31 lipca 2007

 

TPMP Review: Marnie Stern at Plush

It was a little like those false endings to "21st Century Schitzoid Man," 'cept it went for fourty-five minutes.

You know how, back when you were in college, that friend of yours tried to turn you on to Henry Cow? You never managed to listen to that whole album, did you? Well, Marnie Stern did.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

30 lipca 2007

 

Tom Snyder

What better way to remember the man than with his most infamous Tommorrow show interview? This one comes in two parts. Yep, that's him with John Lydon and Keith Levine of Public Image Ltd. back in 1980.




Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

29 lipca 2007

 

Weekend Fußball Notes and Rants

Hey, remember when I said that Cuauhtémoc Blanco would be a horrible bust for the Chicago Fire, and David Beckham would be a Godsend for the Los Angeles Galaxy? Okay, I was wrong.

Granted, Blanco has started two games for Chicago, and Beckham has played exactly 17 more minutes playing for the Galaxy than I have. Heck, he is still 79 minutes short of being as critical to the Galaxy as Andrew Shue was. But all of that helps prove my point, don't it?

Don't worry, Blanco still has plenty of time to prove me right.


One of the things that irritated me a wee bit when Chivas USA entered the league was the assumption that they were now the "Hispanic team." Never mind that even in their own town, Hispanic fans were split between them and the Galaxy. Now that they are looking beyond people who are not even good enough or too old to play for the mothership team, Kansas City is likely to start more Hispanic surnamed players than they are on any given week. Dallas, Chicago and DC have higher profile Latin American stars. But, the perception still exists among their fans that they are somehow wearing the brown berets and the other teams are "whiter." (And don't get me started on the closet racists on Big Soccer that tie their dislike for Chivas to their anti-immigration views)

I bring this up because a popular thing among some fans is the wearing of lucha libre masks in your team colors at games. More practical than painting your face, I suppose. A guy I know, Mike Toole, does this at New England Revolution games. Since he is right in front of the "Fort," the hardcore fan section, he always gets on TV. Twice I've seen Fox commentators (once for the national broadcast, once on the local, Chivas feed) say, "Well, with that mask, he should be a Chivas fan." In both cases, the commentators wouldn't stop with this one. It's as if only Chivas USA fans are entitled to picking up Latin American trappings. Silly, really.

(Years ago, a guy said that because of my last name, I should be a Chicago Fan. At the time, New England had players named Janusz Michallik and Darren Sawatzky.)

Aside from the rant, there is a plus here. Mike's in game activities have gotten him noticed on English television. Believe it or not, BBC 5 has a show called Soccer America. Mostly, they poke fun at us, but they actually did a wee bit on Mike, with the commentator spending a near creepy amount of time on Mike's wife, Prairie Rose Clayton.

Prairie Rose and Mike have gotten in touch with the producers of the program and there might be a follow-up.


Freddy Adu has gone off to the greener pastures of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Well, at least a tryout there. Adu was unhappy at Real Salt Lake, so this move may be good for him. My troubles with him have always been his maturity. Ten minutes playing for a European club oughta cure that.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

28 lipca 2007

 

Odd Dream

So, I'm running a chain of Mexican themed char broiled chicken establishments called Chicken Eatza. I turn on the TV news where they are inteviewing folks in a neighborhood with a new Chicken Eatza franchise. People are generally positive. They interview one guy who is identified as "the only genuine rock star in the neighborhood." He says, "I think Roger McGuinn would approve."

Roger McGuinn?


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

26 lipca 2007

 

Jezebelle


One of the original Furious Truckstop Waitresses has anounced her retirement from the league. Jezebelle was always one of my favorites. Despite her reputation as a badass, she was actually one of the cleaner defenders (she would rack up penalties only in the single digits while still garnering block stats that put her near the top of the league). She was also someone who always made time for a silly fanboy like me, and I appreciated it.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

25 lipca 2007

 

Hey, at Least It Rhymes, I Guess

I found an old tape I have of 50's and 60's rockabilly. There's a song on there that has bugged me for a while by a guy named John Ashley. The song is "Born to Rock." The chorus has a line that makes little sense to me. Here are the lyrics, as purloined from the excellent BlackCat Rockabilly site:
And he was born-born to rock (yeah-yeah rock)
He was born-born to rock (well rock-a)
When I hear that guitar with a flippety-flop
Man I really know I was born-born to rock

"Flippety-flop"? I'd understand "clipity-clop." You know, clipity-clop would be that more frantic Tenessee Three thing that most of those guys did. Flipery-flop? What the hell is that?


Ashley, by the way, had an interesting career. He acted in several low brow juvenile delinquent movies, and played Frankie Avalon's pal in some beach films. Readers of this blog would know him better from various television series he produced, including one that he did the opening naration for. Ashley died in 1997.

