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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Hillary Clinton Approved

WASHINGTON - JANUARY 04: U.S. Sen. Hillary Ro...

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeIn a vote 94-2 the Senate approved Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State. Only two Senators voted against her. And guess what? One of them was David Vitter from my home state of Louisiana. This is from the Senator who was caught in the Washington D.C. Madame sting and still has not admitted to any wrong doing. He trots God out when its convenient for what he wants, but when he gets caught cheating on his wife with a prostitute it's another thing. I really don't care that much what he does in his private life, its the hypocrisy that bothers me.

He's coming up for re-election soon and I'm hoping that there are enough other people in this state that are as tired of him as I am.

Obama Working

On his first day in office President Obama went right to work. One of his first tasks was to shut down Guantanamo Bay detention center. Read more about it here.

HBO Owns Everything From The Concert

For more about this go read here.

This Land Is Your Land

The day before Obama was sworn in there was a concert at the Lincoln Memorial. One of the musicians there was Bruce Springsteen. Here he is with Pete Seeger singing one of the greatest songs ever written about the USA.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A New President

Image by //amy// via FlickrWe have a new President. I just watched the inauguration on television. I was lucky that I don't go to work till this afternoon. I have to admit that I teared up as I watched, this was history in the making. Mr. Obama comes into office with a country in worse shape than it's been in years, but I am confident. He is a very intelligent man and I am glad that our fate is in his hands. I could never understand during the election when I would hear comments about the newly elected President being too smart, too elite. I'm sorry I want my President to be as smart as can be. I want him to be smarter than me. We've seen what happens when we don't have a smart man as President for the last eight years. I feel like eight years of a nightmare is over. It won't be easy, things will probably get worse before they get better. But I feel like they will get better.

This is a wonderful day.

Inauguration

Washington D.C.

Monday, January 19, 2009

New Blog To Check Out: Diversity Ink

There's a new blog over here called Diversity Ink. I'll let the creator of the blog tell more about it:

One of the reasons the racial divide continues is that members of a particular ethnicity may talk amongst each other about race issues, but not to members outside their race. Also, because race is such a sensitive issue, people are reluctant to come out in the open with any of their views, questions, etc. My hope is that Diversity Ink might lead to the bridging of the divide and the breaking down of some of these walls.

He's assembled an outstanding crew of men and women to write about this subject and I'm proud to say that I'm one. Please check out this blog and leave your impressions. It's up with a first wonderful post about Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

MLK

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and tomorrow we welcome an African American as President. As bad as things can get in this country there is still an American Dream.

One Word (Peace) | Music Codes

Almost Over

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 10: U.S. President Geo...

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeEight years later and George W. Bush is almost out of office. I know I'm just being paranoid, but I'll feel better on Tuesday after Barrack Obama is sworn in. I keep waiting for Bush to do one more stupid thing....like invade Iran or something.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Listening Now: Wilco

MANCHESTER, TN - JUNE 17: Jeff Tweedy of Wilco...

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeWilco is one of my favorite groups. They were born from the ashes of Uncle Tupelo. In that group the two main songwriters were Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar. Just as the group was beginning to get serious national attention, having released one album on a major label, Farrar announced that he was quitting. Farrar went on to form the group Son Volt and Tweedy created Wilco.

In the beginning Wilco started off as the continuation of Uncle Tupelo, the group was pretty much Uncle Tupelo simply without Farrar, and in that most of its material could be labeled in the genre of Americana. On their second album they decided to venture into uncharted musical territory and released Being There.

Since than the group has continued to experiment with their sound and grown as a cult favorite. Their next album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot got them dropped from their label Reprise but once released on a new label went on to win critical and commercial success.

This song, "Handshake Drugs" is from their fifth album A Ghost Is Born.

Friday, January 16, 2009

More From The Wire

I finished all five seasons of The Wire and I have to say it's one of the best tv shows ever. Here's another great scene.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Old School Fridays: TV Theme Songs

I was never that big a fan of this show, it was one of those stupid dad/smart kids shows that seem to be everywhere. But the theme song is sung by one of my favorites, Will Hoge. The show was Still Standing. This is the full song, not just what you hear on the tv show.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Thursday Thirteen: Jazz Fest Acts I Want to See This Year

I know Jazz Fest is still a ways off, but it's never too early to start planning. I thought that I'd list 13 acts that are performing at this years Jazz Fest that I want to make sure I see.

1. Wilco: For me there's no one better. I've been a fan of Jeff Tweedy from his days in Uncle Tupelo and his growth as the leader of Wilco is just amazing. I've seen this group at least three times and that's still not enough. Here's Wilco with Fleet Foxes singing one of my favorite songs of all time "I Shall Be Released."

2. Patty Griffin: I have been in love with this woman's voice and music since I stumbled across it a few years ago. Of all the acts that I want to see I think she's the one I'm most excited about since I've never seen her live before.

