Category Archives: pop culture

Music vs. Music vs. Music

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This week I spent a few days down in Los Angeles where it is about twenty degrees warmer than it is in Seattle right now. There is also much less water in the air. I used to despise California and L.A. in particular, but now that I’ve got good friends there, I’ve been able to see some good points. One of those good points would have to be the proliferation of live music.

We had three live music experiences during my stay. The first was Davíd Garza at Largo. Mr. Garza is one of several dark-haired male singer-songwriters for which I am gaga. I haven’t seen him perform for several years and was very much looking forward to Wednesday night’s performance. In fact, I timed my arrival in Los Angeles specifically so that I could attend. I could be tainted by memory, but I was expecting something different, better. However, I blame it on the venue. When I last saw Garza at the Green Room in Seattle, it was a small, intimate affair. Garza told stories, took a lot of requests, and played what seemed like a very long time. I sat quietly in the back, but I really felt energized and uplifted by the performance. At Largo, though, I didn’t. The club has so many rules for the patrons to follow, I just didn’t feel all that relaxed. On top of that, the show itself didn’t seem to last very long and had a very measured feel about it. Largo seemed to be too much of a controlled environment for a nonconformist musician like Davíd Garza. I enjoyed seeing him perform again, but I would have liked to enjoy it more.

Our second live music event was Friday night at the Troubadour and was a performance by Imperial Teen. I’ll admit that when I first learned of the plan, I wasn’t all that excited. I imagined that the show would be noisy indie musicians playing to a crowd of annoying scenesters. I knew I had heard Imperial Teen songs, but couldn’t readily bring any to mind. Anyway, I told myself it was work stress that was putting such a negative spin on the event, and that I would probably enjoy it if I kept an open mind. The Troubadour is a very nice space, as it turns out (aside from the smell of many alcohol-infused, late-night rock shows). The balcony where we sat afforded us a very nice, pretty close view of the stage. And once the show got underway, I was reminded how much I like them. I recognized all but one or two songs, and they were all performed very well. And the nice thing about Imperial Teen is that all the band members look like real people.

Imperial Teen

After leaving the Troubadour, we found ourselves at Canter’s Delicatessen, where we had our third live music experience. This one was provided by the attached Kibitz Room. While we had our late night nosh at Canter’s, we were serenaded by Pigeon Brigade and their truly awesome guitar. This guy is the next Steve Vai, I swear! Kaz had to get a photo:

Photo by Kaz

We actually had a fourth live music experience. This one was a continuous and intermittant (is that contradictory?) one. Our host, Mike, being a music professional, has a tendency to pick up a guitar from time to time (or a ukelele or whatever’s handy) and start playing. We heard all sorts of things from Rush to Journey to Nilsson to Mike’s own songs. For me, this fourth experience is a very good reason to like L.A.

Mini Dreams Fulfilled, Sort Of

Posted in driving, pop culture, seattle, silliness, society on by

On 18 November 2007, I took a Flexcar Mini Cooper out for a spin.

Out of the starting gate, I felt somewhat like a Luddite. The Mini has a push button start accessed by a key fob. What the heck? After fumbling around for a minute or two, my buddy looked up “How to Start the Car” in the manual. Ah ha!

Up and running, we darted off to pick up a couple friends. Somehow, we managed to get a six-foot stocky fellow in the back seat, along with his tiny girlfriend. OK, so she’s not Thumbelina, but considering there’s almost no legroom back there, I had no doubt she’d be comfortable sitting cross-legged behind my six-foot-one buddy in the passenger seat.

We took it out on I-5 up past Northgate Mall and back down to Fremont, where we visited a friend before grabbing some nosh.

Photo by Alex

I think I will take it for a solo outing one of these days. I feel I should experience it with the seat back as far as I can take it and without trying to have a conversation with people in the back seat over some pretty serious road noise.

This Flexcar thing is a pretty good way to test out different vehicles. Maybe on Xmas Day, I’ll take a convertible on my traditional drive up to Snoqualmie Pass. That would be interesting.

Express Yourself!

Posted in pop culture, silliness, society on by

People like to be heard, right? Well, here are some ways you can make your opinions known and possibly make a difference.

Colorado Springs Utility is taking a poll regarding the use of alternative energy sources. Maybe you don’t live in Colorado Springs, but you can have an influence on whether they will invest in wind power instead of more coal power. Or maybe the poll is purely academic, and the city will just do what’s cheapest.

