Many here are still without power. Louisville Gas and Electric estimates that at the height of the outages, over 600,000 were without power. Progress is being made, but it still looks like a war zone, with downed limbs and power lines. That is the scene here in Louisville. Most of my family lives in far Western Kentucky, and I have not been able to contact anyone since the phones are all down there.
I have been lucky since my power did not go out. Others have not been so lucky. It has been a cold few nights for many with no heat or electricity. Walnut Street Baptist Church as well as other sites has opened a shelter to assist. I have tried to assist people I know need help, but am currently working 12 hour shifts.
This will all pass, and the people of Kentucky are resourceful and hospitable to each other. They are not easily shaken. My greatest wish is for a stretch of clear weather so the crews can get the electricity back on. I pray for the safety of the line workers (one was killed during the last major outage in September), for people to heed warnings about carbon monoxide (3 died last night) and for us all to see each other through.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Rod Blagojevich vs. the Pigman
Two things that did NOT help his status.
First, all the same beligerent non-burka'd-bred but inbred DNA (in Bosnia/Seriba) rousing in support of this guy, Cuz's all, plastering support of his beligerence in the states media. Although it was fun to read, it was obvious that them, his cuz's being there - not here in the USA - both brought crap publicity to Illinois, and certainly could not help. Well, it did help in my mind in that it made me think - the guy has a great name in ROD (as in hard one) and BLOW ME is somewhere in the pronunciation of his last name.
Second, the grand standing, and the self-aggrandizing - on all major media outlets - probably encouraged by counsel - was nothing short of kiss-my-ass-stupidity-I'm-on-the-way-out-anyway...... as this does not lend itself to the LOVE needed from politicians.
He may sue in a court of law.
Current lesson learned.....DO NOT PISS OFF Ill Lawmakers.
Meanwhile, he will never be governor again. Or sell insurance.
But, he is a hero is Bosnia / Serbia.....
Ciao
Bebo
First, all the same beligerent non-burka'd-bred but inbred DNA (in Bosnia/Seriba) rousing in support of this guy, Cuz's all, plastering support of his beligerence in the states media. Although it was fun to read, it was obvious that them, his cuz's being there - not here in the USA - both brought crap publicity to Illinois, and certainly could not help. Well, it did help in my mind in that it made me think - the guy has a great name in ROD (as in hard one) and BLOW ME is somewhere in the pronunciation of his last name.
Second, the grand standing, and the self-aggrandizing - on all major media outlets - probably encouraged by counsel - was nothing short of kiss-my-ass-stupidity-I'm-on-the-way-out-anyway...... as this does not lend itself to the LOVE needed from politicians.
He may sue in a court of law.
Current lesson learned.....DO NOT PISS OFF Ill Lawmakers.
Meanwhile, he will never be governor again. Or sell insurance.
But, he is a hero is Bosnia / Serbia.....
Ciao
Bebo
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Fat Facist- Rush and Al Qaida- "I Hope Obama Fails"
If there was ever a man at the end of his run, it is Rush Limbaugh. His appeal is to the last 25 percent of the Bush fans. The mainstream Republican party is shying away from him. His audience is fading. He has made a career that launched a thousand Anne Coulters. The acidic quotes, the one sided straw man arguments... Saying that he hopes the new administration fails puts him in the same camp as Osama bin Laden. Nice company. Both are wealthy, idealogically backward conservative windbags who would seek to set the world back a thousand years...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
"Out of many, we are one." - Barack Obama
Today, as history is made in Washington, let us reflect on who we are, where we came from and where we are going. We are truly witnessing history.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Ten Essential Women of Punk?
Who are the Ten Essential Women of Punk? I can think of lots of great candidates. Nowadays there are tons of great punk singers of the female persuasion. The Soviettes, The Eyeliners, Tilt, the list goes on, and there are plenty of great female artists in the punk genre... But who were the first? Who paved the way? Here is my list. If I left anyone out, feel free to comment! In no particular order.
Patti Smith:
Who is considered the poet laureat of punk. I remember her stuff coming on the scene in the late 70s (editor's note, I am an old fart) and the passion of her lyrics and vocals. She brought a literate and lucid vision to the music scene at the time, and was (and still is) an original. Most people are at least partly familiar with her from the near hit Because the Night. My fave was always Pissing in the River.
Exene Cervenka (X)
Passionate singer of the great SoCal punk band X, I always loved the sense of urgency Exene displayed in her vocals. The album Los Angeles is a definite "add" for any collection, and my favorite tune by X was Breathless. This was actually done for the soundtrack of the 80's film Breathless, but the tune was better than the movie anyway.
