Maybe it's the snow today. Or maybe it's the fact that my brother, Tyler, has been unearthing a treasure trove of Christmas TV special nostalgia lately and posting his findings on his Facebook page. Or maybe I'm just mellowing in my old age. But I'll admit it, I'm kinda feeling the holiday spirit this year. It's a Christmas miracle!
Anyway, here's a clip from one of my childhood favorites, "A Muppet Family Christmas" from 1987, featuring Big Bird and my all-time favorite Muppet, The Swedish Chef. Enjoy.
As an astute reader pointed out earlier today, I've been on a bit of a video roll lately. So let's keep that train a-rolling with this nugget, which is the funniest video I've seen in a quite a while — made even funnier for me, personally, as my lovely girlfriend (you may know her as Plus One) has a disturbing affinity for Bud Light Lime. Happy Monday.
PS- Said astute reader also passed along a nifty music video, which I will post shortly
It started with Bryan Dondero's post last week, which featured a literal video version of Billy Idol's "White Wedding." That prompted me to check out a few more. And then a few more. And a few more. The tipping point came yesterday, when 7D staff writer Ken Picard sent around this literal version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart," which I somehow missed previously and is, without the question, my favorite of the bunch. Enjoy.
Once upon a time, my dearly departed family band, The Middle 8, was playing a show in the cozy confines of Burlington's 1/2 Lounge — no easy feat for a sextet with an upright bass and accordion. We had a decent crowd that night, certainly befitting our 7D designation as "alt-country darlings" — thank you, Ethan Covey!
In between tunes, our co-front man Dave Stockhausen delivered a wince-inducing one-liner. Though the exact line escapes me, I can tell you that among our finer qualities — hooky twang-pop, sugary four-part harmony, etc. — stage banter was never really our strong suit. After a short, awkward lull — and maybe a passing tumbleweed and chirping crickets — a familiar voice echoed from the back of the room, "You should stick to music!"
Following a pregnant pause, the room erupted in laughter, including the band. Looking out into the crowd, we noticed our old pals, The Jazz Guys, at a booth, yukking it up — there may or may not have been some awkward white guy high-fivin' as well. Without missing a beat, Dave raised his gaze from the guitar tuner on the floor, glared at JG's bassist Herb van der Poll, the speaker of the remark, and coolly offered his retort: "And you should stick to comedy."
Oh. No. He. Didn't!
Actually, he did. The room again exploded at Stockhausen's riposte. Even Herb tipped his hat — I don't think he was actually wearing one, but you get the idea. It may have been the only time The Middle 8 was ever funny.
Herb van der Poll, on the other hand, is consistently funny. Long before The Jazz Guys blossomed into a seriously tight, lean, mean rock machine, their calling card was humor, particularly van der Poll. His "Letters to the Band" shtick is still probably my favorite of their many, many gags.
Though The Jazz Guys are presumably biding their time while guitarist Maarten van der Poll does whatever it is that he's doing in Thailand, it appears they're keeping busy. And still making with the funny. Exhibit A: this new vid from Stuck in Vermont auteur Eva Sollberger, which features Herb in the "role" of a mincing record store clerk, interviewed for the BBC by reporter Henrietta Henspecker. Enjoy.
This just in from prodigal laz-e-boy Arthur Adams and his poptastic San Fran rock outfit Blammos:
The band's video for "How Do You Know?" was voted the number one rock video at OurStage.com for the month of January, beating out a bunch bands you've never heard of to win a king's ransom of $1000. According to recent email from Adams, rather than blow the loot on celebrating, Blammos will use the cash to return to the studio. So in a way, we're all winners. But in another, more accurate way, Blammos is the winner. (That's right, two Simpsons references in less than a week. Do something.)
It's certaily a nice win for Adams and Co. But it's probably not entirely unexpected. If you go to Ourstage and check out the runners up, you'll notice that the "competition" is similar to, say, the New England Patriots scrimmaging Burlington High School's JV squad. Talent-wise, Blammos is in a different league from the rest of the pack. And it ain't even close.
