| science fiction double feature enemies |
[Jul. 15th, 2009|07:23 pm] |
EAR PLUGS
Off to the Star Bar tonight, but things have been busy so I may not get to a review later and wanted to get an ezine out there.
FILM FLAM
We saw Public Enemies at Starlight Drive In last week. I had higher than average expectations for the film. I’m a fan of Johnny Depp, John Dilligner was an interesting character and the time period is rich with characters. However, the film’s script leaves a lot to be desired. Dialogue, for example. There are too many hold ups, shootouts, arrests and escapes but not enough reason to CARE who is doing any of it. Major motivations and story arcs are explained in one-liners jammed in, seemingly as an afterthought, between heist set pieces. The buildings, the costumes, the cars – the *things* in the film are beautiful (American has forgotten how to enjoy good design in everyday objects), and the action sequences are nice, but in the end you don’t care about any of the *people.* “I grew up on a farm. Daddy used to beat me,” I think Depp says, once, giving us his entire background in 1.3 seconds somewhere in the midst of a 140 minute picture. I wouldn’t mind the length – if it also had the girth. But this one is skinny and explodes prematurely without the requisite foreplay or snuggling after the action.
Things were worsened by a strange audio problem at our screening. The dialogue was so quiet (what little there was) we could barely hear it while the gunfire and music rattled the speakers, something I doubt would be an issue elsewhere but hearing the dialogue wouldn’t be enough to get me to watch this again, or recommend it to you.
On the other hand, The Plaza and R. Land presented a rare screening of Zaat, a Creature from the Black Lagoon ripoff shot in north Florida. It’s low budget to the extreme and even the presence of the charming, aging director in the house couldn’t stop people from laughing at some scenes, such as when the guy in the creature suit neglected to put on the flipper feet and you could plainly see his sneakers as he trod into the room. There was beer and gumbo after, to add to the sensurround experience.
Then we returned on Tuesday for this month’s Splatter Cinema featuring The Toxic Avenger, the 1984 flick that made Troma studios the powerhouse of cult film it was for a few years there. In a conversation after the film, a friend of ours said, “Somebody was telling me, ‘That film won’t hold up with time.’ I told them, ‘There’s nothing to hold up!’”
The clothes brought back some bad high school memories, to be sure, but the movie still stands the test of time by being just so damn ridiculous. The first half is painfully unfunny and silly but then things get weird and sloppy and somehow the whole mess works – at least if you can get a laugh out of cartoonish and excessive gore. The film also reminded me of how much I miss boobs. Remember when horror and comedy films were bursting at the seams with T&A? Remember titillation for the sake of titillation? With the dawn of internet porn at everyone’s beck and call, brief shots of breasts bouncing free on the big screen seemed like a let-down but it’s been so long I’ve got the craving again.
In other news, I’ve seen some details on Drive Invasion. Lots of bands you’ve probably seen before (some at Drive Invasion, even), lots of movies you may have seen before, but it’s like I’ve said before:
“So what movies they got at Drive Invasion this year?” asked TW.
“Don’t know,” I answered.
“How much are they charging?”
“Don’t care.”
“Why, aren’t you going?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
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| Deep fried death |
[Jun. 30th, 2009|05:20 pm] |
Your editor will be out next week, lounging in the river and drinking by day, lounging by the fire, playing games and drinking by night. Y’all have a happy and hell-raisin’ America’s birthday.
EAR PLUGS
Corndogorama:
http://www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/corndogorama_2009/index.html
AND I KNOW IT
Degenerate MAC sent us this:
The Cycle of Life
It’s a famous unbroken circle,
But it's also a line,
Straight from what is done to what will be.
Hard and unyielding as a garrote,
Its line encircles and chokes out each generation.
And yet again a circle,
Cruel carpenter at a circular saw,
Ripping away,
Parceling out the lives like lumber.
This one needs to be fifty four and five eighths,
And throw it on the pile.
Or the turning screws on a giant funeral ship,
Blind pilot at the helm,
Navigating a random course,
Along the great circles,
Throwing out an enormous wake,
Waves of grief that curl and crash like tsunami,
Without warning.
Or the turning soil,
Plowman readying the ground,
Scraping out line after line in a dusty field,
Raising the next crop for reaping,
Ripe grain to cut down in a sizzling arc,
Scribed by the curving blade of the scythe.
