esprit de l'escalier

On new music and genres

About a month or so ago the oldest member of the office came over to ask the young'uns what "alternative" music was. His grandson is going to a prestigious music school and was curious about the phrase. It was not an easy question to answer. I told him that it didn't really mean anything, because it was a big umbrella term. We even looked up its Wikipedia page. I was thinking of alternative music as a whole, as opposed to just alternative rock as Wikipedia sees it, as music that crossed traditional genre boundaries.

I was thinking about this exchange last night while I was at a show in a little bar in Columbus, and about how I have a hard time describing the music I like. (Don't you *hate* the question, "What kind of music do you listen to?" I do. I find it impossible to answer. I love music, but I don't know if that comes across in my bumbling answer to that question. I usually don't really answer it if I don't feel the person is sympatico musically.) One of my friends from school and work jokes that she will go to shows with me, but only if they are country bands. I have never convinced her to come, because while a lot of the music I listen to has country roots (much to the chagrin of father should he ever understand that), it's not pop country. You'll be hard pressed to find me at the next Carrie Underwood concert with my friend.

But I'm digressing. Last night, after I went to a historical society's lecture on streetcars in Columbus, I met my friends and we headed to a little bar in Columbus to see half a band we really liked. My friend Stacey, with whom I share a musical affinity, introduced me to Minneapolis-based Romantica two years ago. I have since gotten a couple of friends into them as well. Lead singer Ben Kyle has a gorgeous voice. He and Luke Jacobs played an understated set of mostly new songs. The set was more down tempo than I was expecting, but excellent. Jacobs wonderfully played a lap steel guitar.

We stayed for the headliner, Carrie Rodriguez, and had no expectations. It was quickly clear that the other 17 people there (there were about 20 of us), were there for her. It was also clear why. She rocked. Jacobs stayed on stage to help her, and Hans Holzen, who we all thought was a bit dreamy, joined them. They were all excellent musicians - some of my favorite moments were when Rodriguez tore it up on her violin and Holzen did the same with his mandolin. It was a *great* show.

Anyway, that's where my thoughts on genre came into play. At times I felt like I was hearing some modern blues, there were definite underpinnings of country and bluegrass, but the whole thing was indescribable, in the best way possible. I have also decided that not being able to describe the music I listen to is well worth it, especially when it comes to finds like Carrie Rodriguez.

A little way into the show, I started thinking of Lucinda Williams. Rodriguez doesn't really sound like Williams, but there was something about her voice that made Williams come to mind. Then she asked the crowd if they had seen her open for Williams last time she was in town. (They had. Which made the somewhat older crowd make more sense.) She's working on a cover album, and here's an excellent cover of a Lucinda song.

Check out more on Carrie Rodriguez here and Romantica here. They are both worth a listen.

Whew.

According to my fortune cookie tonight, the universe is looking out for me. Frankly I feel like my intuition is a little wonky these days, but this is reassuring. Actual posts soon, besides just photos.

Frank and some apes

The internet changes your social life. Things like Facebook are great because you can find people you've lost touch with, but it's terrible because people can find you. My sister made me snort with laughter at my desk, quoting a favorite childhood movie in response to someone finding us. This is for her.

'Roid Week Days 2 and 3

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. Here's two out of three for yesterday and today for 'Roid Week 2009.

Click on the links below to see the images large. See my photos here and all the fun here.

1. 365: 11/2/09, 2. Day Two: Yellow, 3. 365: 11/3/09, 4. 'Roid Week Day 3:Steps up

'Roid Week 2009: Day One

It's that time again! Fall 'Roid Week is upon us my friends. Prepare to be inundated. I need to get out and shoot some more this week. I can't wait! These are from a hike in the Hocking Hills a couple of weeks ago.

Halloween flashbacks

2001: It was the annual Halloween dance at Collins. My friend and I went as characters from Twin Peaks. I was the log lady and Libby (in the pink) was Nadine from Twin Peaks (she had lost her eye patch by that point). I carried that log all night - it was heavy, but it was worth it.

1993: I think this was at the old Central High School, which is now COSI.

1990: I'm pretty sure this was at the old Columbus Ohio State Penitentiary, which has now been razed and is the location of the Arena District downtown. It was the scariest haunted house ever. Of course I was nine, but it was in a crumbling old state pen.

A potluck conundrum

My (what is surely going to be) my final potluck at my job is Friday. My expiration date as "intern" is coming up and I don't see it happening twice and three weeks. (Let's not talk about the natural follow-up questions there. Really, I promise to share good news.) Anyways, we have a lot of potlucks at work.

I like potlucks and I like food in the workplace. I think they engender good feelings and positive morale. I don't always love how they get executed though. They tend to be a glut of processed foods and sugar. Most people do a good job, in terms of what they bring. It's either homemade or vegetables or something, but the thing that annoys me is the person who decides to run to KFC for a bucket right beforehand. Not only is it totally unneeded, as there is more than enough food, it just bugs me. It's unhealthy and lazy and gets my snooty hackles raised.

That's not really the point though, I just needed to complain for a second. I wish I could mandate more healthy options, but it's where I am reminded that I live and work in middle America and that my ideas of healthy food and eating are different than my otherwise lovely co-workers. My problem is that I've got my most-likely LAST potluck and I don't know what to make.

