Bring on the Cabinet of Wonders ...

Getting ready to fly to Austin on Friday for SXSW ... the full run of Interactive thru Music. On my list o' Music Showcases to see: John Wesley Harding & Eugene Mirman's Cabinet of Wonders (will also be catching the Cabinet of Wonders show at The Independent in SF on April 5th)

I Met the Walrus ...

Made me smile ...

Rocktoberfest 2008 ...

With the craziness this year, and as time slides into the holidays, I've been thinking more about things that make me smile vs. all the other crap of the day (work, economy, etc.) Up on top of the happy list, music & friends ... got both at Padilla's Rocktoberfest. Jon Auer, Scott Miller and the rest of the 'Rusty Trombones' - fabulous. (listen to Jon ... listen to Scott)


1. On Vocals ..., 2. Jon Auer ..., 3. Scott Miller ..., 4. Scott ..., 5. Scott & Jon ..., 6. Gary & John ..., 7. Jon Auer ..., 8. John ..., 9. John & Jon ..., 10. Jon ..., 11. "'Cause I'm a creep ...", 12. Jon ..., 13. Jon & John ..., 14. Jon ..., 15. Scott & Jon ..., 16. Jon ...

Sausages, Padilla's amazing potato salad, pretzels, beer ... plus a cover of 'Godzilla' with some lyrical adjustment to 'Padilla.' Of course, highlight for me - Jon Auer and Scott Miller delivering 'Don't Let Me Down.'

Good Times.

Made Me Smile ...

After a long week, a lil' Phranc Talk ... Enjoy!

Happy Hat Trick ...

Stopped by a friend's house tonight and she surprised me with a cool journal featuring images from 'Goth-Icky' and an awesome book of depressing songs by Tom Reynolds. (Thanks, K!) When I got home, my September issue of Mojo had arrived complete with another great Mojo CD release, 'The White Album Recovered' no. 0000001. October should be bringing no. 0000002. Not a bad way to wrap up a Monday.

Watch Dr. Horrible ...

I attended my first, official, full day of voice acting class today - and it was great. But rather than read my ramblings about it, I'd rather you go watch Joss Whedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" ... watch now! (before they go *poof* at midnight on Sunday, July 20th)

Got My Mojo!

I've been reading Mojo for years - finally subscribed (thanks to some birthday gift certs from friends & family) ... July issue arrived today! Seemed fitting that my Mojo subscription would start the same month I shipped off my voodoo journal spread full of Robert Johnson mojo.

Voodoo, Mojo & Mr. Johnson ...

Spent more time in the studio this weekend and the Voodoo art journal is ready to send on its journey! Hard to see this one go - really enjoyed creating the Robert Johnson shrine - but happy it's going to Deb (sure hope she likes it).

The music selection for the last phase of the journal moved into some current material, but still with a strong blues influence ... and an edge.

Conjured up the seedy underbelly with Nick Cave and 'Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!' Catch a bit of their own hoodoo on the Nick Cave & The Badseeds site -- Mojo voted this the best new album of 2008.
Next up, Detroit rockers, The White Stripes with "Icky Thump"
Finally, wrapping things up with Joe Strummer delivering his influences on 'The Future Is Unwritten'

So now to the Voodoo journal. As I thought about Voodoo and Mojo, I thought about the story of Robert Johnson selling his soul at the crossroads ... the inspiration for the spread.




The words are from an article I found at the Mudcat Cafe ...

"If you want to learn how to make songs yourself, you take your guitar and your go to where the road crosses that way, where a crossroads is. Get there be sure to get there just a little ' fore 12 that night so you know you'll be there. You have your guitar and be playing a piece there by yourself…A big black man will walk up there and take your guitar and he'll tune it. And then he'll play a piece and hand it back to you. That's the way I learned to play anything I want." ~ Tommy Johnson

The rusty bits started out as toys. The larger of the dolls is from Hannah Grey Curiosities & Drygoods and the smaller doll is a mardi gras baby -- one of a handful I bought some time ago.


In addition to paints n' patinas, I also used my vise and dremel on this journal. Something satisfying about drilling a hole into the tiny fist (1/32" drill bit). I ordered the vise & dremel from The Artists Nook ... sure, you could go to the local Home Depot but better to support artist-run businesses (besides, it's the vise that Michael deMeng recommends so you know you're off to a good start with your tools)



The snakes are from the local party supply store ...




Might try to grab a few more pics before shipping this off ...

More Voodoo ...

Spent some more time over the weekend working on the Voodoo art journal. I was immersed in making things old and weathered - so much so that didn't really think about blogging the effort. Between the art process and the music, not much else came into play.

The music? Been pulling out several CDs that I haven't listened to in awhile to provide the backdrop for this art journal.

Reverend Gary Davis, in particular the album 'Harlem Street Singer'

Next up, some Muddy Waters, from the fab compiliation: The Chess Box.

And, most recently, Lazy Lester, songs from the '50s and '60s collected on 'I Hear You Knockin'! The Excello Singles'

The art bits that happened while listening to these albums? More rusty toys and prepping of a few pins ...




More to do this weekend ...

Garage Find ...

Some people plow through a box of cookies, a tub of ice cream, a bag of chips. Me? I occasionally go on CD shopping binges. Last big spend in a record store was at Waterloo in Austin in March. So, it was time.