Wendy O.Williams (Plasmatics)
When punk was scary and new, so was Wendy O. My mind reels with pictures of WOW blowing up a car on the Tom Snyder show, blowing up school buses, wielding a chainsaw onstage. She was both scary and exciting, like her music. The blonde mohawk and schoolgirl skirt, whipped cream and duct tape. Not to be confused with any other band leader on the planet... She had attitude, and showmanship. She tragically ended her life a few years back.
Debbie Harry (Blondie)
Not a true punk by today's style, but punk in a NY art house sort of way. Like Talking Heads, Blondie, Television, etc. who were considered punk in the 70's. Debbie had a great stage presence, classic beauty and an interesting voice. I always liked Rip Her to Shreds with its attitude. She pioneered mixing rap and rock with Rapture. They delved into new wave, electronica, dance and punk.
Joan Jett (The Runaways)
I am the same age as Joan and these ladies. As a hormone- raged teen, seeing Joan, Cherie, and Lita et al, was quite overwhelming. One performance of Cherry Bomb was enough to start an adolescent male riot. I give Joan the vote since she was the best known, but all the Runaways deserve the nod. They paved the way for riotgirl punk and bands like The Donnas.
Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
Noise, art punk, hardcore or whatever, Kim was one of the original noisemakers who helped launch the avant garde punk scene in the early 80s. She was just one of the band, not a novelty, as bands with female members were in the days before the came on the scene.
Gaye Advert (The Adverts)
From the other side of the pond, I needed someone to represent britpunk. Gaye fills that bill. She is one of the original britpunk women I remember from back in the day. Good punk vocs and stage presence, with tons of the britpunk attitude. I like the old snarling dog style of the British rockers.
Kira Roessler (Black Flag)
Kira gets the nod because she was tough enough to tour with Black Flag. I'm not sure that I am even tough enough to tour with Black Flag. Van rides to nowhere, sleeping on floors, eating stale fast food... For additional punk rock cred, she was once married to Minutmen bassist Mike Watt as well. And a very good bassist. I saw her and Mike Watt in Chicago as "Dos" doing their 2 bass spiel back in the early 90's. Good show!
Nico (Velvet Underground)
Not punk as we know it, but proto-punk. Nico showed that women did not need to all sing ballads and play the victim, but could be on the cutting edge of rock music. I give her the pioneer award for her work with Lou Reed and the Velvets.
Suzi Gardner (L7)
Although more of a grunge player, I am giving Suzi props because she walks the line between grunge and punk. She also appeared on the Black Flag cut Slip it In. She was the female character providing miscellaneous moans, vocals, screams, etx. It don't get more punk than that.
Alright, who did I leave out? Post angry and insightful comments below! I love girls with guitars!!! Especially the angry ones.
Patti Smith:
Who is considered the poet laureat of punk. I remember her stuff coming on the scene in the late 70s (editor's note, I am an old fart) and the passion of her lyrics and vocals. She brought a literate and lucid vision to the music scene at the time, and was (and still is) an original. Most people are at least partly familiar with her from the near hit Because the Night. My fave was always Pissing in the River.
Exene Cervenka (X)
Passionate singer of the great SoCal punk band X, I always loved the sense of urgency Exene displayed in her vocals. The album Los Angeles is a definite "add" for any collection, and my favorite tune by X was Breathless. This was actually done for the soundtrack of the 80's film Breathless, but the tune was better than the movie anyway.
Wendy O.Williams (Plasmatics)
When punk was scary and new, so was Wendy O. My mind reels with pictures of WOW blowing up a car on the Tom Snyder show, blowing up school buses, wielding a chainsaw onstage. She was both scary and exciting, like her music. The blonde mohawk and schoolgirl skirt, whipped cream and duct tape. Not to be confused with any other band leader on the planet... She had attitude, and showmanship. She tragically ended her life a few years back.
Debbie Harry (Blondie)
Not a true punk by today's style, but punk in a NY art house sort of way. Like Talking Heads, Blondie, Television, etc. who were considered punk in the 70's. Debbie had a great stage presence, classic beauty and an interesting voice. I always liked Rip Her to Shreds with its attitude. She pioneered mixing rap and rock with Rapture. They delved into new wave, electronica, dance and punk.
Joan Jett (The Runaways)
I am the same age as Joan and these ladies. As a hormone- raged teen, seeing Joan, Cherie, and Lita et al, was quite overwhelming. One performance of Cherry Bomb was enough to start an adolescent male riot. I give Joan the vote since she was the best known, but all the Runaways deserve the nod. They paved the way for riotgirl punk and bands like The Donnas.
Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
Noise, art punk, hardcore or whatever, Kim was one of the original noisemakers who helped launch the avant garde punk scene in the early 80s. She was just one of the band, not a novelty, as bands with female members were in the days before the came on the scene.
