Noteworthy Tuesday

John Peel dies at age 65

iPod-not just for music anymore

Long Way Around/Big Jimmy Lipton

This Thurday, Bravo premiers "Long Way Around," a series that follows Ewen McGregor and his buddy, fellow actor Charley Boorman as they take their hogs and bike around the world, at 10pm.

I don't know about you, but I've been crushing on Ewen every since 1996. Trainspotting started it all, and the rest is history. I'm totally watching.

And this coming Sunday, Inside the Actor's Studio returns with its premier - George Carlin. Bravo is awesome.

Hi,

Everyone needs to drop it already the with the Ashlee Simpson "lipsynch." Some artists chose to sing over "enhancement tracks." Yeah, the name sounds ridiculous, but it's meant to boost the power of the vocal track. If you hadn't noticed, the track wasn't even loud enough to be considered a lipsynch. Leave her alone. And for all you who are comparing this to Sinead O'Connor, go back to posted on Michigan Radio...losers!

This weekend was so much fun. Jax came to town and we ate Ethiopian food at The Blue Nile. It was spicy, flavorful, and oh so good for you. But the price...sheesh. They also had tables where you sat on small stools and ate from large, shallow bowl-tables. The tea and coffee were fantastic. So if you have some obsene amount of money to blow, do it up.

Sunday was dodgeball...we lost two, but won one game in another exciting match that was decided in the fifth game. Everyone played with passion and I actually was left out on the court by myself...twice. Lots of bobbing and weaving, and zero throwing power from my right arm. Sidearm, underhand, it doesn't matter. Way to go, D-Spot!!!

Yesterday, I spent 3 hours at Panera hanging out with great friends, having great conversation. Later on, Jax and I saw "I Heart Huckabees." I loved it(Jason Schwartzman and Mark Wahlberg are hilarious...Jackie, I'd love to dicuss it with you), and I believe a silly crush on Jude Law is on the horizon. Developing. Later that night, we chilled in the hottub (sans James Brown) where we were roasted and toasted. Hot tub + red wine = near coma.

Due to the OVERWHELMING response to the covers posting, I'm going to do my best to track down all the tracks listed. Watch out for a mix CD coming to your neighborhood very soon.

Getting ready to bookmark and watch the Radio Music Awards. I love live television! Over and outl

Cover me

Two more great covers that couldn't be more different. Ben Folds covering The Darkness' "Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman" and A Perfect Circle covering "Imagine." Only Maynard can make John Lennon sound creepy.

Music tidbits

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Elliott Smith's death. I just heard "Farwell from a Friend" off "From A Basement On A Hill." Eerie, but beautiful, nonetheless. Also, The Twilight Singers (fronted by Greg Dhulli) have just released an cover album, featuring songs by female artists. Remember Tori Amos' "Strange Little Girls?" Yeah, except this time it's a dude. I'm listening to their version of Bjork's "Hyperballad." I can't even tell it was supposed to be a Bjork song - does that mean they've done a good job?

Me First and The Gimme Gimmes have made a punk rock career around cover albums. I always find them interesting. Putting your personal spin on a track can be flattering or insulting - there is no middle ground.

Best ever - Pat Boone covering Guns n' Roses "Paradise City". Or The Shatner taking on "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds". What other cover songs make your ears happy?

Lunchtime Ramblings

Mmmmm - leftover chicken ceasar wrap from the WAB! Mmmmm - cold, deepity-deep fried potato chips. Heaven. Ron and I have some serious beef with Halloween decoration retailers everywhere. Halloween is a scary time of year for kids to scream and think evil thoughts. We were out for almost two hours last night, and not one decent decoration was to be found. HALLOWEEN IS SUPPOSE TO BE SCARY, PEOPLE, NOT CUTE! Smiling kittens belong on inspirational posters, and jack o' lanterns aren't suppose to wear fuzzy hats. Even the skulls and skeletons were cheerful. Where's the dripping blood and the shrieking and the wart-covered witches? Not in Metro-Detroit, apparently. If anyone has some suggestions as to where I can find some real decorations, please let me know.

Has anyone heard anything from The Madison Strays, Arcade Fire, or Apartment? I hear buzz...any confirmation of said buzz?

I'm in total bookmark mode, so those of you who receive one this holiday (which is pretty much everybody), you will want to read a lot so you can admire it - they're the best ones yet.

I can't wait to rock out tonight to Macho Man Randy Savage's "Be A Man." Ron was almost in tears...that just doesn't happen. Something else that is fall-down funny - Stephen Lynch's "What if that guy from Smashing Pumpkins lost his car keys." You can listen to it on his website www.stephenlynch.com.

Got my Muse tickets. Mmmmm - British boys with guitars. *melt*

Thanks to Derf and Russ, I got a chance to actually listen to the Jon Stewart/Crossfire showdown. It's a side of Stewart I never thought I'd see, and he didn't give a shit. He and Crossfire will never again be friends - no skin of his back, or mine for that matter.

Okay, back to work! Time to lean, time to clean.

