There's Nothing You Can Do...

Return of the Native, Part One

2009-10-24T12:54:00.007-04:00

Well, I'm back. After an eventful eight months, I have returned to blog occasionally about life and career developments. To say that 2009 has been a turbulent year for me personally is a massive understatement, as practically everything in my life has shifted underneath me without warning (seems to be kind of a global trend, huh?).
I don't want to go into specifics, so I'll just say this: never get too comfortable in life, because security is almost always an illusion.
Anyway, let's pick up where I left off: about to leave for the UK to film Cut. Arriving at Heathrow on a bleary, cold March morning, I am impressed by the filmmakers quiet confidence and "no worries" attitude, and hope it portends for good things to come.
Fortunately, I am correct, as rehearsals at Pinewood Studios and the BBC show that writer/director Dominic Burns and producer Simon Phillips have both connections and balls aplenty. Amazingly, the cast has all their lines down pretty pat, and the film starts to gel immediately. Everyone makes huge strides even in the course of a single day, and by the end of the rehearsal period, cast and crew are all dead chuffed (English slang for pumped up).
Off to Leek (about three hours outside of London and one hour south of Manchester) for blocking rehearsals and shooting. The cast and crew are comfortably ensconced in a cozy farmhouse, with other smaller buildings creating a snug, yet somewhat claustrophobic compound. After only one day of blocking rehearsals, we decide to attempt a Steadicam run through, expecting to stop/start incessantly throughout the process. To our amazement (and probably due to the cast's extensive theater background), we nearly complete an entire take without cutting the camera. Emboldened, we decide that although we have planned for safety cuts, the cohesive cast, combined with the dazzling technical expertise of Steadicam operator Dominic Jackson and crew, have convinced us of the possibility of achieving cinema's Holy Grail: an entire film- with special effects, costume changes, etc.- shot in one take.

Part Two: Shooting Begins

Off to England (To Freeze My Butt Off)

2009-02-26T08:49:00.004-05:00

So it's back to the UK for me for the 5th-21st of March.I will be in London until the morning of the 12th, when the cast and crew of the new film Cut pack up and head for the middle of nowhere, AKA Leek, England (pictured here). Leek is a small village about an hour from Manchester and is ideal for the production, as it is mere minutes from the location. You can take a look at Leek here.

I am quite excited about the film. Although on the surface it seems to be a fairly typical killer-picking-off-five-people-in-a-secluded-cabin genre film,the way in which it is being filmed really intrigues me: after a five minute flashback opening that explains (mostly) a key event from the past, the film takes place in real time and is filmed IN A SINGLE SHOT. That's right, about 77 minutes of the film will be in one take.

How do we do it? First, we rehearse it like a play for a couple of weeks, then two days of rehearsal with the Steadicam operators, then three nights of 77 minute takes. Of course, there are several safety cuts (cuts that are invisible to the viewer) like a scene in which the killer shuts off the power, causing the screen to go black, that allow us to stop and restart from that point if the first half went well. For the most part, however, we're going to try to get it in one. Pretty cool,huh?

Two things I am dreading: shooting entirely at night and the damp, bone-chilling cold. Although the night shooting itself is only a few days, the level of concentration needed for the long takes will be intense. As for the cold, there is something about English forests (particularly at night) that just make me shudder even when they are warm. Anyway, here goes!

LA Is Chirping Too

2009-01-06T18:38:00.010-05:00

Chirp is now playing in Los Angeles at the Sunset 5 at least through the 8th of January. This should be the film's swan song in theaters before it hits video stores in a few weeks. Here's the terrific, fair review from Variety:

Artistic aspirations and romantic entanglements stalk the East Village streets in tyro helmer Jonathan Blitstein's goofily engaging Gotham comedy, "Let Them Chirp Awhile." Fresh out of NYU film school, Blitstein films what he knows: His tale of a young filmmaker's writer's block gleefully incorporates all manner of antic styles, from Mack Sennett-style double-takes to Felliniesque black-and-white pantomime. That Blitstein pulls off this tiredly self-reflexive conceit with relative panache is due in no small part to the scruffy grace of leads Justin Rice and indie fixture Brendon Sexton III. Opening Dec. 5 in New York, "Chirp" may roost awhile.

Bobby (Rice), attempting to write his first screenplay, lives largely inside his own mind. When not engaging in stream-of-consciousness voiceover to vent his doubts and frustrations, or getting sidetracked by infinite irrelevancies and false starts, he lies about his progress while casually hooking up with current g.f. Dara (Laura Breckenridge), a college frosh some seven years his junior, or hanging out with lifelong best bud Scott (Sexton).

Unlike the idealistic Bobby, Scott always waffles between two extremes -- his day job as corporate marketer and his nighttime work as rock musician wannabe -- and similarly wavers between Michelle (Pepper Binkley), his live-in girlfriend of four years, and Ariel (Amy Chow), his Korean mistress of four months. Most tellingly, Scott's moral compass falls somewhere between Bobby's upright humanism and the cynical egomania of Bobby's nemesis, successful playwright Hart (Zach Galligan).

Encroaching on Neil LaBute/Woody Allen territory with a callowness that almost proves charming, Blitstein maintains an absurdist distance from his characters' hangups that sometimes turns literal, such as when the camera follows a couple's argument from blocks away. At the same time, an "Umberto D"-like subplot, wherein Bobby loses the Jack Russell terrier entrusted to his reluctant care by an ex-girlfriend, occasions pic's most parodic, over-the-top closeup reactions of panic and desperation .

But Blitstein's lead actors consistently translate awkward self-consciousness into effortlessly executed soft-shoe. Rice brings a boyish ingenuousness to his role that disarms all comers, and his interactions with Sexton, a past master at self-sabotage of every stripe, transform potentially awkward exchanges into seamless setpieces.

This perfectly modulated control of tone rarely extends much further than the tete-a-tetes where these two thesps hold sway, however. The difficulty Bobby expresses in relating to the world outside his head also plagues his creator. Thus, although a pretentious 9/11-set play by the ever-opportunistic Hart is wonderfully awful, Bobby's shushed expressions of shocked disbelief seem forced, as does the gushing audience's inane praise.

Tech credits are a cut above most location-shot no-budgeters, Blitstein having opted to shoot in 35mm.

Finally New Yorkers Can Chirp Awhile

2008-10-29T19:47:00.003-04:00

Yes, folks, the long awaited premiere of Let Them Chirp Awhile, the neat little indie I did in 2006 with Brendan Sexton III, Justin Rice (pictured above), Laura Breckinridge, Pepper Binkley, and Anthony Rapp, opens December 5th for a two week run at the Cinema Village Theater at 22 East 12th St. in beautiful Greenwich Village. Needless to say, all of us involved with the film are thrilled it's getting a theatrical release, given the moribund state of the independent film market and the economy in general. And for those of you non-New Yorkers who wish to see this little gem, it's already available for queueing over at Netflix. Enjoy!

BT Ad Followup

2008-09-11T13:56:00.003-04:00

Matthew Delieu was the Gremlins consultant on the BT ad and came to the project as a huge fan and supporter. This is a note he sent me a couple days ago:

"I really respected what the movies did for cinema and I thought both Chris Walas and Rick Baker created some of the best movie creatures ever. Dante's direction was perfect.....

When I worked on the ad I had to provide as much advice and material to help them create the Gremlins on a really tight schedule. Next to the worlds most famous prop owner, Bob Burns, I own a pretty large collection of original Gremlins props.

They borrowed my Gremlin puppet from the first movie and all my paperwork and puppet designs and blueprints and throughout the design stage asked me to comment on the look. They pulled off a miracle. This was effectively a mini sequel.

The special effects team worked day and night to produce around 20 puppets to interact with Peter Jones during the ad. Peter was a natural at acting and everybody got on really well with him, a true professional. His image has done wonders for BT, so lucky them.

Vince Abbott worked hard to produce some of the puppet mechanics such as the ear mechanisms. Vince and I got to operate Gremlins on the set and became good friends. Vince was no stranger to puppets, having worked on the Muppets Treasure Island and helping to bring the Gremlins to life on camera. We puppeteered together like two kids who had found their Dad's gun. It was just like being on the set of the original movie. Seeing a Gremlin operated by a professional, face to face, is something very rare. These things came to life.....Imagine being an Elvis fan and then getting to sing with him. Well, thats close to how I felt.

A lot of people saw the ad as the official return of the Gremlins, looks like somebody definitely fed Gizmo after midnight this time..........

So what can I tell you......Gremlins are back.......and hopefully, they are here to stay.

Im proud to have been involved in the return of the Gremlins....and have one thing to say to anyone wondering what will be next.......WATCH THIS SPACE."

Matthew is a good guy, and as you can gather, excitable and enthusiastic. I'm not sure I'll break any major stories, but if I hear something, I'll be sure to post it.

British Telecom Spot

2008-09-02T19:54:00.004-04:00

People have been asking me lately if I've seen the BT spot that features gremlins. I have, and you can see it here.

People have also been asking if the tremendous response to the spot in the UK has in any way given momentum to future Gremlins projects, including a possible Gremlins 3.

The answer to that question is: in a way, yes. That's all I can say right now.

Additionally, a young man named Sacha Feiner has created one of the most astounding Gremlins clips ever. It really defies description, so if you're a fan, you can watch it here. But be sure to watch the jaw-dropping, hard-to-believe-but-true "Making Of" clip here. I guarantee you, you won't forget it.

And yes, I can tell you that the people responsible for Gremlins have seen it too, and are pretty darn impressed.

That is all.

