Jamie’s Brain

This was like my favorite thing ever when I was a kid. I used to dance to it.

So I tried it again. This time I got to come up with my idea for a music festival. In 300 words. So, trying my hardest not to write an abbreviated business plan, I came up with this. Oh yeah, that’s right. I’m a finalist. How freakin’ cool is that!!!! Does this mean I’m legit now? Am I mid-wallow in my 15 minutes? God, I hope not. But this is what I have to say: Tom (MySpace guy), if you want to make a few bucks on the side by making my idea a reality, give me a call. Wait–send me a MySpace message. You won’t regret it!

I’ve been angry because I can’t go to Europe to catch NIN’s tour there. So, instead, I was able to get a small fix by attending the World Premier of their upcoming live performance DVD, Beside You In Time.

The screening took place last night at Slim’s, a small live music venue with a capacity of about 450. Doors opened at 7p- so I got there at 5 just to be sure, since it was free and all and they sold no tickets. Well, there was only a handful of people there at that point. It was cold and drizzling, and it seemed that fan dedication was a lot less than I had expected.

I stood in line with my friend, Eryn, who was there more to see me in full freak mode than anything. Some guy in front of us was going on and on and on about government conspiracies to these two poor souls. This is what happens when you have a free show in San Francisco.

We finally are let in. I get my preorder ‘coupon’ and litho right away. Initially, the guy made it sound like he was selling me the DVD for $5. Nope. I have to go to Rasputin and then I get $5 off, but whatever.

So they are playing Collected while we wait. An edited version. Yeah, you heard me. “I wanna *beep* you like an animal”…..”just a fading *beep* reminder of who I used to be”….yeah. What the *beep*? Lame. Interscope definitely didn’t seem to care much for quality control- the screens had tears in it, and apparently someone was able to get away with recording the whole thing.

Everyone is much more chill than I expected. People calmly sat down on the floor in a few rows in the front or lingered around in the back. The club was no where near capacity. Where were you, Spiralers???

And then it began. And it was beautiful. And I finally got to see what was projected on those screens that I was so pissed off about before. What was obstructing my view in the front row was actually pretty cool looking for the people in the back.

I am reminded of how awesome it is to watch Aaron North. The way he moves is just fantastic. Plus, I love his facial expressions. However, the best part of the DVD is when Trent opens his eyes. He must have been instructed to do this or something because it was being filmed, because we all know he pretty much never does this normally. The way the lighting is at that part is fantastic. So fantastic that I can’t even remember what song it happens during. I can’t wait to get it so that I can watch the extras, since Slim’s didn’t show those.

It was a fun night, getting my little NIN fix. But I left wanting more. Why does San Francisco not have an industrial music club??? I would love to be able to go somewhere that played Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Joy Division, etc…and didn’t throw a Fergalicious in there or something. Hmmm….

Having just seen the visually stunning Pan’s Labyrinth, coupled with award show season and film festival season is making me form a drool puddle for some upcoming films. Here’s my personal list of movies I’m counting down the days for:

End of January

Inland Empire, from the brilliantly insane David Lynch. I also look forward to hearing his composer/partner/muse, Angelo Badalamenti.

The Number 23: I like the serious Jim Carey. And thrillers…

February

Factory Girl: Muses fascinate me. I watched her put on eye makeup in one of Warhol’s films for several hours.

Hannibal Rising: I already read the book which means I will probably talk shit about the movie being so different…but, alas, I will be compelled to see it. Even sans Anthony Hopkins.

March

Zodiac: A) for my gross fascination with serial killers, b) they filmed a lot right by my apartment, and c) jake gyllenhal

300: Is it possible to love a movie already just because you love the music in the trailer? This looks so good, and it comes out on my birthday!!!

April

Grindhouse: Rodriguez and Tarantino? Say no more. Except Rose McGowan w/ a machine gun leg. Now we’re talkin’.

Maybes, could be hit or miss are:

Smokin’ Aces

Black Snake Moan

I’m From Rolling Stone is a new show on MTV about a group of kids that are competing for a writing gig with RS. It’s 30 minutes of cringe-worthy reality TV. Parallel to the TV show, they are holding weekly contests that allow entrants to turn in short assignments based on the ones seen in that week’s program.