I couldn't find video of Ashley performing "Born to Rock," but this clip is of him performing "Hit and Run Lover" from the "film" Hot Rod Gang. The movie also features Gene Vincent as "The Bandleader." The guy on piano kinda looks like Vincent, I'm not sure.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

24 lipca 2007

 

Knocking Around

For one reason or another, this song by Kirsty MacColl has been banging around in my head for the last few days. Of course, YouTube has a video of it. This performance is from 1981, you know, before she died.

I never thought her voice, which I usually like, worked for songs like this. But darnit, it's got a clever chorus.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

23 lipca 2007

 

Shaktipat Marching Band

During breaks at Saturday's Tucson Roller Derby match, the Shaktipat Marching Band performed. I am still not sure what to think. From reading their description in the program, they are "Saving humanity with a reliable downbeat," and that they use "hip-hop rhythms and megaphone spoken word soundbites to reawaken the dishartened and disembodied." The drums could be easily heard, which goes without saying, but whatever the member with the bullhorn was saying was swallowed up by the drums and the cavernous space of Bladeworld.

They kept time well though, and they did know how to march. In their first set, many of us in the audience didn't know what to think. In their second set, they did a bit where they would pretend that they were in the wrong spot and the director would send them to a different spot. They also marched trhough the audience.

I'm still confused by how such a band would get formed. I have seen friends at parties do things like this, "Hey, I play drums, you can play guitar..." and ocasionally come up with goofy concepts (ask me about Shaken Baby Syndrome sometime). How did this go? "Hey, let's from a marching band, I've got stilts!" "Cool. Can I wear a diaper?"


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

 

Tommy Walker

I read this morning that Tommy Walker, guitarist for the legendary Dearly Beloved, died. Walker had also been a sometime member of Chuck Wagon and the Wheels.

This morning's Arizona Daily Star has an article on Walker. The Dearly Beloved were one of a legion of Farfisa drenched garage rock bands in the late 1960's and their sound resembled that of bands like the Seeds and the Electric Prunes. Their stuff holds up today along with the better songs of the genre. Their near-hit, "Peep Peep Pop Pop," skirted the bottom of the Billboard Hot 100 and is covered as a part of the Okmonics' regular set.

The Dearly Beloved's career tragically ended in 1967 when they were hurrying back from gigs in California and they had a car accident that killed lead singer Larry Cox (to make things even more tragic, they were trying to make it back in time for Cox's wedding). They put out one more single, "Flight 13," but decided to hang it up. They put out only seven singles in all, but they along with the Grodes, the Lewallen Brothers and the Sot Weed Factor formed the nucleus of a proto-scene in Tucson that laid the groundwork for the explosion of Tucson bands in the early 1980's.

Walker continued to play in local groups, including some time in Chuck Wagon and the Wheels but more recently with various bar bands around town. His growing health problems made it difficult to do so in recent years.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.


21 lipca 2007

 

It Was Bad, Called Obscene...

The LA Riot Squad has actually built a throne for Victoria Beckham, and promised her several fearsome body guards from the group. I saw the Riot Squad start some crap with some beefy Eastern European Chicago Fire fans a couple of years back...they were all blitzed so I don't know how good they actually fight.

Oh, and one sentence in the above article had me going, "yeah, of course..."


Tommy Mack, who cooked up the scheme

I have been negligent and failed to link Dan Loney's blog to this one. This is especially negligent because Dan gave me a shout out last week.


Watching the run up to the Los Angeles Galaxy - Chelsea FC match. Hey, could we cut out the BS and show the goshdarned game?


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

 

Scouting Report: Reinas de Cobre v Mesoneras Frenéticas de Carretera

Tonight’s matchup is between the Copper Queens and Furious Truckstop Waitresses.

Copper Queens:
Previous Match: CQ 106 – Iron Curtain 71 (9 Jun)
Season Record: 1 - 1
Leading Scorer: Dirty Teri (P/J) - 51 points in 22 jams
Leading Defender: Dirty Teri (P/J) – 62 strategic blocks, 6 penalties (1 major)
Probable Absences: None

Furious Truckstop Waitresses:
Previous Match: FTW 77 – VICE Squad 69 (5 May)
Season Record: 2 – 0
Leading Scorer: Sloppy Flo (J) – 90 points in 26 jams
Leading Defender: Deadlock Doe (P) – 75 strategic blocks, 44 penalties (5 major)
Probable Absences: Jezebelle (B)

Previous Meetings (Winner in bold): None

Ted's Expert Analysis (unless otherwise noted, stats for jammers from last bout played):
The FTW has still not lost a regular season match, and I have my doubts that that will be any different in the morning. The Copper Queens are ever improving as their team coheres, and were more match fit in their second contest than in their first. The stats above may make the Queens look over dependent on Dirty Teri, but she is backed up by Cheap Ore (37 points in 9 jams) and Syd Rock (24 points in 9 jams) who have both found their footing and should be able to pile on some points. Their defense has come into its own; look to Blue Mauli (36 blocks, 1 penalty) to give Sloppy Flo and Peaches Rodriguez fits.

