I was lucky enough to see the Steve Morse Band in concert recently. Not just because the band is so great, but because they don't tour much now that Steve spends so much time touring with Deep Purple.
During the concert I was reminded again of how the DVD material thus far available for the Steve Morse Band doesn't do the group proper justice. And reminded of it again when I stumbled across a old video of the Dixie Dregs with Mark O'Connor on fiddle. This captures the group as it was (though I only saw this incarnation briefly when they opened for ZZ Top in Lakeland, FL). Enjoy.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Saturday, November 14, 2009
It wasn't a bow!
The president was just looking closely at the emperor's ring.
 clipped from www.powerlineblog.com |
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Nifty Music: The Raveonettes
I like the "retro" sound. I admit it freely.
I also admit that the Raveonettes are growing on me. Their early work, which featured the occasional gem, is giving way to consistently addictive modern-retro-pop.
Check out "Love in a Trashcan." Too cool
"Love in a Trashcan" is from the occasional gem era, though. "Last Dance" is the first single (I suppose) from the Raveonettes strongest release so far, titled "In and Out Of Control." Enjoy.
I also admit that the Raveonettes are growing on me. Their early work, which featured the occasional gem, is giving way to consistently addictive modern-retro-pop.
Check out "Love in a Trashcan." Too cool
"Love in a Trashcan" is from the occasional gem era, though. "Last Dance" is the first single (I suppose) from the Raveonettes strongest release so far, titled "In and Out Of Control." Enjoy.
Miranda Lee Richards
Though I tried to create a fragment of buzz over Cyndi Harvell earlier this year, another artist whose music I was downloading at around the same time ended up a bigger favorite.
Miranda Lee Richards, whose sound reminds me of a demolition derby featuring Over the Rhine, Mazzy Star and the Innocence Mission, produced a very strong collection of tunes on her second disk.
A few tunes, including "Early November," have instrumentation reminiscent of "Legend"-era Poco. Pedal steel not unlike what Rusty Young might have done. Guitar solos that might have come from Paul Cotton. But it isn't them.
Miranda Lee Richards, whose sound reminds me of a demolition derby featuring Over the Rhine, Mazzy Star and the Innocence Mission, produced a very strong collection of tunes on her second disk.
A few tunes, including "Early November," have instrumentation reminiscent of "Legend"-era Poco. Pedal steel not unlike what Rusty Young might have done. Guitar solos that might have come from Paul Cotton. But it isn't them.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
OMG: Mega Shark versus Giant Octopus
I love good movies. And almost as much I lover really really bad movies.
Sci-Fi (SyFy for the trendy/lame crowd) Channel recently debuted "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus," which will take its rightful place among some of the very worst films of all time. The acting is often bad enough to be laugh out loud funny. But film makes its greatest mark by including some of the least likely physical events ever to appear on film. The entire series of events in the Harry Potter saga is likely by comparison.
Thankfully, an enterprising YouTuber has collected some of these priceless moments in a short video presentation.
Don't go near the water. Or go over a bridge. Or ride in a jetliner.
Debbie Gibson is not the worst actor in the film. Lorenzo Lamas might be, but it's close. Think he'll ever get rid of the ponytail? I think he'd still keep it even if he was playing a cancer patient following intensive chemotherapy.
Sci-Fi (SyFy for the trendy/lame crowd) Channel recently debuted "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus," which will take its rightful place among some of the very worst films of all time. The acting is often bad enough to be laugh out loud funny. But film makes its greatest mark by including some of the least likely physical events ever to appear on film. The entire series of events in the Harry Potter saga is likely by comparison.
Thankfully, an enterprising YouTuber has collected some of these priceless moments in a short video presentation.
Don't go near the water. Or go over a bridge. Or ride in a jetliner.
Debbie Gibson is not the worst actor in the film. Lorenzo Lamas might be, but it's close. Think he'll ever get rid of the ponytail? I think he'd still keep it even if he was playing a cancer patient following intensive chemotherapy.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
"Three O'Clock High"
A favorite movie is available via Hulu.