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| Yes, I'm bad. I know it. |
[Jun. 25th, 2009|09:03 pm] |
OBIT
Wow, what a couple of days! Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Lisa Marie Presley’s ex-husband, whatshisname, all dead. I’ve always found events like this… exciting. I don’t know why. I remember when the first Space Shuttle blew up I absolutely cackled with laughter. Sick, perhaps, but it’s nice to have something important to break up the tedium of day to day life – something to remind us to all live for the day and raise a glass not for the fallen but for the friends and good times we can enjoy NOW.
So have a thrilling, off the wall kind of weekend. Enjoy some pretty young things. It’s easy as ABC.
Ok, ok, I’ll shut up now.
FILM FLAM
Year One – don’t bother. It has a few cute moments but there are better films on the same subject (Life of Brian, History of the World Part 1) and better films out there to spend your time and money with.
Same for Land of the Lost – boring.
EAR PLUGS
Seen a handful of shows recently but not much local so no reviews. Instead, go to Corndogorama on Saturday around 6PM and support my efforts in the Ironic Moustache Competition. I need some peeps out there cheering for my whiskers.
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| Bubbinator |
[Jun. 1st, 2009|07:18 pm] |
EAR PLUGS
Bubbapalooza 2009, at least as much of it as I went to:
http://www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/bubbapalooza_2009/index.html
Didn’t see anything this past weekend. EM was been hustling to wrap up her scholastic career, followed by various celebrations. We’ll be continuing the celebration this weekend. Join us!
FILM FLAM
Got this from degenerate MAC:
I appreciated your review of T4, mainly because it brought back memories of me and my brother and the kid down the street wearing out the heads on our VCR going back and forth through the more violent scenes from the first T1 doing analysis and body counts. Since we never wrote anything down, I can't recall what we arrived at for a total, but I think it was in the 50's. Whatever, it's clear that a good fraction of that carnage happens when the car famously crashes into the house of blue lights, and the Governor of California takes it to PoPo. I do remember that our count was definitely nearer to yours than to the 14 apparently referenced in T2. There was some debate between me and my little bro as to whether the slight shifts of the uzi muzzle to the right or left when Arnold stops at various doors down the hallway should count as one or two kills. My brother advocated for (or at least entertained) the theory that the shift of muzzle and second
three-round-burst was a follow-up on a fleeing or possibly slumping victim, but I was more in favor of two discreet victims going down in the blink of an eye. My argument, which eventually prevailed was:
"He's a fucking killing MACHINE! He doesn't need to take a follow up shot - EVER! So we have to count all of them. He doesn't miss. (er, unless he's shooting at Sarah Connor or that other guy....)"
Anyway, I find it interesting and something of a relief to know that we weren't the only ones making a tally of the kills in that original movie. Apparently, a lot of people had the same idea (which in our case I'm sure was completely independent of any other influence).
Thanks too for the warning to stay away from T4, but I wasn't likely to go since I took a pass on T3 even. It's too much to ask of a sequel to live up to the standard of the original that captured our imaginations so completely. A sorry sad truth that has been borne out in many film franchises over recent decades (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc.).
Degen MAC
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| Ezine-ator |
[May. 28th, 2009|04:12 pm] |
FILM FLAM
Nobody showed up at the drive in this week for Terminator Salvation, save me, EM, CD and JW. I suspect the threatening weather had something to do with it, though the clouds parted over screen 3 and it didn't rain a drop. I suspect the poor reviews of the film also had something to do with it, though I wouldn't have missed it. The original Terminator film was a staple in my circle of friends and I still remember the first time I saw it, with Arnold prowling through the police station and butchering cops left and right. (In the second film they talk about that incident and put the body count at something like 14, but by our count it was 19 or 20.) The bleak scenes of the future of mankind being crushed under the treads of machines were fantastic and Arnold was perfectly cast as essentially Jason with an Uzi.
T2 - also good with that nifty liquid terminator and the Schwarzenator as a stone-faced, wise-cracking good guy.
T3 - not great. The terminatrix chick wasn't that scary and her ability to control other machines made suspending disbelief difficult. However, there were some great action sequences, such as the crane truck crashing through cars and buildings, with the Schwarzenator in tow.
I didn't watch the TV series (I already watch too much TV and doubted they could replicate the violence and gore that made the films fun) so I wasn't sure what they would do with T4, other than let Christian Bale storm around the post-apocalypse. I was looking forward to more of the grim scenes of humans struggling to survive the barren wasteland of our creation's creation, but instead the film focuses on the beginning of the end when there are still somewhat rag-tag military forces battling the machines. It's not grim enough, frankly, except for Christian Bale, who is so grim you don't actually care about him as a human being. He's as much robot as the machines he's fighting. They throw a few other characters at us, including a mute child, but there's too little emotion and too much giant robot action to get us to care about humanity's future.
