I Killed Latin: The AA*LW Blog

2003-07-01T11:59:00.000-05:00

My posts have moved over to Xanga. Check it, kids....

http://www.xanga.com/Houch

2003-06-25T00:26:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess this is my bon voyage post. Suprisingly, I don't really have much to say. Except thanks. A lot of thanks. Thanks for coming. Thanks for playing. Thanks for playing for not a whole lot of money. Thanks for your kind words. Thanks for being my friends.

I'm really glad to be leaving Jackson for Nashville. I was getting kind of bogged down being home in Jackson for summer. However, that has really allowed me to realize how much I loved being a part of AA*LW and the rest of the all ages music scene. I've had some excrutiatingly fun times with all of you. I've gained a lot of new friendships that I feel blessed to have been given.

The past four Mondays have been an achingly enjoyable. I won't miss the 12 hours days I was pulling. I won't miss half of Hudson's equipment not working. I won't miss the business side of things. I'm just going to miss the community. I think we really have something special. The trips to IHOP and Waffle House never get old.

This sounds like I'm gone for good. That's laughable. My existence is pretty much just a screename/email address one, anywho. And I'll be going 'wi-fi' in Nashville. So, I'll still be here. (Actually, I may switch over to Xanga and make it a little more personal.) But keep your email info coming my way. I want to help spread the word about shows. The [aa-lw] Yahoo! Group will not be going anywhere.

2003-06-23T01:47:00.000-05:00

I watched a really good movie tonight.

Awakenings

It somehow managed to balance itself as both a "feel-good" movie, but also one that makes you question yourself, your actions, your inactions. Rarely, do the two meet for me. There's an amazing quote in there, but I can't find it online. Perhaps I'll type it out.

I find it weird how when watching a movie - like tonight - even during the beginnings where the theme of the movie isn't determined, somewhere in your unconscious a fitting song seeps in. The whole movie my mind was stuck on one of Chris Staples solo songs, "You Should Be Living." The lyrics to it couldn't be more fitting for the film.

2003-06-22T00:38:00.000-05:00

So, in keeping with the rest of the blogs, I read: I got a Radiohead ticket. Because I was mandated to attend driving school at 9 AM - the time when w.a.s.t.e. put the tickets on sale - I gave my credit card to Jimmy, and he was going to wake up and take care of it. I go to bed and wake up to a phone call at 5:30 AM. Jimmy is still awake. The tickets are already on sale. He inquires as to what type of seat I would like. I think he says, "tent or reserved." I have no idea what "tent" means, so I say reserved. Later, I realize he said "pit," not "tent." Pit is probably the closest. Oh well. I'm still going for my second rendezvous with Radiohead.

For nearly an hour today I was caught in the grips of reality television. It's amazing how addictive Blinddate is. Did you know that TNN is about to change its format again? It's going to be the first network for men. It's going to feature a cartoon called "Stripperella" with Pamela Anderson's voice as the star who is a "stripper by night, superhero by later that night." Soon, the New York Times will be replaced with MAXIM.

One of the requirements of the driving class I went today was to bring a pen and a notepad. I brought an old notebook from my University Studies class. I only had one note written during that entire class. It read: The girl who freaked when we talked about suppositories just used the word anal when describing a teacher. Welcome, freshmen. College = suppository talk.

2003-06-20T02:18:00.000-05:00

The already infamous local duo (Mason and Baskin) the Industrial Noise Band has already penned a "diss" song about me entitled "Palmer Houchins is a Thief." Because Northeast Jackson is absorbed in the spirit of the hip-hop and rap culture, I've got to lay down a response song and put it on a demo tape. So, here's what I am thinking at the moment: my direct response will be a song called "Baskin is a Burg-a-lur." INB also has a song called "Interstellar Steve" - my response "Intergalactic Estuary." Also included on my demo: "Holdin' Cauliflower."

So here's the skinny...

My band's name: Padington Bears All
Our demo tape: The Corduroy Remixes, Vol. 2
Track Listing:
"Holdin' Cauliflower"
"Intergalactic Estuary"
"Baskin is a Burg-a-lur"

Now, in retrospect, this seems like a bad idea. Perhaps I should have considered the fact that my instrument-playing capabilities are limited to the full knowledge of three chords on the guitar. However, I press on - because there ain't no 'team" in gangsta.

2003-06-19T01:09:00.000-05:00

So much to catch you all up on...

Not really, but I did venture to see the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. It was a trip. I really can't think of anything to say about it other than I'm glad I went. I really have a penchant for descriptive, capture-the-moment-in-time prose don't I?

Oh yeh, in case you didn't get the mailer I sent out today - (If you didn't get the aa-lw Yahoo! Groups email I sent out earlier today, please reply to this saying so...I'm worried it's not getting out for some reason) - the show on Saturday has been cancelled. Just a variety of reasons. Hopefully, we can make something up in the future because Fondren Corner is a really cool building.

Today, I finally got around to going to the doctor. When I left I felt like a prescription drug addict. I walked out of the place with four zip-lock bags of pills, plus some nasal spray. I have trouble remembering to turn the water off after a shower and closing doors when I leave the house, taking the right pill at the right time - the right number of times. I'm feeling something tragic here. On a side note, phlegm is one the better words in the English language both aesthetically and phonetically.

Wow, I just saw this article in the Times about teen nude recreation. I'm not sure that is a good thing. I quote from the article:

"It makes me a bit freaked out that people would think of nudity as a sexual thing," said Michelle Jones, 15, a camper from Texas.

What the hell? I have a hard time seeing nudity as being anything other than sexual - natural, perhaps. But naturally sexual.

Tonight I dined at Cock of the Walk - it's been a while. I used to go there on my birthday every year. There's so much I could say about that place. A four-volume series is probably all that would suffice. After that I had intentions of going to Buffalo Wild Wings and beating Wilson Hood merciless at the trivia game, but when it was so crowded that you couldn't get into the parking lot, we decided to cancel that engagement.

Well, I leave for Nashville in a week. Speaking of, my Mom brought home this really uncool shirt from the GAP. It was like their pathetic attempt at a vintage shirt. It's a ringer (only on the neck though) that has the outline of a guitar with the lettering N-A-S-H-V-I-L-L-E inside of that outline. It's really not cool. But I couldn't say no for some reason. I just smiled and said thanks.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Keelboatmen

**********************************************************************

Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959
2001 By Jason Trachtenburg

Mountain trip to Japan
Going to see the mountains
On a mountain trip to Japan
He is so well rounded
And he'd like to see the world
before it ever started
Getting off this plane
Before we both departed
On a mountain trip to Japan, 1959

Classic cars on a mountain slope
Going to do some driving to the railroad tracks
You better get back
People are arriving
So we'll set these colorful chairs up to allow for seating
"Melangie Lake Chalet" is what you're reading
on a mountain trip to Japan, 1959

Take a plane to the ocean
Take a plane into the sea
On a trip to Japan, 1953

We like death, yes we do
Going to see the graveyard
And the hanging too, it could've been you
If the foot was on the other shoe
'cause raising cocker spaniels is rewarding
better get on board
this boat will soon be boarding
on a mountain trip to Japan, 1959

Death will come in a matter of time
They're being backed up by the military line
With a bag on his head
He will soon be dead
It must have been for something he said
'Cause public execution can be so degrading
Better get it over with
'Cause the ladies are waiting
On a Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959
Raising cocker spaniel puppies is outrageous
Better check for kennel cough
Cause I hear it's contagious
On a mountain trip to old Japan 1959.

2003-06-15T18:16:00.000-05:00

Let me clarify for a second. My aforementioned Josh Kelley dream was scary because I'm not a fan of his music at all. In fact, I gave the free press copy of his CD away - to my mom actually. She loves it. We had a big conversation about the chart-topping potential of his single "Amazing."

2003-06-15T18:14:00.000-05:00

After recovering from my quasi-illness yesterday, I traveled to Barnes & Noble to read some. The mocha frappucino their is superb - I almost went to the Art of Coffee place on State St. because they have Seattle Drip bean (is bean a cool word for coffee? If it isn't, I retract that word usage...) Anyway, I ended up at the super-evil-mega-chain because they have more magazines laying around to read - although the other mega-chain (Borders) has more. So, I found the new DIW - or newest, rather - it had some cool articles in it. I ended up purchasing it because it only costs three bucks. Speaking of magazine prices, I started looking at the current Atlantic Monthly. It had a report in it by this guy named Jared Diamond who wrote this amazing (not so much the content, just the fact that is was written) book I read this year called Guns, Germs and Steel. He had written an article on how civilization was going to end soon due to environmental circumstances. Then, I noticed these poems they had at the front. One was the lyrics of a 'propaganda rap' that the American government played on Iraqi radio right after the US invaded. It near the lose-control-of-your-bowels humor level. They also had these poems that someone had spliced together using only phrases Donald Rumsfeld had used in press conferences on a certain day. Like February 12 would be the title of one - and it only used phrases he had used that day - clever. I really need to find those online somewhere. Harkening back to our magazine price discussion, the Atlantic Monthly cost six bucks - otherwise I would have purchased it.

Later, I was reading in Eyes Wide Open. There were two really good passages, so much so that I put brackets around them...

Here's one from the author...

The stories of Daniel and Paul give us an idea of how Christians today might think and act as a minority culture existing within a dominant mainstream one. This is a compelling reason why Christians should advocate greater pluralism in the popular arts, for there is a narrow range of perspectives available in the mass entertainment media, which is driven primarily by a need for greater profits.

I thought that was fitting considering the big debate that is going on now over FCC deregulation (Hint: it would be a bad thing...)

Here's another quote from a media analyst named George Gerbner...

For the first time in human history, the stories are told not by parents, not by the school, not by the church, not by the community or tribe and in some cases not even by the native country but by a relatively small and shrinking group of global conglomerates with something to sell.

I was watching television on one of those major conglomerates today. NBC's coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Let me just say that I find watching golf on television incredibly peaceful and relaxing - so long as I don't get caught up on thinking what a huge undertaking it would be for a TV company to produce a golf event. I'm actually about to watch the end of it now. It struck me while watching it that golfer's name would constitute some great band names.

For one, I think "Billy Mayfair" would a great name for a rock'n'roll group front man. Perhaps that group could be called Jasper Parnevik's Tiger.

2003-06-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

I'm somewhat sick at the moment - so I have decided to get to know my computer better, thus not leaving the house for the day.

So, I read on the Eisley forum that they are making the trek back from New York to Texas. I mapped it on Mapquest - if they go that way, it will take them through Jackson. Who wants to stand on 1-20 with a sign? Though my stalker-dom (my preferred nomenclature is: enthusiastic fan - but I think fanatica enthusiast might work, too). I felt better about my enthusiastic, fanatical or stalker tendencies when I read on their message board that this guy proposed to his girlfriend at an Eisley concert. I haven't taken it that far.

Changing subjects, I read this article when I got online this morning...

----

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (June 14) - A pen and ink sealed the end of Appalachia's most infamous bloody feud instead of a shotgun and bullets.

Descendants of the Hatfield and McCoy families gathered Saturday morning in Pikeville to sign the truce, making a largely symbolic and official end to the feud that claimed at least a dozen lives.

Signed by more than 60 descendants during the fourth Hatfield-McCoy Festival, the truce was touted as a proclamation of peace, saying ``We ask by God's grace and love that we be forever remembered as those that bound together the hearts of two families to form a family of freedom in America.''

Waynesboro, Va., resident Reo Hatfield came up with the idea and said he wanted to show that if the two families can come together, anyone could. He had said he wanted to send a broader message to the world that when national security is at risk, Americans put their differences aside and stand united.

``We're not saying you don't have to fight because sometimes you do have to fight,'' he said. ``But you don't have to fight forever.''

Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton and West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise also signed proclamations declaring June 14 Hatfield and McCoy Reconciliation Day.

The more than a century of feuding between the McCoys of Kentucky and Hatfields of West Virginia is believed to have its origins in a dispute over a pig. A court battle over timber rights escalated the tension in the 1870s. By 1888, as many as a dozen lives were lost.

Ron McCoy, one of the festival's founders, said plans aren't in place yet as to what to do with the three signed proclamations.

``The Hatfields and McCoys symbolize violence and feuding and fighting, but by signing this, hopefully people will realize that's not the final chapter,'' he said.

