27 April 2007

tunes for walpurgisnacht

It's Walpurgisnacht, and what better way to celebrate than with some Black Sabbath, Andrew Hill, The High Strung and even a personal favorite by Friedrich Chopin. Have a nice holiday and a big shout out to all of you atop the Brocken.







BLOG SABBATH


A month or so ago Mr. Coates posted a comment lauding the awesomeness of the Black Sabbath song, "A National Acrobaut." Later that day, I dug my first guitar out of my parents' basement and joined brother James for an impromptu performance of that same tune. It was amazing how easily it came back to me. It's also amazing just how much Black Sabbath you hear these days in coffee shops and bars like the Replay Lounge in Lawrence.

As absent as Sabbath has been from my playlist the past few years, that original fondness for it never goes away. Ever since my friend Peter gave me the "Paranoid" album for my ice-skating/basketball-themed 7th grade birthday party, I've been a big fan. I liked how their song "War Pigs" was paired with the instrumental freak out, "Luke's Wall." I liked the Halloweeny cover art of the first album, and I marveled at what a fine sample "The Wizard" made for Cypress Hill's, "When The Shit Goes Down" (You Better Be Ready).

Most bizarre regarding Black Sabbath was the appearance of frontman Ozzy Osbourne at Bush's White House correspondent's dinner a few years ago, where the President hailed Osbourne for making such recordings as "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," "Face in Hell," and "Bloodbath in Paradise." Now I'm not the biggest Ozzy enthusiast out there, but these don't seem like the obvious songs to praise him for. Probably some rock consultant-speechwriter is to blame for the selection, but what would be even weirder is if those songs were really the president's personal favorites.

Regardless, the video I am here to present today is a fine one. I was going to include it last month to mark the 4-year anniversary of the Iraq War, but it's no less relevant (unfortunately) or enjoyable a month later. Regardless of how you feel about the war, it's hard to protest the pentatonic scale.

THE HIGH STRUNG


Last Monday we saw the High Strung carry on their Library Tour on the rooftop patio of the downtown Kansas City Library. There were snacks, including brownies, chex mix, coffee and apple juice. The crowd ranged from little tykes to grandparents.

The High Strung is a great band with good songs and a sweet color scheme. What's even more exciting to me is how they're inspiring kids to go out and do something cool, too.

After their regular set, the band brought the audience together to write a song on the spot. A library volunteer passed out books, instructing everyone to pick one line from each book that would then be used to make up the lyrics to an entirely spontaneous song. Percussion instruments were handed out to young and old before the song's performance, and a teenage girl from the crowd joined in on lead vocals.

To hear more about them, listen to this story about them on "This American Life" or check out their Web site. And thanks to the High Strung for letting me sing along on an impromptu cover of Pink Floyd's "The Gnome." That was so very kind of them.

DINU, FREE OF SORROW


If someone asked me my state of mind last week I would have had to play them a Polish Mazurka. Recent rainy days have whisked me back to my wanderings along the Eppendorfer Moor, a time when my iPod all but got stuck on a particular version of Chopin's Mazurka in A-minor Opera 17, Number 4. I've since listened to 30 second samples of 37 recordings of this song, but have not yet been able to identify who performs this specific version. The closest recordings I can find in tone and sound quality are those by the Romanian pianist Dinu Lipatti, who was regarded by his contemporaries as "the manifestation of the spiritual world, immune from all pain and sorrow." Listen to his version of a different Mazurka, and perhaps you'll feel the same way, at least for 3 minutes and 44 seconds.

POINT OF DEPARTURE


Virtuoso jazz pianist and composer Andrew Hill died this past week. I'll remember him for "Passing Ships," his 1968 recording that was not released on any format until 2003, but mostly for a night a year later when BWB and I stayed up and listened to no less than five of his albums in a row. For those of you interested in a similar experience, I've uploaded "Passing Ships" to rapidshare to give you a jump start. You'll need a winrar extractor, which you can find online for free.

LAST AND LEAST...

Today I dreamed that Nirvana released a censored version of "Rape Me," only the title and lyrics were changed to "Rape Seed." If Kurt were around now, at age 40, he might get a kick out of that!

25 April 2007

Guest post by Fred Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)


TO THE YOUNG POETS

Quite soon, dear brothers, perhaps our art,
So long in youth-like ferment, will now mature
To beauty's plenitude, to stillness;
Only be pious, like the Greeks!

Of mortal men think kindly, but love the gods!
Loathe drunkenness like frost! Don't describe or teach!
And if you fear your master's bluntness,
Go to great Nature, let her advise you!

translated by Keith Hoeller


asking great nature for advice -- photo by natalya

This post goes out to everyone, especially two of you with April birthdays. For those of you who are at work and/or not in a position to seek advice from great nature and must instead seek idle amusement on the Internet, you might enjoy this story about a drunk man parking his horse in the foyer of a Sparkasse.

