It's amazing how when I get motivated to really DO things, how stumbling blocks get thrown out. It can be unnerving, but these song lyrics popped into my head. Looking for a video to further cheer me up, and I found this gem. I Really Needed THIS!



Note that my strong place will never be listening to Matthew Wilder's "Break My Stride". My mom was driving on the FM2234, listening and singing along to this song on the radio. She had JUST gotten past these lyrics:

Ain't nothin' gonna to break my stride
Nobody's gonna slow me down, oh-no
I got to keep on movin'
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh-no, I got to keep on movin'

And that's when she lost control on a curve by the salt mine, and wound up in the ditch! She was okay, and I don't recall there being much damage to the car. DOH!

One of my favorite U2 songs, from my favorite U2 Album "Boy" - I even still have a t-shirt with the cover art silkscreened. Limited edition created by a friend back in 1983. Second favorite U2 album "War" with "The Refugee" top on my playlist. Enjoy!

I've been away from my computer for the last couple of weeks - having a Crackberry actually keeps me off a bit since I can read all of my emails instantaneously.

Just an overview for now, but more later here and in my blogspot.

I worked in Artists Transportation for the ACL Fest this year, for four straight 14 hour days. It was a blast, good pay and food, and all the artists and folks were nice. Which included: My Morning Jacket, Queens of the Stone Age, Peter, Bjorn and John, Bela Fleck, Ian Ball, and Britt Daniel of Spoon. Loved the tips I received from a promoter, who handles Billy Joe Shaver and David Allan Coe.

Than it was one day off for rest, and then three days later the Fantastic Fest. This year was amazing - I saw some really awesome films, sang in two drunken karaoke sessions, drank more Stella than I ever thought I could stomach, hung out with British film festival organizers, German and Spanish directors and a Chilean martial artist/actor. My favorite movies included "La Hora Fria" (The Cold Hour), "Mirageman", and El Orfanato (the Orphanage). I loved "There Will be Blood", and spoke with director Paul Thomas Anderson afterwards about West Texas, where much of the film was shot.

I've not gotten into the mashup frenzy, but came across this one while I was videogoogling for Peter gabriel. I love the range of music on this mashup. I mean really, the use of Mamas and Papas and the Who with Britney and Beyonce is wild.

Highlights and happenings after two twelve hour days spent at the Annual Reggae Festival benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank:

- At least 17,000 people in attendance on Saturday, a record-setting day which means great news for the Capital Area Food Bank!
- Easy Star All-Stars and their version of "Karma Police" from their "Radiodread" album
- New EMS folks, who ran their butts all over Auditorium Shores, a big change from the previous provider. A lot of folks misjudge the overcast day not accounting for the heat and humidity, plus overindulgence.
- A couple of responsible vendors who helped a young man who had a grand mal seizure, rather than assume it was drug-related. I was freaked because I'd seen and spoken with him 30 minutes earlier. He was so altered even though he came out of it within 5 minutes - typically he's lasted 25, according to his mom who showed up later. We couldn't get enough information out of him for me to track down his friends and fiance before he was taken to the hospital, but his mom brought him back after he was discharged because he was worried about his friends. Turns out they'd driven in from Kerrville.
- meeting the guys from Jah Roots, who gave me a free CD since I gave them a free pack of American Spirits - I'm sure ya'll know where/why I have those!
- Jah Ray giving a shout out to all our wonderful volunteers. I was especially impressed by the Asian Health Professionals Organization who brought extra volunteers for the LAST shift on Sunday which is typically the flake shift.
- All the animals, especially the grey/green tabby, so well-behaved and nonchalant as he rode on his owner's shoulder, or paraded on his leash.
- Plenty of staff t-shirts for ALL the volunteers!

I'm sure there's more, but too tired after a long weekend and past bedtime.

Thanks to welfy, I am reposting this Thriller - Bollywood for bloodcicle. BTW - WHICH WITCH posted that odd DND/Jethro Tull unicorn dancing video? I can't find it.

Continued from this entry.

1977 was a fabulous time when my music world exploded. I was thirteen years old, and I could afford to buy 45's with my allowance - I still have most of them! I would save up to buy albums, and here's a couple of favorites:( Read more... )

Celebrate Lady Bird's 93rd birthday!

The show kicks off at 9pm, so get there early. The first 25 ladies through the door will receive a free small box of chocolates.

