Alex Loves You

So I tried out online for Jeopardy last night. Fifty questions, fifteen seconds per question while the Jeopardy music plays in the background. I'd say it was tough but fair. I'm still pissed at myself for spacing on "Little Shop of Horrors." Unfortunately, "The Movie With That Big Green Plant That Likes To Eat People And Sing" wasn't going to work. I think the tryouts were only for a limited time, and may have ended, however...

Leah Morgan CD Release

Local musician Leah Morgan (try "Her Crisis Lullaby") will be having her CD release party at IOTA this Sunday, March 2nd at 8pm. She'll be playing with the full band (ranging from pedal steel to cello), and Edie Carey will be opening. Go out and make this weekend last as long as possible.

Hear Eighties TV

You watched TV during the 80s, right? Need I ask? So zone out a bit at work and check out the TV themes to A-Team, Airwolf, Magnum, P.I., and a few other select 80s classics over at Awesome Until Proven Guilty.

They're Back

I just found out that Kula Shaker has reformed - very cool! They've got some gigs scheduled in England - I just hope they eventually schedule some over here in the US. I've always wanted to see them live.

Sweet

Dude, I love Harvey Birdman. He kicks ass.

Get Your Crows

Yes, I've been rather busy as of late, so my posts have been limited. So go over to I Am Fuel, You Are Friends and check out the live mp3s of the 1993 Counting Crows Boulder, Colorado show she's got up. Hopefully my pupils will shrink back to their usual size soon. Waiting...waiting...

Why Chew?

because it's scientifically proven to be beneficial to your health. or, at least, that's what Wrigley wants to prove in its most recent multi-million dollar study.

What I Got

yeah, that's right, i got nuthin' new today, sort of. but there are new mp3s for April over on the right, and don't forget that online tryouts for Jeopardy begin today!

Who Woulda Thunk It?

Who would have thought that the same pill would be able to treat both malaria and lupus? Go figure.

Track A Tiger

I was just listening to some Track A Tiger over on An Aquarium Drunkard, and I'm liking them - they've got a very mellow mellow alt-country vibe with acoustic guitars, fiddle, and some beautiful male/female harmonies.

MP3: Sound As Ever - Track A Tiger

www.myspace.com/trackatiger

Udvar-Hazy Center Pix

the 'Corde

the flight tower

grrrr....

the Blackbird

Band of Horses

i just found out about a band called Band of Horses on a post by My Old Kentucky Blog. he's got two songs posted, and i really like what i've heard, especially the beautiful track, "The Funeral." go give 'em a listen...

The First

I ate my first brussel sprout today, thanks to CC. it wasn't too bad, though I still don't think brussel sprouts smell too excellent.

Men, Explained

Inevitably, women have a difficult time understanding a great deal of men's most common behaviors. This entertaining little article might help shed some interesting light on questions such as, "Why does he call his friends rude nicknames," "Why doesn't he want to talk about his day," and general things of that nature.

Ninja Q & A

If you've got a question that you've been dying to ask a ninja, then get right over to AskANinja.com - the ninja answers questions in little video clips that are priceless.

A Case of the Fridays

First up today is “Fall Apart Again,” by Brandi Carlile. Her beautiful soaring vocals are the focus of this catchy, well-arranged pop song that would fall in the same category as Michelle Branch or Vanessa Carlton. And if you like this song, she’ll be at the 9:30 Club this Saturday, March 25th.

Janine Wilson’s “Save Me From Myself” closes out today’s selections. Her sultry Bonnie Raitt-ish voice resonates throughout the song, while her bluesy band provides ample support, with some nice guitar and organ work. The chorus has me hooked (love the organ!!!). She'll be playing the Ragtime show for the Six Points Music Festival.

MP3: Fall Apart Again - Brandi Carlile
MP3: Save Me From Myself - Janine Wilson

Bill Deasy

I had wanted to buy Bill Deasy’s CD, Good Day No Rain, for a while, and I finally got around to it. And I’m very glad I did, because it’s one of the best CDs I’ve heard in a long time. The music jumps right off of the disc and grabs you with full arrangements, catchy hooks, vocals, and lyrics that make you want to listen.

Vocally, he sounds a bit like a cross between Matthew Ryan and David Gray. And this album is exactly the kind of album I had wanted Matthew Ryan to make after East Autumn Grin - something melodic, triumphant, and rocking. Good Day No Rain is strong from start to finish, but here’s a couple tracks for y’all:

MP3: I Want To Know - Bill Deasy
MP3: In My Head - Bill Deasy

Get Your Jeopardy On!

My favorite gameshow in the world will be having online tryouts in the form of a 50-question preliminary general knowledge exam from March 28-30 at http://www.jeopardy.com/onlinetest . Each day is designated for a specific time zone and will get different questions from the other two. Keep reminding me to do this, so I don't forget, people! This time, I'm going to see Alex!

How Green Was My Lamborghini...

each year the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) rates vehicles based on their impact on the environment - check out the Top 12 "Meanest" here. they don't list the "Greenest," cus they're most likely just not as exciting...

MySixPoints

Yes, the upcoming Six Points Music Festival has got a bunch of bands at a bunch of venues over a bunch of nights, and that can be a little overwhelming. So to help you out, I’m going to quickly break the line-up down a few bands at a time in these upcoming MySixPoints columns...

