Swimming through the haze of Jet Lag, I'm trying to figure out where I left off on this thing...
The night before heading out to LA, joined by my lovely significant other, my bandmate, my former roommate and a former TGIF Fridays host (Mattagement was elsewhere in the building), we saw the triumphant Durans return to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 21 years. Everything comes full circle. Emotions were high and the gig was phenomenal. Though it couldn't match the intensity and intimacy of the Webster Hall gig last year, additions of songs like Chauffeur and the long lost instrumental Tiger Tiger made the gig a memorable experience. I still can't believe how good they look and how well they played. They had an excellent stage set as well as a super background video presentation (which ended with a great Duran anime cartoon). They also had the single greatest tour program ever (and for $45 it was totally worth it, believe it or not).
Ok now on to LA: for those who are interested in this kinda thing, I had some excellent celeb sightings that even for a jaded bicoastaler like myself were quite enjoyable. They included Eliza Dushku (meaty perfection), Al Pacino (in FULL gimmick mode), the singer from AFI (eating like a champ), Mia Kirshner (freaky hot), and funny man Steve Correll (drives a sweet Benz). I think I saw some more, but I don't recall at the moment. Oh I saw the CSI woman, who is milf hot in person, and this is like the 80th time I have seen her.
Late last Saturday night, I took my 6 year old nephew to see KUNG FU HUSTLE. I hadn't seen it in a theatre and even though it was rated R, Irene and I, having both seen the film, felt he could see it. Man did this kid love this movie. I'm not allowed back in LA without my SHAOLIN SOCCER DVD. Anyway, it's even better on the big screen!
I know I wrote about my nephew and his extreme Ash-like hatred for Nine Inch Nails. I failed to mention that days later, when my lawyer/agent/advisor was watching TV a commercial for WITH TEETH came on featuring the single and my nephew, not even looking up from my laptop which he had commandeered in order to play games, said "That's that selfish poopy brat, isn't it?"
Anyway, I am pleased with the NIN record. I like it a lot. I'm not in love with it, but I certainly don't hate it and I think the song that pissed my nephew off, ONLY, is pure genius pop music. The thing with this record, and I know it's intentional on TR (not Todd Ryan)'s part was to do a simple album and not the epic of the previous ones. However, this approach, after waiting how many years, makes the album, which IS good, a let down. You expect and event and instead you get, well, an album. I also think the lack of instrumentals and atmosphere of the previous stuff is missing. This record could have benefited from some more rip offs of Bowie's LOW. For the record, Dave Grohl gives this record it's balls, cause it's certainly not TR's lyrics (though his vocals are quite good).
Just when I thought the NIN album would keep me occupied, some select trax from the new Oasis album, DON'T BELIEVE THE TRUTH, leaked and came my way. And guess what, it doesn't suck at all. Not that I ever thought Oasis have sucked, but this is GREAT. The single, LYLA, is possibly the worst choice they have ever made for a lead off single, but in the context of other songs it fits perfect. I thought the other songs were miles better, and I didn't dislike LYLA to begin with. Noel's song MUCKY FINGERS might be his best. I'm not gonna call it a comeback, cause they didn't really go away, but I will say that the redefinition of Oasis as a musical force in British music begins here. Row G at the Garden in June suddenly becomes much more interesting.
The HF update:
In the most exciting musical news of my trip, I spent an evening with Leo (he formerly of Virus 23 and currently of the excellent AM Pacific, who are making, ahem, waves in LA at the moment) prepping the mix down of the Hypefactor song ONE.NINE.FIVE.SIX (1956 from here on out). To hear it with the vocals start to come together made the hair on the back of my head stand up. It's very exciting. While I was clowning around in LA, Charles got into the Birdcage and laid down a new bassline for this track (as well as SOLAR), and I'm told it's fucking phenomenal. I'm actually the only one who hasn't heard it, but I trust Charles implicitly and love him just on the basis that he would call me in LA to tell me Peter Hook is on the cover of the new issue of Bass Player. Respect.
Anyway, any progress is good progress, so we might have some mixes soon. I'm at work on my mix of THEY'VE JUST which goes slowly because of time and because I am teaching myself the Live software as I go. I'm getting used to it, getting better at it, but I need the current version, which seems much more user friendly. That's my next purchase.
Speaking of purchases, I also have my new bass P.O.D, which arrived the day before I left and that I am itching to get on. Brandt is off to Chicago this coming week for a bit, so I'm gonna grab my Thunderbird and start getting this POD into shape. Love it.
More Music:
More Chemlab remixes pour in. Right now I have a favourite from someone I can't reveal, but the NEW fave that came in is from the UK's own Needleye who did an excellent remix for the aggression as well. I begged my dear friend Gilez to have them remix Chemlab cause their remixes are SO good. This remix project, which is going to be two discs will make the faithful very happy.
Rob at the aggression's label Digital Brothel informs me that they are ready to roll with REVISIONIST HISTORY. Well that's great except that I don't have the two last remixes. However, Rob, who we will call Hoggy, has heard one of them and should have it to me soon. Hopefully it is of the non suck variety and we can get this record out asap. Sean, are you listening, son?
Anyway, I'm shocked I wrote this much with my head feeling like Serge Pizzorno's right now (go check out NME.com to see what that means).
More sooner than later.
Your Hero,
F
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