitzen Trapper. ‘Furr’ = love, y’all…*sigh*…LOVE this song!
Go. Get yours. Then come back and tell me which one YOU love…
Posted March 19th, 2009. 1 comment
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
…I have no idea what that means, but one of my Irish buds said it to me this morning.
Greg, I hope to cheeses we didn’t just verbally flip the bird to everyone on St. Patrick’s Day.
I’m making Green Shamrock Pancakes right now, but I’ll be back later.
You’re thrilled, I know.
In the meantime, go read THIS post if you haven’t already.
And, enjoy the music.
Go, Irish!
Posted March 17th, 2009. 1 comment
Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. Hot Damn.
I’ll go back to the Irish Music on Tuesday…I’m all bass-ackwards, as usual.
THIS weekend is all about JTNL, baby – Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights.
They’re playing in Roanoke, and I’ll be there.
One of my good buddies is a bigwig on their Street Team, (that’s you, Ass Hockey 
) and she’ll be there, too. Raucous fun shall be had. Oh, yes it shall.
) and she’ll be there, too. Raucous fun shall be had. Oh, yes it shall.(Have I mentioned how awesome my hubs is? Way. Way, way awesome. How many dudes would make it a family mini-vaca so their wacky wife go see a band? Notsomany. Mine is aces, I tell you – aces.)
So, I’ve told you about JTNL before, but I know you weren’t paying attention. That’s okay – you will, especially if you’re listening right now.
Hailing from Texas (like most great things – my husband, for example), this gang plays their bluesy rock from the heart, the soul, the gut. No half assed effort here – you feel the music. They rock, they’ve just been signed to Atlantic and are preparing a major label release. They’re touring “intimate venues” now, so you’d best get your ass to a show soon, while you can still enjoy them from a barstool with a beer and not in an arena jam packed with screaming fans.
Cause that’s coming.
I’m just sayin’…
Now, back to me. What to wear to this clambake? Well, I’ve decided on a nice, comfortable ensemble befitting a Married Mom of 41 who isn’t there for man-catching, and is likely old enough to have birthed the entire band AND a large portion of the crowd.
Jeans and this on a t-shirt:
(Gotta keep the kids on their toes, after all.)
Posted March 13th, 2009. 3 comments
Sláinte Mhaith
So, I’m married to an Irishman. How Irish, you ask? Well, our last name starts with a vowel, includes an apostrophe and the pronounciation is mangled almost daily. If you sat my Father in Law in a pub in County Clare, you’d take him for a local. Matter of fact, that’s where “his people” are from. (We know this because they’ve traced it back…WAYYYYY back.)
We have actual Irish friends, too – some living in Dublin and one recently moved from there to Canada. They’ve informed me that this “St. Paddy’s Day” celebration we have here is “absolute bollocks”, “total shite”, and bordering on racist.
(Granted – I had asked Greg to say “They’re always after me Lucky Charms!” just before he said this, so perhaps I was a wee bit responsible for that particular rant…ahem…)
Well that may be…but it’s a damn good excuse to drink and have fun, which is precisely what I plan to do at a St. Paddy’s Day Parade this Saturday. Since we gave our son a first name that’s just as Irish as his last name, I sort of feel responsible to immerse him in all the fun that his heritage can offer.
And, really – why the hell not?
(I plan to do the same for my Italian side – seriously, how much fun is he going to have stomping grapes? But, I digress.)
I randomly grabbed some Irish tunes in honor of the occasion.
**Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers are legend.
**The Chieftain’s Rocky Road to Dublin is considered by my hubs to be the consummate Irish song.
**The Pogues & Shane McGowan can do very little wrong in my book.
**The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan’s voice gives me chills, and this live, acoustic version of Zombie? Love.
**Sinead O’Connor is a weird wench, no question…and, as a Catholic, I’m probably supposed to hate her. Meh. She kills it on this song.
**Dropkick Murphys are a little much, but in small doses I dig them.
**The Saw Doctors…dude, I love the Saw Doctors. Thanks again, Greg!
**Flogging Molly is awesome – they’re the bedrock of my housecleaning music. I dare you not to move to these.
There’s lots more, but this is a good start to getting into the mood for the holiday. So, hoist a pint, thank the good Saint for taking care of those devilish snakes and dance a few jigs. It’s good for the soul.
Erin Go Braugh, and God Bless the Irish! (…and the “Irish-by-Marriage”…)
Posted March 12th, 2009. 2 comments
Happy Birthday Kathleen – Here’s your Second Shuffle!
So, it’s my buddy Kathleen’s Birthday. (You remember Kathleen – from over at Brutalism – sheese, people, keep up will you?)
Well, in honor of this day and its utter auspiciousness (because really – how often does someone turn 104?) I present to you, Kathleen…and anyone else who happens to stumble in to celebrate with us…the long-promised
Kathleen Shuffle Part Deux – Songs by Kathleens who Kick Ass!
