Nonesuch #153

Do not really have anything to say, just felt like I should post something and just hoping that some sort of inspiration will happen as I type.

Had an ok weekend, Got up early and mowed my lawn in near 80 degree temps at 8am. I was worn out by the time I finished. Went and saw a good friend of mine in Durham who mowed her lawn during the heat of the day. I have no idea how she managed that, well she was worn out and sore the rest of the weekend.

We attempted to see The DaVinci Code Saturday night but the entire theater was having problems so after about an hour of sitting there with no word(we did have the lowest guy on the movie theater totem pole come and tell us that the movie would be starting in "3 min or less" and "momentarily", do those even count?) someone in our row went and came back and said the movie was cancelled and we could get a refund or special passes. We took the special passes and returned Monday to see the film. It was good, better than 95% of the drivel that comes out these day, but not great. If you have read the book, wait for it to come out on DVD and rent it. I spent most of the film waiting for something, not sure what, that never came. Or maybe it did but I missed it.

I used to live in Durham. In fact it will be 30 years ago come December that we moved there. I spent some time on Sunday driving around the city to old stomping grounds. I took some pictures of a park/playground that was behind my house that I played at almost everyday when I lived there from 1976-1983. I met my best friend during those years, Joey, at that park. We would ride bikes, sled in the snow, play in the creek, have pinecone wars(20+ people on a team at times) and so much more.
Pictures of the park The first 20 pictures.

Sunday night we met some of my friends( you know, I should have a nickname for her, I choose Sally, will give that story later) for dinner at the K&W in Chapel Hill. It was there when I was around 9 or so, I became stuck in a high chair, well for being too big to sit in one to begin with. I think other children were sitting in them and I wanted to be like them. Yeah, go figure. This time around, the high chairs were designed differently so they posed no problems. After dinner, we planted two bushes in what felt like 90+ degree temps even at 8:30pm or so.

Monday morning I put together Sally's new grill(which she used last night) for her. It didn't take long.

That was my weekend.

Some things on my mind:

I agree with Still Point, can someone with the power get rid of the term Brangelina. In related news, Shiloh means "one who is to be sent" and often refers to the Messiah. End times anyone?

Batgirl is a lesbian, oh the horror. People are up in arms about this. I guess with all the rest of the problems of the world solved we can worry about the sexual preference of a fictional character. And gee, what nerd's/geek's wet dream wouldn't be a girl-on-girl encounter involving Batgirl on the pages of a comic book, I'm sorry graphic novel.

Buying a new air conditioner. Got to do it before it gets really hot for an extended period of time.

Got a laptop computer just for D&D and maybe NERO. Not sure if I ever will go back to NERO but I have the laptop ready if I do.

Really in summer mode, not really want to be working. Would love a vacation not sure when that will happen if at all. It's just the way it goes I guess. It will come I am sure.

Hmm, guess I had more to say than I thought I did.

Nonesuch # 152 rebar or

About 13 years ago when I was living in Greensboro, NC, my roommate at the time and my ex-girlfriend went to a band showcase at I believe Kilroy's on West Market Street. They had gone to see a band which I cannot even remember their name now, that we all liked the sound. I cannot remember why I didn't go, it may have been work related or I may not have moved back to Greensboro yet after graduation. Anyway, my roommate came home telling me about this band called rebar that sounded "like nothing he had heard from Greensboro or the area" (I quote him but not sure if that is exactly what he said). Over the next 2 years(or more) we tried to catch rebar everytime we could at whatever venue they were playing in Greensboro. I purchased their "or" tape which included 5 or 6 songs, their whole set at the time, which was recorded over another tape of a group which I also cannot remember now. Some of the best $5 I have ever spent. I cannot really describe the sound, it reminded me of Velvet Underground, it was so different from what was coming out of the Greensboro scene at the time(Bus Stop, Ben Folds Five etc). I have always said that a sign of a good band is their ever evolving live show. I don't think we heard their songs the same each time we saw them. They released a couple of 7" singles: one entitled Crunchy Record Stuff - 001 "The Burn"; the second a split record called Crunchy Record Stuff 002 with The Raymond Brake (another great Greensboro band in the same vein as rebar) on the other side. I think my roommate has those singles, not sure though, haven't looked at my vinyl in a long time with no record player. The rebar lineup consisted of:
Sanders Trippe
Brent Dunn
Masa Koyama
Jae Skaggs
Sometime in 1995 or 96 or even later, rebar ceased to exist. I have looked and I just don't know what happened.
For some time now I have been looking for all things rebar. Up until yesterday, all I had found were old sites including these: rebar, Duck on bike:rebar. Both have mp3s available but the second site is more straight forward. These songs give a good respresentation of their sound back in the day.
Now, yesterday I was looking at my google alerts that I get for Ben Folds. One link entitled "Not your regular county fare" caught my eye. It was written by Jennie Thompson, who also runs a music blog rock static. Very nice site, check it out sometime. Looking at her links I noticed the link to the Flying Anvil a new, well new to me music venue in Greensboro so I clicked the link to look at the schedule about 3/4 way down I found this VETIVER
Vetiver is the band that Andy Cabic, of Devendra Banhart's band (Hairy Fairy), fronts. Once a Greensboro resident, Andy has formed a band consisting of Sanders (Allnight), Brent (Rebar), and some dude from NY playing drums. This will be their first show of their East Coast tour. I was ecstatic, I had found half of rebar who are now playing with Andy Cabic formerly of The Raymond Brake which even got me more excited. They will be in Greensboro July 13 2006. I went out to find out what Vetiver sound like and it is a change from what both rebar and The Raymond Brake were doing 10 years ago, but it is still great music along the lines of Jose Gonzalez and Iron and Wine among others with the neo-folk sound.
Vetiver is an American folk band headed by songwriter Andy Cabic and often joined by Devendra Banhart, cellist Alissa Anderson, and violinist Jim Gaylord. - wikipedia But as you can see from above Brent Dunn and Sanders Trippe are also members at times.
msnbc's Independent study posted an interview with Andy yesterday calling Vetiver "Unconventional folk...With melancholic minor chords and tender string accompaniments, Vetiver's songs sketch an air of mystery and convey a certain timelessness". By Steven Leckart
I have been listening to Vetiver all morning. They have released 3 works, 2 full length albums, Vetiver (2004) and To Find Me Gone (2006) plus an EP Between (2005). Their official website has To Find Me Gone streaming for free. Also check out their myspace for tour dates and other information Check them out, you will not be disappointed. I know I am not.
Finding these musicians from back in the day still doing what they love for me is like finding old friends.