Gaye Advert (The Adverts)
From the other side of the pond, I needed someone to represent britpunk. Gaye fills that bill. She is one of the original britpunk women I remember from back in the day. Good punk vocs and stage presence, with tons of the britpunk attitude. I like the old snarling dog style of the British rockers.
Kira Roessler (Black Flag)
Kira gets the nod because she was tough enough to tour with Black Flag. I'm not sure that I am even tough enough to tour with Black Flag. Van rides to nowhere, sleeping on floors, eating stale fast food... For additional punk rock cred, she was once married to Minutmen bassist Mike Watt as well. And a very good bassist. I saw her and Mike Watt in Chicago as "Dos" doing their 2 bass spiel back in the early 90's. Good show!
Nico (Velvet Underground)
Not punk as we know it, but proto-punk. Nico showed that women did not need to all sing ballads and play the victim, but could be on the cutting edge of rock music. I give her the pioneer award for her work with Lou Reed and the Velvets.
Suzi Gardner (L7)
Although more of a grunge player, I am giving Suzi props because she walks the line between grunge and punk. She also appeared on the Black Flag cut Slip it In. She was the female character providing miscellaneous moans, vocals, screams, etx. It don't get more punk than that.
Alright, who did I leave out? Post angry and insightful comments below! I love girls with guitars!!! Especially the angry ones.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Louisville Cardinals Take Out #1 Pitt!!!!
Yeah Baby! Looks like UofL is finally playing up to their potential. After going down by 10 early, the Cards fought their way back into the game. After that it was nip and tuck, with the Cards coming out victorious in the end. Needless to say, things are happy here in Derby Town right now!
Go UofL!
Go UofL!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Bush's Moving Van or "Oh Happy Day"?
Here is one of the happiest photos I have seen in a long time. Like yesterday's photos of the 150+ survivors of the US Airways miracle landing on the Hudson, this shot of a moving van leaving the Whitehouse gate purportedly containing the possessions of one George W. Bush brings joy to my heart. that truck contains the remnants of the worst presidency in my lifetime, and probably, ever. It contains warrentless wiretaps, Gitmo detainees, Dick Cheney, the phony War on Terror, and the "If your'e not with us, your unpatriotic" BS of the last eight years.
So long, George W. Don't let the gate hit you on the way out...
So long, George W. Don't let the gate hit you on the way out...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
University of Louisville to Teach Courses on Bourbon!
As a disclosure, I should tell you I am an alumus of UofL. They are offering a course on Bourbon history, appreciation and production. At this point it is just an adult continuing ed "for fun" course, but I say "hey" let's make it a full- fledged degree program. I would respect someone with a B.S. in Bourbon Science. The course is taught by the master distiller from Kentucky's own Four Roses Distillery. If you haven't visited them, or any of the other stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, do yourself a favor and do so, soon.
Celebrate! Bush Declares Today "National Sanctity of Human Life Day"
From Think Progress:
"As one of his final actions in office, President Bush proclaimed today that Jan. 18 is National Sanctity of Human Life Day. In his official statement, Bush made it clear that his conception of “human life” includes the unborn:
All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.
Bush also used the occasion to tout his legacy of anti-choice policies, such as promoting parental notification laws and opposing Federal funding for abortions overseas"
Unless you are Iraqi, a Gitmo detainee, an American without healthcare, sitting on death row, a civilian in Gaza, or any victim of the last eight years of this cult of death administration, Celebrate!
"As one of his final actions in office, President Bush proclaimed today that Jan. 18 is National Sanctity of Human Life Day. In his official statement, Bush made it clear that his conception of “human life” includes the unborn:
All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.
Bush also used the occasion to tout his legacy of anti-choice policies, such as promoting parental notification laws and opposing Federal funding for abortions overseas"
Unless you are Iraqi, a Gitmo detainee, an American without healthcare, sitting on death row, a civilian in Gaza, or any victim of the last eight years of this cult of death administration, Celebrate!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Apples in Stereo - Coming soon to a Pop Machine near you
Indie pop band Apples in Stereo boast a Beatles-esque neopsychedelic sound, and ties to the local music scene here in Kentucky. A recent article in the Lexington Herald Leader describes their ties to the local scene. Member Robert Schneider hails from the Lex, and the band started their last tour in Louisville.
AIS has been chosen for the soundtrack of the current Pepsi marketing campaign "Pepsi's Ode to Joy '09", ensuring maximum exposure nationwide. Unlike other purists, I see know harm in a band using their tunes in an ad campaign. It is all about surviving as a musician, it is your music and you decide where it is used. As long as you don't corrupt your own values in the process, it is fine to do commercial music.
