Category Archives: media madness

Your smile is fine, and it’s just like mine

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Yes, yes, I’m back. It was a long weekend of way too much food (I think that all I ate on Friday was turkey sandwiches and pie. Mmmm…pie…) So this weekend was the Lowest of the Low concert at Club Infinity. They played two shows, Friday and Saturday. R went with a couple of friends on Friday night…I went with Jen on Saturday. I was kinda bummed that we didn’t get to go to the show together, because I hadn’t seen him since Wednesday. I headed out a little bit ahead of Jen, thinking that I’d meet up with our Canadian friends and get our prime spot near the stage. It was around 9 when I got there, and the second opening act was just finishing up. I wandered around, not seeing any sign of our Low-going friends.

I decided to take a position near the edge of the floor and wait for Jen…I glanced around, still looking for the blonde Canadian us-es (inaccurate, as one of them is no longer blonde, but oh well…). No sign of them, but who should I see…

…but R! Yay!

I walked over to him and hugged him. “What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t wait to see you,” he said.

Awww… 🙂

The show was lots of fun, of course. A good mix of new stuff and old stuff. They played for about two solid hours. The crowd was energetic, but not as obnoxious as it can be sometimes. There was this one girl, who I think was actually shorter than me, who danced her way in front of us. In fact, she was so close that Jen assumed she was R’s friend’s girlfriend. Nope. She kept getting a little too close to me, and I would inch over a little bit closer to Jen.

“I think I’ve seen her in a Great White video,” R’s friend said. Heh.

Well, at any rate, a good time was had by all.

My one disappointment was that I was denied the extended harmonica jam that had been happening at either the beginning or end of Letter from Bilbao. It’s way cool, and they haven’t done it in quite a while. *wistful sigh*

I need an acoustic revue fix now…

You won’t leave till you hit the floor

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(REPOSTED)

Attention, all friends, fans and blog readers in the fair city of New York…my favorite Celtic rockers are going to be in your neck of the woods TONIGHT!

jackdaw says, err… “hey, it’s good to be back” to the states on the night after we return from ireland. the bitter end is at 147 bleecker street in manhattan between thompson street and laguardia place. feel free to contact them at 212 673-7030.

Go check ’em out. I swear you won’t be sorry. 🙂

It’s back, baby!

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Um, that would be my beloved West Wing. I was dismayed at the start of this season. It wasn’t lookin’ good, folks. But lo, after those first two dismal episodes (seriously…that whole leaving Leo in the woods bit? I’m trying to purge it from my mind) things are looking up.

I was skeptical about CJ’s promotion, but it’s actually quite enjoyable (if unrealistic). Toby doing the press briefings is hilarious.

The funny is back. The dialogue, while not quite Sorkinesque, is smart and funny. In these past couple of episodes, I’ve laughed out loud, cheered, and been genuinely moved. I no longer feel like the characters are simply empty shells of what they once were.

Kudos to whomever’s been doing the writing. Keep it up, folks!

More music

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Yes, I’ve fallen in love with another obscure artist, Jim Boggia. Check him out.

He sings the most beautiful love songs, and the most heartbreaking sad songs.

And my current favorite is the sweet, heartwarming Several Thousand:

Every time I see you I’m exalted.
I want to write you letters every day.
That double rainbow ain’t got nothing on you.
My feet are shredded but I feel okay.

Every time I think about you
(several thousand times a day)
I can feel this pull
like a river toward the ocean.
Tell me – do you feel this way?

I’ve got myself caught in a situation.
I tried to lock myself inside my room.
That only made it sink in that much deeper.
It only made me want to be with you.

Every time I think about you
(several thousand times a day)
I can feel this pull
like a river toward the ocean.
Tell me – do you feel this way?

You could say I’m not playing fair at all.
I won’t even try to argue that away.
But where you’re concerned my control has failed me.
What else do I have to say?

Every time I think about you
(several thousand times a day)
I can feel this pull
like a river toward the ocean.
Tell me that you feel the same.

This song, I maintain, should be on the radio and should certainly be a hit.

Oh, and R? It definitely should have been on that CD I made for you. 😉

It’s easy if you try…

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This morning, on my way to work, I caught a bit of the Edge music news on the Shredd & Ragan show. A Perfect Circle (a band that I have never listened to) has released a dark, slightly creepy cover of the song Imagine. My first reaction, of course, was WTF? It sounds…well…weird. Because, after all, the song is so pretty and nice.

But I’ve actually considered the lyrics in a different way before. I was rereading Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver, a novel set in a dystopic, futuristic world. At first, it would seem that the characters in the novel are living the perfect life of John Lennon’s imagination. They are peaceful. No one is hungry. There’s no such thing as war.

