Rock Star Dance Party
As an Editor At Large, I’ve had the fortune/misfortune of being present at some truly hedonistic and bacchanalian parties hosted by some serial rage-aholics, 50 cent, Kid Rock, Phish, Flaming Lips, etc. However, none of these “experiences” could have prepared me for the utter madness of hosting a dozen kids for my son’s fourth B-Day party. The theme was “rock star dance party”. The idea started when my genius wife decide to make backstage passes for all the guests. We are not talking crayon, glitter and string; we are talking watermarked laminates with sponsored lanyards. The goodie bags, seemingly... read more
Shark Week Continues with Kelsey Grammar School
Kelsey Grammar School Following up with another post from Sweet Talk’s “Shark Week”. During a little après skiing libation consumption, ST ended up in a very involved fireside conversation in regards to how some sharks never stop moving. In summary they are the benchmark for ADD. Naturallythis conversation caromed off into how grey sharks give birth. Basically, it ain’t pretty. The species is ovoviviparous, which basically means that young sharks hatch inside the female shark’s uterus and immediately begin eating their siblings; a intrauterine, cannibalistic survival of the fittest so to speak. Only after the carnage is over and a... read more
“You’re Going to Need a Bigger Boat”
“You’re Going to Need A Bigger Boat” -Chief Brody to Quint after seeing Jaws for the first time. As our own Sean Gandert published yesterday, the man who uttered the memorable line above, actor Roy Scheider, died at the age of 75 of cancer last Sunday.While he was a fine actor and had a long career, I would argue that this snippet of dialogue ranks in the top twenty movie quotes of all time and more importantly helped me overcome fear of “the big boy.” The line has been co-opted countless times. In fact I recently heard it used by... read more
Heath Ledger RIP
I’m taking a break from the quad burning treks up Main Street in Park City to write a few words about the unfortunate passing of Heath Ledger. Before the tabloids and rags rip this young man apart with tales of demons and drugs, I wanted to share my memory of meeting this very unique and original person. I was standing off to the side of ?uestlove’s drum riser during the Roots cover of Dylan’s “Masters of War” at the I’m Not There fundraising concert last fall when Ledger came up to me and started playing air drums with utter abandon.... read more
Sundance 2008; Celluloid By the Slopes
Sitting in our little Villa at the base of Park City’s Main St. trying to digest an everything bagel with peanut butter and yesterday’s whirlwind of PASTE activity at the 2008 Sundance film festival. Entering my fourth year of this celluloid by the slopes extravaganza I realize I am in a somewhat unique position this time around. I am not here to promote a project, meet anyone in particular, attend a special screening, or in fact do much of anything other than be an active participant in the madness wherever I see fit, in other words an ideal situation for... read more
Barry Manilow and Brian Boitano, the Review
The Aflac Presents Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular Starring Barry Manilow reviewed by Sweet Talk’s intrepid man on the scene Buckshot Johnson December 5, 2007, San Francisco. Brian Boitano, Olympic gold medalist, world champion and Emmy winner, had an ice rink built in the infield of the San Francisco Giant’s home AT&T Park. He called his world champion and gold medalist friends to perform with him. He convinced NBC Sports to film the event for national broadcast later this month. Finally he asked Barry Manilow to sing the live soundtrack to their routines. When this convergence came across my screen I... read more
Barry Manilow and Brian Boitano Together At Last
Our esteemed Web Editor Austin Ray is a hard working man with a keen and discerning journalistic eye, but he is obviously too busy preparing his Turkey. How else could he have missed the big news coming out of the Bay Area about Barry? No, not Barry Bonds bidding farewell to San Francisco’s AT&T Park following his indictment, about AT&T Park welcoming Barry Manilow and famed figure skater and South Park whipping boy, Brian Boitano for a one night singing and skating extravaganza on Dec. 5th. As reported in the Hartford CT, Examnier: (we promise this is NOT from The... read more
My Morning Jacket, Yo La Tengo, The Roots, Tift Merritt, Ian Ball and Heath Ledger all play Dylan
While still recovering from the revelry of Wednesday’s eclectic and well produced I’m Not There Concert celebrating director Todd Haynes Dylan Biopic of the same name, I sadly realized I lost my notes. I should have probably guessed this was going to be the case as they were scrawled on the flimsy cardboard that my trusty partner in crime Mr. Swanhaus used to carry our beers down to the front row. No matter how much my head still hurts I can easily remember the highlights, of which they were many. Right from the get go it was clear that this... read more
The Perfect Tool For Making a Bedroom Symphony
I am always amazed at the Kelley Stoltz’ and Loney, Dear’s (read my words about him HERE) of the world who walk into their cramped home studio and turn out complex multi-layered masterpieces pretty much on their own. Well after watching the following video they have another tool in which to create some symphonic madness: http://vimeo.com:80/295006 My brethren in the Javelin collective who are truly some of the most talented producers I have ever known added this to their X-mas list, so you know it must be the hot music gift of the season. ... read more
