Head Like a Hmmmmm???

One of my top 3 favorite bands, A.F.I., has covered Tnert's staple "Head Like A Hole".

I don't know what to say. Parts of it are ALRIGHT...some parts are mad gay.

I'd like to hear others opinions. Let's discuss.

www.afireinside.net

(you may have to pick Light or Dark...pick either, wait for the page to load, and it's listed right there under Latest News.

Vacation Diary Day 10

This was the best day so far. Woke up. Skip work out while Irene was at a business thing. Watch more of THE OFFICE (Matt is right...genius). Listen to Ass Cobra. MORE Sith pix leaked (controversy amongst the fan geeks goes big time). Share with Matt. Nice Day out. Wes Anderson is today's celeb sighting as we see him hail a cab. Irene and I meet Brandt for lunch at spurs. Discuss music, upcoming gigs (reminder: Kasabian tix go onsale on the 8th) and people who are making us crazy. Go for eye exam (prescription hasn't changed) to get new contacts. Went to Irene's eye doctor who is basically Gary Cole from Office Space. Hit Virgin, get remaining DVD's: GARDEN STATE (top movie this year possibly), ANCHORMAN (unrated), and the now classic NAPOLEON DYNAMITE. Finally make it to Myers of Keswick. Tons of goodies. Home. Not feeling good, might have caught irene's flu. More OFFICE (already on second series). Shopping with Irene (girly shit). Movies, finally, see CLOSER...brief review: CLOSER is a very good film, though not the great movie I was hoping it to be. I had some issues with the story (things happened too quickly, not enough info about the character's lives before all this shit goes down), and when discussing it with Irene after, she brought up some good points that countered a lot of my other problems. She's been hanging out with film people way too much. Anyway, I finally get Clive Owen now, as he is a superstar and Nat really holds the whole movie together. Jude was a pussy (that was the character), and Jules was dressed weird and was good until she became Julia Roberts about 3/4 of the way in. Clive deserves an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. After, spend some time with Peter Saintface (who is also a big fan of the Manics album, thus finally something for us to agree on). Then off to get a couple of slices of Pizza, hit the pub for a few pints. Ian Brown's SOLARIZED is on constant rotation in the pub and it just makes a pint that much better. Home. Office. Really not feeling good. Bed.

"ASSHOLE!"

I DID go to work, but some cool shit happens. Luckily this vacation diary ends Sunday, so here goes: Woke up. Work out. LURCH, CHILL. Go to office, buy tons of comics (New TEEN TITANS is insanely good). E-mail banter with Ash, he's working on MOG-X. Meanwhile, Digital Brothel drops a line to tell me to get my ass in gear with the aggression remix album and prep. Aces. Discuss new remix from Cyanotic. Where's Jared? Spoiler stills from the SITH make it online, hours of speculation ensues (not just by me)...

...WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOGGY BLOG BLOG FOR THE FOLLOWING FRANK JEFFREY DESANTO THEORY: Hello, I have a new theory regarding STAR WARS spoilers: I think these few guys who keep throwing out high res stills and spoilers that reveal some plot and characters are actually sent this stuff by Lucasfilm as a clever way to build fan buzz. As some of you may know, I have some insight into these things. I'm convinced that when you see images on a site like this, http://www.aptirrelevance.com/sw-archive/searchresults.php?browse=rots they are deliberately sent out to the internet fan community. Am I complaining? No, but once again, Lucas and friends find new ways for me to lose hours of my life. RESUME BLOGGITY BLOG BLOG...

...Wrote some more, ironing out some points. Forcing a deadline of like 1/11. Tried to read all my new comics on train, but there were just too many. Home. Evan has new CONSTANTINE game preview. Scary and fun game. Like the movie (yes, I saw it like ages ago, asshole). My word of the day is asshole, cause it's used in the videogame repeatedly, which of course I ended up repeating nonstop. Asshole. Anyway, this takes up hours. Sushi. Home. GTA. Watch first two episodes of THE OFFICE (genius). Stare at SITH photos again, some new ones pop up, thats like 5 today. One is now wallpaper on laptop. Blog. Bed. Asshole.

