january shows

Here's some shows for January 2005:
January 7th - Lo Fine and The Figments @ The Living Room in NYC
January 15th - New Radiant Storm King and Mark Schwaber and National Carpet @ The Brass Cat in Easthampton, MA
January 22nd - The Winterpills and Mark Schwaber @ PACE in Easthampton, MA www.pioneerarts.org
January 27th - Spouse @ Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME w/the list exists
January 28th - Spouse @ Space in Portland, ME w/the list exists
January 29th - Spouse @ The Brass Cat in Easthampton, MA w/RNC and Hayseed Chrome
January 30th - Spouse @ Sin-E in NYC w/the list exists
For more info on these shows check out these sites:
www.hampmusic.com
www.pigeonrecords.com

2004

The last few days have been pretty peaceful. Sort of like the eye of the storm. The chaos of the Christmas season at the store (www.nightowlrecords.net) and the bar (The Brass Cat) died down and next week begins a new year of many shows and many responsibilities. Jen and I got to spend some great time together recently. We went to see the new Wes Anderson movie on Tuesday. It was great. Either you like his films or you don't. I do. Last night was a wonderful night of hanging on the couch and talking/eating/knitting/reading/more talking. Much needed. This morning was kinda creepy though, I was pulled from sleep by Jen and Scooter. She told me to hug my dog. I was wondering why she would tell me this, since it's more like a reflex for me to do so and not something that usually needs instigating. Then she was in tears telling me a story about how Scoot got off his leash on his morning walk and walked about 25 feet out onto the pond near our house. She thought for sure that he was going to fall through the thin ice. Jesus, I can only imagine what she must have gone through. Scooter was none the wiser though, all just business as usual for him. Jen said that all that kept going through her mind in those split seconds was *I can't let anything happen to this dog, Mark will die*. I love her.
Anyway, I've been listening to the new Lou Barlow CD this past week. It's called "EMOH" and it's coming out pretty soon on Merge. He was nice enough to send me a couple of copies. I was lucky enough to play on a song that's on it. Regardless of my playing on it and us being such good friends I can objectively say that it is a wonderful record. One of the best I've heard this year. It's rich, smart and beautiful. The 4th song on it makes me so jealous that I almost don't want to write songs anymore. Since it doesn't come out until 2005 I guess I can't include it on my best of list for 2004. Not that you really give a shit; nor should you, but here's a list of my favorite things of 2004:
Music:
1)Spouse - are you gonna kiss or wave goodbye?
2)Iron and Wine - our endless numbered days
3)Elliott Smith - from a basement on a hill
4)Tears For Fears - everybody loves a happy ending
5)Killswitch Engage - the end of heartache
Movies:
1)Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2)Big Fish
3)The Village
4)Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
5)Fahrenheit 911
Is the 2004 World Series DVD considered a movie? If it is then it's my favorite movie of all time. Happy new year to all.

Killing Nazi's on Christmas

I love Christmas. I really do. I love my family and my friends so why shouldn't I? I love giving gifts to people. I really do. I would love to be finacially fit enough to buy things for those I love everyday. Anyway, just thought I'd get that out of the way.
My first Christmas present was a couple of days before when the Sox resigned Varitek to a 4 year deal. Excellent. Wade Miller, Matt Clement, Edgar Renteria, David Wells, Matt Mantei, John Halama...it's been a great off-season for the Sox Nation. Sadly, since my heroes finally won the world series I feel a little less enclined to give a shit. I waited my whole life to see them win it and when they did it was cathartic and wrenching and lovely. Everything I thought it would be. I cried in my father's arms as Minky caught the flip from Foulke. I wouldn't change a moment of it. Down 0-3 to the Yanks...unreal. What a story to forever tell.
Now, that being said, I think I'm pretty much all set with really caring about professional sports as deeply as I have in the past. It's not because I don't know what to do with myself now that the Sox have won it, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. It's because of the sad reality of pro athletes giving about as much a shit about the team/city that they play for as you care about what color your pencil is. Tactless mercinaries they are. Just look at how many folks won't be there to get their rings on opening day 2005. No Pedro, Lowe, Cabrerra, Kapler, Roberts and most likely Reese and Minky. Sad. Sick. All because of money. Oh well, guess that will free up more time to do the things I really should, and want, to do.
Sorry about the Sox tangent, that just happens to me and I can't stop. Christmas was great. I got Jen a keyboard that she seems very happy with. She has the longest, thinnest most beautiful fingers...it's like they're built for playing piano. Or being a hand model. But that just sounds aggravating. Scooter got a million toys and treats and at the end of his long, well traveled day just collapsed on the couch and snored like a drunk. I got my parents a DVD player and a bunch of DVD's. My Mom is psyched because it also shows CD-roms that have pictures. My brother sent a bunch of photos from his new home in Phoenix, AZ. The only sad, strange part of the day was that my brother wasn't there. I got a thumb piano and the new Stephen King book about the Sox 2004 season. I also got a video game for our playstation 2 ( I usually only play sports games) called Call of Duty. I don't know when World War 2 got so hip but apparantly it has. Gotta say, I take great joy in killing Nazi's on Christmas night.

