Having just completed another thousand words on my Nano project, I am now enaging in the time honoured writing tradition of procrastination. In order to affect this, I have watched a whole movie (White Chicks - no depth is too low for me!), called a friend, and am now "cleaning" my web browser favorites. I highly recommend this activity as a time waster. The lovely thing about it is that for every link I actually delete, there are at least two that I can visit and reread. In an effort to double the procrastinatory bang for my buck, I am posting some of my favorites here as a gift for my fellow procrastinators to enjoy.
Some time ago a friend in Britain sent me a link to Andy Kershaw on BBC Radio, which I saved, then promptly forgot. As it turns out, Andy Kershaw's "unique mix of world rock, country, blues and the unexpected" is pretty cool. Admittedly, I could probably find some similar programming locally on KBOO, but it makes me feel so much more sophisticated and international when I listen to the same thing via streaming audio from England. I probably shouldn't have said that out loud. Now KBOO is probably going to get all upset. Radio stations. They're so touchy sometimes. What's more, KINK will probably be offended, because I didn't mention it too. Don't be sad, KINK. Your Live 8 CD and support of local bands is still awesome. I'm not withdrawing the love, just sharing it.
Anyway, my point is that like music itself, music sites are always fun. If you don't believe me, check out The Decemberists, a band that is fun even when you almost pass out at one of their sold out concerts and spend half the evening alone, crouched in a bathroom stall, because it is the only available place to sit while you wait for the black spots to stop swimming before your eyes. If a show can withstand that and still be dubbed great, you know the band is good.
Coincidentally, I first saw one of the Decemberists perform live at a LiveWire taping last spring. While said Decemberist was a pleasant surprise, my real reason for going was to hear the John Wesley Harding aka Wesley Stace portion of the evening. I mention Stace, because I am very well disposed toward him at the moment, having recently learned that The Love Hall Tryst (a quartet inspired by his novel Misfortune) features none other than my new up and coming favorite, Kelly Hogan. While I am just getting to know her work, I am pretty confident that we have a long musical friendship ahead of us.
Speaking of work, now that I've wasted even more time reconstructing this post after Blogger ate it (alas SNZ segment, you will never be restored, may you rest in peace) it's about time for me to turn on some music and get back to it. Nano waits for no one. Only 6819 words to go and I will be caught up!
15 comments:
Is there a post to go with this intriguing title? Because I can relate right now.
There was a relatively long one, but then blogger ate it, following up with a loud belch as it was trying to publish. I was able to recover about 1/2 of it (why only half, I don't know), but haven't had a chance to recreate (decide if I even want to recreate) it. We're getting ready to leave in about 10 minutes, so I know I won't be doing either now. Maybe when I get back...
bah! It was eating mine the other day too, then stopped - or so I thought! Little did I know it was moving on to greener snacking-grounds. shakes fist blogger-ward
You could personify blogger in your nano novel and then really abuse it. That might help make things even...
Town idiot Bartholomew Bloggenheimer fell off of the water tower and into the swine pit for the third time that week... or something.
Hope that you are having an otherwise great weekend!
Thanks for the John Wesley Harding/ Kelly Hogan info! I knew that they had worked together before, but I didn't know that she was involved in this project. I had a dream with JWH in it last night. We were on the lam from some hippies. Alas, there was no magic bus or talking bird like in your JWH dream!
I am also going to check out the Andy Kershaw show. Thanks man. That is some first rate procrastinating!
(and I am so sorry you almost passed out at the concert, but I am glad you liked it in spite of that. Colin Meloy will be doing a solo show in Jan. at the Aladdin - do you want to go? There will be seats and one would hope less shoving for this one!)
Would you believe it, here in Kershawland I have KBOO bookmarked and it wasn't because you or anybody else recommended it. I must have been pining for Portland or something.
Along with writing to people and reading their web logs, another job I am definitely going to do soon, maybe tomorrow or a month of tomorrows, is to put a page on my web site of radio recommendations. Andy Kershaw, with whom I have had two brief conversations which makes him a close personal friend of mine, falls under the heading of http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/ where you will find plenty of interesting stuff which you are unlikely to find anywhere else. I especially like the "On Location" archive. If you ever want to feel stoned without touching drugs, try listening to the "Late Junction" programme for a while. I have a soft spot for "World Routes", having once attended a special live broadcast.
