My new favorite post from Craigslist "musicians" ads:
==============
"The kind of band that solves mysteries"
Reply to: comm-620155061@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-03-26, 11:46PM CDT
I can't play a single instrument, but I'm pretty good at coming up with Big Ideas, and my latest is to form a band, the kind that goes around solving mysteries. We would need to write one or two songs about groovy times and what it's like to be in love, then the rest of our set/album would present some (scripted) stage banter setting up our characters and a mystery, some sound effects and incidental music, a couple songs that thicken the plot, maybe a chase scene, and then a totally rockin' rock song about solving the mystery.
Ideal bandmates include people who can dress like a teenager of the mid-to-late 60s, the 70s, or 90s grunge, esp. if you know how to play an instrument, and people who are good at writing dialog or doing different voices. Sorry, but if you want to look like a teenager of the 80s you HAVE to be able to play casio keyboards or key-tar, no exceptions. TALKING DOGS ESPECIALLY WELCOME!@1
* Location: Uptown/Chicago
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
===========================
I want to be in that band
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Seize
Sometimes, when I look at the things that happen in the world, I wonder if the only really sane, human reaction is immediate, intense, and complete Action. The fact that we don't dive screaming into the face of _____________ is maybe a measure of our insanity. No matter how certain I am of the fact that Action of this kind doesn't do anything---sometimes it mystifies me that we don't do it anyway.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
1,000,000 things
I haven't updated in far too long. Now I have too many things to write about. A list: from which I hope to pick and choose posts in the days that follow:
-St. Patrick's day: first show for Three Spying Soldiers at a bar, then two nights later a very successful party gig.
-Parade for said Saint's Day: where everyone was Irish, but none quite so much as the Welder's union. Bejaysus.
-A few days spent in Pittsburgh with Julia, Molly, and Oona. Highlights: Sam's subs, Pamela's, Lulu's noodles, Mom's Pesto (good food); hitch-hiking in Oakland at 2:45 am (seriously amazing); Someone other than Dan almost getting in a bar fight (also amazing); going up Mt. Washington (named #2 most beautiful view in America in a somewhat suspect Top 10 list), some good time spent with Grandpa (who is looking very healthy for his 93 years) and much more.
-Progressing work on "Of Mice and Men" and the "War Music"-based play.
-Relaxing time spent in Chicago.
Very quick thoughts---I'd forgotten how great Pittsburgh is. I was talking with Hannah about it earlier---and while I'm still glad I moved away, and I don't know when I'd want to go back...I think I'm re-affirming that it'll be where I want to raise my children. Just a wonderful place to grow up, and a wonderful place to return to.
Now I have three days with Dad, which will be very nice as well---return to Gambier Wednesday, then back to Chicago Thursday.
Until then---take care!
-St. Patrick's day: first show for Three Spying Soldiers at a bar, then two nights later a very successful party gig.
-Parade for said Saint's Day: where everyone was Irish, but none quite so much as the Welder's union. Bejaysus.
-A few days spent in Pittsburgh with Julia, Molly, and Oona. Highlights: Sam's subs, Pamela's, Lulu's noodles, Mom's Pesto (good food); hitch-hiking in Oakland at 2:45 am (seriously amazing); Someone other than Dan almost getting in a bar fight (also amazing); going up Mt. Washington (named #2 most beautiful view in America in a somewhat suspect Top 10 list), some good time spent with Grandpa (who is looking very healthy for his 93 years) and much more.
-Progressing work on "Of Mice and Men" and the "War Music"-based play.
-Relaxing time spent in Chicago.
Very quick thoughts---I'd forgotten how great Pittsburgh is. I was talking with Hannah about it earlier---and while I'm still glad I moved away, and I don't know when I'd want to go back...I think I'm re-affirming that it'll be where I want to raise my children. Just a wonderful place to grow up, and a wonderful place to return to.
Now I have three days with Dad, which will be very nice as well---return to Gambier Wednesday, then back to Chicago Thursday.
Until then---take care!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
We Declare our Independence Day
This may seem out of character.
I'm not sure where it came from.
I'm really unsure of where it's going.
But I think it's going to a good place.
I'm tired of playing by the rules. No, that's not right, I'm not setting myself up as some kind of rebel.