The line-up of bands singing nothing but songs with the word "lady" in them now includes:

Friends of Lizzy, the Daylight Titans, Gretchen Phillips, the Dead Motley Sex Maidens, Masonic, the Texas Sapphires, the Transgressors, Fire Marshals of Bethlehem with Hilary York, the Diamond Smugglers, Dumptruck, Barons of Stilton, and the Rockland Eagles.

Greg Beets (Peenbeets and Summer Breeze) will be doing a few "lady" songs with the Dead Motley Sex Maidens. Ably handling the backing vox are Julie Lowery from the Fire Marshals of Bethlehem and Felt Up's own JenBB.

All door proceeds benefit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (Although I'm pretty sure ladies get in free!)

Getting geared up this week for staying up late in NYC by seeing a few New York bands. I had a fabulous time on Wednesday night at the Morningwood and Gang of Four show at Emo's. I met up with Matthew, Adrienne, and a few other folks to see the show, and we were right up at the stage during MW. As expected, Matthew was the boytoy whose clothes were almost completely removed during "Take Off Your Clothes". I was WAAAY to close to Chantal and knew they were working on me as the victim, so I watched the set list and moved away from the stage at the beginning of TOYC.
Too damn crowded once Gang of Four hit the stage, so we hung out by the merch booth as Chantal hocked her wares. She's a hoot, everything's about "You know what's sexy?". Her observation of why dogs asses are sexy was quite amusing. I still wound up being victimized by her, as she tried to feed me drink tickets all night, and wouldn't let me go home at the end. I got her back, with some incriminating photos in the bathroom at 2:30 am. Suffice to say I was using the only clean and functional toilet, and she opted for the trashcan...Photos will be released upon her approval!! *EDIT* uh, photos have been banned due to the pics being too revealing, sorry!

We tried to meet up with the Gang for an afterparty, but finally headed to the Hilton. It was cool to see a raw edit of their new video for "Nth Degree", and I was laughing my butt off at some of the scenes in it. Hope the song does well locally, since 101X FINALLY picked it up for rotation. It's a fun poppy dance song, very tongue in cheek.

Of course, I had to get a shirt for the pure conversation element. Chantal tried to get me to buy the smallest, but made a compromise and I bought one size smaller than I normally would have...

I'd thought it would be fun to bring together some of my favorite and most talented friends together for a night at the Hole- join us this Tuesday! FREE SHOW!

9pm Patrick Fleming (http://www.songmeister.com) - Patrick woke one morning from a dream of living in Austin, so he packed up and moved down here from New Jersey last year. He has a couple of residencies in some Sixth Street venues, but really blew everyone away with his originals at the Independence Brewing Company party a few months ago.

10 pm Ernie Ernst (http://www.erniecernst.com) - fun and fiery, Ernie belts out her unique and wicked songs around town. One of my favorite singer/songwriters, a must see!

11 pm Doe Montgomery - It will be my first time to see Doe live, but she has a great reputation amongst local singer/songwriter scene. Looking forward to this!

12 am Hilary York (http://www.hilaryyork.com) - What can I say? One of my nearest and dearest friends, who is realizing her dreams and vision as a talented and well-respected artist. Deep, sultry vocals, and soulful melodies, she'll be joined by the lovely and talented Lisa Newmyer on guitar and vocals.

Don't believe any rumors about my debut, I'm waiting until I am good and ready!

Sometimes it's only a snapshot, other times a emotional response, but often a vivid image burned into my memory. Songs that distinctly remind me of people and places. One of my earliest memories is of a red and white record player I had as a child. I had the token Disney albums but I also owned a copy of the Archies "Sugar, Sugar". For my fourth birthday, my parents gave me three of the Monkees albums, of which "The Monkees Headquarters" was my favorite. For Christmas that year Santa brought me a "real stereo"- a turntable with separate speakers! Of course, my favorite piece of furniture in the house was the console stereo, with the lift top. I loved to sit next to the speakers and run my hands over the fabric covering, feel the heat from the radio tuner display, and listen to the sound of the albums slapping down to play. The songs ingrained from that time came from Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Charley Pride, Tiny Bubbles, and Herman and the Hermits, along with the soundtracks to Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns.

Here are some of the standouts from my childhood and preteen years:

Smile a Little Smile for Me - The Flying Machine
I remember hearing this song on the car radio when I was five years old. It was a dark night, and we were on a familiar farm road, but driving away rather than to home. My mom loved this song, because her name is Rosemarie, but also because her dad- my Grandpa Koerner- had died recently, and it helped to ease her sorrow. Even to this day, I still have a hard time listening to it without crying, for my mom's pain and my sadness- some of my fondest and earliest memories are of my grandpa.