More reasons to feel my age

Nothing makes you turn a little bit grayer like finding out about a greatest hits compliation from your favorite artist in high school. First Marilyn Manson, now Pearl Jam? If Radiohead puts out a greatest hits in the next two years, I'll have a fit, get a plastic hip and start watching reruns of "The Waltons." This is ridiculous.

Editor's note

Correction: Wendy O'Williams was in the Plasmatics, not the Plastics. We regret the error.

Too much to blog

Sleepy. Killers were great. Brandon Flowers is a daper, dramatic man on stage. He acts out all the lyrics of the songs with subtle gestures and expressions. I love sparkly Moog. Ambulance LTD opened up - I really dig them. Very cute boys with sport coats and t-shirts and shaggy hair. Surfarosa started off the evening. I can't even write about them - I have to tell you in person. I'll leave you with this mental image - Oliva Newton John circa "Let's Get Physical" meets Wendy O'Williams from the Plastics.

Don't ever fly standby and don't ever fly United Express. That is a story all its own. You will never have good luck with standby, only miscommunication and CNN Airport and frustration. More on that later (or you could always check in with Ron).

Ron and I had a great vacation visiting Amber and Chris - watched the debate, got the full Fayetteville tour, ate, saw the radio station, watched movies, did much catching up, enjoyed Bob Ross and his joys of painting (happy clouds...this stone, he lives right here...make love to the canvas...WHAT?). Highlight reel coming soon. It's so strange. It was like they had never left, and it still feels like we'll be able to get together with them next week. Christmas is around the corner! Needless to say, there was no Vote for Change tour party. Ron and I got home at 1AM and missed the whole damn thing. If only TiVO had been there to rescue us...why must we be forsaken???

Hopefully there will be WABage on Sunday...and a hearty CONGRATS to The D-spot for the almost victory this past Sunday. Way to fight the good fight! I'll most definitely be there this Sunday.

Okay, time to get ready for bed. Somebody told me you had a boyfriend, who looked like a girlfriend...

Exile in Guyville

40:1 guy to gal ratio - all datable applicants, head to Fayetteville ASAP! I am off to North Carolina to visit Amber and Chris with the almighty Smerigan. I can't wait!!! It's supposed to be high 70s and sunny the whole weekend. Best. We did it again - we packed everything into ONE carry-on. I didn't think it could be done. We defy the odds.

Everyone have a great weekend - AND KICK SOME MAJOR ASS, D-SPOT!

Monday night, Sundance Channel - Vote For Change tour's final show!

Concert Update!

Cake w/ Northern State
10/18/04
Royal Oak Music Theater

K's Choice
10/24/04
Magic Bag

Brendan Benson
11/19/04
Magic Stick

Electric Six
11/24/04
Majestic Theater

B,b,b,best!

Talk of the Town

If you weren't somehow moved by last night's REM/Springsteen Extravaganza, you don't have a soul, and I feel sorry for you. If you spent the previous day at Cedar Point, then played Dodgeball earlier in the day and were too tired to react, then you are exempt.

I truly felt privilaged and fortunate to have witnessed this show. Micheal Stipe was a thin, white, glowing god whose voice grows smoother and better with each live show. Stipe could teach Andre 3000 a thing or three about shaking it like a polaroid picture. I scream like a little girl when he moves his hips. But, like I said, I wanted more! Where was "New Adventures in Hi-Fi?" Where was "South Central Rain?" What about my "Nightswimming?" Oh well - we did get "Walk Unafraid." Goddamn, I love that song - REM at their most motivational. He. Is. Beautiful.

Moment of the night: Shit, I don't know. It's either Preacher Bruce during "Mary's Place (where everyone around us was literally raising their hands, praising Bruce), or Stipe's appearance during "Because the Night" (it was deafening - a wash of singing and cheering), or the Live Aid-like conclusion with "People Have The Power," or the sea of fists pumping along to "The Rising" (don't forget the la la las), or the entire crowd singing along to "Losing My Religon", or maybe the ENTIRE SHOW.

Bruce fans are awesome. They are the most passionate fans I know. Matt and Gary prepped me before the show, complete with sing-a-long and fist-pump cues. They came in handy. Bruce Springsteen is America. He speaks to the Every Man so genuinly that you can't help but become a believer. Amen, brothers and sisters. Go ahead and make fun of me now, but during the entire E-Street performance, I thought 'man, their drummer looks a lot like Max Weinburg.' Okay, I get it. I heart Little Stevie Van Zandt!!! The bandana never gets old!

But don't take my word for it, check this out, not to mention this, and this too.

And to Amber, we miss you and wished you were there to share in the rock!

...then I woke up.

"So, I had this really crazy dream last night. I was at an REM show, and all of a sudden, Bruce Springstein showed up and started playing guitar and SINGING with Micheal Stipe. I woke up, drank some water, then fell back asleep. They were still playing, except now they were with John Fogerty, that kid from Bright Eyes, and the Dixie Chicks. I've got to stop eating pizza before bed."

Nope, folks. This was not a dream. This was last night, and it was beautiful. More on this Top 5 Show of My Lifetime qualifier tonight.

Time to work...