Autumn Souvenir

There are certain moments, or maybe days, that seem to put things in perspective. More often than not, we're not exactly looking or reaching for that moment, but somehow it grabs a hold and we gather something. If we're lucky, we can make some sense of these often fleeting pinches of time. But usually an explanation is lost in the same way that one loses that dream within a moment of opening one's eyes. Yesterday morning I hopped on the highway and traveled south about three hours down Highway 1. I hadn't been to Big Sur since January 1 of 2005, but this visit was more for the music than for the beautiful scenery, though I was certain that both would play a part. When I arrived at the Henry Miller Library grounds, I was struck by the beauty of this tiny corner of Big Sur. Lying deep below a surrounding mountain, the library is tiny, but rests on a small grassy area that provided the setting for the music. The first few acts were ok, but as the sun slid behind the mounta...

When It Began - The Replacements

This is just terrifying. Sarah Palin makes George Bush look like Abe Lincoln. Seriously, John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate should immediately and without question end his chances of winning the White House. It baffles my mind that Barack Obama isn't leading every single state by an average of 75% points.

**I am going to keep this post atop for a few days as I try and add more** Some of the bands I've seen over the years: wilco, bruce springsteen, def leppard, the gourds, centro-matic, south san gabriel, the jayhawks, golden smog, trailer trash, slobberbone, jens lekman, tesla, genesis, david byrne, cowboy mouth, junior brown, blue mountain, bottle rockets, marah, god street wine, slint, health & happiness show, son volt, steve earle, ben folds five, cracker, daniel johnston, mia, the emeralds, noodles, fleetwood mac, elliott smith, phish, grateful dead, strangefolk, neil young, m. ward, richard buckner, peter bruntnell, the strokes, guided by voices, the autumn defense, jay bennett & ed burch, dr. dog, the white stripes, whiskeytown, frog holler, waco brothers, pernice brothers, mendoza line, lambchop, black angels, kevin salem, joe henry, world party, my morning jacket, tom petty, jimmy buffett, fleet foxes, cold war kids, eef barzelay, apollo sunshine, september 67, chuck...

Okkervil River : The Stand Ins Jagjaguwar, 2008

I didn't make it out Saturday, but given Sunday's experience, this festival has taken a major dip in its sophomore year. Not only was the lineup quite weak, but the small touches that made last year so wonderful were absent. Last year's VIP purchase brought you to a backstage area that included pool tables, a long and cozy bar, buckets of fruit and various games. In this year's VIP area you had a bar. Last year's concession stands were chock-full-of vegetarian and locally grown foods. This year my only option was a wrap filled with lettuce and tomatoes. But there was one major highlight and that was Austin's Okkervil River. I've been a fan of Okkervil for some years, but their latest two records, The Stege Names and The Stand Ins (released last week), have placed this band among the most important acts making music today. And today's set in the middle of a Sunday on a small island in San Francisco, was one of the most inspired sets of music I've se...

Too bad the rest of the lineup is terrible: Bridge School Benefit Shoreline Ampitheatre Mountain View, CA Oct 25/26 Neil Young Pegi Young Wilco Cat Power Death Cab for Cutie Jack Johnson ZZ Top (Sat only) Norah Jones Jack Johnson (Sun only) Josh Groban (seriously!?!?!?) (Sun only)

-Why is Paste Magazine so absolutely terrible now? -The 21 bus to the 30 and vice versa has become a combination of bo and ass. -Why do people say a band is "killing it" or is "sick"? Good lord. -Does anyone in San Francisco cover their mouth when yawning? Answer: Not many. -Do you *really* need to be on your damn cell phone at ALL times? -And now you're texting while driving?!!? -I mean, c'mon, John McCain? Really, America? REALLY?!?!?! -I never thought I'd say this, but Springsteen needs to bid farewell to the E Street tours. -Why do people in San Francisco walk so close to strangers on the street? -Radiohead are not a great band. Actually, they're kind of a yawn. -Will a good movie ever be made again? -Why are there virtually no good bars in this city? -Does Murakami still write good books, because the last few have been clunkers? -For Doc Hup, can we get one for the Cubs?