I'm tired of following the road. The Ladder, I guess, is the right analogy. Get a good internship at a small theatre, so you can get a better internship at a big theatre, so you can assistant direct, so that you can become an Artistic Associate, so that you can become an Artistic Director of a mid-size company in New Jersey, which then catapults you to an AD position at a big theatre in NYC/Chi-Town/LA.
It's just...I don't know. I've been setting myself up on that ladder for a long time. I've gotten a few steps up it. I think it was, without a question, the best thing for me to be doing.
Now, though? I don't know. I don't know if I'm disenchanted with it---I don't think that's it at all. If anything, I've become more enchanted with the Work itself, and I'm tired of all the hackery around it. Maybe it's something about the theatrical atmosphere of Chicago---it makes me want to say: "No! I've got something I want to show to people---I'm going to show it to them!" This is a place where you can do that, and the public supports it. If I wanted to be in a world of donor relations and corporate sponsorships, I'd go where I would get paid huge bundles of cash to do it. I want to direct. I want to make things happen to people because they sat down in a dark room. Yes, sure, fine, I want to be famous. But I also want to communicate. I want to do theatre.
I think I had forgotten that for a bit.
I guess the problem is, I'm not at a point where I can "just Direct"--at least, not if I also want to eat. Who knows--maybe tomorrow I'll be back, or on a different path. Lord knows I don't want to be stuck...well, doing mediocre shows, or small-time stuff all my life. I guess, though, I don't want to trick myself into -not- doing shows either. Maybe I need to, at this point, have a "day job" that isn't in the theatre, which will further inform my theatrical work. Didn't someone famous say "You can't make art if you haven't lived"? I'm feeling that, a bit. I want work that will give me experiences that I can bring back to the theatre.
We'll see. Man, brain is all over the place today. I feel inspired.
I'm not sure where it came from.
I'm really unsure of where it's going.
But I think it's going to a good place.
I'm tired of playing by the rules. No, that's not right, I'm not setting myself up as some kind of rebel.
I'm tired of following the road. The Ladder, I guess, is the right analogy. Get a good internship at a small theatre, so you can get a better internship at a big theatre, so you can assistant direct, so that you can become an Artistic Associate, so that you can become an Artistic Director of a mid-size company in New Jersey, which then catapults you to an AD position at a big theatre in NYC/Chi-Town/LA.
It's just...I don't know. I've been setting myself up on that ladder for a long time. I've gotten a few steps up it. I think it was, without a question, the best thing for me to be doing.
Now, though? I don't know. I don't know if I'm disenchanted with it---I don't think that's it at all. If anything, I've become more enchanted with the Work itself, and I'm tired of all the hackery around it. Maybe it's something about the theatrical atmosphere of Chicago---it makes me want to say: "No! I've got something I want to show to people---I'm going to show it to them!" This is a place where you can do that, and the public supports it. If I wanted to be in a world of donor relations and corporate sponsorships, I'd go where I would get paid huge bundles of cash to do it. I want to direct. I want to make things happen to people because they sat down in a dark room. Yes, sure, fine, I want to be famous. But I also want to communicate. I want to do theatre.
I think I had forgotten that for a bit.
I guess the problem is, I'm not at a point where I can "just Direct"--at least, not if I also want to eat. Who knows--maybe tomorrow I'll be back, or on a different path. Lord knows I don't want to be stuck...well, doing mediocre shows, or small-time stuff all my life. I guess, though, I don't want to trick myself into -not- doing shows either. Maybe I need to, at this point, have a "day job" that isn't in the theatre, which will further inform my theatrical work. Didn't someone famous say "You can't make art if you haven't lived"? I'm feeling that, a bit. I want work that will give me experiences that I can bring back to the theatre.
We'll see. Man, brain is all over the place today. I feel inspired.
Tornado!
Job search for the next part of my life has begun.
You know what? I'm excited. I have no idea what comes next, but I have the feeling it's going to be a lot of fun.
Though I think I'm going to aim for it being a more sedentary job than the current one. A bit of time off the road will be nice.
I feel like I've had random endorphin boosts in the last two days---I think it means I've finally kicked my cold, and I'm finally getting enough rest. Maybe my day in yesterday was exactly what I needed.
Was weird, though---I really just looked up at the clock, thought..."hmmm, I should get a shower, start my day"...and it was 5:30 pm. So I had dinner, fell asleep on the couch...and it was 7:30. Then I read for a bit, and looked up...and it was after 10. Seriously--huge gaps, no idea where they went.
