Another Video

I'm in a video-posting mood today, I guess. Here's Will Sheff of Okkervil River performing two great songs, "The President's Dead" and "Plus Ones." As opposed to Rilo Kiley, Okkervil's new record is astoundingly good.

Pilot Pen Is Over

OK, so the Pilot Pen has finally become a thing of the past. Some of you have probably been reading my daily columns in the paper about the tennis tournament. If you haven't, well, that's why I haven't updated my blog. I've been a busy boy.

Anyway, one of the things I've been thinking about recently is Rilo Kiley. I've been a big fan of the band for a long time now. I've personally converted a good amount of people into fans, but I just can't get past this new record. Some of it is really good, some of it is pathetically bad.

But what really bothers me is the marketing campaign. This video for "Silver Lining" really sums it up. Take a look.

My friend Georgia sent me the link and commented this: "It really gets on my nerves the way Rilo Kiley does things that make so much sense, and then everyone is like 'Wow, look how honest they are!' But it's all part of the sneaky RK marketing plan. This video makes me so mad. Jenny Lewis is conniving."

What do you think?

Triple Play Of '90s Rock

OK, OK, so the Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul show over at New Britain Stadium on Saturday was way better than it had any right to be. Not only was the sound really good for an outside concert, but the bands were better than expected.

Live sounded really crisp, which was the biggest surprise of the night. The foursome might have played a bit too many newer, less-known songs, but everything was tight and energetic.

The real star of the show was Counting Crows, of course. I've seen the San Francisco-based band about seven or eight times live, but not since about 2002, so this was different. I have to say, too, that the band has never impressed me in concert, except for at a surprise gig at Lupo's in Providence sometime around 2000. That was a good show. Big stadiums, though, always seem to swallow up the Crows.

Not Saturday. It was like a real rock band was playing, with singer Adam Duritz actually flailing all over the stage, presumably very drunk, and a three-guitar attack filling the stadium with distortion. Anyway, here's the setlist:

"When I Dream of Michelangelo"
"Have You Seen Me Lately?"
"Recovering the Satellites"
"Mr. Jones"
"Perfect Blue Buildings"
"Mercury"
"All My Friends"
"Cowboys"
"Miami"
"Hard Candy"
"Come Around"
"A Long December"
"Hangingaround" (end of set)
"Washington Square"
"Time and Time Again"
"Insignificant"
"Holiday in Spain"

Notes: "Michelangelo," "Cowboys," "Come Around," "Washington Square" and "Insignificant" are new songs that will be on the band's upcoming "Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings" double CD. "Miami" was performed very slowly, and while still good, not nearly as exciting as the original version. The only real clunker of the night was "Mercury," which went on for over 10 minutes and sucked the life out of the crowd. A major highlight was the playing of "All My Friends," a real overlooked gem from the "This Desert Life" record.

A Quick Point

So my colleague Joe Amarante was complaining yesterday about how NESN has a show called "Walk Off Sox," a program dedicated to re-running old Red Sox games that feature dramatic comebacks.

In some ways, he's right to mock such a show, especially considering this year's Red Sox have only two ninth-inning wins. But, you know, yesterday I could have sworn I saw a "Yankeeography" on Miguel Cairo.

What I Did During My Vacation

I pretty much already told you the answer to the headline above, but here's one thing I forgot: I went to some Thirsty Thursdays at Yale Field. At one of them, my photo was taken for Play Magazine's Gettin' Some feature.

I was taking advantage of Thirsty Thursday a little too much, and forgot about this. So now my photo is in there. Let's make one thing clear: Unfortunately, I'm not "getting any" in the photo, so it seems like it shouldn't be in this section. Anyway, pictured are, from left, friends Stefanie Harris, Harris McCabe and me.

When I saw Play this afternoon, I couldn't help but wish my first name was McCabe. Then the cutline to the photo would have looked like this: "Stefanie Harris, Harris McCabe, McCabe Ferrucci."

I guess it wasn't meant to be. At least this way I can make a lame joke.

Welcome Back To Me

So I am a horrible blogger and friend. You'd think with two weeks, I would have gotten off my butt at least once and updated this here site. Of course, you'd be wrong then.

