Travis Barker Released from Hospital

Travis Barker and DJ AM - Columbia, SC
Originally uploaded by Graeme Fouste Photography

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to +44 and Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. He has been released from the burn hospital in SC. After an airplane crash that killed 4 and injured DJ AM as well, he faces a long recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Decemberists Shows

Decemberists Show
Originally uploaded by analog_chainsaw

The Decemberists will be bringing the Bridesmaid Revisted Tour 2008 to a few fair US cities in November.
Dates are as follow:

11-05 New York, NY - Terminal 5
11-06 Boston, MA - The Orpheum
11-07 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
11-08 Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
11-09 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University, Barton Hall
11-11 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
11-24 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
11-25 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
11-29 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
11-30 Seattle, WA - The Moore Theatre
Looking forward to the new cd coming soon...

Against Me! Ted Leo Tour Full Force

Against Me! #09220
Originally uploaded by Elbow In Your Eye

http://www.againstme.net/am.php/shows/index

Masters of smart folk punk, Against Me! are currently on tour with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Future of the Left. Looks like the dates are primarily on the East Coast through October with some forays into this part of the world. They will play Bogarts in Cincinnati on October 14. In the new year they head for Europe for a couple of months of gigs. Looks like they are staying busy.

Louisville Listed on MSN's "7 Cities Shaping American Music"

freakwater
Originally uploaded by mybloodyself

Here is something I have known for years. Louisville is a great place to play live original music, and see interesting bands. We have turned out our share of interesting bands over the years. My Morning Jacket, The Shipping News, Joan Osbourne, Freakwater, Flaw, Days of the New just to name a few.

I have lived in other towns, and there is a real difference here. Other cities often have "Cover" bands at every venue. Not so here. Here, the club owners are very encouraging of original artists. There is a place for cover bands too, but the norm here is original artists and tunes. I once spoke to a musician from Cleveland, and when he found out I played all originals he said "You are really brave", and insinuated that in his local scene, no one wanted to hear it. I am so glad Louisville is not that way.

I am glad Louisville is getting some overdue attention. We have been a well-kept secret for far too long...

Why I Oppose the Death Penalty

From the pages of the ACLU website, here is a perfect example.
"Rarely have the actions of ACLU supporters like you made such a powerful and tangible difference as they have in the life of death row prisoner Troy Davis. Over the past two weeks, tens of thousands of ACLU activists have demanded justice for Troy. Without that outcry, a man who is most likely innocent may well have been killed by the State of Georgia without any court ever hearing the compelling evidence of his innocence. Yesterday, in a dramatic turn of events, the United States Supreme Court saved Troy Davis’s life just two hours before his scheduled execution. His fate is now in the hands of the Supreme Court. They’ve stayed his execution. But, unless they now decide to hear his case, that stay will soon be lifted. And then only Georgia officials can stop his execution.Troy Davis’s case is far from unique. Sadly, it is a very public demonstration of what can go wrong when courts and legislatures use procedural barriers to block persuasive claims of innocence and other constitutional violations. And he is only one of the thousands of others on death row. "
"The case of Troy Davis highlights some of the many problems that death penalty supporters have no answers for: the risk of innocent people being executed, inadequate counsel, and racial and economic status disparities.Since Troy Davis´s trial, seven out of the nine witnesses against him have recanted -- correcting the story they told in court. Of the two witnesses that did not recant, one did not identify Troy Davis as the shooter until two years later. The other is the alternative suspect in the murder. Political expediency and embarassment on the part of prosecutors, governors, and even judges can prevent rightful claims of innocence from being heard.When mistakes are made with the death penalty, they often cannot be fixed.Innocent people who are executed suffer an irrevocable punishment and the ultimate denial of due process and civil liberties. There have been 130 exonerations from death row in the United States in the past 35 years, and a good number of inmates have been executed despite serious questions about their guilt."
Why is the US the only major industrial country that still executes prisoners? I think we can do better...

Classic Replacements Rhino Reissue

hootenanny
Originally uploaded by Nmarie

Thank god for Rhino. They have a way of finding great music and getting it back out there in the marketplace. As a long time fan of the Replacements, indie-hardcore superstars of the early 80s, I was thrilled to see reissues of these recordings. They are putting out All Shook Down, Pleased to Meet Me, Hootenany, Sorry Ma! Forgot to take out the Trash, Don't Tell A Soul, Let it Be, Tim, and a Best of collection.
If you are a youngster, not a geriatric punk like myself, you owe it to yourself to hear what the buzz was all about. Grinding guitars, clever songwriting, and Paul Westerberg's down-to-earth and sincere vocals. My personal favorite has always been "Let it Be". Definitely worth the money!

