.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;} <$BlogRSDURL$>

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH

Enjoy the pasture Bill, and to make this more pleasant for you, bring along all your corrupt cronies.

Monday, November 27, 2006

WHO WAS TRAINED NOT TO SPIT ON THE FAN

Normally, I don't truck with bootlegs, the quality is inevitably poor, and I'm not keen on pissing off the bands that feed.

One concert I'd love to have, though, would be Pink Floyd's 1977 show at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. This final show of the Animals or 'In The Flesh' tour was the birth of the album to follow - Pink Floyd's The Wall.

In a moment of disgust, Roger spit on a fan. He had become disillusioned with the separation between audience and band. He felt that the fans didn't get it. They were all too stoned to pay attention to the message - and Roger is all about the message.

I've been surfing the web for a download of this concert. I know it exists in the bootleg world, as I have found a number of references to it - I just can't find a download.

Maybe that's a good thing.

WET CAR

Released in February of 1977, the first Peter Gabriel solo record established the former Genesis singer as an artist in his own right.

Enlisting Bob Ezrin as producer was a smart move, and it had at least one lasting effect on Peter - the introduction to Bassist and freakazoid Tony Levin.

Bob had been using Tony on his Alice Cooper sessions, and he brought him along to the sessions in Toronto for this classic LP. Bob also brought noted Alice/Lou session axe-men Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner. These two guitar legends lend the classic lead work on such tunes as 'Slowburn' and 'Here Comes The Flood'.

The addition of Robert Fripp and his Frippertronics give the album other guitar textures not found in the classic rock lexicon.

'Wet Car' is a collection of eclectic tunes ranging from soaring hard rock (Modern Love) to barber shop quartet (Excuse Me) and everything in between.

Much more realized and rooted than his last LP with Genesis (The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway), the first Peter Gabriel album shows Peter getting his feet wet in different styles, and preparing his way for the development of the 'Peter Gabriel Sound', which would solidify over the next two records, culminating on his third LP, also titled Peter Gabriel, but known to some as 'Melting Face', or the 'Games Without Frontiers' album.

There is one other notable after effect of the first Gabriel record. Roger Waters loved it, and hence, brought in Toronto Bob to co-produce The Wall.

NFL WEEK 12

What the F@ck? When I left my house at the start of the 4th quarter, everything was hunky dory in the land of the Giants. By the time I got to the studio, the score had changed from a nice 21-0 lead over the Titans, to 21-7. I made another quick jaunt to go pick up a keyboard at a friend's house a few blocks away, by the time I was returning the score was tied 21-21. What the f@ck?

How long does it take a New York football team to fall apart?

15 minutes.

I heard Shockey shot the whole team in their sleep last night.


And then there's the Jets!

Zero fumbles.
Zero INTs.
1 penalty in the 55th minute of the game.

Mistake free ball wins games.

Oh, and uh, scoring points.....
....and, uh, keeping the other team from scoring.









And the Saints! Deuce!

Brees with another stellar performance.

I smell playoffs!



I very much look forward to watching Dallas lose to the loser Giants next week.

Friday, November 24, 2006











Tuesday, November 21, 2006

JACKSON GIVES YOU THE BIRD

So the Legal Diva and I had a production meeting last night about our holiday meal.

The menu:

1st course (appetizer): A cold plate featuring two cheeses (brie and peranno), olives, sweet gherkins, crackers, and hummous.

2nd course (soup): A roasted acorn squash soup

3rd course (main): A brined turkey roasted with cornbread and sausage stuffing. Green beans with sauteed onions, garlic, and pimentos. Roasted garlic mashed potatoes and turnips. Sauteed pancetta and yellow squash.

4th course (dessert): Sweet Potato Pie with roasted pecans.

I'm very excited.

CHAN SESSIONS @ S&M BKLN

Demoing the demo for demonstration




DISTRESSORS - HOORAY!

I got two new Distressors today. Well, actually I got two slightly used Distressors today. I purchased two Empirical Labs EL8 Distressors off an associate at my day job.

These compressors are the alpha and omega of high end signal chain compression.

George has one that he uses with his Telefunken mic pre, and David Murray has two that he uses with his Neve clone mic pre's.

Well, Smoke and Mirrors now has two to pair up with our two channels of Neve clone pre's.

We have officially arrived.

Tony, you may never cry. But this shit will make you weep instantly when you hit town next month.

Bring tissue.

NFL WEEK 11

I don't want to talk about it.

Monday, November 20, 2006

MURRAY IN THE HOUSE

We had the fortunate experience of having Dave Murray in our studio yesterday. (All you Maiden Heads pipe down, different excellent guitar player.) David is an Austin Texas institution, and it was my pleasure to visit his studio last year.

This time he stopped by our place to put some finishing touches on some work we've been doing for Chan Chandler - fellow Austin import, songwriter, compadre, and all around excellent dude.