Nonesuch #151

Please keep Anne over at Supposedly this is good therapy... in your thoughts and prayers, send good vibes, cross your toes, light candles, whatever you can do to send the most positive thoughts her way, please do. She is in the hospital with pneumonia, in and out of ICU, but on the mend from what we have been told today. She could be coming home Saturday but more than likely it will be Monday. Please go to her blog and send her well wishes.


*update* Anne is home and is resting. She came home last evening.

Nonesuch #150 Almost cut my hair...then I did!

For those of you who know me and know what I look like or what I used to look like....I finally did it. I cut my hair, not just a trim, not just to get the dead ends, not just to get the tangles/dreds out, but...


*update* Before - not the best picture but all the dark mass you see was my hair and beard. Beard was trimmed as well. Not as drastic. I should have taken pictures before I went in to have it done. Oh well.



After

I have been tempted all day to go back and have the rest shaved off. Not really liking it. I guess just need to get used to it.

Nonesuch #149

Another one from Dancin Fairy who got it from Just a Girl :)

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Nonesuch #148

Been a good amount of time since I last posted, over a week. It was finals week and I worked extended hours last weekend (5/6) and this past weekend was graduation. Graduation takes up most of the Saturday morning it is scheduled for. I was going to get my haircut afterwards, instead came home and napped most of the afternoon. Didnt do much else that day but lay on the couch and snooze.
Sunday, didnt feel like doing much that day as well. Little did I know that it would be a crazy day. Around 2pm, the channel I was watching began to show alerts about a storm heading across NC spawning tornados and dropping quarter to tangerine sized hail. About 3pm, it hit Gold Hill leaving 4 inches of hail and another 3 or so inches of leaves on the ground. (see pictures)

It lasted about 10 minutes, wind, hail and rain, then stopped and less than 10 minutes later, the sun was back out. My yard is covered in leaves, too much to rake. Will mow them up as best as I can once they dry out some more. They were still wet this morning and hail was still on the ground in some places. My car has a few hail dents in the hood but it could have been worse. My yard has a lot of trees in it so I could have had some limb dents in my car as well.

Here is my shout out to Random who on Saturday walked the Revlon Walk/Run for Women to raise money to fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs. She raised over $500. You can see her blog for all the details.

Nonesuch #147

Another one from Dancing Fairy. Have a I mentioned she find's the coolest stuff on the internets?

