March 29th, 2009 : 9:15am
Morrissey By Phone.
My good friend Tony has been attending each and every Morrissey show in the New York area. Lucky bastard. In turn, I receive phone shots and highlights after each performance. I am, of course, grateful for these reports but also extremely jealous as he always has fantastic seats plus the bonus of being friends with a band member for backstage passes and set list tosses. So it's a love / hate feeling with each image I see.
Thankfully Moz has added one non-festval date on the west coast. I have my Oakland tickets in hand. Fantastic seats as well. Now I can send a few phone shots.
Clockwise rom the top left: From the stage at Foxwoods 3/28, Moz's shirt from Webster Hall 3/25, two shots from Bowery Ballroom, 3/21.
March 26th, 2009 : 9:12pm
Garages I'll Miss, Part 2.
There is something very comforting about Ian's garage / apartment in Portland. I often found myslef driving over there just hoping Clyde's Pontiac Cheiftan needed some work done. Of course I couldn't do a damn thing, but just helping was so calming. Two full size lifts, Cokes in the fridge (and beer if you're into that sort of thing) all the tools you could possibly need and a wall of wrench girl posters. A dream really...thanks for letting me just hang out and clean things.
+ Spike Jonze's early epic, Video Days. Unreal lost footage.
+ This guy really, REALLY likes Judge. Maybe too much.
March 25th, 2009 : 9:47pm
Where The Wild Things Are.
Yesterday I was amazed by the photos in the USA Today piece and today I was greeted by the wonders of a High Definition trailer. This is going to be incredible.
Although my favorite quote from Spike so far is in the Wallride Catalog. He is asked "Is this going to be as good as Video Days?" His reply:"I can't see how it could be. It doesn't have Mark Gonzales in it." Perfect.
I'll see it anyway.
March 24th, 2009 : 8:41pm
Garages I'll Miss, Part 1.
Although I spent little time there, Rich's garage is certainly one I'll miss in Portland. Mostly for the potential held inside. A Honda and Yahama both given the rigid treatment wait to be finished. Gas tanks hang on the walls next to track bikes and brass knuckles. Good stuff.
+ I just finished Race To Dakar (the book) by Long Way Round rider Charlie Boorman. Worth a read for sure. It also hammered home the fact that I will not be going off-road anytime soon.
+ In terms of inspiration, check out the El Diablo Magazine site (amazing full click through mags) for choppers and hot rods and The Return Of The Cafe Racers for well...cafe racers.
March 18th, 2009 : 3:59pm
Metal And Shaxul.
Today I visited the fairly new metal-only record store in San Francisco, Shaxul Records. Tiny, packed with shirts and vinyl and directly across from Amoeba on Haight Street it's worth a visit.
That being said, I may have hit my limit metal wise. I've spent a few years now being underwhelmed by most metal. Yeah, a few songs have caught my attention (the first WITTR album, Nachtmystium) but overall I've been let down. I wonder if ANY black metal will impress me again.
On my 10 hours drive last week I listened to Dead As Dreams by Weakling twice in a row. I think it's really the last black metal album I'll need. Ever.
March 16th, 2009 : 9:34pm
Pressure.
Have you ever sold your home in one state, bought a new home in another state and moved your entire life based on a job you have yet to start? Me neither. Well, not until this week at least.
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Also, I try to tell myself that there are a large number of people who check out SKATEDAILY.net each day and enjoy it...but all the emails we receive are people bitching. According to our in-box we: 1. don't update enough 2. spell things wrong and don't use proper grammar 3. don't ship product quick enough. I can only assume people think we are somehow cashing in with the site and it's our only job? Man, I wish...
March 11th, 2009 : 7:21pm
Damn.
The new shuffle is pretty mind blowing. 4GBs for 1,000 songs and access to playlists. Plus, the whole talking thing. Not bad for 79 bucks. Plus, it's so ga'damn small.
March 11th, 2009 : 3:27pm
South Bay.
We're here in Cupertino living in corporate housing and meeting with real esate agents. It seems that even with all the reports of he housing market being in the crapper, the homes for sale are almost completely unaffected price wise. And as a bonus loans are harder to get than ever. So it's a lose - lose situation.
Fingers crossed we can still get something worthwhile.
March 6th, 2009 : 5:36pm
Back In Northern California...
...after a 10 hour Portland to Mill Valley drive with my dog yesterday. My other two cars arrived via truck this morning, a very nice perk of my new job. Tomorrow the family and I will be traveling to Cupertino for 30 days of corporate housing while we look for a new home.
This has been VERY stressful overall. Moving is never fun. It was nice to grab the car straight from the transport and take a drive on the Coastal Highway. So amazing. I'm excited to rally and drive move down here. The weather is beautiful...
March 1st, 2009 : 12:19pm
What I Will NOT Miss In Portland.
1. The Weather
This could take up the first 4 places on the list for me. Yes, the summers are great, especially in the evening, but the winters are long and awful. It rains and rains and rains. And if it snows, everything shuts down. And if it isn't doing either it's gray and freezing cold. From October to May.
2. "Locals"
My wife and I were selling a large numbers of books at Powell's last week. "Moving?" the guy asked us. "Yes, to San Francisco...". His response? "Well, tell everyone down there to stay away from Portland." Is this guy a lifetime local? "I moved here from Alabama a few years back." To all those who want to keep Portland 'WEIRD' and some sort of small town...sorry to spoil your fantasy. What the hell are you scared of? People with some money and successful ideas moving and helping the economy? Having your crummy folk-shit "art" scene on Alberta over-run with quality creative work and normal haircuts? And don't worry Stumptown is going to run out of coffee.
3. Bicyclists
I liked riding a bike in Portland. I even rode the dreaded hipster fixed-gear. But that being said, a small percentage of bike riders are self-rightous assholes. I was once yelled at to "get a light!" on my bike when it wasn't even dusk...and I had a light-mount on my handlebars. Also, the idea that you are 'one less' car and saving the world by pedaling your ass in the rain is a fucking joke. It's great you are riding a bike...but when I drive-by in my car giving you plenty of room it's makes no sense to still be pissed and give me the finger. Cars aren't going anywhere, that's why these roads were created. And fuck everything 'tall bike'. Ugh.
4. The Portland Mercury
This is a paper run by Brits that thinks it's The Stranger in a town they wish was San Francisco. Plus, the writing is shit. The last time I looked at a copy it featured an article stating hipsters should leave Portland. Insert pot / kettle / black joke here.
5. Petitioners In The Pearl And Beyond
Said to my wife and her friend when they walked by with their babies, "Hey man, do you want kids to not know what a Polar Bear is?" And no, I don't want to talk to you about ANYTHING...I have to work here every day. This post nails it. Get a real job.
And for the record, I really like Portland, see last post.
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