Introducing...Ira Jacob Levy!!!

Ira Jacob Levy!!!
Originally uploaded by bugbiteme.

He's here!

OKTOBERFEST



@ Bonn Lair

Heroes



Dear writers of the television show "heroes",

You have a great show, but you don't need to re-explain everything to me every episode. "Save the cheerleader"...I GET IT!!!

One of the reasons shows like "Lost" are so popular, is because the writers let the viewers figure out what is going on...on their own!

Totally accurate band life-o-meter


I ripped this off from some dude in some indie band that hardly anyone has heard about, but gets written up on some trendy music review website now and then (you know..the one I read ever day).

Start Now:

Start with 10

SUBTRACT ONE YEAR for any two people in the band who identify themselves as a couple, and TWO YEARS for each additional couple.

SUBTRACT THREE YEARS for any two people in the band who used to date, but now just glare at one another through bitter, stoned, accusing eyes from the rearview mirrors of rented minivans.

ADD ONE YEAR for anyone the band with access to their own studio who may actually know how to engineer. But...

SUBTRACT ONE YEAR if said member regularly writes sardonic, Comic Book Guy-caliber letters to Tape-Op and wishes Steve Albini produced Abbey Road.

SUBTRACT SIX MONTHS for anyone in the band who likes to listen to jazz when they drive.

SUBTRACT THREE MONTHS for every soundcheck that ends with someone using the 'F' word.

ADD ONE YEAR for each member who's been in a moderately successful indie band that's toured before, and knows to keep his expectations very, very low. But...

SUBTRACT SIX MONTHS if he is the schadenfreude type-- a bitter, jealous, shit-talking troll who's convinced he is a misunderstood genius because his previous band got dropped from Kindercore.

SUBTRACT ONE YEAR if someone in the band's uncle has in any way 'subsidized' the band by lending any money for a van, recording time, etc.

ADD ONE YEAR for every attractive girl in the band. Add six more months if she doesn't play bass.

ADD FIVE YEARS if someone in the band's dad is in ZZ Top, Santana, or any of the half-remembered bands on the Nuggets box.

SUBTRACT TWO YEARS for anyone in the band addicted to heroin. But...

ADD FIVE YEARS if he dies tragically between your first and second albums.

SUBTRACT THREE MONTHS for each vegetarian in the band who worries that the Waffle House hash browns are 'cooked with the meat spatulas.'

SUBTRACT TWO YEARS for anyone in the band who has a job back home that he or she is unwilling to leave.

SUBTRACT TWO YEARS for anyone in the band who has a spouse back home that he or she is unwilling to divorce.

SUBTRACT FIVE YEARS for each band member with any kids that he or she even gives the slightest shit about.

SUBTRACT TWO YEARS for every band member who cannot, will not, or should not drive.

ADD SIX MONTHS if you're traveling with your own soundman. But...

SUBTRACT THREE MONTHS if he frequently drinks himself mute and is currently facing statutory rape charges.

SCORING:

-20 years - 0 years: Consider yourself lucky. Walk-- don't run-- to the nearest technical institute and learn how to weld or something. Remember to thank me later when your deathbed is NOT a cot at the YMCA.

0 years - 5 years: Congratulations! You've managed to really make something of yourself: a blip on a radar that itself is less than a blip on the radar to most of the civilized western world. At least you can look forward to Casual Fridays.

5 years - 15 years: The odds seem to be in your favor, buckaroo. When your life eventually flashes before your eyes, you will be treated to a montage of drink tickets, Super 8 motel rooms, studio vending machines and an anonymous gaggle of surly soundmen all named Eric. Wowee zowee!

15 years or more: You are R.E.M. You probably took this test with a pen and paper. Kill yourself."

Love is all



So it looks like baby Neon will be here or close to being born when one of my favorite bands, Love is all, will be playing in SF. Stupid baby...(I kid!!!!)

Tour dates

Check out this rad version of "felt tip"

Say it loud...


A nerd..and I'm proud.

Slumberland returns!!!!



In case you missed the news, one of the best indie labels of all time is putting out a couple new 7"s. One is by the Crabapples (featuring my other musical half, Amy Paris on drums and backing vocals), and the other is by The How...who I guess you would say are Amy Linton's other musical half?