Something there's also too much off is references to previous films - not just the necessary story lines, but endless lines reused in not-so-jokey fashion and shot-for-shot action sequences you've seen before if you've seen the other films. There are even moments that feel too much like other sci-fi or action films, from Robocop to Battlestar Gallatica, and even a shot that reminded me of that famous Mac ad from 1984. After a while the whole film feels more like a montage than homage.
The effects are nice. The Schwarzenator shows up in a brief cameo in latex and/or CGI form (it's done so well it's hard to tell, but it's, thankfully, not the man himself in current form.) But overall, I'd say it was a disappointing experience. Skip it, just like the rest of the drive in regulars did.
EAR PLUGS
I should’ve done a Bubbapalooza review this week but I’ve been busy. Hopefully I’ll get to it ASAP.
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| blew out my flip flop |
[May. 22nd, 2009|05:31 pm] |
EAR PLUGS
Last week we caught The Thermals at Masquerade. The ain’t local, nor was the opening act, so I didn’t do a full review. However, there were a few things worthy of note.
First off, I’ve never seen a show in the “Hell” area of the club before, the room usually reserved for techno racket. In this case it was nice because there weren’t enough people there to make the upstairs “Heaven” room feel crowded and intimate, and for a band as emotionally expressive as The Thermals you really need to feel close to your fellow fans. They put the stage at one end of the dance floor, which allowed the serious fans, or the serious scenesters, to cluster in the pit-like center of the room while the casual observers lingered on the balcony-like walkways around the edges. It was a pretty nice set-up, but $4.50 for a Yuenling?!? Every other venue in town charges $3. I’ve always liked the space at The Masquerade but I only visit once every year or so, and prices like that don’t me to come back – even if I ever recognize a single band they book there. I realize they have to make up for letting in the 18 & up crowd, but $4.50?!?
Beer prices aside, I had a swell time, as did EM. The image that sticks in both our minds was the flip-flop-wearing barbi who nudged her way close to the front of the stage, only to screech in terror as the crowd began dancing enthusiastically, starting a tiny, friendly mosh pit with most folks just bouncing up and down. The twit looked like she’d never even been to a concert, much less one where, I dunno, people FELT something. She fled the area and I would’ve laughed and forgotten her had she not insisted in pushing her way back as soon as the crowd calmed down a bit, only to scream and flee again when the crowd got boisterous. She was obviously there just to be at a show, no matter what the show was, and stared at her friends in a “Can you believe these crazy people?” manner that made me want to punch her in the face just so she’d actually have a story to tell.
She inspired me to consider footwear. The flip-flop has become the primary choice synonymous with cow-eyed morons who will wear the things with any outfit. I’m not the only one that’s noticed:
http://open.salon.com/blog/leeandra_nolting/2009/05/13/a_guide_to_the_douchebags_who_come_into_my_gallery
At the other end of the spectrum are the boot-wearers, people who still have rage and passion in their souls.
Then there’s the worn-out Converse sneaker for the worn-out soul who has admitted defeat and/or accepted him/herself and society at large. Sort of the hospital slipper of public attire.
FILM FLAM
We saw Next Day Air this week at Starlight. SG, the weekly invasion organizer, found it “substandard.” I thought it was unexpectedly good, as the previews had set my expectations VERY low. The previews also portray it as a comedy but it’s really just a remake of True Romance with black folks in all the roles. A delivery guy drops off some cocaine at the wrong address, the original shippers come looking for him and the drugs, misunderstandings and shootouts ensue. Not great, really, but hardly the worst thing we’ve seen at the drive in – heck, not even the worst thing we’ve seen this season.
Next week we’ll be seeing Terminator (well, EM and I will be, no matter what everyone else votes for.) Join us, won’t you?
Speaking of joining us, it’s Bubbapalooza this weekend. I’ll be there tonight for sure, possibly tomorrow as well depending on external factors.
And mark your calendars for June 6 for EM’s graduation party here at DP HQ. Family friendly phase at 5, then we kick out the kids and kick out the jams around dark. If you’re reading this you’re probably invited. Contact us for more info.