My Morning Jacket's Tonight Show Gig!

My Morning Jacket's Jim James: In My Face
Originally uploaded by supernova9

I was pleased to see MMJ on the Tonight Show last evening. They are currently on tour and sounding great. Their performance was energetic and exciting, although television usually doesn't do justice to live music. I applaud Jay Leno for having a wide variety of bands on his show. MMJ has also appeared on Conan Obrien, but the Tonight Show is the gig of gigs! Congrats to the hometown heroes...

Dean Palomino- Large Archtop Tone for Small $$$

Seeking a mellow-sounding instrument to give me more tone possibilities, I was off in search of a moderately priced archtop. I played many, but ultimately bought the Dean Palomino. It is a hybrid with 3 P-90 single coil pickups. Based on a couple of great vintage guitars, namely the Epiphone Broadway from the 1950's, and the Gibson ES-175, it is a nice player with great tone. I have strung it up with jazz strings (.014-.54's) as well as normal guage round wound strings. I have played it through a Peavey DB210 Delta Blues, a Mesa Boogie combo amp, a 68 Fender Bassman and a Marshall half stack. The neat thing is the versatility. On the front pickup, through the Mesa, I used a Boss reverb pedal and digital delay. The result was a nice smooth jazz tone that would impress tone snobs everywhere. On the overdrive channel, I could get Strat-like leads on the bridge pickup, though not as cutting as a Strat. The tone seems to always have a nice roundness due to the depth of the arched top.

Overall, if you are looking for a nice, reasonably priced archtop on a budget, this Dean can be found in the $450-600 (US) range all over the internet. Great for jazz, blues, rockabilly and garage rock, you can't do much better for the money.

Founding Member of Pink Floyd Dies

Richard Wright (28 July 1943 - 15 September 2008) founding member of Pink Floyd died of cancer yesterday at his home in Brittain. Here is synopsis information gleaned from Wikipedia. He wrote significant parts of the music for classic albums such as Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, as well as for Pink Floyd's final studio album The Division Bell. Wright’s richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound. In addition, Wright frequently sang background and occasionally lead vocals onstage and in the studio with Pink Floyd such as "Time", "Echoes", and "Astronomy Domine". He was a founding member of The Pink Floyd Sound in 1965. As the sound and the goals of the band evolved, Wright became less interested in songwriting and focused primarily on contributing his distinctive style to extended instrumental compositions. He also made essential contributions to Pink Floyd's long, epic compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother", "Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". His most commercially popular compositions are "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them" from Dark Side of the Moon. Battling both personal problems and an increasingly rocky relationship with Roger Waters, he was forced to resign from Pink Floyd during The Wall sessions by Roger Waters. Wright rejoined Pink Floyd following Waters' departure. In 1994, he co-wrote five songs and sang lead vocals on one song ("Wearing the Inside Out") for the next Pink Floyd album, The Division Bell. This recording provided material for the double live album and video release P*U*L*S*E in 1995. Wright has performed on every Pink Floyd tour. Although he is not often mentioned among the 'synthesizer greats', it is widely acknowledged that Wright’s inventive use of keyboards and synthesizers with Pink Floyd was pioneering. He was 65.

The Pigman's Thoughts Turn to Football

Random thought-age: Cool guy beats nerd-geek. Earth Wind & Fire, song inspiring. That's the way, of the world..... A true man, defined as one male not wearing a white starched Oxford donning gray tie and red sweater vest, can still count on that one ounce of prevention in a Trojan, to prevent another pound of Buckeye. Pray tell: Why does 'Gym Tressel' dress like a midtown CPA? Surely to got, he must realize that when the Village People reunite, they'll ask for their uniform back as they manwhoremoaniously sing: 'YMCPA'. For all his program's bucks paid out, and the dotted eyes - amist - and the for-real tease........Ohio Shate simply - Sucks. And when, for Pete's sake, will USC quit Carrolling and begin paying pennance for past transgressions following (wishful-thinking) microscopic NCAA investigation? You'll find me at mass tomorrow praying for forgivness. And praying for the multiple UofK high-ankle-sprains to heal before the SEC opens up - like the Buckeye's collective sphinter did today. File under WT: ......Auburn hires offensive coordinator, and CYA Author, Tony Franklin, formerly Highly-Offenisve coordinator under "Hal 'Cheatin' MoFo' Mumme", who put up GI-Normicious numbers for the Univeristy of KENTUCKY - back in their 'hey' day........yet, the Plainsmen get tres ....and bequeath old Mississippi State .. dos?WTF? & BTW: The missing letter to that mathematical equation three/two, is summed up in one letter/word = 'D'. I'm a big fan of Sylvester Croom. We all should be. Darn it, America should be. After coach Brooks bolts, I'd love to have him in Lexington; although I know his heart is only there temporarily. Great Coach, better human.Yeah, he belongs in Tuscaloosa. I have alot of respect for Alabama from the perspective of bringing home their own. Saban may do something for 'em; but he's not an Alabama grad (is that an oxymoron?).Hey, Alabama brought the Bear out of the wood (KENTUCKY) - and to the back wood along the banks of the Black Warrior River, home to rule the roost and all men's man caveage. Saban is a job whore - Vegas- like- akin to Bobby Petrino. Whereas, Croom is loyal. There is alot to be said about homeboyage and voyage. The ship sooner or later sails home. Ciao main. topher_85