Recovering from Burnout

2008-07-31T16:00:00.002-04:00

After writing twenty columns for IFC.com in May, I was completely spent. I had pretty much exhausted everything I wanted to say for at least a couple of months. So now, on the cusp of August, I am feeling a surge of renewed vigor. Before I begin with new posts, I want to post one of my favorites from May, which seems to become more relevant with each passing day:

Trapped in Cell Hell

I tremble as I begin to write this - not out of excitement, but out of rage - because even though the topic has been discussed to the point of exhaustion, the problem just seems to be getting exponentially worse. No, I am not talking about bedbugs (although they're pretty horrendous) or the Bush administration, but the plague that threatens to destroy us all as a civilization.

I'm talking about cell phones and the way they are used by - or inflicted upon, depending on your point of view - society at large.

Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Most people use cell phones in an extremely self absorbed, what-do-I-care-I'm-never-going-to-see-your-face-ever-again kind of way. It's all about THEM, without the slightest regard for anyone nearby. It's as if they're in a narcissistic bubble in which only their whims, desires and concerns exist. The level of ego displayed by cell phone braggarts (both male and female) continues to grow and astound.

Witness this simple case, that happened to me last week. My wife and I were in an ice cream store when a woman sat down - I am not exaggerating here - less than three feet away. I could reach over and grab the salt from her table with the slightest of efforts. She then proceeded to call a friend and for more than twenty minutes give her (my God, the poor friend) explicit details of her ovaries, mammograms, breast tenderness, you name it - all in a clear, ringing voice that would have made Barack Obama say "Wow, nice projection!" My wife and I stared at each other in shock, as this 40-something woman continued to spew her shockingly boring yet intimate conversation to any one who cared to listen, as if the gelato shop was her living room instead of a public place.

Cell phone morons come in all shapes and sizes. There's the Blowhard, the Wall Street business guy who shouts in your ear about deals, money and how crucial he is to the company while he's sitting behind you on the train. There's the Nervous Nellie, the senior citizen who needs to telephone her son every twenty minutes to give him updates about where she is ("We just passed Yaphank" - great, thanks for sharing!). There's the OhmyGod girl ("OhmyGod, you'll never believe what Chanel said last night!"), who will talk nonstop - listening simply isn't an option - a mere two seats away the entire three-hour bus trip.

I could rant all day, but you know what I'm talking about - you deal with it every day, too. So let's start with this basic, painful admission - most peoples lives (and believe me, I include myself in this one hundred percent) are SIMPLY NOT INTERESTING. AT ALL.
So the next time you pick up your beloved cell phone to make a quick (or not so quick) call, try these simple things: cover your mouth with your hand (as if you were telling a secret) and talk in a normal tone of voice. If the person on the phone can't hear you, simply repeat it again,only SLIGHTLY louder. Do not, as the rock band KISS would have you do, shout it out loud. If you are in an enclosed space with other people, say "I can't talk, I'll call you back." I guarantee you, the world will not end abruptly in a fiery cataclysm. And if you're in a coffee shop full of strangers and you get an important call, STEP OUTSIDE.

If we all followed those simple steps, life would be so much nicer, and maybe - just maybe - people would be just a teeny, tiny bit less angry, and wouldn't have to vent in long winded, repetitive blog posts.

I'd love to talk more, but I gotta go do a few errands, pay some bills and beat the crap out of someone. Later!

At Last...Let Them Chirp Awhile Trailer!!

2008-05-21T09:23:00.002-04:00

Finally, the trailer for LTCA is available here at IFC.com. Enjoy!

Booked for a Month

2008-05-14T17:54:00.003-04:00

This quick post is to let everyone know that I am blogging for the month of May over at IFC.com, along with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics and actresses Mena Suvari, Jena Malone and Lizzy Caplan among others. If you'd like to read my posts (20 in all ending on May 30th) , click here and enjoy.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T16:15:00.003-05:00

Lilacs for the wife, a screening of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - one of the most life-affirming, dazzling films I have ever seen, and must see again- and a quiet sushi dinner with a red velvet cupcake for dessert: that's the plan for today, here on the mythical island of Manhattan. Not bad for a crisp Thursday evening in the 21st century. I hope you are enjoying your day as much as I am!

Back from a Long Break: The Update

2008-01-29T16:23:00.000-05:00

Well, that was a nice 2 month hiatus. Plenty of news to share:

First up, I did the show 10 Great Reasons, an eight-part series paying tribute to musical guilty pleasures, debuting Feb. 19 on the Fuse channel and no doubt endlessly repeated forever (is that redundant? Not in this case). Good fun, though, and it will be interesting to see how closely it resembles VH1's I Love the 80"s in style and content.

Second, I will not comment on American politics since in so doing, one immediately alienates half the audience unnecessarily, and why would I want to do that?

Probably the best interview I've done in several years can be found here at the charming website Den of Geek.There is another audio one here at Deadpit.com, just scroll down on Past Shows and click on the link.

Phil Lesh and Friends

2007-11-29T11:12:00.000-05:00

Had a chance to catch a couple of Phil shows during his 10 show run at the Nokia Theater - the opening and closing nights, on Halloween and November 11th, to be precise - and I have to say I was quite impressed. Despite my love of metal and hard rock, I still carry a small torch for The Grateful Dead and their offshoots, and Phil and his ever changing lineup is clearly the best of the bunch.
First off, a few words about the venue: the Nokia Theater is one of the nicest, newest, cleanest, most user friendly venues in Manhattan, with crystal clear sound, multiple bars and snack stands, and comfortable seats in the rear of the theater. I had a terrific time, particularly the last night when I managed to snag a seat.
As for the music, the Halloween show was solid - a rousing Shakedown Street opener, a killer New Speedway Boogie, a thundering The Other One, and a whimsical Werewolves of London closer - but the final night contained the real gems: a Golden Road opener, the best Sugaree I have ever heard, a tasty acoustic set (Ripple, anyone?), and a third set that wove Dark Star, Morning Dew, Uncle Johns Band and Sugar Magnolia into a seamless whole, and left the audience of 2200 in THC- embellished wonder. In many ways, Phil and Friends is like a better rehearsed, more polished version of the Dead with significantly better vocals, which, in my book, is a beautiful thing. All I can say is...groovy.

Woodstock Film Festival News and Reviews

2007-10-16T09:46:00.000-04:00

Back from the festival, which was a lot of fun. Let Them Chirp Awhile got a really positive response, not only from the people who saw it, but from reviewers as well. You can read a nice review of the film here (be sure to scroll down to the end). Another reviewer, John Barry, who writes for the Poughkeepsie Journal (circulation 40,000), predicts future Oscar potential for director Jonathan Blitstein in his blog here.
It's difficult to describe the stunning landscape of the Hudson Valley. Rhinecliff, the site of the local train station, was jaw-droppingly beautiful when I picked up my equally beautiful wife on a glorious Friday afternoon. Woodstock was an explosion of green, red and gold; October in the Northeast is, quite simply, as good as it gets.
I saw two amazing films at the WFF as well. Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is so well crafted and powerful, and such an amazing story, I found myself thinking about it all weekend. It's a must-see, and one of the best films I've seen in the last five years. Surfwise, a documentary about the Paskowitz surfing family, is similar to Crumb, one of my all time favorite docs, in that it starts out being about one thing (a famous surfing family) and ends up being about something totally different (the shocking level of dysfunction within the family). Brilliant, unforgettable stuff. If you love movies, don't miss either of these gems.

"Let Them Chirp" News

2007-10-04T15:24:00.000-04:00

Let Them Chirp Awhile, a film I did last October, has been selected for the Woodstock and Fort Lauderdale Film Festivals. I will definitely be attending the Woodstock FF.

Four New Posts In One Day?

2007-09-06T15:05:00.000-04:00

How is that possible? Wait! Make it five! And let the scrolldownfest (is that even a word?) commence...

Can't Stay Away From The UK

2007-09-06T14:35:00.000-04:00

Completely excited about returning to England in October for a good friend's wedding in bucolic and sublime Gloucestershire, which hopefully has recovered from horrific flooding and retained most of its stunning splendor (see above). Speaking of stunning, I will be bringing along my wife for the trip, and you can be sure we will be sampling many of the local pubs and restaurants, as she and I are avowed foodies and can always be counted on to try the regional cuisine, no matter how dicey. We are also planning on squeezing in a side trip to London, one of my favorite cities ever, and sampling some of the pubs there (have you detected a theme yet?) before we clamber, bloated and bleary-eyed, aboard our return flight home.

To Do List: Rush 9/17/07

2007-09-06T13:59:00.000-04:00

Canada's finest power trio (no, not Triumph, for God's sake) saunters into the fabled Madison Square Garden in a couple weeks to regale us with tunes from their triumphant new Snakes and Arrows record, easily the best album they've put out since the halcyon days of 1982, when men wore mullets and "Tom Sawyer" was the defacto suburban national anthem. Drummer Neil Peart has bounced back, incredibly, from almost unspeakable loss to do some of his finest work and regain his slot as Best Rock Drummer Ever (that's right - ahead of Bonham, Moon, or anybody), Alex Lifeson is an axe wizard, and Geddy Lee is one of the most impossibly talented (not to mention coordinated) musicians ever, as he sings and plays bass and keyboards, oftentimes with different melodies, all at the same time. Shocking. To visit the bands website and hear their excellent new single,"Far Cry", feel free to click here.

Let the Obsession Begin!

2007-09-06T13:42:00.000-04:00

Football season begins tonight when the Colts battle the Saints at Indianapolis. Meanwhile, my beloved Seahawks take on the Bucs in Rainytown this Sunday(damn...still haven't been). I am predicting a 10-6 season for my Hawks in a surprisingly tough NFC West division. My squad tends to struggle early (even in 2005, when we were arguably the best team in football at 13-3, we started 2-2), so don't be surprised if they don't gel fully 'til Week 5 against the hated Steelers.

And on the seventh day, God rested...then, cracked open a cold one, leapt into the Barcalounger, and watched the Fox pregame with some newly created pals.

And it was good.