Given the ease of always listening to exactly the music we want to hear, whether it be via our iTunes, iPod, CD or whatever is easily accessible, it's rare that we're hit with true moments of discovery. Sure, we might hear a record for the first time and fall in love, but usually we know the artist and are prepared for what's about to reach our ears. Tonight, while listening to last.fm on random, a song came on that stopped me in my tracks. Fine, I was sitting down, but still. Oh my sweet jesus was I floored. I knew the artist, and I even knew the song, but what in god's name was this version. The song was "Casino Lights" by Richmond Fontaine, a band I loved in the 90s and early 00s, but have sort of abandoned over the past few years. This appeared to be a live version. Suddenly my throat tightened up and I was completely swept over by something that can't be explained. And I needed to find this song. And I needed to hear it again. A few searches around (e...

Wilco 2368 plays Bruce Springsteen 2363 plays Josh Ritter 2246 plays Bob Dylan 1853 plays Josh Rouse 1684 plays Okkervil River 1329 plays Richard Buckner 1265 plays Bonnie "Prince" Billy 1054 plays M. Ward 1024 plays Neil Young 963 plays

In addition to the lies and deception and John McCain's ties to the most despicable folks in government, let's not forget that John McCain's done everything imaginable to strip away our hope. Oh, I know that he's a politician and his role as republican nominee is to bury his opponent, but as I sit here listening to Bruce Springsteen wail on "This Land Is Your Land" I can't help but want to scream at McCain for doing everything imaginable to strip this country of the hope that Barack Obama has instilled in many of us. Say what you will about Senator Obama, but there's no question that he's uplifted this country in a time when dreams were so desperately needed. Was John McCain doing his job by ripping down Obama? Sure. But I won't soon forget his disgusting and uninhibited attempts to pry hope from all of us. As hard as he tries, I won't stop dreaming. And regardless of the outcome in November, it was John McCain who did everything imaginabl...

That's the price for a floor seat to catch Neil Young & Wilco at MSG. As Wilco's Jeff Tweedy said on 1993's Anodyne "We've Been Had".

Jason Isbell : Sirens of the Ditch New West, 2007

This Land is Your Land (Original) - Woody Guthrie

As I sit listening to this show, I can't recall the last time that rock n' roll sounded this massive, this inspiring, this raw. Every song elicits not only full-body chills, but evokes dreams, community, hope and everything that sometimes only music can do. Lately I've felt parts of me tearing apart as I watch in horror as the republican party once again utilizes lies, fear and manipulation to make every effort to continue leading this country into the abyss. All that hope and spirit that the Obama campaign injected into this country is being hacked at by McCain and his big business crooks. Yet this Springsteen show makes me believe. It makes me want everyone else to believe. It makes it all feel possible. For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside, that it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive Bruce Springsteen's "Badlands" Bruce Springsteen Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York December 31, 1980 Night Prove It All Night Spirit In The Night Dar...

If Governor Palin finds herself governing this country, this will likely be the greatest electoral mistake this country has ever made.

Gary Louris, Mark Olson, Tim O'Reagan, Karen Grotberg and Marc Perlman onstage together for first time in many years. Let's hope that the solo jaunts are put on hold for a bit and the band announces a full US tour. The Jayhawks : Azkena Victoria, Spain 9.6.08 Wichita I´d Run Away Over My Shoulder Real Light Two Angels Take Me With You Martin´s Song Waiting For The Sun Clouds Two Hearts Settle Down Like Rain Sister Cry See Him On The Street Nothing Left To Borrow Pray For Me - Blue Bad Time Miss Williams´Guitar