Chan (pictured below) has been working both studios on this project, and it's been very fun, and very interesting; swapping files, having some studio pro in Austin lay down piano on tracks developed in Brooklyn, ect.

We got a couple takes of a guitar track out of Dave before we settled into the sound design portion of the evening.

We clapped, banged on metal, and wood, murmured, and generally created environments via sound.


It was fun, and we got a lot of work done.

It's nice when the two can be combined.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

CHAD

For the world beyond New York, Chad has meant next to nothing. An injury laden also-ran with a 'water pistol' arm.

I wonder if any of these people remember the first few years of Joe Montana's career - injuries, doubt, and mixes results. Bret Favre was a slow starter as well, but hardly anybody remembers his time in Atlanta.

What Chad does have is smarts, determination, and a cool head. He reminds me of the fore-mentioned Montana, and another New York favorite - Phil Simms.

Chad gets the job done. He doesn't force the big play. Most importantly, Chad understands ball control, and working the clock.

Look at what he did last week against New England.

"The Jets held the ball for 9:12 in a magnificent 16-play, 81-yard drive that gave them a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. They used up 6:40 in a 15-play, 45-yard drive that led to a third-quarter field goal and a 10-6 advantage." - Newsday

"Controlling the football and keeping the defense off the field is demoralizing to your opponent," Pennington said.

Hell yeah.

I've said it before, but allow me to repeat myself. The only reason the Jets aren't 9-0 is because they haven't found replacements for Curtis Martin and Wayne Chrebet.

Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blaylock, and Leon Washington are good utility players, but ball control begins on the ground, and Curtis is sorely missed. Like my other all time favorite Running Back, John Riggins, he was an automatic 4 yard gain.

The Jets need a new Tight End as well. The likes of Chrebet are hard to come by, and though Chris Barker is tough like Shockey, he doesn't have the hands, or the ability to make plays like Wayne or Jeremy.

Chad is working miracles with what he's got, but what he's got is the ability to make miracles happen, and I need a miracle.......Every Sunday.

AND THEY'RE OFF..........











John McCain would be my number one pick right now, he may piss me off, and slip down a notch or two, but as a serious contender, he's the only one who has declared intent that I trust not to fuck up the nation.


















Barack is just not ready. I like him, I like his future, but he needs to be patient and work the Hill (all puns intended) a little while longer.


















Absolutely not. Not ever. Maybe Cheif of Staff, or Attorney General, but never Commander in Cheif. Rudy is a Nazi of the highest order. He invented the term 'racial profiling'.


















Oh Al, if only you'd come back. He probably won't, which is why McCain tops the list.



Hillary, you make a great politicain, like silly puddy you are. President?Nope. Maybe VP to McCain if your ego and ambition would allow it, but I can't see America giving you their trust.








John Edwards. I like him. Another good VP candidate, but I don't think he's got the pull for the run for the top spot.

MOROR CITY MADHOUSE

I told her that I came From Detroit City...........
(Ann Arbor actually)

















And I played guitar In a long-haired rock and roll band ............

















She asked me why the singer's name was Alice.........



















I said listen, baby You really wouldn't understand...........














Wednesday, November 15, 2006

JUST PLAIN CRAZY

O.J. is officially around the bend.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

IF YOU GOTTA DO IT, DO IT THE AMERICAN WAY

Readers of this blog know I oppose the proposed 'Mexican Fence'. They most likely also know that Tony Alva is pro-fence. Tony and I have talked off-line as well, and I understand his concerns, and they are well founded. I just disagree with the method of fixing the problem.

This Texas town has gone about it in a way that I consider less offensive.

A wall barrier makes us no better than the Soviets, and, historically speaking is no solution at all. Hadrian's wall, the Great Wall of China - not effective. The Berlin Wall sure kept folks in, but then again, it only covered half the circumference of Berlin - a city, not 2,000 miles of national border, - 2,000 miles of sparsely populated country.

The citizens of San Diego will tell you that a wall does not stop illegal immigration.

What will?

Some will say nothing, but tough legislation concerning landlords and employers, and increased INS activity will slow it down some. Maybe long enough for us to focus on the real problems we face concerning the natural enviroment and spiraling national debt - oh yeah, and the situation with Islamozealotry.

Monday, November 13, 2006

CANTON BOUND

11 Years
3,518 Rushes
14,101 Yards
4.0 Average Yards
90 Touchdowns

Better than Dickerson, Dorsett, Brown, or Simpson....

Better than John Riggins, Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk or Franco Harris.

And done with the lowest profile of them all.

Sure Barry, Walter, and Emmitt rank above Curtis, but you must now mention him in the same breath.

THESE GUYS GOT IT SUSSED

This is great news, now only if I was Canadian, and sick.

FREE AT LAST?

I am pleased to see this come to fruition in my lifetime.