--------------------------

When I first read that I was thinking - probably wishfully - that it was the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons. Then I realized that those two families aren't real. Then I realized I would like it if they were. Then I realized it didn't matter. But now I realize that I'd like to read another Mark Twain book. I've always been attracted to the name "Pudd'nhead Wilson." Perhaps that should be it.

This new feature on AOL IM and AOL that sends you an IM when you sign on both services with the same name at the same time - well, slightly annoying.

2003-06-14T01:41:00.000-05:00

I really can't think straight. Radiohead in St. Louis on August 24th. I'm peeing myself just thinking about it. Maybe I don't have to go see Eisley this weekend, now. Yes, I think I still should - cause then I could invite Eisley to go see Radiohead with me. Either way, I'm stoked. Who wants to go...

I told Jimmy I would mention this on the blog. On a side note - Fletcher played as well as I've ever seen them tonight. Anyway, last night I was having a nightmare. All this weird stuff - like demonic crap - was happening. But the really scary part was this. Pitchfork Media had just come out with a magazine - and Josh Kelley had a huge two-page spread in it, and they gave his album an 8.8. Mainly because I wrote an article on him in the Jackson Free Press - which I really did. I woke up in a cold sweat. So scary...

Potential Band Name of the Day: Zero Valence

2003-06-12T02:17:00.000-05:00

I went to see Third Eye Blind and Josh Kelley at Club Crazy 8 in Byram this evening. It was an odd outing. First, I helped Josh Kelley's crew carry their gear in because they were running late. Then I interviewed his bass player, Tom Freund. Nice guy. He gave me a CD. Good alt-country / adult alternative stuff.

Turns out this guy named Ben who was playing guitar with them - he was originally from Jackson - graduated from Murrah. I asked him when he graduated. He said in the 80's sometime. I hope in twenty years I remember what year I graduated high school. Let that be my prayer.

Anywho, Third Eye Bling - or as the kids are calling them, 3EB, played all new stuff first. That wasn't fun to stand through. But then they started to play that 'Will I graduate' song from some teen movie - at that point things got better. Then they played 'Jumper.' And for the encore, they played 'Semi-Charmed Life' - according to their singer "because this country is becoming too conservative, we need some songs about sex and drugs." First off, let me congratulate 3EB for being the first band to write and perform a song about sex and drugs. Groundbreaking stuff. Secondly, I'm sure they don't play that song because it's their biggest hit - one of the five biggest pop songs of the late 90's, surely they didn't play it for that reason.

3EB's drummer looked like Seann William Scott and the editor of the paper at Ole Miss' boyfriend if they went through Conan's segment, "If They Mated." Tom Fruend, the guy I interviewed, looked exactly like this guy who lived on my floor everyone called Gilligan.

The sound mix wasn't really that great at Club Crazy 8 - in fact it was really bad. I hate places where all they do is make the low-end of sound real powerful. I want my hi's. I could barely hear the vocals all night. 3EB also do all the stupid rock star stage movies. Which are at the same time funny and annoying. Funny at first, then annoying secondly.

Whoa, the power just went out at my house. Battery power is the future. I'm pecking away thanks to the Sony VAIO battery machinery - everything but the screen is black though. Including my dog - who is unabashedly afraid of thunder and just licked me arm.

Well, it doesn't look like the power is coming back on anytime soon. So, I'll continue...

I'm pretty sure my dog and I communicate telepathically. One-way though. I think she knows what I'm thinking. OK, crap, she just sat on some flyers I was just to keep from getting crinkled. Had she known my thoughts on that subject, she would not have proceeded to do that.

Here's why I intended to write this blog, anyhow. I just found out that Eisley will be playing shows in Fort Worth on June 21st and Dallas on June 28th. Now, I have an AA*LW show planned for the 21st. In my opinion, we can hold off on it if I go see Eisley. I can't do the show on the 28th because I'll be in Nashville by then. The show is only a 10 dollar, all ages show in Fort Worth - now I have friends in Fort Worth that I could stay with. It's just that is a 6.5 hour drive from Jackson there. Consider this, on Friday I'm going to Oxford to get a new car tag. On the 17th I'm headed to Memphis for music greatest kinfolk the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. On the 24th, I'm driving to Nashville. That's a lot of driving. Can Fort Worth fit in there?

Pretend that you all are advice columnists and this is my open letter to you all. "What should I do?" - Miffed in M.S.

2003-06-10T22:44:00.000-05:00

Seems like I had great blog entry planned out. Instead of gave in to the temptation that is AOL IM: houchins99 (for all you devoted lady readers)...

Then I wasted my time subscribing to the Eisley street team. Don't forget about eisley.com.

Sometimes I wish the NJDC had an archive feature. I'm wishing I would saved more sites when the where to buy good t-shirts online discussion surfaced. Of course, there's urbanoutfitters.com and simplyvintage.com - maybe vintagetees.com - but I forgot the rest, or even if there is a 'rest.'

I need to buy some new clothes, some new shoes, a wireless card for my computer, some crap for my house, some more conditioner, more socks, a Russian mail-order bride (those spam emails have sold me). I'd also like to finish the books I'm currently reading...Girl Meets God - Lauren Winner and Eyes Wide Open. I could use some interview questions, too.

I feel like 'Fitter Happier' should be playing in the background. My life is a checklist.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Banquo's Ghost

2003-06-08T15:28:00.000-05:00

Monday, June 9

Still Stanley (melodic rock) - http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Still_Stanley/
The Rockwells (dance/synth/power pop) - www.the-rockwells.com
The Symptoms (60's/garage rock)

In the Big Room @ Hal and Mal's
(enter through Soulshine Pizza)

7 PM - $6

ALL AGES

*******************************************

STILL STANLEY

Here comes a fresh sound from Mississippi called STILL STANLEY. These guys have been churning out rhythm heavy melodic rock born in the garages of Jackson, educated in Nashville bars, and corrupted in the historically decadent dives of Los Angeles since 1992. During their nearly ten year career, STILL STANLEY has produced and released two full-length C.D.’s, (1998’s "So Go" and 2001’s "No Soap Radio") recorded songs for television and film releases by Warner Bros. and Miramax (Warner/Fox’s "Wasteland" and Miramax’s "Camouflage.") Having toured across the country from early 2000 to the present, STILL STANLEY has turned heads and ears from L.A.’s Viper Room, to New York’s historic Bleecker Street nightclubs and at all points in between. Named by Music Connection as one of the best unsigned bands of 2000, STILL STANLEY has attracted attention from many areas of the professional music world. Everyone who has seen or heard STILL STANLEY will tell you that the music is undeniably unique and varied.

For CD purchases email noshoesleft@hotmail.com

MP3's:
Rock'N'Roll Song
Semi-Sublime

*******************************************

THE ROCKWELLS

Originally formed as Stinkpalm, the group released "Kathleen" and "Overrated" online. The two songs spread via Napster, vaulting the band to instant local superstardom. Regular performers at the famed University Pub, they released their debut EP Kids Today under the name Your Name Here almost two years ago. Two name changes later, The Rockwells have moved from their early pop/punk roots to a more progressive indie power pop feel.

MP3's:
I Am Not a Criminal (DEMO)

*******************************************

THE SYMPTOMS

The Symptoms were formed in the Spring of 2002. They got together for the sole purpose of playing cover songs. They began in the summer of 2002 writing and rehearsing their self proclaimed masterpieces. The band name came later after a member incorrectly said "The Simpsons". Finally on July 31st The Symptoms got their first real show at The Office with The Brand New You, Andrew's other band. They began recording their debut record "Ready to Burn" in late October, and just finished it on March 13th. It has been said about The Symptoms that, "If The Symptoms aren't famous in 5 years, it's because they are dead."

*******************************************

For anyone who has read this far: The Rockwells will be playing a special two-hour set at the River Hills' pool from 5-7 tonight, featuring many of their old Your Name Here songs...

ALSO, if we want to keep doing these shows in the big room at Hal and Mal's - like this week - we must have a big attendance each week. So make plans to be there. Tell your friends...

Palmer & Lou
---------------
All Ages, Low Wages
http://www.aa-lw.net

2003-06-06T00:04:00.000-05:00

Does this thing still work?

So, after the AA*LW show (tremendous, thanks to all who came out: please come next week with Still Stanley, The Rockwell and The Symptoms), after the IHOP after-party, after setting off the Chadwick's burglar alarm at 1:30 AM while dropping equipment off, after snorting crack off a hooker's bare back with the bands, I'm driving down Ridgewood towards home in my dad's SUV. Going down the hill near Spann, his radar detector (I hate the forsaken devices, I refuse to ever own one) starts going bezerk - kind of like R2D2 after chugging a couple Red Bulls - anyway, next thing I know I'm being pulled over in the JA parking lot. I was going 49 in a 35. During the whole, say, 7-minute ordeal of being pulled over, not a single car passed down Ridgewood. Why does my decision to traverse terrain over the limited speed matter in a circumstance like that? While the thought of peeling out and evading the law, thus making the Real TV reel (and having Ahmad Rashad say my name), I chose to accept. In the process, my dad's car had an expired insurance card in it. (The insurance company neglected to send him a new one, so it's their fault - but I still have to go to Municipal Court and represent.)

The next morning I decide to skip down to 215 Pearl Street and get this ticket taken care of. (I needed it off my record, it was my second in less than a year - and something about three in three years gets your license suspended or whatnot..) Before broaching the latitude where the King Edwards stands or dies, I found the office. All the parking spots on the streets are taken, so I pull into a mostly empty lot, creatively titled, NO PUBLIC PARKING. Judging from the amount of cars parked there, it's not a hot parking commodity, so I figure they won't mind if I crash there for 20 minutes are so. This municpal building is one of those ridiculous public buildings where you have to put your name on a sign-in sheet, like when you had to leave class in 4th grade to go pee or check out a Matt Christopher book in the library. I'm waiting in line to speak with one of the clerks - I wouldn't have had to have been been waiting were it not for a clerk and a customer (is that the right nomenclature?) who were discussing family connections in some South Mississippi town like D'Lo McCombs Natchez's Gulfport.

At this point I hear the security guard say, "Hey, man."

Turning around, he says to me, "Where'd you park?"

"Down the street," I say, being as vague as possible, trying to avoid the fact that I parked illegally.

"In that lot?"

"Yes."

"Well, they are about to put a boot on you car."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, you might want to hurry."

I skip out the door, sprint to my car, as some parking attendant is putting the first part of the 'boot' on my car.

"I'm coming..."

"You're parked illegally. You have to have a permit to park here."

"Yeah, I know. Sorry," I say sheepishly, not really meaning the sentiment and simultaneously cranking the car to get out before my car get's the automotive equivalent of a body cast or wired jaw.

At this point, I realize I forgot to bring the ticket with me in the first place and put some flyers up, then return home.

Last night, I was returning some magazines I had been reading in Barnes & Nobles to their respective shelves. In the process, a young kid puts his finger on the picture of Marilyn Manson on the cover of Rolling Stone and turns to his nearby dad.

"Daddy, why is he wearing lipstick."

"Because he has issues," the child's father says after hesitating while thumbing through another magazine.

"Why is he wearing big shoes?"

"Becase he has big feet."

There seems to be some form of truth and innonence and simplicity in those answers that I don't have anymore.

(Either way, "Big Shoes and Issues" is a catchy song title.)

Potential Character Name in a Movie that Involves Lots of Live Music: Mike Check

2003-06-02T07:06:00.000-05:00

One Last Time for the Kids...

Fletcher "Friends Don't Speak" CD Release Extravaganza
featuring...

Fletcher
Nice (Atlanta, GA modern rock group featuring Fletcher producer and Grammy-nominated drummer Matt Goldman - www.weareanice.com)
Arkitekt (Pensacola, FL indie pop rockers and Esperanza Plantation Records labelmates - www.arkitektmusic.com)
Soulshine Room @ Hal and Mal's
200 S. Commerce St.
$6 - 7 PM
ALL AGES!

CDs will also be for sale at the show...

www.aa-lw.net

2003-05-19T00:06:00.000-05:00

Questions in Dialect put a release version of their website up.

The first week in June promises to cater much musically to the Jackson/Memphis area.

