Autumn Souvenir

Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ , originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

, originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

And I'm one step closer to indie. Five Democrats opposed the public option: Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.).

In response to the overwhelming fan enthusiasm at Chicago's Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band live performance of the album Born to Run, Springsteen has decided to perform one classic album each night at Giants Stadium: Wed, Sep 30 - Born to Run Fri, Oct 2 - Darkness on the Edge of Town Sat, Oct 3 - Born in the U.S.A. Thur, Oct 8 - Born to Run Fri, Oct 9 - Born in the U.S.A.

Our Noise : The Story of Merge Records by John Cook with Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance, Music, 2009 : 9.2 This one deserves a bit of a review. One thing to keep in mind regarding my ratings: As you might suspect, my grades are obviously skewed towards my interests. This is one of the highest ratings I've lobbed thus far, but I certainly wouldn't put this up there with a lot of the great fiction I've read over the past few years. The reason for the high mark is how closely this book hit home. Merge Records has always been one of my favorite labels. They signed Richard Buckner, arguably one of the best songwriter of the past 15 years, yet someone who likely doesn't eclipse 2,500 in overall sales per record, and they signed him when his minimal popularity was already fading. They have also put out some of the best records of the past 15 years, most notably 69 Love Songs, Girls Can Tell and Funeral . But most importantly, Mac and Laura at Merge affirmed why I decided t...

This Merge book is thus far the most personally satisfying book I've read in ages. Every story and line has me giddy, and man I hate the word giddy. Reading about the beginnings, Jeff Mangum's love for wiffle ball and Stephin Merritt's crazy thinking is just heaven to me. This is the stuff I live for. Hearing of the demise of Rhino Records is unbelievably sad. Rhino is one of the few major label subsidiaries that still puts out excellent music. It's also tough to read about the continued demise of last.fm. This has been my favorite digital music site for the past five years and it just appears that CBS was not the right fit. Almost all of the folks who built the company have jumped ship. I really want to see this . This is the first year where I've completely lost interest in football. I'm now a one sport jackass. I have Sundazed on my mind. Oh my, do I. The first two songs on the next Thao record are very great. Tomorrow I head East for a few weeks and then I ...

This is a live take on the song as performed at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn on December 7, 2002. The lineup that night included Jim O'Rourke, Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche. In my mind, St. Ann's will always be the venue where I passed on seeing Joe Strummer, but fortunately, this fantastic show ameliorated that pain ever so slightly. The post party at that classic bar in DUMBO will never be forgotten. 01 Laminated Cat.mp3 - Loose Fur

I can't recall the last time I enjoyed the first 50 pages of a book this much. Despite having little or no connection to what was going (aside from my old love for Pier Platters), I almost feel a part of this. Some classic quotes: "I suggested a Doug Sahm song or something for us to cover. And Mac said, 'I don't quite think that's the direction we're going with this, Laura. Here's our new song 'Smoking Hooch with the Flume Dude.'" (Laura Cantrell) "We had a band called Dust Buster, in which the main instrument was a dust buster. It was, like, high concept." (Jim Wilbur) "I met Mac one night at a party at my house, when he was literally rifling through my records. And I had this Buzzcocks record, this weird import, that he hadn't seen. That was our first conversation." (Glenn Boothe) "Steve kept saying my leads were like the guy from REO Speedwagon, which was intended as an insult. But I secretly took a small amount ...

Possibly my two favorite Go-Betweens tunes back-to-back. Happy Birthday....

Big Sur by Jack Kerouac, Fiction, 1962 : 7.6 Drown by Junot Diaz, Fiction, 1997 : 8.5

Generally speaking (whatever that means), I have grown to hate television. If I'm bored as ass, I will flip through channels for 30 minutes and ultimately turn the piece of crap off. I used to watch a lot of cable news but my mind no longer allows it. I have never seen American Idol or Survivor or whatever other crap clogs the major networks. All that being said, there are a few programs right now that represent some of the best television in a pretty long time. And this past week's episodes affirmed that claim. If you've chucked the TV or have it on the permanent off mode, these shows may provide some reason to tune back in: Curb Your Enthusiasm : This season's premiere was one of the best episodes in years. The show has suffered a bit the past few seasons, but last weekend's opener was superb. There were about ten lines or moments that had me laughing like a bearded asshole. "I'm an 82 man, myself." Mad Men : I know this one's obvious, but this...

Highly recommended. And what we're not seeing in the media is that this is happening across many, many industries. The auto industry demise has clearly been at the forefront of the public's attention, but the stories in this documentary are stories told from state to state and job to job.

, originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

Written in 1854 by Stephen Foster, this tune's been covered by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and hundreds of others. This may be my favorite take:

When considering the best live sets I've seen without knowing the band previously, nothing will touch Apollo Sunshine's set at South By Southwest 2006. After a 45 minute set, I walked out of the club in a deep sweat and was stumbling over my own feet. Clem Snide, who I like, was to follow Apollo, but I had experienced it all in that 45 minute set and just sat outside experiencing utter euphoria. The next to come to mind would be Ramsay Midwood. Sometime around 2000, I walked into the Lakeside Lounge in New York and heard the opening to the track "Spinnin On the Rock." Instead of taking my usual seat at the bar, I stepped past the jukebox and into the small back room. Midwood sat alone, guitar in hand, and transported me to the Mississippi Delta or the swamps of somewhere. I sat for about an hour and listened to a style and authenticity that I can't remember seeing in some time. It was like listening to Junior Kimbrough but he looked like a messier Larry Brown. Whe...

City Lights Shine , originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

via the Matador blog: Ever since that fateful night in late 1999 when Pavement left the public eye with a final show at London’s Brixton Academy, we’ve often fantasized about the day when we could finally tell the world “yes, Brooklyn Vegan scooped us, Pavement are back.” After years of speculation, the most important American band of the 1990’s is returning to the stage, with the lineup of Mark Ibold, Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg, Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West reuniting for dates around the world in 2010. Please be advised this tour is not a prelude to additional jaunts and/or a permanent reunion. Described in their own Wikipedia entry as having experienced “moderate commercial success”, Pavement’s catalog for the Matador, Domino, Drag City and Treble Kicker imprints has come to define in the eyes of many the blueprint for independent rock over the past generation. In spite of this, the records are still pretty fantastic, and we’re fully prepared to remind you of ...

A comment from an article in the New York Times: This is the most transparent example of political corruption yet. If Baucus can pull this off, then the entire Democratic party should be replaced in the next election. At least the Republicans don’t say they want to help the people as they’re stabbing us in the back. They just get to the stabbing. -JCon

When Hillary Clinton questioned Barack Obama's leadership experience and capabilities during the primaries, I scoffed. With about eight months under his belt as president, I'm now starting to believe that this one word of caution, may have actually had some substance and unfortunately proven to be pretty prophetic. About 63 million Americans voted for Obama back in November, and I'd imagine that a large portion of those were firmly behind health care reform, and reform that included a public option. After months of bickering, lies, and little other than selfish concern from Congress, Obama's proven, thus far, to be severely lacking in conviction and leadership with respect to this cause. He's let Max Baucus and a handful of others shape the bill, and not only does the Baucus bill not contain a public option, but it doesn't have any republican support. If the right won't support this, why on Earth was a public option not included? And where's Obama been o...

breakfast on polk , originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

Pulled from memory.

On October 3rd, I'm set to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for what I can imagine may be the last time. With Springsteen turning 60 in a few weeks and a portion of the band in their mid-60s, I'm guessing that Bruce soon goes it solo. I would estimate that I've seen Springsteen about 40 times, at least ten of which have been at Giants Stadium, where I will be seeing him this go 'round. Since I'm fairly certain that both Bruce and Jon Landau check in on this blog regularly, I'd like to provide my dream set list. Badlands Kitty's Back Lucky Town The Promise Shut Out the Light The Price You Pay Trapped Jungleland Janey Don't You Lose Heart Devils & Dust Atlantic City Backstreets Adam Raised a Cain Incident on 57th Street For You No Surrender Darkness on the Edge of Town Reason To Believe Racing in the Street Terry's Song Sherry Darling Factory I'm on Fire The Rising Working on the Highway Point Blank 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) T...

For some reason, despite being very different bands, I always think of Big Star and The Replacements as playing in some bizarre league together. Perhaps it's just that they're two fantastic bands that never really got their due, Big Star especially. Most of my good friends are more fanatical about The 'Mats and while I adore both, I've always sided with Big Star. Sometime in the early 90s, Big Star were essentially my introduction to power pop. Around this time, I recall going to an all-vinyl record store in a run-down Jersey town with my brother. As was always the case when we stepped into a record store, we both manically jumped from letter to letter trying to land that huge "find" before the other. On this day, I hit the jackpot with #1 Record and Radio City . I already had the CD, which included both records, but to have them separately, and on vinyl, well, I was sweating with excitement. If you don't own a Big Star record, seriously, just buy the box...

