This Is Gonna Get Good

God, this is awesome. "The road to the White House goes through me." "Hey, John, need a ride to the airport?!"


Ugh. Just so bad . . . Reminds me of this:

335 Miles For His 30th

To celebrate his 30th Birthday, my brother is participating in a DC-to-Pittsburgh bike ride this upcoming weekend, 250 Bike Tour. The ride will span over a number of days, and the participants will be camping in state parks as they make their way northwest. Josh has been working on building himself a new bike, and he has recently finished her up, just in time for the ride. According to the ride's site:

"The tour will cover 335 miles, averaging 45 miles per day. The longest day will be 60 miles. Think of it as doing your normal 20-30 mile ride in the morning, having lunch, then doing it again in the afternoon. But this time, there will be new scenery and interesting sites all the way! Both the C&O Canal Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage are relatively flat, following river valleys most of the way."

Josh has been riding to and from work for a few years now, and he has really gotten into biking and its culture. I am proud that he is taking this challenge on -- what a great way to celebrate this big birthday -- and I wish him the best of luck.

Thinking of you, Josh!

250 Bike Tour official site

Here is a Google maps page that illustrates the route

Pop City recently had an article on biking in southwestern Pennsylvania, including a mention of Josh's ride

Iceland and Ireland

I have been lucky enough to have seen Sigur Ros four times this past year (six total), and they have yet to disappoint. Whether it is a shortened acoustic set before the premier of Heima, or it is under a large Rodin sculpture in the middle of MoMA, or under a tent during late night Bonnaroo, they have a way of mesmerizing the crowd. Me included -- no matter what mood I have been going into the show, I have never left without a huge smile on my face, wanting to experience it all over again. Last night was no different.

They are currently touring as a four-piece for the first time in six or seven years (without Amiina on strings), but the music was (almost) just as dense. It seemed like song after song hit this amazing peak -- not stopping until the final encore, which built into this gorgeous cacophony.

svefn g englar
glósóli
ný batterí
fljótavik
við spilum endalaust
hoppípolla
svo hljótt
heysátan
inní mér syngur vitleysingur
sæglópur
hafssól
gobbledigook

illgress i
popplagið

Is hafssól the song with the tin whistle at the end? If so, the string parts were played by Kjartan on keys and while it didn't completely make up for the lack of the quartet, it served as a capable replacement. There were also points when I missed the brass section. With that said, there is something about making Sigur Ros "minimal" and observing how they still make their music work. I was a big fan of inní mér syngur vitleysingur, where both Jonsi and Kjartan were on piano. I can't get enough of that melody and the intricate intertwining of the piano lines. For the encore, Jonsi claimed illgressi had never been played live before; they dedicated it to their lighting tech who was sick (pneumonia?).

Speaking of lighting, I will admit that it was not as impressive as their set-up in early 2006 (in Cleveland). Then, I really enjoyed the play of shadows on the screen *in front* of the stage. The lighting was also quite ominous / impressive. This time around, maybe it had something to do with their tech being absent, but it just didn't hold the power. I think they relied on videos a bit too much (a bit distracting). I did enjoy the lights that were on stage that looked like candles and were timed with the beat; and I enjoyed the camera work a la Radiohead that showed close-ups of the band members (feet working the pump organ, Jonsi using a bow on his guitar, the vibraphone).

Sometimes you leave a concert comfortably filled and complacent -- Sigur Ros, on the other hand, left me wanting more. I created a play list this morning based on their setlist from last night, and smiled here at work. I still don't know song names, but it really doesn't matter, does it, when you are simply letting the music wash over you, filling you with joy.

Brooklyn Vegan's Review and Photos
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Wednesday night, Laura and I made our way to Central Park's Summer Stage for the first time all summer (sadly, the last) to see The Swell Season -- well, really Glen and Marketa with the members of the Frames. I will admit that I am a bigger fan of Glen and The Frames, but we couldn't pass up an opportunity to see them outside under the stars.

I really have no complaints after Wednesday's show -- other then the fact they did not play Mic Christopher's Heyday (but I did get it at B'roo, so I should not complain). I think Glen is a great frontman, and seemed quite loose and relaxed last evening (sometimes he can be quite intense with The Frames). I think they have really found a nice way to mix up their shows, sprinkling in covers as well as Frames songs. The backing band was comprised of his Frames bandmates, minus a drummer who apparently surprised the band by taking off to Italy to get married -- can't argue with that, as Glen said.

There is something about those Irish -- and, well, the Icelanders as well -- that captures the joy in life. The joy of creativity, and sharing your music with a live audience. Understanding that one should smile more than frown, let things run off your back, and live as happily and carelessly as possible. I think it is hard -- especially here in New York -- but it is good to be reminded now and again.

