Monday, June 20, 2005
PETER JACKSON

I was watching the AFI Tribute to George Lucas tonight, and they featured several different classic directors commenting on the genius of Lucas (Coppola, Spielberg, Cameron, etc.). Among these directors was Peter Jackson -- when I saw the man, I was dumbfounded. He has lost an ENORMOUS amount of weight, and somehow looks as if he has lost years as well. The man looks as if he isn't a day over thirty! I will post a picture of him as soon as I can find one.

UPDATE: Thanks to Matt, I have a recent picture of him. Although I remember him looking much younger than that on the television, he still looks remarkably younger to me (albeit still homeless). The nice shirt helps, along with him losing the glasses.
chandler at 9:44 PM | |

Friday, June 10, 2005
Halo: THE MOVIE!!

As I was trying to fall asleep about a week ago, I received a call from my friend Honoré to retreat to his place to play a few games of Halo. I turned down his offer, as I had to go to work the next day. I hadn't played Halo in months, so I began thinking of how much I actually played that game considering I don't even own it or an Xbox. My thoughts continued to wonder, and I was asking myself why the people at Microsoft hadn't made a deal with a major movie studio and cashed in with a Halo movie yet. A week later, to my utter disgust and surprise, I see news on Defamer giving the 'tails on the Halo movie that was in preproduction (okay, so they were pitching a script). Let's hope this one crashes and burns.
chandler at 11:41 AM | |


Music Midtown 2005

When I clock out of work today, Matt and I are going to be headed to Atlanta to attend Music Midtown. For the next two (possibly three) days, I'll be seeing bands such as DEVO, Bloc Party, the Pixies, Interpol, the White Stripes, Common, Lou Reed, the Lemonheads, among various other artists. Although the lineup doesn't exactly sound illustrious, it seems more appealing to me than Bonnaroo this year (as if I would actually go to that hippie-fest - ha!). This year's Music Midtown bears more semblance to a decent festival than any Music Midtown in years past (2003, 2002, 2001). Hopefully the rain will hold off (which I know it won't. Thank, Arlene!) Maybe the rain will be completely gone by the time I see Ryan Adams the following weekend.
chandler at 10:45 AM | |


Friday Downloads - 06/10/05

Architecture in Helsinki - Owls Go (Pandatronix Remix)
Stars of the Lid - Requiem For Dying Mothers: Part 1
MC Chris - The Tussin (Robotussin)
Heatmiser - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Black Heart Procession - Tropics of Love
chandler at 12:20 AM | |

Thursday, June 09, 2005
Chicken and Gravy

Last night, I had the privilege of seeing Max Shores' documentary on Beale Street Blues performer Richard Johnston, Hill Country Troubadour, for a second time. This program not only gave the viewer information on Richard Johnston himself, but also history on Hill Country Blues itself, and key players in its development as a "genre." It's some really amazing music -- very much hypnotic with the same little riff being played over and over again. It's also very different from what is generally considered "Blues" music. This type of Blues tends to be less airy and actually a bit more rigid, even if it is played on ofttimes old and dilapidated instruments -- it even has that percussive feel to it that one would typically attribute to the "normal" kind of Blues. That doesn't make it less heartfelt than "normal" Blues, though.

At the same time, the documentary doesn't stray far from Johnston's own story. After playing clubs for some time in Japan in the mid-ninties, he came back to America in 1997 and played at Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. From there on, he became consumed in the Hill Country music, surrounding himself by such Blues luminaries as Junior Kimbrough, RL Burnside, and Jessie Mae Hemphill. He went on to play at Junior Kimbrough's Jook Joint (up until it burned down), where he received a good deal of confidence -- enough confidence even to go to the International Blues Challenge (gasp!) and win not only first place, but also the award for best guitarist. He even continues to play as a one-man band on Beale Street during the summer (that's right, drums and all). He even plays neat cigar box guitars sometimes!

It's good to know that there are acts around such as Johnston and The Black Keys to keep this kind of music alive. It's seriously awesome. If you ever come across the program on APT late at night, make sure to check it out for yourself, and in the meantime, check these snippets out.

Chicken and Gravy
Work Me Baby
Coal Black Mattie
That's No Way To Get Along



chandler at 4:56 PM | |

Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Dears To Make " Really Kick-Ass Record"

Canada's The Dears will be headed back into the studio later this year to record their follow-up to No Cities Left. According to lead singer Murray Lightburn, the album will be more lighthearted than their previous works, including songs dealing with love, etc. Coming from a guy who has written a (great) song called, "There Is No Such Thing As Love."
chandler at 1:10 PM | |


OTC To Tour More

Looks like I'll have to take another trip to Athens come August 7. I will be extremely pleased if they play even remotely as well as they did back in April.
chandler at 1:04 PM | |


Lovecraft

The Guardian takes an interesting look at the life and works of horror author HP Lovecraft (I'm sure you'll love this, Miles).
chandler at 12:38 PM | |