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Showing posts from March, 2007

Introduction:-->Tom Waits

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"So what becomes of all the little boys, who run away from home? Well the world just keeps gettin' bigger, once you get out on your own". Tom Waits The word “cool” is often hard to define, but you easily know it when you see it. Tom Waits , the beatnik troubadour is the epitome of cool. Natural, unfeigned cool. Not the posturing and glamming that so often is passed off to the consumer as being cool. And he is one of the most unappreciated musical legends working in the business today. Critically acclaimed and commercially ignored, Tom has been writing and performing atmospheric songs about the less than glamorous side of life for the last four decades. In his rough 3 pack-a-day throaty voice, Tom delivers lines in a singing, sometimes talking manner, easily convincing listeners that his characters are real. However, being a fan of Waits , I have learned that turning my

DVD Pick: -->They Live (1988)

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"Watching eyes of celluloid tell you how to live, Metaphoric motor replay, give, give, give!" Black Sabbath NO SPOILERS: "They Live" ...is one of those films you just ...GET...or it misses your radar completely. A sci-fi thriller with some very funny moments, director John Carpenter obviously filmed this gem on a down-low budget. Which explains the somewhat cheesy special effects. But it IS these cheesy moments that really sell the film. Handing the lead role to Roddy Piper (pro wrestler fame) was a masterstroke. Roddy delivers a surprisingly near-flawless performance playing a drifter in search of construction work. "They Live" takes place in a metro city in the near future and Carpenter immediately shows a place filled with homeless and near homeless families living in boxes and small rooms. They are good people trying to avoid drawing attention from the heavily controlled police state. It is here where Rod

Classic Pick:-->Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy (1978)

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"I heard Woodrow Wilson's guns. I heard Maria crying. Late last night I heard the news That Veracruz was dying." Warren Zevon Anyone who dismisses the late Warren Zevon as merely a novelty artist, is probably only familiar with his lone hit single, “ Werewolves of London.” However, those who are hip to the scene, are aware that the excessively satiric songwriter is capable of far more than just shrugged-off rockers. For the uninitiated, Zevon’s third album, “Excitable Boy” is an excellent introduction to this underrated songwriters work. On the magical opening track, “ Johnny Strikes Up the Band ”, good vibes just ooze out of the speakers. But then, the ever unpredictable Zevon does a three sixty, and takes us into much darker territory with the cult favorite “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” , a haunting rocker about Roland, who is betrayed and murdered by the CIA, and his headless body’s quest to seek revenge against his killer. It'

Lost Book Gem: "The Walking Drum" - Louis L'Amour (1985)

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"In this place, full of empty space, Your soft and tender love will always shine for me." ~  Robin Trower  ~ NO SPOILERS: Taking place in the 12th century, this historical fiction "The Walking Drum" (surprisingly written by "the king of western novels" ... Louis L'Amour ) revolves around a young man... Kerbouchard ...who travels the Muslim world and dangerous seas in search for his noble father. This swashbuckling adventure is filled with nonstop action as our hero meets honorable men and untrustworthy characters. Beautiful women and loyal friends. A time where knowledge is power. And honor is everything. Our skilled warrior, Kerbouchard , is also a scholar and a lover of the ladies. And is given great lines to throw out to his enemies and sweeties that will cause you to smile. Plus L’Amour weaves in plenty of historical facts from the era that fascinate without slowing down the action. Have you heard this gem? "In This Pla

Lost Stream Gem: --> "Saboteur" (1942)

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" Like a stranger in my own home town... My so called friends stopped being friendly." ~ Elvis ~ NO SPOILERS: " Saboteur " (Alfred Hitchcock 1942) ...if made today would obviously be called, "Terrorist", and is as relevant now as it was back then.  And what impresses most about this black and white film is how good it looks and how much excitement it provides. The story revolves around a young factory worker (played terrifically by Robert Cummings ) who is wrongfully accused of sabotage. He immediately goes on the run trying to find the scum whose responsible. On the way, he meets a slew of wonderfully peculiar supporting characters that Hitchcock throws into the mix that makes for a tasty cinema stew. This film is good stuff and highly recommended. MUST SEE MOMENT: The desperate way our hero breaks out of his handcuffs .  And the odd encounter with the traveling circus people is not to be missed. " Stranger In My Own

Lost Book Gem: Amazonia - James Rollins (2003)

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" You got to think of what it's gonna take to make your dreams " ~ Aerosmith ~ NO SPOILERS:   This action-filled novel by James Rollins is the proverbial page-turner. This fast-paced adventure, reminiscent of an Indiana Jones thriller except with a tad more violence cooks! And Rollins has thrown in enough scientific ideas ripped from the daily papers to make the story biting and believable. A group of doctors and scientists return to the deep rain forests to find a lost member who appears to have stumbled upon a substance that can regenerate limbs and possibly cure cancer.  The imaginative and dangerous obstacles that lurk throughout the region make for an awesomely delicious ride. Amazonia ...is a book you'll hate to put down...simply because "thrills" from your own life have pulled you away. "Make It"   -  Aerosmith  (1973) Good evening people, welcome to the show Got somethin' here I want you all to know When laughi

DVD Pick: --> Rope (1948)

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"Were you trying to deceive...telling me all you need is love to succeed?" Barclay James Harvest NO SPOILERS: In most Alfred Hitchcock movies, we don't know who the villain is until a good way into the film. Not this time. In Hitchcock 's first color film, " Rope "(1948) , we quickly meet two prep school murderers, Brandon (John Dall) and Philip (Farley Granger) who surprisingly kill their fellow student David in an effective Hitchcock sucker punch just after the opening bell. In other words, if you want subtitles, set'em up quick. This movie revolves around two twisted individuals who believe that good and evil, right and wrong are just for the average folks. To make what they call a work of art a "masterpiece", they arrogantly hide David's body in the same room they are having their dinner party. (You'll find out where). Last, but not least, Rupert ( Jimmy Stewart , the most recognizable actor in this film) soon escal