June 2 - AA*LW: Fletcher Release Extravaganza w/ Nice and Arkitekt

June 4 - Detachment Kit @ HiTone in Memphis

June 5 - Jets to Brazil w/ John Vanderslice @ Young Avenue Deli in Memphis

June 6 - North Mississippi Allstars @ Hal and Mal's

June 7 - The Reigning Sound @ HiTone in Memphis

June 8 - Melt Banana @ Younge Avenue Deli in Memphis

2003-05-15T14:30:00.000-05:00

Currently, I'm in an internet cafe in Panama City, FL. I'm the only customer in this 3 story facility with oodles of computers.

The floor has sand all over of it to radiate some kind of beach facade, I guess. As I walked in the building there was an elderly lady in a wheelchair in the middle of the lobby. The lady stared at me all the way to the counter where I paid for my internet time. As I walked past her to go upstairs to use this computer, she grabbed my arm, smiled, and said "Be a good boy.'

I'm scared.

2003-05-10T02:26:00.000-05:00

I was just listening to "Staralfur" by Sigur Ros and I just got one of the biggest rushes of goose bumps I've ever had. Must see them live again...

I had a great time tonight. The Rockwells were the best I've ever seen them in four (plus) years of various incarnations with Patrick, Jack and Dent. I literally smiled for the first three songs straight - uncontrollably. The last time that happened was when I saw Sigur Ros. It's going to be a really fun summer with those guys.

Always Sunday was stellar as always. Look for them back on June 23rd.

While tonight wasn't an all ages show, the bulk of the all ages crowd was there. It does something to me inside - I'd say 'warms my heart' but that sounds way too much like a woman's devotional book. I'm refreshed being around everyone.

By the way, mark your calendars for Friday, July 18. Trust me, just do it. Big news on that soon.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Kitsch Killers

2003-05-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

Real quick-like. Here's an interesting article in The Guardian written by a guy who's band opened for Radiohead right before they hit it big. Interesting perspective, indeed.

In other pressing Radiohead news, I'm reading an unofficial biography about the group by some writer from Guitar magazine. Anyway, the most intriguing thing I have learned so far is that during his early teens Thom Yorke's first band was an experimental duo. Thom wrote songs and performed them with a guitar. Meanwhile, his partner in the outfit miswired television sets so that would explode at crucial points in their songs.

Genius.

2003-05-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

I just got this email from Unwed Sailor. Their new album sounds really cool...

"The new Unwed Sailor full length record "The Marionette and The Music
Box"
is now available at your local record store, or online at
www.insound.com or
www.burnttoastvinyl.com

The release will also be available in europe through Gentlemen
Records on
May 28th. www.gentlemen.ch

We are really excited about this release....it has literally been 2
years in the
making!

"The Marionette and The Music Box is a subtle, but rich instrumental
soundtrack to support the illustrated relationship of a marionette
and a music
box as they meet, become friends, seperate, and reconcile. Ford and
Tse
enlisted the help of regular drummer Matt Putman and friends Matt
Depper
and James Mcalister(Ester Drang)to play the rich tapestry of
instruments that
personify the characters in the story. Unwed Sailor presents the
story in
seventeen instrumental parts.

Artist Jamie Hunt(Circle of Birds, Aspera)worked intimately with
Unwed Sailor
to illustrate the story of The Marionette and The Music Box. Hunt
first built
three-dimensional models of the characters, photographed various
poses and
scenes to create the story, and developed the painted panels from
these
photographs. Over a period of three months, Hunt brought the
characters and
story to life. These illustrations are as much a part of the release
as the music
itself. As such, both the CD and LP versions are presented with
booklets of
the illustrated story to accompany the music and a special limited
edition
hardbound book will be issued for sale by the band on tour.
The Marionette and The Music Box is a release highly influenced by
Ford's
love for marionette puppetry and fantasy fairy tales, as well as the
shared
influences of French composer Yann Tiersen, the Pinocchio soundtrack,
and
the classical piece Peter and the Wolf."

In case you missed our last release you can pick it up online at
www.burnttoastvinyl.com or from tricycle-evolutif in europe.
"The Magic Hedge" 7" contains two previously unreleased Unwed Sailor
songs. Side A features guest appearances by members of Early Day
Miners.
Side B is a remix version of side a....remixed by Dan Burton from
Early Day
Miners.

Unwed Sailor will be touring again in july in the U.S.

Thanks for you support!
j.f."

2003-04-29T01:16:00.000-05:00

I was reading Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time tonight. (Astronomy extra credit paper, not pleasure reading - although I would recommend it to anyone with at least a high school science background.)

Anywho, I realized that the perfect name for a band would be Unified Theory. Seconds later I realized the several of the former members of Blind Melon have a band under this name. A little tear dropped...

Potential Band Name(s) of the Day: Open String Theory AND The Red Coats Are Coming

NOTE: The Red Coats Are Coming might work better as a album/song title.

2003-04-28T17:33:00.000-05:00

I think AA*LW got its first blog to blog referral last night. Check out former Oxonian Patrick Flanagan's The Parlor for some ruminations on a red-hot AA*LW group, The Rock and Roll Panty Shelter.

As founding member Alex Sherling told me over the weekend, the name stems from the place where they feel most comfortable - as the word shelter implies. That place is in panties.

2003-04-24T02:33:00.000-05:00

Jeff Buckley's "Grace" is the most beautiful - if not best - album of the 1990's.

Leaving the library a couple of minutes ago, I turned my car stereo up to "critical mass" levels as the whole vocal build-up at the beginning of "Mojo Pin" kicked off. Faintly, the vocals fade in then build higher and higher until I'm cresting the highest hill on campus and I get the chills and shiver and if I could melt I would have. That's musical power.

2003-04-23T00:03:00.000-05:00

Tonight, I had to start a paper with the suggested title of "My Unbearable Lightness of Being" - based on Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Mine's actually entitled "My Bearable Heaviness of Being."

Nevertheless, amidst all the tedious emailing, calling, checking, hoping, dreaming and brainstorming involved with getting AA*LW together, sometimes I get cynical. Sometimes I wonder why the hell I'm doing this. Writing that paper especially got me thinking along these lines.

So, allow me to - at least poorly - "wax lyrical" for a moment.

Sometimes when I'm worrying whether or not I'll have an amp to power the speakers wit or if we have enough monitors or how I'm going to get all this equipment to the venue, I get a little overwhelmed. I take myself too seriously. The business aspect of doing this is indeed a little more trying. But then I have to remind myself why I chose to do this.

It's because I love underpowered speakers pumping vocals that are drowned about by crash cymbols and distorted guitars. It's because all ages music - specifically the University Pub - was the annoyingly long chapter in the book of my teenage existence. It was like a somewhat culture-savvy skating rink. Well, at least until the booty dancing kicked off after the bands. Then it was like a somewhat culture-savvy strip club.

Nevertheless, the two best nights of last summer for me - undoubtedly - were the night of The Roos / The Rockwells / Fletcher / Even Steven show at Musiquarium and the band festival extravaganza at Christ United. It's because it was fun to fill up every parking spot at Sonic during the "after-party."

It's because I care about Jackson. I want to see it prosper. I want to see music prosper in Jackson. I may not always live in Jackson - but I just want people to fully realize its potential.

I think mainly its because of the people that come, though. These shows draw a crowd of people which don't seem to get together unless these things happen. And I like those people.

Forgive me for I have produced really shoddy writing - you just read it - I'm sorry.

Potential Band Name of the Day: The Monroe Doctrine

2003-04-20T22:49:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates.

Things are rolling with AA*LW. Looks like we may be able to do some shows in Fondren. More to come on that...

Don't forget about the Twothirtyeight farewell show on Thursday night at Horizon.

Here are some reviews of Neilson Hubbard's record...

Nashville Rage
Memphis Flyer

Hmmm, seems like I was going to say something else...

Yes, caught a good show at the Madison Cultural Center last night. Good set from Madison's Plastic Glasses. Also, really tight performances from Lousiana emo-core grouos, Rivers Indiana and As Cities Burn

For all the Rosie Thomas disciples, check out this clip of her performing as her stand-up comic alter-ego, Sheila.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Gargling Puppies

2003-04-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

A few thing...

Always Sunday is wrapping up their recording at Tree Studios in Atlanta with producer Rick Beato. The band recorded four songs (Love Divided, Take a Shot, Blue and Yellow, Careless Love Mistake) for a demo to be sent to labels.

Check out Neilson Hubbard's video for You'll Be There here. Look for my article on Neilson in tomorrow's Daily Mississippian.

2003-04-14T20:44:00.000-05:00

Lots to say today, kids...

First off, I know I have told you many of you about the potential Pedro the Lion show on May 12th in Jackson. Well, I spoke with PTL's booking agent today, and it looks like that show is not going to happen. However, we have some connections with PTL friends Ester Drang and Unwed Sailor that we are still trying to work.

In the meantime, if you want to see this show happen, email Dave Bazan, here/ and Ester Drang here.

Also, as featured on Pitchfork today, concerning Modest Mouse...

-----------------------------------

Despite the fallout, Brock seems as ambitious as ever in regards to the new sessions, saying the band will be heading into Oxford, Mississippi's Sweet Tea Studios next week to begin recording with Dennis Herring, whose resume includes producing albums for Sparklehorse, Throwing Muses, and Camper Van Beethoven, among others. "We've written 16 songs and countin'. We're getting this Salvation Army band from New Orleans to do some stuff, and we've got this fella named Tom [Peloso] from The Hackensaw Boys from West Virginia-- they're this campy hillbilly band-- and he's playing stand-up bass with a bow on one song." Brock also mentioned that the band is in talks with an unnamed session drummer from Tennessee and Les Savy Fav frontman Tim Harrington about making possible contributions to the record.

The album, which is as-yet untitled, will be Modest Mouse's fourth official studio full-length, not including compilations like Building Nothing Out of Something, which collected various seven-inches and B-sides, and Sad Sappy Sucker, a K Records collection of the band's earliest recordings. Working titles for some of the new songs include "The World at Large", "Bury Me with It", "The Ocean Breeze Is Salty", and "The Good Times Are Killing Me".

The new album is tentatively slated for a September 1st release on Epic Records, though Brock did seem to hint at some uncertainty on where they stand with the label: "I don't know, I'll see how it's going. My A&R guy... I guess he was fired for no good reason. Wasn't having drinks with the right people, I guess. I don't know a single person who works at that label anymore except the head of the art department."

------------------------------------

Lastly, there's a post from Dean on the Your Mama message board about their recent recording in Atlanta.

And one more thing, word I get is that Questions in Dialect is only playing one song - "an old twothirtyeight song" - at the twothirtyeight farewell show on Thursday, April 24 at Horizon Community Church.

2003-04-13T22:45:00.000-05:00

I watched one of the best - if not the best documentary - I've ever seen. It's called Children Underground. (Go to the site and look for the link on the left. IMDB also has info on it) It's about street children living in a subway station in Bucharest, Romania. I was turned on to it after my trip there recently. It's worth the 24.95 on Amazon, but if you don't believe me all you Netflix kids should put it in your queue.

Also, if you get a chance here's some goodies from Mississippi's hub city. (That's Hattiesburg...)

Mussolini Dials a Phone - Phil from Questions in Dialect's side project. If the band is as good as the logo, they could be bigger than professional wrestling in the mid- to late-90's.

An End to October - that's a link to them on Mile 5 Recordings' mp3.com page. Don't know much about them except that they sound emo-core and want to play AA*LW.

Potential Band Name of the Day: The John Sanders Folk Implosion

2003-04-13T00:59:00.000-05:00

I was on the web doing some grassroots promotion for All Ages, Low Wages and googled into some interesting stuff...

After registering AA*LW as both a paper/zine and venue at the Local Band Network, I stumbled onto this Dutch girl's essay about her semester at Ole Miss. I've hardly looked at it from that perspective.

This afternoon, while watching JCTV (as far as I can tell it stands for Jesus Christ Television) and some sitcom, I realized that I hate television. Tonight, while watching Saturday Night Live and live videophone footage of a CNN journalist speeding through an abandoned military base on the outskirts of Tikrit, I realized that I don't hate television.

I won't kill it just yet.

2003-04-11T01:36:00.000-05:00

Sorry for never updating this page anymore everyone.

I don't think anyone comes here anyway.

Well, it's 1:30 AM on a Friday morning. I'm at a cubicle trying to type a paper that assesses the extent of influence the New Imperialism had on Emile Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. I can't see to write more than a string of three sentences before either 1) refreshing my email 2) checking the time on my cell phone or 3) wasting away my life on the Internet.

