Arlo's TV Show

The show begins on the WE network Saturday, April 7th. The first episode is in LA.
It doesn't have the complete listing, but he'll be in the Chicago Episode... so get ready.

I love this girl

boy... we're cute.
The CHAMPAGNE of BEERS!

Perfect Song 9

Quasi is pretty hit or miss for me. I first got into the band in 1999 with the release of (I believe) their second album Field Studies. The album, overall has a happy, poppy feel, while the lyrics are kind of the opposite.
I've heard that Sam Coomes is a little crazy, his songwriting is pretty brilliant. I'm fairly certain BrillianceandCrazygo hand-in-hand.
This is a shortened version of one of the most perfect songs (which I almost always include in a mixtape) I've heard.

Happy Birthday, Bayba.

Today is the day my wonderful lady was born.
I love her like crazy...

enough to post a spanish birthday wish to her on my blog.

Happy Birthday Stacey, my dear.

aml
aml.

Perfect Song 8

There are few people I know as creative as John Vanderslice.
Every one of his albums has moments of brilliance and beauty.


From his last album Pixel Revolt (which is the most patient and stunning album he's made yet... they just keep getting better, or maybe I just keep getting older?) This is Trance Manuel...and it's perfect.

I'm very excited to say I get to see him on the opening night of his tour when I go to Portland Oregon next month.

Weird things

6 Weird things about me... per Gena's request:

1) I can't stand touching wet paper. It is the worst feeling in the world.

2) I HATE Tomatoes.
My Mom always tells the story about me when I was 11 years old calling tomatoes 'the spawn of satan'. I don't know if it's a texture or taste thing, but raw tomatoes are about the worst "food" ever created. Surprisingly, I don't mind ketchup or spaghetti sauce (neither really tastes like raw tomatoes).

3) I started skateboarding at the age of twelve because all my sister's boyfriends did. My sister (Mandie) is three years older than me and I've always looked up to her. She is pretty much responsible for showing me the difference between "cool" and "Not cool". She also taught me how to drive a stick shift 1972 Mustang when I was 13.
(she now lives in Cumberland, Maryland with her husband Matt and my three beautiful nieces, Ashley, Emily and Hanna).

4) I've been to drug rehab.
but only to show support / visit relatives.

5) Growing up, I attended eight different elementary schools. I've also lived on both coasts - Torrence, California and Cumberland, Maryland.

6) Dinosaur Jr is one of my all time favorite bands (they were the first band I heard and knew I needed to know everything about them, own everything they ever released, etc.) and I've never seen them live.

Holly Golightly

Saturday night Stacey and I saw Holly Golightly with perform live with her new project:
Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs. The Brokeoffs are a one man band. One man from Texas named Lawyer Dave who plays a kick drum with his foot, guitar with his hands - and sings. It's pretty impressive. It's creepy, steel guitar country tinged songs done very well. The only problem we had with him was his presentation. He seemed like he was either on serious drugs, or completely careless.
Stacey and I also just watched the movie Half Nelson over the weekend - so drug trying to spot drug problems in strangers was also a big part of our weekend.

the Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs album - You Can't Buy A Gun When You're Crying is a cool new step for Holly Golightly.
check some of it out here:

www.myspace.com/hollygolightlyandthebrokeoffs

Perfect Song 7

I love Beulah.
This is the first Beulah song that got stuck in my head for years...

Gotta Problem?

What are YOU looking at, chump?




Look at Wessex running in the background...

puppy play time

This Saturday Past Arlo visited with two pug friends, Lord Wessex and Percey.
We all went to a dog park and spent an hour being stupid.
Amber, Holly, Scot and myself brought our little mutts to the park and caught up.
It was the first spring-feeling day of the year and all went well.

Something New from Something Old

for the longest time, Arlo has had this weird rubber cage/ball wich held a squeaky little orange ball inside of it. I recently noticed him making odd sounds while chewing... I eventually figured out it was him chewing on pieces of the rubber cage/ball - once i saw the whole bottom part of the cage was ripped apart.
Arlo's new favorite toy is the small, squeaky orange ball that used to be housed within the rubber cage. Arlo has freed the ball in order to push it along the floor with his face.

what a dummy.

Perfect Song 6

I don't know when it was exactly, but somewhere in my formative years I was introduced to Nat King Cole. I'm not one who's into jazz music by any means - I generally think it's pretty stupid. I like the influence it's had on some of my favorite musicians, but for the most part it meandering and dull-city.
So - Nat King Cole is one of those singer/songwriters that knew how to write and sing a tune. His songs are beautiful and catchy. I can find a time in just about every movie - where a Nat King Cole song would fit perfectly.
To prove it, I found this clip on YouTube of one of my favorite Nat King Cole songs "It's only a paper moon" put under images of desolate grey, swampy dirt town movies captured by some suburban shlep... and it still works.
To look at it, you'd think the song is about birds... it's not. Perhaps the song Straighten Up And Fly Right would be a little more suitable.

Look Who's Cute...

It's Arlo.

for DiMarco

Over the weekend M. DiMarco pointed something out to me...
It's been a while since I've uploaded Arlo pictures anywhere.
He's been a very good boy and super-smart lately.
He finally has his "Stick 'em up, BANG!" (play dead) trick DOWN. He does it 98% of the time.

here he is stickin' 'em up for a treat.

how cute...

Perfect Song 5

I had never heard this song before watching this video on youtube:


It's called Shift and it's on Grizzly Bears first album, HORN OF PLENTY. This version is nothing short of amazing... according to me.

I have been in love with Grizzly Bear for about 6 months now. I don't know many other bands that can pull off what they do. Rich and wonderful music undscoring beautiful and very unconventional harmonies and melodies.
Their album YELLOW HOUSE blows me away. You should listen to it. It took me a few times to really hear it, but once it did - I couldn't stop. It's perfect.

this song is equally as beautiful as their album Yellow House.

I also wanted to post this a'capella version of their song Knife from Yellow House.
This was recorded while walking down the street in France...

director's cut

Here is the version of my film for Impress These Apes with all the bits. I had to keep mine at 3 minutes and 30 seconds as a rule for the challenge. This one is about a minute longer, with more BITS!