But as you read further, you realize that there is more missing from this society. They have no concept of emotion. The word “love” is arcane and meaningless. These people know no pain, but they also know no joy. If I ever teach this novel, I’m going to use this song to open and close the unit.

My point? Maybe A Perfect Circle is on to something. But it still sounds weird.

Imagine (John Lennon)

Imagine there’s no heaven,
It’s easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today…

Imagine there’s no countries,
It isn’t hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace…

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world…

You may say I’m a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you’ll join us,
And the world will live as one.

The first rule of erin-go-blog is…

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You don’t *talk* about erin-go-blog.

Ha.

Yep, I (finally) saw Fight Club this weekend. I hadn’t seen it previously for a couple of reasons. Most notably:

1. I had no idea what it was about. I thought it was just a dumb guy movie about a bunch of guys beating the hell out of each other.

2. Brad Pitt. He never impressed me much (TM Shania Twain).

On the other hand, though, I really do enjoy Edward Norton. So R convinced me that I would like the film, that it wasn’t what I thought it was, and that it was very well written.

And he was right. I thought it was brilliantly done, despite my having to shut my eyes a few times to block out the sight of the blood.

I also (finally) saw Annie Hall. Another I can check off my list! I’ve very much enjoyed what I’ve seen of Woody Allen’s films so far.

On Saturday, R and I headed out to Holiday Hollow, where I met his friend and musical partner A. It was great fun. I got to see R have his fortune told by Madame Stromboli, meet the wise old wizard Blandalf the Beige (he led the Fellowship of the Ring Toss game. hee!), and have my caricature drawn by El Marko, the vigilante caricature artist. He pointed out that I (at least the caricature version of me) sort of looked like Velma from Scooby Doo…and R said that he always preferred Velma to Daphne anyway. 😉

Finally caught Desperate Housewives last night, and Jen caught me up. I agree with all positive assessments of this show. Smart, funny, and quirky. Way to go, ABC.

Ya gotta have heart

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Remember what I wrote yesterday, about the “NO ER” signs for John Wells?

Not joking. I may make some myself and mail them.

Not to knock ER. I went through periods of semi-regular viewing. It had its moments of compelling drama. But it was never appointment television for me. It was always a little too melodramatic, a little too soap-ish.

As I was watching the season premiere of The West Wing last night, I found myself thinking, “Well, that’s a little over-the-top.” “That’s kind of heavy-handed.” “That’s sort of manipulative.”

Not that Sorkin wasn’t occasionally heavy-handed and manipulative, but I never *thought* it while I was watching. He had a way of doing it, even when he was preaching on his commie pinko soapbox, that made you want to laugh and cry and stand up and sing “God Bless America.”

Josh and Donna ‘shippers were appeased with a few moments of sincere emotion, played beautifully by Bradley Whitford and Janel Moloney. But other than that? I can’t help but feel that the show’s heart is gone. The humor has been sucked dry. The optimism, the idealism that I loved so much about it, is gone. The complexities, the nuances of the writing, are gone.

The only thing that keeps me watching at all is the fact that this cast could stand in room and read the dictionary and I’d still want to watch. But I’m not entirely convinced that NBC shouldn’t have just packed it in when Sorkin left and let us have had 4 very, very good years. But this show used to have heart, and that’s what made it so good.

I’m going to go watch my Season 1 DVDs and weep softly to myself.

Confessions of an entertainment whore

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So here’s a bit of what I’ve been reading/watching/listening to these days.

Inspired by Jen, I read both Slaughterhouse Five and How to Be Good. I enjoyed them both. I didn’t have quite the emotional response to SH5 that Jen did, but I am definitely inspired to read some more Vonnegut. In a subsequent conversation with R, I’ve come to realize that Stephen King was very likely heavily influenced by Vonnegut. Interesting.

I also enjoyed How to Be Good. I wasn’t overjoyed with the ending, and I thought it sort of lost steam in the last bit. But I found Hornby’s writing entertaining and frequently insightful. (I didn’t so much enjoy the book’s rather bleak outlook of marriage. Depressing. Brrr.) I’m looking forward to checking out his other work.

Speaking of SK, I just started the final Dark Tower book. It’s big. Know what I hate about big books? I feel confined to one space for reading them. I’m not as likely to carry around a 1000- page hardcover as a 350-page paperback. Eh.

Finally caught up on those episodes of Lost I had taped, and watched the new ep last night. I’m loving this. JJ Abrams is an evil genius. He has such power. He creates these compelling characters and sticks them in fantastic situations, hooking viewers in and making them jump, scream at the tv, and frequently during the course of an episode, ask (out loud), “the hell?” What’s the thing in the woods? How can the bald guy (Terry O’Quinn? LOVE him) walk? What’s the deal with Jack’s father? What’s the deal with the Korean couple? Oh, so many questions, which I know will just lead to more questions.