SMOKE NAZIS

I shouldn't smoke. I know that. I smoke less these days, and plan to phase it out altogether, but I have a stressful job, and when I am on-site, out come the Parliaments.

I work in hotels. A good number of my associates are smokers - die hards, with no intention of quitting - ever.

Westin is a non-smoking hotel chain, and now, Marriott has gone smoke free as well.

They are stupid. Willard Marriott, shown above, is actively pursuing a vendetta against smokers.

We will smoke in the rooms regardless of your financial threats and attempts to keep us from engaging in a LEGAL activity in the privacy of our homes.

Yes, our homes. For that week, my room is my home.

The fascist owners of these hotel chains are, as I have said, stupid. They will incur much more trouble and cost due to their vendetta against us law abiding citizens.

Think about it. If you have 100 hundred smoking rooms, you know where the smoking is happening. If you have no smoking rooms, 100 random rooms will now become smoking rooms by default every night, and you'll have to find them, and clean them.

Silly.

I do not get to choose the venue for the meetings I work. If I did, I'd pick sensible hotels, like Hyatt, or Hilton, who have not chosen to persecute a large portion of their customer base.

Fuck you Willard.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

J.E.T.S.

Jets, Jets, Jets!

17-14

Ha!

NHL

Last night was Hockey Night on the CBC, which is one of the channels you get here in Detroit. The featured game, viewed by my Uncle Mike, until he fell asleep, was the Canucks vs. Calgary. My guys lost, again, Vancouver is now 8/9. Apparently we're having Goalie issues.

Hue's Wild won in a Shoot Out against the LA Kings, bringing them to an astonishing 11/4.

Tony's Thrashers lost to the Lighting (whoever they are), but they are still dominating their division at 12/5.

Chrispy's Hurricane's salpped the Penguins (bad year to be from Pittsburgh) 6-2, putting them at a respecatble 9/6.

Take off, eh.

Friday, November 10, 2006


LIVE AND DANGEROUS/KISSOLOGY

I just purchased two music DVDs. Thin Lizzy's 1978 concert movie 'Live and Dangerous', and Kissology


The Thin Lizzy concert, filmed in 1978 at the Rainbow in London, documents the classic Lizzy line-up at the height of their rock prowess.

I have been waiting years for this to get re-released.

I'm so happy.




Kiss has released a compilation DVD of early live performances, with the usual added bonus stuff Gene and Paul like to toss our way - Kiss Alive promo spots, ect.

Kiss was a huge influence on my musical taste, and it was these years in particular that fascinated me in my youth.

As much as I am loathe to put yet more money in the pockets of Gene and Paul, I couldn't resist - and they knew it all along.

FREEDOM

Who Knew George Michael was such a visionary?

Thanks to Clarkie for the fwd.

JACKSON'S MUST SEE LIST

1) For Your Consideration

Chris Guest and friends are back, this time Holywood itself is the subject.

I simply cannot wait.

View the trailer here.



2) Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

View Trailer Here.

Sacha is a genius.

#1 at the box office.

'Nuff said.






3) Casino Royale

I'm a huge Bond fan. My father instilled this trait in me. I've wrongly blamed him for many things in my life, but this one is all on him - thank God.

I have not been a fan of recent Bond films. The last 007 movie I went to see in the theater would be 1984's Octopussy - a truly horrible movie.

I like the Connery films, and the first few Roger Moore installments (Live and Let Die, Man With the Golden Gun).

This new one is both a back to basics, and a update all rolled into one.

We'll see if it lives up to my very high standards, and, as I plan to be very high when I go see it, I can only say that I'll most likely enjoy it, or I'll hate it - no in between.

View Trailer Here.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Eddie's son, Wolfie, replaces Michael as VH bassist.

I guess we can only hope Valerie doesn't get the Vocalist slot.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

NFL WEEK 10 - CRUNCH TIME

So long Curtis. The NFL's 4th all-time leading rusher, and the most prolific yardage earner in the backfield for most of the past ten years is officially out for the season, and it doesn't look like he'll be back.

Most of you will say this common knowledge - but us true Jet fans held out an inkling of hope, until last week when it was announced.

What does this mean for the Jets.

Nothing.

J. E. T. S. Jets, Jets, Jets!

The Jets will destroy the Pats this week. It's a foregone conclusion. Brady was humiliated last week, and will crumble under the Jets pass rush led by Johnathan Vilma.



Baltimore beats Tennessee
Indy beats Buffalo
Cleveland loses in ATL
Green Bay loses in Minnesota
Houston Loses in Jacksonville
KC wins in Miami
Jets win in New England
San Diego loses in Cincinnati
San Fran loses in Detroit
Washington loses in Philly (Sorry Jennifer)
Denver wins in Oakland
Dallas wins in Arizona
New Orleans wins in Pittsburgh
St. Louis loses in Seattle
Chicago loses to the New York Football Giants
Tampa loses to the Panthers

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?