Beyond Absurd

2007-09-06T13:22:00.000-04:00

I usually don't post You Tube stuff, because it's kinda cheezy, and most of the stuff is just dumb. But this actual news report is so stupefying - and unintentionally hilarious -that you simply have to see it to believe it. That any organization would cover this story - even to be whimsical- tells you everything you need to know about the media.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8

My Bizarre Obsession

2007-07-27T10:42:00.000-04:00

By far one of the strangest things about me is my obsession with the Seattle Seahawks football team. Why is this strange? Well, for starters, I've never been to Seattle in my entire life. Not even once. Additionally, I am a rabid Yankee, Ranger and Knick fan, all local New York sports teams that I have loved since childhood. So why the Seahawks and not the Jets or Giants? Well, back in the late 70's, both teams were pretty bad, and alienated some New Yorkers by playing in New Jersey. So I looked around at other teams (being fifteen, I was tired of my teams losing) and picked the Seahawks for three reasons that, in retrospect, are completely ridiculous: they had a cool left handed (I'm a righty, so...huh?) quarterback named Jim Zorn who had a Z in his name, the star wide receiver (and future Hall of Famer), Steve Largent, was a slow, lumbering white guy (I could identify) who ran perfect routes and had phenomenal hands, and the head coach, Jack Patera, would run trick plays at literally any time of the game, making the team wildly unpredictable (translation: shockingly erratic) and ceaselessly entertaining. And, even more logic defying, they sucked worse than the two New York teams. So much for a fifteen year old brain's ability to reason... I now fully understand why the voting age is eighteen.
So here we are, twenty eight years later, and the Seahawks are actually quite good. Consequently, my obsession has not cooled, but rather has grown, like some kind of nefarious weed, some treacherous kudzu that threatens to engulf my sanity, and, on certain Sundays, even my marriage as well. I could talk about the Hawks forever, but training camp starts on Sunday, and I can't decide between the Seahawks toothbrush or the Seahawks chip clip...or should I get the football helmet Xmas tree lights instead? Sigh...decisions, decisions.

Live Earth 7/7/7: Weird and Mellow

2007-07-17T13:13:00.000-04:00

This was a strange gig, no doubt about it. Poorly promoted , there was literally no traffic on the way to Giants Stadium, and not a whole lot of buzz for a so-called "global event." Tickets were still available on Ebay and Craigslist in droves, so it can't really be judged a success, as far as being an awareness booster is concerned. The concert, however, was a lot of fun, with three standout performances: Dave Mathews Band (who I don't love, but who really brought it), Pink Floyd front man Roger Waters( who is always good, and who brought the flying pig from Animals [see above]), and the indefatigable Bon Jovi, who had the crowd in the palm of their New Jerseyish hand from the very first song to the closing, raucous chorus of "Livin' on a Prayer".
The Police were a disappointment, opening with Driven to Tears (with all their great tunes, they open with that one?) and closing with...well, OK, I was on the bus back to Manhattan by then, bored by Sting's jazzy "rearrangement" of previously untouchable songs. Note to legendary rock bands: don't mess with the classics. What's next, Robert Plant stepping to the mike, as thousands of rabid fans cheer the newly reformed Led Zeppelin (don't get excited, this is hypothetical), announcing somberly,"This is a song of hope...", as the band tears into a polka-tinged version of "Stairway"? Please, stop the madness.

To Do List: Live Earth 7/7/07

2007-07-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

You know if a concert this big is 20 minutes away from me, I'm gonna be there. So on Saturday, my wife and I (along with assorted friends) will be off to Giants Stadium to watch Al Gore (yes, he'll be there) and guests - most notably, Bon Jovi, Smashing Pumpkins, Dave Mathews Band and The Police - try to change the world, and, at the same time, provide a little entertainment to the masses. For a full look at the concerts and lineups, click here. I will be posting a recap a couple days after the show, so hopefully you'll check back in.

Steely Dan 5/21/07 At The Beacon

2007-06-14T15:40:00.000-04:00

As readers of this blog know, I am a big music fan, and attend several shows a year. Steely Dan has always been one of my favorite bands due to their acerbic lyrics and shocking level of professional polish. So I took my brother in law James Goldsmith to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members' show the day before he turned...er, the day before his birthday. We had a splendid, mellow time as we were regaled by a set list that featured much of my personal fave album Gaucho and almost all of the legendary Aja album. Front man Donald Fagan was in excellent voice, crooning and rocking at the piano like a white version of Ray Charles, as you can see in the excellent picture by Mick Hutson. Co-Dan founder Walter Becker noodled oodles of bluesy licks, and lead axeman Jon Herington smoked several razor sharp solos throughout the set, particularly on a rousing Kid Charlemagne and an almost feral Bodhisattva to close out the show. As usual with the Dan, all of the musicians were top shelf, but special mention goes to Keith Carlock, the second best drummer I have ever seen (behind Neil Peart of Rush, of course) . If you get a chance to see this band live, jump at it...unless you hate jazz, in which case run in the other direction.

Britain, Britain, Britain...Thank You.

2007-05-09T09:41:00.000-04:00

So here I sit, glumly staring at the copy of the Daily Mail that I nicked, er, borrowed from the lobby just before I left. Ah, England... the people, the places, the endless roundabouts, the cold lager, the sandwiches from Sainsburys - it all comes back to me like some wild, frenzied dream from a distant, far off corner of my imagination.
And yet it happened. A merry band of strangers, united by a passionate love of the fantastic, came together for four glorious, fun-filled days and brought the normally quiet town of Milton Keynes to its collective knees. OK, so I exaggerate...but only a little. To all the new friends I made, be they Brummie, Mancunian, or from the glorious capital, I will miss you. Be well and enjoy life.

Off to the UK

2007-05-01T17:32:00.000-04:00

I will be appearing at the 11th Annual Collectormania in Milton Keynes, England, from the 4th to the 7th, along with Terry Jones of Monty Python fame, Brandon Routh(Superman Returns), Avery Brooks(Deep Space Nine) and Charisma Carpenter from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Saturday night will be a party featuring Billy Boyd (from Lord of the Rings) and his band Beecraft. They are expecting large crowds this Bank Holiday weekend, so get there early, all you Brits reading this. Cheers, big ears!

Taliesin West

2007-04-07T20:41:00.000-04:00

Here are some shots of Frank Lloyd Wright's desert home, where he lived from Jan.-May every year from 1937 to his death in April of '59. Note the McDowell Mountains in the background. Wright wanted the house to become one with the desert, so he deliberately forced the horizontal, and used materials from the surrounding desert floor exclusively. This building is a prime example of what he termed "organic architecture", although what exactly that meant, not even his closest followers could fully explain. The photo at top shows me chilling in Mr Wright's favorite chair in his magnificent Garden Room, while behind me, other tourists check out FLW's private bedroom. All photos taken by my wife, Ling, with our Canon Elph digital camera.

Back from the Valley of the Sun

2007-04-07T20:15:00.000-04:00

Had an amazing time in Scottsdale and Sedona, Arizona. I had never been there, and didn't know what to think, but it far surpassed any and all expectations. Start off with crazy, picture perfect weather (every day in the high 80s/low 90s with dry, dry heat) breathtaking scenery, and surprisingly good food, then add a trip to Frank Lloyd Wright's fabled Taliesin West, where America's greatest architect designed some of his best known works, and then, top it off with a stunning biplane ride (above, taken by Ling) and a Pink Jeep tour at sunset (below, a shot of Sedona National Park, taken by me), and you've got a fantastic time. Both my wife and I were very sad to leave, and we usually are more than ready to come home after a week away. Sadly, not this time, especially to temperatures in the 30s.

By The Time I Get To Arizona

2007-03-27T11:10:00.000-04:00

My wife finally has her Spring Break this week, so we are jetting off to Phoenix for a serious dose of desert heat, and, if the Weather Channel is to be believed, we are in great shape (weather fanatics can see for themselves by clicking here). We will be staying in the beautiful Scottsdale region, and have many exciting plans for the week ahead: margaritas by the pool, a trip to Frank Lloyd Wright's fabled Taliesin West, a biplane ride through the Red Rocks at sunset, and the mandatory trip to Sedona, land of power centers and vortices too numerous to mention. We might - if we have enough time- pay a visit to Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan's winery, Caduceus, thereby artfully combining two of my great loves, wine and metal, into a joyous , alcohol- soaked whole.

Here Comes The Sun

2007-03-11T23:47:00.000-04:00

I can't tell you how nice it was to have that extra hour of sunlight after a long winter. Spring hasn't exactly sprung, but feeling the temperatures climb and the numbing cold finally relent just puts a huge smile on my face. Winter in NYC is tough (and this one wasn't even that bad), but Spring is just fantastic. I can hardly wait for April...only three more weeks. I hope they keep this early Daylights Savings Time for good - it makes a huge difference in people's overall mood.

Random Thoughts on Pop Culture

2007-02-24T22:50:00.001-05:00

Right now, I am eating a box of Junior Mints and they are really good. Other junk food guilty pleasures include Mini Ring Dings (very chocolate-y), Haagen Dazs Light ice cream, and the somewhat rare (read: occasional) Snack Wrap (Ranch, please) , courtesy of the Golden Arches. These are all consumed sparingly, thank God.

Films: Really loved Children Of Men and its fantastic camera work...thought Clive Owen played it quite well in an understated way...The Departed will be looked back on as a crime classic...Last King Of Scotland is a terrific film even without Whitaker's performance...looking forward to Casino Royale on DVD.

Tv: Is any show funnier than 30 Rock? I am laughing out loud a lot, especially at Alec Baldwin's perfect timing...The Office is also incredibly funny and clever, with Rainn Wilson a standout. Tivoing: The Black Donnellys.