Here are a couple awesome tracks from both 7"s...both make me smile (especially the How track)

MP3: The How: I Was a Boy [from the Happy Matt seven-inch]

MP3: The Crabapples: London Belongs to Me, Pt. 2 [from the Crabapples for Change EP]

:)

Pea Green Soup


What did you eat for breakfast yesterday?

What did you eat for lunch yesterday?

What did you eat for supper last night?

What did you do all night last night?

FREE FREE FREE FREE...FREE^n



FINALLY!

looking a gift horse in the mouth



Sorry to sound like a complete ingrate, but my carpool partner brought my attention to this article in the SN&R about the show BG played the other week. Huh? Thanks?

Nothing negative was said, I'm just not following the story all that well (was this article rejected from Alive and Kicking or something?).

Vacation Mode



It's been a long time since I've had a proper vacation (i.e. 2+ weeks off), and it'll probably be some time before I get another one. I'll be taking 3 weeks off from work when the baby hatches but I'm already in that mode where being at work is the last place on earth I want to be right now. Maybe it has something to do with being a busy body every weekend. I'm just gonna chill this weekend. Maybe go out of town even (SF?).

Front Page news



Both Niki and my place of work seem to be on the front page every day.

RIP Tower Records :(
(and sorry for stealing all those cassingles when I was a punk-ass kid)

Show last night



Great show last night at Delta Of Venus.

Opening act was the Bushes. Hilarious! Their recordings don't do them any justice. I was LMAO during "Animal Style".

I wasn't into the second band..what's-it-name, so of course they played forever. They weren't horrible, just coulda done-a shorter set, but I think I was in the minority, since all the Davis kids were totally digging it. After staring at the menu during their set, I started craving a DoV breakfast burrito (they make the best one in the nine one Sickness btw). Niki and I put that on our agenda for breakfast first thing Saturday or Sunday. Anyone want to come with?

The finches. What more can I say about them? You either love them or you're out of your mind. I got goosebumps from some of the "newer" songs. I could see them play every day for the rest of my life and be happy.

The Finches 2 night in Davis

The Finches
Originally uploaded by riblet.

This almost ALMOST makes up for the Futureheads flaking on America...

I was regretful of my mindstate last time the Finches/2 played. I promise to lay of the sauce tonight.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00000
00000000000000000000ooooo
oooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(I'm so bummed right now)


“It is with great sadness that I must tell you we have had to cancel our forthcoming US Tour, due to the development of tendonitis in Barry's left wrist. He has been advised to rest and, as far as we can see, there is no way of us being able to make those shows work, given the state of his wrist. We are all deeply disappointed at having to pull the shows at such a late stage, but there is no way around it for us. Apologies to the people with tickets - we promise to get out to the US at the next available opportunity."

back from hiatus...kinda



sorry...
I've been one busy guy....and I'm a long way from getting a new computer.

Since my weekends are now filled with chores, I've decided to take last Wednesday off and go hiking with a co worker. We hiked to castle peak. It was pretty intense (1000 ft elevation gain in 1 mile), but not too bad.

Here is the crazy ass picture of Al (co-worker) from the top of the peak:



I have a feeling this will be my last hike for a while. Hopefully by next spring, Leon Jr. will be able to hike with me via one of those baby backpacks. I'd like to hike back up to half-dome, but I'll be happy if the family (and maybe some friends) will go up with me at least half-way to Nevada Falls.

In other news. We finally got new floors in the main rooms that needed new floors. One room to go, but it's not at the top of my priorities at the moment (but I plan on doing it within the year).

Here is me standing on the new bedroom floor:



I haven't really been to any shows in a while, but I'm planning on seeing the Futureheads this Friday. What's up with all these non-promoted local shows? Is everybody just too jaded to even try anymore? I got a text message from Sweats moments before RTL and the 4-eyes started playing at the Distillery Saturday. I was already just chillin' at home so I decided to remain chilly chill. I'm guilty of doing the same thing. Friday...moments before Baby Grand played at the FnG, I sent out a spam text message. No other promotion, but the turn out wasn't too bad and I got totally wasted on Chimay before we went on.

Other than that, just waiting for the hatchling to hatch and all that. Niki's been keeping everybody up-to-date on that front.