After seeing 'Young @ Heart' on Saturday I was craving some new music. Luckily, Rasputin is just down the street from the theater. One hour and 15 CDs later, I was ready to start listening.
The first play from my new stash was a surprise find. I knew I wanted to pick up the Foxboro Hot Tubs release so Garage was on my mind. Flipping through the bins, I spotted 'You Got Yours!: East Bay Garage 1965 - 1967.' The parentals grew up in Albany (CA not NY) -- I was born in Berkeley -- a CD of East Bay garage bands was a must purchase.

I was not disappointed! The CD opens with 'Waiting For You' by The Baytovens (featured on the front cover and my favorite band name on the disc). A couple of the tracks would be great additions to a '60s for Kids compilation -- notably 'Humpty Dumpty' by The Epics and Dynosaur by The Flintrocks.

In addition to 24 tracks of East Bay rock, there are also detailed liner notes from Alec Palao, El Cerrito, CA. Definitely worth checking out.

Like A Prayer ...

Catching up on some blog reading today and saw John Wesley Harding's post that there's now a video for his cover of Madonna's 'Like A Prayer.' (read Howie Klein's post about Seymour Stein, Wes and the song here) Imagine my surprise to see one of my photos in the video!

Here's my pic from The Freight & Salvage in 2004 ...


Watch for it in the video for 'Like A Prayer' ...



Nice to know in some way my photo's helpin' to spread the word.

John Wesley Harding, musician
Wesley Stace, author

Rare Mexican Cuts from the Sixties!

Any music junkie I've ever met has it - their holy grail - the album they heard about or maybe once had that is the recording they now search for in every record store they enter. With the Internet comes the search on Amazon, Amazon UK and eBay (tho' I would say these searches are not nearly as enjoyable as flipping through the bins).

My holy grail of recent years: Rare Mexican Cuts from the Sixties. I once had the album and then *poof* gone. I don't know if it went out on loan to someone who disappeared from my life or if it vanished in a move -- all I know is that when I go to my wall of CDs, it's not there. Of course, as soon as the CD went missing, all I wanted to hear were Mexican garage bands from the '60s covering The Rolling Stones, The Doors and others.

I came close to recovering this lost gem a few times including almost locating it through Waterloo Records in Austin ... but, ultimately, no Rare Mexican Cuts. Although, I did often stumble upon other musical treats because of my search including Los York's Los York's 68.

Tonight, thanks to garage60s.blogspot.com, I'm now listening to Bajate De Mi Nube - translation Get Off of My Cloud. Sure, I'll still search for the CD so that it's back in my collection where it belongs but, until then, I've got the songs!

Rare Mexican Cuts from the Sixties

Random Report ...

Returning to 'play all' on the Zune, I was offered this surprise of a segue yesterday ...

'Red Hot & Blue Love' from Working Class Dog by Rick Springfield

followed by ...

'Leilani' from Stoneage Romeos by The Hoodoo Gurus

Really, it worked.

Hits Home ...

Come Together or Later ...

Went to see "Come Together" - the artwork of John Lennon - last night with my good friend & fellow Beatle junkie. Afterward, we went to the Long Life Noodle House for dinner where I was treated to this in my fortune cookie:

COME BACK LATER ... I AM SLEEPING.
(YES, COOKIES NEED THEIR SLEEP, TOO)

Either the fortune cookie masters are trying to appeal to my sense of humor or this is a way of telling me I should get some rest.

Heard on KEXP ...

In response to Talk Like a Pirate Day, Kevin Cole announced on KEXP that today is ...

Hug a Goth Kid Day

Made me smile.

Hey Jude ...

I saw Across the Universe Friday night ... it was the perfect way to get my head out of the work week and into the weekend. An amazing movie full of incredible visuals and music telling a touching story.



Already bought the soundtrack and making note to get the extended version when it comes out on October 23 ...

Now Playing ...

Picked up Elliott Smith's New Moon today ... includes a wonderful cover of 'Thirteen' by Big Star.

Goal for the week: create something.

Retail Therapy ...

Sometimes, the best thing is to take a lunchtime field trip to the local record store. Luckily, what used to be Tower is now Rasputins and only 10 minutes away from work.






Today's purchases ...

Sufjan Stevens
'Greetings From Michigan The Great Lake State'



Hall & Oates
'The Very Best Of ...'
A friend pointed out they were popular at the same time as Prince and Rick James and it seemed like the perfect guilty pleasure purchase.

Mano Negra
'Puta's Fever'



Paul McCartney
'Memory Almost Full'
Because, well, just had to ... it's Macca.


Lavender Diamond
'Imagine Our Love'
This fits the 'random, unknown purchase' slot ... found it on the 'Rasputin's Recommends' endcap and caught something about them being reminiscent of AM pop while scanning the lil' write-up ... sold. Fit the "I need some Summer" bill.

Gabba Gabba Hey ...

First time this year that it was warm enough in the morning to drive with the top down ...

Driving usually requires music (as do most things in my life) so before taking off for the day, I plug the cassette deck adapter (old school) into the Zune (new school?), pop the cartridge into the cassette deck press the lil' arrow button to play.

Now, there's driving music and convertible music and Summer music ... today I hit on an album that I hadn't listened to in far too long and realized it fits the bill in all three categories: Ramones Mania. Not to mention the fact that 'I Wanna Be Sedated' pretty much fits the bill any time during the work week.

Today was a whole lot better thanks to Joey Ramone & the boys.