Pretenders Release New Tracks!

Pretenders 2
Originally uploaded by carye1

The Pretenders have released some preview material from their album that is due to release in October. Check it out at www.thepretenders.com. It will be called "Break up the Concrete". Check out a free mp3 download track at this site. http://www.iheartmusic.com/cc-common/dow/index.html
This band still rocks hard. Worth a listen.

REM's Peter Buck's Prized Rickenbacker Stolen

REM's Peter Buck
Originally uploaded by kiltedlibrarian

According to the BBC, Peter Buck has had his prized Rickenbacker Electric stolen. A reward for the return of the Rickenbacker guitar, which was stolen following a concert in Finland, has been offered by the band. It was taken from the stage after the gig in Helsinki on their current tour.
Buck has used the guitar both live and in the studio since the band released their debut EP Chronic Town in 1982."Needless to say, this instrument means a great deal to Peter and to REM," the band said.
They added: "It is our sincere hope that whoever is responsible for the loss, or whoever has information which can help recover the guitar, will come forward to receive a generous reward, no questions asked."
Ironically enough (pardon the pun), rock band Iron Maiden asked their fans to be on the lookout for a guitar stolen after a concert in Athens. The British group offered a signed tour jacket and a letter of thanks from guitarist Adrian Smith as a reward.
I have a prized '76 Les Paul Deluxe that I have always guarded with my life. It would be like losing a child or something. Hope he gets it back soon.

Coming Soon! Husker Du Frontman Bob Mould's Biography

husker-du
Originally uploaded by bullet.baby

Should be an interesting read too. From the author of "This Band Could Be Your Life", which was a great and looking to a release date early next year, Bob looks to give the history of the groundbreaking band, his life in the scene, as well as his personal story of Bob the man the myth the legend. I am looking forward to this one. I feel like I grew up with the Huskers and Bob. New Day Rising, Metal Circus and Zen were my personal soundtrack for the 80's. Bob's music brought a much needed sensitivity and balance to the punk and hardcore scene that was heavy into macho posturing and conformity at the time.
I got to see the Huskers on their Warehouse tour in '85. Me and Bebo (a/k/a "The Pigman") loaded into my old Chevette and road tripped it to Bogarts in Cincinnati. It was an experience I will long remember. Bob has created a wealth of music with Husker Du, Sugar, and as a solo artist. This book will be a must read for geriatric punks like myself.

Metallica Tour Dates 2008 - 2009

10/21/2008 Glendale, AZ Jobing Arena
10/23/2008 Albuquerque, NM Tingley Coliseum
10/25/2008 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
10/26/2008 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
11/1/2008 Portland, OR Rose Quarter
11/3/2008 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena
11/4/2008 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
11/6/2008 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
11/8/2008 Moline, IL iWireless Center
11/9/2008 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
11/17/2008 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
11/18/2008 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
11/20/2008 Houston, TX Toyota Center
11/22/2008 Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena
11/23/2008 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
12/1/2008 Seattle, WA Key Arena
12/2/2008 Vancouver, BC GM Place
12/4/2008 Calgary, Canada Pengrowth Saddledome
12/7/2008 Edmonton, Canada Rexall Place
12/12/2008 Ontario, CA Citizens Business Bank Arena
12/13/2008 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
12/15/2008 San Diego, CA Cox Arena
12/17-18/2008 LA, CA The Forum
12/20/2008 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
1/12/2009 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
1/13/2009 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
1/15/2009 Washington, DC Verizon Center
1/17/2009 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
1/18/2009 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Center
1/26-7/2009 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
1/29/2009 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum
1/31 & 2/1/2009 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

I like this. Not sure what it is...

