28 April 2010

20 April 2010

unfortunate cookie


Last Friday afternoon it was sunny and as I walked by the patio at Bo Lings I could hear a table of ladies reading their fortune cookie fortunes. One of them said, "mine was empty," and though her friends giggled, she looked puzzled and even kind of concerned.

I wonder what's going to happen to her.

15 April 2010

Springtime for Ghostopolis

My pals and fambly in Ghosty just put out a swell 5-song EP this week on home-grown More Famouser records. Features Suzie on "Quell The Hunger" and Konnor from the ACBs on "Team Up Again." My personal favorite is "Setting Fires," which reminds me of a big fire on the beach. The ever-mountain coastal/Ghost-al flame, if you will. And even if you won't, you might like this video from Vamos. I did a lil' interview with Pat for kcfp last month, too. His most recent collab with Ghosty is embedded below. Preview and purchase the Ghosty EP here.

TEAM UP AGAIN-GHOSTY from PAT VAMOS on Vimeo.

Out into the worldness we did roam...


Wanted to send this out to Bridget, whose birthday was today. She was the first person who ever made me a tape with Daniel Johnston's music on it. I didn't know he was this wild-eyed at the time, and I've only grown to like it more even if I'm still not ready to pony up for one of his art pieces. What I like about this clip (besides the rhythmic build which reminds me of "Speeding Motorcycle") is the way he's got them spellbound with poetry as much as song. Speaking of poems, Bridget's, "The Wild Boy of Aveyron Stands Up During a Dinner Arranged by the Doctor" is a recent favorite of mine and I'm sure she's been working on a lot more since that was published.

More lit kicks, hellos to friends, songs, comics and such to come soon, but before that, expect some field recordings of bullfrog mating call crossfire recorded at a nearby pond (which, if you think about it, is probably the ultimate inter-species shout-out to friends).

14 April 2010

This Better Not Be Your Life



Ever wonder if anybody cares? From time to time, I think we all do. But don't worry. Somebody does care.

Specifically, "Operation Somebody Cares" cares.

I know, because when I was riding the bus the other day I found one of those little religious booklets on the floor. You know the kind — cheap, poorly illustrated, and designed to let you know how deathly important it is that you renounce your sinful ways and start praying to Jesus/Joseph Smith/Xenu, etc.

The booklet, entitled "What Is Your Life Story," was a part-Revelations, part-"Christmas Carol" tour through the life of a lustful, materialistic gentleman who is lead by an angel through the follies of the various stages of his life. There's some pretty heavy shit here, from fiery angels to grim reapers. A more accurate title might even be "Operation Somebody Scares."

I looked through the book and read various passages out loud to Jenn and my fellow bus riders, most of whom were either asleep, not innarested or just feigning sleep/disinterest because they were so scared. I have since discovered that you can read the whole thing here, but while I was still on the bus I did a bit of editing to condense the booklet down to its essence. I hope you get something out of it, because it sure as shit spoke to me.


(click to enlarge)

09 April 2010

KCFreePress.com turns 4 months old!


This week was a big week for birthdays in the KC Media circuit. Ink turned 2, which they announced with a cover story featuring a photo of a young lady eating a lollipop and a list of activities readers should engage in to indulge their inner child. Among them: "Go to a petting zoo," "color outside the lines," and "have a tea party."

Though I wasn't super inspired, I know from experience how hard it can be to come up with hard-hitting content. Still, "go to a petting zoo?" Just sounds a bit, I don't know...escapist. Nonetheless, I was inspired enough by Ink's cover story to compile my own birthday pat-on-the-back for our own widdle web site. With apologies to Ms. Watrous and company, here goes:

KCFreePress.com just turned 4 (months old), and we’re partying appropriately.

Which means doing all the stuff we loved to do as babies.

To celebrate this milestone in our infancy, we've come up with 4 ways to transport yourself back to early, early childhood.

1. Cry - Because it feels good to let it all out

2. Poop in your pants - Very messy, but at this stage, still socially acceptable

3. Get burped - Because you're not old enough to do it yourself yet, silly!

4. Tune out all real-world problems, news, or social issues - Not to worry, babe. Your parents will take care of you!

Student River

The other day while driving with Jay back from the taco place we drove past a semi trailer driven by a student driver but on the lettering the D had fallen off so it just said

STUDENT
RIVER

Doesn't really make sense, but I found it sort of profound, or at least, poetic.