(It should probably be noted that I've known Arthur since he was in grade school. I'm friends with bassist Tim Marcus, formerly of Concentric renown. And the band's drummer, David Stockhausen, was, once upon a time, my partner in alt-country crime in The Middle Eight. Obviously, I'm all sorts of biased on this one. Deal with it. But I'd urge you to check it out and see if you don't agree.)
Anyway, here's the Blammos vid. 'Tis a beaut. Congrats, guys!
Happy winter, Solid State! (Now there's an oxymoron if ever there was one.)
It's funny how the first real snowfall of the year — though today may not exactly qualify — elicits such a wide variety of responses. Depending on your predisposition to cold weather, it's either a tasty gnar appetizer of pow-pow shredding to come or an abysmal portent of impending doom.
I'm afraid I fall on the latter end of the spectrum. I don't ski. I don't snowboard. The thought of snowshoeing makes me want to gouge my eyeballs out — or worse, someone else's. For me, winter is an exercise in endurance. How long can I stand the monotony of dark, dreary days, bone-rattling cold, icy sidewalks and the smug looks on the faces of sadistic snow bunnies who actually enjoy this shit, before I start turning into Jack Torrence from The Shining? But maybe I'm just being melodramatic.
Earlier today while standing outside the office, a co-worker marveled at the falling snow and cheerily proclaimed, "It's winter!" I was actually OK with this morning's snowfall, surprisingly enough — it ususally takes until mid-January for the real malaise to set in. But that's when it hit me. Though it may feel and look like it, it is not, in fact, winter. It's really still fall. Truth be told, by this time three or four months from now — or five, when it's "spring" — a thirty degree day with light snow showers will feel like sweet relief. It'll be downright tropical by comparison. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.
If you're sensitive to cold as I am, it is important to fight back as best you can. The longer you hold on before giving in, the shorter winter will seem. And that fight can take many forms. For some, it means not breaking out the winter coat until after Christmas — gotta toughen up! For others, it means finding alternate means of entertainment — bowling, a reinvestment in reading, whiskey . . . sweet, sweet whiskey. But the most important thing — self-delusional fixes aside — is to remain lighthearted. Can't stress that enough.
So with levity in mind, I present to you, the soon-to-be snowbound denizens of Solid State, a collection of clips from The Found Footage Festival this Thursday at the Roxy. These clips are all real and have been collected over more than two decades — you can read more about the film in my column tomorrow or here. So buck up, campers. Only 122 days until spring.
As Americans, it is of course incumbent upon us to look not to intellectuals, scholars or even leaders for spiritual, moral and political guidance, but rather, to our celebrities. It is especially important in this troubled and tumultuous political season and economic climate. And who better to inspire and moderate these increasingly grave discussions than our most treasured public icons, musicians?
When looking for answers to really tough political questions, in this case McCain vs. Obama, like most red-blooded Americans, I first turn Mr. Shockin' Y'all himself, Toby Keith. Here, he weighs in on Obama (this clip is sound only, and you can skip to the 33 second mark to get to the good stuff).
So it seems Keith is, surpisingly, behind Obama — or at least half of Obama. But to make an informed decision, one really needs to hear both sides of the argument. Representing the McCain camp, Mr. John Rich with his Fox News smash "Raisin' McCain" — Note: here, "Raisin'" is short for "raising" and is not a commentary on the condition of septuagenarian McCain's skin.
Damn. That was persuasive. Lots of flashy red, white and blue stuff, redneck machismo and a hot girl playing the fiddle. And I kind of feel like watching Monday Night Football to boot. Dude's really appealing to my sensibilities as an American.
But to be fair, I can't justify voting for McCain without hearing a musical rebuttal. Thank goodness for Brookfield, VT pop composer, Bobby Gosh. Gosh, 72, wrote the 1976 Top-10 smash single "A Little Bit More" made (sort of) famous by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show. Here, he offers his direct response to Rich's tune, with "Mama's Votin' For Obama." Take it away, Bobby.
