pacificlectic : concert reviews & eclectic music news

Podcaster George Hrab has been my favorite free entertainment for a LONG time.  Since late 2007 or so, when I got into his funny & insightful podcast called the Geologic Podcast, he’s been my favorite near-hour of entertainment that gets put out nearly every week.

An all around great chap, his latest podcast (#262) featured a few hilarious “old timey” songs performed by “Manfreedy Johnson and the Nineteens“…

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Subscribe to the Geologic Podcast on iTunes.

Beyond being a funny guy, a skeptic, and a thinker, he’s also a professional musician and has six full-length studio albums out (GO HERE to LISTEN).

~Dan – np: Kim Taylor – I Feel Like A Fading Light

British actor Martin Freeman [the new Sherlock, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Office] is poised to appear in the 8th Season Finale of NBC’s The Office as Tim Canterbury (reprising this character from the original BBC show).  Some key plot-points are TOP SECRET, but an immediate bonding with John Krasinski’s character Jim Halpert will not be maintained for long.

Executive producers and creators of the show, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, said this in an NBC press release:

It makes sense and, in a way, brings the story full circle.  Without giving away too much, [Tim] will wrangle Jim out of a job [early next season], which will open up a ‘Jim & Pam spin-off’ that we’re planning for 2014.

The Season Finale air date has yet to be announced by NBC.  Watch Season Eight “on demand” NOW.

~Dan – np: Tegan and Sara – Sainthood

Adam Carolla had a busy weekend.  The most recently fired celebrity on Donald Trump’s NBC Celebrity Apprentice, the former co-host of Loveline with Dr. Drew, the former co-host of The Man Show with Jimmy Kimmel, and the #1 podcaster in the world (with the Guinness World Record to show for it) played Seattle on Friday night, Spokane on Saturday night, and Portland’s Newmark Theatre last night.

I don’t always agree with what he says.  He’s middle-of-the-road politically – not claiming alignment with any party.  He’s quite in favor of many good social issues (gay rights, sex education, women’s reproductive issues, etc), but he’s staunchly conservative on fiscal and immigration concerns.  But in all honesty, how many times do you agree with everything even your loved ones say?  While some people may have “something for everyone to like,” Adam may very well fit into having “something for everyone to hate” or at least “have issue with.”  Eh, I still fall into the “love camp”…

His sharp wit, funny stories and quirky-yet-still-grounded sense of humor make coming back to listen daily a treat.  His Monday to Friday daily podcast is one of my favorites and it quickly goes to the top of my queue (subscribe iTunes).  His ACE podcasting network is also growing and excellent things abound: Penn Jillette’s PennSundaySchool, Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend (the funny & charming news gal), Ace on the House (home improvement), CarCast (I’m not even a gear junkie, but this is a fascinating show), et cetera… all great!

I thought comedian/songwriter Josh Gardner was to open the show.  However, they played the title track to Mr. Stinkfinger via laptop and then Adam came out.  Josh’s comedy albums are available now… Mr Stinkfinger EP and Winter Bush:

Adam’s stand-up shows are basically 90-minutes.  They are sometimes free form, but this one seemed a little more planned, with a little thrown in as far as what happened to him this past weekend.

He walked out with an oatmeal cookie… with dried cranberries in it.  This opened up into a rant about the adding shit to shit and why we keep fucking good things up.  Next on his complain list was “Spring Forward,” and he went through a funny USA Today bit about what people would do with their extra hour (back in the fall).

He got off complaining for a bit to talk about a Leno show appearance with Queen Latifah.  She had been going on about “limin’,” which apparently is what they call “chillin’” in the Caribbean.  Adam’s bit after her was about children’s toys at Christmas, and how you need lineman dykes to cut the toys out of their boxes.  Apparently people got in a huff because they thought he was calling “Queen” a “limin’ dyke.”  Ah, good times.

Up next, a little bit about his NBC Celebrity Apprentice experience with a few clips from last night’s show (where he got fired).  Apparently Buick didn’t like his jokes.  Oh well… now once Penn Jillette gets fired, I can quit watching that rubbish.

Next he played a cartoon rendition of “Gay Eyes,” a made up movie that Adam worked up during a 2009 podcast with Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston.  I can’t find the cartoon-version on line anywhere, but I remember hearing it when it went down.  Here is the audio.