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| Boldly go where Trek has gone before. |
[May. 14th, 2009|05:56 pm] |
FILM FLAM
This week we caught Star Trek at the drive in. It has gotten good reviews from the geek set, probably due to the volume of references to Trek events from the various series and movies. I'm not a serious trekkie - I've probably seen most of the original series, a big chunk of New Generation and most of the films. That doesn't approach "serious" in the realm of all things Star Trek. The trekkies are probably the most fanatical of fans. But even still I spotted dozens of references - Captain Pike appears in the film, a reference to the same character from the orginal series' pilot. There are lines that echo lines from the previous Trek films, events that were mentioned as happening in the characters' pasts in the series and films, little scenes that were obviously homages to other Trek efforts or even other sci-fi efforts. (Sadly, Kirk never clings to the hood of a speeding car for the TJ Hooker fans out there!)
But if you don’t get these references, does the film hold up? Probably not so much. Several of the non-trekkies in our group were less than impressed. One called it "Star Trek 90210" for the sheer volume of too-young, too-pretty people who miraculously make it big in the adult world with seemingly little effort. The special effects are ok, though it's tough to judge properly on the drive in screen. There are shiny surfaces everywhere that reflect continuous, glaring lens flares (anyone living in this Trek universe would have a constant headache.) And almost no effort was made to make things look like early, crude versions of the ships or technologies that would supposedly "advance" to the late-1960's version of the future. So it's tough to see how you could think of this as a "prequel." It's more like of a "reboot" - from a punch-card-reading computer to the latest Pentium processor backed by massive quantities of RAM.
As to the acting… well, you didn't watch any incarnation of Star Trek for its acting, did you? The guy that plays a young Spock does a fine job, but young Kirk is very Star Trek 90210, all petulance and boiling over anger without a simmer setting - pretty much like Shatner.
As to the plot… well, you can't be a trekkie and care too much about things like believability or continuity, can you? There's time travel through black holes and multiple versions of Spock running around and a bit too much sampling of the Wraith of Khan revenge plot. Nobody, even the trekkies, found the villain very compelling. The Romulans look like Vulcans who've spent too much time at a goth club, a look that is consistent across most Trek baddies. Apparently black rubber and/or frayed overcoats are the goatee of the Trek universe.
Complaints aside, I enjoyed the film and expect there will be sequels but I'm not sure I'll care. The Trek films have been consistent with good, followed by horrible, followed by a refresh to good, followed by horrible again. Let's see if they can break the cycle.
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| Get busy with it. Or us. Or whatever. |
[May. 7th, 2009|05:48 pm] |
EAR PLUGS
Life has been crazy busy lately. Friday night we hit 529 for a swell show (review below.
Saturday I was in lovely Suches, Georgia, for a sendoff of degenerate RVI with lots of old degenerates in attendance standing around a fire pit sucking down beers and food.
Sunday I dropped off a hunk of steel in the yard that had been housed in RVI’s basement, got a nap then ran off to The Earl for The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.
Throw in gardening, crazy work schedule, hunting for T-bird parts while the car is getting restored and other mayhem and you have the chaotic-yet-happy times that are my life at the moment. I’ve barely had time to get the photos off the camera, much less write a coherent review.
But hey, you wouldn’t know the difference, would you?
So here ya go:
Living Rooms, The Balkans, The Carnivores:
http://www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/carnivores_5_2009/index.html
Tonight we’ll be at Eyedrum for the Loafing’s record release party.
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| Pork tacos from Taco Veloz served by a coughing waitress - delicious! |
[Apr. 29th, 2009|10:16 pm] |
BLASPHEMY
It’s not baggage,
It’s luggage
From which I can pull toys to delight.
They are not scars,
They are my armor
Both pliant and indestructible.
It’s not gray hair,
It’s a silver crown
My dementia is wisdom,
My worn hands powerful tools.
My feet calloused because I’ve been around the block
The long way.
You may think I’m on the bottom rung,
But I will kick the ladder out from under you, little punk.
The ladies will laugh and follow me out the door
And around the block, the long way,
One more time.
In other news, on average, motor vehicle crashes in the United States result in more than 100 deaths per day. That's PER DAY.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1730185
As of the time I started writing this, Swine Flu had killed 152 people in Mexico since the outbreak began. It has killed one infant in the U.S.
Wash your hands, people.
But more importantly, hang up the goddamn phone and drive.
FILM FLAM
Last week’s drive in pick, Adventureland, was far better than expected. I anticipated another Observe and Report/Superbad farce but got a much more real, charming coming-of-age tale about a guy who is forced to work at a miserable amusement park after graduating from college, hoping to save up enough for a trip to Europe and/or grad school. It’s full of new and interesting faces, the soundtrack is fantastic (lots of Replacements and Velvet Underground) and the simple storytelling delivers laughs without eye-rolling silliness. Highly recommended.