I found two.
I’m not sure I can pinpoint exactly what I love about this one. But, evidently the muchmoreeloquent writers at Rolling Stone and the New York Times can do it for me…from Wiki, re her 2003 release, Failer:
‘Rolling Stone declared her one of year’s most promising new acts and Blender said that Failer’s songs possessed “an indefinable pull that makes you love the characters they describe, no matter how fucked up they are.” The New York Times praised Edwards as a writer whose songs can “pare situations down to a few dozen words while they push country-rock towards its primal impulses of thump and twang.” ‘
So, there you go. Plus, “Summerlong” was featured on the “Elizabethtown” soundtrack…so evidently Kevin Smith agrees with me. And we all know he’s brilliant, so by default…y’know…so am I.
Which means you should love her, too.
Now, you’ve probably seen this one around. She’s also an actress – according to Wiki:
Wilhoite has starred in films such as: Private School (1983), Dream Demon (1987), Road House (1989), Lorenzo’s Oil (1992), Color of Night, Fire in the Sky (1993), (1994), The Edge (1997), Drowning Mona (2000) and Pay It Forward (2000). She has guest starred in dozens of television series including Cop Rock, Twin Peaks, Mad About You, Ally McBeal, Family Guy, Quantum Leap, Boomtown, Will & Grace, Charmed, 24, The 4400 and Boston Legal; and has had recurring roles on L.A. Law as Benny Stulwicz’s wife, Rosalie Hendrickson Stulwicz, ER as Susan Lewis‘ sister, Chloe Lewis and Gilmore Girls as Liz Danes, sister of Luke Danes and mother of Jess Mariano.
Yeah, whatever. I remember her, she’s a good actress, but I won’t be buying any DVDs of her TV or film roles…I WILL be buying any and all CDs this chick puts out.
Well, and maybe this episode from “Throb”, where she sings “Frank Mills” from Hair…with George Clooney in a really ugly suit.
And her eyes are two different colors – how awesome is that?
Have a drink and make a Happy Birthday toast to the other Kathleen. Then take a listen and see what you think.
(And, y’know…tell me. Or go comment and tell her…either way.)
Posted January 27th, 2009. 1 comment
Soundtrack Shuffle in Pictures
…or, “how I’m avoiding housework this afternoon”.
1.) Spanish Guitar: Los Lobos w/ Antonio Banderas
Desperado Soundtrack
Yeah – when he smacked that guy with the guitar and then picked the hairs off?
Classic.
2.) Mahalia Jackson: Walk in Jerusalem
Divine Sisters of the Ya Ya Sisterhood Soundtrack
(Only playlist.com didn’t have it, so you get this one -which I love almost equally.)
Mahalia Jackson: Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
3.) The English Beat: Mirror in the Bathroom
Grosse Point Blank Soundtrack
Know what I don’t like about this movie, or this soundtrack?
Not a damn thing.
4.) Nick Lowe: The Beast in Me
Sopranos Soundtrack
Back in the beginning…when EVERYONE watched it.
5.) Meow Mix Commercial
(Call it a “palate cleanser”, because…)
6.) Johnny Cash: The Beast in Me
(Because I like this version way better.)
7.) Matt Damon: My Funny Valentine
The Talented Mr. Ripley Soundtrack
Was this a creepy damn movie or what? Creepy, but really good. It was a toss up between
this or “Tu vo fa l’Americano”. I flipped a coin.
8.) Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Everyday I Write the Book
The Wedding Singer Soundtrack
“BECAUSE I HAVE THE MICROPHONE, SO YOU WILL LISTEN TO EVERY DAMN WORD I HAVE TO SAY!!!”
Bwahahahahahaha.
.
9.) Oompa Loompas: Oompa Loompa Song
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Soundtrack
These are just good words to live by.
Posted January 25th, 2009. 1 comment
The Kick Ass Kathleen Shuffle Part 1: Songs About Kathleens
I’ve mentioned my buddy Kathleen, haven’t I?
Yeah, I did, but I didn’t tell you her name. Remember the High School buddy who found me on Facebook and tipped me off to Dori’s awesome blog?
(If you don’t remember that, then you obviously skipped the Gogol Bordello post. If you skipped the Gogol Bordello post, then I am very, very dissappointed in you.)
So, moving on. Kathleen ALSO has a blog which is funny, snarky and at times just ten kinds of wrong – I love it. (You should go there, but later; I’m not done yet.) On Facebook yesterday, she made a typically snarky Kathleen-ish comment about my lack of posts here recently. Now, being EQUALLY snarky, I decided immediately that the next post would be all about HER.
…don’t you love it when you start out being a smart ass and it ends up working in your favor?
