Wednesday, March 31, 2004
I want my mammaries
Let me shout it to the mountaintops, I like the new Courtney Love record. She rawks like she's supposed to and for that, I am grateful. I'm guessing that she ditched the fake fingernails and played her own guitars. Her new songs are slicker, faster and definitely reminescent of the deliciously-flavored song Violet from Hole's Live Through This record.
Now check out a Village Voice article that loosely ties Courtney Love's recent boob-baring antics to Janis Joplin to Karen Finley to Isadora Duncan, and then back again. Now that's titillating!
Now check out a Village Voice article that loosely ties Courtney Love's recent boob-baring antics to Janis Joplin to Karen Finley to Isadora Duncan, and then back again. Now that's titillating!
Monday, March 29, 2004
girl in the plastic bubble
Being sick is the best way to appreciate being well again. Yesterday I left the house for the first time in almost four days, to go to lunch. I felt like John Travolta and was alarmed by the wind on my face.
The strangest thing was to see the perspective of people and things about a block away. I could barely focus, it was so odd. Who are these people and what are they doing? Living in a one-bedroom apartment, I hadn't seen anything further away than maybe 30 feet.
You'd think it would be fun to be all holed up with nothing but movies, magazines and the dog, but when you're ill, you're out of your head. Entering the land of the living, I eagerly await Dawn of the Dead.
The strangest thing was to see the perspective of people and things about a block away. I could barely focus, it was so odd. Who are these people and what are they doing? Living in a one-bedroom apartment, I hadn't seen anything further away than maybe 30 feet.
You'd think it would be fun to be all holed up with nothing but movies, magazines and the dog, but when you're ill, you're out of your head. Entering the land of the living, I eagerly await Dawn of the Dead.
Sunday, March 28, 2004
roaming from room to room
Our sxsw stay at Austin's Embassy Suites guaranteed that every room has a view of this, I use the term loosely, architecture.
Dizzying at worst, convenient at best, any passerby can be seen on any floor. Note Jon by the Exit sign in the middle, armed with a beer.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
KFOG and the dog
All our friends are musicians, but our dog got to sing live on the airwaves this morning (and I mean morning) on KFOG's 104.5FM Morning Show Crew. With off-key harmonica accompanyment by me and some good quips and banter with dogster.com's Top Dog Ted, we had a great time. Estro sang, "Roooooooo!"
And as always, there are things you forget to say. Here's a shout out to Molly for letting me borrow the name "I Like It Ruff" for my advice column on dogster. And hello to my husband, owner of Jackpine Social Club Records who woke up early enough to hear us live. Thanks to you all!
And as always, there are things you forget to say. Here's a shout out to Molly for letting me borrow the name "I Like It Ruff" for my advice column on dogster. And hello to my husband, owner of Jackpine Social Club Records who woke up early enough to hear us live. Thanks to you all!
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
I'm With the Veggie Dog
I promise to post many tales from sxsw, but here's a good one.
Bumped into my friend Sarah Baumann who jumped up and down telling me about meeting someone she always wanted to, Pamela Des Barres the most famous groupie of all time.
Sarah was in an Austin club that was so packed, even Pamela Des Barres couldn't get in. If that's not enough, their conversation went something like this:
Pamela: Can you get me a veggie dog?
Sarah: I think they're three bucks.
Pamela: Here's four.
Sarah: What do you want on it?
Pamela: Everything.
Bumped into my friend Sarah Baumann who jumped up and down telling me about meeting someone she always wanted to, Pamela Des Barres the most famous groupie of all time.
Sarah was in an Austin club that was so packed, even Pamela Des Barres couldn't get in. If that's not enough, their conversation went something like this:
Pamela: Can you get me a veggie dog?
Sarah: I think they're three bucks.
Pamela: Here's four.
Sarah: What do you want on it?
Pamela: Everything.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Big Star was last night
Figured out that Big Star was last night. Great, great show. Jody and Alex and the adorable boys from the Posies. Our room was the party room. Good times. Off for more rock today. Yay!
Friday, March 19, 2004
Kris Kristofferson 6PM; Big Star on Saturday
Greetings from the lovely and spacious town of Austin, the place where I asked Nick to marry me.
You can find me at Kris Kristofferson tonight at 6, then Big Star on Saturday night. I already got to apologize to some of the band members who are playing at a competing time. Namely, Mark and Marc from American Music Club.
People are really starting to hear about dogster. I am told that someone from TechTV was on Howard Stern's show and she mentioned dogster. Wasn't that show canceled anyway? For the record, I have no plans to peel off any clothing for that guy. He would at least have to get a haircut and probably be in the another roomm.