Honor By August: Melodic power pop with excellent vocals, along the lines of Vertical Horizon – check out “Only In Photographs.” They’ll be at Jammin Java for Six Points, and they’ve got their CD release party this Thursday, March 23rd at IOTA.

Hello Tokyo: Punky, full of kick, and female-fronted rock/pop – think The Go-Go’s or No Doubt – and check out the irresistible “Kick It.” Hello Tokyo will be playing the DC9 Six Points show.

Telograph: Majestic modern rock/pop with lush Coldplay-esque instrumentals and hypnotic vocals – check out “DNA.” Telograph will be on the bill of the Velvet Lounge Six Points show.

Hi, It's The Governor...

Screw clemency! Light 'em up!!! Prison Break is back, baby!!!

Joe Bites the Apple

here's a lil' slate.com sumthin' sumthin' about the opening of the first Trader Joe's in New York. i need to get over to the Seven Corners one and pick me up some flounder stuffed with crab.

Don't Look Down

check out the sidewalk art of Julian Beever. it's chalk, and it's 3D when viewed at the correct angle. amazing stuff.

thanks to FantasticAlice for the tip

This Weekend's Pictures, Part II

who doesn't love sewage piping?

M Power, baby!

like the sign, don't like the rate

solar powered traffic camera?

This Weekend's Pictures, Part I

this bus at the bus depot was out of service

streetlight labeling in Arlandria

not quite sure what the "302" means...

B.I.G.
a Nashville, TN judge has halted sales of Biggie Smalls' album, Ready to Die, based on a jury's decision that the title cut used an Ohio Players sample without the band's permission. additionally, the jury awarded over $4 million dollars in punitive and direct damages to the companies that own the Ohio Players' recordings. hope they paid Duran Duran for the sample in this song...

MP3: Notorious - Notorious B.I.G.

New Peppers

there's a really cool article on RollingStone.com here about the recording of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' upcoming double-album, Stadium Arcadium. it's a good little read.

Guess Who's Coming T.O. Dinner?

thursday night, a local Dallas radio station reported that the Cowboys signed the combustible wide receiver, and Eagles pariah. denials are being batted back and forth by the Cowboys front office and T.O.'s agent Drew Rosenhaus, but it seems like it's going to happen. i hate him for trampling on the star (and i love George Teague for decking him afterwards) - but w/o him, they have no chance of getting to or winning the Super Bowl.

A Case of the Fridays

Start your day off right with some Adam Richman. “Mary-Anne” is tight and punchy, and if you’re not careful, you just may be singing a certain line from the chorus all day at work. But that’s OK, because it’s Friday. And if you like this song, Adam’s coming back to town next week, playing Jammin Java with Getaway Car on Friday, March 24th. He’d love to see you. And you, too.

And today’s final selection is the gorgeous “Mona Lisa,” by Guster. Once again, I’m a sucker for a sparse acoustic guitar beginning that slowly builds, layer-by-layer, into soaring choruses. And the vocal harmonies are excellent. Take a listen.

MP3: "Mary-Anne" - Adam Richman
MP3: "Mona Lisa" - Guster

New Guster's A Comin'
Guster's new album, Ganging Up on the Sun, is due out June 20th, and you can check out a couple of the new tracks like "One Man Wrecking Machine" and "Manifest Destiny" on their myspace site here. they best not forget DC when they finalize their touring schedule...

The Arm

well, after a little visit to the neurologist and some electro-testing and shiznit, it looks like tendonitis is causing my lower-arm woes, and not carpal-tunnel syndrome. now if only i could pop a bunch of advil to clear up the tendonitis...

Even Still...

funny, even though i'm not the biggest Pearl Jam fan, i seem to keep posting updates about their upcoming album. i just can't resist. well there's the cover, courtesy of I Am Fuel, You Are Friends. she's also got some other interesting little bits of info on the new album, so you should go check it. and i really dig the cover art, by the way.

Why I'm Not Posting A Bunch

i've been having a carpal tunnel moment in my right wrist for the past week. unfortunately, i really can't rest it much, because i need to work. well, at least there's a cool block of Pink Floyd videos on VH1 Classic. i'm watching "On the Turning Away."

A.I. - The Review - Stevie Wonder Night

Ace – “Do I Do” – not a fan of that song, not a fan of that performance

Pickles – “Blame It On The Sun” – yawn.

Elliott – “Knocks Me Off My Feet” – yawn revisited.

Can’t somebody sing something that rocks?

Mandisa – “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” – she can sing loudly.

Bucky – “Superstition” – Girl hair. Thin, growly, voice.

Melissa – “Lately” – Meh.

Lisa – “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” – perky vocals – nice!

Kevin – “Part-Time Lover” – did Idol start a kids’ division? Hot dance moves!

KathArine – “Until You Come To Me” – heard she did quite well…

Taylor the Grey – “Living For The City” – it’s the Doobies covering Stevie!

Paris – “Unknown Stevie Song ” – she can wail, oh yes she can.

Shaved-Head Man – “Higher Ground” – nailed the vox, but he needs to rock as much as the music

San Diego Pics, Pt. II

i love the windows on this train station by PETCO Park

i would have liked to go inside, but no time...

i wonder if Tony Gwynn drives as well as he hits...

San Diego Pics, Pt. I

bridge to Coronado Island

you gotta love the Cali state flag
these people shouldn't be throwing stones...

where your Padres play

a beautiful statue from the wedding