Option #3 at its latest stage has me at NataliePortman.com searching for 1024x768 backgrounds of the only actress who can inspire me to a buy a copy of National Enquirer. In "NatNews," she will be appearing on Sesame Street April 21. Mark your calendars. She is going to be an elephant. Personally, after just getting the White Stripes album last evening (highly recommended), I think it's a reference to them.

Also, Natalie Portman will be in upcoming major motion picture about the Civil War, Cold Mountain w/ Jude Law, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nicole Kidman and Jack White (see, there's more of your White Stripes connection.) I don't think Cold Mountain has even finished production, but it will be the greatest movie of all time. I'm serious. Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jack White in one movie. If Owen Wilson signs on, I'll swoon.

So, last night I went to see the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in Memphis. It was noisy. Everyone of their songs sounded the same to me. Jon Spencer jumped a lot. Jon Spencer wore leather pants. That's all you need to know. The most redeeming part of the sojourn was the fact that The Reigning Sound opened for them.

They are a garage rock band from Memphis. The Hives are big fans of them. Howlin' Pelle even said there latest album was his favorite of 2002. And we all know that Howlin' Pelle Almqvist dictates music - globally. Anyway, for all my Norwegian and Swedish readers, the Reigning Sound will be in your country later this month.

Potential Band Name of the Day: A Pair of D'Ox

2003-04-02T14:55:00.000-06:00

I got this email from a band I've mentioned before on here, Venus Hum. They are all from Nashville.

"Dear friends of Venus Hum,

The long wait is over! Our new album ‘Big Beautiful Sky’ comes out this Tuesday, April 1st in the states. Those of you in Europe will have to wait a couple more weeks, but you’ll be able to pick up the single ‘Montana’ on the 7th.

If you haven’t been to the new website, please go and take a look. We’re still at www.venushum.com.

Hummingbirds

dialup | broadband
dialup | broadband

We leave for London tomorrow to start a three-week UK tour. Then we fly to the west coast of America to do 3 shows- 2 in LA and 1 in San Francisco. While in LA we will also be appearing on The Tonight Show (April 22nd) with Blue Man Group. We’ll be performing the Donna Summer disco-synth classic ‘I Feel Love’, a song we recorded with Blue Man Group for their upcoming album, ‘The Complex’.

Then check us out in May as we tour with the blue folk. We’ll be the opening act and will also join them for part of their set. If you’ve never seen Blue Man Group before, you should definitely check them out. It should be an amazing show!

And we haven’t forgotten about all of our Nashville friends! We’ll be doing a show at the Exit/In on May 9th to celebrate the release of our record.

That’s the news for now. Please check out the website for all of the show dates and venues. It’s going to be a fun year for us- and we thank all of you for supporting us!

Love and Peace,
Tony from Venus Hum

Purchase downloads of individual tracks or complete albums

Get the latest tour and news information at venushum.com, or mcarecords.com/venushum"

2003-04-01T22:43:00.000-06:00

I don't know if I have ever mentioned Denison Witmer on here before. But do yourself a favor and check out his music. I like.

Maybe we will see him at AA*LW.

2003-03-31T23:33:00.000-06:00

There's a new news entry on the Questions in Dialect site. Read it. And salivate just thinking of their new record.

2003-03-31T23:26:00.000-06:00

The Always Sunday site has seen a minor facelift.

Same with Neilson Hubbard's.

Yeh, by the way, Lou said the AA*LW site should see an overhaul soon too. That means maybe next February.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Globular Honey and Oats Clusters

2003-03-31T00:01:00.000-06:00

When your weekend consists of lots of Sigur Ros and Radiohead, by default, it's a good one. I don't need people. Just electronics. I think I'm conveying a bad image...

Anywho, last night I witnessed what was probably the best second-best concert of my laughably illustrious concert-going career. Yes, Icelandic atmospheric rockers, Sigur Ros, at the House of Blues in New Orleans.

Before the show began, myself and Jimmy were waiting in the bar area of the restaurant. Jimmy and I had decided to kick our big intake alcohol tendences for the night and were waiting for our to-go food to come out. We notice what can only be described as a peculiar looking fellow - even for New Orleans - sit down at the table right behind us. He's seated with a girl. I recognize the guy as Jonsi, guitarist and singer - mainly from having seen the group two nights earlier on Last Call with Carson Daly, not because I spend my nights searching the Internet for pictures of artists - kind of like I did a few sentences earlier. Anyway, two guys and girl pick up on this fact, too. They are eating gumbo. The gumbo comes with a long, slender piece of bread. After hashing around the idea, they approach Jonsi's table. It's obvious Jonsi isn't too hot with the English language. The two bread-bearers ask him to break the bread. He just stares. Finally, they motion what they would like him to do. Jonsi stares, obviously bewildered, reluctantly reaches out, breaks the bread and hands it back to the bread-bearers. There's an awkward moment - probably deserved to, unless, unbeknownest to me, Jonsi is a part-time priest - then both parties break into laughter. That was my brush with the musical elite for the evening.

As far as the show goes, powerful would be a word to describe it. Jonsi gave the most impassioned performance I've seen since Thom Yorke. There was a moment in one song where there is a pause. He is silent for nearly thirty seconds, at times bringing his lips to the microphone like he is going to sing, but I can only guess that he was so overwhelmed with the music, it kept him from singing. He played his guitar with a bow, eventually shattering the bow on his guitar after their set. As a group, they were incredibly stellar. They created space, where space should be. They rocked out when they needed to rock out. At one point, Jonsi was singing through the pick-up on his guitar. On one song, the bassist played the bass line for the entire song by thumping his strings with a drum stick. Like I said, it was powerful stuff. The members of the group were rotating instruments after almost every song.

On a side note, they had a string quarter (violin, viola, cello) with them - which has been for some time now - called Amina. Well, even though she's currently dating another member of the band, one of the two violinists will one day be mine.

Sigur Ros is one of the best-reviewed live acts I've read up on. I knew that going in. They still overwhelmed me. They made full use of their lighting set up. They also projected some very cool art videos onto a huge screen behind the stage, ending the last encore with a slow fade into static. The crowd, for the most part, was as reverent as I've been a part of. After the show, it was like when you walk out of really good movie, no one is talking. It takes a while for full digestion to occur. That was the case last night. Everyone had these dumbfounded, awestruck looks on their faces as they left.

Earlier I used the word reverent. I feel that was completely appropriate, as I had read on the Relevant page a while back, this was as worshipful as secular music gets. Common grace. Common grace, showing the face of a Being much bigger, brighter and better than Sigur Ros could be at its best.

Other news: The new Radiohead album, Hail to the Thief, got leaked onto the web. I've already downloaded the whole thing, still plan on buying it come June, mind you. It's fantastic. The album is entitled, Hail to the Thief, right. Is this some kind of joke? Could Radiohead have leaked it purposefully, in turn creating quite an ironic album title - get it, all those people who download it would be "stealing" their music. I don't really know. There has been subsantial talk that what has been leaked is not mastered material. Even if that's true, it doesn't rule out the possibilty of the intended leak by the band. As opposed to untintended leaks, which is what you call it when you wet your pants.

I think this is a record blog entry. Serious length.

Potential Band Name of the Day: The Gregarious Thunderlilies

2003-03-25T21:50:00.000-06:00

Always Sunday is now a Paste Music artist. Go check it out...

By the way, I stumbled on this girl's blog via chance. I love it. Check out Sarah Jones' The Desolation Angels.

2003-03-23T14:37:00.000-06:00

Living Better Electrically has updated their IUMA site. One new song and some new artwork. I'm guessing both are from their recording with Clay Jones at Sweet Tea Studios here in Oxford. Who knows...

2003-03-19T16:08:00.000-06:00

Today they announced the lineup for what we Jacksonians know as 'Memphis in May' and the rest of the world knows as 'Music Fest.'

So, yeah...

Well it seems to get progressively worse with each year. Maybe my tastes have just changed - but you will be able to find me there on Friday evening for Wilco. I'm working on my third Wilco concert in six months. Go see them. You won't regret it. I'm also hoping to check out Big Star. That's about all that really sparks my interest...

Well, wouldn't mind seeing India.Arie, Ben Harper and especially Steve Winwood. If he played "Higher Love," I'd wet my pants. That's a promise.

Here's the whole lineup...

Friday, May 2, 2003
Joe Cocker
John Mayer
Jonny Lang
India.Arie
Tommy Castro
Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown
Nappy Roots
Booker T & the MG's
Wilco
Mok-kyung Kim with
Blind Mississippi Morris
Big Star
Seether
Kirk Smithhart Band
Caitlin Cary
Kelley Hurt
Franky Perez

Saturday, May 3, 2003
3 Doors Down
Jerry Lee Lewis
Willie Nelson
Sheryl Crow
Steve Winwood
Pinetop Perkins
Evanescence
Richard Johnston
Susan Tedeschi
Ben Harper
Gap Band
Popa Chubby
Koko Taylor
Jack Johnson
RatDog
Anthony Gomes
Cory Branan
Ingram Hill
Little Milton
Mok-kyung Kim with Blind Mississippi Morris
Graham Colton
Gomez
Donna the Buffalo
Robert 'Wolfman' Belfour
Bob Cheevers
Lucero

Sunday, May 4, 2003
ZZ Top
Default
LL Cool J
Jimmy Thackery
Hubert Sumlin
North Mississippi Allstars
B 52's
Barkays
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Jim Dickinson
T Model Ford
Nickel Creek
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Don Nix & Larry Raspberry
Mok-kyung Kim with Blind Mississippi Morris
Precious Bryant
Billy Lee Riley
Matt Nathanson
Michelle Penn
Gamble Brothers Band

2003-03-17T22:49:00.000-06:00

Greetings. I'm back.

I've got a lot to catch you all up on. First, I just got a press copy of Neilson Hubbard's new album, Sing Into Me. As you might expect, it's great. Fans of Pedro the Lion, Damien Jurado and Elliott Smith will like it a lot. Neilson's lyrics take a noticeable turn to issues of faith - much like PTL - this time around. Fantastic stuff.

Anyway, here's news from the Questions in Dialect guys...

"This Sunday the show has moved from the CLB to Horizon Community
Church near Banner Hall in Jackson.

Sunday, March 16, 2003 / Horizon Community Church / Jackson,
Mississippi / 7PM / All Ages / Appearing with Cool Hand Luke, and
Bellador

Other shows coming soon:

Saturday / March 22, 2003 / Swayze's / Atlanta, Georgia / 7PM / All
Ages / TBA

Saturday, April 5, 2003 / 1-UP / Valdosta, Georgia / 9PM / All Ages /
Appearing with Maserati and Lucky Stranger

NEWS
*We will be in Atlanta again on April 12th. More on that date soon.

*We had a great experience in Memphis last weekend. Thanks to Unwed
Sailor and the Singing Mechanic - it was a pleasure. To quote Mr.
Bogart, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.

*March 23rd we head to Athens to finish mixing the album. 8 tracks
with approximately one hour of music.

*Our next release will either be an ep or a release entitled "Book
and Tape". YES we are releasing a cassette tape!!! One day we will
package all of our releases in a box set and call it "The evolution
of format". Maybe not. More details on Book and Tape as they emerge.

*We had a photo shoot. Look:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/questionsindialect/lst"

Also, news from the Always Sunday front...

"Hey Everyone,

We are back from our travels and ready to bring you rock in its finest form. We have a couple of shows lined up we don’t want you or your friends to miss, so mark your calendars.

Wednesday March 19 - Hi Tone, Memphis
with Pleasure Club - You might have seen their video on MTV2. You can check them out at www.pleasureclubmusic.com.

Monday April 7 - Smith’s Olde Bar, Atlanta, GA
tell anyone you know that lives in or near Atlanta, this will be a great show. If you say “I am here to see Always Sunday” at the door – you get in FREE!

Saturday April 26 – Double Decker Festival, Oxford
If you have never seen Oxford – this is the best time to come. The festival will have tons of great music and arts. Other artists playing includes Los Lobos, Cory Branan, Kim Richey, North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, T Model Ford and many others…for more info: www.doubledeckerfestival.com

For all of you who missed the Chicago show you can watch it online – go to http://www.dcn.com/contest/band_page.jsp?artist_id=25031 if you don’t want to become a member – use our info: USER NAME – always sunday PASSWORD – beautifuld

ENJOY THE SHOW!