As usual, expect FTW to toy with the Queens for the first period, then built up an inassailable lead in the second. It’s the pattern.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

20 lipca 2007

 

Beckermania!

I must say, hats off to Major League Soccer and their marketing folks. Who would have ever guessed that Kyle Beckerman being traded to Real Salt Lake would have caused such a stir! They say that a quarter of a million jerseys for Beckerman's new team have been sold.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

18 lipca 2007

 

Enn-Pea-Arrr-uh


I was listening to All Things Considered yesterday when I heard Michele Norris (or was it Melissa Block?) say something I'd never thought I'd hear her say:

The post-punk band The Fall...
That made my ears perk up. She was introducing Robert Christgau's critique of the band's latest album, Reformation Post-TLC. It is worth a listen.

He compares us Fall fans to Grateful Dead fans, which I take great exception to, and then compares Mark E. Smith to James Brown, which I don't take exception to so much as I don't get where that one comes from.

Interestingly, Rick Carr, who mostly covers technology issues for NPR, is a fan. He had done a review of one album years ago and used to be an active member of the FallNet list.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

16 lipca 2007

 

Weekend Soccer Notes

I restricted myself to watching two games this weekend: the Revs v MetroBulls and Argentina v Brazil. That means I missed our Under-20's getting beaten by Austria, and the women beating Norway. I don't even know if the women's game was broadcast. Maybe the Beckham hype has pushed the women aside. Can't cover more than one soccer story at a time, after all.


Note to Gerard Piqué: if your name rhymes with "PK," you should learn to take one.


During the Revs game, it looked to me like Jeff Larentowicz was trying out for a spot in the next Devo reunion. If Greg Lalas was doing the commentary, he totally would have said that.


So, does the Argentine FA offer a "witness protection" style program for those who score own goals? Lucky for Roberto Ayala, he plays in Spain. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who noticed Brazil's new workmen's like approach to the game. I am not going to complain, since they skunked one of my least favorite teams.


Not looking for conspiracy theories, but finding coincidences. Maybe it is serendipity...evidence of a benevolent and all loving God...

Anyway, the main road into the Home Depot Center is called Victoria Street (the address, however is on Avalon Boulevard). Let's count the minutes before some marketing jackass realizes that this is also David Beckham's wife's name ("What, her first name isn't really Posh?").


I was already to go with a complete thing on Beckham's number being the same as his new GM's old number, but Alexi Lalas was 22 (it was his number because he was last to be picked for the 1994 World Cup squad; he thought it was a handy reminder of his place in the fútbol firmament) and Beckham's will be 23. Oops.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

15 lipca 2007

 

Saddletramps 120 - Dairyland Dolls 66

I have no details, 'cept that I understand that our gals were short handed and that the Dolls got into some foul trouble. Such a beautiful ass kicking.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

13 lipca 2007

 

Did You Hear That Beckham Will Be Playing for the Galaxy?

As part of MLS's hype machine, David Beckham will be holding a press conference today to officially announce his joining the Los Angeles Galaxy. They've announced big signings with press conferences before, but I imagine that the room will contain more than Grant Wahl and a guy from Soccer America.

It hasn't yet gotten tiresome yet, but I'll tell you what I'm already tired of: the Victoria Beckham hype. Is she actually a star? The only upside to her fame is that she actually did something to be famous, but it wasn't much.


So...what will this guy actually do for the Galaxy? They have only won three games this season, and are on track for having the pathetic record they ended last season with when this team, the "class" of the league, missed out on the playoffs.

Is Beckham enough to change their fortunes? They'll be a better team, certainly. He'll certainly be more of an asset than Cuauhtémoc Blanco will be for Chicago (they hype behind Blanco in the Mexican American community hasn't quite reached Beckham levels, but it's comprable). We won't see Beckham punching a reporter, pretending to urinate on opponents or claiming to be the reincarnation of an Aztec emperor, that's for darned sure.


I remember reading a story, possible apocryphal, about Franz Beckenbauer's debut with the New York Cosmos. Two executives from Warner Communications, owners of the team, were watching the match and saw Beckenbauer playing sweeper. Supposedly, one of them said, "Tell that Kraut to get forward, we don't pay him all that money to defend." Of course, Beckenbauer was a defender...

