Feeling a bit hit over the head with a 'WooHoo let's party' message
Black Eyed Peas- opening for U2 in Las Vegas 10-23-2009
First song: "Let's Get It Started" Hahaha I get it, it's a little winky winky joke to the listeners.
6 or 8 more songs, most of which were forgettable.
Last song: The latest hit single "I Gotta Feeling"
'That tonight's gonna be a good night...'
Repeat 'good night' over and over until we can't even see anymore due to the bruises on our heads.
Their set could have been summarized as follows:
"Started"
Fergie is a skank
Will has bad shades
Dancing boom-boxes
40 minutes of cotton candy pseudo-soul
"Good Night"
Goodnight.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Vampyr
So. There's a bumload of talk these days about 'Sexiest Vampires' and 'Best Vampires' of all time and other such nonsense.
I'm jumping on the vampire rating bandwagon and offering my own list. You'll find nobody named Edward, Buffy, Lestat or Angel here, I've stuck to the hardcore, not-quite-so-pretty vamps.
Well, there's some pretty boys, but not pretty like Angel.
Top 10 Vampires of all time:
#10: Max Shreck- Shadow of the Vampire. Willem Defoe. Awesome treatment of 'Nosferatu.'
#9: David- The Lost Boys. Before he became Jack Bauer, Keifer was a sweet vampyr.
#8: Count von Count- Sesame Street. Scary and educational at the same time. Beat that!
#7: Count Orlok- Nosferatu. Pretty much started the genre. And is still a good watch.
#6: Count Dracula- Nosferatu the Vampyre. A lesser known but finely done flick. Check it out.
#5: Count Dracula- Horror of Dracula. Saruman as Dracula. Woohoo!
#4: Count Dracula- Bram Stoker's Dracula. Gary Oldman kicking daywalker butt. Awesome.
#3: Count Dracula as portrayed by Bela Lugosi. Holy crap. I saw this one when I was a youngster, and it scarred (scared?) me for life.
#2: John- The Hunger. David Bowie. Bauhaus. Susan Sarandon. A life-changing movie.
And the #1 vampire of all time:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Count Chocula.
Don't argue. You know it's true.
I'm jumping on the vampire rating bandwagon and offering my own list. You'll find nobody named Edward, Buffy, Lestat or Angel here, I've stuck to the hardcore, not-quite-so-pretty vamps.
Well, there's some pretty boys, but not pretty like Angel.
Top 10 Vampires of all time:
#10: Max Shreck- Shadow of the Vampire. Willem Defoe. Awesome treatment of 'Nosferatu.'
#9: David- The Lost Boys. Before he became Jack Bauer, Keifer was a sweet vampyr.
#8: Count von Count- Sesame Street. Scary and educational at the same time. Beat that!
#7: Count Orlok- Nosferatu. Pretty much started the genre. And is still a good watch.
#6: Count Dracula- Nosferatu the Vampyre. A lesser known but finely done flick. Check it out.
#5: Count Dracula- Horror of Dracula. Saruman as Dracula. Woohoo!
#4: Count Dracula- Bram Stoker's Dracula. Gary Oldman kicking daywalker butt. Awesome.
#3: Count Dracula as portrayed by Bela Lugosi. Holy crap. I saw this one when I was a youngster, and it scarred (scared?) me for life.
#2: John- The Hunger. David Bowie. Bauhaus. Susan Sarandon. A life-changing movie.
And the #1 vampire of all time:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Count Chocula.
Don't argue. You know it's true.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Art Nerves
I've spent a lifetime backstage at events: sporting events, concerts, plays, festivals, etc
The environment behind the scenes of any event can be very tense. 'Is anybody going to show up?' 'Will I remember the words?' 'I hope that horse doesn't buck me off during the gun battle again' and such. Musicians are usually very calm about their experiences. Actors are less mellow- they often explode in furies of emotional chaos that could make an insane asylum look normal. Nevertheless every performer is unique, so my generalizations are weak at best. Just observations.
The one thing that I've always cherished about the experience of doing live performances is the 'house open' half hour, where you've finished all the preparations, all the elements are in place, people are getting into their costumes/performance clothes and the audience is filing in.
This is also usually when the food is provided and the paychecks are handed out.
I've seen musicians with pretty crazy pre-show rituals, everything from substance abuse to yoga. From vocal exercises to jogging.
Actors also have rituals and routines. Bonding exercises with fellow performers, stretching, meditation and medication.
