I just did my morning check of the NME and I was shocked to read this:
"OASIS are to play a huge NEW YORK date, NME.COM can exclusively reveal. The band, who will tour the UK in June and July, will also play at the New York Madison Square Garden on June 22. Support at the show will come from Jet. Tickets go on sale on February 12."
Now, either they aren't touring the states this year to support the new album and this is their only US show or Noel has truly flipped his fucking wig big time. Don't get me wrong...I love this band to death, they are one of my all time favourites and I will go see them anywhere at anytime, but this seems awfully ambitious. But as Mr. G just pointed out to me, I'll be there in a fucking heartbeat. While I love the current wave of Britrock, and I feel there are a finally a few contenders to the throne, no one can topple the Gallaghers. But for fucks sake, this new album better be good. Save us Gem and Andy!
F
4.2.05
3.2.05
"WHERE'S MY ICE CREAM!"
Someone feels negelected, so here he is! Russia, 2003. Ash had rehearsed some dance moves to go along with the set (assisted by G), and this was his dance interpretation of ROOM 131's lyric "My God has made you pink and tight". Sadly, these moves never made it back to the States, but you know the band IS called Ass Cobra, so we'll see. Note Angy Ellie's influence...Sucks being so tall and in demand.
"I just want to play KAMIKAZI"
This is actually a true story: While walking down Fifth Avenue today listening to the aggression (prompted by Mattagement to do so, just for the record), I literally walked right into the aggression's drummer in the middle of 16th Street. This is not the first time I have randomly encountered the wonderful Ms. Emmet, but it is nevertheless always a treat to spend some quality time with someone so lovely, talented and jangly. And just so you know, she looks downright hot in beige.
She, like me, is baffled as to where the Hypefactor album is, but had a good laugh when she heard what I was listening to on the IPOD. We briefly touched on "The Big A" and somehow during all this, the above quote came out of her mouth. I assured her that she will play that song again in her lifetime.
I wasn't lying.
F
She, like me, is baffled as to where the Hypefactor album is, but had a good laugh when she heard what I was listening to on the IPOD. We briefly touched on "The Big A" and somehow during all this, the above quote came out of her mouth. I assured her that she will play that song again in her lifetime.
I wasn't lying.
F
2.2.05
Hustled
In this, the year 2005, I have many highly anticipated movies that I am excited about. I've gone into detail on these select films (i.e. STAR WARS, BATMAN, etc), but I was just able to (illegally of course) see my most anticipated Hong Kong film of 2005...KUNG FU HUSTLE, written, directed and supposedly starring the genius known as Stephen Chow. Chow is famous nowadays for writing, directing and starring in the now legendary SHAOLIN SOCCER and he is also responsible for one of the few moments in my life where I completly went fanboy and acted like a starstruck idiot upon meeting him. That only happened before when I met Morrissey. Luckily, he was nice, but I think I scared the shit out of him (this is a story for another time).
Anyhow, HUSTLE, which is his most ambitious film to date, is Chow's homage to the Kung Fu genre, while making fun of recent films like THE MATRIX, SPIDERMAN, and even his own SHAOLIN SOCCER. His love of the kung fu genre is obvious and while he shows he can handle a larger budget and direct some incredible and hilarious action sequences in HUSTLE, he sadly, for the first time in years, loses touch with what made him great...the ability to relate to him as an everyman. The story and characters are so underdeveloped I was beginning to wonder if he even had a script here or just pieced a bunch of scenes together as he went. Now, with SHAOLIN SOCCER and his previous and even funnier film KING OF COMEDY (a big favourite here), we know he can tell a story. But here, it seems as though Chow is so excited to be working with a group of Kung Fu stars from yesteryear (including the wonderful Yuen Wah) that he forgets to put himself in the fucking movie! He's barely in it and it's his movie!
What's weird is that all the elements of a great Chow movie are there. There are some VERY funny bits, and even a super dance sequence, but by just about ignoring his character with the exception of a few flashbacks, the film is never grounded. It should have been built around him and it never quite clicks.
Look, a so so Chow movie is better than most other people's careers. But they wanted this to be his big breakthrough movie here and it has very little of the mainstream appeal SHAOLIN SOCCER has, which sucks. His homage to the genre is pure and his comedic flair is evident that he has really come into his own as a director. I'll still check it out on the big screen and give it a second chance. I laughed a lot and loved the action but without the emotional core the film needed, I feel kinda, well, hustled.
