Archive for December, 2007
December 30th, 2007
This time last year saw my budding romance with my current fiancé really starting to take off. I thought to myself, “What better way to kick off 2007 than with a blooming relationship with someone I’m falling in love with. Fast forward to the present and I realize how much things have changed. That ‘budding relationship’ has now evolved into an eternal bond and I’m riding a wave of wedding planning into 2008. Wow. I’ve just found out that I will transferring out of Rockford for work after accepting a promotion and this is all to take effect very soon after the New Year. Wow. On January 11th, 2008 I will be performing what is to be my last set and it will be at the ELB. Due to the fact that I will be working outside of Rockford and very possibly be moving as a result coupled with the not having any insight as to what my schedule will be like I cannot count on being able to plan any shows. What better way to formally usher in the New Year than coming down to the ELB on
3rd Ave.
in
Rockford on January 11th. Darkhouse Productions will be on site recording the show for a probably live album (pending the quality of my performance). I guarantee that if there is a great turnout I will not disappoint. That’s a promise you can take to the bank (not literally). As always, some free Arizona Tea will be available for worthy show-goers. See you there. Note : Please stay tuned to the Go NOW for a feature article on the Oregon-based band, “Matter of Fact”.
December 20th, 2007
It seems as if every year the stars must align the same way or I’m a part of some crazy “Truman Show” like experiment where the end result for me is getting sick before Christmas. Yes, it is well within my understanding of seasonal temperature changing to know that more people tend to fall ill around this time of year. But what happens to me isn’t anything that can be put into a seasonal time period, no, it seems that every year I get sick within seven days before Christmas. Seriously, never fails. It’s come to the point now that I almost welcome it with all of the other Christmas traditions. For me, I’ve got watching “A Christmas Story”, waiting ’til the last minute to buy gifts, hearing the decibel-defying choir that is my mother’s entire side of the family, and sneezing. Yes….when that ear starts to ache, throat begins to tighten, and nose turns into Mr. Coffee - it’s Christmas time. Happy Holidays.
Hey, I have an idea on how to kick off the New Year!! Well, if you wait 11 days then we can kick it off together. I’m playing a show at the ELB on January 11th with Here’s to the End, First Round Failure, Man At Helm, Hallway Paranoia and Mike Honson. The show starts at 7pm and only costs 2 bucks to get in. It very well could be my last show for a while but it will be special because Darkhouse Productions will be there recording what hopefully will turn into a live album! So please come check it out!
December 17th, 2007
It’s amazing that in this age of getting things faster and faster with fast food, high-speed internet, e-mail, self-checkouts, etc., a nice cup of coffee can be extremely appreciated. I had the opportunity to sit down with a buddy of mine at a local Starbuck’s and have a real, mostly in-depth and thought provoking conversation. It was a spur of the moment decision at the end of shift where I work to go to Starbuck’s. I ordered a Grande Mocha Frappuccino, which is what I order every single time I go anywhere that serves them, figuring that I’d be there for as long as it took me to drink it (which is not long). The reason I thought this because I have not known the gentlemen I was with for very long and I’m notoriously private with people I don’t know very well. The conversation that transpired inspired me to complete two songs that I have been wanting to finish for some time.
I’ve been trying to set some lyrics to a couple of guitar harmonies that I really like and have had for awhile. So finally, I’m done. The lyrics have been written and finalized. I have a show on January 11th and as long as I can memorize these lyrics in time I will play the two songs for the very first time during that set. I’m excited to once again play at the ELB and it’s always a joy to visit Steve. Darkhouse Productions will be there recording my set for an eventual ‘live’ album. I hope to see you there.
December 17th, 2007
One of the recurring themes of Webcomics is that you can talk more frankly and honestly online than you often can in print. Webcomics don’t need to speak in euphamisms, unlike print comics like Dilbert. And they don’t have to shy away from adult themes and mature topics, watering down dating experiences to Garfield like chaste disasters or Beetle Bailey style objectifications of women and the simple-minded men who ogle them. Webcomics allow characters to talk like people and have real experiences.
And then add in talking alcoholic cactuses.
Girls with Slingshots, written and drawn by Danielle Corsetto, is a joke-a-day webcomic that captures life through the eyes of several twenty-something women living in the city and dealing with the day to day cycle of work, bars, apartments, bills and dating. The main characters are Hazel, a cynical freelance writer who is often short on cash and frustrated in relationships, and her friend Jamie, Hazel’s optimistic friend who works at a flower shop and isn’t afraid of sharing her opinion or having a good time. The strip follows these two and their friends as they deal with dating, bad advice, adult bookstores, bad hair days and using the internet to be social.
While earlier strips were more artistic, the latter more traditional comic artwork still captures these friends with, in some cases, very realistic backgrounds with achingly honest dialogue. An extensive cast page can bring new readers up to speed with a quick who’s who, but the archives aren’t so deep that you can’t read from the beginning in a short amount of time.