We will have more shows soon so stay posted. If you don’t have a CD yet don’t wait any longer! Order yours now – send a check to 1300 Pierce Ave., Oxford, MS 38655 ONLY $10!

We also have tee shirts available for $10.

We will also be giving our email list to pastemusic.com, they will keep you updated on new great music! You can also buy our CD there. If you do not want to be added to their list, please let us know and we will take you off before we send it.

Don’t you wish it was,
Always Sunday"

2003-03-10T11:34:00.000-06:00

Palmer is in Bucharest. Eveyone else is gone. I'm in Jackson. I skipped the beach and a trip to the windy city to stay in Jackson. Why? Because Jackson rocks, in its own special little way. Actually, the more accurate reason is because my room rocks. My amp's volume is cranked to 10 and the refrigerator is full.

There really isn't anything going on except for an Iron and Wine show at Martins. If you have the means or are actually 21, you should check it out.

If you get to the point of mind numbing boredom check out my favorite website, Mighty Assembly. They design websites like me, except theirs will rock your socks off

Potential Band Name of The Day: Closer to Far

2003-03-06T14:14:00.000-06:00

Pensacola natives, Portside Drive, are the most recent addition to everyone's favorite record label, Esperanza Plantation. I smell Saddle Creek, kids. Jackson is the new Omaha. Jimmy Cajoleas is the world's next Conor Oberst. Jesse Coppenbarger is the guy with the funny hat from The Faint. (See cover of the last DIW)

But seriously, I got the chance to see Portside Drive at the CLB a few weeks back. Really good stuff. Check out their mp3.com stuff if you get the chance. I'm glad to see Chaney and Scott snagged them onboard.

Also, I'm headed out of the country tomorrow. Bucharest, Romania here I come. I'm headed on a missions trip there, so this will be my last update for a little over a week or so. Lou is just feeding his dogs all Spring Break. Perhaps he will update it for you people.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Butterscotch Nightmare

2003-03-05T16:54:00.000-06:00

OK - while I procrastinate a little more - here's some stuff.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that I think the short-lived NBC show, Freaks and Geeks, was the best network television show of my teenage years. Unfortunately, it only ran for one season. (I don't even think all the shows included in that season ran - they finally all aired on Fox Family.) Anyway, there's a movement to bring that show to DVD - which must happen. I bought a couple VHS's of all the episodes from some clown on eBay this past summer. Worst quality ever. Anyway, redeem me. Go here and sign up for their list which they are using to convince Dreamworks to DVD-ize the show.

Also, caught the Twothirtyeight show in Memphis last night. Glad I went, but it was somewhat of a disappointment. Chris was sick and his voice was hurting. On top of that, the acoustics in the place (Precious Cargo) were poor. And their sound system wouldn't allow for the vocal levels to be as high as they should have been. As reported, FSF didn't play. But got a chance to see Elliott (who I enjoyed) and The Beautiful Mistake (who I did not enjoy).

2003-03-04T00:43:00.000-06:00

I'm told Further Seems Forever will NOT be playing at the show tomorrow night at Precious Cargo with Twothirtyeight and others. Frankly, this is good news to me. I don't really care for FSF - and hopefully this will translate into a longer set from Twothirtyeight. And there was much rejoicing.

Here's an email I got from The Plaid today...

"THE PLAID will be playing this Saturday, March 8 at the Madison Cultural Center with Plastic Glasses and Second Story Satellite. The show starts at 7:30. The Madison Cultural Center is located right next to Madison Station Elementery. But for those of you who don't know Madison well, contact Mick for directions at theplaidband@hotmail.com.

Another confirmed date: Saturday, May 10. This will be for the first ever Madison Central Battle of the Bands. So far all that is known is that it will be an all day event, at Madison Central High School, outdoors. Bands confirmed include Plastic Glasses, Second Story Satellite, Gypsy Bums, and Kerygma. As more information comes, you will know about it!

Thanks to everyone who came to the last show at Gravity Coffeehouse. The crowd was not that big, but if you were there, then you rock! If you weren't there, you missed a great show. The band played great and was hilarious as always.

The band is still working on their as of yet untitled album under the production of Dan Helmintoller at Coolwater Studios in Clinton. So far, the tracks are sounding GREAT and they haven't even been mixed or anything yet. It is definately going to be a CD to look out for. The band is currently in talks with Earshot Records (www.earshotrecords.com) about distributing the new album but nothing is certain yet. You can expect about 12 songs on this album. This will be the bands first full release and the follow up to their 7 song EP 550 And A Breakfast Bar.

Thanks a lot everyone and we hope to see you at the show Saturday night!

-Zach, THE PLAID Webmaster"

2003-03-03T16:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday when I was putting out our AA*LW leaflets in Bebop, I noticed a free sticker for Phaser - a group playing MQ on March 16th. So, just now I'm putting the sticker on my Aiwa stereo - like all the free stickers I get - and I read this quote about them....

"Somewhere between the spacious reverbed melancholia of Sigur Ros and Radiohead, the swirling psychedelia of Spiritualized, the hoary pop homage of Oasis, the barbed, wired misanthropy of the Jesus and Mary Chain and the dense dark pattern making of The Verve...so good you wish it owuld go on forever."

That's a quote from the Sunday Times - a major publication in the UK. Either I want to be at that show on the 16th - or meet the guy who wrote that. I still can't figure out which.

Also, a note on our leaflets. We misspelled Plastic Glasses - sorry. Our copy editors didn't pick up on the "plasctic" misspelling. Also, the other show on the 16th - not at MQ - but at the CLB, featuring Cool Hand Luke and Bellador - well Questions In Dialect is playing it - not Fletcher. We apologize for the mistake. And assert the fact that we love Questions in Dialect - a lot - especially after their show last night - well after every show we have seen them play

2003-03-02T00:56:00.000-06:00

I just rolled into Jackson.

Swung by Banner Hall to pick up a Planet Weekly on my way in. There's a nice Questions in Dialect article in there.

Also, in an earlier section, there's kind of a Jackson faces section. One of the interviewees is Jackson's own Madonna/Cher/Prince (I was in Video Library one time when he was trying to convince the worker that his membership should just be "Chane" - forget that full name business) - yes, the one-name-only clothing store designer - Chane. Anyway, he mentions that he would like to be listening to the new Fletcher CD if they would give him a copy. (NOTE: That CD is not finished yet...)

2003-03-01T17:25:00.000-06:00

I'm resorting to mainstream blog content today. I found these off one of those Top 40 blog pages.

'How Evil Are You?" Quiz (I was Neutral).

U.S. Diplomat's Letter of Resignation.

Also, don't forget about what we are going to term QUESTIONS IN DIALECT WEEKEND 2003 EXTRAVAGENZA BLOWOUT MADNESS.

Saturday, March 1, 2003 / Martin's / Jackson, Mississippi / 11PM / 21up / Appearing with The Malarkies

Sunday, March 2, 2003 / MusiQuarium / Jackson, MS / 8PM / All Ages / Appearing with A Becoming Walk, and Julius Leonard Magolly / The Ways in Which We Add, 7" release show

I'll be at the show on Sunday. See you there...

Potential Band Name of the Day: Smoochy on Ice

2003-02-28T16:41:00.000-06:00

If you haven't heard of the Trachtenburg Family Slide Show Players - now you have. You must obtain video of them. It's unbelievable. It's a Mom (who runs the slide projector), a Dad (guitar and vocals) and their pre-teen daughter (drums). I caught them on Conan over Christmas.

Check this EW article out

Their site is on freaking Homestead.com. Classic. Check it out here.

Potential Band Name of the Day: The Neurotic Older Sister I Never Had

2003-02-27T23:55:00.000-06:00

I don't think that ATDI video worked. Sorry. I'll check on it.

I learned today that Otha Turner passed away. Turner was a fife and drum blues musician. He was a native Mississippian - he was 96 - and he even performed at last year's Memphis in May. Truly remarkable. You owe it to yourself to listen to some of his music - I recommend "Senegal to Senatobia.". Read this bio.

You can download some of his music - including the aforementioned song - here.

I'm out...

2003-02-26T19:41:00.000-06:00

Check out this At The Drive In video. It blew me away.

http://the-raft.com/pieces/atdi/rams/atdi_250.ram

Enjoy.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Sheph Voy RD

2003-02-25T22:40:00.000-06:00

Here's a word from Questions in Dialect - (I'd go as far to call them the best band in Mississippi...)

"We are releasing a split 7" record with AbecomingWalk this weekend.
The party begins at 3:00pm Saturday at T-Bones Records in
Hattiesburg. The second part is Sunday night, 8:00pm, at Musiquarium
in Jackson.

If you thought we were finished with the recording, well, you thought
like the bitty. We have to go back March 23rd to finish mixing. It
should be out in around two months. We feel good about the whole
thing, we just need to tweak it.

The album is entitled "As you may know there is no way to see this
far into the future." It will contain 8 songs, one of which was
improv in the studio. There will be some surprises on the album, but
we will keep them secret for the time being.

here is our list of shows:

Saturday, March 1, 2003 / T-Bone Records / Hattiesburg, Mississippi /
3PM / All Ages / Appearing with A Becoming Walk / The Ways in Which
We Add, 7" release show

Saturday, March 1, 2003 / Martin's / Jackson, Mississippi / 11PM /
21+ / Appearing with The Malarkies

Sunday, March 2, 2003 / MusiQuarium / Jackson, Mississippi / 8PM /
All Ages / Appearing with A Becoming Walk, and Julius Leonard
Magolly / The Ways in Which We Add, 7" release show

Sunday, March 9, 2003 / The Map Room / Memphis, Tennessee / 7:30PM /
Appearing with Uwed Sailor, and The Singing Mechanic

Saturday, March 16, 2003 / The CLB / Clinton, Mississippi / All
Ages / Appearing with Cool Hand Luke, and Bellador

Saturday, April 5, 2003 / 1-UP / Valdosta, Georgia / 9PM / All Ages /
Appearing with Maserati and Lucky Stranger"

2003-02-23T19:28:00.000-06:00

I've gotten lazy with this thing.

Lots to report. The show on Friday night with The Damnwells and Always Sunday was great. The Damnwells (opened for Phantom Planet, Cheap Trick, Longwave, etc.) were a treat to catch in Oxford. In addition to being nice guys, their drummer was a member of Whiskeytown. I'm trying to be THAT guy who brags about talking to members of the band.

Phil from Questions in Dialect was at the show. He said their LP recording with Andy Baker in Athens went well - they just didn't have enough time to finish it all. Five days isn't that long. He said he met the drummer of Counting Crows (ex-drummer now) over there. Did you know that guy was from Jackson? He went to Northwest Rankin.

Rumors are floating around that TOOL has lined up a show for Oxford - we'll see. I also hear that James Taylor is playing Jackson sometime soon.

Keep your eyes open for a new AA*LW mini-flyer that hits streets today. It's going to be a quasi-monthly 4 x 4 flyer that lists all the upcoming shows. They look really good - thanks to Lou. I'll try to get that image up on the site soon...

2003-02-20T02:21:00.000-06:00

It's too late...

What did I mean to say...

Here's an earlier reminder about

Monday, February 24
Furthermore (www.further-more.com)
Calibretto 13 (www.calibretto.com)
Fletcher
Hal and Mal's (Soulshine)
7 PM - $6
ALL AGES!

Also, check out an article about The Damnwells in the newest issue of No Depression. They will be in Oxford with Always Sunday this Friday.

Lastly, I hear there are some big mentions about AA*LW, local music, locals bands, local venues in the newest issue of the Jackson Free Press. Look for it out in Jackson - Banner Hall, Video Library, etc. Their website should be updated with it soon.

2003-02-18T00:03:00.000-06:00

Movie news from Oxford...

Malco buys Cine 4, plans major expansion at Oxford Mall

Lucy Schultze
Staff Writer

By this Thanksgiving, Oxford moviegoers will be reclining in stadium seats at a brand-new eight-screen theater at the Oxford Mall.

Malco Theatres announced this morning that it has purchased Cine 4 from United Artist Theatres and intends to build a state-of-the-art movie theater in the space formerly occupied by Stage department store.

"The owners of Malco have been interested in coming to Oxford and bringing their theater into the market for a long time, and are very excited to finally have struck a deal to make everything come to fruition," the company said in a faxed statement.

Bobby Levy, senior vice president for Malco Theatres, said the deal represents an investment of more than $3 million for the company. Malco will take over operation of Cine 4 on Feb. 21 and will begin site preparation immediately for the new 19,600-square-foot cinema. Completion is scheduled for mid-fall.

