Mr. Music Industry Suit

Like a lot of people, my day job involves working alongside people wearing suits. Hey, it's OK. It's what it is. I find that sort of apparel unnecessary for most occasions, but I also don't have ambitions to be a corporate exec, either.

Still, I need to gripe about Mr. Suit. In particular, Mr. Music Industry Suit. At the Dinosaur Jr. show at Music Hall of Williamsburg this past Thursday, I got in a conversation with Mr. Music Industry Suit and his sidekick. Or maybe Mr. Music Industry Suit was the sidekick, not sure.

Of course, like all douchebags at a show, they felt compelled to drop names of other bands they've seen, perhaps to impress me and a friend, or perhaps to impress one another - or perhaps both. Anyway, Mr. Music Industry Suit's approach to the conversation really got under my skin. Rather than express a genuine appreciation for the music, he talked about it as though it were the subject of an anthropological study.

"Oh, yeah, and what was that other band from D.C.? The black guys?"

"Bad Brains."

"Right....Ya know, Mascis [pronounced Massis] is really one of the best alternative guitah playahrs around."

[Eyes widen...Alternative guitar? First off, I didn't know it was 1993. Second, since when is a guy playing fuzzed out Fender "alternative?" Does that term have any meaning outside the world of shitty clear channel rock 'n' roll categorization anyway?]

"This one time I went there to see that band Galaxy 500. Remember them?"

He also mentioned The Minutemen and the Daniel Johnston documentary, must-haves on anyone's "trying to prove I'm cool even though I'm wearing this suit" list.

But name-dropping is not the same as appreciating. Being there does not necessitate appreciation.

So, screw you Mr. Music Industry Suit, Mr. I read Pitchfork so I have something to talk about with the hot 22-year-old digital marketing newbie in my office...dick.

Now that that's off my chest, the Dinosaur show was great and loud and overly-distorted and I was grinning ear-to-ear the whole time. Plus, Lou Barlow sang two tunes which totally made my night.

Now, time to listen to the Turk's cover Mr. Suit for the umpteenth time.

Death Show - First Time, Only Time?

I can't help but wonder whether last night's Death gig at the Joey Ramone tribute show at Irving was the only time I'll have ever had the chance to see them play. It sounds corny, but I feel really privileged to have seen and heard them live and in-person. Honestly, I got a little choked up towards the end of their 3-song set.

They kicked it off with "Keep on Knocking," then went into "Freakin' Out," and lastly, "Politicians in My Eyes." The band -- sans original guitarist David Hackney, who passed away -- slowed down the tempo of all three tunes, but honestly, that didn't matter. Bassist Bobby Hackney still has his vocal chops, and the band was tight for dudes who haven't played their punk stuff in 35 years.

Before Death hit the stage, though, Bobby's sons' band, Rough Francis, played a brief set. And, for "Politicians," Death had the RF kids join in. Before that song, though, Bobby said something that coming from anyone else would have seemed cliche to me; but coming from him, it was so real. He told the audience to always hold onto their dreams, and if they're musicians, never let anyone - even other musicians - shoot them down.

Then he invited his kids and their other band members to play "Politicians." I doubt many in the audience realized the magnitude of what was happening, but it honestly was one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed.

Joey Ramone B'day Party featuring DEATH!

I suppose it's grimly fitting that Death is playing tonight's annual party celebrating Joey Ramone's b'day. I rarely go to the various commemorative Joey R events. (I went to one at Manitoba's a number of years ago during which, after stepping on his foot by mistake, I drunkenly told Ace Frehley he was just pissed off 'cause he's old.) But, I am going to the big bash tonight at Irving Plaza (now named the Filmore East, as if any kids going to shows there know what the hell that scene was all about). Yes, I'm going to see Death!

The place is bound to be filled with old and young poseurs and hangers-on, as well as some folks I haven't seen in forever. Maybe we'll run into our old pal Mickey Lee (Joey's real brother), who we used to talk to all the time when he tended bar at the sadly defunct Coney Island High.

I have no idea what to expect, but I really hope they kick ass. I can't wait to hear "Keep on Knocking" live. Wow.

ooey gooey

Today was around 90 degrees -- prematurely hot for late April, but a perfect excuse for a summery dessert. We had family over this afternoon, and to top off a great meal (homemade grilled focaccia with goat cheese, capers, and roasted red peppers; a salad of roasted fennel, white beans, couscous, cured olives, and avocado; blanched asparagus with orange butter; and grilled lamb for the meat eaters), I made sponge cake and filled it with sweetened peaches and plums and fresh whipped cream.

The cake came out great, and the recipe was an easy one. I substituted flour + cornstarch for cake flour, which worked fine. Here's the recipe.

And here's what's left of the cake (but not for long):

New Pets Song=Me Happy

The Pets have a new song! If these guys don't put a smile on yer face and cause spontaneous bouncing around the room (or in your head), you ain't livin. Check out "Can't Pretend."

Death Full Length Out NOW!

Man, I can't wait to hear the full-length LP from Death, the band I raved about back in December. I'm still listening all the time to the two tunes downloaded from a Burlington Free Press article about them (which now seems to have disappeared -- here's the only trace. )

Pick up the LP from Drag City.

I Bake Good 'n' Stuff

Yes, I do.

Here's the recipe. I followed it closely, using unbleached flower, regular dry yeast and baking on good baking sheets (right side up), sprinkled with cornmeal (see Filoncino, Classic Italian Bread)