Friday, July 31, 2009
Live Music Friday: Drunk Drivers
The politically incorrectly titled Drunk Drivers are a band out of Eau Claire that puts on a really entertaining live show. (Not to be confused with the NYC punk outfit DRUNKDRIVER.) I must admit that I haven't seen them play in person in about 9 years. They are part of the Crustacean Records family, the Madison-based label that is home to most of my favorite local acts, including Droids Attack and the previously profiled Mad Trucker Gone Mad. The first time I had ever heard of the Drivers was catching their live show after a friend's band had played before them. Some other friends encouraged me to stay and check them out. I really enjoyed their show, it was a lot more than I was expecting. They come out on stage looking like a bunch of gas station attendants who have been at the bar since noon, but they had songs and style and energy. Their music and their style are somewhat hard to describe. A Minneapolis Star Tribune review of one of their shows may have captured it best:
"Bukowski set to music by four guys who have somehow managed to make being a motor head from small-town Wisconsin sexy."
Enough said. These guys are still out there doing it after about 15 years together. You can still catch them on a semi-regular basis at their local haunts like House of Rock in Eau Claire, but they are also no strangers to Madison joints like the High Noon Saloon and The Inferno and can often be found there when Crustacean puts together a show of the label acts.
Here's a performance from The Inferno in Madison about 2 years ago, of their song "Get Ahead."
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Future of Media
The reason for this post was not to say I won my argument. I am fascinated with where media is headed and far this technology has come in such short time. With wireless devices like the Iphone being able to stream live video in HD quality, it is amazing to think how much information your PC or TV will be able to handle. Look at how much traffic sites like Hulu and Youtube get each day. I just posted the other day how I can stream movies from netflix through my Xbox live account. There are still some obstacles in the way, heck my parents are still using dial up for the internet connection so it is foolish to think these changes will happen anytime soon. I dont really know when these changes will take place, but I do believe they are coming. Anyways I think the article covers what I said here a lot better than I could explain it. It is worth taking a look. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Humpday: Jessica Alba
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Most Memorable Death Scenes
Friday, July 24, 2009
Live Music Friday - Radiohead
However, this fact leads me to Radiohead for two reasons: (1) The best live show I've ever seen in person was Radiohead at Alpine Valley in August 2003, and (2) Coldplay has become the biggest band in the world by trying to sound like a cross between U2 and Radiohead. Turns out, if you take an interesting musical style and make it a little bit shittier and more boring, lots of Americans will tune in.
Anyway, even though large segments of the American population are oblivious to it, Radiohead is probably the most important band of the past decade. They are already in Rolling Stone's Top 100 rock bands of all time. Kid A, OK Computer and In Rainbows all won Grammies for Best Alternative Album, and each was nominated for Album of the Year (all genres). What's even more mind-blowing is that a poll of the British declared OK Computer to be the greatest album of all time, beating out the likes of The Beatles (Sgt. Peppers and Revolver), Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon) Michael Jackson (Thriller), and Nirvana (Nevermind). When the British like you better than the Beatles, you are King Shit of Fuck Mountain.
Beyond the innovative styles, layers, textures and overall atmosphere that Radiohead's acclaimed records deliver in full force - a Radiohead record can make you feel dizzy and high, and will alter your mood in every listen - they are also an absolutely phenomenal live act. It's hard to believe that they can reproduce all of the unusual sound, feel, and ambience of their recorded albums and actually kick it up a notch in intensity for a live performance, but they do exactly that. I would have loved to have found a great live show in front of a huge audience, but they all sound like shit recorded on somebody's cell phone camera.
The clip below is from a live performance from In Rainbows - From the Basement, a production they did concurrent with the release of the album. It was performed and shot in a recording studio, but it is a live performance, the likes of which most people will never be fortunate enough to see in person. They did the entire In Rainbows album, but tossed in a couple of older tunes, including Where I End and You Begin (The Sky is Falling In) shown below.
Please see below for a band that is better than that band you like, playing a song that is better than that song you like, in a performance that is better than that live act you like so well. Deal with it.
By the way, if anybody here can look as creepy at Thom Yorke, you're invited to my Halloween party.
I Would Fellate The Inventor of Netflix
In the past 3 weeks I have watched.
- The first two seasons of Weeds
- The first season of the Tudors
- The first two season of 30 rock
- The first season of Madmen
- The first season of The Wire
- and a shit ton of movies i have been wanting to see
I plan on giving some reviews later, right now I would rank them.
1. The Wire
2. Madmen
3. Tudors
4. Weeds
5. 30 Rock
Anyways if there was anyone dumb enough to still be using Blockbuster or any other video store for anything but video games, like I was, get you ass online and sign up for Netflix. You will not regret it.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
US Bank Plaza
As promised here is a picture of the US Bank building I am currently working on. Basically the entire elevation in view is brand new curtain wall and glazing. The old building only had one terrace level, the new version has three different terrace levels. One particular element that I love about this building is hard to see in the pictures, but the handrails at each of the terrace levels are actually part of the curtainwall. This could lend to some thermal problems down the line as the inside of the building is always exposed to the elements in this type of system, however it is a very cool architectual feauture. I hope to have some more pictures from standing on top one of the terraces. This one was shot from the dome of the Capital.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Humpday: Harry Twatter
I have never seen any of the Harry Potter movies and I probably won't until my daughter starts getting an interest in reading. But I wouldn't mind going to see the newest one just to see this bombshell. Yeah it is a little creepy that she (Emma Watson) just turned 18, but true love has no age barriers. Enjoy!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tis the game of baseball
AWESOME FUCKING UPDATE!
