Eddie Vedder Solo Show

Well, I was one of the lucky people to get tickets to the sold out Eddie Vedder solo show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee for August 19th. The tickets were sold out on day one and are now going for twice face value on ebay and through ticket brokers. I guess it paid off for me the day tickets went on sale that Friday to bring my laptop to work with me and go to a near by coffee shop with wi-fi access at about 11:45am so I was all set to order the tickets at Noon when they went on sale. Ended up with second level in the middle, which is good. I guess I can't complain with so many people that got screwed and couldn't get any at all. The tickets were pricey but I figure it's a pretty rare show considering Eddie is only playing 8 cities on this tour (some cities he is playing two nights, back-to-back shows) so it will make it well worth the price of admission. When he did a brief west coast solo tour earlier this year he played much of his "Into The Wild" solo record but also threw in a few Pearl Jam songs as well as some cool covers. I would pretty much expect the same for this go around. I will have a full review for your reading pleasure after the show. Cheers!

Possibly The Worst Song Ever

I wish I had something interesting to say, but as of late I have just felt kind of "blah" about writing here or on my Brewers blog. Just not in a very creative mood. But I did feel the need to share the fact that this new Kid Rock song "All Summer Long" (thanks for the tip Jay!), maybe possibly the worst song ever written and worst music video ever produced. It basically samples Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and has some awful cheesy lyrics. But don't take my word for it, view the footage for yourself! And here it is:

Notice the corny dance and the Pam Anderson look alike? Yeah so did I, God Kid Rock is a tool.

What do you mean you don't get it?

Adding on to Jd's plug for Flight of the Concords I have encountered at least three recations to when I bring up this tremndously funny duo/ HBO series. Reaction 1.) (which happens to be the least reaction I get). "Oh man, that show is so funny and insanely brilliant." To those few of you who have been able to give me this reation. Kudos to you! The show is remarkably done. It plays and comments on many rock n' roll cliches,(Spending their entire tour perdiem on leather suits) American stereotypes(Austrailians vs New Zelanders), and friendship(Jermaine replaces Bret with a tape recorder because Bret finds a job). Bret and Jermaine face every encounter with a straight face and an almost oblivious nature to everything they encounter. It's like watching Eddie Murphey in Comming to America, but without the constant smiling, or Arsenio Hall constantly complaining. But the songs and the videos that accompany them are a huge reason this show is hilarious. Just listen to the lyrics of "Buisness Time" or watch the video for "Bowie's in Space" and you'll understand just how funny the show is.
Reaction Number 2.) "I've never even heard of it." This is mostly due to a majority of people not having HBO. I understand this reaction. It's extra money on your cable bill and most of the time the movie channels play the same movies for a month at a time and their really isn't much to watch unless you stay up kind of late. If this is your reaction to this, find a person who has the first season and borrow it, I gurantee that that you will enjoy it.
Reaction Numner 3.) "I don't get it, the show doesn't even make sense." Typically this reaction that I get are from people that think Jackass is brilliant. I'm not picking on Jackass (although I have never really liked the show) I am also not picking on people who like it. But it's a trend that I see that people that claim they don't understand the Concords or don't get it, seem to really only enjoy physical comedy. These same people would prefer to watch the Mask with Jim Carey (which I think was one of his weaker films) then to watch the Royal Tennenbaums, which I believe and most film critics would agree has to be one of the funniest movies in the early 2000's.. These types of viewers calim to not really get or enjoy the subtle humor of the show. However, I don't feel that the Concords are completely subtle. The episodes have gret pacing, and yes the jokes can be a bit dry, but their delivered with such sincerity and realism that it should be able to make you snort at least. As I have stated before the videos themselves are really a high point in the show. Even some of the people I have encountered that claim not to enjoy the show, but will at least find the videos funny. But the videos are really an extension as to what the epidsode is based off of. Like when Murrey falls in love with the tech girl at his office, he sings a song called "Leggy Bottom Girl" which is based off of the girl in the office.
The thing that strikes me is that a bloke watching the show with me claims the video is funny but the show is rubbish. The video and song was based off of the whole episode!? I guess that's what I don't get, and I haven't really analyzed it all that hard to tell you the truth. But in conclusion from this blog I guess I hope that if you haven't seen the Conords yet, try to do so, and if you watch it and don't get it, then I hope you like the videos and the songs at least.

Hello, again

Well I have to say I'm quite glad Jay decided to start up this blog reincarnation of "Arm Chairs and Earphones" after the online magazine was lost. We had two pretty sweet issues out, it was an honor in the 1st ever issue to interview Rhys Darby who played Murray Hewitt on the HBO show Flight of The Concords. Speaking of the Concords, they have have been quite busy. They released the 1st season of the show on DVD, which by the way I picked up for only $16.99 at Best Buy this week so if you read this before Sunday get your ass out and pick it up for that price. Jemaine and Brett also released their first full length Self Titled Record a few weeks ago. It like the show is amazing. And to go along with the release of those two great pieces of media they did a tour which happened to come to Milwaukee at The Riverside Theater. Sadly, I was unable to attend because A. I did not buy tickets in time and B. I had to work at the radio station that night. I hope they come around again sooner then later, but I won't hold my breath. In other sad news the 2nd season of the show is being put off now until 2009 because of the long drawn out writers strike. Blah!

Oh and I would also like to give a cheap plug to my own personal blog View From Bernie's Chalet, it's a blog with news and my commentary on my favorite sports team ever the Milwaukee Brewers.

Introduction

Well, for those of you who may or may not know. I attempted to do an online ezine roughly a year ago with a friend of mine. We had two succusful issues and then time and priorities became a problem. The zine was focused on pop culture and entertainment and was supposed to be used as an educational tool to help others become familiar with various forms of medai entertainment that was not necasarily found in the mainstream.

Music, books, films, television, these were all forms of media that we covered. I have decided to move the site to here and just create a blog. I have determined this will allow me a little more freedom and creativity and not have to worry about deadlines and comming up with a million things to put out for one issue. I will be using this site to review records, shows, movies, and generally comment on things going on in the entertainment industry.

I am also allowing others to feel free to post their thoughts and comments as well. So if you have a record that you found that is a complete gem and you think that everyone should be aware of it. Feel free to post a review, send a link, thinks like that. It doesn't have to be pitchfork reviewed or anything like that, or composed masterfully, but I feel it is important to have a lot of opinions and views. I would eventually like this blog to grow into a community with many voices, and this way we can all learn from eachother.

Well, hopefully I will hear from you soon and I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts as well as hearing what everyone else has to say.

"It doesn't matter who you're like. It matters what you like. Music, books, films, these things matter"-Rob Gordon from the book and film High Fidelity.