The first week I failed to get my shit together to enter because I was working too much and was generally uninspired. The assignment was to write about your local music scene. However, I was all over assignment two: 10 questions to any living musician/band. One guess for who I picked…Anyway, I didn’t make the top 20. It was harder than I thought to pick just ten questions and write them in a way that would preface to an unknowledgable audience what I was refering to. Maybe I’ll do better with next week’s.

10 Questions for Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails

1. Trent Reznor is Nine Inch Nails- writer, producer, instrumentalist, singer. What do your touring musicians bring to the music?
2. You are said to be very meticulous about recreating your idea for a sound in your music. Can you describe a source that inspired a sound that you have reconstructed?
3. When you write your music, do you have a visual counterpart in mind or does it come later in the process? Do you enjoy making music videos and having your music appear in films?
4. Recently you have played two solo performances, and have discussed doing a solo acoustic tour. What is fueling this departure from your usual live performances?
5. Though ‘Closer’ and ‘Hurt’ are perhaps your most famous songs, which songs would you select as your best work?
6. People are always trying to classify your music- rock, electronica, metal…if you could create your own new genre for NIN, what would you call it and who else would be there, if anyone?
7. What do you think about the Nine Inch Nails fan club, The Spiral? How does it feel to communicate to your fans through your blog?
8. Your fans often don shirts and other items with phrases of adoration on them. Where do you think ‘Trent Reznor is God’ came from?
9. You’re an avid video gamer. Have video games influenced your work in any way?
10. What do you hope to achieve through the release of your next album, Year Zero, which you haven’t in the past?

Lots of people are hatin’ on SNL right now. It is going through a big transition period. But, as a long time fine, I still watch it religiously. Currently they are experimenting with some form of suspending the suspension of disbelief that usual comes with theater- I’m sure there is some term for it that I can’t seem to find.

The best addition to SNL has been their Digital Shorts segments. It seems to have coincided with last season’s addition of Andy Samberg. Here a few clips:

Way to be current, SNL!

i am majorly behind! but, i am excited to mention that i have a new project brewing: i am starting a new blog dedicated to music only, which will soon be found at www.hardrockchick.com. rock on!

GWAR, 11/14/06, The Warfield:

Yes, I saw GWAR. I just had to. I mean, how many chances do you get to see space alien rockers kill political figures onstage?

I went solo on this one, prepared for some scary shit. I hovered at the back of the pit, mouth agape as I walked in during the decapitation of Hitler, or something like that. The pit was basically the whole floor on this one, from little girls to big burly men. Some well prepared people were wearing all white, so that they could create their own moving art pieces with the myriad of fluids that GWAR sprayed on them. It was beautiful.

I managed to stay dry through all of the skits. It was a near miracle. I got some pictures that probably need explanation, but I’ll leave it up to your imagination. And yeah, that’s our lovely Prez and a dinosaur. And Jesus. And the Pope.

And here’s a highlight reel from the same tour, different city. Now you can see what I’m talking about!

Hot Chip, 11/17/06, Mezzanine

And I was a boy from school……..

Hipster heaven was alive and well at the Mezzanine once again. What can I say, it was nerd electronica at its best. The hot rockers of yesterday are gone, ladies. Now you must learn to love the sexy geek. Complete with keyboard and coke bottle glasses. Enjoy.

Alice in Chains, 11/26/06, The Warfield

Ah. I had been waiting for this most of my life. And I never thought it would happen, not after Layne Staley died. And I was really unsure about this new singer, William. But it was awesome beyond words.

What really made the show was the band’s connection with the audience. You could tell they really wanted to be there. They played an unbelievable encore. They made eye contact with the fans and really involved them in the show. And they brought James Hetfield out to perform Would. How freakin sweet is that???

Though intially struck by William the new guy’s look, I got over it. He looked like he belonged with Lenny Kravitz and Ben Harper. Layne was so wicked looking, and I loved that. But I am glad that they chose someone that sounds more like Layne than looks like him. The boy’s got some pipes.

Donnie and I got 2 picks- one from Mike Inez and one from Cantrell himself, used in the show. That always makes me happy when I come away with a score. It was a great night.

An absolutely hilarious clip that has audio of some huge Cantrell fan. I’m glad I wasn’t standing by that guy!