Biggest starfocker moment so far was getting a ride from Peneleope Houston in her gigantic van thing which she drove with grace. She also came out on the encore to sing an Avengers song with Mission of Burma as her backing band. She is a badass, she is great.
At the same show last night was Pretty Girls Make Graves. They played after our pals in Preston School of Industry and I got to be all privy in the backstage zone. Me and my friend Amy were the only girls back there. The only ones, how weird. The paint color bacstage was terrifying bean burrito brown. Nightmare.
Biggest stressor for Nick was being driven across town by a local musician who was pulled over for alleged drunk driving. Not sure what exactly transpired, but everyone is safe but they missed much of this crazily exclusive party.
Biggest show I missed but couldn't otherwise: Joan Jett. But I love Austin. It's wonderful here. The town takes their music very seriously and they have the best cowboy boots in the world.
You can find me at Kris Kristofferson tonight at 6, then Big Star on Saturday night. I already got to apologize to some of the band members who are playing at a competing time. Namely, Mark and Marc from American Music Club.
People are really starting to hear about dogster. I am told that someone from TechTV was on Howard Stern's show and she mentioned dogster. Wasn't that show canceled anyway? For the record, I have no plans to peel off any clothing for that guy. He would at least have to get a haircut and probably be in the another roomm.
Biggest starfocker moment so far was getting a ride from Peneleope Houston in her gigantic van thing which she drove with grace. She also came out on the encore to sing an Avengers song with Mission of Burma as her backing band. She is a badass, she is great.
At the same show last night was Pretty Girls Make Graves. They played after our pals in Preston School of Industry and I got to be all privy in the backstage zone. Me and my friend Amy were the only girls back there. The only ones, how weird. The paint color bacstage was terrifying bean burrito brown. Nightmare.
Biggest stressor for Nick was being driven across town by a local musician who was pulled over for alleged drunk driving. Not sure what exactly transpired, but everyone is safe but they missed much of this crazily exclusive party.
Biggest show I missed but couldn't otherwise: Joan Jett. But I love Austin. It's wonderful here. The town takes their music very seriously and they have the best cowboy boots in the world.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Altoids paper, eyeliner and Polly Jean Harvey
My husband loves me so much. When he scooped up the dead pigeon from the basement so I didn't have to, I said, "You must love me." He said, "I do."
He also asked John Doe to introduce me to Exene Cervenka under the guise of getting her to sign the book of hers I bought from the merch booth at the Knitters show on Valentine's Day. It's called A Beer on Every Page and the font is her own artsy, erratic scrawl. Since I was pre-screened, Exene took me seriously and we chatted about aprons and Jamaica. I was of course, thrilled.
And last night, when I was too preoccupied with getting ready for the plane I'm going to catch in a few hours, I actually declined to see a secret show at the Hemlock with PJ Harvey performing on bass supporting Jeff Morris Tepper. I'm still packing-slash-cleaning as the sun is coming up now. Nick had the very last moment with Polly Jean, he approached her just before grabbing her cab.
Armed with Altoids paper and eyeliner from our friend Mandy's purse, Nick got this lovely autograph and said that PJ was so nice. She even made an extra effort with a funny little drawing. Is that a horsehead? The letter "r"? It's adorable!
So when Nick woke me up to give me this lovely autograph, I said, "You must love me" and he said "I do."
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Love My Way
Saw the Psychedelic Furs last night and they were dead perfect. It must have been 20 years since I last saw them. Some things still ring eerily true, like the "President Gas" song. And lyrics I once painted on my dormroom wall at Syracuse "make a wall of your religion" were equally gratifying all over again.
Opening act Berlin were kicky and fun and the singer talked about how great it is to be in San Francisco. She supports gay marriage and said something about how she can't understand any law that would outlaw love. See Phil Bronstein's memo.
She also did something amazing. Mid-song, she sat on a very tall roadie's shoulders while he took her almost halfway through the crowd. She touched anyone's hand that reached out, singing the entire time.
It's an incredible thing to see her be deliberately vulnerable out there in a tiny skirt, naked legs and boots on the stagediving level where women are notoriously grabbed, yanked and worse. But there she was, reclaiming the turf as her own. Completely in control and completely safe. I was moved.
Opening act Berlin were kicky and fun and the singer talked about how great it is to be in San Francisco. She supports gay marriage and said something about how she can't understand any law that would outlaw love. See Phil Bronstein's memo.
