If Yr Man Ain't No Good, Come On Over To My Neighborhood

Lately I haven't been having things to write about, so before I get too lazy, here is a quick update.

Last night I worked 4-10pm afterwards I met Beth at the bar, she turned 21 on Sunday. A good thing about going to Spence on Tuesday nights is 2 dollar New Castles. The 2 dollar cover kinda cancels that out though. Saw a jam band I didn't hate. I think they were called In Limbo.

Afterwards, Becky tried to convince me that America's Funniest Home Videos is really funny high. I wasn't entirely convinced.

Monday I had to work 8 - 10pm. Which I have a feeling may turn out to be an annoyance. I want to start getting home early enough on Tuesdays to watch Real World Austin, Stella, and then the Daily Show.

Over the weekend saw Dominic's band The (Wise and Foolish) Builders at Rex's. Their cover of Life On Mars totally rules. A new song called College Town is pretty great as well.

Tonight I'm meeting Mike, Julie, and Jill for dinner. And then on Thursday I'm having coffee with Tyler.

My zine should be finished this week. I really hope people who haven't given me stuff they said they were going to write for me do. I hope they are just slackers and not jerks.

I watched National Treasure this morning, it was pretty good. And I'm in the middle of watching Rosemary's Baby.

Been listening to the Annie - Anniemal CD and The Juan MacLean - Less Than Human. Also I have been really into this swedish pop singer Robyn, who had a popular song around the mid nineties with Show Me Love. But it's not to be confused with the Robin S. song Show Me Love which proved to be difficult in tracking down the Robyn song. Found out she, Robyn, has a new song out called Be Mine which is toat great. Kinda Since U Been Gone sounding. Oh those swedes and their perfect pop songs. Also the B side to Be Mine is a cover of Prince's Jack U Off, which just maybe better than the original.

Yeah, I said it.

Important News Update

This is bullshit and I just wanted to post it.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/23.shtml

I feel like, for the most part, I'm pretty understanding of the way culture works and how subcultures seep into mainstream. And how being influenced is really just stealing and if something inspires you then you should have the right to use it any way you want, but Nike has gone too far. This is where I draw the line.

So Please Get Out Of My Car

I just listened to an interview with author Tom Wolfe. The interviewer was Old 97's singer Rhett Miller. It was about Wolfe's most recent book I Am Charlotte Simmons and was on a CD I got from the radio station. But it felt like some sort of cross promotional marketing device because the interview was bookended by two Old 97's tracks.

I guess it worked because now I really want to read the book. I'm sure it's long and I won't finish it any time soon. I just finished David Sedaris - Dress Yr Family in Corduroy and Denim. I borrowed it from Becky on Saturday and was finished on Wednesday. I like when it takes me only a few days to finish a book. I wish I could get through the other three books I'm reading that fast.

What was cool about reading this book was everyone I told that I was reading had either read it already or was already in the middle of it. Now I'm back to reading my boring book on genes and the never-ending Harry Potter story.

I was supposed to go to New York tomorrow to meet my sister but I'm not going now. I'm all talk.

Yesterday I listened to this band called Minibosses who play music from video games. I really liked the Contra song. I never realized how listenable these songs were when yr not playing video games. What's great about the contra song is how the different level music goes right into the next part. The other cool part is that you can toat remember each part of the game just from the music. It seems obvious for games like Contra and Mega Man 2, but I even remembered playing Double Dragon and I hated that game.

Went to Ryan's Pub again last night with Jill. I had a italian roast pork sandwich with roasted red peppers and provolone cheese. I really like the food there. Afterward, we met Kelly and Andreea at 15 North for Quizzoke. Carly and Jon came and met us later on. We didn't win Quizzoke, but we came darn close. I think we got second place, and in the process, scored 3 free pitchers of Yuengling. It was pretty cool.

Dry Yr Eyes Chris Martin

I told a few of the promoters that I would not be charting the new Coldplay album and they were all like "Well, their last album was at #1 for this many weeks." and I was like well, I wasn't music director then. So then they were like "So why aren't you charting it?" And I'm like because it's not college radio music. It's music to buy cargo pants to.

