secret comics

welcome, ghosts

i think it is safe to say i finally "get" the new explosions in the sky record -- it immediately didn't reach out and grab me the way that the (technically) second and third records did, it is a lot deeper and more complicated i think.  maybe a way better record overall as a result -- strong thematic underpinnings making it much more like a symphony, or at least a genuine song cycle, than a collection of post-rock tunes that just bear a striking semblance to each another given the nature of the genre

in other "news", i am going to be a godfather.  as of tomorrow.  and so i leave after work for an early saturday christening, with hopefully some laundry in between.  then i beat a hasty retreat... and on to the jandek show?  this is a great and unanswered question.  helen back, in town for sxsw, has begged off.  i am somewhat still interested and slightly undecided.  i'm coming back nonetheless -- the saints, yes, that the saints, are playing the dog and duck at 7:00, but the chris bailey version with no ed kuepper and probably none/not much of the classic (i'm) stranded and eternally yours material, so...

oh yeah, my godson is aidan, my cousin mark's first child.  i am really happy.  in addition to his christening cup i got him a book on the our father and one on the hail mary -- like baby books, for ages 0-4 -- but chickened out on bringing the hail mary book at the last minute.  i know my mom and other crazy relatives would probably be all, whatever, he's episcopalian, but fuck them.  i'll just wait and give it to him later on, away from clucking tongues and narrowed eyes.  these are things he should learn, whatever he wants to do with them later on

p.s. we're not going to bother with any protestant churches, but in addition to catholic/anglican we are def going go in depth with judaism, buddhism, and hinduism.  at the outset, while i'm this naive and idealistic godfather, i really want my godson to make his decision about what he believes -- though of course i'll be quietly rooting for the home team.  of course he'll be baptized in a church with apostolic sucession so in the end i can sort of always breathe easy

and everyone who reads this, please keep joe and his brother tom and julie and their family in your thoughts -- joe's sick, and they need as many good things as are out there right now.  thanks

i think i need to get showtime

what i am really very excited about

um, i don't really feel like blogging right now -- i've tried a few podcasts and bailed halfway through... i dunno, the air just seems a little heavier right now and i can't slip into my wacky morning zoo persona.  i did go to the explosions in the sky show(s) sunday and monday, with the brilliant eluvium opening, and wanted to maybe do a little something inspired by those amazing performances + their respective great new records, but... nothing feels right

honestly i left the second eits show early, i just couldn't stand the crowd any longer.  like i said, the air feels heavier right now in general and everyone was being such jerks to eluvium, who i fucking love and i loved even more because the crowd was kind of against them.  i know there was no reason to take it personally, but jesus christ what a bunch of dicks both crowds were to eluvium -- especially the emo's crowd

anyway eluvium were and are amazing and if a bunch of fucktard 19 year old hipsters can't enjoy brilliant instrumental music without fitting into the traditional "post rock" guitar/drums/bass formula, then that's their loss.  and hey, i like explosions in the sky as much as the next guy, but not to the exclusion of all else.  people play the piano sometimes.  it's been around for a few years.  deal with it

also -- on to the elite 8 that really matters.  well, for now anyway