Anyway---hope all are well!
You know what? I'm excited. I have no idea what comes next, but I have the feeling it's going to be a lot of fun.
Though I think I'm going to aim for it being a more sedentary job than the current one. A bit of time off the road will be nice.
I feel like I've had random endorphin boosts in the last two days---I think it means I've finally kicked my cold, and I'm finally getting enough rest. Maybe my day in yesterday was exactly what I needed.
Was weird, though---I really just looked up at the clock, thought..."hmmm, I should get a shower, start my day"...and it was 5:30 pm. So I had dinner, fell asleep on the couch...and it was 7:30. Then I read for a bit, and looked up...and it was after 10. Seriously--huge gaps, no idea where they went.
Anyway---hope all are well!
Monday, March 10, 2008
This old house would have burned down a long time ago...
Realizing that it's been about a week since I've posted. Sorry folks---I'd say I was busy, but really, I think somehow the link to Blogger got accidentaly cut from my bookmarks, so I just forgot to check.
Thing that have happened, in no particular order:
-Anna Stevens and I went to the "Oriental Museum" down at U Chicago. If you're in Chicago, I highly recomend it---free, and it has some amazing stuff in it. Coming face to face with a Persian Bull-head...stone, maybe 15-20 feet high, weighing...I don't know how many tons...was pretty unforgettable. I actually felt the need to drop to my knees in front of it. The Persians knew what they were doing, as did the exhibit designers.
-I've developed an almost crippling self-doubt in relation to the use of apostrophes in various forms of "it's" and "its." I find myself re-working sentences to avoid the danger of using them, just in case. I blame our growing reliance on spell-check---I think generally, a spellchecker will improve one's spelling (seeing a word spelled right over and over again might naturally change one's memory)--but in this case, it won't catch it, and does not provide help for the grammatical rules. This case isn't even about forgetting the rule: it's suddenly not having a safety net. Did you see that? I reworked that sentence two or three times, and got stuck with the word anyway.
-Someone complemented me on my use of "---" when communicating on IM. Felt nice.
-Music has been moving along nicely--we had one of those "organic moments" that are so wonderful---we just naturally started playing "Knocking on Heaven's Door", using Mandolin and Concertina---it was pretty nice. Also, finally got to hear Steph sing and play a few songs---very, very cool. I'm excited.
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQi72ffzul8
-Worth checking out: "Morningwood", especially the song "Nth Degree" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCXNf4pVVsI)
-I just caught the obscene reference.
-And should have suspected it--she's married to Jimmy Urine, of MSI...who are still proving the punk is weirder and less comfortable than anything else, despite it's best attempts to sell out.
-Also, the video for "Pump it" by the Black Eyed Peas is hilarious, and it isn't the worst song.
-There are several ways to abbreviate "it is not"
-Basically, I had a moment (a while ago) of realizing...damn, life is good. I'm so glad to be playing music again.
-I've decided not to revise the spelling as rigorously as I should in this post...so you folks going through it with a fine-tooth comb, eat your heart out.
-I had a beer with a couple of older friends a few days ago...it was fun/helpful/encouraging. They're happy people, doing interesting things. I think I can do the same. Life is taking shape.
Thing that have happened, in no particular order:
-Anna Stevens and I went to the "Oriental Museum" down at U Chicago. If you're in Chicago, I highly recomend it---free, and it has some amazing stuff in it. Coming face to face with a Persian Bull-head...stone, maybe 15-20 feet high, weighing...I don't know how many tons...was pretty unforgettable. I actually felt the need to drop to my knees in front of it. The Persians knew what they were doing, as did the exhibit designers.
-I've developed an almost crippling self-doubt in relation to the use of apostrophes in various forms of "it's" and "its." I find myself re-working sentences to avoid the danger of using them, just in case. I blame our growing reliance on spell-check---I think generally, a spellchecker will improve one's spelling (seeing a word spelled right over and over again might naturally change one's memory)--but in this case, it won't catch it, and does not provide help for the grammatical rules. This case isn't even about forgetting the rule: it's suddenly not having a safety net. Did you see that? I reworked that sentence two or three times, and got stuck with the word anyway.
-Someone complemented me on my use of "---" when communicating on IM. Felt nice.
-Music has been moving along nicely--we had one of those "organic moments" that are so wonderful---we just naturally started playing "Knocking on Heaven's Door", using Mandolin and Concertina---it was pretty nice. Also, finally got to hear Steph sing and play a few songs---very, very cool. I'm excited.