Vacation Diary Day 9

Woke up. Tea and Rice Krispie treats at Irene's store. GTA (on second to last mission). Stare at Simon Gallup's new bass. Lunch with Dad. Start watching HK flick. Order Long Awaited Revenge Live CD. Watch 24 Season 4 preview (Season is gonna be blow away if it's as tight as what I just watched). Blog responses. Write more sequel ideas. Answer E-mails. More writing, including some lyrics that popped into my head. Make fun of Matt. Cook Christmas dinner leftovers. Watch LOVE ACTUALLY. More writing (hours pass like minutes). Discuss New Years with Lurch (idiot). Check plane flight status for Brandt (with no explanation). Finish watching HK flick (EXPLOSIVE CITY, great opening, then eh). Ponder Jet Li disappearance (since found). GTA (closing in). Bed

Simon's new bass

http://www.gibson.com/email/xpress_oct2704.html

Scroll down a bit...

Notice

There will be no Vacation Diary Day 8 entry as I went in to the office. However, there will be a Day 9. A preview: I woke up.

F

Vacation Diary Day 7

Wake up wayyyy late. Work out. Listen to Kylie. Come back to find message from irene, whose back is out again. Go up to get her. Listen to Primals. Tea and Rice Krispie treat at her store. Buy books (U2: SHOW, MEN OF TOMORROW, and GTA STRATEGY GUIDE). Run to Best Buy. Buy DVD's (Chris Benoit, ELF, and DODGEBALL). No fucking NAPOLEON DYNAMITE or fucking ANCHORMAN. Home. Chinese take away. Watch DODGEBALL extras (pretty funny, doesn't make me miss playing). Irene naps so I watch Benoit DVD (awesome). GTA. Listen to Libertines. Read Spanish Language interview with Mani. Mani says: "I believe that if Kasabian manages to make good a second disc, they can be greater than Oasis, greater than no other group" He also goes on to say its they are the only other band he would play in. That WILL happen. Watch. Not now, but way down the line. I called it here first. Eat Caviar (rapidly running out). Listen to Yorn. Find G and I in the background of a photo from MSG in the U2 book (had Irene double check to confirm). Very small, but funny. Irene stuggles off the couch (intestinal fortitude) to make some new meal involving potatoes, leeks, and eggs. On paper, I should hate this, but I don't when I eat it (ask for seconds). Watch Ali G movie: INDAHOUSE, which I got for Irene on DVD. Pretty funny, plus hot chick from Boston Legal (not on tonight) is in it. Bonus (inform Lurch). Listen to Manics. GTA pissing me the fuck off. Vent to Pearson. Talk to Matt and Brandt about various things. Realization of the day: No matter how little I THINK I'm doing on "vacation", I go and write this bullshit and I see I'm actually still busy as fuck. Weird. Where's Ash?

Vacation Diary Day 6

Christmas. Wake up late. Presents (score). GTA (stuck on stupid mission featuring annoying David Cross). Breakfast. Stewart Manor (rough hood where I'm from. Ghetto). Exchange holiday texts with pallys. Chas calls (sweet). Presents with folks (score). Family arrive. Eat. Discuss Episode 3 with small cousin. Eat. Back to city. Watch 24 season 3 DVD extras. Mark out. GTA. Ponder tomorrow purchases. Read reviews of Moz at Earl's Court (positive). Bed.