My point here is that non-soccer fans used to traditional American sports that are brought to the games may be expecting the wrong thing from Beckham. Big baseball and basketball stars are expected to score over and over again, not so much with Beckham. He is very skilled in free kicks which may make for thrills. For the most part though, what he does causes goals to be scored, but he won't be scoring them himself. This, coupled with much of Beckham's image confirming the stereotype that soccer is for effete pretty boys, could be a marketing problem for the league when the hype wears off.


This isn't to say that a Beckham can't make LA a winning squad. Argentine player Guillermo Barros Schelotto, for example, turned Columbus around, and they were a far more pathetic squad than the Galaxy. Schelotto's first games made a lot of us think that he would turn out to be a complete hump, just here to draw a paycheck before his knees gave out (Lothar Matthäus, anyone?). But, he found his footing and is kicking ass.

(By the way, am I the only one disturbed by the over enthusiastic teenage mancrush that Christopher Sullivan seems to have for Schelotto?)

Another "big signing" that has done well is Juan Pablo Angel. The former Aston Villa player has scored 9 goals in the ten games he has played in and is considered a big part of the reason why the traditionally underperforming Red Bulls are actual cup contenders this season. Abel Xavier, the Portugese player that is one of Beckham's new teammates, hasn't played a lot of games yet but seems not to be a total waste of field turf.

Other big signings are not doing so well. Fred, the young Brazillian player hyped up before the season, is not ripping things up the way folks thought he would (but his Brazillian teammate Luciano Emilio has been doing okay, even if he isn't the world beater that he was sold as). Claudio Reyna, not a foreign signing but considered a big catch, hasn't done as well as people thought either.

And Blanco...I already talked about Blanco. We'll see how long before that becomes a total disaster.


The picture of a shirtless Beckham is just an attempt to bring more female visitors to this site.


By the way, if you check this ESPN promo, you will notice that one of the LA fans is actually wearing a Columbus jersey with Beckham's name on it. Is Alexi Lalas planning a trade already? I'm starting that rumor.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

12 lipca 2007

 

It's Valium...ksh ksh...Valium...ksh ksh...

So, the board of directors of local pharmaceutical company Ventana Medical Systems Inc. has urged shareholders to reject an offer from Roche Holding AG. I was hoping for an excuse to post a video of The Fall performing "Rowche Rumble," a song about Roche and their products.

YouTube has everything, right? But I was unable to find a video of Mark E. Smith and crew performing the song. I thought I'd at least find Sonic Youth doing their cover, but no dice. All I found was a bit from a guy calling himself Boycott Coke Experience, whose "cover" of the song (he refers to it as a "song sketch") consists of repeating one line from the song over and over again. I'm not even sure that the chords have much to do with the original song.

But, you can't see his head. He's just like Waylon Jennings doing the Dukes of Hazzard theme.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

06 lipca 2007

 

KWFM Rocks Tucson

I ran across a tribute site to KWFM. The station operated from 1970 until it was sold in 1983, and provided a home for Margie Rye, Charlie Morriss and the late Bob Cooke. It even included on its roster, for a short time in 1970, Lou Waters. The station was also among the first in the area to have women DJs.

KWFM was Tucson's early exponent of the "FM Format" (KWFM was founded years before Rock warhorse KLPX). Hard for folks to remember now, but FM radio was once the home for free-form and experimental formats. The stations were newer and were largely free from corporate ownership. This left DJs with a lot of control over playlists.

One program is well remembered by folks in the local "alternative" music community. Dave LaRussa ran the Anything That's Rock 'n Roll program that was the place to hear the latest punk, new wave, ska and reggae in Tucson. He also promoted the burgeoning local music scene, with Giant Sandworms, Phantom Limbs and the Serfers (later Green on Red) making their broadcast debuts on his program. Lee Joseph sometimes showed up to play rockabilly, garage and psychadelic rock. Joseph has since moved to Burbank, but he was an important chronicler of the music scene in Tucson (he was also a member of the band Johnny Sevin). He wrote articles on the history of Tucson rock for Howie Salmon's Slit fanzine, letting newer fans know about bands like Sot Weed Factor, the Dearly Beloved and the Lewallen Brothers.


The station was bought by a chain in 1983 about the time that corporate America noticed the success of FM stations, and proceded to wreck everything that made them successful.


The station's frequency, 92.9, has changed formats several times but is now occupied by The Mountain.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

04 lipca 2007

 

Club vs Country

Gawd...checking out the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the leading scorers are Danny Szetela and Freddy Adu. That's not just for the US, but for the tournament. So...I'm supposed to cheer for these guys after spending years ginning up fan hate for them...the joy of being a soccer fan.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

03 lipca 2007

 

Chanelling Emily Litella

So, what is this I hear that Tony Soprano died in Beverly Hills?


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.

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