Music: Saw Explosions in the Sky on Tuesday and they were great, although they went on a little long and their bass player's constant swaying motion made my wife nuts... also took the missus to La Traviata at the Met Thursday night for 20 bucks a ticket, which was terrific, just a great spectacle...coming this week: Killswitch and Dragonforce at Roseland on Thursday. Those who are metal must stay metal. Killer Album: Elementary by The End. Looking forward to: Traffic and Weather (April 3rd) by master tunesmiths Fountains of Wayne.

Books:Reading The Terror by Dan Simmons and loving it...anything about the Antarctic, I'm there; add a creature, and I'm there quick.

Oh yeah, and I'm on Facebook, which is kinda shocking ... that's it for now... Aloha, Mr.Hand.

Happy Valentine's Day....

2007-02-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

...everybody!! And don't forget to send flowers and chocolates to the loved one... or else suffer the consequences. A special Valentine's greeting for my wife...could you be any more perfect? I don't think so. Thank you, darling... for everything.

Pretty Damn Funny

2007-02-04T18:25:00.001-05:00

I don't usually do this, but my wife showed me this and it really cracked me up, particularly the early 70's way in which it was shot. Good tune, too. If you're curious, click here.

... But I Told You So

2007-01-29T00:53:00.001-05:00

Little Miss Sunshine won the coveted SAG Award for Best Ensemble Cast in a Film, giving it a big Oscar push that it needed desperately in order to compete with heavyweights like The Departed and Babel. And guess what? It was one of three DVDs sent to every SAG member in America (the other two being The Departed and Venus, the latter being nominated only for Best Actor in a Drama), making it 2 for 2 in favor of free stuff...woo hoo! The message is now crystal clear, and for those too thick to get it, I'll spell it out: if you want to even have a chance at winning top honors, you must give every SAG actor a free copy of your movie. Otherwise, don't even bother. My prediction? Next year, all five nominated films will be in my mailbox by the middle of January. Unless, of course, they want to have zero shot at winning. Just saying...

Hate To Say I Told You So

2007-01-18T12:39:00.001-05:00

Last year, I posted about how Crash used a brilliant marketing campaign to upend Brokeback Mountain (sorry, couldn't resist) at the SAG Awards ( you can read about it here - second post from the bottom). I speculated that once the "free copy" strategy proved effective, it would be matched ( perhaps countered is a better choice of words) by the other studios, resulting in what every Academy member wannabe (like myself) truly craves - equality and/or free stuff. So, imagine my non-surprise when I received word that I would soon find (along with 120,000 other members) freshly minted copies of The Departed, Little Miss Sunshine (above), and the Peter O'Toole gem Venus in my fetid, squeaky mailbox. In addition, I have been sent vouchers good for one admission to Babel and Dreamgirls, along with invitations to screenings of Bobby and Notes on a Scandal, none of which I have attended. My prediction: one of the three DVD films will win, forcing every studio next year to send us all shiny new discs for our rapidly burgeoning collection. Booyaa!

Guns n' Roses/ Tenacious D Split Review

2007-01-04T15:36:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite metal groups release split albums with 4-5 songs from each of the two groups participating, so I thought I would try it with my dual MSG reviews of Guns n' Roses and The D.
First up, the Guns show on Nov.10th was phenomenal, much better and tighter than the 5/12 show @ the Hammerstein Ballroom. They played a great mix of old and new material, including most of Appetite for Destruction, the crucial Lies song "Patience", and a number of unreleased gems from the upcoming album, the mythic Chinese Democracy, which, incredibly, finally has a release date of March 6th, 2007. Axl was in excellent voice, although there were definitely technical issues with the vocal mix, which is pretty inexcusable at this level (although it happened at the Maiden show as well - Bruce Dickenson was pretty much inaudible for a quarter of the show) . The staging, pyrotechnics (which were loud and, even from 100 feet away, hot) and set were all top notch, and the crowd and energy were through the roof, as you would expect at the Garden. I brought my director friend, Jonny Blitstein, and he was suitably impressed as well. All in all, a great show.

On to the D. This show surprised me a lot; I knew Jack Black was amusing, but I did not appreciate what a legitimately good guitar player he actually is, along with his partner in crime, the nimble fingered Kyle Gass. Their chemistry is hilarious and the show was wittily constructed. The lights come up on JB and KG asleep on the couch under blankets. They peek over the covers to find they are playing MSG, and get out of bed straight into a raucous opening "Kielbasa" which had the Garden nerd/fratboy crowd singing along heartily (me too, much to my stunning wife's slight embarassment). Other gems followed - notably "Wonderboy", the hilariously profane "F@#$ Me Gently", and the anthem "Lee", which then prompted the titular character himself to enter the small apartment set that doubled as the mainstage. After some truly absurd banter, Lee accidentally electrocutes KG and JB, and the pair descends to Hell, a much larger stage featuring red stalactites and smoking pools of sulphur. To say that the show was incredibly silly would be an understatement; it was patently absurd in a hilarious, knowingly cheesy way. Once in Hell, our two heroes form a band, duel with the Devil, participate in a car chase, and find their way back to Earth, just in time to finish with a rousing medley of songs from the Who's classic Tommy record. Funnier and better, musically speaking, than I had expected.

Happy New Year!!!

2006-12-31T14:09:00.000-05:00

...to everyone who came to this blog in 2006, Thank you and God bless!!
See you in 2007!

Super Busy December

2006-12-12T00:09:00.000-05:00

Between Xmas shopping, teaching classes, auditions, helping my wife with her studying, and the overall madness of New York in December (read: tourist invasion), it's going to be another week or so before I can catch up on the past events of the last few weeks, including Guns n' Roses and Tenacious D at MSG (on separate nights, natch) and other fun times. So bear with me while I get my ducks in a proverbial row, and I will soon regale you with longer tales of ribaldry and derring-do. Or just, kinda, tell you what's going on. Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving Postmortem

2006-11-26T22:35:00.000-05:00

So, it's 11 pm on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, and I need a vacation. What's that you say? I just had one? Funny, between the traveling (to Armonk, then Lebanon,PA, then Reading,PA, then back to Armonk, then NYC) and the endless, unceasing EATING, I need to kick back, relax and starve myself back to my fighting weight. Seriously, there is just so much kettle corn, mimosas, turkey, stuffing, snickerdoodles (don't ask), pork fried rice, sushi, pizza, diet Coke, steak sandwiches, red wine, white wine, butternut squash lasagna, cooked carrots, malt and vinegar potato chips and roasted pork buns a man can take! And yes, I did consume at least one of each from that list over the last 96 hours, much to my chagrin. I know it's the holidays, but really, that list is pretty revolting. I'm going to bed, and hoping that when I wake up in the AM, my stomach will have at least partially returned to its original state.

I'm not particularly religious, but please...pray for my tummy.

To Do List : Guns 'n' Roses 11/10

2006-11-05T12:25:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's Axl time again.The world's most exciting (and infuriating) lead singer hits the Garden stage this Friday probably, oh, 'bout one AM-ish, and plays the oldies and a few newbies from the soon to be released (?) new album, Chinese Democracy, the Jimmy Hoffa of rock' n' roll records. I will be joined by my esteemed colleague, Jonny Blitstein, the director of my latest opus, the charmingly titled Let Them Chirp Awhile, which just wrapped on October 24th. The film's title, by the way, is taken from an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson that you can find here. My review of the show will appear next weekend.

To Do List : Iron Maiden 10/13

2006-10-12T23:22:00.000-04:00

Do you recognize this man? If you do, you're metal, and if you don't...well, I'll leave you to fiddle with your Justin Timberlake records. That's right, you are looking at Eddie, the mascot of the world's most popular heavy metal band, the mighty, all-powerful Iron Maiden. The boys from across the pond are gracing us with their presence at the Continental Airlines Arena tomorrow night in support of their new album, "A Matter of Life and Death", a superlative helping of power chord- laced madness that debuted at #9 on the U.S. charts (Number nine? Are you kidding me? After 30 years in the business, a Top Ten album for these guys?...that's impressive) , and reaffirmed that these guys are no mere nostalgia act.

Maiden. Friday the 13th. Live... in the festering swamps of Jersey. Does it get any more metal?

Very Stoned, Thank You

2006-10-12T22:46:00.000-04:00

This was our view for the Rolling Stones show about a half hour before it began. The black square in the center was a screen that showed images of the band whilst they played, and the silver protruding arms flashed with multicolored lights...pretty cool. A small portion of the stage detached, and traveled down the ramp in the center to a position just behind the rectangular speaker ( see above).
As for the show, it was much better than I expected. The two previous times I saw the band, Jagger's voice was shot from excessive touring. No such problem here, as an average of four days separate each show, giving our rockin' sixty-somethings ample time for rest and recuperation. Indeed, Mick was in fine fettle, especially on Streets of Love, It's Only Rock'n'Roll, and a moving version of Sway, an underappreciated nugget from the stunning Sticky Fingers album. Keith nearly stole the show with a taut rendition of You Got the Silver, but it was two other songs from Let It Bleed that were the standouts: a brisk, super-energetic Monkey Man with a rejuvenated, whirling Jagger, and the evening's true triumph, a delirious twelve minute Midnight Rambler that turned back time and felt ( and sounded) like the early 70's all over again. Top it off with a perfect Sympathy For The Devil, and even my wife forgot about the super annoying fan two seats away who spasmodically contorted and twisted all night long in the most irritating way conceivable. Why do we always sit next to that guy?

One Beautiful Year...

2006-09-26T00:03:00.000-04:00

...since I married my wife. Today was very nice. I expect many years of happiness. Thanks, darling.

To Do List : Rolling Stones 9/27 Meadowlands

2006-09-14T18:47:00.000-04:00

That's right, I'm taking my wife to see the Rolling Crones...er, Strolling Bones...I mean, Mick and the boys at Giants Stadium to celebrate our one year anniversary of being husband and wife. Oh yeah, and some guy named Kanye West is opening. Should be fun. They may look a little haggard (Keith Richards should be in the King Tut exhibit, for God's sake) but they sound better than ever. Oh, and our seats were only 99 bucks a piece (thanks to the Meadowlands presale), which is a steal for Stones tix in this overinflated day and age.
One year down, forty some odd to go...if I'm lucky.