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Vacation Diary Day 5

Thought I woke up early. Didn't. Ash again proves himself as the best kind of comedian with his set ups on this blog. Skip work out to clean apt. This takes longer than I thought. Occasional NME peek and chat with Brandt about recent vinyl purchases. The entire day is about how THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE CAN GO FUCK THEMSELVES. Express mail, which was supposed to be there yesterday at NOON with nephew's presents has YET to arrive. The asshole I dealt with last night, HAROLD, did not look into it at all and took no record. What's the fucking point of a tracking number if you cannot track the package. And just to make it worse, there's a SECOND package to the nephew they can't find. Temper goes sky high. Irene calls to try and calm me, thats when you know its bad. Order Pluck. Eat Pluck. Wrap presents for Irene (not an art). Discuss Antonio Bandares Cologne with G via text. Quick stocking stuffer shopping trip to Duane Reade. Jon Spencer is there doing the same thing it seems. Give building staff Christmas cards (and $), and run to LI for nice dinner at place near my folks we've been going to forever. Possibly mob (not MOG) related. Back at folks for some presents with smaller friends of the family. Borrow car, drive home. More postal service bullshit, but now it turns out the second packge WAS brought to the house and no one was home. RRRRRR. Pull big casino heist in GTA. Listen to Blues Explosion. Eat Caviar. Watch Irene wrap presents (art). Christmas. She gives me first present: Gift Certificate to Zakka. POINTS. GTA.

To my friends, family, readers of this site, and in particular to my MOGpac cohorts, I wish you only the best and better.

F

Vacation Diary Day 4

First off, kudos to Todd Ryan for the heads up on the aggression T-shirt. Wake up late (10:30) due to late night GTA progress. Read blog comments. Ash lobs me one, re: Canada, that I hit out of the park. Factor style. Ponder Junk's inability to have us comment on her blog. Brief IM discussion with her, mostly about health and Morrissey. Compare and contrast Emmy Rossum and Anne Hathaway and discuss the forthcoming Oasis album with G. Unshowered, run to post office with final nephew gifts. Listen to Nik Kershaw (allo Chazzy). Postal lady knows me now, busts balls about lack of tape. Smile to avoid overage charges. Charm in full effect. Run back home. Eat Hummas. Speculate DC Comics 2005 with Evan. Work out. Listen to Libertines. Read more of Edge. Shower, at last. Weather is shit. Pizza. Race uptown to buy mom gift. Tree looks nice. Listen to Oasis B-Sides. Hit Japanese bookstore. Stop at Sam Ash, buy giftcard for very musical cousin. Pit stop for Irene gifts. Weather + Midtown + Tourists = pain in the nutsack. Soaked. Listen to Weller. Due to adverse weather conditions, plan to go to Myers of Keswick to stock up on Brit products (digestives, crisps, etc) is postponed. While switching express train, I run into the Riff. Brief catch up. TIme has been kind to her. She is the first person who is not living with me to get new business card (I later find out that this isn't the case). She dates a Canadian. What can I tell you, but at least she didn't mention a certain aggression song. Lawyer texts from Pittsburgh (poor thing). Stop at local newsstand to buy candy but in fact they have the X-Mas issue of NME. To have NME this early in the week is a fucking miracle I can only dare to dream of (obviously the distro folks are rushing pre-holiday, cause I know the next issues will probably come in in mid Jan). Listen to Pet Shop Boys. GTA, slight progress. Caviar cravings through the entire day, but holding off so there is actually some left. Eat Almonds instead (my god, where the fuck are the donuts). Listen to Pete Yorn. Read NME. Feel dirty for reading it this early in the week, as if i would have nothing left to do on the weekend. Laugh at Carl Libertine's christmas stories. Go with Irene to eat at new Italian place on 2nd ave. Good stuff. Angry conversation with USPS re: packages that have not arrived for nephew. Angry Frank. Walked home, good times. Compliment Matt on dissing me on this blog.Listen to Radio Dept. I didn't laugh as much today, but that was because of the rain and tourists. I laughed a lot later. I hate midtown. Today's conclusion: Everything is EXACTLY as it should be...except the album...

