Game 7!!! Pistons won for the first time in San Antonio since 1997, and became the first road team down 3-2 ever to win an NBA Finals game. Plus this is the first NBA Finals game 7 since 1994, should be fun.



In other news, Billy Corgan has announced plans to "renew and revive" The Smashing Pumpkins. I don't have a clue what this means, but I am hoping that means James Iha and D'Arcy are involved (no doubt that Jimmy Chamberlain will be drumming). Interesting announcement to make the day you release a solo album.

(Listening to: )

CDs coming out in the second half of 2005 that I am excited about:
Billy Corgan- The Future Embrace (June 21)
Veda- The Weight of An Empty Room (July 26)
Astronaut Pushers- EP (July)
Luxury- Health & Sport (August)
Nada Surf- The Weight Is a Gift (September)
Death Cab for Cutie- Plans (September)
The Juliana Theory- Deadbeat Sweet Heartbeat (November)

The Pistons look terrible, the first two NBA Finals games were embarrassing in more ways than one. Tonight maybe they’ll redeem themselves.

I LOVE PINBACK.

(Listening to: )

Sunday night my wife, my sister, and I went to see Over the Rhine and Andrew Bird at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville. The show was also broadcast live via Lightning 100, I don’t know if they will put the audio up online or not. Anyway, if I hadn’t been there, it would have been an amazing thing to hear Over the Rhine broadcast live on one of Nashville’s biggest radio stations. Now the question is why doesn’t the station play Over the Rhine in regular rotation?

3rd and Lindsley is a great venue, I have been aware of it for over 10 years, but somehow I had never been. It is a restaurant, with all of the seating being at tables or the bar. We got there early, about 6, and had to wait in line for the door to open. Glad we did though as the show ended up being sold out in advance, and we got great seats as most people had to stand. We sat at a table on the edge of the second floor and had a terrific view looking down on the stage. My sister took tons of pictures, I’ll try to get a link when she puts them online. Later on in the night Matt Slocum walked in and I wished we had saved him a seat, that would have been some good conversation (Always enjoyable to talk to the songwriter of my favorite band of all time!). I was hoping he would end up playing guitar or cello with Over the Rhine, but he ended up being there as a fan just like me.

The first artist, Kim Taylor, went on about 8:15 and played for about 30 minutes. I think I had heard her name before, but never her music. It was just her and acoustic guitar, It was OK. She has a great voice though, similar to Karin’s, and used some interesting effects on her guitar. The highlight of her set was her vocal imitation of a trumpet during her last song. “I know I look ridiculous when I do this,” she said, “Depending on the night it either sounds like a kazoo or a trumpet.”

Andrew Bird started the live broadcast at 9 p.m. He was INCREDIBLE. I had heard of him as well, only knowing that he had previously been the violinist for the Squirrel Nut Zippers. I intend to look at his website in depth later today. We actually heard his sound check as we waited in line outside, and I assumed he had at least 7 or 8 people on stage because of the full sound. I was surprised to discover when his set started that it was only him and a drummer! The first song started with Andrew picking his violin, recording it, playing it back, and then adding on the layers. The second part was him playing his violin normally, then whistling, then playing his electric guitar, then singing, and later playing his glockenspiel. Although he would only do one or two things at a time, he used effects to have all the different instruments going at once. He is easily the best whistler I have ever heard! The drummer played a keyboard on most songs with his left hand while he drummed, I can’t imagine trying to do that. Anyway, somehow two people pulled off the sound of a full band. This was impressive by itself, but the music was great as well. I would place the sound somewhere in between Sufjan Stevens and the Arcade Fire.

Over the Rhine went on at 10 as the radio broadcast was to end at 11. They continued to play after the radio part ended however. Their set list was:

Stella’s Tarantella (Drunkard’s Prayer)
I Want You to Be My Love (Drunkard’s Prayer)
Born (Drunkard’s Prayer)
Spark (Drunkard’s Prayer)
Lookin’ Forward (Drunkard’s Prayer)
Anything at All (Ohio)
Suitcase (Ohio)
Firefly (Drunkard’s Prayer)
All I Need Is Everything (Good Dog Bad Dog)
Cruel and Pretty (Ohio)
Moondance (cover of Van Morrison song)
-end of radio broadcast-
12. Faithfully Dangerous (Good Dog Bad Dog)
13. Latter Days (Good Dog Bad Dog)
-encore-
14. My Love is Fever (Eve)
I thought the set was just about perfect. I was thrilled for the inclusion of three songs from my favorite Over the Rhine release, ‘Good Dog Bad Dog.’ The played most of ‘Drunkard’s Prayer,’ as they are touring to support it, but I was surprised they did not perform the title track.

Instrumentally, one of the best Over the Rhine shows I have ever seen. The last time I saw Over the Rhine is was just Karin and Linford, so it was nice to have the full band. The line-up was:

Karin Berquist: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano
Linford Detweiler: Piano, Electric Bass, Acoustic Guitar
Kim Taylor: Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Rick Plant: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass, Acoustic Fretless Bass
Devon Ashley: Drums

Most of the songs from the new album sounded identical to the studio versions. Kim Taylor’s vocals blended perfectly with Karin’s, it honestly sounded like Karin was backing up herself. I had never seen Linford play bass before, but he was excellent although looking awkward. Rick and Devon were both incredible, I had never seen them play before. On a few songs Rick, Devon, and Linford were essentially a jazz trio backing Karin’s vocals. The last 3 songs they played were all dramatically different than the album versions and included terrific instrumental solos and breakdowns.

I love Over the Rhine!