Yeah. The evil plot to take over the world folks.
"Three O'Clock High" is a high school genre film from 1987. It stars Casey Siemaszko as an average high schooler, Jerry Mitchell, challenged to a fight by an imposingly tough new student.
I compare the film to Savage Steve Holland's "Better Off Dead" in some ways. It wonderfully exaggerates the high school experience and offers plenty of laughs. Though it also has far fewer eminently quotable moments than "Better Off Dead"--but I have to admit that Jerry's book report in fifth period offers an outstanding exception.
Don't forget Hulu allows you to view full screen in hi def!
Oh, and before I forget, the terrific tune "Something to Remember Me By" that opens the movie was performed by Jim Walker and is available on the film soundtrack. Plus Mitch Pileggi ("X-Files") has a hilarious bit role as a campus security guard.
Watch the first five minutes and you'll be hooked. And that's a good thing.
Yeah. The evil plot to take over the world folks.
"Three O'Clock High" is a high school genre film from 1987. It stars Casey Siemaszko as an average high schooler, Jerry Mitchell, challenged to a fight by an imposingly tough new student.
I compare the film to Savage Steve Holland's "Better Off Dead" in some ways. It wonderfully exaggerates the high school experience and offers plenty of laughs. Though it also has far fewer eminently quotable moments than "Better Off Dead"--but I have to admit that Jerry's book report in fifth period offers an outstanding exception.
Don't forget Hulu allows you to view full screen in hi def!
Oh, and before I forget, the terrific tune "Something to Remember Me By" that opens the movie was performed by Jim Walker and is available on the film soundtrack. Plus Mitch Pileggi ("X-Files") has a hilarious bit role as a campus security guard.
Watch the first five minutes and you'll be hooked. And that's a good thing.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Yikes! Five vids from new Travis Larson Band DVD!
Picking a fave was tough. I love "Nevele," and that tune was one of those released prior to the DVD release date ... but this version of "Edges" is to die for.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
New Steve Morse project edging toward release
Sarah Spencer is an Ocala (FL)-based vocal prodigy.
Steve Morse is an Ocala-based rock legend. OK, so he's a legend mostly among other musicians, but that still counts.
Proximity led to collaboration. Should be interesting.
Steve Morse is an Ocala-based rock legend. OK, so he's a legend mostly among other musicians, but that still counts.
Proximity led to collaboration. Should be interesting.
 clipped from www.angelfiremusic.com |
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Guitarist Eric Johnson: Rocktopus
This song is on the EJ concert video released late in 2008.
Prepare to be blown away ...
Now I need to find that Monkees (Neil Diamond) cover ...
Prepare to be blown away ...
Now I need to find that Monkees (Neil Diamond) cover ...
Monday, March 09, 2009
The Hilotrons!
While I'm at it, I'll shamelessly plug another band I like. The Hilotrons play music with a strong New Wave vibe somewhere between The Cars and the Talking Heads. Some of their tunes are great. Which only makes then that much more like The Cars and the Talking Heads for me.
Here's a homemade video for one of their better tunes:
Here's a homemade video for one of their better tunes:
Cyndi Harvell free tune at Amazon
I was a tad shocked to see that Cyndi Harvell has one of the top current downloads--number nine as of now--over at Amazon.com with tune "Focus."
Though I've now downloaded all the available tunes from Harvell, I'd have to say that one's about my least favorite. Something to do with it being too much a pop ditty.
Regardless, may the fledgling artist taste much success.
Though I've now downloaded all the available tunes from Harvell, I'd have to say that one's about my least favorite. Something to do with it being too much a pop ditty.
Regardless, may the fledgling artist taste much success.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Nifty Music: Cyndi Harvell
OK, so I've only downloaded three songs so far. But they're all good.
Cyndi Harvell has a mildly quirky voice that proves difficult to quantify. The closest I can think of is little-known Meredith LeVande. Harvell makes the better use of her vocal gifts, placed as they are in an instrumental setting that might suit a folksier Weepies.