Pure Liquid Elegance

Hey, I was in one of "the coolest bands of all time in the industrial scene". Some of you were as well. I read it on Ebay! Really.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=307&item=4062192183&rd=1

There are members of the aggression who I don't think have that shirt. I, of course, have 12 of them (no I don't). When I think of the aggression, the word elegant never came to mind. However, should any of you industrial half asses decide to bid on this, please save the Electric Hellfire Club shirt for Tom, thanks.

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Vacation Diary Day 3

What I recall: Woke up early. skipped work out. Checked out pix of new Cramp baby (looks like her dad). Ponder Ash's phrase "Sheer Genius". Shower. Get to post office: mail present for Link baby and big box of fun for nephew (Box 1 of 2). Listen to The Roses. Walk down Park Ave. Bought a cruller from a vendor who called me "baby" and told me "a lot is going on today" yet gave nothing to back that statement up (I did ask). Ignored on street by Michael Saintface (who, to his credit, had his Ipod on, was about 10 feet away and racing like a mexican powerwalker, and just saw me with long hair, which I currently no longer have). Hit Toys R Us: Place blows, they have barely anything I'm looking for (for nephew), in particular a Yugioh deck he needs, and have no fucking price tags. Get nephew and irene some fun stuff. Go to Christmas booths in Union Square, get Irene something she probably doesnt even remember telling me about (but I know she'll like). Points. Skip Virgin and go right to Forbidden Planet. Buy comics and Justice League figure (for nephew), though they lack the Yugioh deck. Read comics while eating in Au Bon Pain (Green Lantern, Green Arrow and Astonishing X-Men are the top choices this week). Go home, research Yugioh. Talk to Tomooka. Listen to My Bloody Valentine. Play phone tag with Link. Discuss babies with Matt. Quote Wes Anderson movies with Murray. Brandt sends random music. Walk down 3rd Ave. Make fun of Fed Ex guy who tries to stop traffic and then drops all the packages off his cart (got what he deserved). Go to Toy Tokyo, end up spending more on myself (Batman Movie Kubricks), but do find the Yugioh deck. Killer. Listen to u2. Go home, lots of mail. Look at new business cards. Fucking Wizard sends me the new issue that DOESNT have the Constantine cover shot. Dicks. Some GTA (beat the mission I was stuck on), Fill out Wizard Awards Ballot (you're welcome, Geoff). Drink Peppermint Hot Chocolate at Irene's store while reading Wizard (takes 10 minutes). Give Irene new business card. She takes me for one of my Christmas presents: CAVIAR at Caviar Russe on Madison Ave (you can never go wrong with this gift), go home bust out the Russian Standart Vodka (thanks to G and Mattagement), and eat said Caviar and drink while irene shops. Read u2 article in Rolling Stone. Listen to u2. Blog. Check out photo of my cousin's cute kids. Have funny IM exchange with The Junk. Watch WALKING TALL with The Rock (so so). Jot down sequel ideas for a movie no one has seen. Talk to Aero. Listen to Suicide. Make fun of Brandt.Read more of Wizard (10 minutes). Didn't laugh as much, but was triumphant in the present purchasing so today is considered nothing short of a full success.

F

Vacation Diary Day 2

Again in no particular order: Made fun of Matt (Nivek comment). Worked out. Made fun of Brandt (re: breakfast). Pondered where the Chemlab site went. Showered. Listened to Depeche again. Got haircut (short). Ate Chinese food (good fortune re: using my imagination to bring success). Christmas present recon. Bought wine. Watched HK movie I couldn't watch yesterday (A1: HEADLINE, not a bad thriller). Very little GTA. Went uptown. Went to Citicorp building with Irene. Checked mail. Talked to nephew (re: Christmas). Pondered stage moves for future reference. Reassured D'orge again. Watched Pete Doherty on BBC newsnight. Couldnt understand half of what he said. Called Link. Saw photo of Kruger baby in snowsuit (looked like kid in Christmas Story). Listened to Babyshambles. Watched Irene wrap (art). Made tea. Read a few chapters of Edge's book (very good). Ordered take away. Received text messages from Costa Rica. Blogged. Discuss hair with G. Watered banzai (with water). Watched NYPD Blue. Laughed a lot all day...