Braun thanks Kendell by jerking off a 2 run donger. Fielder is up and my whisky is empty, lets go boys!
Super gay update:
Fielder struck out, I have to take a crap...
pss, I think ol' 3rd degree burns is probably getting sent down after barley getting through 4 innings. I would love a Halladay but at this point how about a guy who can give up a couple runs and get through 6 innings. I would think Melvin would be lookin for something of that nature, you wont have to give up a ton and yet you can get some fingers in the dam that is the brewers pitching or fingers in the gapping vagina that is CV and McLung, which Zirbs and I have dubbed the Corn beef burrito.
psss I like Lopez
Friday, July 17, 2009
Live Music Friday - Beastie Boys
That's right. I said it. The Beastie Boys. These nice Jewish boys from NYC started off as a hardcore punk outfit in 1979 - when I was 5 - with Adam Yauch (MCA) on the bass, Mike D on vocals, and Kate Schellenbach (later of Luscious Jackson) on the drums. They did pretty well on the NY punk club scene, opening for some big names. Anyway, Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz) joined in 1983 and they signed on with mad-crazy but now legendary producer Rick Rubin. Rubin convinced them to go hip-hop, and the next thing you know they are on tour with Run DMC and LL Cool J with a top-ten hit on the pop charts.
In 1989, they released "Paul's Boutique," long considered an innovative masterpiece of hip-hop for its unprecedented creative use of sampling and layering of numerous sounds and musical references, and a legend was born. (Many a child of the '90s has heard some old '60s rock '70s funk tune for the first time and said, "Holy shit, that's the sound that plays for 10 seconds in that one Beasties track!") "Paul's Boutique" would be on my desert island top 10. Now, 30 years later, they are still getting it done. As MCA says on "Sure Shot": "I got more rhymes than I got gray hairs, and that's a lot because I got my share." A few years later, on "Check Your Head" and "Ill Communication," the Boys picked up the instruments again and starting kicking out their own jams from time to time, sometimes on rap tracks, sometimes straight punk.
I basically grew up and grew old with these dudes, first hearing "Fight for Your Right" in the 6th grade, seeing them live for the first time during college, seeing them a couple more times during law school, and seeing them a couple more times yet as an adult working stiff, most recently at the Pavilion at Northerly Island on Chicago's Lakeshore in 2007 at the ripe old age of 33. That's right. I'm 35 and they've been rocking it worldwide since I was in 6th grade, and were working at it for a decade before that. They are the Mick Jaggar of hip-hop.
I've added them to the growing but distinguished LMF pantheon, because I don't think they get enough credit for their live shows. Most hip hop shows suck a lot of ass, with 19 guys on stage with mics, hyping over one another, and when it's over, you're not even sure if Master P was there at all. Not the Boys. You get, as advertised, "Three MCs and One DJ." And, in fact, they be gettin' down with no delay. For many shows, they have the full band kit set up so they can wander over and rock the instruments, as they do in the "Sabotage" performance below. Plus, every show has some bizarre new schtick. When I saw them on the lakefront in Chicago a couple of years back, overlooking the marina, Mike D decided to take a nautical theme, wearing a captain's hat and a blue blazer, and constantly extolling the virtues of his newly adopted yachting lifestyle. Basically, they are cool by being completely uncool and not giving a shit. Even in their 40s, I recommend you check 'em out.
Planning a Vacation? You May Want to Read This...
Top 10 Sexually Active Cities in America
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Glassman
I rarely talk about work on the blog, because most people dont think the world of architectural glazing is that interesting and really it is not. However occasionally I get to work on a project that is interesting. Currently I am working on one of those projects at the US Bank Plaza, right across the street from the capitol. I am going to take some pictures and post them soon, but we are doing some neat stuff with structural glass curtainwalls (structural glass wall made of aluminum, steel, and glass) and also some pretty cool glass handrails. If this interests you at all I found this pretty cool articl from the NY Times that discusses some of the advancement that is being made in the structural glass field. I hope someday glass replaces a lot of building products, I could be a rich man. Anyways the arictle details the glass staircase found in most Apple stores, as well as the glass observation boxes that are on the 103 floor of the Sears Tower building. Check it out.
Link
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
One More Thing
"organized greed always defeats disorganized democracy."
I think this is a must read. Link
Monday, July 13, 2009
Congrats Prince
That was awesome! I dont know what was better, Pujols sucking on his own turf. Prince beating Pujols on his own turf or Prince winning when the announcers kept talking shit about Prince and how his swing was too erratic and he would get too tired. He looked to be the least tired out of them all and was dropping bombs. So fuck off to who ever the announcer was not giving Prince any respect. They almost seemed disappointed when he won. Hence another reason why I hate Sports Center.