Two of the three songs I downloaded are available for sampling at cyndiharvell.com. Maybe you should go check them out.
Cyndi Harvell has a mildly quirky voice that proves difficult to quantify. The closest I can think of is little-known Meredith LeVande. Harvell makes the better use of her vocal gifts, placed as they are in an instrumental setting that might suit a folksier Weepies.
Two of the three songs I downloaded are available for sampling at cyndiharvell.com. Maybe you should go check them out.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Nifty Music: Lily Electric
Maybe I'm just a bit of a sucker for bands with a "retro" sound.
Lily Electric fits the bill with the quirky and upbeat "Don't Change the Suit When It's You." It's got one of those infectious riffs that can pleasantly stick in the brain for hours on end.
Do I understand the video? Not at all. I haven't even figured out the lyrics yet!
Mar 10, 2009: Turned the n upside down to avoid the term "infections riffs."
Lily Electric fits the bill with the quirky and upbeat "Don't Change the Suit When It's You." It's got one of those infectious riffs that can pleasantly stick in the brain for hours on end.
Do I understand the video? Not at all. I haven't even figured out the lyrics yet!
Mar 10, 2009: Turned the n upside down to avoid the term "infections riffs."
Friday, January 30, 2009
Steve Morse on MySpace
I was pleased to see that fave guitarist Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Kansas, Deep Purple, Living Loud) now has an official MySpace page and is finally updating an official Web site that had virtually gone dormant.
And perhaps the best treat of all when I found the MySpace page was a visitor comment from Monty Colvin (Galactic Cowboys, Crunchy). Monty, I had no idea you think Steve Morse rules. Excellent.
Perhaps media attention and gossip had disproportionately magnified a failure to see eye to eye between Mr. Morse and Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Malmsteen is listed as one of Steve's friends (Malmsteen's official site has no friends listed--insert joke).
Yngwie has disparaged Morse's vibrato technique in print, perhaps among other things. But lacking a bit of tact doesn't necessarily create an enduring enmity!
And perhaps the best treat of all when I found the MySpace page was a visitor comment from Monty Colvin (Galactic Cowboys, Crunchy). Monty, I had no idea you think Steve Morse rules. Excellent.
Perhaps media attention and gossip had disproportionately magnified a failure to see eye to eye between Mr. Morse and Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Malmsteen is listed as one of Steve's friends (Malmsteen's official site has no friends listed--insert joke).
Yngwie has disparaged Morse's vibrato technique in print, perhaps among other things. But lacking a bit of tact doesn't necessarily create an enduring enmity!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Brian Urlacher "Old Spice" commerical
Can't stand the Chicago Bears and I'm no particular fan of Brian Urlacher, but his commercial rules:
You tell 'em, Mr. Urlacher.
You tell 'em, Mr. Urlacher.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Vintage Video: Art of Noise "Close to the Edit"
Without the video I may well never have liked this song simply for its association with the new music of the 1980s.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Robin Lane and the Chartbusters: "Piece of Mind"
After a long hiatus punctuated by some fine solo recordings, Robin Lane has released a fine reunion recording with her legendary Chartbusters. The recording consists of a re-recorded Chartbusters tune ("Idiot") and another ("The Letter") from Lane's most recent solo effort.
And yes, this review is about four years late but I didn't get around to purchasing and listening to it until just now.
Maybe the link widget just needs time to look like it's supposed to.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
"Heroes" plot musings
While I tend to love the television program "Heroes," I have long been dissatisfied with the show's handling of time travel.
Yes, it's just a television show. Perhaps I shouldn't let it get to me. But I can't help it, because the issue interests me in terms of logic. Once a character like Hiro visits a given future, it appears to confirm that the future he visits is real. The people he meets and the things he experiences are to be established as part of Hiro's immutable past.