Well, I'm back. I would say that hopefully now I'll be updating every day or at least five times a week or something, but I don't want to write any lies. I took a look back, since May I've been relatively pathetic with updates. It's my August resolution to be better. You might not believe it, but give me a try!

OK, so what did I do for two weeks? That's a great question. You know how when most people come back from vacation they say it felt like two days or something? My vacation felt like two months. I honestly couldn't wait to get back here. I did do a whole lot, though. In fact, I feel like I lived a lifetime in my two weeks.

So, since we last spoke:

• My softball team went 1-1.
• I went to the Newport Folk Festival.
• I went camping for the first time in my life.
• I experienced considerable back pain for the first time in my life (um, this goes with the one above).
• I went to two Thirsty Thursdays at Yale Field.
• I've listened to many, many good records.
• I planned a trip to a water park but didn't go.
• I saw The Police live and it only took 105 minutes to get to East Hartford.
• I received dozens of mean e-mails and voicemails about my last column.
• I received tons of positive e-mails and voicemails about my last column.
• The Red Sox have begun to make me very nervous.
• I moved from my apartment.

I think that may be it. I know I did a lot more, but you'll have to wait for Friday's column for specifics. Is that OK?

In other news, why is Cal Ripken qualified for this?

I didn't know people still knew who Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan were.

I'm about done now. Let's talk tomorrow. Keep my softball team in your prayers this afternoon.

White Night

Last time I used this space to talk about a Chris Arnott blog entry, we were in disagreement. This time, I couldn't agree with Chris more.

In a recent post on his Arnott of the Arts blog, Chris wonders aloud about the lack of coverage received by The White Stripes in the Advocate, Play and the Register. Here's his money quote:

"So now I'm wondering ... either we all missed the
boat, and should have done more, or The White Stripes
is truly on the way down and few of us really care.
So are we oblivious, or is our relative inaction an
instinct, a prophesy? It's the kind of editorial
decision-making that keeps me up nights."

I struggled with the decision about how much to preview this show. I honestly struggled a lot. I've never been a White Stripes fan. I liked "Elephant" a lot, but I don't ever go back to that record anything. It's a band that just doesn't do much for me. With that said, I'll be at the show Wednesday at the Chevrolet Theatre.

I had a chance to interview the band, could have done up a big preview and ran it in Monday's Life/Style section or something. I chose not to. As an editor, it's one of my jobs to cherry-pick some shows that might not be getting much buzz, that I think are important (or whatever word you want to use) and highlight those. It's also my job to do everything I can to feature shows that are huge, that the public want to know about. For example, The Police aren't doing interviews with the Register about Monday's show, so I'll surely write a lot about this show in my Friday column.

The White Stripes show falls in the middle of this. I mean, it's surely getting covered and people know it's coming, but I also don't think enough people care to truly necessitate a full-blown feature. I declined an interview because of this. Maybe if the show was on the weekend, I would done something up, but it's not. And I didn't put anything in my column because I truly believe people need to know about Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers coming to Watertown tonight. That's an editorial decision. So I ran a photo and a blurb of the Stripes and called it a day.

Did I make the right decision? I'm not sure. I do know that "Icky Thump" has been pretty icky when it comes to sales, so I guess the duo's fan base is dwindling. Even though I don't listen to Jack and Meg, I can appreciate what they're trying to do. I just think the band is (now picture me affecting a California accent), so three years ago.

Did we all miss the boat on The White Stripes? Should we have done more? Should Play have thrown the porn star off the cover? Should the Advocate have made the band a cover story? Should I have run a big feature? Seriously, post some comments. I'd appreciate the feedback. We probably all would.

Hung Jury At Cutters

So I've never really seen "American Idol," but I know who William Hung, left, is. Who doesn't? He was in one of the best episodes of "Arrested Development" ever.

Anyway, this is a quick reminder that Mr. Hung will be appearing at Yale Field tonight during the New Haven County Cutters game. Oh yeah, it's also a Thirsty Thursday ($1 beers!).

I'll see you there. I'll be the one a little intoxicated singing the Hung Jury song from "A.D."