"My One Desire" : Freakwater "In My Hour of Darkness" : The Rolling Creekdippers "Love's Gonna Live Here Today" : Buck Owens "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" : Ramblin' Jack Elliott "Atomic Power" : Uncle Tupelo "Boil My Strings" : The Gourds "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" : Willie Nelson "Sin City" Beck & Emmylou Harris "She Thinks I Still Care" : George Jones "He Don't Care" : Kelly Willis "Blue Eyes" : The International Submarine Band "Surprise, AZ" : Richard Buckner "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" : Hank Williams "Looking at the World Through a Windshield" : Son Volt "Black Soul Choir" : 16 Horsepower "Redemption Song" : Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer "Sing Me Back Home" : Merle Haggard

"Salvese quien pueda" : Juana Molina "Spinnin on the Rock" : Ramsay Midwood "Reaction" : The Figgs "Broke My Heart" : Tim Easton "Lucky Shoe" : September 67 "Magic In Here" : The Go-Betweens "Powderfinger" : Neil Young "Safe and Sorry" : Nathan Moore "You Try Sober" : Absentee "Triggers and Trash Heaps" Centro-matic "Orangeworker" : For Squirrels "Winter Time" : Drug Rug "Testament To Youth In Verse" : The New Pornographers "My Heart's Not In It Anymore" : The Steinways "Started" : Chip Robinson

Beauty.

I've never really told my entire Sept. 11th story, mostly because it's a very long one, and given how fortunate I was to return to my Brooklyn apartment at 4am the following morning, I've never considered it too important to tell. But like everyone in America, whether you were in New York or not, it was a day that shook us all at our core. Ever since that day, I have planned to sit down and write how I witnessed the day unfold: from the conversations on the F train after the first plane hit, to the looks on the faces of my co-workers as they filed out of our building, to the absolutely eerie feeling of walking down Lexington Avenue at around 10pm and seeing not a soul on the sidewalks nor a car on the roads. Someday I will put it all down. But for now, I'd like to share the below photo. I took this outside the CBS building right as the first tower collapsed. I was standing beside about 500 complete strangers watching the big screens on the corner of Central Park. I'...

"It is this week evident that the greatest threat to this nation is not terrorism, nor the economy, nor H1N1, nor even bad health care. It is rank, willful stupidity."

Been wondering the same thing for the past 15 years. What Ever Happened to Hip Hop Documentary Trailer from Jonathan Lacocque on Vimeo .

Pronto is Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco's new band. This is absolutely terrible. I honestly couldn't imagine it being any worse. Pronto "Listen Lover" (live at The Mint) from Contraphonic Records on Vimeo .

Not The Onion: In the retirement community of Vizcaya in Delray Beach, Fla., retiree Judy Goldstein said she had been fearful of the rumors of "death panels" and was encouraged by what Obama said to try to clear up confusion. "I was listening to all the negative things, especially since I am a senior citizen. I said, 'Oh my god, they are going to put me to sleep,'" she told NPR. "I don't consider myself stupid, but I was really believeing it, because I did not vote for him," Goldstein said. "A lot of things about him I did not like, so I am glad I heard this tonight."

From 1996-2000, Brett and Rennie Sparks, otherwise known as the Handsome Family, put out three consecutive great albums, but since then it's really been one clunk-job after another. This year, after nearly a decade of forgettable efforts, they've returned with Honey Moon , a record so consistent from top-to-bottom that it may indeed be their best. I suggest you buy it either via eMusic or via somewhere else.

This search took well over two hours, but as always, I found some gems: Skip Spence : Oar The Glands : The Glands John Cale : Vintage Violence Leonard Cohen : New Skin For the Old Ceremony The Brian Jonestown Massacre : Take It From the Man

"I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last." Perfect. Wonderful start: convincing, heartfelt and tough. Mitch McConnell does not put me in a good mood. "Those on the left?" Isn't that your side Mr. President? Oh lord, he's heading down the compromise route again. Will he just call Max Baucus an asshole already? Nice three points but way too vague. There better be specifics on the way. Okay, here they come. If I don't hear "public option" in the next 90 seconds I'm putting on "Hoosiers" and playing nerf hoops. Thus far, I am not all that impressed; sounds pretty watered-down. McCain's pumped. Did Biden just nod off? Finally he explains the massive costs of ER visits, debunking the "Why should I pay for his/her health care" that most self-serving Americans use as their main reason to oppose. The republicans remain seated as Obama shoots down the "death camps" claim...

Thao's first record We Brave the Bee Stings and All was among my favorites of last year and one of the few 2008 releases that I still listen to often. Her soph release Know Better Learn Faster is due on Oct 13 via Kill Rock Stars. If you purchase via the KRS site, you can get discounts on a show in your neighborhood. I'm totally doing it. Buy stuff .

In 1999 or so, I met Robert Becker. I think it was through Eric Ambel or maybe just the almost nightly trips out to the NYC clubs to see bands. At the time, I was looking to try my hand at artist management, and Becker, having formerly manned the keys for The Gin Blossoms was looking to go it alone. One weekend, I made my way to his self-described "hacienda" in Park Slope to hear a few very rough recordings from what would become Lot #99-0038 . I remember nervously entering his apartment as I didn't know the first thing about artist management. But I put on a bit of a front, which I think was nothing other than chain smoking and occasionally tossing in a quip like "nice touch on the bass" (it was probably a dobro). Nevertheless, I was immediately taken by the excitement of what lie ahead. The next six months or so was a mix of babysitting, setting up gigs at anywhere that would take us (the two highlights being Irving Plaza and a night in Boston where we nearly...