"I think this town has needed something like this for quite some time," said Cine 4 general manager Matthew King. "With the new facilities and new equipment, everything will improve exponentially."

For at least a couple of years after the new theater opens, Malco plans to continue operating Cine 4 as a reduced-price venue for second-run, foreign and art films.

The new theater, dubbed "The Oxford Studio," will be modeled after Malco's Studio On The Square in Overton Square in Memphis, which offers mainstream and select art films in an intimate, cozy atmosphere with an extensive selection of food and beverages.

Each of the Oxford Studio's eight auditoriums will feature stadium seating, plush rocking chair seats with retractable cup-holder armrests, curved wall-to-wall screens and digital stereo surround sound with specially designed Klipsch speakers.

The lobby will have seating areas with sofas and tables, a video arcade and a concession stand featuring an expanded menu and coffee bar. The front entrance will feature a courtyard with tables, umbrellas and chairs. There will also be an entrance from inside the mall.

Levy said Malco had been talking to all of the developers planning major projects in Oxford for nearly a year. The Oxford Mall was selected because of its prime location across from the entrance to the University of Mississippi.

Malco was also being courted by the developers of a new main-street-style shopping center planned for the corner of Sisk Avenue and Highway 7. Kenlan Development received site plan approval last summer to build a movie theater as the centerpiece of its shopping center. Principals at Kenlan could not be reached this morning to say how Malco's decision will affect their plans.

Malco Theatres operates 280 screens at 35 locations in the Mid-South area, including the new cinema at Tupelo Commons.

--Taken from the Oxford Eagle.

2003-02-17T23:08:00.000-06:00

Yeah, so... I'm 10% of my battery power away from being a goner. And I'll make it quick because I have nothing to report. Literally, nothing.

Some of you might like this band that Always Sunday is playing with this upcoming weekend here in Oxford at Proud Larry's...The Damnwells. They are from NYC. Because we all know that everyone from New York City is cool. Everyone. So, is every band from there.

By the way, the Always Sunday CD release party went well from what I'm told. They had about 450 people there. Sold some discs. Threw Riesen Candies during their song "Reason 365" and threw blue and yellow ribbons during "Blue and Yellow." Lots of dignataries from the Oxford music scene were in attendance.

2003-02-16T01:39:00.000-06:00

Great night. Great show. Good seeing everyone.

Twothirtyeight was fantastic. Solid mix of old and new. Although the new is definitely my preference. I picked up Chris Staples' (vocals and guitar for Twothirtyeight) solo record - which he claimed was alternative country. Don't get me wrong, it's enjoyable. But it's not alt.country - not to say it doesn't have Americana influences.

The surprise of the night for me - because we of course knew that Twothirtyeight was going to be splendid - was Portside Drive. Lots of pop-sounds. The best explanation is from their site....

"Pensacola’s Portsidedrive is bucking a trend. Unlike the majority of their contemporaries who have found a lucrative and supportive niche in the exploding new world of openly Christian alternative music, they’re not taking the easy way out.

Instead of falling back on tired - and increasingly generic - emo or hardcore poses, this Florida band is following the same path as some of their acknowledged influences, such as U2. Portsidedrive’s music is by turns somber and cathartic, and the subject matter at the root of their art is carefully obfuscated: tracks are inspirational, not proselytizing.

The message behind Portsidedrive’s songs is not one of guilt and condemnation, but of God’s love and peace of mind. They believe the lives they lead will shine through their music no matter the subject.

More adventurous than most of their ilk, they’re not afraid to attempt a variety of sub-genres, and their material runs the gamut from thunderous, anthemic rock to compact, intimate pop songs that sound as if they were based around beatbox rythms and four track home demos.

Together only two years, Portsidedrive’s talent and musical flexibility has already found them a comfortable place alongside a wide variety of bands such as TwoThirtyEight, Denison Marrs, the VelvetTeen, and Pax217."

I talked to them about an AA*LW appearance - so we shall see. Hope it works out.

Props to Bellador. About to pop in the new disc. Fletcher was madness per usual. Yes, someone in a wildcat mascot suit was crowd surfing during their set. Insanity.

Potential Band Name of the Day: En Stereo Out

2003-02-13T14:03:00.000-06:00

Just a quick reminder, if you are reading this between 5:30 and 6:30 tonight, hop on over here to hear Always Sunday on Thacker Mountain Radio.

Also, today was Always Sunday - day - ha - in the Daily Mississippian here at Ole Miss. Three articles that mentioned them.

Read my article about the band.

Read Steven Bevilaqua's review of their album.

Read John Saucier's mention of them in his Thacker article.

In the midst of doing that article, I was turned on to two pop rock bands, you might enjoy. The Wes Hollywood Show (Wes told Always Sunday they were the best band he'd see in Chicago in 15 years) and the New Constitution. Don't forget about NYC's The Damnwells who will be gigging with Always Sunday at Proud Larry's on the 24th.

I'm really liking what I'm hearing from Portside Drive - who will be at the CLB on Saturday w/ Twothirtyeight, Bellador and Fletcher. Looking forward to getting that Bellador record everyone is raving about - and rightly so I suspect.

2003-02-12T23:14:00.000-06:00

Here's a word from Bellador...

"Our new record, The Day's Intent will be in this week. We are super
excited about this. We put alot into this record and feel and hope
that you guys enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed making it. We will
have it at our two shows this weekend, in Florida and Clinton, MS,
both with 238. Thankfully though, there is another way for everyone
of you who cannot make it to the show to get this record. We have
set up an online store that accepts credit/debit card payments. At
this time, you can purchase the record and buttons directly from our
website. The link to the site is
http://www.bellador.com/merch.html . We will ship it out to you as
soon as we recieve them. We hope that all of our friends from out of
town will support us in the release of our new record and help us out
by purchasing it. We feel sure you will believe it is money well
spent.

The two shows this weekend begin with us playing in Pensacola, FL
with twothirtyeight and portside drive. This show will be at Bedlam
on Friday night, Feb. 14th. Saturday night, the 15th, will find us
at the CLB in Clinton, MS with twothirtyeight. These are the first
shows that the CD will be available at, they are release shows of a
sort. Please come and support us, as well as the Esperanza
Plantation (it will be the first Esperanza release), by purchasing
the record and supporting local music.

We at Bellador would like to sincerely thank all of you who support
us, recent or longtime fans. There were moments when it would have
been easy to quit or give up, but thankfully, because of your support
and the importance of what God has given us, we have continued. This
album is the birth from all of that. Our hopes are that you not only
enjoy it musically, but that it can go beyond that. Our thanks are
to you in this important time in the life of our band. God bless you
all.

joel of bellador"

Potential Band Name of the Day: The Fibonacci Sequence

2003-02-09T00:50:00.000-06:00

Sorry, I haven't been keeping this updated daily. Forgive me.

Dealing with a friend's death can be a pretty crappy thing. (See these two links - article and obituary)

Anyway, in addition to being musical giants, the guys in Questions in Dialect are design stalwarts as well. See these two sites they have developed - Scott Kennedy and Graphic Anthem.

Don't forget about the Embodyment / Narcissus / Station show Sunday night at the CLB - there's metalcore fun to be had.

Look for a newsletter to hit your inboxes sometime really soon.

2003-02-05T23:21:00.000-06:00

Alright, boys and girls, the Always Sunday debut LP, Beautiful Disgrace, should be in next Wednesday, February 12. Shortly thereafter, you should be able to find it at Paste Music. Here's another option for Jackson residents: you can mail me money, cash or check, I'll get you a copy and bring it back to Jackson when I come back that weekend of February 14-16. If you want do that, email me here. I'm sure Musiquarium will be getting some, as well. I'll let you know the details when I have them.

Of course, you could always just circumvent all this melee and go to their CD Release Party here in Oxford on February 15 at the Library Bar and Grill to get your copy.

Please note that the show scheduled for February 8 at Martin's featuring Always Sunday and Living Better Electrically has been cancelled.

Lou has evidently dug into his cave at Tora Bora or gone Amish on us - I can't seem to get in touch with him to update some stuff on the site. Meanwhile, here's the shows page I have been pan-frying for a while now. That will not be the shows list permanent home - only a temporary one.

Breaking news from the Cake or Death headquarters:

"For those of you who have downloaded track 8 (skippin town) from the site, the song cuts off around the 2:18 mark. That problem has been fixed.
What's quite significant about this is that there is a lovely song thirty seconds after the end of skippin town that, because of this error, no one has heard. So, download skippin town whenever you have time and enjoy the secret song on Dallow.

-Allen"

Look for that, their third release, at Musiquarium in the near future.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Your Affectionate Uncle

2003-02-04T19:50:00.000-06:00

Today we are going to play six degrees of separation, only with Jackson music and Rolling Stone. So then, in the latest issue there is a large feature called, creatively, "Spring College Special 2003." On story in that package was on the best college "scenes."

Jackson has several connections to a few of the "Bands on the Rise" mentioned therein. Two of the bands mentioned in the #1 scene that is Athens, Georgia are: Maserati - "smooth ridin' sex rock," according to RS. Connection: local atmospheric rocksters Question in Dialect with be playing with them somewhere in Georgia in April. Another band that is mentioned is Of Montreal; described by RS as "spirited fun band of what's left of Elephant 6." Connection: They have played Jackson's own Martin's on several occasions. Lastly, this band comes out of #3 Cambridge, Mass. scene, The Sheila Divine - "local emo legends who transcend the trend." Connection: honestly, there is none. Last year, Neilson Hubbard's bassist just told me check them out - I did - and I liked them

Potential Band Name of the Day: Padington Bears All

2003-02-03T20:50:00.000-06:00

Lou decided to revamp the site for the 34th time, so some of it looks different. As soon as he finishes getting Laura Piazza's site for Ole Miss ASB President squared away, I'm sure we will see some more changes on AA*LW.

Attention Kelly Wingate fans, in the back of Paste Magazine I noticed an ad for a homemade literary journal. What really caught my eye were the bikini-clad girls with the literary journal all over them. Sorry. Extremely bad joke. The journal comes with a CD featuring material from Trent Dabbs of Always Sunday, Jonathan Shull of now-defunct The Sunset Manual, and Adam Weaver, also of the Sunset Manual. Jonathan and Trent were in Kelly Wingate. The disc also has music from Philly's Denison Witmer. You need to listen to him. The journal called Ghetto Monk can be obtained by emailing Jeremy at eprentiss@aol.com. They only cost 5 bucks. Mine's on the way. (He's the cousin of Joey from Kelly Wingate - that's the connection.)

2003-02-02T19:03:00.000-06:00

On Friday I had the chance to hear a professor of religion, philosophy, from Princeton named Cornel West speak. He's the most brilliant individual I've ever witness in person. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in three years. He's written dozens of books, including the best seller Race Matters. Just look at the guy's picture . He's also got a spoken word CD out. You can also look for him as Counselor West in The Matrix: Reloaded. He'll change the way you think. Buy his book, read about him on the internet, sell him your soul. Do something.

Also, this is still tentative but look for an all ages show at Hal and Mal's featuring Tooth and Nail's Calibretto 13 and Furthemore on Monday February 24. This isn't an official All Ages, Low Wages show, but we did help bring it there and will help promote it. We will let you know when it is finalized.

I re-did our shows page. The new one should be up whenever Lou so deems for it to be.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Balthazar's Ballin'

2003-01-31T13:58:00.000-06:00

Here's a bit a news from the Cake or Death media camp:

"The Cake or Death site has been updated, complete with two new video clips
from the recording session this past Christmas. There is also a bit of news
about Charlie going to England this semester. If you'd like to, you can put
this on the blog to let all know.

-Allen"

Also, read this Pitchfork review of the group, Menthol, who Always Sunday is playing with tonight in Chicago at Schuba's.

Don't forget about The Plaid and Out of Darkness show at Castlewoods Baptist Church tonight.

2003-01-30T19:23:00.000-06:00

So, a week after I get this blog up, the rock group, Fontane, which I have no affiliation with, starts up their own. Same template, too. Just look here.

Anyway, those guys played the CLB a week or two ago. Here's the text of any entry they made concerning our lovely Jackson Metropolitan Area...