Mari and Jen, I hope you enjoy these tips enough to forgive me for the fact that after downloading and listening to all the music on his web site I really HATE John Wesley Harding!
Hey mans -
I love it when people post while I'm out...
Jen: I am totally psyched that I was finally able to tell YOU about something cool musically. I have to find more Kelly Hogan, because I am really into her voice. (Plus, hoo-hoo parts of "The Drunkard's Blues" are REALLY fun to belt out while driving. I'm sure I already told you this, but YES I do want to see Colin Meloy at the Aladdin. That is a much nicer venue than the Roseland. Remind me when tickets go on sale. Or are they already on sale?
Chris: Thank you for the Kershaw info. I guess I can find it in my heart to forgive you for your hatred. Bad-mouth Chris Isaak, though, and I'll have to hunt you down and end it!
Music is such a subjective thing, you know. At that Romantic Liederabend I went to a few weeks ago, I was sitting next to this guy who was very chatty. He kept telling me all the things he loved about that type of music. I listened to be polite (and because it was great that he was so enthusiastic!), but the whole time I kept thinking that he was basically cataloguing all the reasons why it's not my favorite.
My brain agrees with you that music is subjective, but my heart says all you michael bolton lovers are just crazy. CRAZY!
I don't think tickets are on sale yet for Colin Meloy, but I'll keep you posted. Since it is at the Aladdin, there won't be a 4.50 "convenience" charge. Only 1 dollar!
Chris: you tried. you'll be able to say that much at least when JWH shows up and demands an answer in your dreams.
Oh, I had forgotten about Michael Bolton. Is it too late to retract? Damn me, and my charitable ways! This is what comes of such liberal "I'm ok/You're ok" philosophies. When will I learn? I ask you, when????
hippie!
Hippie or not, mess with me, and I will put you IN THE GROUND! I grew up up on the mean streets of Sidney, and I will END IT! Tee hee. Now that is out of the way, can I offer you some pachouli?
I just worry about you is all - don't want to hear about you buried under a giant mountain of hackey sacks and guatamalan ponchos in the parking lot of a Dave Matthews concert. You may be occasionally wrong-headed, but I still care.
I will gladly accept your gift of patchouli, if only to get it off the streets. ::shudder::
You are silly. I like that.
HEY! I'm procrastinating, too!
btw, patchouli is just sick and wrong (are you turning hippy on me? I'll whop you good!)
Sonya! I have been thinking of you ever since I had my dream about being menaced by Goths. I was on my way to the canyons in an invisible bus with Jen, Becky and their friend Leslie when I became fearful that the Goths who were having a meeting there would notice that I wasn't one of them and kick the shit out of me. While I tried to warn my companions, no one listened, so I had no choice but to pout and get out of the invisible bus (which was conveniently only a few blocks from my house) and walk home.
So, since you're connected and all, I thought you might have heard something. Do the Goths have it in for me? Is it the patchouli or do they have something against hackey sack and free love???? If I go to the canyons (apparently that's where you people hang out...no wonder Goths are known for roughing it...tee hee) and you all are there, does it really spell doom for me? I must know!
Alas, Fear Not my child! The Goths don't have it in for you, but I can't speak for those damn Country-Westerners (who sometimes wear black and listen to depressing music, too).
I think you somehow switched the two in your sub-conscious, and it's the Country-Westerners who were waiting to ambush you in the canyons!
You see, Goths could never hang out in the canyons! Why, our capes would get ripped on the tumbly-weeds and we would create such chaos in the delicate eco-system if we walked about squishing scorpions underfoot with our giant stompy boots. Although, our fangs do make it much easier to extract cactus juice when we become parched from the canyon... omg - I almost said the dreaded "sun" word. Now I must pay my pennance - a thousand Hail Jesus and Mary Chains whilst listening to Sisters of Mercy and Christian Death.
Hey... But the invisible bus sounds pretty cool... but kinda' hippy-like (it is magic, too - or just invisible?)
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