Raging Waters

2006-09-14T16:23:00.000-04:00

Well, what can I say - the Roger Waters show at the Garden on Tuesday night was simply monumental. Shaking off old age and the loss of his friend, Syd Barrett, Waters delivered a fantastic, triumphant show to a sold out crowd that ate up every note. If you want to hear for yourself, you can download the torrent here. The only downer was Waters' new song, Leaving Beirut, which asks if the Lebanese people (and Arabs in general), " really mean us harm?"

Ummm...yeah, actually, Roger, a fairly sizable number (not the majority, of course) kinda do mean us harm...that's why there's a huge crater about two miles from where I'm typing this, and that's why you were booed pretty loudly during that particular opus. I can now see why David Gilmour (who, it pains me to say, is definitely missed on certain songs) couldn't continue with Waters - his newer songs tend towards the strident and preachy - not exactly my favorite combo burrito. I'll stick with songs about pigs, loss, and madness, thank you.

It's Official: I'm Working

2006-08-31T18:24:00.000-04:00

As an actor, that is. I have signed on to do a film called Let Them Chirp Awhile,which is an indie film with a surprisingly good script.You can read an article about the film here. We should start shooting October 1st. It's a film about relationships with - thank the Lord - no special effects. Stay tuned for future details.

To Do List: Roger Waters

2006-08-23T14:36:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, September 12th - at the one and only Madison Square Garden, the ultimate venue to see a rock show. OK, not the greatest in terms of acoustics, but in terms of prestige and that intangible feeling of excitement that comes from being in a house that has hosted all the greats throughout the decades. I'm a major Floydhead (is there anyone who doesn't at least like Floyd?) and am very excited by the decision to play Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety.Sure, you miss David Gilmour's vocals on some songs, but his guitar work is replaced admirably by Snowy White and Andy Fairweather-Low, and its better than no Floyd at all. Some of the songs Waters is playing - Sheep (from Animals), Have a Cigar, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and Wish you Were Here (from, uh, Wish You Were Here) - are among my favorites. And what is a more perfect closer than Comfortably Numb, Water's deeply autobiographical song about how his handlers had to shoot him full of drugs just to get the catatonic lead singer out of his hotel room and to the gig? Now that's rock and roll...

Creepy Summer

2006-07-22T15:13:00.000-04:00

Normally, I love summer. Sun, fun, sandy beaches, quiet days reading books and taking a break from the rigors of daily life...ahhh, perfect. But this summer has had a kind of aftertaste that feels unsettling. The vicious fighting in the Middle East, the super hot steambath weather, the power outages, soaring gas prices, shockingly violent thunderstorms (ok,those are cool)...it all has a vague apocalyptic quality to it, like a trailer for the Book of Revelations. Next thing you know they'll be two faced kittens being born, people will be catching a fish with human teeth and...what? No way, click here.

God have mercy on us all. Seriously.

Summer Playlist

2006-07-05T12:06:00.000-04:00

Summer is here, and that means that my musical fare tends to turn to the melodic power pop of my youth. Slip on the iPod, get out in the hot sunshine and crank the tunes as loud as your ears can take it...ok, maybe not that loud. Since I'd like to be able to carry a conversation with my wife (or anybody, for that matter) after the age of 60, I've cut down on the volume ever sooo slightly, in hopes of retaining my hearing. Without further ado, here is some of the new(and old) music I've been listening to:

Cheap Trick(1977) - The perfect power pop album. With tracks like "Oh, Candy", "Mandecello", the leering yet irresistible "Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School", and arguably the greatest driving song ever,"He's A Whore", this album is a masterpiece of hummable, shimmering pop.

Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast and Dance of Death - These two records, the former from the early days and the latter their most recent effort, combine great singable melodies with heavy, bass propelled, triple guitar majesty to create some of the best heavy music ever. From Beast, the title track kills, and "Run To The Hills" features one of the best all-time riffs in rock music (as if you didn't know that). Dance, however, is more stately but no less powerful, with kickoff single "Wildest Dreams" a stunner, "Paschendale" one of their better epics, and the surging optimism of "Age of Innocence" cleverly undercut by the downer lyrics.

Tom Petty - "Big Weekend" and "Saving Grace"- Is there anyone more consistant in rock music than Petty? For thirty years now, this prolific Floridian has been cranking out solid, smart pop better than almost anyone. These two singles, available from Rhapsody, are a sneak peek at Petty's new album, Highway Companion, and if these songs are any indication, it looks to be his best album since 1989's Full Moon Fever. "Weekend" is a solid uptempo chugger with subtly subversive lyrics, while "Grace" is Petty's best song since "Swingin' " from the underrated Echo album.

The Wildhearts - Riff After Riff - This is one of the most criminally underrated bands I've ever heard. Think the songwriting genius of Fountains of Wayne mixed with the sonic glory of The Darkness, and you have one of the most irresistable combinations in music - crunchy guitar heroics mixed with shockingly catchy, endlessly hummable songs that stick in your head for days. "Stormy in the North, Karma in the South" is pure pop genius, "Bang" is like The Sweet mixed with Weezer, and "Looking for the One" somehow mixes Metallica with the Archies ("Sugar,Sugar", anyone?) to create a bastard hybrid that I can't stop playing.

Post your playlists in the comments if you feel the urge.

Axl and Jim

2006-06-28T00:30:00.000-04:00

Having just finished Stephen Davis' bio of Jim Morrison, it's pretty hard not to see the resemblance between Jim and this blog's occasional topic, one W. Axl Rose, who, like the late Doors singer, seems genetically incapable of staying out of trouble. If you have no idea what I'm referring to, click here. The traits these two wild childs (ok, it should be children) share - calm, thoughtful, reflective natures mixed with cruelty, violence, anger and a shocking level of self-centeredness, all topped off with a liberal dose of substance abuse/self-medication - are truly remarkable. And it also answers a question that has bothered me my whole artistic life - how come I have never achieved greatness?
The answer? Four simple words: just...not...crazy...enough.

The Dog...um, Cat Days of Summer

2006-06-20T00:04:00.000-04:00

Summer is here and NYC is hot and muggy. Besides teaching at Stonestreet, going on auditions, working out at the gym and keeping my wife happy, here is what I have been doing:

visiting my sister in Westchester (with my wife, of course)
getting soused on vodka lemonades by the man-made lake
listening to every Iron Maiden record in perfect chronological order because I'm really strange
reading Kevin Phillip's American Theocracy and feeling very nervous about the future
playing with the kitties (see above) to soothe my nerves (ok, so they're my sisters kitties)
going back to the lake to suck down a few more vodka lemonades
watching World Cup soccer and screaming at the Italian players as they flopped on the ground anytime any U.S. player made the slightest contact
playing with the kitties to soothe my nerves
giving the kitties industrial strength catnip in large quantities to soothe their nerves and give their lives greater meaning
trying to think of cool blog entries with no success
watching Hell's Kitchen on Fox and praying my wife won't leave me for Gordon Ramsey, who I suspect she views as the ultimate man
eating Thai food at least twice a week from the insanely good new place around the corner
eating catnip with the kitties (ok, not really)
finding it hard to believe how much I care about the U.S. - Ghana game on Thursday
seriously considering nominating Willis Haviland Carrier, the inventor of air conditioning, for the Nobel Peace Prize
running out of things to say

I will try to post more, and more often. I promise. Feel free to post what you have been doing in the comments...

Captain Charisma

2006-06-11T21:29:00.000-04:00

It is extremely rare to be in the presence of a former U.S. president, especially considering that only five of them still remain. But that is exactly what happened with my wife and I on June the 8th at the Marriot Marquis in Times Square. The event in question was a gala honoring Susan Patricof, the mother of our friend Jamie Patricof, for her thirty-two years of work at the Northside Center in Harlem, a charity which benefits disadvantaged kids. President Clinton was there to present her with an award (see photo) celebrating her service, along with Bill Cosby, Rosie O'Donnell, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, John Legend, and other assorted heavy hitters.

Whether you love him or loathe him, hate his politics or think him one of the better Presidents, after sitting in the same room with him for an hour and a half (my wife and I were less than five feet from him), one thing is simply undeniable: people are drawn to him in droves. Not just women either; men are determined to shake his hand and bask in his reflected power. At every single break in the program, people would clamor for photos, handshakes, some form of acknowledgement.You see it with every President, especially at the State of the Union addresses, when eager politicians and well-wishers practically hang over the aisles to gladhand our Great Leader and get thisclose to the source of power. With Clinton it was off the charts; he positively reeked of confidence and charisma, but without the Jamie Foxx-esque aura of self- love that is hard to stomach. I have heard similar things about George W., that he has a powerful presence and a certain kind of magnetic pull, but I have never experienced it, so I can't comment.

As for the rest of the event, John Legend was very good (and well received), Rosie O'Donnell was significantly more attractive in person (no joke), and Bill Cosby was acting extremely odd. Seated opposite President Clinton in a rather dark ballroom, he sat rigidly, arms perpetually folded, staring up at the ceiling wearing a jet black pair of sunglasses for the entire night, clapping sporadically while his more animated wife Camille (I kept repeating "Ca-Meeel!" in my mind in my best Cosby voice) thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Oh yeah- and how's this for the power of advertising? Every time I looked at Cosby, every time- I wanted a Jello pudding pop. Swear to God.

Spam?Alot!

