What's up.

VT blog titan and super pro filmmaker Bill Simmon came over to the house this weekend to interview me for a not-so-secret documentary he's making. He set up all of his bright lights in my studio, and proceeded to ask me questions about stuff I've barely thought about in a decade.

But it was definitely fun. And after, Brooke and I went to dinner with Bill and his fiance, Emily. Delicious.

Oh, and extra points to Bill for using the word "mollycoddling" in today's Candleblog post.

Here's a fun NY Times article about the "lameness" of MySpace. As if we weren't already aware. Aware, but still addicted!

In other social networking news... Don't go here, if you have a low tolerance for morbidity.

The next month will be a busy one for me. Lots of writing, and finishing up the Swale mix. Things can move pretty slowly between myself and those folks. I'm sure we'll all be relieved when it's over.

Setting up the new apartment has been fun, if a tad exhausting. But it sure is nice to have a decent recording room again.

I'm heading to San Francisco for a week at the end of June. Looking forward to that. But getting away (even for the weekend) always means extra work, which I'm NOT looking forward to.

You know how there are some bands that you've pretty much outgrown that still excite you from time to time?

Well, Tool is, for me, one of those bands. I downloaded the (leaked) single from their upcoming album, 10,000 Days, and have been listening to it over and over.

It's good -- very much a Tool track. As usual, the intro features an interlocking bass/guitar figure that reminded me of swimming sharks.

Then there's the expected giant start/stop riffs and freakishly articulate drumming. And of course, Maynard sings cryptically about humanity's eventual (and deserved) downfall. This goes on for, oh, about seven minutes.

The dudes pretty much write the same song over and over again. But at least it's a cool song.

There's yer frickin' update, kids.

Comments

[Molly]

The word 'mollycoddling' makes me queasy. The -coddling part invokes 'cuddling' and 'fondling'. And 'cod'.
It's my name + dirty gross ichthyoid bad-touching.
I just thought everyone should know.

[casey]

I was actually thinking about your relationship to said word when posting.

I feel your pain, albeit somewhat differently.

The name Casey (of Irish origin — and I am not one bit Irish) has a few negative cultural connotations.

There's the fella who lets his whole team down by strikin' out at bat.

Then there's the drug addled locomotive engineer popularized in song by a drug addled proto-jam band.

And lots of dogs are named Casey. That might not be negative per se, but it sure does annoy me when I'm at a public park.

I guess there's Casey Stengle, but I'm not much of a sports fan...

[Molly]

I get the dog thing a lot, too. It seems most people in the U.S. have had a golden retriever or beagle named Molly at one time. Ah well... good company and all that.
Further commiserating with a musical theme just for you:
Good Golly Miss Molly
Flogging Molly
Molly Hatchet
Molly Malone

[casey]

Apparently, Molly Hatchet comes from an old Dixie legend about "a woman named Molly that would take a lover (for his riches) then simply dispose of him."

Simply? Is dispatching via hatchet ever really simple? Reminds me of your fantastic chainsaw/zombie apocalypse post...

Anyway, the previous tidbit is from a website concerning the heinous Southern Rock band. I sympathize.

Although some junior punks-in-training would be delighted to share a name with Flogging Molly.

And there's nothing wrong with that mascara wearin' hellion Little Richard.

[Molly]

HA ha ha... stupid chainsaws.

Now that I have more free time maybe I'll start an official Necropocalypse Preparedness Series with more pro/con weapons reviews, infection control improvisation tips, and how to select a wine to go with your MRE.

[casey]

Shit, if it was a magazine, I'd subscribe!

[gd]

joe from charles dead or alive is on tour with tool right now as their drum tech.
youve got a tool connection dude....

[Casey]

Yeah, Joe has drum tech'd for a lot of starz. He was actually working a few of the shows I saw in the late '80s and early '90s!

I also know Tool's stage manager, who plays in the Dirty Blondes.

A couple of Mardi Gras parades ago, he lent me a Soviet flight suit that was once Maynard Keenan's tour costume. It was a perfect fit — we're about the same height. Although I've put on a few pounds since then. ;)

[Jason]

Bill's getting married? Congratulations, Bill!