The Entroporium

It looks like I’m finally going to get to visit my company’s corporate headquarters in Bath, England sometime in January. All I know about Bath is that you pronounce it BAHTH, not BAATH, and that the ultra-ridiculous “punk” band The Stranglers (known for their heroin-addled concept album about the connection between Jesus and space aliens) [...]

I don’t normally feel obligated to elevate a screeching voice of dissent on to what-is-after-all MY blog, but this column from the Bay Guardian’s Kimberly Chun stands out as one of the most ridiculous rock-elitist “I liked them back when it was cool to like them” things I’ve ever read. Let me get this straight. [...]

So I hit my first bout of Bloggers Block. I have, however, a really good excuse. A 19 pound excuse. Susie and I adopted a shelter dog 10 days ago. (Note: 11 days since last entry.) Ruby’s a blast, but really takes up a whole lot of karmic space. We *think* that she’s a dachshund/beagle [...]

You know I’m really grasping for straws of good news when I hear that Arlen Specter is getting his rightful seat as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and I say, “Good!”

I’m still new at this blogging thing. After a couple of weeks of directed topics, it’s hard to restart. But enough excuses and on with today’s show. Just when you thought it was safe to listen to mash-ups again, a whole new generation of goodies springs up. First up, many props to The Classical Album. [...]

After a pre-party at our house, we lurch downhill to the Fillmore. It seemed unusually crowded, and unlike some of the other Saturday night crowds we’ve seen there, everybody seems primed for the show, more pushing to the front than hanging back. When GBV hit the stage, more than one of us remarked on Bob’s [...]

This Saturday will be the last time I ever get to see my all-time favorite live band, Guided By Voices, who plan to break up after their current tour. This is GBV Week! GBV continues to put albums out on Matador, but somehow I find them all vaguely disappointing. They still have terrific singles (linked [...]

This Saturday will be the last time I ever get to see my all-time favorite live band, Guided By Voices, who plan to break up after their current tour. This is GBV Week!

At one point in 2001-02, we see GBV four times in six months. Easily the most memorable time was on our trip to New York for New Year’s 2001. They’re back on Matador, back producing themselves and they are clearly having a good time. On this occasion, I’ve managed to score tickets to see them play at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. They are sharing the bill with MC David Cross and The Strokes, who are 2001′s flavor of the moment.

This Saturday will be the last time I ever get to see my all-time favorite live band, Guided By Voices, who plan to break up after their current tour. This is GBV Week!

It’s the end of the century and the band has signed to TVT Records to finally go for it. They are going to become arena-rock stadium gods. TVT sets them up with Ric Ocasek as their producer. (I should have taken this as a danger sign. I hate The Cars.) GBV makes its most commercial record ever, “Do The Collapse,” in an obvious bid for radio play. Rumor has it that Ocasek won’t let them drink in the studio. How on earth will they find that magical drunken rocking place now?