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Vacation Diary Day 1

Not in Chronological Order: E-mailed Ash. GTA. Listened to the aggression. Worked out. Listened to the Libertines. Went to Post Office and mailed Christmas gifts to Leo, Cameron and new Cramp baby. Listened to Depeche. Made soup. GTA. Tried to watch a HK movie but didn't make it. Texted Chad. Watched South Park Christmas Episode (Very funny) with lads. Had Hot Chocolate at Irene's store. Talked new Cramp baby with Kruger. More GTA. Watched Irene wrap gifts (an art). Discussed Genius of Paul Heyman with G. GTA. Found out it snowed from Mattagement (doing his job). Listened to Lurch talk about some chicks mom trying to get with him. Talked GTA and Television writing with Pearson. Hung up new movie poster. I blogged. Twice. GTA.

Meanwhile, the world has finally caught up with me, as reported on the NINhotline: "Gem Archer records with Nine Inch Nails. ProSound News has a little article about the recording party going down at The Village in Los Angeles. Gem Archer, from Oasis, recorded tracks with Jeordie White on the new Alan Moulder produced NIN album, With Teeth."

Ok like I wasnt doing the whole britpop/industrial Hybrid under the guise of Brithop for like the past 10 years. "With Teeth" is the first red flag of Trent Wackness in 05.

F

"Was I Invited Onstage?"

The Holidays, while the busiest time of year for my significant other, are in fact the easiest time of the year for yours truly. Thus this leaves me vulnerable to do things I normally wouldn't do, i.e. workout regularly (and be complimented by my friend/bartender for looking "fit"), transport thousands of dollars of chocolate in a rented van through New York City on behalf of my lovely significant other (yes Brandt was shotgun), and cook dinner for The Kidd, only to watch him order Japanese food. Anyhow, those are stories best left to your imagination as the fleshed out versions are nowhere near as exciting, despite my having a life that is, as we used to say in the early charting days of the aggression, better than your year. These days, I tend to use the words "lucky" and "fortunate" to avoid anonymous douchebags posting here trying to cut myself and the MOGpac down.

Anyhow, I do work on music, despite what seems to be a lack of current output. The loops for HF are finally done and sound good. Brandt, who is on his way to Chicago for the Christmas thing, is now about to start prepping for the mixes. We spent the day yesterday backing up all of our respective hard drives to make sure we both had every current version of every current thing pertaining to this album...and then some. I have a rough draft of this Implant Remix done and now Brandt will work his magic on that. We're missing the deadline for that one I'm sure, but I'm working on 3 different things right now and I can't lose focus. One of those key things is MOG-X aka THANK YOU, MOSCOW. I will reveal no more till it is fully ready to be revealed. Ponder.

Meanwhile, Brandt has already upped the stakes in the "Buy F.J. An Awesome Christmas Present Competition" by delivering THIS; http://www.kidrobot.com/images/specimages/s-swnyc-2.jpg Frank White never looked so good!

On Saturday Night, while Brandt too his lameass to the Pixies, and Mattagement cockteased but back out of an appearance (which i would think is true club superstar fashion), I took my girl and the ladies of Internationalpoontang.com to the LAMEST VENUE IN THE WORLD, the hipster doucheathon known as Piano's to see my favourite band Saintface perform their first last gig of the year. They were raw and tight and entertaining and the money was well spent just to see the special kiss between Poontang Dorg and Mr. Saintface himself (thus the opening quote above). However, my ears are still ringing cause they can't mix sound in that hipster douche dive. That places skeeves me beyond belief. This evening was the first time i was able to discuss the Saintface album AT ALL, which I did with the bassist and keyboardist, both of whom I respect immensely. My dear friend the singer is avoided at all costs when it comes to this topic, which is by his own request. It looks as though our New Years will be spent with these lads as they perform at the much better venue Don Hills.