Nice work Prince that was great to see.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Live Music Friday: Morphine
For me personally, they are part of the life soundtrack. Their music graced the juke box at the Caribou Bar throughout the '90s and they were a staple to be played at afterbar parties for the almost-hipster crowd of the near east side of Madison. Aptly titled for a band called Morphine, their 1993 record, "Cure For Pain," is easily on my top 20 list for all time favorite albums.
Sandman is also one of my favorite lyricists of all time. Lots of songs about traditional rock subjects such as love gone bad, personal pain, struggling with drugs and feelings of despair. However, his poetic voice was uniquely honest and genuine, you never get the feeling that he's bullshitting you.
A few lines from "I'm Free Now" that I've always loved to listen to while drinking by myself:
I'm free now to direct a movie
Sing a song or write a book about yours truly
How I'm so interesting, I'm so great
But I'm really just a fuck-up and it's such a waste
...
There's something going on that makes my guts ache
I got guilt, I got fear, I got regret
I'm just a panic-stricken waste
I'm such a jerk
Sandman's outlook on life was said to have been influenced by a series of tragedies. In his 20's he was stabbed in the chest and nearly killed while driving a cab in Boston. He also lost both of his brothers early in life. After Mark's death, his mother wrote an autobiographical book called "Four Minus Three: A Mother's Story." I guess the creative process based upon tragedy runs in the family. To an outside observer, he was the kind of guy that never really looked or sounded very happy, but just seemed really fucking cool. Sandman died of a heart attack at age 46.
The clip below is a live performance of the track "Cure For Pain." Classic Sandman, classic Morphine.
I propose a toast to my self control
You see it crawling, helpless on the floor
Someday, there'll be a cure for pain
That's the day I throw my drugs away
Thursday, July 9, 2009
News Flash: UFC Guys are Creepy
EMBED-Rampage dry humps Cagepotato Reporter - Watch more free videos
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
E-mails from an asshole...
Linky.
Just a taste:
Original Ad:
Wanted: ride from philly to rehoboth beachi am trying to leave any time next friday. will pay for gas, and provide conversation.i am bringing a large duffel bag and a cat.
From Mike Partlow to chris **********Hey,I have to go to court in Rehoboth next Friday, so I would be able to give you a ride. I just want to know, you're female, right?
Mike
From chris ******** to Me
i am male. what time did you want to leave?
-chris
From Mike Partlow to chris *********
Chris,I'm sorry, I thought you were female because you said you owned a cat. Sorry, but I don't want to give you a ride. Two dudes in a car, going to Rehoboth, it just seems a little gay. Better luck next time.
Mike
From chris ******** to Me
wtf how is that gay? i just want a ride!
From Mike Partlow to chris *********
Well normally I wouldn't think anything of it, but first off, you own a cat, and you are a dude. That is a huge red flag right there. Any normal straight guy wouldn't own a cat, and if he did, he wouldn't care about the cat enough to take it to the beach. Second, you want to go to Rehomo Beach. I'm not judging your lifestyle or anything man, I just don't want you gaying up my car. No offense. I don't even want to know what is in your duffel bag.
From chris ******** to Me
stfu dude why are you being a prick! im not fucking gay i just cant get a fucking ride to the beach! my GIRLFRIEND happens to have a house in rehoboth!!
From Mike Partlow to chris *********
Yeah, I'm sure he does.
I think Richard Simmons is driving down there next week, try to get a ride with him.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
I hate mahself
ps Adam if your reading and I know you are, my eyes and ears whispered to me during the "After the Catch" diarreasode..."YOU FUCKING FAGGOT!" It wasnt so much of a whisper as my ears and eyes are still bleeding.
oh and that brewer game gave me an ulcer I think.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Live Music Friday: Otis Redding
Otis Redding is the greatest soul singer who ever lived. Fuck those other people you're thinking of, they ain't shit. Otis had an incredible voice coupled with a powerful spirit, which together conveyed a broad range of emotion, from casual depression to deep sorrow, from tenderness to intense sexuality. He also knew how to treat a song, which is what is so lacking in the wanna-be soul singers of today. He treated it like a sweet, sweet lady. He started off slow and tender, gently worked up a little sweat, gradually built up to an emotional climax and finally let it all come pouring out in the finale.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
YOGA NO WIN 4 U
4 gamer at The worlds biggest gay bar starting tomorrow. It should be a good series!
Humpday: Public Enemies
I believe Public Enemies is opening today, and yeah I am freaking excited. Not only for the beautifl Marion Cotillard (brunette) and Emilie de Ravin (blond) that will be hopefully getting nakey in the movie, but this film is directed by Mike Mann and stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, and Giovanni Ribisi, all favorites of mine. Though you could not tell from any of the previews because all you see is Johnny Depp in every single trailer. Anyways, I think this could be really good. Enjoy!