The weather has warmed up so you really should be joining us at the drive in on Wednesdays, though this week’s options aren’t exactly compelling.
Saturday’s Spookshow at the Plaza brought us the only 35mm print of Invasion of the Saucer Men, a film so packed with eye-rolling silliness we couldn’t get jokes in edgewise between the gut-wrenching laughter at the movie’s dialogue and effects. Apparently the studio showed some of the clips to a test audience who laughed so hard that they decided to switch from b-movie sci-fi/horror to a spoof of b-movie sci-fi/horror. The stitching of the already-filmed supposedly-suspenseful bits to the portions added for comedy’s sake makes for an even more hilariously uneven experience. Alas, I couldn’t find the film on Netflix so I suspect it would take some digging to see it yourself if you missed the Spookshow this month.
But hey, you should’a been there.
EAR PLUGS
Got this from the Loaf:
It’s time once again for the highly coveted annual Creative Loafing music issue. This year we’re offering up an honest-to-goodness old fashioned 12-inch vinyl LP compilation that features cuts from several of our favorite local artists.
Dubbed The Mixt A Vol. 1, the record includes 10 songs from the likes of Predator, Grip Playaz, the Balkans, the N.E.C., A. Leon Craft, Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause, Mums F.P., Stanza, Carnivores and Zoroaster feat./ Brent Hinds from Mastodon.
The record is strictly limited to 500 copies that will be available at not one, but two record release shows. The first show happens at Eyedrum on Thurs, May 7. The $10 cover at Eyedrum gets you into the show as well as a copy of the record. The N.E.C., Grip Playaz, the Balkans and A.Leon Craft are all scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m. Music starts at 8 p.m.
The second record release party goes down at Criminal Records on the afternoon of Sun., May 10. The Carnivores, Stanza, Mums F.P. and Predator are on the bill. There is no cover charge to attend the show. LPs will be on sale at the store for $10 and the music starts at 3:30 p.m.
In addition to the 10 songs on the LP, dozens of bonus tracks will be included in a free online download that includes songs by Abby Go Go, All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, Batata Doce, the 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, the Coathangers, Danny!, Pill and many more.
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| Yo tengo Tongo. |
[Apr. 22nd, 2009|05:53 pm] |
EAR PLUGS
Tongo Hiti at Trader Vic's 75th anniversary party
http://www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/tongo_hiti_4_2009/index.html
Yeah, we've been to other shows and should've reviewed 'em but life has been busy lately. We finally got the Thunderbird to the body shop last week, the yard has required effort, work has been unusually busy and gaming has been frequent on weekends, so reviews have taken a back seat. Hell, they've practically been stuffed in the trunk and driven across state lines. We've been to a bunch of movies that have gone unreviewed as well. Having too much fun to tell you how much fun it is...
PROPHESY
April 22, Wednesday
Drive In tonight. Lawn chairs, beverages, socializin’. Oh, and a movie – Adventureland. Gates at 8, flick at 8.30.
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| As goes communication, so goes Degenerate Press |
[Apr. 1st, 2009|05:37 pm] |
LAST BLASPHEMY
I did some bunch thinking on our brief vacation. In the 16 years of Degenerate Press efforts I’ve been on the leading edge or shortly behind it. When I started Degenerate Press there was no internet as we know it. I started producing zines on actual paper (remember that stuff? They used to make it out of TREES. Weird!)
When email became widely available I moved to that.
When the web became the Next Big Thing I built Ear Plugs for Atlanta. I’m pretty sure it was the first web site dedicated to local bands.
Degeneratepress.com grew out of the old Ear Plugs site, expanding to the point where now I couldn’t do a major overhaul without taking a month off work.
Then I started with LiveJournal. Then MySpace. Then FaceBook.
When I got back from vacation I sorted through the spam and found this:
"Please be advised that your hosting account for degeneratepress.com is due for renewal on 06/20/2009.
Total Amount Due (in U.S. Dollars): $119.40
To continue your service for another year, please remit your payment before the above date by using the following link..."
These days every band has a web site of one sort or another. The weekend after we got back from vacation we hit the Star Bar and within 24 hours people had already posted pictures and reviews.
The new “web 2.0” technologies are taking the place of old fashioned HTML. There hardly seems any point in overhauling the old site, even if I COULD take a month of to do it. I have to keep on the current technologies for my job, so I may as well keep on it for Degenerate Press efforts.
So beginning tonight, Degenerate Press is going all FaceBook, all Twitter. Hell, I hardly write more than 140 characters on my reviews as it is, and with FaceBook people can post responses to my occasional rants and blurry photos.