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQi72ffzul8
-Worth checking out: "Morningwood", especially the song "Nth Degree" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCXNf4pVVsI)
-I just caught the obscene reference.
-And should have suspected it--she's married to Jimmy Urine, of MSI...who are still proving the punk is weirder and less comfortable than anything else, despite it's best attempts to sell out.
-Also, the video for "Pump it" by the Black Eyed Peas is hilarious, and it isn't the worst song.
-There are several ways to abbreviate "it is not"
-Basically, I had a moment (a while ago) of realizing...damn, life is good. I'm so glad to be playing music again.
-I've decided not to revise the spelling as rigorously as I should in this post...so you folks going through it with a fine-tooth comb, eat your heart out.
-I had a beer with a couple of older friends a few days ago...it was fun/helpful/encouraging. They're happy people, doing interesting things. I think I can do the same. Life is taking shape.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Missed
Three deaths in the (very) recent past that make me sad, all to different levels, and with different reasons. After my Grandmother passed away, a lot of that became very hard to process (that was the first big death "in the family" since my Grandfather 5 years ago).
However, closest, and in many ways dearest of the more recent ones, was my...step-step-grandfather, just a couple of weeks ago. He married my step-grandmother recently, and was a very sweet guy---very kind, funny, all of these things. Sharp as a tack, nothing like many of the "old man" stereotypes, which was refreshing. He was very kind to Judy (my step-grandmother), and we all very much liked him.
Second was the inescapable Pittsburgh legend Myron Cope. This man was Pittsburgh football in the same way Cowher or Bettis was. Yoi and Double-Yoi! Basically, if you haven't spent time in the steel city, it probably won't make sense---but for those of you who have...yeah. A legend.
The third occured this morning---Gary Gygax, creator of D&D, AD&D, and more. Yes. Incredibly geeky as it may be, this man is directly responsible for a lot of happiness in my middle school (and current) life. So, pour one out on the curb for Gygax too.
Anyway---thought that all might deserve a word. Again---each of very, very different significance, but it felt right.
However, closest, and in many ways dearest of the more recent ones, was my...step-step-grandfather, just a couple of weeks ago. He married my step-grandmother recently, and was a very sweet guy---very kind, funny, all of these things. Sharp as a tack, nothing like many of the "old man" stereotypes, which was refreshing. He was very kind to Judy (my step-grandmother), and we all very much liked him.
Second was the inescapable Pittsburgh legend Myron Cope. This man was Pittsburgh football in the same way Cowher or Bettis was. Yoi and Double-Yoi! Basically, if you haven't spent time in the steel city, it probably won't make sense---but for those of you who have...yeah. A legend.
The third occured this morning---Gary Gygax, creator of D&D, AD&D, and more. Yes. Incredibly geeky as it may be, this man is directly responsible for a lot of happiness in my middle school (and current) life. So, pour one out on the curb for Gygax too.
Anyway---thought that all might deserve a word. Again---each of very, very different significance, but it felt right.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Story of a...
Amazingly beautiful---its around 40-somthing degrees in Chicago, and I'm feeling like I should put on shorts!
Played music for about 5 hours yesterday---had band practice at 2 (man, am I happy that I can say that again), then Walker and I were walking out, marveled at the warmth, and decided we needed to go play in a park for a while. So we played until the sun went down and it got cold again. Then I went off and ran into Julia and Lauren Katz (who just moved to Chicago...hooray!) and had dinner down at the nodle place at the 6 corners...not quite sure what it's called, but it has fairly good food---great seaweed salad, though its no Lulu's.
Free day today---I'm going to spend some time down at the Borders down on Mag Mile, read a bit somewhere, and then see where we go from there! There's a small music shop up on Belmont I haven't been to in a while, maybe I need to check that out. Could probably also check out Joey's while I'm at it, see if they need Irish music for St. Paddy's day....
Really though (as you may have noticed from my last post), as soon as it got warm, all I've wanted to do is to run around listening to "Boys of Summer."
Have a good day, all!
Played music for about 5 hours yesterday---had band practice at 2 (man, am I happy that I can say that again), then Walker and I were walking out, marveled at the warmth, and decided we needed to go play in a park for a while. So we played until the sun went down and it got cold again. Then I went off and ran into Julia and Lauren Katz (who just moved to Chicago...hooray!) and had dinner down at the nodle place at the 6 corners...not quite sure what it's called, but it has fairly good food---great seaweed salad, though its no Lulu's.