I Think I Love You - Partridge Family
This album must have been a Christmas gift, because I remember holding the brown covered LP in my Aunt Judy's living room. I loved the show, had a major crush on David Cassidy, and wanted to smack Danny in the head.

Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
The Beatles were a major staple in the Koerner family, and my cousin Michael was the biggest fan. He taught me to play this song on the piano- the first real song beyond "Chopsticks" and "Heart and Soul". I envied the fact that he inherited Grandpa Koerner's trumpet- even though I was too young to play it.

Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
Holy Toledo!! I can't believe that our mom and aunt didn't go nuts, considering how often my cousins and I would belt out this song at the top of our lungs. As many as six kids, singing and rocking along. Our rendition definitely rivaled our never-ending competition on who could sing Herman's Hermits "I'm Henry the VIII" the fastest and loudest.

Incense and Peppermint - Strawberry Alarm Clock, Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells
Again, I spent a lot of time at my aunt's house, and my cousins Barbara and Jerry's bedroom was total flower power. Bright yellow smiley faces, neon pink and green colors filled the "big kids" room.

Friends - Bette Midler
In 5th grade, I was in choir and this was a fun and uplifting song to belt out at the top of our lungs. I can still recall our music room, which then reminds me that "Kung Fu Fighting" and "The Hustle" were popular songs then as well. We would practice the hustle and other new dances as much as possible.

Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
Slumber party at my best friend Rhonda's house, who was the biggest Elton John fan. We danced and sang until all hours of the night, and nobody wanted to fall asleep first for fear she'd be the victim of a practical joke. I will always associate the Captain Fantastic album cover with Rhonda.

Strawberry Letter 23 - Brothers Johnson and Keep It Comin', Love - K.C. and the Sunshine Band
These songs remind me of the bat mitzah celebration Sarah Robertson had at a popular disco. Of course, it was a Saturday afternoon private party since we were only thirteen years old. The floor would pulse with multi-colors, and the fog machine added to the disco scene.

To be continued...

tagged by usumcasane
six current favorite songs:

* Girl - Beck
* Pencil Me In - Troy Dillinger
* Calling You - Juliette Schoppmann
* Shut Up - Ernie Ernst
* Driving Me Mad - Neil Finn
* She - The Monkees

Six peeps that need to catch the memetrain:

tycoonjack
catelin
ginger931
bloodcicle
tericol

And since I don't think egosumquisum will play my reindeer game, I'll opt for stickcow - if she's not too busy!

Feel free to comment here rather than repost in your journal if you like...

I went out last night to Club Deville for Karaoke Apocalypse. I wish lolliejean had been there- I suspect she could bring the house down with a Pat Benatar cover! The premise is that you get to sing a heavy metal or punk song, but with a LIVE band backing you up! My old pal, Chepo is in the band, which is great. The two lovely hostesses are wonderful, and make everyone feel comfortable onstage.

I started out with "Surrender" by Cheap Trick in the first set, which turned out really well. Second song I sang was "Photograph" by Def Leppard, but my three week sinus infection/mild bronchitis has definitely taken its toll on my vocal cords, and my throat started feeling sore. I took it easy for the rest of the set, but felt better by the second set. So I rounded out the night with "Kiss Me Deadly" by Lita Ford. Amazing- I sang in front of the most people I ever had during the first set, but it thinned out during the second set. I was relaxed, because the few people I knew had retired to the back bar. Until he showed up. Might not have mattered any other time, but after the vividness and randomness of my dream the night before, it was intimidating. Amazing to be nervous in front of one person instead of eighty (or the 400+ in my work presentations!).

It was great- my wonderful friend Ernie came up on stage to say hello to Chepo,and I asked her to stay and sing with me. Funny- the song sheets started blowing off the music stand during the song and by the third verse Melicious was unable to retrieve them quick enough- so I made up my own words.

Nothin' to eat and no TV
Lookin' in the mirror- I DON'T KNOW THESE WORDS
Uh huh, It ain't no big thing

So much fun, I will definitely do it again (and make sure tericol goes!). I managed to leave in time to get to Room 710 for the Dicks show, which was packed with old school punks. A lot of fun, but broiling! I saw fellow HJ Ladies member Stephanie, who I hadn't seen in ages, and even had some guy tell me he recognized me from myspace- how interesting! I also met Cris Burns' lovely wife- she was a hoot- and ran into Tom, a sweet young guy I met at a Cat Scientist afterparty months ago.
Late but fun night!