I have mentioned my two new favourite TV shows this year LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (featured in today's New York Times) and JACK AND BOBBY, both of which are on the bubble, but I have yet to mention how much I love BOSTON LEGAL. No show makes me laugh as hard and watching James Spader and my hero William Shatner interact this week is a gift from god. This show is a camp classic with two brilliant actors playing to their smarmy strengths and trying each week to sleep with women (of course Spader gets the amazing british chick) and ruining people's lives. This show is nomiated for multiple Golden Globes (including both actors) and is the best guilty pleasure on TV today. This show should have a long life. I could do 10 pages on this show, but I'll stop here and tell you to tape it weekly.

And now I must venture back to the land of GTA: San Andreas! I've just reached the point where we meet a character voiced by Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays, which to me is too funny. With the Roses and Primals on the soundtrack, having Shaun William Ryder's unique voice talking to me via a video game is very very enjoyable. He already is a character, so this makes sense.

F

What I've learned from...

...Serge The Summer Dog (aka Ruffian aka Rough Stuff): Never jump onto my owner's desk thus knock a bottle of cider onto his laptop that is being used to do the entire Hypefactor album. I know all the music is backed up on 3 different
external drives, but dang, I don't wanna live my life in the cage (and not the cage reffered to back in the day). Note to puppies: away from the desk. OK?

Meanwhile...

The loop editing/tightening is just about done, except the epic THEY'VE JUST and it's now time to put all these airtight music parts (drums and loops) back into the main song files. We don't have any arranging to do, but the sheer size of this album makes it so that Brandt has to be careful putting stuff together. Also, it has been decided, to keep the record consistent, Charles will be brought in to re-play the remainder of the bass lines he hasn't performed on. Right now, the record is down to an amalgam of he and I playing rythmn tracks, sometimes in different parts of the same song, and it just sounds awkward. Again, ego is not the issue here, (and believe me I'm more than content playing F-bass and singing), it's what is best for the song and Charles is quite simply the best bassist we have. This period of the record, easily the most frustrating, has also been in the most educational and we're learning many things we will need to avoid when it comes time to to the next record.

Has anyone heard of the Scandanavian band Radio Department? Not too shabby shoegazing stuff that evokes Slowdive and MBV without being a ripoff. They're someone to watch.

F

Junk Revisited

I gave my side of the London adventures and how we met my dear friend Ashley Junkee a while back, now here is her take on that wonderful warm week in London 2001:

http://www.ashleysaunders.com/ashblog/

She's a top chick. Enjoy!

F

Hang The DJ!

It was another long and poo-filled day (thanks to the Summer Dog) of editing loops at the Birdcage. While I commanded the main computer to tighten the loops to CREATION PHASE, Brandt, with an assist from RJ of Westchester, was able to install Live into my computer so I can cut the workload in half. Today, I'll be back to load the loops and various sound files into my own computer so i can work this week on wrapping all these loops up. I plan to be working day AND night on these. Meanwhile, I still have a remix to finish and another non-HF project that's about to start, plus MOG-X. The Dance Card is crazy full and I'm starting to lose a little sleep over these things...

The evening was spent in midtown last night where ASH took to the DJ booth for the first time in ages. The last two times I can remember him DJ'ing were at Detour as a lead up to an aggression show there and then before than in the loft in my old Apartment on New Years. FYI, when midnight stuck, he played the Star Wars theme. Aces. I still don't know how we got away with a full PA in that apartment. But anyhow, Ash spun a really impressive set that encompassed his diverse musical interests. While he played stuff that he personally likes, he never aliented the audience (which I would probably do. Kasabian B-sides can only go so far). Besides bookending the set with his own electronic material, he was able to give an exlcusive preview of the MOGpac's 2005 musical output by including material not only from his projects Ass Cobra and Carbon Framework, but from a certain band you've read about on here called Hypefactor. It was great hearing THEME FROM J BAR from the first CD early in the set and then later, Ash added demos of LENINGRAD and THEME FROM PROPAGANDA to the set. It was a treat and knowing that Ash had chosen those songs for his first DJ set in ages was a honour. His set was very indie early on and then developed into mostly electronic stuff as it progressed (it was an electronic music night, so he worked his way to the point). You'll want to hire this man for your next art fag party! Anyhow, it was a good time and seeing Mattagement and Chazz only made it better.