Ron Passerello

I'm so happy. I wrote a song yesterday. First time in months. I worked at the Brass Cat at night and had a good time regardless of the stunning loss by the Pats. Have to admit to you all, I'm a born and raised New York Giants fan so I wasn't really in the "stunned" category since I don't really care. My dear old friend Ron Passerello came by and spent the night at the bar. He crashed with us (Jen and I) overnight and got to hear my new record for the first time, and meet our lovely boy Scooter (our 40 pound beagle). Ron is one of the sweetest people on Earth. I can truly say that of all the people that I've ever met Ronnie is completely at peace with himself more so than anyone I know. He has been since I've known him, which dates back to sometime in 1987. He moved to Massachusetts from Panama that year. He spoke broken English but spoke volumes of life. Hands down, the most talented artist (drawing/painting) that I've EVER seen. Absolutely mindblowing work. He recently moved back to his parents in Maine. He had a 5 or 6 year stint in San Francisco. I guess the booze really caught up with him so he quit and moved back east. I can really relate. I haven't had a drop of booze in almost 3 years. We shared a million drunken evenings over the course of the time we hung out. We lived together (with 2 other guys too) from 1994-1996. Complete chaos. Walking to the Hotel Westfield in the snow, waking up our friend Al on the roof (he couldn't find an empty room at a party), listening to Ron read from the Bible while completely hammered, going to countless hardcore shows...shit, I could go on forever. He's in AA now and loving it. I chose not to go that root because of some political and ethical differences that I have with them but it's working for Ron. That's the beauty of this guy. I can sit and rattle off how much I hate AA to the kid and he just listens and then finishes by saying that he completely respects my opinions. Don't get me wrong, the guy will never be a prude. He's one of the funniest people on the face of the earth. I can't count the tears I've shed and stomach aches I've had from some moments with him. I'm really going to work hard at getting him some shows at art galleries down here. His stuff needs to be seen. He should be making a living off of his talents. If everyone had a chance to spend one night hanging with Ron there wouldn't be world peace or eternal joy but their lives would most certainly be better for it. I'll keep you abreast to any gallery shows he might have. Hopefully you could come see his work and say hello to him. You just might be better for it. I know I most certainly am.

terrible sounding word

Blog.
I feel like I should be ordering some coffee drink from Main St. in Northampton. Riding my bike to the bookstore at noon and laughing at the mentally crippled man who's buying the local paper for his news. That's not news, man! That's censored and encoded republican ballwashing! Then I would ride my bike home and turn on my Bose.
Blogging.
I feel like I should be buying tickets to see Dylan and smirking at the minions that ride the blue collar train. Sitting in the parking garage inside my Subaru with heated seats contemplating what the American people could be thinking? All those religious zealots voting for that animal? Then I would go pick up my kids in their 80 dollar jackets and bring them to violin lessons. I would still be wondering what was wrong with the world.
Blogger.
I feel like I should be prejudice against anyone who's not on my side. I should preach that all will end well with peace and intellect but simultaneously allienate and disenfranchise any differing opinions as meek and sterile. I feel like I should surround myself with the whitest people I know and preach diversity.
I'm a 21st century man.
I write on da compuder.
People care what I think.
I'm a songwriter.
I'm in a seperate class.
I live simply.
I have over 50 DVD's.
I make my own sneakers.
I am the great American crux.
I am the catalyst of success.
Fuck Bob Dylan.
Long live Lee Ving.