If Tone Loc Says He Loves You, Check It Out: Scam Artists Assault Club Owners With False Promises Of Tone Loc and Dio: "A Texas charity organizer and an Alabama concert promoter foiled an alleged scam artist who has been promising nationally touring acts at bargain-basement prices for nearly two years. This time, the imposter claimed to represent Ronnie James Dio twice in one week. Mat Raymond, an independent promoter from Birmingham, Ala., said he was contacted via e-mail March 10th by 'Tom Peterson/ Ronnie James Dio Management.'"
Mat Raymond reference on Idolator today (quoting from Pollstar). Also, coming soon right here is my new feature "Awful Songs Stuck In My Head Because Jeff Remembers Everything He Hears" highlighting the random crap extreme barista and fellow bandmate Jeff manages to get stuck in my head. So far it will definitely feature Sir-Mix-A-Lot B-sides and Michael McDonald era Doobie Brothers. I'm sure you can't wait.
The Loom Of Ruin: ANTI-WAR MARCH @ HOLLYWOOD & VINE: "As the day wore on, I found myself pondering the same question I faced five years ago. Namely, how do I physically express agreement with the march's aims? I feel the same about chanting as I do about dancing, or taking off my clothes in public; nonnegotiable."
I'm in the same boat. Not that there is a great deal of protest here in Birmingham, but I have the same problem nonetheless. Oh yeah, that's a link to Sam McPheeters blog (yes, that one.)
Legal Schnauzer: "We're running the risk of getting way too big for our britches by insinuating that our humble blog has anything to do with the 2008 presidential election. But we're trying to think like corrupt people. So follow me for a moment."
Initially, a lot of what Roger at Legal Schnauzer does come across a little hyperbolic, but it is without a doubt compelling reading. He's a very prolific writer having come out of the daily news world, so I can't say I've been able to get a full grasp of the details from the archives but I've been following his blog since I ran across it researching details involving the Governor Siegelman case. Much of the content deals with his ongoing difficulties with the court system in Shelby County and their attempts at putting his home on the auction block for a $1500 debt that they have apparently not made any effort to collect on (other than threatening to take his family's home). Anyway, I don't know if the Alabama GOP is actually out to get this guy, but he is making as big of a stink as possible on a free blog site. I have to admit, much of me would love to see his work and Scott Horton's be the thing that actually puts a serious smear on the bad guys.
Amazing and sort of disconcerting robot developed by Boston Dynamics. (HT: Bryant)
Have y'all seen muxtape yet? It's a very simple (only a three line registration) music streaming site. You pick a username to be username.muxtape.com and upload as many as 12 mp3s as a "muxtape". They have to be from different artists, and you're supposed to have permission to use the songs, so in the end I imagine this will get shutdown by the labels because we can't have nice things. Anyway, I made a mix of stuff I've been listening to lately here. Now, everyone go make yr own mix and post the link to it.
It's been a little while coming now, but I've been meaning to write about the fun times had over the Cave9 fifth anniversary fest weekend. A while back Aaron put out the word that they wanted some reunion shows to go down for the fifth anniversary, what with it being a considerable milestone in Birmingham. After 13 odd years of doing this, Cave9 may have been in operation now more than double any other place I've had the pleasure of seeing some bands play on the floor in town.
BEBMD was kind of a strange band. Ranging from three to six very disparate personalities who all had lots of things going on in their lives, it was an ever-changing entity. Other than Jake and I, there were no other members that were in it at the beginning. We did sort of an official breakup back in 2004, and I wrote this sort of eulogy for the band:
That's the thing that really stands out from the reunion. It was as fun as ever, especially during the few days Niles was in town. We managed to record two new songs and released them with the original three demo tracks from back in 2002, along with this t-shirt design:Most importantly, I want to thank everyone that ever spent their time making music with me, because it's been a really good fucking time.
I've never been more proud to be associated with a piece of merch. It's possible we have a few of these left (they're printed on slightly-bleached pastel shirts), but get in touch about sizing. We've also got a few copies of the "Harsh Toke" EP, and if you like you can get one from me for $5 or you can paypal that to me (nicholas.fine@gmail.com) and I'll mail you one.
"Yes, Wright was angry, shrill and one-sided. But America would have been better off if his uncomfortable sermon had echoed through every church in the country after 9/11, instead of the patriotic, ahistorical pablum that did." - Gary Kamiya at salon.