The previous evening saw us checking out OCEANS 12. It's no secret that I consider OCEANS 11 (the Clooney Version) a minor modern classic of breezy harmless filmmaking that only got better with repeated viewing. OCEANS 12, while not a classic, is a worthy successor that was again fun and harmless and good for some laughs. There are some GREAT cameos (Topher Grace, who I think is going to be big start, maybe Tom Hanks size, was again hilarious) and since Julia was with children when making the movie, the eye candy falls on the Zeta-Jones, who is keeping it real. Also keeping it mad mantasy style was Vincent Cassell who was fucking awesome in this. I don't think I had ever seen him speak in English, but the man is Charisma times 100 and within 30 seconds of him being on screen you knew why the Belluci would make a baby with this man. I would too, if it were possible. Anyhow.

And in the "BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER" Department: Dan Hamill sets the stakes high this year by presenting Irene and I tickets for Ian Brown live at Webster Hall in February! DANG!

F

Guest Blog: GUTTERBALL VINNIE aka G

Courtesy of internationalpoontang.com:

Fri Dec 10, 2004 5:41pm
64.236.245.243

Ian Brown (ex. Stone Roses)
Saturday February 26, 2005
Webster Hall
Doors: 6:30pm
$30 in advance/$35 day of show / 18+

Ian will not only be playing selections from his new album, "Solarized", but will be playing some Stone Roses classics he's been doing over the past few months throughout the UK. This will be an event not to be missed - Tickets are on sale now!!

Take it from G, one of the few people in America ever to see the Stone Roses (don't believe me, just ask F, he was there as well) This show has Dickie potential Dorge!

G

This Saturday

http://www.transelectronic.org/index.php?catId=festival

Return to the Alcoholic Playground

Took a trip to the East Village the other night, obviously without Peter Saintface, and proceeded to inadvertantly drink myself silly. I started out with Irene and the Ladies of Internationalpoontang checking out some music that included the worst guitar player I have ever had the misfortune to witness. I can't name names simply to protect people i DO like, but there are people I DO NOT like who have completely justified my dislike of them personally by not being able to back up their musical boasts. When your bandmates apologizing for your total lack of talent all night, you have a fucking problem. And you wonder why certain GREAT bands, see above, wouldn't hire you.

Anyhow, after drinks with the ladies, it was time for the lads as I met up first with Ash and the legendary R.J. at One and One for a few drinks, before catching up with Brandt and seeing the very cool band known as Out Hud perform at the Mercury Lounge (sans R.J. who was ticketless, though I did try to get him in with some smooth talking which I guess wasnt smooth enough). They were very 90's but very good, but they, like the other band I recently saw that is going unnamed, have a member who's stage presence is so atrocious that it hurt the gig for me quite a bit. Not good. However, I like Out Hud and would see them again. Gotta grab some of their stuff.

Then poor Ash and Brandt, like G and the Kidd did post-Han a few weeks back, had spend the rest of the night into the next morning in the pub listening to me pontificate about life, music and lives in music. I used to be a melodramatic drunk, occasionally a really gay drunk, and occasionally a very pissy drunk (dont put me near Jag, ask Ash and Dulli), but in my more content later years, I slip into some old wizard mode and try to be some Obi Wan type, dispensing information and advice (good or bad I have no idea), to my younger mates like it is candy. Since I have spoken or socialized with all four mates since their time with me at the pub, I think all is well!

