Watch Frightened Rabbit's 15-Song Live Set
This has been The Year of My Frightened Rabbit Obsession, and I’m looking forward to catching the band in Athens on Oct. 26. I saw the Scottish quintet twice in Austin, and as is evidenced by their Liver! Lung! FR! album, they’re a great live act. Revision3 recorded a recent set at the Rickshow Stop in San Francisco which you can watch below or at Revision3.com. It includes a cover of The National’s “Fake Empire” that turns into “Backward Walk.”... read more
Top 10 Atlanta Concerts for September 2010
Unless you’re this guy, you can’t spend every night going out to hear bands. But if you had unlimited time and money and lived in a good music town like Atlanta, you wouldn’t be hurting for options. Each month, I’ll try to narrow it down for you here by listing my picks for the 10 Most Tantalizing Atlanta Concerts. Here are some concerts worth checking out in September 2010:... read more
The Man Who Ate New Orleans
Before Katrina, my only experience with New Orleans was visiting my friend Stephanie on a layover on my way to Honduras. She toured me around Desire Street, where she lived and worked in the Eighth and Ninth Wards. When I finally got back to the city in 2007 and spent a few days there, Stephanie once again played tour guide, but all the homes we’d seen before were either completely gone or were a pile of ruins on a barren, street-lined field.... read more
World Class Soccer in the U.S.A.
I’d like to say I’ve been a Manchester City fan since they played the Atlanta Chiefs back in 1968. But I wasn’t even born then. Truth is, I’ve been a Manchester City fan for exactly one year, when I went to the Manchester International Festival and just, well, sort of decided to pull for them. I’d assumed I was going to run into a bunch of Manchester United fans, but my hosts explained that everyone in the city was a City fan. I said, offhandedly, that I was now a City fan too.... read more
The Aging Uncle Goes To a Metalcore Show
Earlier this week, I went to The Cool Tour at The Tabernacle in Atlanta with two of my nephews, RJ, 17, and Jackson, 14. It was the first concert for either of them, and they needed a chaperone who wouldn’t mind bleeding from the ears a little bit.... read more
World Cup Takeover: Irony, Justice and Ghana-Uruguay
It shouldn’t have happened. A match shouldn’t have ended under those circumstances.... read more
World Cup Takeover: The Quarterfinal Preview
Greetings from Nigeria, where I am attempting to exchange jerseys with the national team since they won’t need them for the next two years. (Not really, but I am intrigued that Nigeria’s President has the potentially ironic name Goodluck Jonathan.) The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is down to eight teams after an eventful round of 16. Let’s roll with a few thoughts before previewing the next slate of matches:... read more
World Cup Update: Elimination Rounds and US vs. Ghana Preview
Greetings from North London, where I am stalking Arsene Wenger in the hopes that Arsenal will sign U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley (Not really. I’m still just a man and his computer.) We are down to 16 teams so let’s take a look at some key story lines and predictions before breaking down the USA-Ghana match-up.... read more
World Cup Takeover: Eight Thoughts on the Final Group Matches plus USA vs. Algeria
Greetings from of Paris, where I just cheered on South Africa along with many of my French friends at a public viewing near the Eiffel Tower! (Not really, I’m still watching Univision). Here are eight observations and a brief preview and prediction of US vs. Algeria. But first: a little brush-up on Algeria, compliments of the United States Department of State.... read more
Living La Vida Polka: United States vs. Slovenia World Cup Preview
Game Day for Slovenia-United States! Get in the mood with this little gem from late Slovenian-American polka legend Frankie Yankovic and his non-related moniker buddy Weird Al. They filmed this spoof for the 1986 Grammys.... read more
Toy Story + The Wire = Pure Joy
This mash-up is further theological proof that the Internet loves you and wants you to be happy. Woody as McNulty? Buzz Lightyear as Stringer Bell? And the dachshund with a cameo as Senator Clay Davis? Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Give us a full episode, pretty please. (via Austin L. Ray via Videogum via Kottke via however they found it)... read more
The Five Best World Cup Goals of 2010 (So Far)
Earlier this morning, I shared nine thoughts about the World Cup so far. My 10th is just to give you the five best goals of the first round of group matches:... read more
Nine World Cup Thoughts After the First Group Matches
Greetings from South Africa! (Not really, but I do watch Univision). Now that the first set of group matches are in the book, it’s time to reflect on what we know so far besides the bee hive drone of the vuvuzela and the whirling Jabulani ball. Nine thoughts:... read more
10 Great (or Strange) Pixies Covers
Kings of Leon were the homecoming headliners of Bonnaroo this year, and the Tennessee boys covered The Pixies "Where is My Mind." It got us thinking of all the great Pixies covers by various artists over the years. Here are 10 of the most interesting. read more
High Gravity goes soccer-mad. England vs. USA, Part Three
[Click here for Part One] [Click here for Part Two] What better way to start Match Day than with this legendary national anthem performance by the Prince of Motown:... read more
High Gravity goes soccer-mad. England vs. USA, Part Two
[Click here for Part One] Let’s assess England’s team before moving on tomorrow to the United States and a prediction. After a disastrous failure to qualify for Euro 2008, England turned to Italian coaching stallion Fabio Capello to guide the Three Lions. In addition to an astute sense of fashion and striking pair of designer glasses, Capello has brought discipline, focus and an intolerance of the melodrama that usually hangs over the English squad like London fog in a Victorian novel (so I’m told…).... read more
High Gravity goes soccer-mad. England vs. USA, Part One
OK, I know that you look to Paste to discover music, film, books, video games and TV shows you might have otherwise missed. But I’m having a hard time thinking about anything besides soccer right now. I’ve invited guest blogger and soccer expert Patrick Connelly to the High Gravity blog this month for a little World Cup analysis. To be fair, it is on TV.—Josh Jackson... read more
Michael Dunaway's new Rookie of the Year Video
My dear friend and Paste film writer Michael Dunaway just directed his first music video for Rookie of the Year’s “Bizarre Love Triangle.” Here’s the abridged version. The full version can be purchased on DVD here. Congrats, Michael and Gasoline Films.... read more
The Best World Cup Twitter Feeds
Buried in today’s List of the Day, 10 Ways The Internet Wants To Get You Excited About The World Cup is a list of the World Cup-related Twitter feeds. The following 18 Twitter accounts will give you a glimpse into the World Cup from the perspective of the players, including 10 from Team USA. Plus five of our favorite informational Twitter users will keep you in the World Cup loop.... read more
US Soccer Needs a Nickname
When the U.S. takes on England this Saturday in the World Cup, it will arguably be at a disadvantage on talent, despite gifted players like Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore. But it will certainly be at a disadvantage when it comes to the team nicknames. England’s is the Three Lions, a nod to the country’s official Coat of Arms. In 1996, the team even adopted “Three Lions” as its official song. Instead, I’ll be pulling for USMNT, which, unfortunately, doesn’t stand for Mutant Ninja Turtles, but the altogether bland “Men’s National Team.”... read more
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