"So anyway, at the show in Clinton, MS ... we arrived a little late (like every show) and had to park next door to the venue since there was no parking in front of it. We went inside to make sure everything was still gold and talked to the promoter who was really cool about us being late. Then about 10 minutes later, during the first band's set, we noticed a big tow truck behind our van. I went out to see what the problem was and apparently the tanning salon next door had a crudely home-made sign on a piece of bright orange posterboard board in front of their building that said something like "You will be, like, towed or something if you don't want a golden tan". We of course were not there to tan, so they called the most red-neck tow truck company they could find in Mississippi to tow our (Shade Seven's) poor little van. Since Mr. Tow Truck Man hadn't hooked anything up to the van yet, I simply got in and proceeded to move the van to a public parking spot where he couldn't tow it. He didn't like that very much.

Mr. Tow Truck Man: "Git outta that there van or give me $70 for coming out here!"
Me: "No."
Mr. Tow Truck Man: "Somebody's gonna pay me."
Me: "I didn't call you, so you can deal with those girls inside who were nice enough to call you out here on this cold, beautiful night."
Mr. Tow Truck Man: "I'm goin' inside, don't you move that there van!"
Me: "You can't tell me what to do with my own (Shade Seven's) van."

So, I proceeded to simply back out of the space, but Mr. Tow Truck Man jumped into his rig and blocked me and about 5 other cars from backing out. Then he went inside and they told him they weren't going to pay because we were willing to move and to get the money from me, which was not going to happen unless he physically pulled it out of my broken hands. So he came back outside with smoke coming out of his nose.

Mr. Tow Truck Man: "I NEED MY $70!"
Me: "Tough break, dude."
Mr. Tow Truck Man: "I'm callin' the cops and we'll see what they say."
Me: "Good, maybe they'll tell you to move your truck so I can back out of this space."

So, a few minutes later, Barney Fife shows up and assesses the situation. We (Mr. Tow Truck Man & me) plead our cases and he listens intently. Then he makes a decison.

Barney Fife: "Well, I'll tell ya what, since this is a private parking lot, I have no jurisdiction here. This is between you two. But, I do know what, if you (Mr. Tow Truck Man) don't move your rig out of the public street, I'm going to give you a ticket and have it towed."
Mr. Tow Truck Man: "You haven't heard the last of me!! Next time I'll haul it all the way back to Louisianna!!"
Me: "Outta my face, outta my face."
Clint: "Now what happened?"
Brandon: "It's cold out here, where's my scarf?"

So, that's how it went down. We moved the van and then played our hearts out to the awesome kids in Clinton, MS. Hope you enjoyed the story, it is 100% true, but some of the names have been changed to protect the red-neck.

- Zach :)
zach@fontanerock.com"

Potential Band Name of the Day: The Putter's Name Is Charlene

2003-01-29T23:44:00.000-06:00

A few things tonight. A quick reminder that The Plaid will be playing with Out of Darkness on Friday at 8PM at Castlewoods Baptist Church.

My PO Box gave me the newest issue of Paste Magazine today. Please, please check this publication out. I can't say enough good stuff about it. It's the way a music or pop culture magazine should be. You can find it in Borders and Barnes & Noble. It's like the Oxford American Music Issue - only every issue.

This is greatest article ever written. Ever. U.N. Orders Wonka To Submit To Chocolate Factory Inspections.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Rosencratz and Guildenstern

2003-01-28T23:42:00.000-06:00

Skip on over to the Always Sunday mp3.com site. Two tracks from the new album are now available for download, including my favorite off the record, Take a Shot.

2003-01-28T14:39:00.000-06:00

I'm absent-minded. That Living Better Electrically show I plugged yesterday for yesterday night. Well it's tonight. So go.

Our friends at Our Memphis have revamped their site. Give it a look.

I may or may not add another post tonight - papers to do.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Sonnet 14

2003-01-27T13:56:00.000-06:00

Big news, we just received word from Chris Sartin at Soulshine that we can have Monday nights for sure this summer. If their acoustic music Sunday night deal falters, we may have it on Sunday nights. Either way, this is good news. Start clearing your summer calendars for those two nights.

Also, Jackson dwellers, don't forget about Living Better Electrically tonight at The Forum. Missing them would be a travesty.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Don't Pet the Bison

2003-01-26T22:41:00.000-06:00

Super Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Pickwick Bowl, Glass Bowl. Too many. The best part of the period of time when the Super Bowl was on was indeed the halftime segment. Specifically, the SNL Halftime Weekend Update dealio. You had to change channels to see it. I'm sorry if you missed it. I'm especially sorry if you missed it to watch Shania Twain "entertain." OK, so is he going to bash Sting and No Doubt, now. You see, I love The Police. I think they are fantastic. I can't say the same thing for Sting's solo career. I loved the early mainstream No Doubt stuff. When I was 13 I bought the CD single to "I'm Just a Girl." So I had gender issues? My love faded though. What happens when No Doubt and Sting get together to play a Police song? Kind of like when Cobra joined forces with G.I. Joe to fight space aliens to save the planet. Your into it, but then it quickly fades into mediocrity, quickly.

Worthy of mentioning. The Matrix: Reloaded preview was most excellent. First time I had seen that many clips of the movie. If you see it pay special attention to the Freeway scene and the Neo vs. 100's of Agent Smith scenes. Supposedly, those scenes are quite innovative as far as filming action goes.

I tripped over this article on CNN.com. It's a poem a nun who always guesses the right winner of the Super Bowl wrote about this year's game. Look for it in Atlantic Monthly.

Music, you say. Some of acts for the fests around here are coming together. Pollstar says that Memphis in May, or Beale St. Music Festival, whichever you prefer, will be having legendary power-poppers and native Memphians, Big Star as well as Jonny Lang and the North Mississippi Allstars.

Also, Oxford's own Double Decker Festival will be having, according to Pollstar, Los Lobos and Lucero. In addition, according to a concerned bass player, an email a while back and not according to their website, Always Sunday, will be playing it as well. Keep in mind, these are just the only acts known at this point for either of these events. Much more to come.

2003-01-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

I just watched an episode of "The Outer Limits" from 1995. It starred a 13-year-old Kirsten Dunst and Joshua Jackson - coasting off his newfound Mighty Ducks fame. Well, they turn into aliens after listening to this noise Joshua Jackson's character obtained through his radio telescope. If anything, it reminded me why I had never watched this particular television series before.

Yeh, um, I just got all the info for a shows page cooked up. Look for it on the AA*LW site whenever it gets back online - my guess is Monday.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Forget Gutenberg

2003-01-24T18:19:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: I did a little research on the company bringing the new movieplex to Jackson, Rave Motion Pictures. Their arsenal isn't dreadful - like UA's. All of their theatres around the size of the one coming to Jackson (18-screen) were showing About Schmidt, Adaptation, The Hours, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Narc. While all of these Jackson's movie joints are showing those films, minus The Hours, there's no place showing them all. It's brings a little hope. However, I'd be more excited had those Rave theatres been showing 25th Hour and Chicago.

2003-01-24T18:07:00.000-06:00

Kids, first off, the AA*LW site is down because didn't fax them our 3rd grade time tests or something like that. We faxed them whatever elementary school artifact they needed, and we should be back up soon. These are the roadblacks vast media conglomerates like ourselves face all the time, but we're resilient. We survive.

One piece of news worth mentioning. I caught this article on a new movie complex at Dogwood Festival Market a little while ago browsing the Clarion-Ledger site. I'm not familar with the company building the place - but like someone says in the article - my hope is that they will attract films that aren't more of the same. Perhaps more indie films. I still think it's going to take a small, artsy theater place in Belhaven and Fondren to pull that off though - much like Studio on the Square in the Midtown area of Memphis.

2003-01-24T01:23:00.000-06:00

Real quick-like. Sorry there has been so little information over the last two days. I have just been extremely busy. All apologies.

So, Living Better Electrically rolls into Oxford town tonight to join forces with Always Sunday. Rock ensued. LBE rocked as hard as any opening act I've seen since - well, Ben Kweller in Dallas. However, um - the law of entropy prevailed. Because things got chaotic. With the home court advantage, Always Sunday did more of the same. Our judges are calling it a draw.

Shout-outs to all three of the people who have told me their life wouldn't be the same day-to-day without the ray of hope that this blog is.

2003-01-22T23:00:00.000-06:00

All's quiet on this front. Look for Lou to be updating the media section very shortly. Good stuff to come.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Bats in Your Hair

2003-01-21T23:22:00.000-06:00

A couple of news items today: I talked to our friend Neilson Hubbard via email today. His forthcoming album's (on Parasol Records) release date is most likely getting pushed back from April 8th to April 22nd. It looks like there will be a "off-da-hook" album release party on April 16th in the second floor area of Banner Hall- plus the record store part of MQ - talks of TV monitors and the like. Should be crazy. He'll be playing Oxford's own Thacker Mountain Radio, as well as Proud Larry's the very next day. He'll also be at the hype-producing South by Southwest Festival in Austin during March. We'll keep you updated on Neilson...

Look for some of Neilson's music in our media section in the near future. Also, despite he and his wife moving to Nashville soon, look for him at an AA*LW sanctioned show - whenever that may be.

As far as shows in Jackson, the people are telling me that there is a show featuring The Plaid and Out of Darkness on Friday, January 31 at Castlewoods Baptist Church in Brandon. Showtime is 8 PM, The Plaid will be playing first - with some very new music, I'm told.

Here's a somewhat interesting article I just read in the NY Times. You have to be registered - but it's free and it's only the best newspaper in America.

2003-01-20T23:24:00.000-06:00

I wish I actually had something to report. Not much news. Jimmy told me about two shows that I wasn't aware of - but then he had to go - so I got no details. If you are reading this Jimmy J, let me know what those shows were.

I got an email from Bellador tonight. So, I'll paste it here. Is is this plagiarism?

"this wednesday night we will be playing at the clb in clinton, ms
with the blamed and fontaine. i believe the show starts around 7 and
is probably 5 bucks at the door. it should be exciting.

we also wanted to let everyone know that the cd is being pressed as i
type this email. we should have it in our hands about a month from
now. we will have some sort of release show and we will let you know
details about that soon.

other exciting news is that we were asked to play cornerstone
festival in bushnell, IL this summer. we will be playing on the rock
for life stage. this is quite an honor for us.

check out http://www.bellador.com for big updates coming up. we hope
you have a wonderful day.

joel of bellador"

Is Fletcher not playing at that show on the 22nd? Why do paperboys sometimes forget to put the clear plastic covers over newspapers when it is supposed to or has rained? How could this post get any worse?

All questions we as a society should ponder.

2003-01-19T19:03:00.000-06:00

Not much to report as far as news goes, however, I had the chance to listen to a self-released album by Venus Hum the other night. It's fantastic electro-pop from Nasvhille of all places. They are managed by the same guys who manage AA*LW friend Neilson Hubbard. The two collaborated on a tribute to Jeff Lynne recently. You can listen to a clip of the song here.

Since I'm sure we have garnered a huge readership in Australia, I think it's only necessary to hype what surely will be a hype-worthy tour of the continent you always wondered what made it deserve to be it's own continent. The Bens Rock Over Australia Tour - featuring Ben Folds, Ben Kweller, and Ben Lee.

2003-01-19T14:27:00.000-06:00

After slipping into Martin's undetected, I found a comfy booth with a good view. What followed was one of the most entertaining shows I have ever seen. Congratulations to Oxford, MS for producing the future of rock music, Always Sunday.

2003-01-19T01:27:00.000-06:00

Hearing good things about the Fletcher show last night. Hopefully, we are going to be obtaining some video of the show - thanks to Aaron Keuter - to put in the media section very soon.

Unfortunately, Always Sunday didn't make it to the final four of the Buzzplay National Unsigned Band Search contest. We might still love them. On a related note, check out the latest band to be added to our bands section - an Always Sunday side project, The Rock N Roll Panty Shelter. Thanks to Dean (you want to click that link) for the description. Also, we got a bio up for Alexander's Dark Heart as well. Thanks to Walter for sending that in. If you want your band featured, shoot us a line.

It's the weekend at-home arts and entertainment picks: I picked up a copy of De Capo's Best Music Writing of 2001 at Square Books today. I love the little I've gotten through so far. As far as moving images are concerned, I finally got around to renting The Insider. The best movie I've rented since Magnolia - which was only two months ago.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Demarcation Line Dancing

2003-01-18T02:50:00.000-06:00

Got to hear the new Living Better Electrically disc tonight. Before tonight I had only heard one song off of it. I was doubtful going in - but it really is a stellar collection of songs, and it really is 3 AM.