The Leaf Blower, the Boston Red Sox, Jack Kerouac and Ryan Adams
Sorry about my Blog hiatus but I have been caught up in fall fever. Preparing the house and the plants for the long nap ahead and lugging all of summer’s play toys into deep storage has made me feel like an anal retentive squirrel. But here is what has made it all bearable. 1) My new Robo Leaf Blower: This has not only saved a number of hard to find back muscles but it has also given the kids bigger piles in which to leap, rustle, hide, and eventually obliterate. For such a cheap Yankee curmudgeon as me this is... read more
Sweet Talk in Newport
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Jam Band Fan or Taliban… Take the quiz
Private Peabody, a west coast correspondent for Sweet Talk sent me a link recently that makes one praise this wonder of wonderments known as the internet. I revel in the fact that genius lies just a simple click away. For proof I offer you Jam Band Fan or Taliban, a site where you look at a man’s face up close and try and guess whether you are starring into the eyes of a man who worships an enlightened prophet or a tasty Estimated Prophet. The image above and below are just a few examples. Scary/Funny that after the first... read more
In Search Of Captain Zero Part II
Many of you may remember I wrote about an incredible author named Allan Weisbecker and his trials, tribulations and death threats last April. If not I strongly urge you to take all of five minutes and read it, so you will fully understand the rest of this entry. Here is the link: In Search Of Captain Zero Part I Anyway after several people wrote me hoping to hear more about the hour I spent with Weisbecker almost a year ago, I thought it might be a good time to post some of the transcript from our taped conversation, especially because... read more
Anchorwoman
I wanted to take the time to pay respects to a reality show that bit the dust last month, Anchorwoman. The premise of this Mockumentary wrapped in a reality show wrapped in documentary from Fox is brilliantly simple; a former Miss New York and Dive from WWE’s Smackdown, Lauren Jones, heads for small town Tyler Texas, to become a hard-hitting anchorwoman for a local TV station even though she’s about as intelligent as melted jello, and we all get to come along for the ride. Do yourself the favor and just check out the site and see some of the... read more
The Best Way to Waste Ten Minutes On This Agrrravating Monday
Just when you think Monday had nothing to offer, I give you Corey: ... read more
Lollapallooza & Newport Folk: My weekend with Elvis Perkins, G. Love, Tom Morello Grace Potter, etc
Many mark their summers by days at the beach or tan lines. This summer I seem to be collecting festival days, which are typically on weekends, thus my weeks are filled with work while my weekends are filled with well…more work. Thankfully, I will argue, I have one of the best jobs in the world if you happen to live and breathe music, so punching the clock on an 80 hour work week suits me just fine. To give you an idea here are my notes on a typical weekend: Wed: 8/1/07: Received call from Guitar Hero. They are... read more
Stay Tuned in Week 32 - Budos Band, Sharon Jones, BRMC, Jesse Harris
Okay….as usual crazy Monday…need to catch up quickly on the inbox nuggets before breaking into my crazy Lollapalooza > Newport Folk Festival Weekend extravaganza. Here it is: • Budos Band – Budos Band II –listening to the newest set of hip gyrating Staten Island Soul tracks climbing out of the Daptone basement and all I can say is their crew just keeps delivering the goods. People music, all ages, all genders…just righteous, people music. Grab it and start imagining what the new Sharon Jones album is going to sound like because word on the street is that it’s coming. Amy... read more
HEM, Paul Oakenfold, American Babies and the Boston Pops
(Josh Jackson, Editor of PASTE, Sweet Talk, DJ Paul Oakenfold, Lora Kratchounova from OurStage) So after the whirlwind week of Bonnaroo to Telluride Bluegrass, ST was fortunate enough to arrive back in our hometown of Boston and head straight from the airport to Symphony Hall for an eclectic and elegant night. Usually Symphony Hall is not the first place you’d think to catch such an amalgamation of music, but with the exception of the opening piece from Westside Story the 96 piece orchestra of the Boston Pops took their chops into new more modern territory. The series which in the... read more
Staying Tuned
Some quick bits I liked seeing in my inbox this past week * The Brand New Heavies - my initial entry into the neo-soulfunk movement have been hitting the road hard to support Get Used To It. After a ten year sit on the bench the Heavies with R&B roots vocalist N’Dea Davenport back on the team have been blasting around the world, but are coming by again with Macy Gray. The Heavies have never sounded so good. Catch ‘em. * Rogue Wave’s new album Asleep At Heaven’s Gate will be out soon ( September 18th) Leaving Sub-Pop where they... read more
Wayne Coyne, Pancake Mountain, and Sweet Talk doing Karaoke
Ever since my buddy Burton turned me and my sons on to the inimitable and highly addictive family show, Pancake Mountain, it has been one of my goals to be interviewed by Rufus, the cotton swab lamb who has a penchant for chilling with some solid music peeps. ie pictured here with Bright Eyes: My desire to hang with a hand puppet has nothing to do with easing some deep rooted childhood neurosis, it has to do with impressing my three year old son. You see Go-Go Sweet has had the good fortune to have had tea at the Ritz... read more
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