Rockin' the Home Church

Hello all...

Since we're on a somewhat of a video kick, I thought I'd share a little performance a co-worker/friend/bandmate and I did at the Milford United Methodist Church. Mike and I did this as a little warm up for the annual Pamoja talent show that Stevo so graciously invited us to. Which was grreat fun, by the way (it was this past weekend). We did this song, a few instrumentals of our own, and "Remember the Mountain Bed" from the Mermaid Avenue (Billy Bragg/Wilco/Woody Guthrie) sessions.

I was also excited to see several other unique and enjoyable performances there, including a rendition of "Hey Jude" done in the voice of a chipmunk, three beautiful classical guitar pieces, a little jig on the violin, a short piece on the guitar which sonically represented a "fly hitting a barn", and three carefully crafted songs by a folky/fingerpicker songwriter named Dean (wow). It was so refreshing to be in that kind of atmosphere again. Don't get me wrong, I love the guys in the factory, but yea.

Anywho...I found out about this traditional (spiritual) song through the Uncle Tupelo album "March 16-20, 1992". I love that album. The song is interesting to me, through the lens of how I've listened to Tweedy grapple with religious stuff, and how he's evolved as a songwriter. It's also interesting historically, and the attitude it conveys. Tweedy has said that he hears a lot of fear in it. So, this is the stuff I think about a lot and get obsessed with.

From the dusty Archives.

I know the quality of this kind of sucks, but all I had was an old vhs copy. Please enjoy Let's Get these Bullets.

AIDS in Africa

I picked up a Vanity Fair in a doctors office and read an interesting story on AIDS in Africa. The scope of the problem is overwhelming, but it appears that there is some good news. The author, Alex Shoumatoff, explores the efforts to raise money and the impact of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) on the AIDs epidemic. In 2002, only 1% of the 5 million in Africa with AIDS were being treated with life saving ARVs. Only five years later, 28% are getting ARV treatment and the number is rapidly increasing. Shoumatoff gives little credit to the pharmaceutical companies supplying the medicine for a fraction of their average cost ($125 for a year's supply that would cost $10,000 here) or the companies selling "Red" products (4o% of the profits from "Red" Apple, GAP, Nike, etc. products go to fighting AIDs) and the extra $15 billion President Bush has authorized barely gets a mention. Instead, most of the praise is reserved for Bono. Certainly we can do better at helping the poor around the world, not just those with AIDs, but the greater numbers who are starving to death , but what is often missing from the discussion is how to help Africa become self-sufficient. Jennifer Brea argues in The American that aid often has the unfortunate effect of stifling entrepreneurship and incentivizes laziness in African government. Maybe some of the aid money would be better spent on investment or infrastructure. Given the opportunity, who can doubt the potential of Africans? Check out the homemade windmill. I think World Vision strikes a good balance between meeting basic needs and promoting self-sufficiency by addressing the causes and results of poverty (in the interests of full disclosure, my uncle works for World Vision). Give here, if you're interested.

Benjamin Michael Bannister

Born: 08/17/07 12:01pm. 7lbs 3oz. 21 inches.

Jaime and I went to the hospital today at 3 am. Around 5 they gave her an epideral which helped with the pain considerably. by 10:30 she was fully dilated. She pushed for an hour and a half and Benjamin was born at 12:01. Jaime and the baby are both doing great and hopefully will be able to go home Sunday afternoon.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

 

I finished this book last week and really enjoyed it. To me it was the perfect ending. I thought it was masterfully done. I think it was her best work so far. The description and style are similar to the others, but I think the the story telling is better. If anyone would like to discuss it we can in the comments section. If you havent read it and want to do not click on the comments because it will contain spoilers.

Best Albums of 2007 So Far...

Bobby was on to something when he posted on the best albums of 2006. But why wait until the end of the year? Let's hear everybody's favorites so far. Here's my proposed top five:

1. Because of the Times - Kings of Leon

2. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

3. Icky Thump - White Stripes

4. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco

5. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse.

Three movie recommendations from the land where celebrities grow on trees and Lindsay Lohan's drug problems are covered in 'local' news.

1. The Waitress: Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. She meets a newcomer to her town and falls into an unlikely relationship as a last attempt at happiness.

Comment: The trailer didn't interest me at all... but I'm glad I gave it a shot. It's quirky, it's got style, and Keri Russel is terrific. Here's something sad..the film is directed by and stars Adrienne Shelly who, before the film's release, was brutally murdered in her NY apt.

2. Once: A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story.

Comment: I wouldn't consider this film a "musical"... just a story about musicians. All that to say, you'll want to dl the soundtrack as soon as you see the flick. This is a quiet film..the acting to incredibly subtle and moving. I loved it.

3. Paris, Je T'aime: Through the neighborhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented and awakened.

Comment: Perfect if you're ADD. This film is literally 18 short films, by 18 directors...all stories deal with love (all types) and are set in Paris. Once you get used to the short story-telling style, it's really a good time.

Begin the countdown

The trailer has been released for Wes Anderson's new film The Darjeeling Limited. I know many of you know my less-than-enthusiastic view on The Life Aquatic. I must say that based on this trailer, I won't be disappointed again.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thedarjeelinglimited/trailerb/

Beerhorst Relocation

Hey everybody, I'm moving to Fort Collins, Colorado! It was a difficult decision whether to go to Atlanta or Fort Collins, since both companies that I interviewed at were great. However, Fort Collins is more affordable, I know people that live there and I will get to learn new software on the company's dime. Bobby and Missy, are you ready? I'll be arriving in Colorado at the very beginning of August. I invite everybody else on this list to follow promptly.

P.S. Colorado has the biggest dinosaur tracksite in North America (in the Picketwire Canyonlands) and there is a music festival at Red Rocks called Monolith that is worth looking into.

P.S.S. Bobby, notify the single librarians of my pending arrival ASAP. Yowza!

Never Enough Media.

Hello everyone. I thought I'd make a benign post on the music buying frenzy I've been on lately. I get bored on Saturdays and it usually leads me to the record store. If I can't find anything else, I'll go to Best Buy. I live in the suburbs of Detroit (near Novi), so I must go to Dearborn, Ann Arbor, or Southfield to find any decent record stores. I was trying to find one in Southfield today and ended up at 8 mile and Dequindre (yikes). It's fun getting lost, though. Unfortunately, it got late, so I had to settle for Worst Buy.

I've been walking by the new one from The Detroit Cobras for a while. I decided to pick it up this time, and boy, it is great. Especially if you're a Detroit area native, you can feel it. It bleeds Motown. It has that strong female vocal ala Martha and the Vandellas, with a hard rock edge. Aquarius Records says it nicely... "exuding barrels of '60s girl group charm and sass coverin' old Stax and Motown gems in their own tight yet loose rock'n'roll fashion". I eat that stuff up.

Ah! And here's another great group "straight outta" Michigan. They're all originally from Ann Arbor. They're a foot stomping, accordion playing, beer drinking troupe that sings about a kind of mystical history of Michigan. The soul of the great lakes, if you will. They sing about taking their cars "across the bridge" (Mackinac). Sentimental, poppy, but in a good way. Some of their influences are ELO, David Bowie, the Beach Boys and even Iron Maiden (ahaha...I guess that ties into singing about mythical history). I saw these guys downtown Detroit at a nice, gritty venue called "The Lager House". The letters B, A, and R are spelled out in the neon on the front. There was a rockin' accordion solo! What else can I say? Oh, and a violin, too.