She also did something amazing. Mid-song, she sat on a very tall roadie's shoulders while he took her almost halfway through the crowd. She touched anyone's hand that reached out, singing the entire time.
It's an incredible thing to see her be deliberately vulnerable out there in a tiny skirt, naked legs and boots on the stagediving level where women are notoriously grabbed, yanked and worse. But there she was, reclaiming the turf as her own. Completely in control and completely safe. I was moved.
Sunday, March 14, 2004
dogstyle
The New York Post gives dogster a Sunday edition growl written by Julia Szabo, author of the very stylish book Animal House Style which proves that pet owners never have to live in a dog house.
The above photo is taken by Victoria Will and shows our great friend Tricia with Rosie the Ham (note her paw forcing the mouse) and big boy Nelson. Can you really ever have too many French Bulldogs?
Thursday, March 11, 2004
I never travel far without a little Big Star
Great news! I'll get to see my Beatles play live, again. Not the Beatles, I'm talking about the band I love in the very same way that other people love the Beatles.
Big Star. Austin. Next Friday night. Midnight thirty. I am there, and will miss American Music Club and British Sea Power since they're all at the same time. Sometimes, you simply have to choose.
Those SXSW people are geniuses!
Big Star. Austin. Next Friday night. Midnight thirty. I am there, and will miss American Music Club and British Sea Power since they're all at the same time. Sometimes, you simply have to choose.
Those SXSW people are geniuses!
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
stop with the fur
Style.com reports on Paris Fashion Week where fur is seen everywhere except on the animal from which it came. Above is the lovely Emmanuelle Beart who also did a great job in the documentary by Rosanna Arquette.
Thank you Rosanna for following your dream of searching where women actors go after hitting the age of 40. The answer: anywhere they please!
roses and lilies
I'm obsessed with shooting my flower arrangements. Nick gave me these. He also often asks, "Why are you taking pictures of flowers?" but I know why.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
USA Today online vote
Get your say in to the USA Today online poll about whether it's ok to be gay, marry, and have love and affection in your life. Duh.
Sunday, March 07, 2004
match.com for my mom
First, post her profile. Then tell her:
Well-read quick-witted grandmother seeking Woody Allen funnyman minus the incest/pedophilia angle. Seeking someone smart, fun and sincere who can see a movie and discuss it later...
Well-read quick-witted grandmother seeking Woody Allen funnyman minus the incest/pedophilia angle. Seeking someone smart, fun and sincere who can see a movie and discuss it later...
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
when Neiman Marcus changes their luncheon menu
Oh, you Rotunda! Where, oh where, did the Vegetable Tower go? The trusty, dare I say, lusty stack of grilled portobello mushrooms, eggplant, roasted red peppers and other assorted veggies that used to be piled stupidly high and held together inexplicably by a giant spear of rosemary, has gone missing.
Fortunately, the rest of the menu holds up as expected. Who ever heard of a Lobster BLT? And the palate-teasing miniscule croissant with a teeny cup of chicken broth remain, followed by a hot popover the size of your head served with ready-to-melt butter and raspberry butter.
Makes you feel damn near like being on a yacht.
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
a super show at Tambaleo
Anyone going to be in Austin for St. Patrick's Day and the South by Southwest Music Fest? Come see my hubcap's showcase for his label Jackpine Social Club Records at a place called Tambaleo at 302 Bowie Street. Bowie street, they say!
It's a fabulous outdoor venue with dramatic cobblestone steps so that you descend unto a great big rock 'n' roll picnic or something. More here, including MP3s:
Jesse DeNatale 10:00 p.m.
Oranger 11:00 p.m.
Showtimes subject to change. And our hotel room's the party room. Shhhh!
It's a fabulous outdoor venue with dramatic cobblestone steps so that you descend unto a great big rock 'n' roll picnic or something. More here, including MP3s:
Jesse DeNatale 10:00 p.m.
Oranger 11:00 p.m.
Showtimes subject to change. And our hotel room's the party room. Shhhh!
Monday, March 01, 2004
dogstar, no not Keanu Reeves's band
I'm talking about my dog being a star. After all, the breeder named her Star, but we changed it to Estro, just happening to use all of the same consonants. Above is me, Estro and Ted, the dogster.com site founder/coder/guru. We were all singing the same song and it's called "Rooooo!"
Today Estro is a Star. Lookie she's in the paper. And she doesn't even know it.
Big ups to Paula Frazer, the illustrious longtime San Francisco singer-songwriter of the band Tarnation who also makes the most excellent weavings you'd believe. She hooked us up with the writer while chatting at a dinner party, and we salute you both. Cookies for everyone!