Well, the primary point of this entry was to let everyone know that tonight I was swept off my feet by three young ladies. Their names were Northern State. They are the best thing to happen to hip-hop - ever. The group is made up of three liberal arts-schooled white girls rapping under the monikers, "Hesta Prynn," "Guinea Love," and "DJ Sprout."

I've found true love.

2003-01-17T14:59:00.000-06:00

There's a guy I'm in the Honors College with whose music was written up in an article today in the Daily Mississippian here on campus. Read the article, check out Defy's site, check out their . Look for their stuff on the AA*LW site soon.

If there is anyone into hardcore in the Metro Jackson area, looking for someone to play with, drop Brian Wallace a line. Or check out his post on the NJDC.

2003-01-17T00:03:00.000-06:00

Kids, I heard the final mastered copy of the Always Sunday album last night. Oh, so good. If you liked Powerwalking, well, I liked that one, too. "Beautiful Disgrace" is much better.

Also, looks like we are going to be having a spring show or shows at Hal and Mal's. We are negotiating a date as we speak. Bands will be announced as soon as we get the date(s) figured out.

2003-01-15T15:31:00.000-06:00

We are going to do the extended edition again today. First off, you know you want it and you know we always have info on them - Always Sunday. The "American Tour" says that they are going be playing another gig with Living Better Electrically at Martin's on Saturday, February 8th.

Also, they were supposed to hear back today from Buzzplay about the National Unsigned Band Search - which they were in the top 10 of, however, the announcement got pushed back until Friday, January 17th. So, if you haven't dropped a line to the people at Buzzplay about Always Sunday, do it now in the last hour - send it to a&r@buzzplay.net

Here's the email Buzzplay sent them today:
"Congratulations once again on being chosen as a top ten finalist in the first Buzzplay.com Best Unsigned Band Search. We have changed the announcement date of the winner to this Friday the 17th. Sorry to keep you in stitches. Also we have been negotiating with The Viper Room here in LA as the venue for the showcase. The way it looks now though it may not happen until the last week of March if we go with The Viper Room. Would that be a problem with you guys? If so we may change the venue. The Viper Room has been and continues to be the best rock club in LA and the most frequented and attended by A&R and Industry Reps, that's why we are really trying work it out there. let us know what you think."

I'll get back to you when I have a date for the release of Always Sunday's new album "Beautiful Disgrace." I do know it will be sold on pastemusic.com. If you haven't already, check out Paste. The new issue is out, and you can find it any Barnes & Noble or Borders bookstore.

I wasn't able to make it to the Juliana Theory show at the New Daisy in Memphis last night. However, I'm hearing good things about it. Lots of buzz about one of the opening bands, The Exit.

I got my hands on a copy of the Jackson Free Press over the weekend. Lots of good stuff in there thiw bi-week. Be sure to check out Todd Stauffer's Tale of Two Downtowns and C.M. Live's new music column (nevermind my rant on the comments section).

Last thing, get your spoonful of hype over at Q Magazine's Top Ten Acts of 2003 .

2003-01-14T16:28:00.000-06:00

That site that was down - it's now up. So here it is. This is an article from Relevant Magazine on a store I visited in Chicago over Thanksgiving called Strange Cargo. It's on N. Clark Street a few blocks down from Wrigley Field, so if you stop by for a Cubs game make it a pre-game ritual. It gets the Steven Bevilaqua 'so-much-cool-stuff-there-I-left-with-nothing-because-I-couldn't-narrow-it-down' award - that is a good thing.

Relevant Magazine is a blameless publication. Partially because they have never actually put an issue out - but if their website content is any indication of what is to come in just under a month in the print version, I can't wait. It's a "Christian" magazine - but in their purpose statement they say they intend to put out material interesting to Christians and non-Christians alike without compromising the Gospel. Highly recommended - subscriptions are around $10.

2003-01-14T14:21:00.000-06:00

A couple of things: First, head on over to Cake or Death's updated website. You can now download all of their latest effort, Dallow, right on the site. Also, look for a couple of their mp3's to make their way to the AA*LW media page soon.

Thanks to the Clevetown board - torchbearers of the Cleveland, MS scene - I made my way to this very cool site called Googlism. Googlizing my name reveals that "palmer houchins is going to contribute to this page to keep it up today with today's hip new high schoolers." I believe that is a quote from Joel Fyke and John Fuller's long-defunct website, Room 313.

I had one other news item for today, but I guess it will have to wait until tomorrow - or at least later today - because that site it is on does not seem to be online at the moment.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Doesn't Roxford

2003-01-13T15:38:00.000-06:00

Always Sunday will be playing with Living Better Electrically this Saturday, January 18th at Martin's in Jackson.

Here's a message from Dean, "so you know...stop by or something...by the way that night that Betsy [Ulmer] played, there wasnt even a door man. no one asked me to show an ID, so all you underage suckers missed it for no reason. try it again this saturday." Dean Clement, bassist for Always Sunday, is a nationally-syndicated advice columnist.

2003-01-12T21:16:00.000-06:00

I've become a huge fan of Twothirtyeight as of late. I've seen them three times previously, but I can't say that we hit off until I heard their latest album on Tooth and Nail Records, You Should Be Living. Anyway, this review encapsulates all the greatness that I perceive that album to be.

Also of note, check out The Rockwells tomorrow night at the Jackson Prep Precis Pageant. If you can't do that, head over to the aforementioned Rachel Jacobs show at Millsaps (for more info see below).

False Sense of Feeling Cool Thought: Last night, when Ben Kweller appeared on Austin City Limits, I was wearing the same shirt as his bass player - as the show aired. Unfortunately, we aren't the only two people who purchased the shirt - and Urban Outfitters (say yes to corporately priced vintage clothing) isn't selling it anymore, so I can't link to a picture of it.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Starvation Diet of Worms

2003-01-11T17:24:00.000-06:00

Not only does he portray Tolkien's savior for the human race, Aragon, in the Lord of the Rings epic, but Viggo Mortenson is a musician - at least he might call himself that. Following the entirely unwise lead of Keanu Reeves (Dogstar) and Russell Crowe (30 Odd Foot of Grunts), Mortenson has released - assumedly entirely the influence of his own name, not on the basis of his music talent - his own terrible music. Make yourself vomit at his mp3.com site.

2003-01-11T02:19:00.000-06:00

According to the Broken English site, those guys will be playing a show with Fletcher at Christ United Methodist Church on Friday, January 17th.

2003-01-10T17:03:00.000-06:00

Kids,

I just got the official All Ages, Low Wages mp3.com station up, featuring all the adult contemporary and soft hits you've grown to love from Always Sunday, Questions in Dialect, The Rockwells, Plaid, Bellador (Ransom Tree) and others. If I overlooked your band, drop me a line, and I'll put it on there.

Lou just re-designed The Rockwells site. Give it a gander...

Word I got today is that MeWithoutYou, Norma Jean and Beloved will be playing The Summit in Hatttiesburg on February 25th.

Always Sunday will be at the Blue Marlin in Oxford tonight and the Hi-Tone in Memphis tomorrow night - for the three people who have read this far.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Oblong Spheres

2003-01-09T23:40:00.000-06:00

No real news to report here. I'll use this occasion to kick off what I'd like to call, originally, "Potential Band Name of the Day." If you have any questions as to what that means, email me.

Potential Band Name of the Day: Hooray for Everything (I stole it from The Simpsons second season episode Bart vs. Thanksgiving. It's the name of the band that plays during halftime of the Cowboys' game Homer watches.)

2003-01-09T00:15:00.000-06:00

CORRECTION: Contrary to the newsletter that was just sent out, Questions in Dialect will not be playing the CLB show on February 15th w/ Twothirtyeight and Bellador. They will be recording with Andy Baker in Athens. Also, we neglected to mention that Fletcher will be playing that show on the 15th. My apologies.

2003-01-08T22:35:00.000-06:00

Here's a copy of the newsletter that went out tonight...

Table of Contents
1.1 The Website
1.2 Always Sunday Update
1.3 We Recommend

1.1 The Website

The All Ages, Low Wages website is up, however, there is much more content to come. Keep checking back for heaps of new content. Phase one will included an archive of old newsletters, an extra large serving of Jackson-music-related links, band information capsules, and mounds of multimedia - including pictures from our preview show, as well as a short movie, not to mention music from The Rockwells.

Want your bands music featured on the AA-LW site? Email lou@aa-lw.net or palmer@aa-lw.net.

Also, be sure to check out the recently unveiled I Killed Latin: The AA*LW Blog for off-the-cuff news and Polynesian horoscopes.

1.2 Always Sunday Update

Oxford indie pop rockers, Always Sunday, have been selected to the top ten of Buzzplay's national unsigned band search, which started with thousands of bands from across the country. If you haven't already (thanks to those who have), email a&r@buzzplay.net and let them know how much you like Always Sunday. If you haven't heard them, check out their mp3.com site or go to Buzzplay's Live 365 Internet radio station and listen to their demo, "Our Days Are Numbered Here" from their forthcoming album, Beautiful Disgrace.

---

Want to get booked for All Ages, Low Wages. Contact lou@aa-lw.net or palmer@aa-lw.net.

---

1.3 We Recommend

NYC singer-songwriter Rachel Jacobs will be at Millsaps on Monday, January 13th. For more info on this show email wallaba@millsaps.edu.

The Vamps will be in in the Soulshine room at Hal and Mal's on January 17th. $5 at 10 PM. 18+

The Blamed, Fontane, Fletcher, and Bellador will be playing at The CLB on Wednesday, Jan. 22nd. The cover is $5. The show starts at 7 PM.

Cary Hudson's Electric Trio will be joined by the Taylor Grocery Band at Hal and Mal's on Friday, January 24th. $6 at 9 PM. 18+

NOT TO BE MISSED: Bellador, Questions in Dialect, and TwoThirtyEight wil be playing The CLB on Saturday, February 15th. Rock away your post-Valentine's Day blues with these three excellent bands.

Also, AA-LW recently had the chance to check out live jazz night at the newly opened SEVEN* (formerly, the University Pub). We highly recommend it to all music fans - not just jazz people. It's every Sunday night at 8:30 and features the Ezra Brown Quartet.

See Herman's Jackson Music Update for more listings.

---

We want to know about your shows. Email palmer@aa-lw.net to get them listed.

---

That's it from here. We will let you know about any All Ages, Low Wages news as soon as they materialize - i.e. spring shows, summer booking, etc.

Thanks for supporting us...

SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC IN JACKSON!

Take care,

Palmer and Lou
-------------------------
All Ages, Low Wages
http://www.aa-lw.net
-------------------------

TO UNSCUBSCRIBE TO THIS EMAIL, PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL WITH "UNSUBSCRIBE" IN THE SUBJECT.

2003-01-08T14:47:00.000-06:00

This article ran in the preview edition of the Jackson Free Press, which had a limited printing around September or October. Regardless, I think this is the best article that has run in an alternative weekly in Jackson over the past five years. It's hopeful and insightful, but also realistic. If you've got several gallons of Jackson-hatred bent up inside, this might calm those feelings.

2003-01-07T18:10:00.000-06:00

Quick note: Check out Ben Kweller tonight on Last Call with Carson Daly. WLBT at 12:30.

2003-01-07T00:14:00.000-06:00

Jackson's own Living Better Electrically has posted a new song that I'm assuming is from their recent studio work with Clay Jones at Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford. Click here to download the song entitled Princess, Blue.

2003-01-06T00:26:00.000-06:00

NYC singer-songwriter Rachel Jacobs will be making her way through the Jackson-Starkville-Memphis musical trifecta. The two songs on her site sound excellent. Check out the feature on her here.

She's in Starkville on Sunday, January 12th at a venue TBA. For more info on that show email rjcresswell@mosquitoinc.org.

She's stops in Jackson at Millsaps College on Monday, January 13th. For more info on that show email wallaba@millsaps.edu.

She hits up Memphis on Tuesday, January 14th at the Map Room. This show will be sponsored by our friends at Our Memphis . Jacobs will be joined by Brazilia, F.U.T., and ...And Bombs Fall.

2003-01-05T17:01:00.000-06:00

The blog is up. Check back regularly for updates, as well as re-runs of Nickelodeon's 'GUTS.'