Not bad. But this is why Republicans always win. They've got a slickly produced, high-energy, bumpersticker wisdom-laden rock video — with a hot girl playing the fiddle! Democrats get an old guy with a Casio keyboard, a drum machine and soccer moms holding signs. I'm no closer to a decision than I was when we started.
When in doubt, I find it's best to turn to old friends. In this case, Messrs Stuckey & Murray, a comedy duo from NYC who have a new vid out entitled "We Support Bush" — full disclosure: I went to high school with Jon Murray. As always, with S&M videos (not that kind of S&M, sickos), please view at your own discretion. If you're easily offended, click here instead.
And lastly, in a preview of this Thursday's VP debate between Joe Biden and Tina Fey, er, Sarah Palin, I leave you with this. Sigh.
So I was all set to write about the revelation that is Bill Mullins and Clark Russell's revived rock outfit Blowtorch. I caught them at Speaking Volumes over the weekend and holy hell, I might just have a new local favorite. But it's honestly just been one of those days — one of those weeks, really, given Pats QB Tom Brady's season-ending knee-injury . . . sigh. It's been the kind of frustrating, cold and dreary day when I really just need the mental equivalent of comfort food. And then this video appeared on my Facebook page. There is a God.
I had a much lengthier post planned for today, but to be honest, I'm leaving on vacation in t-minus 45 minutes and I've pretty much checked out mentally. So instead, I leave you with this video from ex-Chuch bassist and current Jesus Vanacho member Noah Crowther, recorded last week in Santa Cruz. Enjoy, and I'll see you in about a week . . .
You have to admit. I've been pretty good lately. Aside from my marathon rant — which I would argue hardly counts — I have kept my sports grumblings largely to myself. In fact, I'll even spare you my thoughts on the potentially epic Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals set to start tonight — at 9:07p.m. . . . WTF? Besides, I likely couldn't offer anything Bill Simmons doesn't in this terrific and utterly unbiased (wink wink) look at the history of the greatest "rivalry" in pro basketball. Seriously, it's hysterical. Thanks to 7D freelancer John Pritchard for sending it my way.
Instead, I'd like to submit this first video as a tribute to the perfect union of my two guiltiest pleasures, sports and cheesy hair metal. And also as the answer to the eternal question: What has nine arms and sucks?
The second video is meant as a tribute to the Basketball Gods — the 1986 Celtics, for those scoring at home. And as the answer to that other eternal question: What has 10 arms and sucks? (Hint: the L.A. Lakers).
We'll get back to music tomorrow, I promise — and it's gonna be a hell of weekend! But for now: GO GREEN!
Despite the fact that post offices and banks are open, today is actually a holiday. At least amongst Vermont music fans who adore late, great Burlington rock outfit The Pants, who two years ago today, May 27, reunited at a sold-out Higher Ground.
As some of you are likely aware, filmmaker Bill Simmon has been putting together two flicks to celebrate the occasion: a concert film and a documentary on the band called "High Watermark." For the latter, my siblings and I were asked to record a version of the ballad, "Wounded," from the band's classic album Fred Sex.
For those who are just now following along, here's a little back story (the rest of you can skip to the vid):
I was a teenager during the much ballyhooed 1990's Burlington alt-rock explosion and a rabid fan of The Pants, who to this day remain one of my all-time favorite bands. Long story super short, the day of the reunion show was also the day of my grandmother's wake, who had passed away earlier that spring. Since my siblings and I couldn't make the show — it would have been a long drive from Rhode Island — we played "Wounded" for our family at the wake. Word got back to Pants drummer Neil Cleary — whether via me or my sister, Ariel, is still hotly debated — and the next thing you know, we were recording the tune at Egan Media a year and a half later.
Anyway, the finished product (or, at least the Bolles' kids part. The full doc is still in production) is here. And I gotta say, it's pretty decent. My only quibble is that I appear to have put on some weight since this was recorded late last summer. Dammit.
Without further adieu, "Wounded" as performed by Ariel, Tyler and (me) Dan Bolles. Enjoy.
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