The next 45 minutes… what Adam is known for… more complaining.  No “what can’t Adam complain about” requests from the audience, but some pre-loaded hyper vigilance rants that hit on many topics: tagging the landscape in Los Angeles, buttons on car keys, shower handles in hotels, key cards in hotels, toys under sofas, custom shoes, WC Field’s smoking & drinking poster in the doctor’s office, L.A. ice cream truck, recumbent cyclists, Click-It or Ticket, auto flush toilets, the L.A. “river,” rescue dogs, and how Mexicans grieve.

He ended the show with a stroll through memory lane via his Social Security Statement.  From an astonishing $1k to $9k/year of earnings for most of the 80s to stardom in the mid 90s.  His “money can’t buy you happiness” was a nice, uplifting non-rant about applying yourself to work towards doing what you want to do.

Some of his stories were ones we’d heard before via the podcast or radio show… he was playing to his audience; so it was all good.  Adam is a busy guy… ever turning logs in the fire.  Keep up to date with him via the links below… and by all means, if you like to listen to podcasts, make room in your queue for what I consider to be one of the best / funniest ones out there.

The Appropriate Linkage:

• Adam Carolla’s Site / the Podcast (iTunes)
  
• Adam Carolla’s Tour Dates
• Adam Carolla’s Social Media Links (see below)
  
• Newmark Theatre’s Site / Facebook / Twitter

Next show for me… Maynard James Keenan’s PUSCIFER on 3/14 in Portland.

~Dan – np: John Zorn – IAO: Music in Sacred Light

Made by Mark Hall-Patch. Maybe some of these “musicians” would get a little more street cred with some evil band logos.

~Dan – np: The Roots – Undun

If you’re here for the Pomplamoose Portland 10/27 photos & review,
I apologize, but it’ll be up tomorrow (10/31).

I generally abhor holiday albums. Good ones I can count… Over the Rhine’s The Darkest Night of the Year is dark & hauntingly gorgeous, Monk’s How Like a Winter shows off Ric Hordinski’s lush guitar work, Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas is part childhood lexicon and part perfect piano jazz wonderment. I hate holiday albums, but I can wholeheartedly recommend these…

Then, you get utter rubbish like this… Kenny G’s Happy Birthday Jesus I Hope You Like Crap, Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas Toots and Synths that Your 5-Year Old Could Make But Doesn’t Because They Understand Quality, Tran-Siberian Orchestra’s I Remember When They Were Savatage and Took One Song From a Great Concept Album and Turned It Into a Cringe-worthy Christmas Juggernaut, and lastly Middle-Aging Rocker’s I’m Being Non-traditional in My Grab for Cash.

Well, along comes a favorite pint-sized singer-songwriter, Erin McKeown, to add another FAVORITE album to my winter-listening pile. I present to you F*ck That! Erin McKeown’s Anti-Holiday Album…

GO HERE for sound samples of all these songs

1. Christmas Waltz (F*ck That!) [Explicit]
2. Santa Is An A**hole [Explicit]
3. Go Tell It On The Mountain (That Karl Rove Is Born)
4. Fa La La La
5. Visions I Have Had While High
6. It’s a Very Queer Christmas
7. Christmas (Love It Or Leave It)
8. Frozen Smiles
9. You Wish Us A Happy Holidays
10. Toyland
11. Christmas Waltz (Kleen Mix)
12. Santa Is An A**hole (Kleen Mix)

It’s out-now digital/mp3 download from Amazon (and iTunes), and it comes out physically on November 1st. Check her out at http://erinmckeown.com/.

~Dan – np: Under Byen - Samme Stof Som Stof

But in all seriousness… Steve Jobs was an innovator.  Sleep well, brother…

~Dan – np: Wussy – Strawberry

Things have been slow on the music front for me… not as many concert reviews.  I saw The Termals (and others) last night at the Eugene Celebration.  No review forthcoming, but The Thermals were super rad.  I definitely need to get more into them, and I’d definitely recommend seeing them if they come through your town.

Despite my lack of reviews the past month, don’t worry, I’ll be digging back in soon with Music Fest NW in early September and then kick more into gear in the fall when the bands make their inevitable “back to school” tours.