2006-06-01T17:07:00.000-04:00

Everyday, I get bombarded with spam. Just last week, in some kind of coordinated attack, I received well over 50 spam e-mails in a 12 minute period. My carrier, T-mobile, is clearly unable to come up with any spam filter that is even remotely effective, and so the spam wave continues, alas, unabated. Since my mind is ridiculously overactive, I have subconsciously been studying the types and varieties of spam and have come up with several conclusions:

People, incredibly, click on the links provided in these bizarre, anonymous missives - it is the only logical explanation for their rapid (and seemingly unstoppable) proliferation
The spam is clearly created by people(or computers) who do not speak English
There is a shocking amount of erectile dysfunction, also known as "limp dick"

How else do you explain the following e-mail I received moments ago as I was typing this post:

"From:Rufina Reyna

To:zwgalligan@hotmail.com

Hi, A M B \ E NC \ A L i S S O M &V A L \ U M L E V \ T R AP R O Z & CV \ A G R A X & N A XM E R \ D i A "

This is followed by a link to something called Malorugaser.com, which is probably the internet equivalent of the Ninth Circle of Hell, a website of pestilential virii and unfathomable evil.Then, like some kind of surreal, Dadaist coda, appended to the end of the message was the following gibberish:

"to bear. With my friends behind them and winter upon them, they will perhaps be in softer mood to parley with. That night Bilbo made up his mind. The sky was black and moonless. As soon as it was full dark, he went to a corner of an inner chamber just within the gate and drew from his bundle a rope, and also the Arkenstone wrapped in a rag. Then he climbed to the top of the wall. Only Bombur"

Yep, it's a snippet from The Hobbit. Why is it attached to an ad for pharmaceuticals? Dunno... why do I get e-mails from people named Garza Stephens, Olena Carruthers, Minnie Felix and Juan Call? Why do I receive endless offers for Rolexes, tips on penny stocks, or discounts on some fat- fighting drug featured on Oprah called Hoodia?

Because, as P.T.Barnum once opined, "There's a sucker born every minute."And so they spam on, ads against the current, borne back ceaselessly into my trash.

Guns n' Roses 5/12/06: Thunder Across 8th Avenue

2006-05-15T15:54:00.000-04:00

There are two kind of Guns fans: those who refuse to admit that 1993 is long gone and, arms folded petulantly, demand that a Slash-less G n'R be considered nothing more than a cover band, and those that will take whatever form of Guns they can, Slash or no Slash. I belong to the latter category, since Axl Rose is one of the most exciting live performers I have ever seen, and I will see him any chance I get. Friday night I got that rare opportunity, and I wasn't disappointed in the least - Rose was in peak 1991 form (I should know, having attended the now-famous LA Forum shows in July of that year) , and his all-important "look" was light years cooler than his disastrous 2002 MTV appearance, with a simple leather shirt and crucifix, jeans, and a ginger goatee framing his corn-rowed head nicely.
The show kicked off at 11PM with a thunderous, rousing Welcome To The Jungle, followed by It's So Easy and the sinewy Mr.Brownstone completing the Appetite trifecta in perfect style. Then, suddenly, a peek inside the long awaited Chinese Democracy album with Better, the crunchy new potential single with one of the best G n'R riffs ever. A barrage of hits followed - Live and Let Die, Knockin'On Heavens Door, Sweet Child O' Mine, You Could Be Mine, and November Rain among them- that left the crowd gazing in wild wonder at the sheer mastery of Rock and Roll stagecraft. Flashpots exploded, pyrotechnics singed the cheeks of the fans huddled near the stage, and a triptych of video screens displayed the action as Rose and Robin Finck, their new guitarist(ex-Nine Inch Nails), rushed to different ends of the stage, displaying their respective skills with near total abandon. Finck, particularly,was solid, resembling a skinnier Rick Rubin with a 1970 Jim Morrison makeover, and the drummer, Brian "Brain" Mantia, played tight effective fills.
Sure, there were a few glitches.The mixing board had an off night, especially on The Blues and IRS, two newer songs that show promise, and Rose, leaner and vocally much stronger than 2002, was occasionally winded, probably because he sings with more intensity than 99% of the performers in the world. It seemed to this listener that Axl felt he had something to prove, and he sang as if his life (and career) depended on it. He came pretty close to having a perfect night, with only Sweet Child and Out To Get Me eluding him ever so slightly.
Still, with a moving version of Patience and a triumphant Paradise City to end the show on a high note, this one thing is clear: Axl is definitely back. If he can sustain the tour, release the album (complete with a cool video or two) - big ifs, given his track record - then Guns n' Roses can come back in a big, big way. And that would not only be a great thing for the fans, but for music in general.

Thanks to Heretodaygonetohell.com for the photo.

Ten Things I Think I Think

2006-05-10T00:17:00.000-04:00

I think

that the new Tool album, 10,000 Days, is pretty damn good.

this season of The Sopranos is consistently excellent- well-acted, thoughtful, funny, and clever.

the movie Junebug was well done but ultimately disappointing.

certain people on the internet are deeply disturbed and full of unspecified anger.

the biggest stars (Brangelina, Cruise, Lohan,et al) are subjected to a bizarre combo platter of messianic adoration and total ridicule...with nothing in between.

that watchers of MTV are taught four things: hip-hop is all important, money and looks are the only things that are remotely relevant, having cool stuff is crucial to happiness, and to keep watching more MTV.

that with Iran, Iraq, avian flu, Al Qaeda, poor security, and an overly large and inefficient government, we are living once again in scary times.

Rupert Murdoch - possibly the most conservative media mogul ever - offering to throw a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton is the single most shocking political event this year.

I am lucky to have found my wife.

I am too sleepy to think of a tenth thing...

The Rain and Blaine Leads Mainly to His Gain

2006-05-03T22:04:00.000-04:00

Here he is, America's new Houdini, David Blaine, floating in a giant glass bubble outside Lincoln Center as the drizzle puts a serious damper on the crowd of thirty or so curious New Yorkers (including my wife and myself). He seemed in good spirits.The whole scene, not surprisingly, was somewhat surreal. Gotta love New york! And where is that soggy plain?...

To Do List: Guns n' Roses 5/12

2006-05-01T10:50:00.000-04:00

On Saturday I got my tickets to the opening show of the 2006 Guns n' Roses Tour at the Hammerstein Ballroom on May 12th. I'll review the show the next day (unless, of course, I'm miserably hung, in which case, it' ll have to wait until Sunday). I will be attending the show with my younger brother John (a full 13 years younger) who, not surprisingly, has never been Axl-ed. Speaking of Mr.Rose, he looks surprisingly slim in the latest pic taken of him here as opposed to here. Let's hope he hits the stage before 2 A.m. so that the impatient crowd doesn't, oh, I don't know, riot maybe? If you dont know what I'm referring to, click here.

Cloudy, Showers, Chance of Obsession

2006-04-24T10:32:00.000-04:00

This weekend was pretty miserable. Grey skies, constant rain and unceasing gloom.Oh yeah, and the dew point was 54 degrees. How do I know that? Because all weekend long I was glued to the Weather Channel, one of my secret obsessions.
I don't know what it is, but I can't get enough Doppler. I'll go on Weather.com
and look at the 600 mile map, then the 300 mile...and, cool, check it out, New York City has a 100 mile closeup Doppler, too! What's that? Another front is moving in, say, around Thursday? The temperatures will stay in the 60s all week....hmm. Good to know.
My ex-roomie, Rick, used to think I was crazy because sometimes I would watch The Weather Channel for two, sometimes three hours in a row. "Dude," he would say, calmly and rationally, "they repeat the same thing over and over...Why do you continue to watch it?" I would shift uneasily in my chair and mumble something like "It could change" or "You never know", but the truth was, I just enjoyed all of it - the high and low temperatures for the day, the thunderstorm and tornado forecasts, the drought alerts- and found the repetitive nature somehow reassuring. The anchors, too, have distinct personalities, and have gradually gotten hotter (looks-wise, not temperature) over the years, as the more haggard weather chicks have been sent packing and replaced with a brigade of bottled blondes, led by the perky Stephanie Abrams(I'd like to issue her a flash flood warning- just kidding) and the perpetually pregnant Sharon Resultan.
I could write about The Weather Channel all day - hang on, Local on the 8's is on...wow...cloudy and 70 on Friday, good to know- but the latest episode of Storm Stories is on RIGHT NOW. Gotta go!

Acting Anyone?

2006-04-20T14:52:00.000-04:00

Many people have written me asking about my acting class which was profiled on VH1 in February, so I figure this post will answer some questions.

I teach in an office two blocks from Grand Central Station. My class consists of beginners and professionals alike, it runs two and a half hours, and it is, quite simply, a lot of fun. Currently I have seven students and I have room for only one more, although I may open another section this fall depending on the interest level. The students come from as far away as New Haven, Connecticut, and are between the ages of 17 and 30 years of age.

So far, the results are pretty good: Jordan Carlos appears semi-regularly on The Colbert Report, Jennifer Merrill just completed a small role in Super Ex-Girlfriend (with Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson), and Sarah Masse was accepted at Williamstown for the summer.

In addition, I am teaching a class on Auditioning this summer at Stonestreet Studios in the Flatiron District . I would tell you more about the Studio, but it is simpler to click here.

If you are interested in possibly studying with me, and you live in the Tristate area, you should email a picture and resume (if you have any experience) to zwgalligan@hotmail.com. Please...only do this if you are legitimately interested. Cool beans.

Hate To Say I Told You So...

2006-04-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

...but I did. Unbelievable...you must click here. And here.

Today Is The Day Your Ass Gets Kicked

2006-04-16T20:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter ...and if you want a good laugh, and haven't seen this, click here .