Appropriately enough, our final old HTML review brings us back full circle: Dragline played the first ever Degenerate Press Summertime Blast back in the dawn of time. The Penetrators were also scheduled to appear but had some car trouble and couldn’t get there until the cops had shut us down. And we covered the resurgence of Atlanta’s garage scene, perhaps peaking with The Woggles and The Forty Fives some 10 years ago.
http://www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/spanktacular_2_3009/index.html
And our first all-Twitter/Facebook experience will be another band that played that first party – we’re off to Drive By Truckers tonight, backing up Booker T.
So if you haven’t already, sign up for Twitter and/or FaceBook and search for Degenerate Press. And stop looking at DegeneratePress.com. I’m going to let that one slip when the bill is due and spend the money on the T-bird instead.
Speaking of, you can also check out my progress on the Thunderbird at the drive in on Wednesdays. I should have a massive new tiki head installed in April sometime and possibly even the body and paint work done soon. If you’re hankering for a mid-week social affair and/or movie, it’s that time – weekly Drive Invasions start April 8, with voting for our first outing on April 3. Email Suellen at driveinvasion@comcast.net if you’re interested!
And speaking of bands from our early years, Catfight is reuniting for one night only for a show at the Clermont later this month. Heed the final call of the prophets!
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| Parting shot |
[Mar. 17th, 2009|06:25 pm] |
I meant to do an ezine last week but it slipped my mind. A lot of things
have been slipping my mind lately due to spring. Speaking of, me and EM are
headed to Florida for a mini-spring-break, just a few days camping in St.
Augustine. Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
EAR PLUGS
Jeffery Butzer and the Midwives, Grinder Nova, The Subsonics, Dexter
Romwebber Duo:
www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/grinder_nova_subsonics_2_3009/index.html
We were walking down Highland the other week en route to the craft fair they
have at Youngblood Gallery on Thursdays when we passed some familiar faces
in front of Vacation, a little overpriced clothing shop. They mentioned that
King Khan was playing a free, pretty much secret show there so we grabbed
some beers from Buddy’s and hung around until things got going. Alas, I didn
’t have my camera but it would’ve made for some swell photos. The setting
somewhat uncomfortable – and not just because of the tiny space. It was odd
seeing them in bright lights in a place where nobody had space to thrash
around without damaging merchandise. But they sounded fantastic and put on a
great little set, pretty much a rehearsal and promotional gig for their show
at The Masquerade the following week.
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| The trux of the matter. |
[Mar. 4th, 2009|06:25 pm] |
EAR PLUGS
Trux Band at Southern Comfort:
http://www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/southern_comfort_2_2009/index.html
BLASPHEMY
If you’ve been wishing they’d allow beer/wine/liquor sales on Sunday in Georgia, prepare to groan:
“The bill has officially been withdrawn. Sen. Seth Harp, the author of the bill has seemingly given into pressure from Lt. Governor Casey Cagle who is controlled by the religious right in opposition to the Sunday sales legislation.”
From Facebook’s Back to Support of Sunday Alcohol Sales in Georgia
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| Beneficial ezine |
[Feb. 25th, 2009|12:38 pm] |
LESS FARTSY MORE ARTSY
EM is having a big solo show next Friday, February 27, at ArtHouse in Castlebury Hills. I suspect things kick off around 7 and go until 11ish or maybe later, since it’s the night of the neighborhood art walk. As such, parking may be challenging so carpool if you can.
EAR PLUGS
It’s been a benefit-filled winter, so why not continue the tradition?
Last year a member of the extended family of Nashville – uh…rhymes with “Wussy” – passed away so they’re playing a benefit at the Star Bar on Thursday to help the family out with funeral costs and such. Rock City Dropouts and Blast Off Burlesque also perform. Yeah, it’s a work night, but when was the last time you saw NP? And at a venue the size of the Star Bar? (Pardon my lack of actual names here. I’m trying to avoid getting filtered out.)
Then in March it’s a benefit for Brian “Spanky Twangler” Rogers of The Penetrators, who is battling cancer, also at the Star Bar.
Thursday March 26th
9:00-9:30pm Slim Chance and the Convicts
9:45-10:15pm The Mystery Men!
10:30-10:50pm Myopic i (Debut!)
11:05-11:35pm The Holland Dutch
11:50-12:40pm Cletis and His City Cousins
12:55-close Thee Crucials
Friday March 27th
9:00-9:30pm The Surge!
9:45-10:15pm The Electric Cycles
10:30-11:00pm Dragline (Re-union!)