The Second Coming
Originally uploaded by Oliver Ingrouille

The Broken West: New CD "Now or Heaven"

The Broken West
Originally uploaded by quadb

The Broken West offer a lot to like. They feature waves of indie pop guitar, cool harmonies and seem to mix indie with sunshine pop or early 70's country rock. (Think early Eagles or Byrds). I like the lo-fi approach to recording, where the song is the thing, not the production. Simple, hooky pop with waves of neat guitar and vocals. Definitely worth a listen. They are from Los Angeles, featuring members from Texas, Connecticut, California and Florida.

The Broken West formed in 2004 in Los Angeles and soon gained a reputation for excellent live shows, and a good local following. Their debut EP, The Dutchman's Gold, was released in May 2005 to good press and the respect of the indie rock universe, including indie label Merge Records, which signed them to a record deal. The group's strong debut album, I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, is now being followed up by their latest effort, "Now or Heaven". Check them out.

Meat Puppets and Dinosaur Jr. on tour

The Meat Puppets are touring the US this fall. A lot of east coast dates including some dates with Dinosaur Jr. That should be a good show.

Sept. 25 2008
New York, NY
Terminal 5
Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr.
Sept. 26 2008
New York, NY
Terminal 5
Built To Spill , Dinosaur Jr.
Sept. 27 2008
Boston, MA
Orpheum Theater
Built To Spill , Dinosaur Jr.

Hometown Pride: Senator Mitch McConnell Named to "20 Most Corrupt" List

www.ditchmitch.com
http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/
Mother Jones is including local hero Mitch McConnell to its 20 Most Corrupt Politicians list. It all stems from his being, as Ralph Nader once called him, "the bagman for the Republican Party". Strange things afoot at the University of Louisville Mitch's, and my alma mater. I was in the Progressive Students League. I guess Mitch was in the Young Republicans. He also must have been about a hundred years ahead of me... Anyway, Mitch has had some shady dealings with earmarks and donations for the McConnell Center for Shady Government at the UofL.
Congrats Mitch!
We are proud of you.

In the Spotlight: Static Thought

Static Thought is a punk band from the East Bay of San Francisco. They say they are here to bring back the integrity and originality that music has long since lost. According to the band's website. Upon listening to their new release on Hellcat Records, "The Motive for Movement" I don't hear anything groundbreaking or earth-shattering. But that is not bad. What I do hear is the DIY work ethic that made me love punk in the first place.  Not too self-absorbed, posing or popish, here is some nice ugly unwashed punk that reminds me of the punk of the early 80's. 

Static Thought believes that ideas are more important than a fashion, and certain integrity is more important than showing off ones wealth. They are here to change things so there might be a future for the next generation of outcasts like ourselves.
They will be touring in support of their new release, but mostly in the west coast and mountains of Uah and Colorado. No plans for the midwest yet.
Static Thought, with their 2nd album "The Motive For Movement" seeks to "separate from the wash of generic punk rock with an original sound that is unlike any band today. By creatively blending different styles of punk and creating skillful songs and great hooks, the band is able to keep the listener interested from beginning to the end." 
“People listen to music because it touches a nerve that nothing else does. Because of that, each style has something to offer."

 I do hear a lot of different influences going on here. Like earlier punks the Clash, and newer bands like their label-mates Rancid, the do prove that punk need not be formulaic or derivative.

Worth a listen!

Qualified? An unqualified "NO!"

Here is a gem from www.thepoliticalhub.com
List by: Picka Last Updated: 9/5/2008
Yes, the photo is a fake, but a funny one (snopes.com)

"As Sarah Palin is a largely unknown figure in national politics, we have gathered and compiled information from various news sources about her political career in Alaska. Republicans tout her experience as mayor of Wasilla, but her 616-413 winning vote margin was not a compelling mandate for a city of 5,500. Nor is the picture painted by Alaska residents and others as flattering as the one being spun by the Republican Party with scandals, controversies, failures and more..."