Normally, I bake. Easy peasy, but I was slow to sign up and there are already a lot of people bringing sweets. In fact, all bases seem to be covered. I hate to not bring anything, but we do always have more food than is necessary. Does anyone have any suggestions? I thought about maybe some sort of drink, but I'm anti-soda. Maybe I'll pick up a gallon of apple cider.

Pumpkin carving

Have you carved your pumpkin yet?

Mad Men

Oh Mad Men. This is a show that generally drives me crazy. Since it's inception it has been a show that I love to hate. Back in its early days, I go over to the now-defunct New Critics and join in on the live-blogging, but the show annoyed me - it seemed to be about a mess of unappealing people who continually made bad choices in beautiful period costumes. And I always felt that every significant moment was underlined to the point of hitting me over the head with it. I shouted, "I GET IT!" at the tv a lot the first season.

Blue Girl and I would write long emails back and forth after episodes full of exclamation points and annoyance. But I still watched it. I didn't want to be out of the loop - its cultural significance seemed too important. Before the third (and current) season started, I even started buying into the hype. Hell, I even Man-Men'ed myself. And I finally feel like my perseverance is paying off. 

For me, the third season has been about where the women were headed, especially Peggy and Joan (as Betty tends to annoy and bore me). But poor Joan got herself saddled with a creepy and useless husband, and I feared for her. Is it wrong for me to hope that now that her husband has enlisted he might get killed in Vietnam? I just hope she keeps working. And Peggy's rise and navigation through the boy's club has been interesting. I think next ep we'll see what else has been happening to her and Duck.

But last night's episode belonged to Jon Hamm's Don. Betty cornered him with his past and he came clean about who he is and was. It was a staggering bit of acting and he really does deserve all of the praise heaped on him. (Read Maureen Ryan's excellent overview of the episode. I love her recaps.)

Is anyone else watching? Blue, are you? I'd love to hear what you thought.

More naturey crap

I promise to return with actual words before the week is up (which means, tonight or tomorrow), but here are some film photos I took a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday hike at the Black Hand Gorge.

Once upon a time there was an actual hand in the sandstone narrows that cut through this area. It was thought that the hand signified that from there til Flint Ridge was a DMZ of sorts. Flint Ridge is where people from many tribes in the area came to get flint for arrow heads and was a safe zone from disputes.

I was really sad to find out there was no more hand. We blasted the hand when we widened the narrows to build the Erie Canal in 1828.

Autumn colors

I am trying to soak up the autumn colors before they drain away. We had a cold weekend here, but according some article in the paper, we're due for a mild winter. I'll believe it when I see it.

Smitten

I spent yesterday doing some data entry at work. Boring, yes, but I listened to music all day, which made the task much more enjoyable. I've become completely smitten with the Avett Brothers. I have their Emotionalism album, and am waiting somewhat patiently for their latest album I and Love and You to get on eMusic. Their music was the perfect companion on a cold, wet autumn day.

Check out their Tiny Desk Concert for the good people at NPR. And enjoy the videos below for good measure. Have a good weekend!

Guess who turned THREE?

Frank. Remember when he looked like this?



He's gotten a bit bigger.


He's been acting like he's a little under the weather lately. I hope he feels better soon! He's still the great little cat he's always has been. I'm happy he's in my life. Thank goodness for pets!

A walk in the woods

The Resurgence of the Undead

The undead are everywhere these days - vampires are all over television, movie screens, and book covers. Zombies are having a moment in the sun, as it were, too. Jane Austen got ravaged by a zombie hoard, as did America in Zombieland. As someone who read Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles at a probably too young age and who was an early fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I get the appeal of vampires. It's sex, right? I mean, yes, good vs. evil, etc. But when it boils down to it, vampires are about sex. But I never really got zombies.

Now, having recently finished reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and recently seen Zombieland, I think I get it. Zombies seem to be about gore. I might be missing something, as I am not well versed in zombie fiction. In fact, I think the first real zombie movie I've ever seen was Shaun of the Dead, but it remains my favorite. All three of these examples also deal with the silliness of the undead. Sure they are trying to eat your brains, but zombies are pretty silly with their shuffled walking and moaning. And maybe zombies are just a way of giving humans an opportunity to kick some ass.

I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, although it was pretty silly in and of itself. In this alternate reality, the Bennett girls have been trained in the deadly arts by their father and even went to China to train. (Although this shows their social status, as the true elite go to Japan to study - something Elizabeth is derided for throughout the book.) I especially liked the slow demise of poor Charlotte, and the understandable way that throughout the story people would politely vomit into handkerchiefs and napkins. It was never explained, but I assumed that with the undead about, good society will ignore the occasional queasiness.

I also thought Zombieland was good fun. Gory, yes, but funny and entertaining. The characters are known by their hometowns, and everyone in the theater shouted with glee when Jesse Eisenberg's character said he was from Columbus, Ohio (where we were all watching it). Of course, the feeling was slightly different when we heard our hometown's fate. I really like Eisenberg as an actor, but I felt like some of the early scenes were written for Michael Cera. Last month, Gawker joked about who the next "hoodie heartthrob" would be after Cera, and from some of this movie I can see why. I think I am not alone in getting tired of seeing stereotypical Michael Cera characters. 

All in all, though, Zombieland is a fun ride, even if there isn't much of a plot. I liked Columbus's rules for surviving zombies and they were a nice line that connected everything. Woody Harrelson is great and the cameo by Bill Murray is hilarious. It seems he has yet to outstay his welcome.