Taped the season premiere of The West Wing last night, but haven’t watched it yet. Shhh. Don’t tell me. (Some of the recent buzz I’ve caught coming from John Wells does NOT make me optimistic about the future of this show. Someone needs to make him a big giant sign that says “ER” with one of those red circles with a line through it. Sigh.)

Been listening to America: The Audiobook. Jon Stewart and the rest of the team at The Daily Show are pure genius.

Watched a bunch of movies…finally saw Magnolia, and loved it. Was subsequently given a CD of Aimee Mann songs, which I’m looking forward to giving a good listen. Also watched Smoke Signals, one of R’s favorite movies. I can see why…it was well written, well acted, and told a compelling, hearfelt story.

(side note…noticed that R has his DVDs organized by director. heehee…classifying a film by its director is a new concept to me, but I’m learning.)

Slowly catching up on those back issues of The New Yorker. (I am SO far behind…)

What have you all been up to? 🙂

I’ll be watching you

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So at Paul and Trisha’s wedding a couple of weeks ago, I remarked that I wouldn’t want any inappropriate (ie sad) slow songs played at my wedding. R and I started a conversation about bad first dance songs. This prompted me to do a little bit of digging around on the internet. I came across a list of “suggested songs for your first dance,” and among them were these little gems.

I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston)

If I should stay, I would only be in your way
So I’ll go, but I know I will think of you
every step of the way…

Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)

Oh my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
a long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much
Are you still mine?

Against All Odds (Phil Collins)

So take a look at me now, oh there’s just an empty space
And there’s nothing left here to remind me,
Just the memory of your face
Ooh take a look at me now, well there’s just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against all odds and that’s what I’ve got to face

Crazy (Patsy Cline)

Crazy, I’m crazy for feeling so lonely
I’m crazy, crazy for feeling so blue
I knew you’d love me as long as you wanted
And then someday you’d leave me for somebody new

Oh, just stab me with a pitchfork…

Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack/The Fugees)

Strumming my pain with his fingers,
Singing my life with his words,
Killing me softly with his song,
Killing me softly with his song,
Telling my whole life with his words,
Killing me softly with his song …

My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you’re here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Forget, just for a second, that it’s Celine Dion…and just remember that it’s the love theme from freakin’ TITANIC. This is a song about tragedy, people.

The Dance (Garth Brooks)

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared beneath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known you’d ever say goodbye

Yep, more pain and tragedy.

and the mother of all inappropriate wedding songs…


Every Breath You Take (The Police)

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

O can’t you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches with every step you take

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Since you’ve gone I been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace
I keep crying baby please

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Ummm…stalker, much?

Now I personally cannot concieve of choosing a song so utterly lyrically inappropriate. I can’t imagine sharing my first dance with my husband to a song that’s about pain, about heartbreak, about tragedy. It reminds me of a friend who told a story about her sort of clueless sister saying that Better Man by Pearl Jam was her and her boyfriend’s “song” because it was “so romantic.” So this led to another conversation, which led me to wondering…those of you out there who are married, what song did you choose for your first dance? Why did you choose it? Did you choose it because it was lyrically significant to you in some way, or because it had some sort of special meaning to you? I’d love to hear what you all have to say!

Music

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I know, you’ve all been dying to know what erin-go-blog has been listening to, right?

No? Too bad, because I’m going to tell you anyway. 😉

R has introduced me to some music I’d been previously unfamiliar with, and here are two bands I’m particularly enjoying:

The Shins

and

Einstein’s Sister

Right now, all I have is a bunch of tracks he’s burned on a CD for me, but I fully intend to buy both The Shins’ “Chutes too Narrow” and Einstein’s Sister’s “Humble Creatures” as soon as I have a bit of spare cash.

Unfortunately, it would appear that Einstein’s Sister is no longer together. If you try clicking on the link to their website from the site I linked, you get something that is clearly not a band’s website. Eh.

I had the CD on in the car this morning, and I cannot get the Shins’ song “Young Pilgrims” out of my head:

And I learned fast how to keep my head up
’cause I know there is this side of me
that wants to grab the yoke from the pilot
and just fly the whole mess into the sea…

A couple of tracks of note from Einstein’s Sister:

Solar Circle Girl, a fun, mid-tempo ska track that I cannot hear without smiling, and Something True, a simply gorgeous acoustic ballad:

All we need is to be for one another
Now that we have one another
let the madness through.
Please believe in the fate that draws us closer
knowing every stolen moment
brings us something true

I love being introduced to new music! 🙂