Apr 19, 2006
...And I'm Not Talking About e-mail
I suppose this argues that "Vegetarian" isn't a gene in my family.
Apr 15, 2006
Uncle d. / Lidell-ify
My, this is a busy week for the AstroSite. I have to report that at around 6PM yesterday, I became an uncle! My youngest sister just delivered a beautiful girl, "Avery," to this world. It is unfortunate that I won't get to meet Avery until December, but I'm very happy for my sister and our family. Avery is blessed to have my sister as a mother, someone that will ensure happiness, understanding, and patience throughout Avery's life. To my sister, congratulations, and to Avery, welcome to a world that, despite its flaws, is constantly reminded that new life is indeed new hope.
********************
Last night I saw Jamie Lidell for the second time (I first saw him in October of 2005). The show was incredible; in fact, I'm nonplussed, which makes writing about the performance moot. But I can describe the emotion I felt during and after Mr. Lidell's performance: bliss. It was an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. show. Lidell's preternatural stage presence grasped the entire Doug Fir audience and folded it into a cohesive origami of soul -- Jamie's Modus Operandi. The collective group shouted, danced, 
and sang together as an organism in itself, leaving all blues stuffed deep into our darkest corners. And I even got to shout all of my soul into the microphone during the encore performance of "Multiply," which is, in my good friend Tom's words, "The best song Al Green never recorded".
But don't get me wrong. I'm not a Motown aficionado. Jamie Lidell is something different. Most notably, he is a computer wizard, recording and sampling his beat-boxin' voice over the sounds of tripped-out beats and blips. But then he sings. And my, does Jamie Lidell sing. The result is the juxtaposition of familiar, recycled sounds into something beautifully original. But I caution those that might pick up his latest release, "Multiply," and expect to be blown away. While the album is strong -- VERY strong -- it does not (nor should it) capture what Jamie Lidell's music is about. That, my fellow cyberfriends, is something exclusive to those fortunate souls attending his live performance. I talked to him at the bar after his set, inviting him back to P-town anytime. His response, in all his British flair: "absolutely, mate".
I'm excited to report that April is proving to be a very, VERY good month for the Portland music scene. Earlier this week I saw Subtle at the Doug Fir, who are an experimental hip-hop-tronic group from the Bay Area. This show was also impressive, exploring a unique blend of rapid-fire rhymes, subtle (no pun intended) electronic beats, and a consortium of organic instruments, from flutes to guitars. But the true gem to bless this city comes next Friday, April 24th. Ryan Adams will be performing in all his macabre beauty at the Roseland Theater, which is walking distance from my apartment. The cast is truly a winning roster, featuring Ryan Adams, his guitar, and a piano. Obviously (especially to those that know of my teenage obsession), I'm very excited. Expect an AstroSite review very soon.
Until then, keep music in your soul, and "soul" in your music.
********************
Last night I saw Jamie Lidell for the second time (I first saw him in October of 2005). The show was incredible; in fact, I'm nonplussed, which makes writing about the performance moot. But I can describe the emotion I felt during and after Mr. Lidell's performance: bliss. It was an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. show. Lidell's preternatural stage presence grasped the entire Doug Fir audience and folded it into a cohesive origami of soul -- Jamie's Modus Operandi. The collective group shouted, danced, 
and sang together as an organism in itself, leaving all blues stuffed deep into our darkest corners. And I even got to shout all of my soul into the microphone during the encore performance of "Multiply," which is, in my good friend Tom's words, "The best song Al Green never recorded".But don't get me wrong. I'm not a Motown aficionado. Jamie Lidell is something different. Most notably, he is a computer wizard, recording and sampling his beat-boxin' voice over the sounds of tripped-out beats and blips. But then he sings. And my, does Jamie Lidell sing. The result is the juxtaposition of familiar, recycled sounds into something beautifully original. But I caution those that might pick up his latest release, "Multiply," and expect to be blown away. While the album is strong -- VERY strong -- it does not (nor should it) capture what Jamie Lidell's music is about. That, my fellow cyberfriends, is something exclusive to those fortunate souls attending his live performance. I talked to him at the bar after his set, inviting him back to P-town anytime. His response, in all his British flair: "absolutely, mate".
I'm excited to report that April is proving to be a very, VERY good month for the Portland music scene. Earlier this week I saw Subtle at the Doug Fir, who are an experimental hip-hop-tronic group from the Bay Area. This show was also impressive, exploring a unique blend of rapid-fire rhymes, subtle (no pun intended) electronic beats, and a consortium of organic instruments, from flutes to guitars. But the true gem to bless this city comes next Friday, April 24th. Ryan Adams will be performing in all his macabre beauty at the Roseland Theater, which is walking distance from my apartment. The cast is truly a winning roster, featuring Ryan Adams, his guitar, and a piano. Obviously (especially to those that know of my teenage obsession), I'm very excited. Expect an AstroSite review very soon.