JOY and Midgets

Jenny Owen Youngs has nothing in common with midgets. I really mean that. Even though the photo to the left of this paragraph is small, Jenny's somewhat tall. But I don't think she'd take offense with me putting her in a blog entry that also includes news about midget wrestling.

Actually, knowing how Jenny thinks, I bet she'd be as freaked about what went down at Yale Field as I am. In the previous two years that I've attended the Cutters' annual Midget Wrestling night, two little people have wrestled. Last night, Shortpants Sampson (I think that's his name) faced off against a non-little person ... and a woman. That's right, it was a tag match with Shortpants and some woman, against another dude and a woman.

It was a night to remember. I'll never forget it. But, I have to say it might be time to stop calling it Midget Wrestling, since, you know, that's not really what I saw. But the stadium was the most packed I'd ever seen it, except for that Bob Dylan show a few years back.

So what does this all have to do with Jenny Owen Youngs? Well, not much, except that I spoke with her recently because I was going to write something up before her show at Cafe Nine on July 28. Well, that show's not happening now. Jenny is opening for Aimee Mann in London, so she chose that option over Cafe Nine. I told her it was the wrong decision, but sometimes people feel the need to make the wrong decisions.

Anyway, Jenny is still set to play Daniel Street Sunday night, opening for The Alternate Routes. I've spent a lot of time writing about the Routes and you guys have probably seen them play already, if you go out to local shows. But Jenny, maybe you haven't seen her before.

A few years back, Jenny used to play The Space about every couple months. The venue's then booker, Chris Greenland, loved her music and would put her on bills. So in November of 2004, I got a press kit sent to me by Jenny. It was a, um, low budget kit that normally would have ended up on the bottom of my pile. But the cover letter was hysterical, so I listened to the disc, which was great. I did a little article on a show she was doing at The Space and had a heck of good time at that show.

Since then, Jenny's made a record, had that record re-released by Nettwerk Records, which is, of course, the home to many big artists like Sarah McLachlan. She's also become a favorite of gossip blogger Perez Hilton. Her songs have been on TV, which is the new radio, of course.

In short, all this is happening because Jenny's music is great. You should see her Sunday. She would like you for that. She would also like it if you bought her record. You could also buy it right at the show. OK, that's enough. See you Sunday.

Holidays Mess With Me

I hate holidays. Well, hate's a strong word and I really do love some holidays. But I don't like it when July 4 is in the middle of the week. I mean, my schedule's been real messed up because of it.

But now that the Fourth has passed, CDs are coming into my mailbox like crazy. Normally, that's a really good thing, but for the last week, it's been pretty hellish. Why, you ask?

Well, last week I came in on a day off just to pick up the upcoming Okkervil River CD, "The Stage Names," because I knew it had arrived. I was like a little kid on Christmas morning; I couldn't wait. I listened to the whole thing twice, almost immediately.

The Austin-based band is easily one of my favorite groups, so I just want to listen to the disc — which I totally love — over and over for the next month or so. But, alas, I have a job, and part of that job is to listen to dozens of CDs a week. So you're feeling my pain, right?

But this story gets more horrifying! I know, I can't believe it either.

On Monday, the upcoming matt pond PA disc, "Last Light," arrived. Again, this is one of my absolute favorite bands, and I don't have enough time to dedicate to both this CD and the Okkervil one, and all the others.

I don't know what to do; so I basically sit in a corner, in a ball, and cry myself to sleep. Then I tried listening to both at the same time, but that didn't work either. Although, a little cello makes Okkervil sound cool, and a little mandolin wouldn't hurt matt pond PA.

Anyway, I don't know why I'm sharing all of my biggest problems with you guys. I guess because you're my friends. I love you.

Keep in mind, though, it's only going to get worse as I expect discs from The New Pornographers and Rilo Kiley to arrive any minute now. If I end up dead somewhere, at least you'll know why.

In other news, tonight at Yale Field: midget wrestling and $1 drafts. Those two things go together better than coffee and sugar, or something good like that. I think the good guy's name is like Shortpants Sampson or something. Then they bring in a heel, too. But my friend Shayne hates Shortpants. I don't know why.

That's about all I've got for now. Look for some reviews and previews and everything else that you could ever want in tomorrow's Weekend. If don't see you, have a good one. I plan to.