Free day today---I'm going to spend some time down at the Borders down on Mag Mile, read a bit somewhere, and then see where we go from there! There's a small music shop up on Belmont I haven't been to in a while, maybe I need to check that out. Could probably also check out Joey's while I'm at it, see if they need Irish music for St. Paddy's day....
Really though (as you may have noticed from my last post), as soon as it got warm, all I've wanted to do is to run around listening to "Boys of Summer."
Have a good day, all!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Mesorocktamia
Out on the road today, I saw a black flag sticker on a cadillac
A little voice inside my head said:
"don’t look back. you can never look back."
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
So, here's the question----who can write me the new lyrics for the Atari's new hit,
"Boys of Sumer"?
Also:
While I likew the Atari's version of the song (and in the end, the video also...), Don Henley's video isn't bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBkAKXigXRQ&feature=related
For comparison:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIfiQePVbqU&feature=related
The bit with the little kid playing drums while the footage of the people on the beach plays on the wall is nice.
A little voice inside my head said:
"don’t look back. you can never look back."
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
So, here's the question----who can write me the new lyrics for the Atari's new hit,
"Boys of Sumer"?
Also:
While I likew the Atari's version of the song (and in the end, the video also...), Don Henley's video isn't bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBkAKXigXRQ&feature=related
For comparison:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIfiQePVbqU&feature=related
The bit with the little kid playing drums while the footage of the people on the beach plays on the wall is nice.
21st Century Digital Boy
PS: Post 101!
PPS: Bless you, Kenyon Accounting department. Paycheck arrives in Chicago the day after it was issued. Financial worries are much, much clearer.
PPS: Bless you, Kenyon Accounting department. Paycheck arrives in Chicago the day after it was issued. Financial worries are much, much clearer.
By these names I invoke you
Home---which is nice.
What is not nice is that there is a certain...odor in my apartment. No. That's not right. I smell a certain odor...and I think it might be an olfactory halucination. It has lead me to be up at 7:30 on a saturday morning, to scrub myself thouroughly, to put on what are perhaps my nicest clothes, and to pace around the apartment...wondering. It has no particular origin, or even any pattern.
I think the problem is I have it in my nose now, so wherever I go, I continue to smell it. Growl.
Attended a small soiree in Hyde Park last night, which was thoroughly enjoyable. Spent a while talking to a fellow classicist who was writing a novel based on the Odyssey...a comfortable talk, that reminded me I did know a thing or two about the Ancients---sometimes I forget, being surrounded by such scholars as Pres. Nugent and Mr. Doerries.
Know what else are neat? The Seals of Solomon.
Hmm...I think the smell may be a mix of the bread and rice I cooked yesterday. That's why you need to wash the rice, I guess (which I did...but not thoroughly enough, apparently).
I've been going back through my Classical Rhetoric texts...I'd like to re-sharpen some of those tricks we learned. I was a little too wrapped up in Comps to really fully appreciate/retain all of it---I'll have to give it another shot.
All in all, though? Things are well.
What is not nice is that there is a certain...odor in my apartment. No. That's not right. I smell a certain odor...and I think it might be an olfactory halucination. It has lead me to be up at 7:30 on a saturday morning, to scrub myself thouroughly, to put on what are perhaps my nicest clothes, and to pace around the apartment...wondering. It has no particular origin, or even any pattern.
I think the problem is I have it in my nose now, so wherever I go, I continue to smell it. Growl.
Attended a small soiree in Hyde Park last night, which was thoroughly enjoyable. Spent a while talking to a fellow classicist who was writing a novel based on the Odyssey...a comfortable talk, that reminded me I did know a thing or two about the Ancients---sometimes I forget, being surrounded by such scholars as Pres. Nugent and Mr. Doerries.
Know what else are neat? The Seals of Solomon.
Hmm...I think the smell may be a mix of the bread and rice I cooked yesterday. That's why you need to wash the rice, I guess (which I did...but not thoroughly enough, apparently).
I've been going back through my Classical Rhetoric texts...I'd like to re-sharpen some of those tricks we learned. I was a little too wrapped up in Comps to really fully appreciate/retain all of it---I'll have to give it another shot.
All in all, though? Things are well.
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