Now for something completely different…

~Dan – np: Hotel Lights – Girl Graffiti

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Voodoo Doughnuts is famous for their crazy and amazing doughnuts… they now have two locations in Portland and one in Eugene (represent!).  They also recently came up with a special Eugene Slug Queen doughnut for the annual crowning of the new Slug Queen (this year is Holly GoSlugly)…

Well, just across the craft beer wire, Newport, OR-based Rogue Ales they got label approval for their new Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Porter in tribute to Voodoo’s maple bacon bars.  It’ll be out in 750mL bottles and is made with maple syrup, apple-smoked bacon and vanilla beans…

http://voodoodoughnut.com/
http://www.rogue.com/

Personally, I’d have gone for a “jelly & pretzel voodoo doll beer” over this one, but you know, they don’t really poll the vegetarians before proceeding. LOL!  Anyway, an interesting concept… I’ll check with my meat-eating friends when it comes out.

~Dan – np: Talat – The Growl

Friday funnies.  Two ways to say “NO“… first from the desk of Mister Rogers‘ Neighborhood…

Next from the desk of Sean Connery to Steve Jobs of Apple…

Schplendid!

~Dan – np: John Scofield – This Meets That

British knockoff rock act Coldplay have announced an Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall digital EP, featuring two more brand new tracks “Major Minus” and “Moving To Mars.”

The digital EP comes out Sunday (6/26).  It also comes out on CD and 7″ vinyl on Monday (UK) and Tuesday (US).  The title track is already available (see Amazon for sound sample).

If Chris Martin releases a video of him dancing by himself in an alley, well… you know where he got the idea.

Sorry, I hate to be negative (or do I?).  I just have very little patience for Coldplay.

~Dan – np: Basya Schechter – Queen’s Dominion

The only question… how did OK Go not think of this first?

~Dan – np: The Roots – Things Fall Apart

If you came here for the U2 Seattle review, GO HERE.

New today, the second episode of Vegan Black Metal Chef… making an “all-star redneck medley”… three recipes:

• mashed potatoes, corn & baked beans
• brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and red pepper sauteed in truffle oil, and
• vegetable pasta upon the throne of the apocalypse

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Did you miss VBMC episode 1: Pad Thai?

~Dan – np: Remy Zero – Villa Elaine

Horton Hears a Rare B-Side from Radiohead

Yeah, two Radiohead posts in a row.  Happy Memorial Day, Steve…

~Dan – np: Puscifer/Lustmord – D is for Dubby

MitchHedberg.net got a facelift from Lynn (no “e”).  Mitch died more than six years ago (3/30/2005).  His jokes will live on.  Go ahead and take a stroll down memory lane with the new content on the page…

http://mitchhedberg.net/

Also, check out some of the funny new Mitch merch…

Sorry for the convenience.

~Dan – np: The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain

This was uploaded 4 days ago, and I thought it fitting to post for Friday the 13th.  Behold, the first episode of Vegan Black Metal Chef… making vegan pad thai!

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~Dan – np: Poundhound – Massive Grooves from the Electric Church of Psychofunkadelic Grungelism Rock Music

’nuff said…

~Dan – np: Porcupine Tree – In Absentia

Do our children have the dumb?

Yes, they have the dumb.  Rebecca Black’s “Friday” came out yesterday.  Lyrically, it’s not much worse than an AC/DC song (or any other “let’s rock” or “working for the weekend” type song).  Sure, it is worse, but not by much.  Visually, it’s like Disney broke into a Skittles factory and broke things.  My brain hurts so much… I mean, this is far worse than the usual pap music that tweens listen to, right?

Sure, it’s not geared for me.  I’m sorry for exposing you to this, but until we face the facts, we can never know, “is our children learning?“

Sidenote… someone needs to edit Thom Yorke dancing to this tune. STAT!

Update 3/18 (Friday)… Matt Mulholland’s version rocks…

The original is dreadful, but this version is kind of fantastically great… still waiting for a Thom Yorke dancing version of the video… come on, folks!

~Dan – np: Jonny Greenwood – Norwegian Wood

I could watch this on loop forever.  Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke smashing a dead fish on washer-dryer, playing tennis, gettin’ slapped around… parody edit from the “Lotus Flower” video…

I could do without the fart sounds… kinda of takes away from the humor of the piece, IMO.

Watch the original video HERE.  Find out about Radiohead‘s new The King of Limbs album HERE.  Find more Thom Yorke crazy dancing memes on YouTube (Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies” and more)

~Dan – np: Mike Patton – A Perfect Place

Happy New Year!

(photo credit: unknown)

Thanks for reading my blog this past year…
all 156,000+ times (SPAM-bots included).

2011 has much more music & greatness in store!

~Dan