Palin Demonstrates Poor Business Management and Fiscal Skills
Sarah Palin may claim she is a fiscal conservative and makes political points like selling the Governor's jet, but the reality is she has poorly managed both city and state finances and spending priorities. Her mismanagement of spending priorities as Governor would have received more visibility except that rising oil prices and increased state revenues from royalties covered her budget shortfalls.
When Palin took over as mayor, Wasilla had zero debt; when she left office 6 years later it had $20 million in debt ($3000 per resident). [8]
She put higher priority on a $15 million sports complex rather than a sewage treatment plant. [1]
She was forced to hire a fulltime administrator as she faced a recall vote for precipitous firings. [1]
She proceeded with construction on the sports complex without closing on the land, ultimately costing the city $1.5 million. [24]
As Governor, she provided little guidance and direction to the Legislature on budgets. [2]
She used the line item veto to kill several “pork projects” to gain publicity, but after public outcry she restored the projects stating that she was not aware of their importance. [1] [2]
Her publicity seeking actions on earmarks earned her a popular reputation as “anti-pork” that influenced, in part, McCain’s decision to select her as his VP running mate. [1] [25]
In 2008 Alaska leads the nation in earmark requests with $556 per capita ($380 million) compared to an average of $34 per capita for other states. [3] [26]
In 2006, Palin campaigned on a “build-the-bridge platform”, but reversed herself once elected. She said “thanks but no thanks,” but she kept the money for other pet projects. [3]
As Mayor of Wasilla from 1996-2002, Palin hired a lobbying firm with close ties to Ted Stevens to garner nearly $27 million in earmarked federal funding for her city. [46] [52]
"They've definitely become addicted to earmarks," said Ellis, of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "And Gov. Palin has continued in at least some form that addiction." [3]
Both Palin and McCain have distorted her record on budget cuts and spending, and how she stood up to Senator Ted Stevens on the “Bridge to Nowhere”. [4]
A Frontiersman editorial wrote, “Mayor Palin fails to have a firm grasp of something very simple: the truth.” [44]
The Alaska budget is growing at a rate of 10% per year and the $1,200 payouts due to Alaskans in September are not consistent with restraining government growth. [4]
She allocated $500 million subsidy for a gas pipeline project awarded to a Canadian company, TransCanada, rather than negotiate with an existing private venture to save money. [23]

Palin exhibits Poor Leadership and People Skills
Palin is another divider. Someone who will not listen to others viewpoints and thinks she is always right. She is not a leader.
As Governor she has shown poor judgment by hiring inexperienced people and valuing loyalty to her ahead of competence for the job. [1] [2] [44]
She has reputation for bullying, being intolerant of others opinions and not listening to ideas of others. [1] [44]
As Mayor, demonstrating her value for loyalty, she often dismissed ideas that didn’t originate with her staff without considering the merit of the ideas. [1] [44]
She is defensive when challenged with opposing views, and has been known to fire people that disagree with her. [44]
She tried to fire highly respected city librarian who refused to remove books that Palin found to be "morally or socially objectionable to her". [5]
She fired members of the Alaska Agriculture Board in order to replace Creamery Board members who she could not fire. [6]
As Mayor, she fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because she claimed that he “intimidated” her, but the Police Chief says it was because he was not loyal to her. [1] [27]
The Police Chief cites retaliation by Palin's campaign contributors, including bar owners and the NRA, as one reason for his dismissal. [7]
As Governor, she fired Alaska's top cop because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper, and now is "stonewalling the Legislative investigation". [1] [45]
She hired another top cop, but he had to resign after 2 weeks for a prior sexual harassment charge. The state gave him a $10,000 severance package for just 2 weeks on the job. [51]
As Mayor, in an act of ruthlessness that stunned those in the community, she fired her loyal City Administrator. [1]
Fear of retribution has kept many in Wasilla from speaking out about her in public. [1]
Frontiersman editorial stated "at every turn we find hints of cronyism and political maneuvering. We see a woman who has long-since surrendered her ideals to a political machine.” [44]
She skipped four major debates during the 2006 general-election campaign for Governor of Alaska [14]
Palin had to use detailed notecards to directly read answers to questions in debates when she ran for Governor. [14]
The Frontiersman stated, “Wasilla is led by a woman who will tolerate no one who questions her actions or her authority.” [44]
In 1997 Palin refused to appear before a citizen's group stating, “she doesn’t intend to face the hostile group to answer their questions,” asking them to fax their questions. [44]
McCain camp hasn't allowed Palin to do TV interviews. McCain aide Davis said they "will do so only if he and other strategists determine it serves the ticket's purposes." [53]
Frontiersmen in 1997 accused Palin of making "patently untrue statements, unrepentant backpedaling, and incessant whining that her only enemies are the press..." [44]
Sarah was so divisive and hated as mayor that residents attempted a recall vote to remove her from office. [50]
She fired two of six department heads for no real reason causing the other two to quit along with three others at the city's museum. [50]