I made a major investment this week- I bought two pro turntables off a good friend who is upgrading, and he helped me buy a dj mixer and headphones at Guitar Center. I haven't played around with my new toys as much as I would have expected, because I've also been feeding a new addiction- decibel45 set up my new computer and downloaded iTunes. On top of that, nugget clued me in on Audioscrobbler, so I've been geeking out even more!

The purchases were prompted by a friend asking me if she could pay me to play at her birthday party tonight. I've been wanting to buy some good direct drive turntables for many years, and my vinyl collection is NOT going anywhere. Which reminds me:
My ex-boyfriend had built a shelf for me seven years ago to hold my microwave and assorted kitchenware since the storage space is limited here. When I moved back into the complex in 2002, I bought a new microwave cart with shelves, so the shelf he built now holds most of my vinyl collection. When he stopped by for the first time in years, his eyes got REALLY big- "I didn't build the shelf for that LOAD!!", he exclaimed.

Sheesh, 8:15 pm and I haven't broken down and loaded my gear, or sorted my records. Time to get a move on! Luckily, my friend Edie is a karaoke dj and she loaned me her powered speakers which are already loaded in the vehicle. I've seen a lot of her lately, since one of the guys I am dating presently is a karaoke junkie- and a damn good singer and performer. Any man who can sing and dance like both Bono and Prince in the same night makes me smile! We got a lot of compliments on our performances on Thursday night, which was cool- although he upstaged me on our duet of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". :)

Oh- so if you want to stop by the party, I'll be spinning from 10-2ish.
2011 Garden St- Cesar Chavez east to Chicon, right on Chicon, left on Garden St.
Birthday party for Carrie, evening bartender at the Dog n'Duck- she said invite my friends!

I will be out there, so come on out to see some great shows!
Looking forward to hanging with the The Gourds. I saw Claude at the Fivehead show last night and we were bemoaning the cold- hope it is warmer tonight!

Also looking forward to Ian Hunter on Friday and the Neville Brothers on Saturday.
Say hello if you are out there- just ask any volunteer in a red tshirt for Debbie Snax!

Lots going on, feel free to join the fun! Definitely want some spicy food this weekend, in the form of Thai or Indian would be good. At least one or two meals with friends would be great, before I have to fully dive into SXSW. Relatively speaking, since I am still working at 4 am on the film schedule!

Wednesday
Alamo S. Lamar Rehearsal/Grand Opening

Thursday
LASIK surgery, followed by rest

Friday
Skipping the FBM gig in San Marcos. Rest and meet with _fool to map out SXSW Nuclear Tacos Event.

Saturday
2-7 Independence Day Party at Independence Brewing- Set up Hilary and Patrick Fleming to play, and Grupo Fantasma will be headlining.
Dinner at Madame Mam's?
10 Summer Wardrobe, Youngmond Grand, and Fighting Brothers McCarthy at the Hole in the Wall. Some new friends from Cirque du Soleil's Varekai production may join the fun!

Sunday
Brunch at Elsi's, Tien Hong, or Java Noodle?
2 pm SXSW Theater Staff Meeting at The Hideout
3 pm Ladies Pampering at Amy's house (open invite to girls!)

Dinner at Bucca di Beppo- Join the EVITE

Full SXSW 2005 Music Schedule is up and available!

Let's see, Stan Ridgway, Jason Faulkner, The Alarm, Billy Idol, The Shore, my gal Hilary!!, oh, and my boys, Fighting Brothers McCarthy!

Stumbled across a cool album, A Tribute to the Cars. Turns out that Jason Falkner from the Grays took part, as well as Bleu. Definitely need to order this one soon!

A portion of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society in memory of Cars bassist Benjamin Orr.

This webpage which includes the historical role of Iron Maiden's mascot "Eddie" is a hoot!

Quite appropriate after the long roadtrip back from Houston with the FBM boys, and Whit blaring Iron Maiden.

Whit: This is about the sea serpents, it's mythology, man!!
Snax: If I want mythology in my music, I'll listen to Rush "Hemispheres!"

Tuesday, January 18th at 10 pm

Experience some tidbits from the Eighties- new wave, new romantic, and punk. Debbie Snackcakes (91.7 KTSB/KVRX and 99.9 KANM) will be joining Jim Bradford's weekly spin. Jackalope is located at 404 Sixth Street, on the northeast corner of Trinity and 6th. 21 and up.

Hope to see you there!!

crossposted to austincommunity