23 April 2007

A nod to nerds

A week after the shootings, classes are back in session at Virginia Tech, and so I too thought I would return to blogging normalcy. Like some of you, I considered writing a post about the tragedy, but I didn't want to give any more attention to what was essentially a murderous publicity stunt for a some hate-filled video log.

Instead, I thought I'd stick to my strengths and write about more light-hearted fare. Though this site has been referred to in many prominent blogger periodicals as a "triumph of triviality," I prefer to think of it as a celebration of the small things. And it doesn't get much smaller than that most cult-favorited of candies, Nerds.

The particular Nerds sampling I would like to review today is a box of Apple-Coated Watermelon slash Lemonade-Coated Wild Cherry nerds of the "double-dipped" variety. I purchased the Nerds at the Ninth Street Presto! gas station in Lawrence (the one where the gas leak took place a year or two ago). The sun-faded yellow and red box suggested a long shelf life, but the taste was anything but stale.

The red Nerds were at once tart and sweet, and small enough to qualify as crunchy. The much larger yellow Nerds felt like eating boulders by comparison, though they were no less sweet to the taste.

As sweet as the experience of eating these Nerds was, the art on the box was even more spectacular. The image, a colorful illustration of young Nerds frolicking lakeside, recalled 19th century frescoes of the gay bathhouses of France, in spirit as well as form.

In short, the double-dipped experience supports the theory that -- culinary, spiritually and sociologically -- Nerds have more fun.


In other exciting Nerds news, Nerds Ropes are now 2 for a dollar at the Apple Market on 47th Street in Westwood, Kansas. What is a Nerds Rope? It is a licorice-ish sticky candy rope thing with a bunch of multicolored Nerds stuck to it. A bizarre but beautiful piece of candy, Nerds Ropes resemble an Everlasting Gobstopper in texture and color. Unfortunately, they don't last forever, but neither does anything truly good in this world.

At one point I thought it would be funny to write a story about a kid who hung himself with a Nerds Rope, but that actually seems kind of morbid, and besides Nerds Ropes aren't long or sturdy enough to play hopscotch with, much less form into a noose. I guess the story could end on a happy note, though. The kid could always just eat his way through it. Which is exactly what I recommend doing when the going gets rough or the news gets depressing. Nerds, Dweebs, Tart'n'Tinys, you name it. That Wonka stuff works wonders.

until soon,

LHW

17 April 2007

Loft apartment lullaby



In my frequent weekend visits to the San Francisco Towers, I've spent untold hours gazing out at the Western Auto building, a structure I've admired since I was a boy. Inspired by the building itself, as well as songs like Toby's "Kansas City," I decided I'd write a little ballad about falling asleep on top of the building.

I've got $18.95 worth of credit left at Sweatlodge Studios, Lawrence that I aim to record this song with. But before I do, I wanted to open up the floor to lyrical and musical suggestions, ideas for new verses, or even entirely new compositions about this cosiest of cowtowns. (Snakin, Red, Coates, Cali G...I know you're out there). In the meantime, here are the lyrics. I hope you enjoy.

Let Me Sleep On The Western Auto Lofts

I want to sleep on the top
of the Western Auto Lofts
lay me down a top
of the lofts on a bed made of straw

If New York's the town that don't sleep
are we the downtown that doesn't wake up?
I think there's still lots going on
but the pace is just not so abrupt

There's shopping and dining
ballparks and parades
rock concerts and artwalks
pools and cold lemonade

So let me sleep on the top
of the Western Auto Lofts
lay me down a top
of the lofts on a bed made of straw

Should I grow up or sleep in
or go to the zoo?
or just walk down to Keno's
catch a Tivoli feature or two

For now I'll just relax
have a drink in the shade
once I make my bed on top
of the lofts, I'll have it made

so let me sleep on the top
of the Western Auto Lofts
right under the giant neon light
on a bed made of straw

We can wade in the fountains
by the old cabarets
and place our bets on boats
that never go no place

Life's as lazy as you make it
and this town's the same way
so let me sleep on top of the lofts
on a futon of hay

When the sign's lights go out
I'll close my eyes too
and fall asleep on the Western Auto lofts
and dream about you

photo credit: kspsylo

12 April 2007

08 April 2007

the hunt is on...


The entries in this year's lukaswetzel.blogspot.com Kids' Easter Comic Contest were a bit darker than usual. Probably because it is colder outside than it should be. Or perhaps it's that pesky war. Whatever the case, I wish you all a pleasant Easter. If you want a closer look at this year's winning drawing, click here.

Also, big shout out to bunnyman.