There is only one reality TV show that I watch, and that is Beauty and the Geek. Probably because I really feel for those geeks. This year they have a female geek and a male beauty competing! That’s Sam and Nicole, and they are in the finals. Until 30 Nov, the CW is taking a poll to see who wins. In case you don’t watch the show, please vote for Dave and Jasmine. They have really transformed during their time at the mansion, and that is what the show is all about.

If you just like answering questions in general – and asking them – please feel free to log on to OurQuiz. In case you are not familiar, it is a database of questions and answers about anything and everything. Check it out – it can be addictive.

Me, I’m Not (a Nerd)

Posted in music, pop culture, silliness on by

The title of this post alone solidifies it. I am a big nerd. But there are bigger.

This week, Nine Inch Nails released a remix album of their latest studio album, Year Zero. There was some hubbub surrounding the release of Year Zero. The band is not happy with their label anymore, but are bound to a contract (for now). They let loose flash drives containing the album tracks prior to the official release, to the chagrin of the label.

To add insult to injury, this remix album – halo 25 for those counting – contains a dvd-rom of the multi-track recordings of every song on the original release. The purpose is for anyone and everyone to make their own remixes of the songs and share them with the world. The liner notes suggest the user upload their recreation to remix.nin.com, but in a blog posting from a few days ago, Trent Reznor has advised that website is not yet operational. More roadblocks from the label, it seems.

Now, of course I bought the new cd & dvd-rom on the release date earlier this week. I even bought the vinyl version (remixes only, obviously) this afternoon. It was not until this evening, however, that I ventured to make my own remix. It only took me an hour, but I offer you my pared-down version of the hit (?) single, “Survivalism.”

I made this using Goldwave, which has always been very handy to me when making my own samples. However, if it is made for multi-track mixing, I haven’t been able to figure it out yet. So, I may have to find some other program so I can make some really clever mash-ups or what-have-you. I do own the MTV Music Generator software which I bought years ago, but I’m not sure if it will run on this advanced version of Windows. (I’m only half joking.)

P.S. 11/29/07 remix.nin.com is now up an running. I am a geek and have uploaded my “mix”. This may become my new obsession.

Supporting Public Radio

Posted in music, pop culture, seattle on by

It’s pledge week at KEXP 90.3 FM. I am not angered by pledge week, as is Captain Monkey. The thing is, once you make your pledge to the station (I made mine during my volunteer shift yesterday) there are other ways to enjoy the station while you wait out the pleading. KEXP has two weeks of shows archived. Take this time to listen to shows you missed, including some you may not have heard before. Catch up on or relive all the in-studio performances they also have archived on the site. Download the Song of the Day podcasts and listen to those all week.

Another week of Seattle fashion!

Posted in fashion, pop culture on by

When I was attending the Fashion Institute of Technology ten or so years ago, I didn’t really think much of it. I knew I was learning good, practical knowledge, but the school had a stigma to it that wasn’t quite flattering. It’s only been in the years since receiving my diploma that I’ve been able to appreciate the real quality of that education. Mostly this occurs when I interview potential candidates for employment at my current company. I’ve attained some familiarity with the curricula at the some of the PacNW fashion schools and programs and have discovered they are severely lacking in comparison to that of FIT.

A part of the FIT Menswear curriculum was runway shows. Both years of the program, there were two student-produced shows. Although we were able to hire a choreographer, we had to be involved in all other aspects. For the mid-year show, we were required to make arrangements with designer showrooms to borrow ensembles. For all shows, we ran the model calls and worked backstage as dressers. And we were expected to do it all with professionalism so as not to seem like a “student” show. Outside of school, my classmates and myself did work as dressers for a show put on by one of our colleagues who had gone rogue. My point being, I do have some knowledge of what it takes to pull something like this off.

This is important to know, because it is with this yardstick that I measured the 29 September show mentioned in a previous post. And it is with this same yardstick I measure today. Moving on . . .

Saturday night I was invited to attend Seattle’s first Green Fashion Week finale runway show. Not being aware that this fashion week was going on, I missed all the other scheduled events. The green choices panel discussion could have been interesting to me, so I’m disappointed I didn’t get to that. However, just walking into the hall, I knew right away I would have a different experience from last week. For one thing, Real Networks was involved in the production which I’m sure helped to provide the modern, high-tech overtone to the proceedings.