(Listening to: MxPx- ‘Panic’)

My wife and I went to see Brandtson last night, we really enjoyed it. It was the first time she had been to an indie show like that, but she loves the new Brandtson cd, and they played almost all of it, so she enjoyed it. 11 total songs, 8 off 'Send us a Signal':

Brandtson
The End, Nashville, TN
5/16/2005
1. Who Are You Now (Send Us a Signal)
2. Throwing Rocks Tonite (Send Us a Signal)
3. Just Breathe (Send Us a Signal)
4. Mercy Medical (Send Us a Signal)
5. Over and Out (Send Us a Signal)
6. You Do the Science (Death and Taxes EP)
7. Mexico (Send Us a Signal)
8. Drawing A Line In The Sand (Send Us a Signal)
9. Escapist (Send Us a Signal)
10. Cry Me A River (Justin Timberlake cover)
11. (encore) Shannon Said (Fallen Star Collection)

This was my 14th time (I think) to see Brandtson, and a much different show. In the past, if they played 10 songs, the most they would play off any one release would be 3 songs; And they always played at least one song from each of their releases. The last time I saw them was August of 2003 in Frankfurt, Germany and it was like this. But, since then they have released by far their best work, 'Send us a Signal,' so that is what they focus on.

(Listening to: Veda- ‘The Weight of an Empty Room’)

I saw the Appleseed Cast on Thursday night, it was outstanding. Here is the setlist, songs are definitely correct, order could be a little off:

The Appleseed Cast
The Basement, Nashville, TN
May 12, 2005

1. On Reflection (Low Level Owl vol. 1)
2. Steps and Numbers (Low Level Owl vol. 1)
3. (new song)
4. Fight Song (Two Conversations)
5. Hanging Marionette (Two Conversations)
6. (new song)
7. Fishing the Sky (Mare Vitalis)
8. Sunset Drama King (Low Level Owl vol. 2)
9. Blind Man's Arrow (Low Level Owl vol. 1)
10. (new song)

The new songs were all over the map musically. The first one was a 4-minute melodic rocker similar to the songs on 'Two Conversations.' The second was 7 minutes or so, started slow, continued to build, and exploded at the end. It had a very unique swirling guitar line and uncommon tempo. It was unlike any Appleseed Cast song I have heard. The last one was a 10 minute instrumental track which sounded like it could have been on 'Mare Vitalis.'

It was a great show, and I am going to see another one, Brandtson, tonight!

(Listening to: Tess Wiley- Rainy Day Assembly)

We are moving to Rome!

Not Italy (maybe someday?), but Georgia! I will be a high school graphic design teacher at Darlington School, head swim coach, and assistant cross country coach. We are excited to say the least!

My wife is running the half-marathon in Nashville this weekend, I can’t wait to watch her.

My brother has 4 new songs of his online, they are pretty great: Acrefoot

The new Starflyer album is amazing! I have been a fan from the beginning (which was more than 10 years ago, wow), and I haven’t listen to an album so much in the first week I have owned it since ‘Americana.’ ‘Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice’ is definitely my favorite SF59 album from the bands’ ‘second era.’ It is dark, yet melodic and catchy. And I usually complain about short albums (9 songs, 32 minutes), but this one seems perfect. The album artwork is beautiful as usual. I recommend buying the cd directly from the band, it is cheap, and you will get it fast. Only $12 including shipping, and I got mine 4 days after paying Jason Martin, and he sent it from CA to TN.

All my sports teams have had a pretty great month. The Pistons are up 2-0 in their first round series against the 76ers, and are on their way to defending their NBA title. The Orioles are 14-7, and off to their best start in 10 years or so. They are also first in the AL East, the best division in baseball (which includes the Red Sox and Yankees). Auburn had four players from it’s 13-0 team taken in the first round of the NFL draft, two to the Redskins. Carlos Rodgers was a great pick for Washington, but Jason Campbell, not so much. Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams should both start for their Florida NFL teams, they will be fun to watch. The Redskins are the only one of my teams that continues to suck, but at least Patrick Ramsey is going into this season as a confident starter.

(Listening to: Explosions in the Sky- The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place)

Well, I predicted the winner of the NCAA Tournament correctly again, but didn't get much else right after the first round.

I saw 'Blade Runner' for the first time two days ago. I liked it, but it was the director's cut and from everything I have read I think I will like the original version much better. It was fun to hear the things Mortal sampled on 'Fathom.'

Five new cds released in the last month you should all buy:
1. Over the Rhine- Drunkard's Prayer
2. Starflyer 59- Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice (out next tuesday)
3. The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers- The Mother of Love Emulates the Shape of Cynthia
4. Jesse Sprinkle- Unnoticed
5. Mae- The Everglow

(Listening to: Over the Rhine- Drunkard's Prayer)

"Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans."- John Steinbeck

I don't think I have ever put that quote on here, but I absolutely love it. Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors, and he expresses my sentiments exactly.

The greatest events in sports is upon us- The NCAA Basketball Tournament- I love it!

(Listening to: Fiona Apple- 'Extraordinary Machine')

Over the Rhine's new album, 'Drunkard's Prayer,' will be released March 29. You can pre-order it and get two free mp3s from it here.

I've recently rediscovered the Swedish band Logh. They had one album released in the States on Deep Elm a few years ago, but they have two other newer cds only released in Europe that I need to get. You can download 5 free mp3s of their music here.

(Listening to: Logh- 'The Raging Sun')

You can download the song 'Transatlanticism' (Death Cab for Cutie) as performed by my sister and brother at my wedding here. (Right click, then "Save Target as...") It was recorded live, so don't expect high sound quality; but, it is definitely worth hearing.

(Listening to: Eisley- Room Noises)