Good word
"The day is approaching when we won't bring home any kind of audio programming--on tape or disc. Instead, we'll order music through our home computer and have it delivered to us via satellite."
--Paul Terry Shea, Rolling Stone, Nov. 25, 1982 (90)
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Friday, February 04, 2005
Giving the bird
I play live music, and at almost every performance, eventually someone in the audience yells, "'Free Bird'!'", which is the name of a popular song by the 1970s Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd. It's an odd custom, one that shows no sign of going out of style, even though the ditty in question is more than 30 years old.
I think I can safely speak for the profession when I say that musicians find this maddening. Lately my group, the World's Greatest Lovers, has begun playing in response the song's rocking bridge--what our pedal steel player Adam Davis refers to as The Wankfest. But this seems only to confuse people.
What is a better response? I've heard that Phish used to perform a barbershop quartet version; this is something to consider. One of the best ideas I've heard came from Adam, who suggested that on these occasions we perform Stravinsky's "Firebird."
I play live music, and at almost every performance, eventually someone in the audience yells, "'Free Bird'!'", which is the name of a popular song by the 1970s Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd. It's an odd custom, one that shows no sign of going out of style, even though the ditty in question is more than 30 years old.
I think I can safely speak for the profession when I say that musicians find this maddening. Lately my group, the World's Greatest Lovers, has begun playing in response the song's rocking bridge--what our pedal steel player Adam Davis refers to as The Wankfest. But this seems only to confuse people.
What is a better response? I've heard that Phish used to perform a barbershop quartet version; this is something to consider. One of the best ideas I've heard came from Adam, who suggested that on these occasions we perform Stravinsky's "Firebird."
Thursday, February 03, 2005
We get letters
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 13:37:20 -0500
From: Matthew G. Stratton
Subject: Matthew Stratton needs your vote.
Dear Friends --
An environmental advocacy group sponsored a contest for a new slogan to promote hybrid cars. Out of thirty-five-thousand entries, my slogan -- "Drives great. Less filling." -- is in fourth place, and I need your vote to propel me to the top (grand prize is a new Prius, which means less of me bumming rides when I come to your town).
Anyway, if you feel like it, do me a favor and log on to
http://www.newdream.org/prius/index.php
Register, then rank "Drives great. Less filling" with a 5 and all the other top-ten suckers with a big fat ZERO. Do it for Stratton. Do it for friendship. Do it for Freedom. Yes, Do it for America.
word
mgs
p.s. the site is SLOW today, so you might wait a few days... Thanks!
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 13:37:20 -0500
From: Matthew G. Stratton
Subject: Matthew Stratton needs your vote.
Dear Friends --
An environmental advocacy group sponsored a contest for a new slogan to promote hybrid cars. Out of thirty-five-thousand entries, my slogan -- "Drives great. Less filling." -- is in fourth place, and I need your vote to propel me to the top (grand prize is a new Prius, which means less of me bumming rides when I come to your town).
Anyway, if you feel like it, do me a favor and log on to
http://www.newdream.org/prius/index.php
Register, then rank "Drives great. Less filling" with a 5 and all the other top-ten suckers with a big fat ZERO. Do it for Stratton. Do it for friendship. Do it for Freedom. Yes, Do it for America.
word
mgs
p.s. the site is SLOW today, so you might wait a few days... Thanks!
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Good word
"It is not completely a joke that Lennon enjoyed referring to 'Why Don't We Do it in the Road' as McCartney's best song."
--Tim Riley
"It is not completely a joke that Lennon enjoyed referring to 'Why Don't We Do it in the Road' as McCartney's best song."
--Tim Riley
Labels:
Good word
Fore
Today, Groundhog Day, is of course a beloved midwinter festival, but my favorite harbinger of spring is the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the pro-am golf tournament played in Palm Springs this time of year. Last weekend's champion was Justin Leonard, but I don't watch for the PGA golfing. No, I love the celebrities, who this year included Joe Pesci, Kurt Russell and Samuel L. Jackson.
What's thrilling about watching movie stars golf is that they play like real human beings. On one hole I saw Jackson drive for what looked like 15 feet, and my favorite moment came when comedian Tom Dreesen shanked a ball into the canal at the PGA West course. You seldom see pro golfers make these kinds of mistakes, and it's rare in any televised sports event to see what the game looks like played by amateurs.
Plus I love watching golf on TV, especially in winter. The courses look so warm and lush. At the Bob Hope I saw Jesper Parnevik's shadow, which means six more weeks of plaid pants.
Today, Groundhog Day, is of course a beloved midwinter festival, but my favorite harbinger of spring is the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the pro-am golf tournament played in Palm Springs this time of year. Last weekend's champion was Justin Leonard, but I don't watch for the PGA golfing. No, I love the celebrities, who this year included Joe Pesci, Kurt Russell and Samuel L. Jackson.
What's thrilling about watching movie stars golf is that they play like real human beings. On one hole I saw Jackson drive for what looked like 15 feet, and my favorite moment came when comedian Tom Dreesen shanked a ball into the canal at the PGA West course. You seldom see pro golfers make these kinds of mistakes, and it's rare in any televised sports event to see what the game looks like played by amateurs.
Plus I love watching golf on TV, especially in winter. The courses look so warm and lush. At the Bob Hope I saw Jesper Parnevik's shadow, which means six more weeks of plaid pants.
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