11:15-11:45pm The Penetrators w/ special guests
12:00-12:50pm The Woggles
1:05-close The Forty-Fives
The will be DJs each night and a fund-raising raffle too. If you can beat that lineup, or the cause, I will personally beat you with a stick.
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| Lisa Lisa and the Cult Film |
[Feb. 18th, 2009|05:55 pm] |
LESS FARTSY MORE ARTSY
EM is having a big solo show next Friday, February 27, at ArtHouse in Castlebury Hills. I suspect things kick off around 7 and go until 11ish or maybe later, since it’s the night of the neighborhood art walk. As such, parking may be challenging so carpool if you can.
EAR UNPLUGGED
As I was writing the ezine a couple of episodes ago I saw a post on the interwebs about Lux Interior, lead singer of the Cramps, having died. I didn’t think it could be true, as it hadn’t hit any traditional news site yet, so I hoped it was a rumor and ignored it.
Besides, I knew if it were true everyone that would need to know would be told in a matter of minutes. News spreads so fact these days, thanks to the series of tubes, it’s old news by the time it hits even TV, and absolutely ancient by the time it arrives on paper.
A few days later I was walking around L5P and everywhere I looked were salutations to Lux – his name scrawled on surfaces at random. The Yacht Club’s 86 board, listing things that the kitchen or bar has run out of, read:
Chicken Salad
Harp
Lux
The Cramps are amongst a long list of bands I had a chance to see but for some reason – sometimes money but more often than not just my own stupidity – I passed on the opportunity. Watching the countless video clips that appeared the day the news spread made me regret this.
But you already heard all about it, right? Only “Bacon Explosion” radiated faster across the collective consciousness. (I got 2 separate text messages and 2 emails about it inside 24 hours.) The internet is the most powerful invention since fire and it’s being used to spread the news of the deaths of minor celebrities and recipes for bacon-wrapped sausage. That’s democracy for you.
But hell, it’s almost 70 degrees out, sunny, and I’m playing hooky at the Yacht with a beer and a book about jokes that explain philosophical principles. Hard to be a down on such a day, until I learned that Donnie McCormick, drummer and singer in random bands that frequented Northside Tavern, had passed away a month back and I was just hearing about it – in a monthly print publication, of all places.
Where’s your mighty internet now?
He was one of my favorite drummers, and definitely my favorite *character* of that crowd.
Hank Williams sings from the speakers in the ceiling, “I hear the lonesome whistle blow…”
But a gaggle of cute girls stride past with bare, firm legs, a cool-but-not-cold breeze brings their perfume through the open windows, all smiling.
Sorry, Danny.
Sorry, Lux.
It’s too nice a day to really morn your passing.
Besides, I know you got your shares of sunny days, cold beers and warm girls.
EAR PLUGS
Friday we caught the end of Cletis and his City Cousins over at 529. They went on relatively early and played for an hour, so we only caught 3-4 tunes when we arrived at 11:30. But it was swell, and Clete’s tune about him sending his girlfriend to the landlord to exchange unspecified favors for rent was worth the $5 cover alone.
529 is a good little bar – the keyword being “little.” I doubt it’s any bigger than my apartment. If you haven’t already, definitely check it out. It can feel a little sterile, as there is no real décor to speak of and everything still has a new sheen on it, but the sound is good when there is live music and the bartenders or DJ’s always play good stuff.
FILM FLAM
Tuesday we joined a cheery crowd at The Plaza for The Room, a film from 2003 written and directed by Tommy Wiseau, who also plays the leading “actor.” It has been hyped as one of the worst of all time. I have to say it lives up to the hype. It's a strange sort of bad, a film both EM and I have had a hard time describing in words. Unlike big budget disasters - Water World, The Apple, Star Wars episodes 1-3 - this doesn't fail because of grandiosity gone awry. There are no special effects that attempt to dazzle but fall flat.
Yet The Room lacks the charm of low-budget flops - drive in fare, Ed Wood pictures, etc.
Somehow it has gotten off the spectrum of bad into entirely new bad territory. The acting is overwrought or flat but never in between, making it impossible for me to suspend my disbelief even for a moment.
I was reminded of bad 80's porn for the first half hour or so, and not just for the softcore, mildly nauseating sex scenes (one of which is almost immediately re-used in such cheap, obvious fashion that everyone in the theater laughed). It also had the bad lighting, bad clothes and makeup, horrible acting and unbelievable set-ups for every scene. At first I regretted paying for the experience, being mostly bored, but the awfulness increased exponentially over the course of the film and by the end I was guffawing with everyone else. This is what happens when you write, direct and star in your own movie – and you have no talent or skill in any of these areas.