In your daily search for something new, edgy and honest to read as you kill those last five minutes before leaving the office for the night, make a point to check out www.girlswithslingshots.com
December 17th, 2007
Featuring Christina Applegate (“Married with Children”, “Anchorman”), Samantha Who’s titular character emerges sweet and kind natured after an amnesia-causing accident, only to find her previous self wasn’t extremely well-liked, or remotely well-natured. Applegate does extremely well in the role of Samantha, who now must re-discover and re-invent every part of her life she worked so hard to create. There’s only one problem – the show seems to be missing a large chunk of its time slot just as Samantha seems to be missing a large block of her memory. A show like this really feels like it belongs in the hour-long format. In particular, certain characters, like the reoccurring doorman Frank (Tim Russ), feel too rushed and too random. Still, Samantha Who is funny and fresh – and that says a lot these days. Samantha Who airs Monday at 8:30 P.M.
December 17th, 2007
Though “sitcom” might stand for situation comedy, there’s nothing in the definition which indicates sitcoms have to be linear. It’s worked in the past for quite a few successful hits, including the British “Coupling,”, and with sitcoms losing ground to reality TV as well as more serialized fare, it takes something wildly different to make waves. “How I Met Your Mother” tells the story of Ted’s love life in reverse, as an older Ted (Bob Saget) narrates the events that lead to his younger counterpart (Josh Radnor) meeting his future beloved. Signature performances from familiar faces Alyson Hannigan (”Buffy”, “American Pie”) and Neil Patrick Harris (”Doogie Howser”, “Harold & Kumar”) spice up the action, while solid and intricate writing craft a sitcom as evenly focused on Ted as all the other memorable characters. “How I Met Your Mother” airs at 7:00.
December 10th, 2007
The fourth season of David E. Kelley’s “Practice” spin-off turns up the drama and the comedy. The show finds the ethically-challenged lawyer Alan Shore (James Spader) and his wacky, egotistical colleague Denny Crane (William Shatner) challenged by new senior partner Carl Sack (John Larroquette), who aims to curtail the law firm’s inherent wackiness. Other additions include Emmy Award-winning guest star Christian Clemenson, who plays Jerry Espenson, a brilliant lawyer with Asperger syndrome, as well as the intrepid British lawyer Katie Lloyd (Tara Summers). Most of the show’s storyline focuses on Denny’s struggle to feel relevant in his older years, as well as Shore coming to grips with his feeling for ex-flame Lorraine (Saffron Burrows). As with past seasons, Kelley has created more characters than he has time to include each episode, and several characters, including Lorraine, feel less developed as a result. Boston Legal airs on ABC Tuesday at 9:00 P.M.
December 10th, 2007
Story separates NBC’s “Life” from a sea of Law And Order’s and CSI’s. Damian Lewis plays Detective Charlie Crews, who is sentenced to life in prison after being framed for murder. Exonerated twelve years later, Crews returns to his job at the LAPD with a healthy amount of settlement money and a Zen attitude. Played against documentary interviews of Crews’ family and friends, “Life” is divided between Crews and partner Dani Reese’s (Sarah Shahi) attempt to solve crimes, and Crews’ own quest to discover who set him up. Though the transition is jarring, the focus on story instead of stand-alone cases is a welcome change. Lewis carries the show, imbuing the quirky Crews with depth and a darker side. Shahi’s Reese is also a good straight woman for Crews’ persistent pondering. “Life” airs on NBC Wednesday at 9:00 PM.
December 4th, 2007
Snow is starting to fall as I write this meaning soon this part of the earth will be draped in white. This, of course, means that Christmas on the way. Sure, I should’ve seen, or at least felt, this coming after Black Friday. I do refuse to leave my house every year on the day after Thanksgiving so as to avoid that pandemonium. Now, as the snowing starts to pick up, I truly feel that the holiday season has started. In two weeks, my parents who live in Singapore will be returning. Very soon after that will be the myriad of Christmas parties that I’ve been accustomed to attending. I love this time of year, I really do. I usually end up watching, “A Christmas Story”, at least a dozen times and, “Elf”, a handful as well. I love figuring out what I should buy as gifts and trying to tailor each decision to a specific memory of that person and such. This year, however, my December is the busiest of the year. Coupled with the fact that it’s Christmas is having to get my parents fitted for my wedding before they go back to Singapore and things at work are starting to heat up.
Darkhouse Productions is also getting into the seasonal spirit. The last time I spoke with them they were working on an idea involving putting together a Christmas album featuring some key artists to have come through their studio. I signed up right away. Personally, I’d love to be a part of a holiday album. More on that later. Also, I’m still lucky enough to be a part of an awesome show at the ELB on January 11th. I hope to see you there, yea?
December 3rd, 2007
Can dazzling production value and great casting save Sci-Fi’s long-awaited Tin Man? Zooey Deschanel plays “DG” in this update of the L. Frank Baum classic. Her companions include the literally brainless Glitch (Alan Cumming), the tortured psychic Raw (Raoul Trujillo) and the hard-boiled Tin Man (Neal McDonough) – all searching for a decadent wizard (Richard Dreyfuss) to thwart the evil Azkadellia (Kathleen Robertson). Chameleon actor Cumming makes a great scarecrow, and McDonough brings tough-guy sensibilities to the title role. Unfortunately, Azkadellia and most of her cronies look like Flash Gordon rejects – drab, droll, and uninspired. Still, “Tin Man” is such a twist on the fantasy classic, we never know down the Yellow Brick Road. The entire Tin Man mini-series airs back to back Sunday on Sci-Fi starting at 4:00 PM.
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