EL PASO, TEXAS.  10/19/09

Adam catches me while I catch up.

Outside of a mexican restaurant on the border with Mexico just beyond the highway, kissing the horizon.  Migraine headaches and guacamole don’t mix.  Whiskey and secondhand smoke choke sunrise conversation.  Strained souls from six straight bask in self recovery on such days.

Such daze.

I normally don’t re-blog, but this is too good to ignore.  Thanks Nick!

nicholasscimeca:

A letter from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol. It is pretty interesting to see how they communicated to each other.

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #45

The Thrills - Teenager

The title track from this Ireland based band’s 3rd album, this song is perfect for a transitioning season.  Its a great one after a long night out with friends, back home in a dimly lit room.  Winding down and reflecting.  Letting the room spin. Its also perfect for a lonely thinker’s night in.  After the sustain fades to silence, DISCUSS.  I hope you’re treating your Saturday night well, wherever you are, with whoever you are.

Also, I’d like to thank you all that have commented on here over the past few days.  I take a lot of pride in this site and honest quality content to share with you and I fully respect your insight.  You inspire me to WANT to write.  Let’s keep that going, for both our sakes.

Here’s a bit of a Saturday Night Music Club warmup.  I haven’t listened to the new Killers album in a couple months but I woke up with about 5 of the songs stuck in my head.  Day and Age is very solid album, if you haven’t heard any of it I suggest you do pick it up.  Pretty cool video as well.

The Killers - A Dustland Fairytale

FRIDAY FILM TALK

I was fortunate enough to catch the midnight showing of Spike Jonze’s film adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are last night.  It is the best film I’ve seen thus far this year. I’ve seen some mixed reviews, and I’m certain some of those who are particularly attached to Maurice Sendak’s book won’t be completely thrilled.  But for a fan of quality cinema and thematic depth, this is a must see movie.

Without throwing out any SPOILERS [which (SPOILER ALERT!) I’ve been reamed for already concerning Bill Murray’s cameo in ZombieLand], this film was visually stunning, riddled with dreamscape set design and incredible cinematography.  It makes giant budget flicks like “Spiderman 3” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” look like heartless, soulless, visual adolescents.  In an age seemingly reliant on multi-million dollar superstar actors recreated in post production with green-screened CGI to top the box offices, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see Wild Things in a jam packed opening night theater.

The film is also supported by an enchanting and emotive score by Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeah’s); a soundtrack I’m planning on picking up today in the local San Diego shopping mall down the street.  If they have a record store there anymore, that is.  If not I guess I can iTunes it.

However, I was a little surprised how melancholy and downright sad the film made me at some points.  The emotional depth is something I wasn’t really prepared for.  I also think this film is NOT for children 10 and under.  A small child around 5 was sitting in my row and was seriously upset numerous times by either frightening imagery or dialogue, at one point towards the end of the film crying hysterically yelling out “You’re mean!” at the screen.  And understandably so.  I wouldn’t go as far as to say Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers’ screenplay portrays the death of childhood innocence, but it certainly touches on subjects concerning both the end of innocence and the eternal nature of it at the same time.  It really is quite beautiful.  It is sure to reignite some childishness in some of us jaded adults, whom I think will benefit most from seeing the movie.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is all that is beautiful and tragic about growing up.

I’d highly recommend seeing it this weekend, and I’d love to hear your thoughts about the film afterwards in the comments.

The same usually goes for me with driving.  Day or night, rain or shine, behind the wheel I’m liable to go narcoleptic at the blink of a turn signal.  As terribly catastrophic as that is, if you’ve ever dozed off while driving, despite every desperate effort to stay awake: (leg pinching, face slapping, windows down in winter, ear piercing stereo levels, hair pulling, talking to yourself, talking to your cell phone, etcetera etcetera).  Despite every aforementioned desperate effort, if you for only a split second succumb to the weight of your eye lids and let them drop to your cheeks, then and only then will you know the most satisfying and unrivaled kind of sleep known to man.  Perhaps comparable in the animal kingdom to say, hibernation, [or in the real (mortal) world, DEATH.]  This split second of sedated sanctuary is the closest to peace you’re likely to get.

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//DISCLAIMER//

Of course this kind of accidental bliss is absolutely destructive to not only yourself but others, AND if you ever feel SLEEP take the upper hand, leaving life, limb, and luxury automobile hanging from the highway, take my advice and pull over.  Find a Wendy’s parking lot, unbuckle, recline that driver’s side seat further back than its ever been (since that one crazy night with Suzy-Q), and sleep safely.  PASS THE F@#K OUT.  Please and Thank You.

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Another activity I’ll dive into from time to time whilst 30,000 feet in the air is, yes, conversation.  I still have my days, don’t get me wrong, but in the past I’d pull my shades on, clamp my headphones over my disinterested ears and don my best smug-face punim; so as no one, not even the most pleasant, outgoing, kind-hearted soul with Mr. Rogers charm would dare interrupt my devoted isolationism.  Lately, if the air is right and the temperature is comforting I’m liable to talk from take-off to landing.  Particularly after a few drinks or even more so after a mortality reminder courtesy of heavy turbulence, I’m a regular Star Jones.

Perhaps I’ve dropped some pomp or ego, but I feel more connected and able to relate to people on a level I haven’t been able to before.  I’m more interested in other’s concerns and opinions.

Pain and jubilation.
Experiences and perspectives.  
Stories of loss and gain.  
Of admiration and loathing.
Bias and understanding.

Although I feel a stronger connection with people on an individual level, I find myself falling further from popular concern and cultural shifts.  Perhaps brought on by a population’s diminishing attention span or expanding waist band, I don’t know where I fit in the puzzle.  As the importance of family and individual relationships grow, I feel as displaced as a peninsula freshly broken from its mainland.

Perhaps yet another product of of our time; turning people into islands one at a time.

How should I respond to that?  Build a boat and learn to swim.

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy my flight.

A classic scene featuring Jon Favreau, from the insanely underrated movie SWINGERS.

From a more deliberate, primitive time when the now nearly obsolete “home answering machine” was most prevalent… The mid 90’s.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the number one reason to never call someone on the same night that they give you their number.

Just TRY watching this without cringing.  And tell me, have you ever left messages like this?

Oct. 13th. Flight 101.
Ominous numbers to some.
A slicing Chicago cold to California connections.
Stinging eyes, parting tithes.
I miss you both already.

Final destination Bakersfield, CA.
If my memory doesn’t do me dirty, I’m pretty sure we have 8 California shows. Los Angeles tomorrow!
I’m sorry I left you so quickly, San Francisco. Until next time.

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #44

Taking Back Sunday - Miami

Saturday Night is upon us!  I hope you’re all having a wonderful evening/morning/afternoon (time zone consideration, anyone?). I’m sitting on our bus in lovely Omaha, Nebraska hanging with the Mayday Parade fellas, listening to a multitude of musical magic.  I was seriously considering posting a Cursive song being that we’re Saddle Creek soaked in Omaha, I thought I’d pull a wildcard out of the ‘ol coat sleeve.

Taking Back Sunday.  An incredibly influential and transcending rock band that has consistently made great albums…  This is a newer song of theirs that I’ve been in love with since the first time I heard it on “Louder Now”.  Mi-am-i.  Enjoy.  Play it loud. Discuss.

Weekly recommendations?  GO.