That’s what happened here. In seaching for “Kathleen” songs to make fun of, I found some GREAT stuff! Like for instance today’s choices. I don’t know shit about half of them and have only listened to those once or twice, but I like what I’m hearing.
Guitar Bomb: Kathleen
How catchy is this beat? And, the opening line with a junkie husband reference? Nice. I hope the lead singer is hot, because he is in my head, and I’d hate to ruin my mental picture. I’m going to have to Google them and find out, though, because I want to hear more Guitar Bomb. Oh, please Ceiling Cat, please let him be hot…
Rideout and Shaw: Kathleen
Oh, they had me from the opening wail of that plaintive harmonica. Never heard of them, either, but they definitely fit that Alt Country genre of which I am so enamored. Dude, this sounds like Chris Isaak should be singing, doesn’t it? I’m going to iTunes to get this one as soon as I post. I have dishes to wash and floors to sweep – this is good cleaning music. Picturing Chris Isaak will help, too.
Townes Van Zandt: Kathleen
Yeah, if you don’t know by now how much I love Townes Van Zandt…then perhaps I should say it again. I love Townes Van Zandt, and everything he ever did. Sure, this is sad – most of what he did was sad…except for the stuff that was depressing and hopeless. But that’s exactly what grabs me and won’t let go. *sigh* I’d be jealous about him doing a song about Kathleen if he hadn’t also done a song about Maria. (that’d be me…)
Defiance, Ohio: Hey Kathleen, Are You Hungry?
Yeah, this made it in purely on the title. I. Love. It. (The song is okay…any longer and it might be grating, but I think it may be growing on me…)
W. VanBrunt: I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
Like I would leave this one out of a Kathleen shuffle? Pffffftt!
Now, stay tuned for The Kick Ass Kathleen Shuffle Part 2 later today or tomorrow, where I introduce you to the artists named Kathleen that I’ve just found and absolutely, positively am hooked on – line and sinker. Megan, if you’re reading this; this artist is now to me as Neko Case is to you. Seriously.
But, I have to listen more and research some, plus there’s that housework to do. Yeah, Hubs has taken the Bug to BJ’s Wholesale to get diapers, Cheerios and other sundries that you must buy in bulk when you have a toddler so that I could have an empty house in which to clean in peace…and here I sit…
I am such a slacker. Man, Kathleen’s snarky comment was right on the money…
Posted January 10th, 2009. Add a comment
What color are you wearing?
That was rhetorical. I don’t really care what color you’re wearing now. But, I betcha soon, some of you will start wearing purple, wearing purple.
I love this interwebby thing. Seriously (with vowels even), I have discovered more new music online this year than ever before. And, in the most interesting, Kevin Bacon-y ways! For instance – a few months ago, my buddy Jillster introduced me to Gogol Bordello via the song that greeted you at the beginning of this post - Start Wearing Purple. I loved it, and them, so I got more.
Now, believe it or not, there are actually SOME people who don’t ENJOY Gypsy Punk. I KNOW, right?!?!? I was just as shocked as you are! So, though I’ve played it for a few friends, I haven’t gotten the kind of reaction that I expected. Naturally, I was undaunted. Being Catholic, I said a prayer for them to St. Jude, the Patron Saint of Hopeless Cases and Lost Causes and went bopping on my merry way.
Fast forward to…well, recently. On Facebook, I get a Friend Request from some woman whose pic is WAY too small for me to see, (she’s since changed it) and whose name is COMPLETELY unfamiliar. Well, being the Devil-May-Care type, and knowing how many brain cells I killed in college which may or may not have been integral parts of my memory…I “accepted” her. Turns out I DID know her (new last name), haven’t seen her in ages, and that she’s actually considerably more humorous than I remember! (See here.)
So, she leaves me a comment about a friend of hers who has a blog that I should check out. I did, and I loved it. Aural Pleasures is aptly named – Dori comes up with some great music! (I’m scoring a “Best of 2008 Mix CD”…she may have a few left that she’s giving out. Vampire Weekend, people. Bon Iver. Radiohead. Go check!)
Where was I…? Oh, yeah, so tonight, Big O is watching football and I’ve baked three batches of Biscotti (Almond, Anise and Cinnamon.) While the cookies were in the oven, I’ve been surfing, and decided to randomly click back on some of Dori’s older posts…when I stumbled on THIS.
Verily, Apollo and his muses frolic in mysterious ways. (Assuming I believed in Hellenic Paganism or Mythology. But I don’t – I’ve just told you I’m Catholic – were you not paying attention…?)
I’ve given you a Gogol Bordello threefer to enjoy while you read Dori’s review of their last New Year’s Eve Concert. If, after ALL THIS, you STILL don’t love these guys…well, just don’t tell me. I don’t want to be disappointed in you.
*sigh*