Man do I love this record. Hey Tramp - Absentee

9.8.08

Lost Coastlines - Okkervil River

Why does this word carry such a negative connotation? And why does the word conservative not? Well, it really comes down to marketing, and it would be impossible to argue that the right hasn't destroyed the dems on this front. Since when do caring for the poor, a reasonable minimum wage, health care, civil rights and so forth equate to elitism and against the people? It's really almost laughable how the republicans have buried the left on this front, especially when it is SO apparent that it's the democratic party that represents the core values and desires of the American people. Until the left overtake this ludicrous battle and dominate the PR battle (ie, truth) on this front, they shouldn't expect to win the White House. The New York Times' Bob Herbert spoke of this in today's New York Times. And instead of just giving you the damn link, given its importance, I'm copying the text here. Hold Your Heads Up by Bob Herbert Ignorance must really be bliss. How ...

Uncle Alvarez - Liz Phair

The Essential Neil Young After the Gold Rush Down by the River Ambulance Blues Winterlong Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere Tonight's the Night I Am a Child Powderfinger Harvest Lookin' For a Love The Needle and the Damage Done Cortez the Killer Revolution Blues Campaigner Cowgirl in the Sand It's a Dream Mellow My Mind

These numbers are correct. According to the latest USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted Friday through Sunday, and the first poll to reveal the impact of the RNC, John McCain has not only erased Obama's lead, but he's taken a substantial lead. What's caused such a huge shift? I can attribute this 15+ swing to one thing: The public's reaction to Sarah Palin being vetted not by John McCain, but by the American media. When this virtual unknown was named as McCain's running mate, the media scrambled to find out anything about her, and given that a large part of the reporting was negative, this set the perfect stage for the comeback at the RNC. In the days following the announcement of Palin as his running mate, and the onslaught of criticism that followed, I was certain that this would ultimately play to the Republican's benefit. This was American Idol of campaign moments. Americans love a comeback story, and this is exactly what Sarah Palin represented. What were her qu...

Juana Molina : Son Domino, 2006 Centro-matic : Distance and Clime Idol, 2001 The Drams : Jubilee Dive New West, 2006 Neil Young : Live at Massey Hall, 1971 Reprise, 2007

Man in the Dark by Paul Auster, Fiction, 2008: 7.5 Personal Days by Ed Park, Fiction, 2008: 6.5

As we creep closer and closer to 11/4, it seems that my stomach tightens more and more as each day passes. Tonight I went to see a band that I'd waited years to see in San Francisco, yet I was distracted more than half of the show. As hard as I tried, I couldn't push this election out of my mind, even for 90 minutes. I kept checking my phone to see the reactions to Sarah Palin's speech. And almost all seemed positive. And my stomach tightened a bit more. I have said this time and again, and I honestly feel that there's little argument on this point: If the American public, as a whole, were even moderately educated on the positions of democrats and republicans, I can't imagine that the democrats would have much trouble winning every election over the next century. But the American public has been duped. The right has used wedge issues such as religion, abortion, capital punishment and immigration to literally freeze the country. People never ask this, but do George B...

There's no question that the republicans have gathered the greatest living nutjob speechwriters to put together Governor Palin's speech. Knowing this, one can only expect a speech that energizes the right like no other. The dems need to be aware of this likely outcome and handle it with care. I am skipping this utter garbage to go see South San Gabriel and Centro-matic, otherwise known as the show of the century.

Barring the greatest speech ever delivered before this country, my guess is that Sarah Palin steps down within a week following the RNC. Of course, she'll say that she's doing so to "focus on her family and that she can no longer put the strain on her family, blah, blah, crap, blah." McCain and Co. will pin it all on her, despite the fact that it was their lack of research that led to this utter debacle. If she does get kicked to the curb, I bet Johnny Boy goes with creepy Lieberman.

After witnessing the show of the year last night, Beck at the Independent, I've spent most of this lazy day off listening to Modern Guilt and The Information , the two Beck records that I've never given enough time. After making it through the two, I searched the iTunes folder for more obscure Beck tracks. The first song I found was Beck's beautiful cover of Daniel Johnston's "True Love Will Find You In the End". True Love Will Find You in the End - Daniel Johnston