The Faint, 12/5/06, Mezzanine

Late shows on Tuesday nights? Why?

The strange thing about this show is that they gave ‘free’ tickets to a bunch of people as part of a Camel promotion. The Faint designed a Camel box that they were selling or giving away at the show or something. Interesting promotion, even though I don’t smoke…

And they totally rocked as usual. Due to a stressful week, I decided that I was in the mood for a slamdance-athon, and Donnie and I stuck it out in the front by pushing and elbowing the dumdums around. It was fun. There was only one guy that was a major drag, drunkenly falling around all over everyone. He attempted to crowdsurg several times, and was dropped several times. I was extremely happy when he came near me, as I took his faux fur-lined hoody and pulled it up over his face. I proceeded to do this 3 more times. He never even noticed. Finally he wandered off.

While it was fun, I think that the Mezzanine stage is much too small for these guys. They are great crowd entertainers, and it just looked like they were smushed up there.

Prince, Club 3121, Las Vegas

Prince Show…..Prince Show….

Another solo show for me, this one proved to be quite different. 3121 is a very upscale club, and people were either coupled off or in pretty large groups. And they were older. I felt like the only single in there.

Seeing Prince was like seeing Michael Jackson, Little Richard, and PeeWee Herman all wrapped up in one tiny orange creamsicle suit wearing package. The man can shred a guitar though.

Hearing Purple Rain live made little hairs stand up on my neck. Plus, I think this was my first show to ever see dancers up on stages that weren’t tongue and cheek. The Twins…..very Robert Palmer girls-esque. The stage was impressive, 2 levels, indutrial with a spiral staircase- the band spread out across the set. There were different colored neon ‘pipelines’ in the background.

Prince talked a lot more than I thought he would. Maybe I really thought he was going to whisper everything into Beyonce’s ear or something. He would say throughout: What’s my name? How you doin Las Vegas?, hokey things like that.

He played a cover of Johnny B Goode, Cream (which was super awesome!), Nothing Compares To You, U Got the Look, and Let’s Go Crazy, among others.

Those fans that did not go to work the next day could go over to the restaurant portion of his club and listen to him play a more intimate set that apparently lasts until 5am. I was not among that group, but that’s a pretty cool opportunity.

So I heard he’s doing the Superbowl Half-Time show this year. Hope he doesn’t expose his nipple!

Well, I have no shows lined up for the new year and that makes me sad!!! Someone cool come to town!

When I was a kid, I used to have to stealthily turn on my TV after hours to watch MTV. I used to make video mixes of my favorite videos, and a good music video used to drive whether I liked or disliked a song. This was the age when the music video carried much more weight. It was part of the marketing mix, not an afterthought. Michael Jackson was making his mini movies, where the world premiers would crossover to be integrated with a TV show on FOX or something. Aerosmith premiered Cryin’, Amazin’, and Crazy at the end of several TV shows, such as 90210 (if I remember correctly). And when a video was banned, it was really banned. You couldn’t look it up on youtube. Our imaginations would run wild.

The following are videos that really got me excited in the early ’90s.

Guns ‘n Roses, November Rain (which was censored)

Beastie Boys, Sabotage

Tool, Prison Sex (banned from MTV, VH1, and others)

Nirvana, Heart Shaped Box

Soundgarden, Black Hole Sun

Metallica, One

Nine Inch Nails, Closer (seriously censored)

Snoop Dogg, Gin ‘n Juice

banned/censored videos

Duran Duran, Girls on Film: for full frontal nudity

Cher, If I Could Turn Back Time: for her revealing lingerie

Michael Jackson, They Don’t Care About Us: for images in the background of the video

Madonna, Justify My Love: graphic sexuality

Madonna, What It Feels Like For A Girl: graphic violence

Madonna, Erotica: Graphic sexuality.

Madonna, American Life: for images deemed controversial after the commencement of the Iraq war. That’s 4 for Madge!

Prodigy, Smack My Bitch Up: for violence, and a misunderstanding of the meaning of the song (smack as in heroin)

Jay-Z, 99 Problems: for violence

Marilyn Manson, Saint: for violence and sexuality

Motley Crue, Girls Girls, Girls: censored for sexual content

Nine Inch Nails, Happiness in Slavery: extreme graphic violence and sexual content, probably the most deserving on the list to at least be limited in release.