Technicians usually use the time to make out with each other or have farting contests (in the case of amateurs/beginners) or balance their checkbooks, check email, call home and talk to the kids, do some auto maintenance, etc. (professionals/more experienced.)
My own ritual is simple. I find a way to detach from the chaos of life and get into a zone where nothing exists but the show. Sometimes I do this by watching the sunset. Sometimes I go into a dark room and do breathing exercises. Occasionally I listen to some music or watch a video. Usually though, I self-hypnotize as I walk to my work position. In an amphitheater I finish my onstage checks and head up to the control position. By the time I'm in position, I am tranced out to the point of being able to focus singly on the performance at hand. I've seen pictures and video of me working in which I was not behaving as I do in real life, nor did I remember having the pictures taken. Very strange at best.
OK. The catalyst for this rambling rubbish was this:
I've dealt with performing artists forever, but not traditional artists. You know- painters, sculptors, visual artists. The other day I was lucky enough to work on a project with a couple of very talented visual artists. We did the installation and things were going well. As I cleaned up, I felt a very familiar sensation. That old feeling that the 'house is going to open in 15 minutes' and I needed to clean up, get out of the way, eat some food and prepare for the performance. The funny thing is, the artists had nervousness and rituals very similar to the things I have seen countless times before.
Art is art, regardless of the medium.
The environment behind the scenes of any event can be very tense. 'Is anybody going to show up?' 'Will I remember the words?' 'I hope that horse doesn't buck me off during the gun battle again' and such. Musicians are usually very calm about their experiences. Actors are less mellow- they often explode in furies of emotional chaos that could make an insane asylum look normal. Nevertheless every performer is unique, so my generalizations are weak at best. Just observations.
The one thing that I've always cherished about the experience of doing live performances is the 'house open' half hour, where you've finished all the preparations, all the elements are in place, people are getting into their costumes/performance clothes and the audience is filing in.
This is also usually when the food is provided and the paychecks are handed out.
I've seen musicians with pretty crazy pre-show rituals, everything from substance abuse to yoga. From vocal exercises to jogging.
Actors also have rituals and routines. Bonding exercises with fellow performers, stretching, meditation and medication.
Technicians usually use the time to make out with each other or have farting contests (in the case of amateurs/beginners) or balance their checkbooks, check email, call home and talk to the kids, do some auto maintenance, etc. (professionals/more experienced.)
My own ritual is simple. I find a way to detach from the chaos of life and get into a zone where nothing exists but the show. Sometimes I do this by watching the sunset. Sometimes I go into a dark room and do breathing exercises. Occasionally I listen to some music or watch a video. Usually though, I self-hypnotize as I walk to my work position. In an amphitheater I finish my onstage checks and head up to the control position. By the time I'm in position, I am tranced out to the point of being able to focus singly on the performance at hand. I've seen pictures and video of me working in which I was not behaving as I do in real life, nor did I remember having the pictures taken. Very strange at best.
OK. The catalyst for this rambling rubbish was this:
I've dealt with performing artists forever, but not traditional artists. You know- painters, sculptors, visual artists. The other day I was lucky enough to work on a project with a couple of very talented visual artists. We did the installation and things were going well. As I cleaned up, I felt a very familiar sensation. That old feeling that the 'house is going to open in 15 minutes' and I needed to clean up, get out of the way, eat some food and prepare for the performance. The funny thing is, the artists had nervousness and rituals very similar to the things I have seen countless times before.
Art is art, regardless of the medium.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Black and White
It's not a matter of true or false.
It's not a decision between right and wrong.
It's not good vs. evil.
It's simply a matter of integrity.
Painting anything as something it is not is a deliberate act of deception.
Passively allowing millions of people to believe something that you know isn't true is lying.
Even worse, encouraging those people to defend you from attackers is so incredibly twisted.
When everything you stand for is inflated, and incorrect. And you know it, yet you continue to perpetuate the old story. I guess you don't want to jeopardize your income and that of so many of your friends and family members.
How do you sleep at night?
Eventually it will all be exposed.
It's not a decision between right and wrong.
It's not good vs. evil.
It's simply a matter of integrity.
Painting anything as something it is not is a deliberate act of deception.
Passively allowing millions of people to believe something that you know isn't true is lying.
Even worse, encouraging those people to defend you from attackers is so incredibly twisted.
When everything you stand for is inflated, and incorrect. And you know it, yet you continue to perpetuate the old story. I guess you don't want to jeopardize your income and that of so many of your friends and family members.
How do you sleep at night?
Eventually it will all be exposed.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
10 months
Just what are they so miffed about?