F
Anyhow, HUSTLE, which is his most ambitious film to date, is Chow's homage to the Kung Fu genre, while making fun of recent films like THE MATRIX, SPIDERMAN, and even his own SHAOLIN SOCCER. His love of the kung fu genre is obvious and while he shows he can handle a larger budget and direct some incredible and hilarious action sequences in HUSTLE, he sadly, for the first time in years, loses touch with what made him great...the ability to relate to him as an everyman. The story and characters are so underdeveloped I was beginning to wonder if he even had a script here or just pieced a bunch of scenes together as he went. Now, with SHAOLIN SOCCER and his previous and even funnier film KING OF COMEDY (a big favourite here), we know he can tell a story. But here, it seems as though Chow is so excited to be working with a group of Kung Fu stars from yesteryear (including the wonderful Yuen Wah) that he forgets to put himself in the fucking movie! He's barely in it and it's his movie!
What's weird is that all the elements of a great Chow movie are there. There are some VERY funny bits, and even a super dance sequence, but by just about ignoring his character with the exception of a few flashbacks, the film is never grounded. It should have been built around him and it never quite clicks.
Look, a so so Chow movie is better than most other people's careers. But they wanted this to be his big breakthrough movie here and it has very little of the mainstream appeal SHAOLIN SOCCER has, which sucks. His homage to the genre is pure and his comedic flair is evident that he has really come into his own as a director. I'll still check it out on the big screen and give it a second chance. I laughed a lot and loved the action but without the emotional core the film needed, I feel kinda, well, hustled.
F
1.2.05
Tucker Revisited
Today, out of the blue, a nice letter popped up in my E-mailbox from a gentleman by the name of Pat Ogle, who some of you might know from his work in the goth band Thanatos. I have never met him nor spoken with him before, but he dropped me a nice note complimenting me on a eulogy I had written for the late William Tucker when he passed away about six years ago. Pat had worked with Tucker in his later years on an excellent album called BLISTERS, which was mentioned in the eulogy. Anyhow, it was a very nice note and we've traded some E-mails reminicing about the late guitar hero. It was fun to think about the awesome and entertaining Tucker. It's the second time Tucker's name has come up lately. In the interview I did with rockstarjournalism, I compared my friend Jamie Duffy to William Tucker in his wonderful contributions to a small scene.
Anyhow, I originally wrote the piece for theaggression.com (pre-blog obviously) and it was later picked up by true fan called Mark Weddle who wanted to do something to celebrate the life of Tucker. To that effect, he created a tribute site where you can read what I wrote along with lots of other people who loved Tucker as well. It's a super website and has everythig you will ever need to know about the life of a truly good guy and great musician. Go. Now. Learn.
http://members.cox.net/_meddle/tucker/
I was always disappointed I was never able to work with Tucker. But then, in a weird but exciting way, an indirect opportunity presented itself when Jared gave me a tape containing guitar parts Tucker had done for EAST SIDE MILITIA that no one had ever heard before. Jared suggested we use something from it for Chemlab. Go get your copy of OXIDIZER and pop on the opening track PINKSUTURE and you'll hear the fruits of my labour. It was a nice treat to at least have that.
I miss you, you rotten fucker.
F
Anyhow, I originally wrote the piece for theaggression.com (pre-blog obviously) and it was later picked up by true fan called Mark Weddle who wanted to do something to celebrate the life of Tucker. To that effect, he created a tribute site where you can read what I wrote along with lots of other people who loved Tucker as well. It's a super website and has everythig you will ever need to know about the life of a truly good guy and great musician. Go. Now. Learn.
http://members.cox.net/_meddle/tucker/
I was always disappointed I was never able to work with Tucker. But then, in a weird but exciting way, an indirect opportunity presented itself when Jared gave me a tape containing guitar parts Tucker had done for EAST SIDE MILITIA that no one had ever heard before. Jared suggested we use something from it for Chemlab. Go get your copy of OXIDIZER and pop on the opening track PINKSUTURE and you'll hear the fruits of my labour. It was a nice treat to at least have that.
I miss you, you rotten fucker.
F