Sir Mix-A-Lot, Baby Got Back: for sexual images (please, a plastic gigantic ass? come on)

Scissor Sisters, Filthy/Gorgeous: censored for sexual content

Cannibal Corpse, Sentenced to Burn: censored for violence

I’m way behind…

Placebo/She Wants Revenge: The Warfield, October 24th, 2006

I honestly don’t know why I don’t like Placebo. Everyone else in the room does, but I am bored. However, it works in my favor as a lot of people leave after their set, in true SF fashion. SWR was lots of fun. I was there with Donnie and 2 friends. It was a great set as they played their 2 ‘unreleased songs’, and I particularly like ‘Black Liner Run’. It is even better live.

Gomez: The Warfield, October 25th, 2006

Whoa. Walking into the room when Rodrigo y Gabriela are playing is very surprising. Calling them guitar virtuosos would be an understatement. Too bad they were followed by a mega shitty band called Matt Pond PA. Ick. So, Gomez is a good band, maybe even great, but they are much more Donnie’s style. We are ‘in the front row’ by this crazy security guard. It’s a really long sit with encores galore and a shoeless guy. They have this one really tall guy play a horn that is…interesting. Donnie got a guitar pick out of it, so he was particularly happy with this show.

Snoop Dogg: Bill Graham Civic Center, October 29, 2006

San Francisco: The Amsterdam of the U.S. This should be the new tourism slogan. So this might go down as one of the weirder shows I’ve been to….at least until Tuesday night when I go to GWAR. There was so much pot here that the fire alarms went off. I saw a guy in a wheel chair smoking a pipe. I was suprised there weren’t bongs….at least that I saw. Damien Jr. Gong Marley opened the show. He was pretty good. We were happy that he didn’t play only his daddy’s songs- well, just a couple to please the audience. Then we waited about 2 hours for Snoop. During this waiting period, we saw at least three people pass out- one was carrie dout on a stretcher. I don’t know what was going on- some laced weed was going around or something. You weren’t allowed to drink in the auditorium that night, so perhaps people were throwing back drinks outside and it made them pass out when they got inside. The crowd was pissed, but I think Snoop made it pretty worth it. He was in full form- stoned out of his mind, smoking blunts on stage. We got a lot of good oldies. His uncle was an absolute hoot, ‘dancing around on stage’ and making eyes at the ladies. Too short came out for a little bit. There was a rap off. Snoop did a Tupac song which was super cool. The set seemed short, but after that wait I think everyone was okay with it. We all had to go home and air out before work the next morning anyways.

my other pictures from this were terrible.

Shooter Jennings: Irving Plaza, November 4th, 2006

Yes, country music in NYC! Little venue+not a huge crowd+ a very weird crowd+ a very late set= a good time. It’s 1 am in NYC and the night is just getting started. Two guys are passed out against the barrier, another drunk guy is trying to country dance with my friend, and there are some people waving a confederate flag. Where am I? Odessa, TX? Wait- NYC? What???? It was a phenomenal set…I think he played every song from both albums. He must really like this place because his third album, a live one, was recorded here at Irving Plaza. Shooter was wobbly as usual, though seemingly less so than the last time I saw him. People are so drunk in the crowd, and everyone knows every word. The highlight: Busted in Baylor County. Now, how many people there really have ever been to Baylor county? Probably not many.

Take an actor from one of my favorite shows of all time and make a darker, smarter version of CSI and what do you get? My new favorite show, Dexter.

Yes, Showtime got me with this one. But it is very worth it. The opening of the show is in and of itself brilliant. Everything looks so different close up. This is an underlying theme of the show. Dexter is a blood specialist for the Miami crime lab. His secret is that he has a killer instinct. His cop father who adopted him from some traumatic mess of a childhood helped him to channel his killer instinct for good - thus Dexter only kills people who deserve it. He goes after the people who get out of convictions, or get out of jail early.

The show is really dark and pretty complex - but a good complex, not like the tangled mess that Lost has become. The mood is contrasted by the Miami setting, creating an interesting dynamic for the show. Michael C. Hall acting is superb - his long narrative pieces work really well within the context of the show where it could easily have been an awkward addition.

So tune in, or get the DVDs when they are available if you really want to wait that long…