Had lunch with Pamela today at Ryan's Pub. We ate good food. I had a Roast Beef Special which was a Rueben, I think, with roast beef instead of corned. It was on rye bread and had swiss cheese, cole slaw and russian dressing on top. I don't really like cole slaw, but this was a good sandwich.

I'm fighting with my DVD player. It refuses to play any of my DVDs. I've said mean things, I've hit it, I've thrown things at it, still nothing. We aren't speaking to each other anymore.

I've had that DVD player almost 5 years, but still the worst part of all this is it's ruining my relationship with Netflix.

I've Been Thinking about my doorbell

Thursday night I met up with Dominic at Kildare's and he was giving me shit about not drinking delicious beers. Mooched off his sister and later him at Spence's. Then gave him shit about not watching the OC. Later, I was a jerk and told Kelly to come to Kildare's but then left and went to Spence's before she showed up. So I went back to Kildare's to hangout with her and Andreea. Then we got pizza and went back to her house. Fell asleep watching the Office

Friday morning Kelly drove me home and I went to Country bagel. Got an egg and cheese on whole wheat and a banana nut with cream cheese for lunch. Watched Hotel Rwanda. It was really good. Better than my bagel. Went to the radio station around two. Left around 5 to meet Jill and go to the mall before dinner at Vincent's with Shannon and Dominic. Vincent's was excellent but entrees were expensive so I only got an appetizer and filled up on bread.

Had a good time at Kildare's with Jill after dinner. Shannon went back to Jersey and Dominic went to Spence. Jill and I met up with Matt, Ryan and Ish. Later on Jon and Marissa came. Jon doesn't like Kildare's because he can't get Red Bull and Vodkas. Kate and Alicia came out too. Kate brought me donuts.

Saturday was Kate's friend's wedding. Had a good time. Got to meet Kate's friends and not die in her car. Got back early and went with Becky to see Bloc Party at the Troc. Bloc Party were absolutely incredible. For a band so young they really know what they are doing and do it amazingly well. So tight and precise, but still something amateur and fun about them. Did two encores to make up for canceling their show in April. This was the best band I've seen this year. Not the best show but definately the best band.

The show got out early and Becky and I were going to go out in West Chester but decided to stay in instead. And after being out so much I really loved staying in. Got sandwiches at Wawa and watched the Office.

Today I met Jill for coffee at this new place on High and Gay where Luxy used to be which is funny because before it was a boutique it was a coffee shop and before that it was a coffee shop too. Went food shopping then watched some of Tank Girl, which is a bad movie. Then I went to work. Listened to Maximo Park's A Certain Trigger on the way. I'm really digging this album. It reminds me of the Franz Ferdinand CD, but there is something smarter about them. Something more Wire about them structurally, something more XTC about them lyrically. Worked on my zine a little bit today at work. I'm having fun working on the layout.

I also think the new White Stripes album is good.

Boy, The Bravery really sucks!

Rob says I can't really talk about how much the new Coldplay album sucks until I listen to it. So I will wait on that. It will be worth it, because I really like talking about how much Coldplay sucks. That's also why I am listening to The Bravery now. They are bad as well.

I haven't been updating lately, because I have been doing stuff. Lots of stuff. It's hard to say that I'm busy when I work less than 20 hours a week, but my time is definately eaten up.

My week in reverse looks like this:

Chris picked me up this morning and we moved two dressers to the garage so he could paint them and eventually put them in his room. Afterward I did laundry at his house and watched the first season of The Office and played with kittens.

Katie called me around 4 and we met at the W. Chester Diner for Buffalo Chicken Wraps which tasted really good. They had blue cheese on them which I don't like in a salad setting but is alright on buffalo chicken.

My plans with Tracie fell through tonight but we will hangout next week. On the plus side I get to update my blog and get a few other things done.