90% of the picture takes place in the living room of Johnny and his whorish fiancée, Lisa. Their friends and family extol the virtues of Johnny while telling Lisa she shouldn’t be such a tramp. Eventually Johnny learns Lisa’s true nature and confronts her, by which point you don’t care what happens to Lisa, Johnny, any of their friends, the 18-year-old boy Johnny has adopted or Lisa’s equally annoying mother. Hell, you almost don’t care what happens to civilization as a whole, if this is what passes for the high art it can generate.
It’s playing through the end of the week, so if you need a laugh for all the wrong reasons have several drinks and take several friends and enjoy it. It will make you thankful for the fresh air outside the theater when you leave and appreciate even the most mediocre films in comparison possibly for weeks to come.
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| D cubed |
[Feb. 12th, 2009|10:20 am] |
If you’re one of the many cube slaves, parents, and/or anal people that have to plan months in advance, we’re planning Camp Drunkalot for July 3-12. That covers July 4 weekend and the weekend after, so if you want to join the happy campers of Degenerate Press that gives you ample opportunity visit for an afternoon or several days. I might even set up an official E-vite or something so people can figure out who’s coming when and who’s bringing what. If you’re interested, lemme know.
EAR UNPLUGGED
No Athens Pop Fest this year.
http://www.athenspopfest.com/
FILM FLAM
We caught Coraline this weekend, the 3D stop-motion animation flick that is getting tons of hype and acclaim – and all of it well deserved. I don’t recommend first run flicks at full price often, but this time I’m insistent – do NOT wait for video on this. Do not catch it at the drive in, even if it goes there. This must be seen in the theater, it must be seen in 3D (not all theaters are showing the 3D version), and you should feel like it’s worth rewarding such artistry with your hard-earned dollars. It’s like the director’s previous effort, Nightmare Before Christmas, but without the annoying musical numbers and far more touching. This is also the best 3D film I’ve seen. It doesn’t have many of those “gee, it’s 3D so we have to throw things at the audience” moments. Instead, the 3D just adds to the depth of the experience, literally and metaphorically.
It’s beautiful and fantastic and goddamn, go see it.
There are few experiences I’ve had as a jaded adult that have resurrected that sense of childhood wonder, but this is one of them. Every few minutes the entire theater would erupt in gasps, or whisper “wowwww” or “coool.”
And speaking of childhood, despite the PG rating, you could take the kids.
It is a little scary at points but in the end it all works out and there’s very little violence to speak of.
BLASPHEMY
Some very funny stuff, even the one that combines my two least favorite things ever, Bush and Jazz:
http://austin.decider.com/articles/five-great-youtube-rebirths,23456/
CLASSIFIED
Small 1 BR apartment, $500 mo + 1 mo deposit, W/D, A/C, hardwood floors, big porch, yard. 1426 Gault St. SE 30315. Email me.
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| Not funny, funny, not funny but funny |
[Feb. 5th, 2009|10:57 am] |
No Ear Plug this week. Been doing other things, like surfing the series of tubes for gems like this:
BLASPHEMY
If you're interested in Appalachia, the environment and/or alternative energy you should read this:
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/01/29/mountaintop_removal/
In funnier news, zombies!
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/Road_signs_warn_of_zombies
And in funny news about the news, I suspect a graphic artist was fired from channel 3:
http://www.avclub.com/videocracy/10009/
CLASSIFIED
Small 1 BR apartment, $500 mo + 1 mo deposit, W/D, A/C, hardwood floors, big porch, yard. 1426 Gault St. SE 30315. Email me.
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| Forget American Idol... |
[Jan. 23rd, 2009|03:50 pm] |
Ear Plugs
Jucifer, Royal Thunder, Noble Rust, Nigredo:
http://www.degeneratepress.com/vault/2009/jucifer_1_2009/index.html
In other reviews, we’ve been to 529, formerly The Village, in the heart of East Atlanta a couple of times this week and seen some fine shows in the intimate little side room. A couple dozen people is about all it can hold and their stage is about the size of the average American couch, but the staff and clientele are friendly, the sound is fair and if you get bored or hungry there’s plenty to do in the neighborhood. Check it out.
CLASSIFIED
1 BR apartment, $550 mo + 1 mo deposit, W/D, A/C, hardwood floors, big porch, yard. 1426 Gault St. SE 30315. Email me.
( Read more... ) |
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