Into the Mystic (Van Morrison)
Falling Slowly
Lies
Moon
When Your Mind's Made Up
I Have Loved You Wrong (new Mar song; with Liam O Maonlai)
Say It to Me Now
Leave
What Happens When the Heart Just Stops
Finally
Back Broke (new Glen song)
Fog Town (Michelle Shocked)
Broken Hearted Hoover Sucker Guy
Red Chord (with Wild Side, Here Comes the Night, Moon and New York City)

The Hill
If You Want Me
fitzcarraldo
Forever Young (Bob Dylan; with Liam O Maonlai)

Brooklyn Vegan's Review and Photos

Friday Musings

First of all, an orthopedic surgeon did not feel as though I tore one of my CLs. Maybe a meniscus, but no cartilage, so that is great news.

- Fries In Your Pita (sounds like Pittsburgh!)

- Today is Park(ing) Day: Find Your "Squat" (listen to a conversation on WNYC)

- Electoral-Vote.com (stay on top of the current polls and try not to sweat)

Amad Jamal and Pittsburgh

On the Pittsburgh front, Amad Jamal just finished giving an interview on WNYC; at the end of the interview, he commented on all of the wonderful jazz luminaries who came from Pittsburgh, and how he hopes to be part of that pantheon.

You can listen here.
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I also feel as though I should mention that today is the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. And it is also my good friend Phil's birthday. Let's take a moment to remember one and celebrate the other on this breezy Autumn day.

Knees and The City

I should mention that I twisted/sprained my knee last Friday playing night soccer. It was about 10:40, game was winding down, we were winning 5 to 3 against the team ahead of us in rankings. They had some tall, very skilled players, and we had shut them down in the second half, having come back from one down. Lots of jawing had started, and we were all leaving it on the field. Well, the guy I was marking had his back to me, receiving a pass; when he got the ball, he turned to his left, and I tried to follow, planting my left leg. Immediately it twisted and I went down in a combination of shock and pain. I don't remember too much pain, honestly, but there was some . . . I laid on the field until an ice pack came and two teammates helped me off. By the time I got to the sideline, I was able eto bend a bit. But I was still breathing deep and trying to gather myself. Having gone through my brother tearing his ACL, and knowing what Laura dealt with in HS, I was hoping it wasn't that bad. To make a long story short, the long weekend was filled with gimping around as I moved my sister in, elevating my leg, lots of ice, and an ACE badage. When I went to see my GP, he wasn't too concerned -- never is, really -- and didn't think it was serious. But here I am, Friday, still dealing with it. Slowly getting better, I hope . . .

So, yesterday, in light of all of this, was one of those New York days. Heading home, I decided to take the C, then the bus. That's how I have been coming in to work this past week. Less walking, more time to wake up and read. So last night, I go down the subway entrance across the street from my office, for the C. Over the PA, I hear that no Cs are running on the local track due to an "earlier incident." So I hop on an express A. At 59th, we pull up -- and the doors stay closed. So as I stand there, I watch a B come in and leave. Of course, the B would have gone to 81st, where I would have been able to transfer to my bus.

In desparation, I make my way up the various stairs, pass a number of cops, and I head out of the subway. I had decided on taking a cab. I get out at Columbus Circle, and there are more cops everywhere and this huge stage for the first football game or something. Thursday Night in Columbus Circle? Streets blocked off, no cabs, nothing. So I slowly gimped up CPW into the 60s before I found one. Oh, so much fun . . .

Thoughts on McCain

I found him to be boring and disjointed, without much connection to the audience (after all of the hoopla of changing the stage so that it would be more "Town Meeting").

One of the commentators on PBS last evening made a great point: Policy-wise, McCain appealed to his Republican base whole-heartedly; Thematically, though, he lashed out at Bush and the Repubs for their rule over the last eight years, years that included his service. In total, it didn't work as a speech. How can you have it both ways? I mean, if someone was actually paying attention . . .

Ended Up Watching, Anyway

Just a few quick thoughts on the RNC from Tuesday night.

- Heart-string night: A SEAL killed in Iraq, POWs with McCain, and "Country First."

- Lots of old white people.

- So, uh, Lieberman is struggling through his speech in front of the RNC. And it seems as though he just insulted all of the Repubs. If McCain was just a Repub, he wouldn't have done something about immigration or global warming - leading one to the conclusion that Repubs failed on both issues. Wonder if any of them caught that.

- Very interesting point by Mike Bechloss on PBS: Ironic that Lieberman kept bringing up McCain's willingness to reach across the aisle; McCain was even going to pick Lieberman as a running mate. But it was the Repubs and the base that kept him from acting on that supposed bipartisanship. The bipartisanship that everyone was applauding.