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)

Bud Man as Cookie Sentry

I spent last night making lots and lots of Christmas cookies 5 batches in all!). I've grown accustomed to doing two of my favorite traditional Italian cookies -- sesame and date-filled. The date-filled recipe originally calls for fig, but I prefer date. And this year, I used a little bourbon in the filling and icing. Yum.

I also did a couple batches of these great orange pistachio biscotti I've been making for years. Recently, I've been using this recipe, substituting pistachios for the cashews -- much more indulgent for a gift.

I've got a lot of the cookies in the freezer for Christmas, and packaged many of them up for individual gifts to give to a few neighbors and work colleagues this week. (I've been picking at the ones with the burnt edges myself though, of course). That's Bud Man (circa 1975) keeping watch there on my kitchen counter, with help from the grated cheese guy from my late Grandma McGuire's kitchen.

Obits, Night Marchers, and the Venue from Hell

OK, it wasn't THAT bad. But this new venue Santos Party House (which I'll definitely be referring to as Santos Party Hell from now on) is one extraordinarily annoying venue. Giant columns blocking views, bars set up in the worst possible locations, bathrooms buried in a maze-like basement, and a layout that worked against free and easy crowd maneuvering in just about every possible way.

The sound was great though, and I guess that's all I should really care about.

But did I mention the stupid giant disco ball and disorienting dance floor lighting? Yeah, obnoxious.

Anyway, we were there to see Obits and the Night Marchers. Night Marchers are the latest iteration of the Hot Snakes lineup sans Rick F., fronted by John Reis (and featuring Gar W. on guitar and the ever-amazing Jason K. on drums). Honestly, like most other John Reis bands without Rick, they don't really turn me on much. (I do love the Sultans, however.) The kids were really into 'em last night at the Santos Party Hell gig, though.

Yet again, Reis completely stole the riff from Greg Sage's Messenger in a tune he plays with the new band -- not sure which song it was. It was one of the better ones though. Just do the damn cover already.

I'm not going to describe the music besides noting that if you dig early Rocket from the Crypt, you'll probably dig it.

One other thing before I move onto Obits. Reis has fully perfected his suave 1950s movie star look. He was much sexier when he was fatter and not so damn tan. But I'm sure I'm in the minority with the ladies on that one.

(A shot of John back in the Drive Like Jehu days -- I saw them in Toronto back in '91 or '92, and my boyfriend and I at the time asked him if he had any stray tunes we could use to get our non-existent record label started. He was kind enough to not laugh in our faces.)

For me, the show was all about Obits. Unlike Reis's stuff, Rick's has never struck a wrong chord as far as I'm concerned. His stuff is always deeper, darker, and more layered -- more cryptic. They keep getting better and better every time we see them, but this show was especially good, in part because it's clear the band has been spending lots of time developing the songs. Rick completely altered the lyrics on a couple tunes, and the arrangements changed here and there, too. I'm not sure I liked the new versions better than the earlier versions, but I'll find out when the full-length comes out (and maybe when I slap on their new 7"). They've added a couple new songs in recent months, too.

No duds.

F Caroline Kennedy

I don't know about you, but I really hope Jello Biafra is out there somewhere penning lyrics for an anti-Caroline Kennedy tune. I know I never get political on this site, and I don't intend to. I just had to let off a little steam about princess Kennedy. Apparently she thinks she's entitled to a U.S. Senate seat because she's a member of American royalty. Screw her and screw this culture of political dynasty that's becoming more and more accepted in this country.

OK, I'm done. But seriously, Jello, we need you.

Feeding My Addiction to Death

Don't worry. This post is the complete opposite of morbid. There are few things that make me feel heartened about the world around me, especially lately, but on Friday I found one. And it's Death.


OK, OK, it's the name of a band. A pretty terrible name that really has no connection to their sound from what I can tell, and it may have prevented the early '70s pre-punk band from making the big time (or the bigger time, anyway).

I won't retell their tale. You can read it for yourself in this Burlington Free Press article. It's almost apocryphal or mythical somehow, the way it all unfolded. Band with a sound that seems to have come straight outta nowhere (but with a slew of recognizable influences) records 7 songs at legendary studio, connects with big name producer. They won't budge on a name change, and fade into obscurity. Thirty years later their first 7" is in high demand, selling for hundreds.

Drag City plans to put out their full-length in February.

Death played the precursor of punk, based on the music from their Detroit home that got so many punk bands started (back before anybody really knew that they were starting something) -- the MC5, The Stooges. Yes, the Sabbath is there, but so is the full on motown, a groove missing from plain 'ol sped up rock 'n' roll.

The Free Press article has the two tunes from that fateful single, "Keep on Knocking," and "Politicians in My Eyes." I think I played "Keep on Knocking" about 5 times last night after a night of whiskey drinking, bouncin' around the living room like a drop of water in a hot pan of oil. It's hard not to just play it again and again.

There are so many things going on stylistically with both tunes -- yeah, there are the long jammy parts influenced by Sabbath and MC5, but then there's the fast pre-punk stuff, too, and a little reggae thrown in. And there's a '70s arena rock feel going on here and there.

The solos have a staccato syncopation and simplicity that I just love. The drummer has a great tumbling style, very reminiscent of Keith Moon or Bill Ward. And the vocals are great. Screams just where you need 'em.

When you hear "Politicians," you'll swear you're listening to an old Bad Brains demo. It's HR before HR, I swear. The metal/reggae thing is right there, in your face. Did the Brains ever hear these guys? You gotta wonder. I'm not in love with the chorus, but the rest of the tune is pretty great.


Did I note the band managed to get in touch with Groovesville producer Don Davis by literally throwing a dart at a page in the phone book?

Even if the music doesn't do it for ya, their story will put a bittersweet smile on yer face.