Ironic Twist
seeking irony, because sarcasm clashes with my outfit
Friday, December 03, 2004 :::
"To alcohol… the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."
– Homer Simpson
The Killers looked bored performing on The O.C. last night. They sort of gave off that "we're already famous, so what more do you want from us?" vibe. And what's with the Bait Shop? Does nobody in Newport Beach know about it? Is that why it looked half empty for both The Walkmen and The Killers? They needed to get about 100 more sweaty extras in there to accurately portray an actual Killers concert.
After The O.C. ended, I headed out to the Black Cat for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Having lived in D.C. for more than a year now, I've missed several opportunities to see Ted Leo for a variety of reasons ranging from "no one wanted to go with me" to "it's drizzling and it's an outdoor show" to "eh, I just don't feel like it today." But I couldn't hold out anymore. I had to see what the hype was about, so I met rj3, MG, amg, Michael, Will and Liz at the club in time to see openers Matt Pond PA. I wanted to check them out because my friend KS has good things to say about them. KS and I shared an office when I was an intern at the magazines where she's now managing editor, and we used to listen to a lot of indie/emo music, which she calls "whiny boy bands," which I think is a fairly accurate description of most indie/emo bands.
At one point, early into the evening but deep into the vodka, I perked up to pay some attention to Matt Pond PA and, as MG reminded me on our way home, asked, "Is that a f*cking cello?" Yes, it was. All the indie bands have cellos now. Despite the unseemly use of profanity, I actually really enjoy the cello. I think it's just that I haven't gotten over the initial surprise of going to a rock show and all of a sudden hearing a cello. From what I could tell, I enjoyed Matt Pond PA. The reason I say "from what I could tell" is that the Black Cat was about as full as it gets, which meant that I was all the way in the back and couldn't hear really well or see anything at all. I'll have to keep an eye out for Matt Pond PA on schedules so that I can catch them when they're headlining or aren't opening for someone as big as Ted Leo.
And then there was Ted Leo, the It boy of indie rock. Everybody loves Ted Leo. But a few songs into the set, I found myself wondering what the big deal is. I just wasn't feeling the magic, even if I was dancing along to the catchy new songs like "Me and Mia," "Little Dawn" and "Shake the Sheets." Ted Leo is known for his lyrics, but the Black Cat isn't really conducive to such nuances. As the evening went on, though, I started to appreciate the band's skills and amazing energy, even if I wasn't feeling any deep connection. MG made her way to the front for a while, and has some pictures.
After I got home, I finished watching Coal Miner's Daughter, which I'd started before going out. If you're not familiar with it, it's a biopic about country singer Loretta Lynn, in which Sissy Spacek actually sings all of Loretta Lynn's songs and Beverly D'Angelo sings Patsy Cline's. Sissy Spacek won a Best Actress Oscar (and earned a Grammy nomination) for this movie, which I watched as part of my ongoing old-school country music learning experience. It's not a perfect movie at all, but Lynn's story is an interesting one. I don't like her songs as much as Cline's, but I also haven't heard as many, just the ones in the movie. I also watched one of the extras last night, an interview the director, Michael Apted, did with Loretta Lynn. I wasn't clear on when the interview took place, but it looked like it was at least a few years after the movie came out in 1980. I learned that there's a Coal Miner's Daughter museum, which has pretty much every costume and set and car used in the movie.
So yeah, I'm really tired today. I wish I could just play around on my newly downloaded iTunes all day, like I did yesterday. But I have to go to a meeting and look awake. It's gonna be a long day.
Details on the new Hot Hot Heat album here. They're set to begin touring again in February. I saw them four times when they toured to support their debut. Yes, I will see them again.
Sure, I hate my evil corporate job about 90 percent of the time, but it does help that I work with some cool people with good taste. One of my coworkers just stopped by my office with The Concretes album. I'd heard "Diana Ross" and "Seems Fine" courtesy of music bloggers, but hadn't around to listening to the whole album.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004 :::
According to this article, in an Australian survey of 409 people, 95 percent made drunk calls. The next morning, 55 percent reached for their phone to see whom they called. A phone company is now offering a service that lets you block the numbers of ex-boyfriends or girlfriends or anyone else you shouldn't be talking to when you've been drinking, before you head out for a night on the town.
There's so much wrong with Abercrombie & Fitch that I wouldn't know where to begin, but they do have some good downloads on their site, including Mates of State, Arcade Fire and The Futureheads. They're still super-evil, though. Via sovietpanda.
Tonight at the Black Cat, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists with Washington Social Club and Mary Timony. Tomorrow night, with Matt Pond PA and Vague Angels. I'm going tomorrow night. The O.C. will have to be taped.
On the first night of Chanukah (however you choose to spell it), Saint-Ex is having a "CHANUKAH vs. CHRISTMAS Battle Royale." Because we need more occasions to pit Jews and Christians against one another, even in a joking manner. It's $35 to taste He'brew vs. imported Christmas beer.
Monday, November 29, 2004 :::
The smorgasblog family, which includes DCSOB, Live from the Third Rail and Pretending Along, welcomes a new member, DCFÜD. Have you always wondered where you can buy Croatian seasoning? How to make eggplant parmesan when you have no parmesan cheese? How to make a manly quiche? Look no further than DCFÜD. Sure, there are other foodie blogs out there, but do any of them have an umlaut? I think not.
In bluestate news, there's now a blog where you can find out more about the party, but there's no info there yet except for the basics, which are: January 8th. Black Cat backstage. No cover. DJs DCSOB, information leafblower, Seeking Irony and WeirdCurves. We'll be playing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. I'll be wearing a tiara. It'll be super-fun, I promise.
01/05: Taint and Bliss present INFAMY, 9:30 Club
01/10: Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton, 9:30 Club
01/19: Benjy Ferree, Meredith Bragg and the Terminals, Greenland, Black Cat 01/24: Hej Hej, Cafe Saint-Ex