And that's where the problem comes in. You can't coherently talk about "changing the future" if the future exists in a given state. If the future exists in state A then it exists in state A. Nothing can change it. Perhaps it is possible to bring about an alternate future none-the-less, but that must be a different thing from changing the future. For example, if you have a future here Sylar is the rehabilitated Uncle Gabriel, that future is stuck in reality. There's no getting rid of it. The program tends to suggest that those alternate realities can no longer interest us once events in the past have changed so that such a future is averted. Suppose that Uncle Gabriel's existence is thwarted, and Peter cannot have the opportunity to acquire his powers. How do you acquire powers from somebody who does not exist anywhere in time or space?
I had also feared that the writers would keep multiplying alternate realities to the point where the story became incomprehensibly convoluted. But I'm happy to see from last week's episode that the program probably will not head in that direction. I expect that once the character said to be manipulating the others comes to light we'll see a hard limit on the number of alternative realities/possible futures, at least in terms of the plot.
Don't read further if you fear a potential spoiler based on my guessing.
And who is the mystery character prefigured in the scenes-from-next-week? I have no insider information, but my guess is that Mr. Petrelli, father of Nathan, Peter and perhaps even Gabriel (Sylar) will turn out to be the guy pulling others' strings.
Why would I guess that? Quite simply, Mr. Petrelli is the most important character in the overall flow of the plot about whom we know the least. The lack of information creates a hole in the plot just waiting to be filled in future episodes. I expect we'll learn much more about Mr. Petrelli and what he's up to in the coming weeks.
Yes, it's just a television show. Perhaps I shouldn't let it get to me. But I can't help it, because the issue interests me in terms of logic. Once a character like Hiro visits a given future, it appears to confirm that the future he visits is real. The people he meets and the things he experiences are to be established as part of Hiro's immutable past.
And that's where the problem comes in. You can't coherently talk about "changing the future" if the future exists in a given state. If the future exists in state A then it exists in state A. Nothing can change it. Perhaps it is possible to bring about an alternate future none-the-less, but that must be a different thing from changing the future. For example, if you have a future here Sylar is the rehabilitated Uncle Gabriel, that future is stuck in reality. There's no getting rid of it. The program tends to suggest that those alternate realities can no longer interest us once events in the past have changed so that such a future is averted. Suppose that Uncle Gabriel's existence is thwarted, and Peter cannot have the opportunity to acquire his powers. How do you acquire powers from somebody who does not exist anywhere in time or space?
I had also feared that the writers would keep multiplying alternate realities to the point where the story became incomprehensibly convoluted. But I'm happy to see from last week's episode that the program probably will not head in that direction. I expect that once the character said to be manipulating the others comes to light we'll see a hard limit on the number of alternative realities/possible futures, at least in terms of the plot.
Don't read further if you fear a potential spoiler based on my guessing.
And who is the mystery character prefigured in the scenes-from-next-week? I have no insider information, but my guess is that Mr. Petrelli, father of Nathan, Peter and perhaps even Gabriel (Sylar) will turn out to be the guy pulling others' strings.
Why would I guess that? Quite simply, Mr. Petrelli is the most important character in the overall flow of the plot about whom we know the least. The lack of information creates a hole in the plot just waiting to be filled in future episodes. I expect we'll learn much more about Mr. Petrelli and what he's up to in the coming weeks.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Speed Racer
It's a pity the Speed Racer movie was so bizarre. What a great cartoon!
I love the run-on dialog. Plus the way the other drivers near the beginning of this first episode are so deferential to Speed.
"You beat us fair and square."
"Speed Racer" is always good for cartoon-camp laughs, plus it's a healthy reminder of the healthy amount of gratuitous violence one encountered in the cartoons of yore.
I love the run-on dialog. Plus the way the other drivers near the beginning of this first episode are so deferential to Speed.
"You beat us fair and square."
"Speed Racer" is always good for cartoon-camp laughs, plus it's a healthy reminder of the healthy amount of gratuitous violence one encountered in the cartoons of yore.
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