"Put your music player on shuffle. Press forward for each question. Use the song title as the answer to the question. Post on your blog. Comment back if you post it on your site. No comment regarding whatever songs that might come up. Stolen from LOTS of bloggers." (I say comment as much as you like on whatever songs come up- JaG)

Where is your office located?
Where is my mind? - The Pixies

What happens when you drink too much?
Break Even - Guided By Voices


What are your feelings about President Bush?
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley and Dear Mr Fantasy - Grateful Dead


What's your latest blog obsession?
Seer - The Brian Jonestown Massacre


How do you feel about your separation?
Hell in a Bucket - Grateful dead (and it was hell, believe me, see other posts)



Name a topical song?
From Black to Blue - Yo La Tengo


Give me the obligatory cleavage quote:
Cry Freedom - Dave Matthews Band ( I think its funny)


Fantasy Song #1:
Coke and Wet - Spank Rock

Fantasy Song #2:
When I paint my masterpeice - Grateful Dead


Describe your sex life:
Typical Situation - Dave Matthews Band

Nonesuch #146 nothing beats live music

Monday night or should I say evening, a good friend of mine and I went to see Teddy Geiger at the Cat's Cradle. For those unfamiliar with the Cradle, it is one of the premier venues to see bands in north carolina. I have seen quite a number of shows there from Radiohead back in the day to Yo La Tengo and of course the show I saw Monday. Upcoming shows include Tony Rice and Peter Rowan and Built to Spill. The layout inside has changed a bit from I guess it was 9 or 10 years ago the last time I was there. The backdoor is now the front door. Where the bathrooms were is now where the bands sell their swag, the bar is now seperated from the stage area by a wall, there are more sitting areas and it is a smoke-free place. Still, the venue rocks like no other I have been in, even Ziggy's in WS which also has a great set-up for live shows.
We didnt expect much from the opening band so of course they rocked. Starting Tuesday are a band from Chapel Hill/ that have been a group for about a year. Their sound is a mix of power pop and what we called "alternative" back before it was called "alternative" and that North Carolina/Chapel Hill/Greensboro sound found in bands like Ben Folds Five, Dillon Fence, Bus Stop and others. Stand out songs for me were: Satisfied and Armies and Nations. They play a show in Greensboro at the Flying Anvil so if you are in the area, check them out now. From what I can tell from their myspace site, they will be moving to Nashville, presumably to get that label signing that they deserve.

Teddy Geiger is someone you may have heard and not realized just who he is. He was on the critically loved TV show "Love Monkey" as Wayne, the singer who's producer Tom (played by Tom Cavanaugh of "Ed" fame) is trying get him off the ground in the music industry. Before that role, he was a finalist for Keith Patridge on "In Search of the Partridge Family" on Vh1. Sad to say "Love Monkey" did not last on CBS and was pulled just four shows in. But, Vh1 has picked up the show and it airs Tuesday nights.
Teddy is one of those musicians that plays well beyond his years. At only 17 years old, he is already a seasoned perfomer. Alternating between keyboards and acoustic guitar, his songs talk of life as a teeanger without bringing the cheese. A majority of his songs were longer than the studio tracks on his first album, "Underage Thinking" leading into jam sessions where at times he forgot he was playing in front of an audience. I always give kudos to folks that get lost in their art, no matter what it is. Songs that I recommend are "Try too Hard" and the title track, "Underage Thinking". He played for about an hour and did two encore songs AND stayed around and signed autographs. Not bad for $10. Check out his myspace for 3 tracks.
And now for the downside which has nothing to do with the music. It was an all ages show(do they still call them that?) where the average age of the audience was 16, just a guess on that. I saw one t-shirt that read "John Smith School 4th grade orchestra 2000-2001, so maybe this girl was in 9th grade now. I am not sure. So, we were surrounded by teenyboppers yelling at everything Teddy did or said. AND, the camera phones and other digital cameras were very annoying. One girl in front of me must have taken a picture every 30 seconds for the entire hour he played. And once again, I was "the door". Back in the day and even now, no matter where I stood, folks would decide that I was the entrance for them to pass through. I heard "excuse me" more times than I could count. The upside, is my elbow touched more tits and ass that evening than in a very long time.
Definitely check out Teddy Geiger when he is at Ziggy's in Winston Salem next Wednesday May 10th. I think we are planning to go.

Nonesuch #145 Borrowed from a borrower

First saw this on Anne's blog and then Dancing Fairy did it as well. I have a post in mind that I am working on about what I did Monday night, but the thought process is not working at the moment. Let me just say, it involves live music.


I AM: waiting for the end of semester get-together to begin.
I WANT: to go home and nap and eat for the rest of the day.
I WISH: that I had 3 more wishes.
I HATE: that I am alone and do not have any emotional energy to look for a girlfriend.
I MISS: all weekend D&D sessions.
I FEAR: that I will die a lonely death knowing no one ever truly loved me.
I HEAR: NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me the podcast.
I WONDER: why if I am so cool, why am I still single?
I REGRET: that when I was younger I didn't stand up for myself more and let people walk over me.
I AM NOT: a crook.
I DANCE: almost never.
I SING: when I mow the lawn. (No one can hear me)
I CRY: when I think of her and what she did.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: pessimistic
I MAKE: good desserts, at least I have been told
I WRITE: mostly on this blog. Have little time for anymore.
I CONFUSE: myself all the time cause I think too much on many situations.
I NEED: a Guinness
I SHOULD: clean and re-organizing my house.
I START: projects late.
I FINISH: projects early.