Wednesday I picked up my shirts from the dry cleaners and my pants from the tailor for the wedding on Saturday. Got a egg and cheese sandwich from Riggtown after Rob dropped me off in the morning. Watched Overnight and Come Feel Me Tremble, documentries on Troy Duffy, the director of Boondock Saints and Paul Westerberg respectively. Went to the radio station did a short show with Beth before Tyler picked me up to go see Batman Begins. Met up with Emily, Joe, Anne, Allison, Bree, Sabrina, Bill, Lauren and Kelly at the Bahama Breeze in King of Prussia for preshow margaritas. We saw Batman Begins at the IMAX theater. It ruled. We sat a little close, but it was cool seeing it on such a big screen. Tyler dropped me off around 11 and I met up with Jill, Kelly, Andreea and Chris, etc. at Kildare's for Andreea's birthday. We hungout for a while there before going to 15 North witnessing the most horrific example of Karoake. Andreea bought me beers and got me drunk but then did not take me home with her.

Tuesday went to see Jonathan Richman with Rob. Richman did two amazing sets of both old stuff and new stuff. He even did a Modern Lovers song. Not Roadrunner. Julia DJed at the afterparty upstairs at the Khyber. Stayed and hungout for a while then met Tom over at the First Unitarian Church to catch Architecture in Helsinki. They played with Dr. Dog and Head of Femur. Dr. Dog just got back from Bonnaroo and it looked like the hippie did not rub off on them. Tom dropped me off at Rob's and we hungout at Joanne's for a while and then went up to Rob's apartment. I slept on the couch and with a blanket this time, it was pretty nice temperature wise.

Monday went to the radio station made some calls, worked on the charts, listened to some CDs. Becky picked me around 6 for the M.I.A. show. Met up with Shannon, her sister Lindsay, Connie, and Dominic along with Pamela before the show for drinks and food at Standard Tap in Northern Liberties. The M.I.A. show was hot in all senses of the word. Got so close for the encore where she did the Diplo mixes of URAQT and another song from Piracy Funds Terrorism that I can't remember right now. But the show was great. So glad I went but it was better not knowing what I was getting into. Not sure I would go through the hotness and sweating, so crowded, and waiting 2 hours for her to start playing. All was redeemed though when she started off with Sunshowers.

Really wished my sister was there though. I told her this. M.I.A. is someone I think she'd be into and everything about her. The fact that her NY Times record review talks more about fucking globalism than actual music is something no one more than Nikki would appreciate.

Sunday night I worked at the library. I think I watched a movie but I can't remember which. Maybe Chinatown.

Saturday Rob graduated. He picked me up and we went to Transit to see LCD Soundsystem. So many people were there. I really felt part of a scene. But in the good sense of the word. So great to hangout with Greg again. And drink free Sparks. Thank You Making Time! A lot of people thought LCD were great. The mix was pretty muddy and I couldn't hear the vocals at all.

Friday helped Rob move to his new place in Philly for the summer. Then went to see the Old 97's at the TLA. So surprised it sold out. They played tons of good stuff. Its hard to be disappointed when I love every song. Great moments were Won't Be Home, Question, Streets Where I'm From, Victoria. Really, only disappointment was would've loved to hear Designs on You.

Thursday played poker for the first time at Jay's house. Great to hangout with Bryan, Huff, Jimi, Tim, Aimee, Joy, Josh and Kevin and Pete again.

Took the train home on Wednesday. Hung out with my mom. Ate California Chicken Sandwiches from Cafe Antonio's. Note to self, Go home more often.

It Hit Me Like a Tom, You Hit Me Like a Tom

I went to see Spoon on Saturday with Rob, Jesse and Heather. We got there a little late and I missed a few songs from the beginning of their set. Also missed two opening bands, The Clientele and Windsor for the Derby.