It's hard to believe that with a democrat in the White House and a wide lead in both houses, the present political climate is one of the most disgusting I've ever witnessed. Comparisons to Hitler as Obama preps to speak to Americas children? Death squads as he works tirelessly to get more Americans health care? Since when is helping your fellow Americans equal to a man responsible for overseeing the murder of six million people? What in the world has happened here? Our country is becoming such an embarrassment. I thought I was ashamed of my country under Bush, but at least then it was our government we could blame; now it's our own citizens. It literally is every man for him or herself. We have a president who wants all Americans to join together in common causes and all hell breaks loose. I've recently found a lot of parallels to what's happening in our country to the behavior that we all witness on Facebook. Like many, I have a wide array of "friends" on...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy

If you want to hear 98% of the myths (97% tax rate, 15 year waits, doctors who didn't get past 2nd grade) about health care outside the U.S. debunked, here you are: C-Span : The Healing of America

The greatest supergroup assembled in the past few decades: Kraig Johnson (Run Westy Run), Gary Louris (Jayhawks), Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco/Uncle Tupelo), Noah Levy (The Honeydogs) and Mark Perlman (Jayhawks).

As some of you know, I'm considering a cross-country drive, and back, around the third week in September. I've begun researching and the costs are starting to scare me off a bit. I'm guessing that such a trip would cost around $3,000 minimum, and this is considering that I would sleep in my car whenever possible (and not in a red state). If the costs are this high it might prove prohibitive. I was hoping to do the 6,000 miles for $2,000 or less, but this is looking like a pipe dream. Fuel costs alone should run me about $1,400. Factor in parms, drinks, wiffle ball bats and I've gotta me looking at close to $3K. If anyone has any tips, please hit me up at ccsbandwagon at gmail dot com.

I have 100 eMusic credits and literally can't find anything. Maybe my five-year run is about to come to an end. (I do appreciate the 50 freebies eMusic just tossed my way. I suppose that massive price increase didn't go over so well?) Eugene Robinson talking about the possibility of a democrat running against Obama in 2012. I know, it's a bit early (like, *really* early), but dems are so on edge about this health-care bill that they could abandon Obama in droves. I do appreciate the progressive caucus saying: "no public option, we vote no." Wait, there are elected leaders with courage? Obama's presidency is growing more tenuous by the day. If he had stood firm with the public option from the outset, it would pass with flying colors. Now we'll be lucky if we all get a free toothbrush. I went on perhaps my first "hike" ever today, and I must admit, it was quite enjoyable. After gumping for a few miles, I found myself still full of energy and commen...

Yet talking to a rep at AT&T is far more painful.

Caught this fantastic one-hour documentary on KQED last night and I really can't recommend it enough. Highlights include footage of Neil performing with Devo, breaking down the cover shoot for On the Beach , a hilariously atrocious performance from the Trans sessions and a jaw-dropping performance of Neil and band in a barn performing "Words." If you're in the Bay Area, here are additional air-times: KQED 9HD Thu, Sep 3, 2009 -- 3:00 am Sun, Sep 6, 2009 -- 11:00 pm Mon, Sep 7, 2009 -- 5:00 am KQED Life Thu, Sep 3, 2009 -- 8:00 pm Fri, Sep 4, 2009 -- 2:00 am If you're not in the Bay Area, I don't know, figure it out .

, originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

Am I the only (soon to be former) democrat who is now really wishing that Kerry had won Ohio? It's still early, but boy, I'm seeing very little of what got me out of bed and volunteering for the Obama campaign. Where's the fight in this guy?

AVC: Have you ever noticed any big differences living there as opposed to living in the U.S.? JP: Well, I moved here from New York City, so the difference is pretty amazing. I really enjoyed living in New York. I loved it, actually. This, Toronto, as far as the way it looks aesthetically, it’s not exactly my favorite place. But it’s different. You know you’re not in the States. It’s hard to explain. I will say that having traveled a lot around America, I don’t miss the flag-waving. We don’t really have that up here. People here are proud of where they live, but it’s not the same. I like not having Jesus billboards stuffed down my throat wherever I go, or NRA billboards. And I do enjoy having my health care paid for through my taxes. When I left the States, I was self-employed, so I was paying, I don’t know, $500 a month for my health insurance. And up here, my taxes aren’t $6,000 a year more, and yet the health care I’ve had here is fantastic. So I think it’s really kind of cool to l...

, originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon . I walked amongst these plants or ferns or whatever they are for a few hours, and man are they beautiful. I kinda wanted to just dive into the middle and sack for a few hours.