Palin supports big businesses and oil companies at the expense of others including the Environment
As mayor, Palin raised locals taxes while giving breaks to large companies [1] [44]
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. [1]
She sued the Department of Interior on its decision to list polar bears as threatened species because “it would hamper drilling for oil and gas”. [1] [28]
She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is really linked to global warming. [11]
As governor, Palin vetoed a 50-megawatt wind farm and a clean coal facility. [8]
Palin opposed efforts to protect beluga whales (only 375 estimated) located in a specific Alaskan inlet deeming it a threat to the oil and gas industry. [22]
She opposed a "clean water" proposition to help prevent open pit mines from contaminating local drinking water and threatening salmon. [29]

Palin has Various Controversial Viewpoints and Associations
Palin has some alarming views on some issues and has connections with various groups which can make you worry about what kind of extreme actions she make take as vice-president. She also invokes "God" in her political statements.
Referring to the planned gas pipeline project from the North Slope,"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get the gas line built, so pray for that." [9]
Palin describes the war in Iraq as “a task that is from God…a plan that is God’s plan.” [9]
She opposes abortion for instances of rape or incest, and supported a Constitutional Amendment saying the Constitution does not give right to an abortion. [15] [44]
Sarah tried to get books banned at her city's library. [5]
Palin is for teaching creationism in public schools. [19]

Palin is a Political Opportunist who is in it for Herself
If you study her record closer you will find that she is not this 'maverick' or political reformer who exposes corruption and political cronism. She shows a lack of integrity by engaging in a lot of negative political tactics and the same old cronyism looking out for herself and not her constituents.
Appointed to chair of oil and gas reserve by Governor despite being highly unqualified. [1]
Was for the "bridge to nowhere" before it became politically favorable to be against it. [1]
One resident says she is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit. [2]
Frontiersman editorial wrote, “Palin continues to lose public faith sticking by her philosophy that either we are with her or against her.” [44]
Palin conducted a very political and negative campaign for mayor focusing on issues like religion and abortion instead of local issues. [1]

What People are Saying about Sarah Palin as Vice President
Many political pundits are talking about her lack of credentials with good reason. Here are what a lot of notable people have said including many from her own party regarding her qualifications as a potential vice president.
"She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?" said Alaskan Republican Senator Lyda Green. [10]
"The decision to select Palin as the candidate for [VP] is the most insulting, anti-feminist choice John McCain and the Republican Party could have made." -- Sherrilyn Ifill [12]
"What exactly does the VP do every day?" -- Sarah Palin. [13]
"Once you cross her, you're off the list forever, and that's not the way you get by in politics," said state Sen. Hollis French, a Democrat. [14]
"When the questions came up, she would roll her fingers down to the right area ... ," Knowles said. "It was quite bizarre." [i.e. her practice of keeping note cards for debates] [14]
"She announced her decision to scuttle the bridge project in a pre-dawn press statement released to meet East Coast media deadlines", according to Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein. [14]
Karl Rove criticized Tim Kaine's 3 yrs experience as Governor and his mayorship of the 105th largest city before McCain chose Palin (who has less experience). [16] [21]
Newshounds reports that "Palin told a passel of lies during her convention speech last night (9/3/08). But you’d never know it from watching FOX News’ analysis”. [33]
AP reported that Palin issued “dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president - the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.” [34]
Frank Rich of the NYT states that "The McCain campaign’s claims of a “full vetting process” for Palin were as much a lie as the biographical details they’ve invented for her." [48]

Food for though, people.

Ben Folds Date with Louisville Orchestra

Over a decade ago, I lived in the Raleigh NC area. Scoping out the local scene, there were a few interesting bands out there. I got to see Ryan White with his old band Whiskeytown at the Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill. I remember seeing the Backsliders at the Cradle as well. Other local bands of interest during that time were Seven Mary Three, Squirrel Nut Zippers and Ben Folds Five. It took me a while to figure out that Ben Folds was a person, not just a quirky band name. When I heard his music, I knew he had some interesting stuff to offer.
He is going out on tour and doing a few dates with a full orchestra. One such date will be right here in Louisville. 10/04/2008 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts with the Louisville Orchestra. That should be an interesting show to say the least. He is also offering some free concert footage on Myspace. Go to his Myspace page to check it out.

It's the Economy Stupid!

