Friday, September 28, 2007

On The Scene

Friday
**If you're jonesin' for some good music and atmosphere, head to The Ridge in Limerick tonight to catch Crystal Roxx's set. They might be a cover band, but they've been garnering more buzz than most local bands do. They've become known for their dazzling light show, tight performances, and even a spinnable drum set. Take that Tommy Lee! (speaking of which, he recently left Motley Crue over money disputes? Because, you know, he doesn't make any as is.) Plus they play year round and sell out quite a bit of those shows. And I thought only the fake band on Guitar Hero could make a name for themselves.

**Patsy Foster and Tom Gilliam at Chaplins in Spring City.

**Big Time at the Trappe Tavern.

**Ballroom dancing at Ballroom On High, in Pottstown.

**and let's not forget about JASON'S WOODS, kiddies. It's the best place to scare your dates, or whomever you go with. But if you DO take a date, let's hope it's to actually SCARE THEM, not scare them OFF. You know? And keep in mind that the actual dude who ACTED as Darth Vader will be at the Woods NEXT WEEKEND. I'm not talking about James Earl Jones, he was only good enough to voice Vader. I'm talking about Dave Prowse.

**But if you're feeling a little more rambunctious on this lovely evening, shoot down to the Electric Factory to catch Yellowcard's set with Blue October. Personally I don't think much of Blue October's droning alterna-rock, but Yellowcard are my favorite guilty pleasure. Sure, they busted out a few hits that your little sister knows the words to, but no other band in pop rock makes simplistic pop songs sound so full of emotional depth. And the two other opening bands are always fun too: Ozma and Shiny Toy Guns. So the show should be full of some fun songs, topped off with Blue October and their "Hate Me" hit, which oddly enough, I do in fact, hate. And while you're there, get a cheesesteak at Pat's, but that goes without saying.


Saturday
**fly on over to Pottstown Airport in the day for Pottstown Municipal Airport Community Day.

**today is also, MUSEUM DAY! You can get into any of these museums for free on this day. Nerdy, but some of you might be into that.

**Jim Femino, Sean Hoots, Liz Longly & Eileen Tipping are all participating in Chaplins awesome "In The Round" series. Check this out, seriously.

**Go see 'Across The Universe' at Oaks. Looks like it's slowly making it's way into theaters. Which makes me wonder about the movie, because it looks to epic-ly rad for to be something for theaters to be quiet about. I'll try to catch it this weekend if you do. Promise?

**If you head to Philly, hit up the Electric Factory to catch Queens Of The Stone Age pump out their set. Their latest album, "Era Vulgaris" has gotten more plays by me this summer than a lot of the billions of records I bought this summer. It's so good that the song they recorded for it with Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor didn't even make the final cut.

**and if you're feeling sickly adventurous on SUNDAY, you can be like me, and head to Connecticut to catch Bob Dylan AND Elvis Costello, and then blitz back home in time for work Monday morning. Talk to ya then! Enjoy the weekend my friends.

Beatle-ing a dead horse


I know, I know. I just wrote about The Beatles yesterday. But, I thought I'd mention the news that just trickled in of yet ANOTHER Beatles film in the works. Seems the great Martin Scorsese has signed on to develop and direct a biopic of the late George Harrison, covering his time with the Fab Four and his solo career, and his spiritual search for meaning of life and all that good stuff. Awesome!

If you're out of the loop, George is the one that looked most like Eddy Munster. (pictured far left)

And as far as biopics go, it sounds like this one has potential. First, you got Scorsese behind the lens, and lemme tell you, the dude LOVES music, especially from the 60s. Plus, there is talk of Paul and Ringo acting in the film, while George's widow Olivia plans to be by Scorsese's side during production for advice and aid. What could go wrong?

Check back here later today to find out about what's going on this weekend in the area.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Please Jude, don't make this bad

How does everyone else feel about this "Across The Universe" flick? You know, the movie based solely on Beatles songs? Sounds incredible, yes? Characters named Jude, Lucy, and Mr. Kite, with a soundtrack of like 30 Beatles covers? Whoa. Personally, I'm praying for Rocky Raccoon to show up, but I haven't seen him on the character lists, but we can't all trust Wikipedia, right?

Anyway, when I saw the preview for it earlier this summer, my mind was melting out of my skull with excitement. Visually stunning, and awe-tastically musical. Plus Evan Rachael Wood, Joe Cocker (who sang "With A Little Help From My Friends" better than Ringo), Bono, and Eddie Izzard all got parts in the film. But then the release date (last Friday) for it came and went, and it still hasn't ACTUALLY made it into a wide selection of theaters? What's the deal, Yoko?

And the soundtrack, now that I actually have it, is lame. It's like the Grease version of The Beatles. Some of the songs, are okay, but all it really does is prove that no one does it like The Beatles. Not even the great Bono can put magic into "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" like Lennon did. But I'm still gonna give this movie a shot, if it ever does come to a theater near me that is. If nothing else, it's my favorite movie trailer ever.

scope the trailer here.

leave a comment about what you feel is the best beatles song ever.

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Monday, September 24, 2007

Listen Up: Pledge of Allegiance

What's that sound? Do you hear it? It's a funny squeaky sound.

Sometimes, this is how I feel. Like dear ol' Aunt Bethany from the classic Christmas Vacation, where that opening line was cribbed from. What I mean is I don't understand the mumbo jumbo most people around me are blabbin’ about, yet I'm the one that hears the squirrel making noises in the Christmas tree when no one else does.

And when I'm like, yo everybody, what's that noise? they all look at me like I’m the loon. And maybe I am, but then they all freak out when the squirrel comes zinging out of the branches and chases them around the living room like a bunch of scurrying ninnies, crashing through the furniture and wreaking havoc.

Of course I'm not really talking about squirrels or National Lampoon movies at all. (Besides has anyone actually watched any others besides the Vacation movies or Van Wilder? Yeah, didn’t think so.)

What I'm really talking about here is music. And local entertainment all around the Pottstown area. There's so many incredible songs and music whirling around in the airwaves, yet so much of it goes right over people's ears. The record label and radio tastemakers have lost their touch with what’s good. And MTV, you know MUSIC TELEVISION, doesn’t even know what a music video is anymore. A lot of the stuff folks are listening to these days just makes no obvious sense to me. Disturbed? Nickleback? Chingy? Please folks, all I hear is snaps, crackles and pops. And if it’s bad music you want, there’s still better bad music out there you could be listening to than this stuff! Sheesh!

But listen to me. I can help you. Check this blog out every day to get the latest scoop on music, movies, books, an occasional videogame, Steve Jobs, curious wanderings, and most certainly some of the awesomest (I invent words in my free time, by the way) happenings around the Pottstown area. There’s lots of hidden little nuggets around here that so many unfortunately never hear about or ignore. I’ll be profiling places, reviewing records, waxing intellectual and philosophical, and doing a weekend preview of things to do every week, among all kinds of other rad stuff.

There are way too many awesome noises not getting heard that should be. I won’t allow us to go deaf to what’s good. That's what I'm here to do, to be your almighty hearing aid. We'll talk about bars and restaurants, live shows, Bob Dylan, swing dancing, etc. If it’s worth hearing about, you’ll hear about it here. So listen in kids, this is gonna get loud.

I pledge allegiance to the fla... err, I mean, I pledge to bring you nothing but the best in entertainment blogging. Play ball!

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