Tidbits;

*Just saw HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS again so Irene could check it out. She lost her shit and now hates Andy Lau, who until tonight might have been her favourite HK movie star. I think thats a sign he acted quite well. The movie is just as good the second time. Give Zang her Oscar!

*Speaking of Andy Lau, I just watched him again in Johnny To's new romantic Tragicomedy YESTERDAY ONCE MORE, which is about the reconcilliation between a divorced couple who used to be thieves. Cute stuff, not the director's best, but again a clever concept. It's just not as good as this years other Johnny To movies: BREAKING NEWS and the uplifting THROWDOWN, which is in my top 5 this year.

*A potential Top 5'er, OCEANS 12, is out this week complete with trailers for both BATMAN BEGINS and CONSTANTINE, both of which I have a personal attachment to.

*However, the trailer to my THIRD most anticipated movie of 2005, THE WEDDING CRASHERS, has hit the net. Seek it out, it has classic written all over it.

*The Durans are playing the fucking GARDEN in April. Mission Accomplished, lads.

*I am having trouble bringing myself to see CLOSER, but thats for reasons of me being hesitant of seeing certain acquiantences sans clothing in some way shape or form when you feel that they are still 12 years old.

*The Lab is about to go operational in the next week. Think Spring, is what I have been told.

*The long discussed MOGX has suddenly again gained momentum.

*Dan Hamill, would i would never allow to touch me physically, has touched me emotionally with a recent E-mail. Revealed soon!

Meanwhile, everyone introduce our newest studio addition: SERGE THE SUMMER DOG, a very young and energetic Huskie who very handsome and locks its owner out of the apartment, thus forcing him to call yours truly to come down with keys. Moveltov, Papa Summer Man. However, I hope this causes no delays with the record!

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Neighborhood Explosion!

At Irene's prodding, we checked out our old friend Mr. Jon Spencer who has recently shortened his band's name to the simple, yet effective Blues Explosion. It had been some time since we had seem them perform, it was in the neighborhood (Irene saw Mr. Spencer and his son on their way to the gig, and then later saw Mr. Spencer's amazing wife, Ms. Christina Martinez) and plus he IS our neighbor (we literally live on the same block), so Irene felt it would be nice to see what the Blues was all about these days. As they have done so many times in the past, the Blues Explosion played a sweaty, energetic, set of the dirty rock n roll they are known for. I'm not familiar with the new album, and I wasn't a big fan of the previous album, PLASTIC FANG, but my god do I love this band and John Spencer's Elvis like stage persona never grows old and in fact he's so good at it that he's made it his own. However, the crowd was easily one of worst I have ever been a part of. Hipster douches and just plain douches alike half filled the venue and just had no energy. They were a bunch of dead fishes and it really hurt the gig. But you can't stop a great band, the Blues Explosion are just that and I will be happy to tell Mr. Spencer the next time I see him at the market.

Meanwhile, the Holiday Season, as always, just makes things crazier than normal, which in some ways is good and other ways a pain in the ass, which is usually the case when the end of the year crunch starts to effect the music. Recent gigs, weddings etc, have made it a struggle to sit in one place for any long period of time to really focus on the record. You have to steal each moment you can to get things done. We've been trying to do that quite a bit. I spent many hours in the Birdcage (now currently in mid dog-proofing), watching Mr. Gassman perfect every loop that will be heard on this album, making them as perfect as perfect can be to fit with the now perfect drums. I'd say we're about mid-way through that process and the tougher loop songs (LENINGRAD, SOLAR) have been tackled. We have so many intricate little details to ge through, but we're making the right progress. Heads are on straight, things are happening. Progress will be made. I even made a chart of all things to make sure we don't forget anything and that we can set our plans and schedules accordingly. My mom would be proud!

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The loss of a friend...

it is with great sadness that i say that i have lost one of my closest friends. though we've only known each other for 8months, it seemed like a lifetime - in a good way. we shared so many great times together, i don't know how i'll get by.

i'll miss you, my dear friend.