Now that the Republican Convention has run its course, we are left with an empty feeling. For all the flag waving and neocon rhetoric, Mr. McCain failed to answer one vital question. What is to be done to help the economy? The US economy lost 84,000 jobs last month, pushing unemployment to 6.1%. The last two days we have seen the stock market in a free fall. It seems as if McCain's answer is that the way we dig out of the hole we have dug for the last eight years is to continue to do the same things we have done for the last eight years. For all the speeches, and flag waving, I heard very few solutions. McCain is a supposed "maverick" outsider, yet he has been part of the problem for the last 20+ years.
The Sarah Palin nomination will fire up the right wing-nuts and turn out the Christian Right voters, but I hope the average American, who is not a conservative Christian, will realize the fact that this ticket offers no solutions for the problems at hand. Abortion and keeping the war in Iraq going are not the key issues as I see it this time around. I hope the average voter stops voting against his own economic interests and keeps putting these corporate elitists in office.

We're On A Mission From God

Boy am I cynical. I always thought the our invasion of Iraq was about oil and some vague neocon agenda. Not at all. Not according to VP candidate Sarah Palin. No, we are on a mission from God. Much like Jake and Elwood Blues all those years ago. In a speech to ministry students in Alaska, Ms. Palin described our role as being "on a mission from God." As Aretha Franklin would have told her, "Don't go blaspheming in here..." God help save us from this wack job of a candidate.

In Memory- Jesse Tate Who Nurtured my Love of Cycling

Jesse Clark Tate
My uncle Jesse Tate passed away Sunday, August 31, 2008, in Springfield, Mo. Jesse was born September 12, 1930. Many knew him through his ownership of A & B Cycle, the Schwinn dealership in Springfield, Missouri from 1962 to 1992. Those of us who knew him also knew his strong work ethic and the desire to do a task right the first time. He used to show me around the shop, and helped feed my love of cycling, that I still have to this day. We will miss you but know we will see you again. I have many kind memories of Uncle Jesse. Who wouldn't love an uncle who owned a bike shop and had a 1890's style handlebar moustache?

Mississippi Celebrates Its Blues Heritage

I am glad that Mississippi is really starting to shine a little light on their musical past. A state that boasts such greats as Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters, BB King, Jimmy Rogers and Willie Dixon, Mississippi has more musical heroes per square mile than any other state I know. The Mississippi Blues Trail will feature a tour of the state that spotlights its famous residents along the way. It features clubs, historical markers, museums and other landmarks. I would love to do a bicycle tour down there in the near future. My "must see" sites include BB King's hometown, Muddy Water's hometown, the Blues Museum in Leland, Jimmy Rogers birthplace, Willie Dixon's hometown and that is just scratching the surface. As Kentucky is the home of Bluegrass, Mississippi is the home of the Blues. I can't wait to get down there sometime soon. www.bluestrail.org Another interesting site is www.deadbluesguys.com. I am kinda creeped out by the name of the site, but it features photos of the headstones of famous bluesmen and women throughout the country. It is tastefully done, despite how the name of the website sounds.

Henry Rollins Spoken Word Tour Fall '08

Henry Rollins looks to be very busy this fall. He has announced a slate of spoken word gigs throughout this tattered nation. Glad to see he will be here in Louisville. I remember Henry before he was a media tour de force. He was still sporting the long hair and fewer tatoos. This was in the early 80s. Henry was intelligent but intense. Some punk smarted off to the mighty Black Flag and got his ass kicked. He had it coming. Like I said. Henry was intelligent but intense. That tour was with Painted Willie and Gone. Greg Ginn was in rare form... Ah the 80s...
He probably won't kick anyone's butt on this tour, but you never know... His spoken word material is funny, thought-provoking and entertaining. Worth the price of a ticket...
Sept. 18 Ames, IA Stephens Auditorium
Sept. 19 Berkeley, CA Zellerbach Auditorium (Univ. of California/Berkeley)
Sept. 24 Nashville, TN Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Sept. 25 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
Sept. 26 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues
Sept. 27 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution
Sept. 28 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution
Sept. 29 Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Oct. 3 Stafford, TX Stafford Centre
Oct. 4 Dallas, TX Lakewood Theatre
Oct. 5 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
Oct. 7 Albuquerque, NM Kimo Theater
Oct. 8 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theater
Oct. 9 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
Oct. 10 San Diego, CA 4th & B
Oct. 11 Santa Barbara, CA SoHo Restaurant & Music Club
Oct. 13 Portland, OR Newmark Theatre
Oct. 15 Missoula, MT Wilma Theatre
Oct. 16 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
Oct. 18 Bend, OR Midtown Ballroom
Oct. 19 Vancouver, BC Centre for Performing Arts
Oct. 20 Calgary, AB Jack Singer Concert Hall
Oct. 21 Edmonton, AB Winspear Centre
Oct. 23 Duluth, MN Sacred Heart Music Center
Oct. 24 Minneapolis, MN Pantages Theatre
Oct. 25 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
Oct. 26 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit
Oct. 27 Toronto, ON Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Oct. 28 London, ON Centennial Hall
Oct. 29 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
Oct. 30 New York, NY Town Hall
Oct. 31 Albany, NY The Egg
Nov. 1 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
Nov. 2 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
Nov. 3 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
Nov. 5 Louisville, KY Headliner’s
Nov. 6 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
Nov. 8 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
Nov. 9 Aspen, CO Belly Up T
Sept. 20 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion
Nov. 10 Salt Lake City, UT Murray Theater
Nov. 26 Seattle, WA Moore Thea

