stealing the wackness

Went to a friend's blog and saw a post about The Wackness, which made me feel pretty wack for not thinking to write about it since I loved it so. However, I have no problem coming in second.

Since I was a white teen who enjoyed listening to hip hop during the hot Texas (alas, I didn't live in NYC) summer of 1994, I can relate to the character Luke Shapiro - played by Josh Peck. Much like the drug-dealing teen (alas, I never did drugs as a teen), I crushed and spent many an hour making mix tapes full of '90s hip hop greatness. Basically, it's the Tribe Called Quest, Wu-tang Clan, KRS-One, Notorious B.I.G., Nas and Craig Mack tracks that really did me in. Oh, and then there is Faith Evans, Raekwon, Total, Biz Markie, R. Kelly, D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, The Pioneers and even the un-hip hop Mott the Hoople and Donovan. And those are just the tracks included in the soundtrack, there is more, including Public Enemy, Souls of Mischief and The Velvet Underground.

I'm not going to get into the plot (it's good); but I will say after renting The Wackness on Netflix, I immediately made a trip and bought the DVD.

Aww, the summer of 1994.

m.i.a.

Sorry, I was ill for a few days and could not even bare the idea of typing. So, now I am behind on a lot of work, but wanted to make a quick post on here.

I've always been a fan of horror flicks, although so many are bad. Since I was little, I loved renting them and then not being able to sleep (to the glee of my parents.) And no, that isn't a grammar mistake, I really enjoyed staying awake scared.

I think that is why I was so delighted by this video. Let the campy goodness begin...

a take away

ocean clouds

Strange weather brought lovely clouds Wednesday, which has nothing to do with the music below:

No One Does It - Department of Eagles
Kim & Jessie - M83
Spiral Golden Town - Deerhoof
Heart of Chambers - Beach House
Sex Tourists - French Kicks
In Ear Park - Department of Eagles

close the blast doors

Apparently, stormtroopers are more fun behind closed doors...

we ask you to ride

My newest obsession (well not so new, just more serious) is getting a bike. What would be better than mini road trips during the weekends? Even better, being able to actually see and enjoy your surroundings during those trips.

While I would love to ride across Mongolia or down through Africa, I am no Ewan McGregor/Charley Boorman. So, I think I'm liking the
Triumph Motorcycles. Not too small/slow and not too big/fast. Just right...

P.S. Rent Long Way Down

'Speeding motorcycle,
Won't you change me?
In a world of funny changes,
Speeding motorcycle,
Won't you change me?
Speeding motorcycle, of my heart'

europe

girl child

White Cube: Richard Phillips
Phillips' 'Girl Child,' (above) is now at The Modern

clap

dancing lights

olafur eliasson

Went to the DMA and enjoyed the Eliasson exhibit with Elizabeth and three kind strangers (as seen in the pic above taken by Elizabeth). I took my time, as suggested by the title of the exhibit, and it was an enjoyable Friday night, which later turned into dancing and a late-night movie.

Saturday was karaoke in a private room for Doug's birthday. I sang 'Don't Bring Me Down.'

Now it's Sunday, which means work for me, fun for you. At least I can listen to pretty music as I write about fatal plane crashes.

this is dedicated

another reason to go

Just to make myself feel bad, I made a list of all the bands I am missing (or have already missed) by not attending SXSW. Since I didn't want it to hurt too bad, I didn't even get into the groups that are playing parties outside of SXSW. So, here they are. Hope they sound good without me.


vetiver, magic lantern, m. ward, circle jerks, echo & the bunnymen, elvis perkins, big boi, grizzly bear, peter murphy, a hawk and a hacksaw, efterklang, camp lo (for old times sake), bishop allen, akron/family, no age, blitzen trapper, andrew bird (i'll be missing that twice), beach house, tom brosseau, wolves in the throne room, cale parks, sun araw, pocohaunted, okkerville river, valient thorr, dj shadow, jana hunter, voxtrot, blank dogs, pj harvey, the elysian quartet, crystal stilts, and so on...

what is extreme?

in flames

Break out your \m/. I believe watching a good metal show probably has the same effect on me as it did for those who first attended a good Mozart opera or Beethoven symphony. Seeing a metal band live should be up there on everyone's to-do list (except my mom's). One of my very favorites is in town tonight. Skeletonwitch is playing at Club DaDa tonight w/ Black Tusk and Kylesa. But an even better show will be on 4/16 at the Granada with Amon Amarth. Don't be scared.

As for the music stream, it isn't Skeletonwitch...but it is Dethklok. We swim on.

in the grass

Another day of wishing...Phosphorescent, Here We Go Magic, Paleo and Callers are playing (I believe for free) at Mountain House, which was formerly known as Swiss House. Awe, BYOB and lovely music. I believe it has actually already started. So, if you're reading this and bored, get up and go watch some music you turkey!

Click for more infos

EDIT: So, it's not the Swiss House.

my girls

Is it much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse
I only want a proper house

I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father's grace

I don't mean to seem like I care about material things
Like a social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls

sound of my heart

Working at a news station, I'm happy to say I've somehow not become desensitized to violence nor the devastation it causes. However, in the over three years I've worked news, I've never seen anything as eye-opening or heart-ripping when it comes to violent crime and its effect on people than "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father." The less you read or know about it before renting, the better. Break out your hankies.

pink floyd meets 'america's funniest'

she disappears

As I write about Greenville's hangover from St. Patty's Day reveling and the arrest in a two-year-old robbery case, I wish I was instead surrounded by DMA art and watching M. Ward sing this:

going back to denton

Two posts in one night, all because I will be M.I.A. when it comes to the Internet this weekend. I shall be attending NX35 Friday in Denton, and Saturday shall be a day of cooking and movies. Until then...



VETIVER: You May Be Blue

renaissance

I've been surrounded by new beginnings - new relationships, starts on lives, jobs. But Scarlet has been the biggest new beginning. My sister's a mom. My mom's a grandmom. I'm an aunt. Here's to new beginnings and the hope they bring.


M83 - Moonchild