Until then, keep music in your soul, and "soul" in your music.
Apr 6, 2006
Coda
My good friend, Billy, who I befriended during my high school years in Sioux Falls, moved to Portland just this week. I'm very excited about this, not just because I am reunited with an old friend, but also because Portland will provide Billy the perfect anecdote to those South Dakota blues. Likewise, Billy will provide a fine match for Portland's progressive, bike-loving, music-loving, expressional ideals (I couldn't think of any more adjectives, sorry). So, Billy, meet Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Oregon, meet Billy.
Billy and I became friends through music. I played bass guitar, he played drums (and still does). Together with a friend I've known since elementary school, we started the trio, "Seven Day Sail". Our mission (although largely subconscious) was to do something different than the seemingly ubiquitous, yet monotonous three-chord anger ballads. Many of the Sioux Falls bands at the time liked to play loud and hard with overtones of vocal screaming. Granted, there were some bands like "Floodplain" that performed this music very well, but there were many that did not. Gathering on influences from Sunny Day Real Estate, Sense Field, and Into Another, Seven Day Sail engineered some novel emo-like sounds (a term that was at the time undefined) for the late 1990's Sioux Falls music scene. Now, I don't mean to sound pretentious as this was YEARS ago and my vocals, while I did attempt to sing, were far from elegant. But in retrospect, our only "professionally" recorded album, "Systomatic Entropy," showcased some musical chemistry and creativity that was something special -- especially for 16 and 17-year-old kids. Upon high school graduation, I departed Seven Day Sail to pursue a college degree (and eventually graduate school, which is why I'm here in Portland), but the rest of the musicians evolved to form a new and improved band, "Billy Music". This band produced in its later years what remains as one of the best albums I own, "Midwest Index". Their sound was intense, passionate, technical, and original. It was as though they took the best ingredients from all my favorite bands and blended them into an delectable sonic elixir. It is an absolute shame that Billy Music parted ways, thereby depriving listeners of more music. But alas, such is the fate of most good bands. Their legend lives on through MySpace, which I encourage you to visit: Billy Music
It is interesting that after moving thousands of miles away from my home in Sioux Falls, SD, I can once again call a great friend my neighbor. Is it my presence and rave reviews of Portland that brought Billy out here, or is it more a result of us sharing unique, albeit quirky personality traits that caused us to choose Portland? I argue that it is the latter. Either way, I look forward to sharing new stories and experiences with my good friend, all the while reminiscing about our old stories and experiences. Welcome, Billy.
Billy and I became friends through music. I played bass guitar, he played drums (and still does). Together with a friend I've known since elementary school, we started the trio, "Seven Day Sail". Our mission (although largely subconscious) was to do something different than the seemingly ubiquitous, yet monotonous three-chord anger ballads. Many of the Sioux Falls bands at the time liked to play loud and hard with overtones of vocal screaming. Granted, there were some bands like "Floodplain" that performed this music very well, but there were many that did not. Gathering on influences from Sunny Day Real Estate, Sense Field, and Into Another, Seven Day Sail engineered some novel emo-like sounds (a term that was at the time undefined) for the late 1990's Sioux Falls music scene. Now, I don't mean to sound pretentious as this was YEARS ago and my vocals, while I did attempt to sing, were far from elegant. But in retrospect, our only "professionally" recorded album, "Systomatic Entropy," showcased some musical chemistry and creativity that was something special -- especially for 16 and 17-year-old kids. Upon high school graduation, I departed Seven Day Sail to pursue a college degree (and eventually graduate school, which is why I'm here in Portland), but the rest of the musicians evolved to form a new and improved band, "Billy Music". This band produced in its later years what remains as one of the best albums I own, "Midwest Index". Their sound was intense, passionate, technical, and original. It was as though they took the best ingredients from all my favorite bands and blended them into an delectable sonic elixir. It is an absolute shame that Billy Music parted ways, thereby depriving listeners of more music. But alas, such is the fate of most good bands. Their legend lives on through MySpace, which I encourage you to visit: Billy Music
It is interesting that after moving thousands of miles away from my home in Sioux Falls, SD, I can once again call a great friend my neighbor. Is it my presence and rave reviews of Portland that brought Billy out here, or is it more a result of us sharing unique, albeit quirky personality traits that caused us to choose Portland? I argue that it is the latter. Either way, I look forward to sharing new stories and experiences with my good friend, all the while reminiscing about our old stories and experiences. Welcome, Billy.
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