3. Drive by Truckers: Another band I've seen live a few times. A few years ago I saw them at the Voodoo Fest and for my money they were the best band there that year. And their Jazz Fest appearance includes Booker T. Jones.

4. Amanda Shaw: Another act I've seen more times than I can count. A local Amanda has grown up before our eyes, singing and playing since she was a child. She just recently celebrated her 18th birthday and her first album out on a major label.

5. Los Lobos: This is a band I've been a fan of for years. I remember buying their first album (yes it was vinyl)back before anyone had ever heard of them. I saw a little review of it somewhere and decided to pick it up. I see them as a modern day version of The Band in a lot of ways. I've never seen them live and look forward to hearing them.

6. Solomon Burke: I have to admit that I didn't really discover Mr. Burke until his "comeback" prodcued by Joe Henry. That is such an beautiful album and he is another act I've never seen live yet. I simply love this song.

7. Theresa Andersson: I know this is someone everyone that reads this blog has probably gotten tired of me talking about, but for as many times as I've seen this lady perform I'll go out of my way to see her again. This is the song that she's been opening her show with the last year and it is simply amazing.

8. Charmaine Neville: daughter of Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers, Charmaine is a talent herself. Again I've seen her before, again I'll see her.

9. Avett Brothers: Another band I've just recently been turned onto, but am enjoying very much. Looking forward to seeing them for the first time.

10. The Vettes: Another local band but one I haven't had the chance to see live.

11. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: Soul music. I haven't seen her yet either so this will be a treat.

12. Irma Thomas: Talking about soul music I have to mention Irma Thomas, New Orleans Queen of Soul. Yes I've seen her a few times but every time is worth it. She performed "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with Paul Simon and Allen Touissant and it was beyond words. Here's she singing a song the Rolling Stones all but stole from her.

13. Jakob Dylan: Son of you know who. I saw him at the HOB with his band the Wallflowers and they put on a fun show.

There's 13 but I could keep going on. And what's even more fun is discovering the acts that I had no idea of listening to, just wandering from one stage to another and overhearing a snatch of song and having to investigate to hear something that roots you to the spot.

I'm Back

Inventory is over and it went very well except for at the start and was caused by outside sources who thought they were so smart but didn't know what they were doing and I really don't want to go into all of that, but our end of it went very well.

The cold is finally in retreat. It's still hanging on, but the worst, I hope, is over. It hit the hardest on Inventory night of course. I thought I was going to hack a lung up. The next day wasn't that great, but today when I woke up I felt halfway decent. In fact right now I feel pretty good. The fact that I'm actually off the next three days might have a little to do with that too.

So I'm back and hopefully blogging and visiting in the next few days, trying to catch up with everyone. If I left any messages that made no sense on anyone's blog in the last few days it was the fever...

Friday, January 09, 2009

The Wire

Ok, I know I just said I won't be around for the next few days and here I am. One thing being sick has left me not wanting to do anything but lay around in bed and while I'm home laying in bed I figure I can at least watch tv and what I've been watching is The Wire. I recently purchased the complete series and am now on Season Five, the final one. I'll talk later about how good this show is, but I thought I'd just leave with the introduction of the show in this scene.

Missing

I may be missing for the next few days. I woke up yesterday feeling sick and don't feel much better today. And of course this Monday is Inventory so there is no chance of missing any work the next few days. So between Inventory and overall Sickness I might be taking a few days off from blogging. But don't worry...I shall return.

Old School Fridays: The Year That Was...

A song from the year I graduated high school. The year was 1977 and the band is the Ramones.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Best of 2008: Gaslight Anthem

This group is from New Brunswick New Jersey and wears its Jersey sound proudly. The influence of Bruce Springsteen is evident from the first cords of their songs. Their sound has elements of everything from punk music to Tom Waits as well as Springsteen. This is one of those albums you might have to do some searching for. I never did find it as a brick and mortar store, I ended up getting it online as a digital download.

For those that feel like Springsteen has moved beyond his favorite subjects this band sings about hometown life, cars and girls. They bring fun to their music and deserve a lot wider recognition.

The 59 Sound | Music Codes

New Springsteen

Another one I'm waiting for this year is Bruce Springsteen's newest Working On A Dream. This one is slated for the week before the Super Bowl, where Bruce is going to be the half time show. The week before his new album comes out Bruce is releasing a new Greatest Hits that will be exclusive to Walmart. The new album will be everywhere, it's only the Greatest Hits that you'll only find at Walmart.

1. Outlaw Pete

2. My Lucky Day

3. Working On a Dream

4. Queen of the Supermarket

5. What Love Can Do

6. This Life

7. Good Eye

8. Tomorrow Never Knows

9. Life Itself

10. Kingdom of Days

11. Surprise, Surprise

12. The Last Carnival

13. The Wrestler (Bonus Track)

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