Blues vs. Punk

Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Gaaa! Last night's show at the Rio was something to see. In fact, I'm having a hard time coming up with the words.

Unfortunately, when I walked into the Rio my camera was locked in the basement. Otherwise, I would have a pic of the always lovely Miss JW, who was looking even lovelier last night, to show you.

American Relay started the evening with their one of a kind two piece. This is the part where words fail me, trying to describe their music. It's some kind of blues, but so much more. All I can say is they killed it. And killed it good.

Next were the best and only punk band in Steamboat the Plagiarists. I don't know what was going on, but this was their best performance to date. Maybe it was all the new gear, maybe the energy in the room, or something else but they rocked it. The crowd just couldn't get enough.

Needless to say, everyone there left happy and wasted, one way or another.

Don't hate me for my biology

In honor of the late great Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, I am into my third glass of Knob Creek Bourbon. Not that I could ever emulate him, or even try, but I am toasting his memory tonight.

All week I have been trying to think of the word misandry. I find it an underused word, and yet a widely used concept, especially in pop culture, particular commercials. How many times have you seen a commercial or a sitcom for that matter, where the man is portrayed as a total buffoon? Many times I'd wager if you watch enough television. Or how we laugh at voilence directed towards men in movies (you know, the old kick in the balls). For along time I've wondered why this is acceptable, and yet we cringe if this is directed at women.

Of course, women in western culture were given the shaft for centuries. And to this day there is as "old boy network", which I have seen second hand. It is still very difficult for women to break into certain fields without a high level of resentment. I believe that we are all humans no matter what sex, race or whatever other ways we classify ourselves.

However, I am uncomfortable with the backlash directed towards men. It does nothing to advance the cause of women, and I see it creating more animosity toward them from men. Men and women are different, and have strengths that the other doesn't have. If we are ever to achieve equality, we will need to accept this and use our strengths, but not deny anyone the chance to break from supposed roles. Put this way, I don't care who fixes my truck, as long as they do it right.

Penguins!

I was so hoping that I could buy a penguin, thanks to Paradox. Alas, according to Snopes.com, it's a hoax. But not all hope is lost, you can still rent them, as Majikthise tells us.

Update: Paradox finds more on the P Diddy penguin fiasco. Fiasco in the eyes PETA, at least.

Conspiracies of gasoline

Of course being a pump monkey can lead to hearing some out there theories. Did you know the world will end in 2012? Being a recovering Coast to Coast addict (I'm currently just a maintance listener), I've heard of the 2012 ending in relation to the Mayan calendar. But tonight I heard a completely new one. The dude was talking so fast that I couldn't remember everything he said, but it had something do with our pumping oil out of the ground. Apparently, the oil deposits act as a cooling mechanism protecting us from the heat of the earth's core. Since we've been pulling so much oil fast than the earth can replace it (oh yes, the earth creates oil deep in it's center), we a in danger of allowing the magma to come to the surface much more intensely and quickly. And this will all coalesce in 2012, in conjuction with the Mayan calendar. And there you have it, the conspiracy of the evening, if not the week.

Thank you BA

Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Friday night KRS One headlined a night of hip hop in Steamboat. The evening began with locals MC Kat in tha Hat and DJ Founder, who had to cut their set a bit short so they could do part two of a doubleheader at the Rio. After that was DJ Cocheese spun for a very long time up until KRS One showed up. Cocheese was also KRS's DJ for his set. A great show, although I wish KRS would have gone on earlier and played longer. Overall awesome. This would not have been possible without Brian Alpart's Campfire Productions. Thanks Brian.
There are more photos here

Guttermouth at Levelz

marksingalong
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Guttermouth, ADD and F-Loder played at Levelz last night. If I hadn't been so buzzed and hitting on chicks I'd actually have a concert review for y'all. Instead here are some pics.

Marlboro Reds and 3.2% Beer

I'm amazed that it took this long. Once again, it's a guy in his late 40s again.

So as I'm ringing this guy up tonight, he says to me, "Lot of pussy in town right now."
I say, "I wouldn't know, I've been in here." This is my attempt to end this kind of conversation.
"You gotta get out there, fuck 'em and they leave."
At this point, I'm just looking at him, willing him to take his cigarettes and leave. Thankfully, he does.

For crying out loud, who talks like that to strangers anymore? And why? I would be scared to see the kind of lady this guy hooks up with, and I'm sure it would be at the Tugboat (which is a fine establishment, but you know what I mean).

If he would have said "there are some fine ladies in town" or the like, it would be perfectly fine. But the way he said it is so crass and slimey, and I really don't want to hear it.

It Snowed Today!!!

Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Today was freaking beautiful. I didn't even get there until 10, but I don't think it mattered anyway, the way it was snowing. I kid you not it was dumping about two inches an hour. Anyway, I met up with Brett, and we rode like crazy. It was one of those days, that when you go back somewhere your tracks from earlier where covered. That's Brett Webber in the middle photo

Fumes and toothpaste

Orginally this was intended to be a space for me to talk about working in a gas station and other service industry related stuff, but really nothing has happened at the ****-*-*** lately. Well, there were some nice looking women that came in over the weekend but that's still not that exciting. Or I just am so over working there nothing stays in my memory.

There is one thing that irks me, though. Occasionally, when I am listening to my music on the stereo an older guy (by older I mean at least late 40's and it is always a male) will come in and tell me just how much better music was in his day. And then he will proceed to tell me about the greatest concert ever. Foghat. Tulsa, Oklahoma. 197?. And I think to myself "you were going to concerts in the 70's and Foghat was the greatest show ever!?! What about Led Zepplin? " Does anyone even remember a single Foghat song anymore? Anyway, I hope I never become that guy.

Valentine's Day Special

All I can say about Valentine's Day is that I have sold a buttload of porn tonight.

Instead, how about some music. My friend Carl turned me on to this band Pinback last week. I can't stop listening to them, they have blown me away. If one had to catagorize them, you could mention them in the same breath as Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. But that would really be a diservice, as they are much more melodious than BTS and MM. The bass lines really stand out, especially in the song "Penelope" off Blue Screen Life.

Tortoise seems to have really caught my fancy. I have a soft spot for what I assume is trance music, and I think these guys may qualify as trance. The difference is they play all organic, with a fair amount of jazz influence. I believe TNT is their latest album, but I may be wrong. I've been listening to that and Standards.

To round things out, a classic (to my ears) band, Sonic Youth and their latest album Sonic Nurse. Some people I know weren't very happy with this album, but not me. I dig it alot. It seems to call back elements of the Daydream Nation , but also their later stuff such as A Thousand Leaves and Washing Machine. It still has those great Sonic Youth hooks and disonnance that have made them the great band they are.

Oh yeah, does anyone know where I can find a full length version of Schooly D's Aqua Teen Hunger Force theme song?

Joe Wilson Sucks

joe
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Actually, Joe doesn't suck. This is the first time I've ever taken a shot of him with no middle finger in the center of the photo. At this point he was going on many hours of no sleep, a stomach full of beer and the distractions of Mardi Gras. If you see this Joe, all I have to say is, gotcha.

words as earworms

For some reason I've had the word defenestration stuck in my head all day. It's just the word too, I have no desire to throw anyone or anything out of a window. Having a word floating in my head for most of the day is not a rare occurrence either. Some people get songs, I get words.