Lost Album Gem: --> Rory Gallagher - Photo-Finsh (1978)

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"I'm still not sure what part I play in this shadow play...this shadow play. " Rory Gallagher A couple of years ago I tried my hand at writing a short story involving the strange appearances of what are commonly known to be " Shadow People ". The gray shadows that sometimes catch the corner of your eyes...but seldom are there when you turn your head to look. After putting pen & paper away...I came across an article about, of all things..." Shadow People" . And while reading it, Rory Gallagher popped up on random shuffle burning the house down with his awesome song "Shadow Play" from the oft-forgot album Photo-Finish  (1978)...thus completing my "shadow trifecta" for the night. Rory Gallagher has always been a barista at blending Rock and Blues...and  Photo-Finish  is truly a must-own demolition rock-burn. Songs like "Shin Kicker" and "Cloak and Dagger" or "Mississippi Sheiks&q

Lost Album Gem: --> "Still Alive And Well" - Johnny Winter (1973)

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"... I'm standing up tall with my back flat on the ground " ~  Johnny Winter ~ Watching Johnny Winter...this brutally thin cat with long wispy blonde hair walk on the stage carrying a guitar that looked much too large for him to control...would have been head-raising. That Johnny was cross-eyed, near blind and had the skin pigment of a can of latex ceiling paint might've also gave audiences reason to pause. Now add the fact that starting out, Johnny was playing at roadhouses buried deep in the South with crowds that would make the Apollo sound like a Catholic mass...and you have yourself a "bluesman" who's about to find out deathly quick whether he has the truck to deliver the goods.  He does. In ‘72, JW had to check into a hospital due to a full blown day-tripping heroin habit and was rehabbed for several months. During his confinement, John Lennon  dropped by...as well as Mick and Keith who brought Johnny a song they had written for

Ramblings: Captain America died & Red Skull lives

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"The loudest mouth will hail the new found way , To be king for a day. " XTC On hearing of Captain America's death (killed by a sniper) recently, I remembered a comic I picked up several years ago featuring Captain America and Iron Man. Two superheroes for the price of one! But what makes this special for me, is that this was the first Silver Age appearance of the evil "Red Skull" ...a continuous thorn in the side of our country's Hero. (Actually, this appearance of " Red Skull" was an imposter. The real "Red Skull" shows up in the next issue #66. But, whatever...just semantics, Man!) Marvel Comics printed it under the name Tales of Suspense in 1965. It sold for 12 cents. The "Red Skull" was a super-agent Nazi with an IQ off the charts and a body that was skilled in combat. He wore an ugly mask. This villain represented every enemy of America and served as pretty effective propagand

Ramblings: The Rainmaker Pt 2 and Pink Nasty

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" I'm a wound-up string on a violin, the future's gonna take me where I've never been" Angel City The Rainmaker play production went off without a hitch this past weekend. Everyone was hitting on all cylinders. Ain't nothing like a live (and sold-out) audience. I played "Jim" - the younger free-spirited brother - And I was given a lot of lee-way in my stage presence. We all know guys like this. Quick to fight for what's right...and quick to get knocked on his ass. Hence the scrape across my forehead and the tinge of a black eye I sport from the play are my totem. If you look closely at the poster from the play above...I got top billing...thanks to the magical wizardry of "alphabetical order". An interesting tidbit of info I learned. Legend has it that Elvis did a screen test for the movie of the same name. He didn't get the role...but soon hooked up for some screen time in the movie... " Love Me Ten

Lost Book Gem:--> "The Tomb" by F. Paul Wilson...& Wings

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"Hung on the phone-a Hung on the phone-a Hung on the phone again." ~ Wings ~ NO SPOILERS: In  The Tomb,  F. Paul Wilson introduces us to his most intriguing character...Repairman Jack. In his first appearance, we quickly learn that Jack is a hero for the common man. He has trained himself in various types of fighting tactics and is intensely streetwise.  Imagine Rambo without a chip on his shoulder. He supports himself by offering "special" services...fixing problems the average Joe doesn't know how to go about solving. See...you're going to like Jack. There's one catch though.  Some of his jobs have a tendency to brush elbows with the macabre.  And that's just fine.  The story is tightly paced, the characters mesh, and I'm in for the long haul. In this story, Jack is asked to retrieve a necklace that was roughly taken by a foreign government figure.  The necklace, of course, is more than just a piece of jewelry. And Jack le

Classic Pick: -->Freedy Johnston - Never Home (1997)

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"When the roof fell in He lit up again." Freedy Johnston When I learned that Freedy Johnston was performing in Wichita several months ago, (more about that later), I was reminded of how excited I was when I discovered his music for the first time. And then thumbing through a Rolling Stone several years ago, I was surprised to learn that Freedy was named “Best Songwriter of 1994” in the magazine's annual critics' poll. (He finished ahead of Kurt Cobain that year). And best of all...he was a New Yorker, with Kansas roots. I couldn’t help wondering why our local radio stations in Wichita were not giving him some air time? I mean, here was one of our homeboys receiving top-props from respected music critics, and he gets no play here. None! Freedy Johnston‘s “Never Home” was released in 1997 and was my first introduction to his great music and what turned me into a lifelong fan. A lost gem and an under-promoted classic, if ever there was one. A musical storytelle