Breaking News: StateGate Scandal Rocks Blog

2006-04-10T23:24:00.000-04:00

It is with a heavy heart that I write this entry. As some of you know, last week I posted that my wife, Ling, had been to 48 of the 50 states with the exception of Rhode Island and Hawaii. The response has been overwhelmingly positive - e-mails flooding in, praising my wife's adventurous spirit and charming nomadic lifestyle, suggestions for further visits, questions about her expertise, the pros and cons of North Dakota vs. South Dakota- and together she and I have basked, resplendant, in the warmth of the effusive praise.
Except for one small problem.
It is one giant, hideous, damnable lie.
My wife has never been to Alaska. Ever.
I discovered this last week, when, after reading the umpteenth e-mail praising her patriotism, I happened to query,"So, how was Alaska?"
There was a long blank stare, followed by what could only be described as a soft snicker, and the distinct slang expression "Ooops."
So, to set the record straight, my wife has been to 47 of the 50 states, with the exception of Rhode Island, Hawaii and - damnit - that ever elusive 49th state, Alaska.
We are currently in counseling now, hoping against hope, trying to heal the gaping chasm this revelation has caused.
Pray for us.

Dude, That's So Random!

2006-04-04T13:15:00.000-04:00

I recently read a book (Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs) in which the author, Chuck Klosterman, talked about some of his peculiar traits that, well, made him unique. Which got me thinking...what is unusual (and even bizarre) about me? After some sober reflection, this is what I came up with: I

can stick my entire fist in my mouth.
can do a devastating Bullwinkle.
didn't get my driver's license until I was 24.
didn't graduate from college until I was 32.
have never seen Gone With The Wind.
loathe and am freaked out by the texture of flour.
hate clowns and anything circus related.
have never broken a bone.
have never attended a boxing match.
can make killer Rice Krispie treats.
put both of my clenched fists on either sides of my mouth when I am really excited.
have been a Seattle Seahawks fan since 1979, despite being a NYC native and an avid Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers fan.
have horrendous eyesight...-7.0 in both eyes.
have never lost at Trivial Pursuit.
supplied all the Gremlin belching for Gremlins 2.
give surprisingly good massages.

Here are some of my wife's traits. She

once lived on a Xmas tree farm.
has been to all 50 states except Rhode Island and Hawaii.
sleeps at least 9 and sometimes 12 hours a day.
can cook extremely well.
is obsessed with Chinese food.
is a diehard Eagles fan.
plans elaborate vacations 6 to 8 months in advance, including meals.

Please...share your quirks in the comments.

Float on the Steel Breeze

2006-03-31T22:20:00.000-05:00

No matter what I do, I just can't get it out of my head.
No, not thoughts of illicit sex- I'm married and happy as a clam. No, the sights and sounds that are clamoring for space in my head are the crunchy, dulcet sounds of molten heavy metal. I don't know which of these events triggered it - reading Chuck Klosterman's Fargo Rock City, getting hooked on Avenged Sevenfold and Lacuna Coil, or discovering the 4:56 version of Better( the Chinese Democracy demo) - but I am officially on 1989 time. And I couldn't be happier. I never thought listening to Tesla could make me so content, but I'm pleased (and somewhat embarrassed) by this unexpected development. Every time the power chords and drums kick in for "Be A Man", a huge grin spreads across my visage. Def Leppard's Adrenalize reveals new and complex shadings, Black Sabbath's first four records are criminally good- hell, even Winger sounds refreshing after a decade and a half on ice (OK, maybe not Winger). I'm kinda over the whole hip-hop thing- too much posturing and negativity for continuous listening- and grunge is a downer. I had forgotten just how much fun metal could be- probably due to the huge nostalgia rush it creates- and stand in awe at the melliflous wonder of the expertly played guitar solo.
Of course, metal has plenty of posturing as well- it's just that two decades later, it all seems so innocent. I doubt that in 2026 we'll look back at 50 Cent and see anything other than an extremely well marketed outlaw...but I could be wrong, since people wax rhapsodic over N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton, and that's as old as Appetite for Destruction(Good God, is that really true?). I think this year is going to be better than average for hard rock, with the eagerly anticipated Tool record on May 2nd and Chinese Democracy later this summer ( I'll believe it when I see it). Although I already weighed in on the leaked Demos in an earlier post, I have to update my thoughts on the song called Better: it's ferocious. Not since Welcome to the Jungle has Axl's voice sounded so feral, like the archetypal wounded animal. At the 2:32 mark,the band launches into one of the hardest riffs ever, and the song takes off like a rocket, pure visceral adrenaline. Do whatever you need to do, but hear this song.
I'm going to end this post with ten absolutely essential metal masterpieces. Feel free to post yours in the comments..and remember to bang your head on the way out.

1.Volume 4-Black Sabbath
A glorious coke-induced nightmare.

2.Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
Custard Pie+Sick Again+ In My Time of Dying= Genius

3.Metallica-And Justice for All
Before they got too commercial.

4.Megadeth-Rust in Peace
Shredathon maximus.

5.Tool-Aenima
The title track is the single most vicious thing ever written about L.A.-and the most accurate.

6.Van Halen-Fair Warning
Diamond Dave and Eddie peak, and the world gasps.

7.Guns n Roses-Appetite for Destruction
Mr.Brownstone is a dead-on portrait of a junkie with a scalding solo by Slash.The rest of the album ain't bad, either.

8.Ac/Dc-Back in Black
Ooof. It's tough to pick just one record, but when pushed, I'll select this shockingly great record.

9.Tesla-Great Radio Controversy
Sacramento's best straight ahead metal band.

10.Motorhead-Rock and Roll
Lemmy may be the funniest person (and one of the smartest) in all of metal.

Under the Radar

2006-03-21T14:59:00.000-05:00

Here are some things that I have been enjoying lately that don't get a lot of press- basically, low profile gems:

Little Britain
Odd, absurdist series from England that works simultaneously as both goofy sketch comedy and devastating social critique of crumbling British Empire. Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the two stars, have created a dizzying array of familiar yet bizarre characters that both amuse and repulse in equal measure. Highly recommended, shows on BBC America Tuesdays @ 11:40 pm.

Reefer Madness - Eric Schlosser
From the author of "Fast Food Nation", this scathing investigation of pot, porn and immigrant workers shows the futility of America's drug wars, the random nature of the justice system, and the growing problem of prosecutorial power to devastating effect. Stunning.

The World Is Not A Cold Dead Place- Explosions in the Sky
Best known for the Friday Night Lights soundtrack, this Midland, Texas based instrumental post- rock group creates shimmering, emotionally charged music that recalls the best of Floyd and Radiohead, but without words. Put on the headphones and float away.

Red Eye
This better than average thriller is powered by two solid performances: Cillian Murphy( so weird as The Scarecrow in Batman Begins) and Julia-Roberts-in-waiting Rachel McAdams, who demonstrates her effortless ability to do almost anything, and do it well.

Add your picks to the comments...

Happy St .Patricks Day

2006-03-17T09:56:00.000-05:00

Ah, what a beautiful day to be Irish! Everyone decked out in green, corned beef and cabbage,the annual parade, people getting sick in the street, loud guys kicking the crap out of each other in bars...hmmm. Maybe I'll stay in and watch a movie instead. Here are some great Irish movies for tonight:

Waking Ned Devine
Love the old naked guy on the scooter.Great, heartwarming film.

In the Name of the Father
Daniel Day Lewis is a phenomenonal actor. Rent this and see why he is one of the all time greats.

State of Grace
Uneven film with incredible cast- Ed Harris, Gary Oldman Robin Wright and her soon to be hubby, Sean Penn- and ultracool St.Patricks Day shootout.

The Quiet Man
John Wayne classic shown every St.Paddy's day that...wait, I've never seen this film.Supposed to be real good.

A Circle of Friends
Irish chick flick with the kinda-hot-but-kinda-not Minnie Driver.

And if all those flicks are out, you can crank up these greats on yer boombox:

U2-Under the Blood Red Sky
Gloria rules this record, but it's all great.The band is the best thing to come from Dublin ever.Try not to shout "This is the Edge!' during the guitar solos. Can't be done.

Van Morrison-Astral Weeks
He's cranky, and, quite frankly, kind of a dick, but a tremendous talent.If you don't know this record, you are in for a major treat.

The Pogues-Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
Produced by Elvis Costello (real name:Declan Patrick McManus), this record is soooo Irish, it makes The Chieftains sound like polka music. Lead singer Shane McGowan is hammered through the entire album( big surprise there) and has the world's most hideous teeth. If you don't believe me, go to Google Images. I dare you.

As always, feel free to post your Irish faves in the comments.Now drink up!

Guilty Pleasures

2006-03-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

What is a guilty pleasure? Basically, it's anything mainstream that is either really cheesy and/or somewhat embarrassing and kinda uncool that, despite your better judgement, you really like or even (secretly) love. Here is a list of some of my favorites; feel free to post some of yours in the comments section.

1. Outback Steakhouse 2.99 Chopped Salad
Crunchy bacon, lettuce, bleu cheese, little vinaigrette on the side...surprisingly good.

2.Ice Age
The little creature with the acorn -the scrat- makes me laugh every time. Can't wait for the sequel this summer.

3. The O.C.
Thanks to my wife, I'm addicted. Peter Gallagher doesn't get enough credit for the job he does...he's the glue that holds that show together.

4.Math Rock
Rush, Tool, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer...if it has preposterous time signatures, I'm there.

5.Chewy Spree
The Mercedes of roll candy.My sweet tooth shows no sign of abating.

6.Avril Levigne-I'm With You
Yeah, it's sappy, but it's a great pop song with an excellent vocal by an underated performer.

7.Journey-Separate Ways
Steve Perry's schnozz and hideous wardrobe notwithstanding, this song and its accompanying video rule. I love when Perry crosses his wrists to symbolize the "chains that bind you."(See above)

8.The Surreal Life
The television equivalent of rubbernecking. The spectacle of people so desperately, nakedly in need of attention is oddly compelling.

That's it for now.Here are some of my wife's picks:
13 Going on 30
Wifeswap
InTouch Weekly
Cheeseburger Happy Meal
Harry Potter anything
Chick Lit (Weisberger,Bushnell,Sykes,etc.)