Rob picked me up at like six o'clock I think. I remember he said he fell asleep. Maybe it was more like six-thirty. We met Jesse at Rob's dorm and then went to pick up Heather before we went to Lou's Restauante. In Jesse's car I had to sit on broken glass and wasn't even in the car two seconds before I cut my palm on a shard. Rob yelled at me because really, you can't take me anywhere. We got to Lou's at my guess a little after eight and then waited fifteen minutes to be seated. And then waited another hour and a half or two bottles of wine, for our food to be served. In the above review of this restaurante, it calls the service cheerful and easy going. No, it was the opposite of that. The waitress looked like she wanted to die because she had to wait on all six tables that fill the place. And then she went on to serve other tables there food before we got ours. She said ours was going to take a little longer. I guess that was because the cook was making other people's food before ours.

In the end the food ended up being really really good, but still I don't think it was worth waiting that long for. Heather made a good point when she said that We would not have cared so much if we didn't have a concert to go to.

True.

After the show I got a ride home from Marc and we went to Spence's for a drink before I got a slice of pizza and went home. I watched The Life Aquatic, but fell asleep.

In my Netflix Queue, I have Hotel Rwanda coming. I don't even remember putting that in there.

Sunday I watched Team America. It wasn't as funny as I thought it would be, but things are never as funny when you watch them alone. Sunday night I watched Glitter which was I actually liked. I really didn't think it was that bad. But as thinly-veiled bio-pic's go, it was no 8 Mile.

Monday I spent most of the day at the radio station catching up on work. Dr. T asked me about being DCO next month. Went over Jill and Kelly's after that to do laundry and hangout. For some reason that was not fully explained to me, Andreea was driving this Infiniti SUV, so that's what I got picked up in. Jill, Kelly, Julie, Chris, Andreea and I all went to Quizno's for dinner and got stuck in the bad storm. I missed most of it because I was so hungry.

Back at Jill and Kelly's we watched The Office Season Two and I played my new favorite game with Theodore, the one where I put the laundry basket on top of him and he doesn't try to get out.

She bought a clock on Hollywood Blvd the day she left.

I got in from Los Angeles on Friday night around 9:30pm Eastern Standard Time and the first thing I did when I got off the plane was call Jill to see if she was going to Kildare's. It felt really good to be out in West Chester Friday night after being on the west coast. Kildare's was packed and when I couldn't get close enough to the bar to get a drink, Jill tried her hardest. And when Jill couldn't get close enough to the bar to get me a drink, I tried another bar. So when I came back to where Jill was, she had a rolling rock waiting for me that had a friend in the rolling rock I was already drinking. The ridiculousness of me double-fisting rolling rocks Friday night made me laugh.

Spoon played the TLA last night, they were so good. I like that after the Spoon concert next week Rob and I are going to see the Old 97's next week. It's like a big ol'e Texas double feature. If you haven't heard Spoon, check them out. Britt Daniels was way more rock star then I thought he'd be. I don't know why, but I pictured him as a hipster looking Charles Manson hunched over a piano. Instead, he came out in a slick haircut and fitted shirt, rocking all of the School of Rock moves. The crowd kind of annoyed me. I am fearing these guys may one day replace Guided By Voices. That's the impression I got from the crowd. There was screaming of obscure songs demanding to be heard, ironic rock star comments, and guessing of songs that were coming up next. I wanted to stand in the back with Rob and be cool but all this plus the people walking by, it was too distracting.

Spoon amaze me. I feel like they should be the most obscure band in the world but at the same time, the most popular band in the world. I think its the Beatles influence. They are definately influenced by the Beatles, but not in an obvious way.

The other great thing about Spoon is that the way they sound is like each song they write they say I am going to write the best rock song ever written. I'm not saying that every song the write is the best song ever written or that they think every song they write is the best song ever written, but what all their songs have in common is this quality of being the perfect rock song even though they don't sound alike.

On one of the recent EPs, Pitchfork made mention of Britt Daniels musical resemblence of Billy Joel. I never noticed that until now. I don't think its a bad thing. The show was fun. Even though we missed the first three songs, one of them being The Beast, The Dragon, Adored, which is my favorite song off the new album.

In my next post, I will write about why I missed the first three Spoon songs.