That 40 million Americans with zero health insurance will now have a doctor like a normal 1st world nation?
Are they pissed that their insurance companies can't deny them coverage for a pre-existing condition anymore?
Or are they just mad because their party lost the battle?
They can't be mad at the 900 billion dollar price tag over 10 years...considering these teabaggers didn't say a peep when Bush invaded the wrong damn country and cost us twice that amount, right?
Naw, I think their guy lost last November, and they're just a bunch of sore losers.
And it obviously chaps their hide to see the graceful winners get right to work and pass, in 10 months, against substantial resistance, a piece of legislation that most Americans find themselves favoring.
I have avoided gloating for exactly one year now. That time has ended. My guy won, and he was a good choice. The American way of life will be better for the strong, bold movements and actions taken by President Obama and the 111th Congress.
That 40 million Americans with zero health insurance will now have a doctor like a normal 1st world nation?
Are they pissed that their insurance companies can't deny them coverage for a pre-existing condition anymore?
Or are they just mad because their party lost the battle?
They can't be mad at the 900 billion dollar price tag over 10 years...considering these teabaggers didn't say a peep when Bush invaded the wrong damn country and cost us twice that amount, right?
Naw, I think their guy lost last November, and they're just a bunch of sore losers.
And it obviously chaps their hide to see the graceful winners get right to work and pass, in 10 months, against substantial resistance, a piece of legislation that most Americans find themselves favoring.
I have avoided gloating for exactly one year now. That time has ended. My guy won, and he was a good choice. The American way of life will be better for the strong, bold movements and actions taken by President Obama and the 111th Congress.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
An Open Letter to U2
Fully plagiarized, cut and pasted from a post on www.atU2.com by BenHur1999.
I just happen to agree, more than I can possibly express with my own words.
An open letter to U2.
Here's the deal.
You've been doing this for a while & you are very good at what you do.
I've been to a number of your concerts and love them.
Now I assume that you are aware of the numerous requests for you to vary your set.
And I respect your creative decision, up until now, to take a different approach.
I realise that since ZooTV, your shows have been more like broadway shows. With planned 'movements' and themes.
BUT and here's the rub.
If the U2 Live show wants to remain a hot ticket for the next 10 years.
Things have to change. Why?
Because the world has changed.
Zoo TV, Popmart & Elevation, 95% of people who went to a U2 concert had to wait until the DVD of the tour came out if they were to get an another perspective on the tour.
Now, more and more people will know your exact moves before they arrive.
If this is the case. I reckon the next world tour you do will end up being your last.
Why? No element of surprise.
Now let's face it. You have done everything you can to surprise us with the staging of this tour. It is incredibly ambitious. But where do you go from here?
Back to Arenas? nup, you did that with elevation. Worked well then. Predictable now. You could try to go bigger. But really it will start to get ridiculous.
So, to maintain interest. You need a new approach.
I know it may be very difficult for you as a band.
But what you need to do is SACK Willie Williams.
Williams is a genius. Don't get me wrong.
But once you have Williams and a whole team of creative directors.
The creativity of U2 is no longer necessary.
You don't feel you have to be creative.
So what happens?
You get lazy.
Or you work really really hard on your set-pieces.
And you pull off a brilliant show that can be taken around the world.
But with Youtube, instant access, more and more people who buy tickets to U2, will take a peek at what the tour is like.
And when the rest of the world see you are doing the same thing, night after night.
You're game is up.
But here's my prediction:
if this is not U2's last world tour,
U2360 will be the last world tour U2 will be able to 'get away with' a set-piece-show, and still draw the crowds. It will mark the end of a 19 year tradition for the band.
If they keep doing a set-standardized-show, they will be in a Vegas equivalent contract very, very soon.
1989 you went away and 'dreamed it all up again'. You reinvented your songs, your music your approach to life, you made a brilliant stage show. And you have reinvented your music a number of times since then.
BUT
You now (for the first time in your career - a bit risky I know!) reinvent your approach to playing together live.
You need to spend a year NOT recording an album.
But playing your entire back catalogue, together as a band.
Learn to be bit impromptu as a band,
Learn to be able to scribble a setlist out in the dressing room.
Be the first band that can fill stadiums AND be different every night without relying on a Willie Williams magician.
learn to be able to pull off any song (within Bono's vocal range) at the drop of a hat.
It will be hard.
But it will be worth it.
U2 shows will once again have a buzz about them.
They will no longer be known for themed sections of the show, but for the uniqueness of each individual show.