Check out The Urges. New CD: Psych Ward

Irish group The Urges, from Dublin IE (not to be confused with St. Louis band The Urge, also a very good band) are certainly not blazing any new territory musically, but that is not really their intention. An affinity for 1960s garage/psychedelic music abounds. I always loved the Hoodoogurus and I hear a musical kinship with the 80s retro-psycho-garage band. With a sound that is both retro and timeless, these guys show a respect for their musical influences and an attention to detail that is noteworthy. Psychedelia, surf, garage and hotrod overtones define The Urges.I hear traces of the British Invasion in there as well. These guys are not looking to blaze new territory, but to celibrate the old territory. Definitely worth a listen.

VP Candidate Palin's teen daughter pregnant

I will spare you all the drama. I just wanted to say it looks like abstinance programs (as those supported by Gov. Palin) don't really work. Everything I feel about it is summed up in this excerpt from Mother Jones Online.
"...imagine if any thing of this sort had happened on the Democratic side. Wouldn't social conservatives be expressing...Or at least implying outrage? I'm reminded of how Newt Gingrich used to try to exploit whatever was in the news to depict the Democrats as the party of family and societal dysfunction. During the 1992 convention, he said, "Woody Allen having nonincest with a nondaughter to whom he was a nonfather because they were a nonfamily fits the Democratic platform perfectly." And then there's the time in 1991, after a South Carolina woman named Susan Smith killed her two daughters, that Gingrich said, "I think that the mother killing the two children in South Carolina vividly reminds every American how sick the society is getting and how much we need to change things. The only way you get change is to vote Republican."

Killdozer Reunion!

Killdozer is playing more than just their Madison, Wisconsin show on September 20th. They have added five confirmed and two tentative shows in the US. All the details that are known at this time is on the show listings of their myspace page.
For the unfamiliar, here is a little gem from their website:
"Killdozer, natives of Madison, Wisconsin, began an epic thirteen-year career in the early eighties. They started out as a harsh underground trio of Michael Gerald (bass/vocals), Bill Hobson (guitar), and Dan Hobson (drums) that combined elements of primitive country blues with distorted Birthday Party style antics. In 1987, their third full length, produced by Butch Vig, saw them evolve into a slower more experimental style of musical drudgery, still always keeping with their wrong side of town meets Communist Manifesto lyrics. In 1989, Bill Hobson was replaced by Tom Hazelmyer of Halo of Flies. He would later rejoin the band for a brief period.

The band then took a three-year hiatus until 1992, at which point Gerald and Dan Hobson recruited Paul Zagores on guitar. Steve Albini produced their 1995 effort. Shortly thereafter, Erik Tunison (Die Kreuzen) replaced Dan Hobson. Jeff Ditzenberger signed on as a second guitarist a year before the band’s official break-up in 1996."

Red, White and Blue make......what?

Red, white and Blue make...what?
'Green', is a word - you learn early; it is Crayola.
Somehow, that word, Green.....has revamped itself.
Can we do the same with the N word, and why has that taken so long?
Used to......Green meant you were green....inexperienced. Total shclock....LOSER...learning the ropes.
Now, due to marketing gurus, that are, again, about 100 phuckin' years late on this program....
The G word equates to cool.And, green means business. AL Gore is a dufus.

But, green means.......change. Which starts at home. Which means sales.

I believe the word green should really be called, "American Indian tearful and canoe-ing down a trash filled river".

That's Green.

Ciao main.

Bebo

Republican Convention Motto? "This Time We Care"

As a hurricane approaches the ravaged gulf coast, the Republican Party are falling all over themselves to show that they care. This time. The Convention will be scaled back due to the situation. Bad to show people partying while others suffer. (See pic of the Prez during the last disaster). FEMA has said they will even show up within a week this time. Let's wait and see.