Did Something Just Now I've Never Done Before

I sent cash in the direction of the Decemberists. Never did that before, I don't think. I know I've never bought a record. And though I've seen 'em probably 10 times or so, I think it was always for free in either record stores or at things like NXNW. Pretty sure I've never paid admission, mostly cause I've never much been into them enough to pay cash money to see them play. But they've always had a few songs that I've enjoyed.

And today I heard that new number, Down By The Water, on the radio again and man I like that song. I first heard it when Meloy was playing prior to Darnielle at CMJ a few months ago (again: free show) and was impressed with it then, and WRSI's been playing it semiregularly since then.

So today after I heard it again I figured I'd get it off the Itunes. But it was free!

So then I figured I'd go ahead and download 16 Military Wives cause I hadn't heard it in awhile and recalled it fondly. And then while I was at it I got California One, for exactly the same reasons. But those cost actual money. But, I figured, what the hell. It's about time.

So, Colin Meloy and John Moen and whatever the rest of your names are: you've got me to thank for that $1.98 minus whatever cut Itunes and then Kill Rock Stars and Hush take.

Also: you guys still on Capitol? If so, really?

If I Were Still In High School I'd Be Calling Myself A Homophobic Slur

I'm selling a couple things on ebay. Dumb things like a couple Japanese-made Boss pedals form the 80s (that CE-2's going for $150! No shit!), like my old Whatever And Ever Amen LP (attn: investment bankers. You guys should have gotten in on the Ben Folds Five thing early, cause now it's paying off).

But even after I saw that my double-gatefold 2xLP copy of Smashing Pumpkins' last album, Machina the Machines of God, is going for outrageous prices, I didn't have the heart to sell it. When will I ever listen to that thing again?! But it's big, it's got an alternate track listing (ends with Blue Skies! has the b-side Speed Kills in there!) and I ended the auction minutes after I started it.

And then I ended the auctions for the Cherub Rock 12" single (Pissant and French Movie Theme on the b-side) and the Pisces Iscariot LP (translucent yellow vinyl!) too.

Good Food, Bad Luck At The Side Street Tonight

It's bad news when you go out for a nice meal with the wife but the dinner music is a couple dudes on guitar and bongos.

Even worse when they do Stairway. They must think, to themselves, Wow we're gonna blow them out of the old water with our killer acoustic/bongo rendition. And they are not entirely incorrect.

And then they follow it up with D'yer Ma'ker.

I couldn't make this up if I tried.

Goddamn.

Look Out Tacoma Dome

I wonder how much cash the Ticket Master makes selling email addresses to music venues. I get pretty regular emails from places all over the place. Some from places I've been to exactly once (North Star in Philadelphia, Black Cat in DC). Some from places I used to go to pretty regularly but now live far far away from (Neumo's in Seattle, Berbati's in Portland). Some from places in countries I haven't stepped foot one into in something like five years (Lee's Palace in Toronto, Bush Hall in London). Etc. Venues all over the world are, I presume, paying the Ticket Master for my email address, which the Ticket Master has cause once I bought a ticket online for a show at the Black Cat, or wherever.

Anyway: for no other reason than in 2001 I went up to the Tacoma Dome, up in beautiful/quasi-mythical Tacoma WA, cause all anybody wanted to do in 2001 as I recall was head up good old Interstate #5 to see AC/DC the T. Dome - for no other reason than I trekked up I-5 for AC/DC and made the mistake of buying that ticket online, today I am informed that should I wish to repeat that trek on July 8 I can catch the New Kids On The Block, with the Back Street Boys in the opening slot.

Look out Tacoma!