Now, you say, this only appeals to the hard core fans.
Perhaps. But don't under value your hard-core fans, they are the only people you can guarentee (for the time being) will actually turn up to your concerts.
If you lose your fan-base, you've lost your tour.
U2 are not beyond their ability to generate a buzz, create mystique and fill stadiums.
But they have to work really hard on lifting their live game.
If the adrenalin is pumping because they are about to play Last Night on Earth and straight into Heartland, followed by a sped-up version of Pride. That won't be too bad will it.
They need to get the fans to do the promo for them.
You have so many fans, that they can mobilise for PR.
If the set-list is changing every night, there will be a buzz, because fans will want to chat again.
And when millions of global U2 fans chat.
U2 comes back.
Mystique is regained.
The world is a better place.
Come on U2.
Stop songwriting and start playing properly.
Don't outsource your creativity.
Come on U2. Do it.
I just happen to agree, more than I can possibly express with my own words.
An open letter to U2.
Here's the deal.
You've been doing this for a while & you are very good at what you do.
I've been to a number of your concerts and love them.
Now I assume that you are aware of the numerous requests for you to vary your set.
And I respect your creative decision, up until now, to take a different approach.
I realise that since ZooTV, your shows have been more like broadway shows. With planned 'movements' and themes.
BUT and here's the rub.
If the U2 Live show wants to remain a hot ticket for the next 10 years.
Things have to change. Why?
Because the world has changed.
Zoo TV, Popmart & Elevation, 95% of people who went to a U2 concert had to wait until the DVD of the tour came out if they were to get an another perspective on the tour.
Now, more and more people will know your exact moves before they arrive.
If this is the case. I reckon the next world tour you do will end up being your last.
Why? No element of surprise.
Now let's face it. You have done everything you can to surprise us with the staging of this tour. It is incredibly ambitious. But where do you go from here?
Back to Arenas? nup, you did that with elevation. Worked well then. Predictable now. You could try to go bigger. But really it will start to get ridiculous.
So, to maintain interest. You need a new approach.
I know it may be very difficult for you as a band.
But what you need to do is SACK Willie Williams.
Williams is a genius. Don't get me wrong.
But once you have Williams and a whole team of creative directors.
The creativity of U2 is no longer necessary.
You don't feel you have to be creative.
So what happens?
You get lazy.
Or you work really really hard on your set-pieces.
And you pull off a brilliant show that can be taken around the world.
But with Youtube, instant access, more and more people who buy tickets to U2, will take a peek at what the tour is like.
And when the rest of the world see you are doing the same thing, night after night.
You're game is up.
But here's my prediction:
if this is not U2's last world tour,
U2360 will be the last world tour U2 will be able to 'get away with' a set-piece-show, and still draw the crowds. It will mark the end of a 19 year tradition for the band.
If they keep doing a set-standardized-show, they will be in a Vegas equivalent contract very, very soon.
1989 you went away and 'dreamed it all up again'. You reinvented your songs, your music your approach to life, you made a brilliant stage show. And you have reinvented your music a number of times since then.
BUT
You now (for the first time in your career - a bit risky I know!) reinvent your approach to playing together live.
You need to spend a year NOT recording an album.
But playing your entire back catalogue, together as a band.
Learn to be bit impromptu as a band,
Learn to be able to scribble a setlist out in the dressing room.
Be the first band that can fill stadiums AND be different every night without relying on a Willie Williams magician.
learn to be able to pull off any song (within Bono's vocal range) at the drop of a hat.
It will be hard.
But it will be worth it.
U2 shows will once again have a buzz about them.
They will no longer be known for themed sections of the show, but for the uniqueness of each individual show.
Now, you say, this only appeals to the hard core fans.
Perhaps. But don't under value your hard-core fans, they are the only people you can guarentee (for the time being) will actually turn up to your concerts.
If you lose your fan-base, you've lost your tour.
U2 are not beyond their ability to generate a buzz, create mystique and fill stadiums.
But they have to work really hard on lifting their live game.
If the adrenalin is pumping because they are about to play Last Night on Earth and straight into Heartland, followed by a sped-up version of Pride. That won't be too bad will it.
They need to get the fans to do the promo for them.
You have so many fans, that they can mobilise for PR.
If the set-list is changing every night, there will be a buzz, because fans will want to chat again.
And when millions of global U2 fans chat.
U2 comes back.
Mystique is regained.
The world is a better place.
Come on U2.
Stop songwriting and start playing properly.
Don't outsource your creativity.
Come on U2. Do it.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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