That said, theirs is an interesting sound, and definitely worth checking out. www.myspace.com/theapplesinstereo
AIS has been chosen for the soundtrack of the current Pepsi marketing campaign "Pepsi's Ode to Joy '09", ensuring maximum exposure nationwide. Unlike other purists, I see know harm in a band using their tunes in an ad campaign. It is all about surviving as a musician, it is your music and you decide where it is used. As long as you don't corrupt your own values in the process, it is fine to do commercial music.
That said, theirs is an interesting sound, and definitely worth checking out. www.myspace.com/theapplesinstereo
Monday, January 12, 2009
Goodbye old #7 Firehouse Louisville, KY.
The longest continuously running firehouse in the US is closing today. Due to budget cuts and a bad economy, a station that has been operated since the 1870's is gone after today. An institution in the Historic Old Louisville neighborhood, it is now to become another empty building. It is my hope that at least the building can be saved as a landmark and put into service as something else. Adios #7! You served us well.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
TSOL releases new tracks. FREE!!!
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Free Downloads is the new release from old schoolers TSOL.Check it out here . These guys go back to the roots of SoCal punk, hailing from Long Beach, CA. and formed in 1979. The new material is a nice mix of styles that show you what early punk was like. Not so formulaic as it is today, there are shades of glam, metal, hardcore and the like. I even hear some early Bowie going on in there. I am an old fart by punk rock standards, so I root for the old schoolers. Download this release. You just might learn something.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Make Do and Mend: Excellent Free Album Download
Make Do and Mend are a band from Connecticut that currently has their album up for free download on their myspace page. I have to say I like what I hear. The collection is called "Bodies of Water" and I like the fact that rather than sounding derrivative of so many other bands, they have a sound reminiscent of late 80's and early 90's hardcore bands like Die Kreuzen, Naked Raygun, Husker Du, and Pegboy. Not screamo hardcore like today, but good alternative, creative passionate music.
On tracks like Shambles, there is a nice use of dynamics that carries the song along. Others like Winter Wasteland and Father have a passion and drive to them that reminds me of a day when music was important. This is good stuff. I encourage you to download the tracks, and go see them live. It looks like they are on tour right now. If you never got to see the Huskers or Naked Raygun, you might just hear a trace of them here.
On tracks like Shambles, there is a nice use of dynamics that carries the song along. Others like Winter Wasteland and Father have a passion and drive to them that reminds me of a day when music was important. This is good stuff. I encourage you to download the tracks, and go see them live. It looks like they are on tour right now. If you never got to see the Huskers or Naked Raygun, you might just hear a trace of them here.
Monday, January 5, 2009
As Israeli War Pigs Roll into Gaza, Civilian Deaths Mount
Who is right, who is wrong? The age old question. I do know this... There is no reason for innocent men, women and children to be murdered on either side. Let us pray that there is an end to the bloodshed in Gaza. Hard-line idealogues on both sides are causing the loss of innocent lives. The US should stay out of this at all costs unless it is to facilitate a peaceful settlement. Blind support of Israel no matter what they do is not beneficial to the cause of peace.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
In Yer Face, Wildcats!
In a very exciting matchup, the University of Louisville Cardinals have defeated the Kentucky Wildcats. We beat them in both Men's and Women's NCAA action this year, so take that, Wildcats!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
NHL Winter Classic 2009 - Wrigley Field
The new tradition in the NHL, the outdoor game, has come to Chicago. For we legions of pond hockey enthusiasts, this represents the ultimate dream... an NHL game on an outdoor frozen "pond". Last year in Buffalo, the weather was blizzard-like and ice was like a frozen river, with ridges, ruts and the like. This year in Chicago, the sun is shining down and the action is fast for outdoor hockey. What better way to spend a winter day than outdoors at the hockey rink. I remember skating outdoors at Portage Park, Park Ridge, Mt. Prospect and anywhere else the park district would freeze a patch of ice. I have also spent my share of time on frozen ponds in lakes of my youth. I always hated when the puck got lost in the snow...Great game!
Useless ID & No Use For A Name to do Israel Gigs
No Use for a Name will be playing some gigs in Israel with Useless ID early this year. Useless ID came onto my radar screen thanks to the great Suburban Home samplers they issue from time to time. Their music is tuneful, with tasty guitar licks and nice harmonies. Who says you can't play punk and be a good musician? And be an Israeli punk band to boot. SoCal punk has spread worldwide with bands like Frenzal Rhomb (Australia) and Millencolin (Sweden) and now Israel. Useless ID was "discovered" a few years back by the Ataris. They are a nice fit with No Use for a Name. No Use are more traditional SoCal punk, with their insane tempos and tuneful, heart-on-sleeve dude rock. Perfect example of this is the track For Fiona from their 2005 cd Keep Them Confused. They are one of my favorites of the genre.
Both bands are definitely worth the listen.
Both bands are definitely worth the listen.
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