The show itself started fairly promptly with a quick greeting from Michelle Taylor, founder of the Zella Company who put on the Fashion Week. Mistress of Ceremonies Summer Rayne Oakes made a quick introduction followed by a short video presentation about the purpose of the green fashion week (I think. Sorry, but I sort of zoned out during that portion.). Then the real business began with a dance mix of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady.” There were 10 designers/design houses featured. The choreography was essentially flawless and the timing near perfect. There was clever use of lighting and mannequin poses at the start and finish of some of the “scenes”. There was no intermission. There was no musical act. It was just a clean succession of ensembles up and down the runway.

A reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres followed. I milled around a few minutes before heading out to catch up with some friends for karaoke. (TMI?)

There were only a couple things I thought were lacking Saturday night. One, I had never been to what I think was Elliott Hall at Bell Harbor Convention Center. (I didn’t even know Bell Harbor existed.) I’m sure I wasn’t the only first-timer, and that place is a wee bit confusing. It would have been nice to have some signs posted at the elevators, and other key places, to let us know where to go. Two, there is no specific explanation as to why those particular designers were chosen to be exhibited. A small blurb about each, either in the program or on the website, would be helpful, especially to people like me who are skeptical when anyone claims to be eco-friendly. Perhaps this information was given earlier in the week, but I don’t think it can be assumed that everyone who goes to the finale will have gone to the previous events.
Overall, it was quite well done, and restored my faith that Seattle could put on a “big city” production.

You Have Just Experienced Seattle Fashion Week

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In case you didn’t know, Seattle has a Fashion Week. According to the Mistress of Ceremonies at tonight’s finale event, it is one of only thirteen in the U.S. That may have some significance considering Seattle is ranked 23rd in population, but maybe not, also considering the larger cities include Columbus, OH and Detroit, MI. This week lasted four days and was comprised of two runway shows and an art show/auction. Crazy, hot action, I can assure you. I happen to be employed by one of the featured exhibitors, so I was able to attend both runway shows for free (skipped the auction, since that too obviously involved spending money).

Thursday night’s show was held at Neumo’s and featured ensembles from Atsui Tokyo, Moda Europa, Kenneth Cole, and Ed Hardy (perhaps others). The best part of the evening was having drinks, eats, and conversation with a group of friends before, during, and after. The show itself was not that impressive. None of the clothes were really notable, and the production was quite off. Too much time passed between each collection. A couple of these “intermissions” were filled with performances by a local hip hop duo and pop singer April Villanueva.

Saturday night, being the big Finale, I expected something a bit more spectacular. True, the venue was a bit classier, and we were admitted as VIPs, so we got goodie bags. However, the show was just not good. On the runway we saw Atsui Tokyo, Kenneth Cole, Ed Hardy, Road, Arden B., and MNG. Anything ring a bell? They were again plagued by excessive time lag between collections, though not as bad as Thursday. The dj was definitely not the best I’ve ever heard (not even close), and I was really starting to think the MC had suffered a stroke earlier in the day. According to the program, she’s a professional actress, public speaker, voice over artist, and host of live events. (She’s also modeled for Lockheed Martin and the Department of Defense. Wrap your head around that.) She missed cues, mispronounced, had her dress fall open . . . I honestly felt sorry for her. If she’s like that all the time, I wouldn’t expect to hear from the Miss Downtown Kirkland USA again too soon.

Oh, and let me not forget to at least mention the singing act for tonight, Maryline Blackburn – beyond description.

Beyond production values and professionalism, Seattle Fashion Week just missed the mark. My feeling as I was sitting in my plush seat, begging for someone, anyone, to get on with the show, was that Seattle Fashion Week should be about Seattle fashion. Road is designed in Seattle, and Atsui Tokyo and Moda Europa are local shops, but where were the independent Seattle designers? Where were the boutiques from Capitol Hill, Fremont, Ballard, Belltown? I know there is local talent just itching to be shown, so let’s show it.

I thought to myself that I should contact SFW organizers and give them an earful. Convince them they are going about it all wrong, and not even doing a good job at that. But my second thought was, maybe I should just organize something myself. We shall see . . . we shall see . . .

P.S. I have just created a Flickr group for Seattle designers, so join and spread the word!