The Real Story Behind The Crash Win

2006-03-06T19:54:00.000-05:00

Crash won Best Picture at the Academy Awards last night. Most people probably think it was due to the film's impressive cast, well written screenplay and crisp direction, combined with its left- leaning theme of tolerance, long a Hollywood favorite. But they would be wrong. For Crash owes it's remarkable success to one thing, and one thing only: Actors' deep-seated love of free stuff.

When Lion's Gate Films sent out 120,000 free copies of the Crash DVD- one to every SAG member- it soothed every fragile actor's ego in ways the film company could never have imagined. Consistently snubbed by theater chains because of the sheer size of the union, SAG members have for years been denied all the cool perks afforded Academy, Directors Guild and Writer's Guild members -namely Academy screeners and complimentary admission for two to most showings of first run movies. But the Crash freebie opened every actors' eyes to a real possibility - that if Crash did in fact go on and win top honors at the SAG Awards, then next year, every other nominated film would be forced to follow suit and, consequently, give all of us long suffering wannabes free movies. How do I know this? Because literally every actor I asked in the three weeks before the SAG Awards listed that exact scenario as their rationale for voting-"If Crash wins, we'll get five films next year."

Well, to no SAG members' surprise, Crash won top honors at the SAG Awards, and in doing so, acquired some much needed momentum. Before the SAG Awards in late January, Brokeback Mountain was the prohibitive favorite, and Crash, released a good nine months earlier in April 2005, was a well received film that few people had seen. But after Crash blindsided Brokeback at the SAG Awards, everything changed. Suddenly, it seemed, there was a new kid in town, a gritty film that pulled no punches, addressed universal issues, and seemed like a viable alternative to "the gay cowboy movie,"which, secretly, a lot of actors were not thrilled with, for purely homophobic reasons. Add to this the sheer impact of 120,000 free copies in the hands of a grateful nation - many of them passed on to family and friends - and is it any wonder that in the month and change before the Oscars, the edgy ensemble drama was able to generate an incredible buzz? Crash should enjoy its win, but make no mistake-Lions Gate is responsible for one of the greatest marketing moves in movie history, one that without question netted them the Best Picture Oscar and, happily, the eternal gratitude of the working actor.

Back from Paradise

2006-03-04T21:06:00.000-05:00

We have returned from Vieques like Nixon in '68 - tanned, rested and ready. The small island was incredibly beautiful, with wild horses roaming freely along the perfectly white talcum sands and crystal azure waters that line its flawless shores. I've been to many beaches in my life, but the ones in Vieques-particularly Red Beach- were simply perfect. The highlight of the trip was our sojourn to the bioluminescent Mosquito Bay- aptly named, I might add- at dusk to see the finest example of dinoflagellates (near- microscopic organisms that emit phosphorescent light when touched) in the known world. After wading into mucky, thoroughly revolting shallow waters (I don't know if there is such a word as gloosh, but that's what the bottom of the bay felt like), my wife Ling and I clambered into easily navigable kayaks under the moonless, star-encrusted sky and paddled into the darkness, along with thirty other intrepid and, yes, somewhat bumbling nature lovers. Once we reached the deepest part of the bay (nearly ten feet), we hitched our kayaks together in a long line and dove into the warm waters, which left long, glow-in-the-dark streaks with every paddle. You could lift your arms out of the water and watch tiny, blinking diamonds run down your arms by the dozens, so thick were the dinoflagellates. I've never tripped on acid before, but this experience seemed to be the closest thing to it without drugs. Simply incredible and highly(no pun intended) recommended. To learn about the bay, click here.

Off to Vieques

2006-02-25T16:43:00.000-05:00

Well, my wife and I are off to the small island of Vieques for a relaxing holiday and will return on Friday. Until then, I will be lying in the sun on a beach so beautiful, so tranquil and, yes, so deserted that location scouts for the Tom Hanks epic Castaway found it "too remote". If you want to find out about the island, click here.

Pop Culture Junkie

2006-02-24T13:44:00.000-05:00

If you're like me, you've always been addicted to pop culture; specifically books, television, movies, and, of course, music. I've been listening to music avidly for a long time- so long, in fact, that my earliest memory of purchasing an album was when my father took me to a store at 84th and Broadway (long gone) to pick up the Beatles' Abbey Road,which had been released that week (for those of you keeping track, that would be October 1969). I was five. I don't think I've stopped since, listening to AM radio on the beach in the early 70's, FM radio in the late '70's and the glory that is Sirius right now (if you dont have it, get it -it's phenomenal). Here's what's on my jukebox right now:

Guns n' Roses - Chinese Democracy leaks

I'll never forget the first time I heard Axl Rose sing the opening scream to Welcome to the Jungle: every hair on the back of my neck stood up on end, and gooseflesh sprouted on my arms. This guy was the real deal. Now, apparently, he's back, ready to unleash a new version of GnR on the unsuspecting masses, and the results are pretty damn good. Three tracks- Better, I.R.S and There Was A Time- were leaked on the Internet last week, causing quite a commotion amongst hardcore fans and the hoi polloi alike. My favorite is There Was A Time- it sounds like an outtake from Use Your Illusion II, with great vocals, an excellent guitar solo, and a creepy piano tape loop to kick things off. Rose's vocals are a little far back in the mix, making some of the lyrics indecipherable (it also makes you want to listen to it over and over again, like an Egyptologist cracking the Rosetta Stone). Better begins with Rose singing in a high pitch falsetto, then crunches satisfyingly in a Nine Inch Nails-esque style for 2:06, until the song unexpectedly fades out, proving to be an incomplete version . I.R.S, the weakest track, but still better than most music being released today, has a nice ascending chorus and an in-your-face vocal that harkens back to The Garden of Eden off UYI. All in all, it makes me very excited for the long delayed album. Curiously, people have begun to bash Rose mercilessly over these tracks. I've thought about it for a while, and I think the negative response is due to three things: a) Axl disbanded one of the best loved bands ever, and fans have made him out to be the Yoko; b) Rose has allowed his music to grow and change with the times while certain hardcore fans want Appetite for Destruction II, and they punish him when they don't get it, and c) Rose has committed the twin unpardonable sins of getting older(and a little heftier) and making fans wait a friggin' decade for new music. Pay no attention to the red-headed madman behind the curtain- listen to the tracks, and judge for yourself.

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

I thought this would be another hype-driven band like the Vines that was somewhat overrated and had a good song or two, but I have been pleasantly surprised by these British wunderkind.Wry lyrics, clever song titles (Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong, But... is my favorite one), and a dancable yet riff-heavy vibe makes this record compulsively listenable, kind of like the Clash filtered thru a Specials-meets-Madness lens. 13 tracks and 40 minutes of good times. You can check out their website here.

K.T. Tunstall - "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"

Saw her perform this on the Today show, and was struck by her obvious talent and poise. Could be a one hit wonder, or a Scottish Melissa Etheridge, impossible to tell at this point. Try listening to this song and not walking around all day going "woo hoo!"

Massive Attack -Teardrop

Pouring rain. Ominous piano chords. Rumbling bass. So begins this Liz Fraser penned masterpiece, a tune so powerful the first time I heard it, I stopped what I was doing and stared at the computer in wild wonder. You could make a strong case for this song as the best song of the 90's, it's that good.

Peter Tosh- "Stepping Razor" and "Legalize It"

Personally, I'm a little burnt out on Bob Marley. Don't get me wrong, I love the man, but after playing him to death, I may have to lay off his music for a year or so in order to make it fresh again. Not so these songs by the tougher, cooler Wailer (Bunny Livingston being the third, of course). One listen to either tune, and suddenly I'm a tall, lean Jamaican loping thru Trenchtown, staring down rival gang members, dreads flying thru the sunshine, while I puff away on a spliff the size of a Blimpie sandwich, and wave at me breddren who shout out "Hey Rasta!" Then the song ends, and I'm a preppie white guy with a semi-functioning Ipod and a roll of Sweettarts. Sigh.

Nothing Lasts Forever?

2006-02-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

This happened in Sept. 2005, but I didn't have a blog then, so I have to play catchup. Back in 1982, when I was just a young pup, I did a film called Nothing Lasts Forever. It was a highly unusual film - way ahead of its time(or behind it, depending on your opinion) - and the studio, MGM, had no idea what to do with it, so they shelved it. It has been shown periodically over the years on TCM and other outlets, but other than that, it's a real cult movie, due to the fact that it was shot in black and white and color (like The Wizard of Oz) and contains appearances by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Imogene Coca, Sam Jaffe and others. Then, in 2005, a young guy named Mike Streeter wrote a book about the making of the film and the film's director, Tom Schiller. This led to a screening of the film at Lincoln Center and a riotous Q and A session afterwards with Murray in rare form(if you'd like info about the book, or see pictures of the Lincoln Center event, click here). Afterwards, a bunch of us- Mike Streeter, Tom Schiller and his wife Jacqui, Laila Nabulsi(associate producer), Shade Rupe,Tom Davis, Bill Murray, myself and my wife Ling- went to a Greek place on the Upper West side. The place had stopped serving food,which made Bill grumpy(click on picture at right- l. to r. Murray, Nabulsi,Streeter, me), so he ordered pizza... for everybody. A special night in the Big Apple.

Taking the Plunge

2006-02-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

As you can see, I recently got married. That's me and my amazing new wife, Ling, smooching next to the Information Booth @ Grand Central Station. Pretty romantic, huh? There's also an announcement in the Times, so we can feel extra important. Which we do. Kinda. Ok, not really, but it was kinda cool.

Greetings

2006-02-08T00:40:00.000-05:00

Just a quick first post to say that I will be on Vh1 all this week on The 100 Greatest Teen Stars. I am number 45, which is insane, since I should be back around 92 or so, if at all. Thanks, Vh1.