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Here are a few excerpts from audio recordings that I did last night of a 16 inch softball game at the park across the street from our apartment:
Play Ball
Notice how you can hear the EL train in the background.
Batter Up!
A base hit!
3 Outs
A quick 1-2-3 inning. A pop out. And then a double play.
Home Run
The first home run I’ve seen at the park. The ball went over the fence and into the street which upset a little dog out for a walk.
Speaking of Pitchfork, the new Reigning Sound album Love and Curses was reviewed today. Despite the ho hum rating of 7.6, the review gets a 10.0 for exposing a wider audience to most endearing monster of ceremonies from the Mid-South, Sivad. The Pitchfork review not only references Sivad, but reviewer and fellow Tennesseean Stephen M. Deusner uses the Sivad character as a catalyst for the influences of the Reigning Sound sound. Apparently, “love and curses” was Sivad’s motto, and Reigning Sound’s frontman Greg Cartwright honors the phrase with the naming of the new album. While I wasn’t alive when Sivad was on air (thus not recalling the uttering of “love and curses”), I certainly remember that Fantastic Features opening which WHBQ-TV took out from the vaults every Halloween. In recent years, thanks to Judy at WEVL, I’ve become more and more familiar with the cult status of Sivad (including his short music career). Below, the one and only Sivad:
A week ago, Pitchfork Media started adding videos from this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival, including one of the artists I was surprised to have enjoyed as much as I did, Blitzen Trapper. Above, Blitzen Trapper performs “Wild Mountain Nation,” a song that reminds me of the classic rock I used to listen to when I was younger, which is why I think I’m so fond of it.
Recently, I have been on a bit of a classic rock kick, which clearly started a few weeks ago when I found one of my old VHS tapes of The Black Crowes playing MTV Spring Break Daytona Beach (bootleg copy here) from 1993. While I haven’t owned a Crowes album since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, watching the 16 year old (!) video got me into such a reminiscing spirit, that I was nearly compelled to download their latest, Warpaint.
Perhaps, I’ll check out a copy from the library. Right after I return The Rolling Stones’ Flowers, Lovin Spoonful’s Greatest Hits, Grateful Dead’s Europe `72, and Captain Beefheart’s Trout Mask Replica.
Last night, Apryl and I attended a free Josh Ritter concert at the Metro. Well, it was free for us because I managed to win a Ticket Giveaway contest from Radio Free Chicago. As for the show, my keenest observation is this, Josh Ritter loves his job. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone performing on stage so excited and carefree. Throughout the evening, as Ritter would look out into the large, appreciative crowd, he would grin wildly as he literally bounced, jumping up and down in place. He must have thanked the crowd (as well as his band, the Metro, Chicago, etc.) at least a dozen times. And never did it seem like an act. Towards the end of the show as the Ritter’s faithful screamed with adoration, he shared, “The world is weird. But this makes it a lot easier.”
While I typically don’t like the singer/songwriter genre, Ritter seems to go beyond some of the genre’s simplicity. Being backed by a highly skilled, tight band helps. But he is also a very clever even romantic writer. And he has his own voice, even if at times, it channels Bruce Springsteen (which makes sense since he covered The Boss’ “The River” during the encore). He also reminds me a lot of Memphis’ Cory Branan who I could easily see on a double bill with Ritter. Both Ritter and Branan write music that’s instantly catchy with lines that are memorable enough that shows become sing-a-longs with their fans. And boy did Ritter have his fans! I’m not sure if it’s like this on the entire tour but Chicago (and the Midwest) sure loves their Ritter. The club was packed, and Ritter could do no wrong.
Below, a very short video of Ritter and his fans:
I worked on this segment of Food Dude where I learned the art of making a Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza. The best part was that they fed us pizza for lunch!
Has anyone seen these reviews from Breakfast at Sulimays? Breakfast at Sulimays is an online video segment where senior citizens review current releases in hip hop, indie, and rock? Typically, they don’t like it. The above episode gives us the brutally honest opinions from Bill, Ann, and Joe on Chicago’s hip hop act BBU and their number “Chi Don’t Dance” as well as Memphis’ own Jay Reatard and his latest single, “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me”. Enjoy!
Tune into the David Letterman show tonight as White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle reveals the Top Ten “Things That Went Through Mark Buehrle’s Mind During His Perfect Game”. Should be a hoot!
UPDATE: If you missed Buehrle’s appearance (along with Josh Fields and Dewayne Wise) on Letterman, here was the Top Ten:
10. “I did it! I did it! Oh wait, it’s only the fourth inning.”
9. “If this doesn’t get Kate Hudson to notice me, nothing will.”
8. “Too bad I’m not on my own fantasy team.”
7. “My brother-in-law bowled a perfect game.”
6. Fields and Wise: “We’re going to Disneyworld!”/Buehrle: “and I’m running for the Governor of Alaska.”
5. “Did I remember to Tivo ‘So You Think You Can Dance’?”
4. “I’m leaving after the 7th inning to beat the traffic.”
3. “Should I shave my back?”
2. “Sunflower seed… lodged in my windpipe… Get Help!”
1. “Maybe I’ll give up one hit so I don’t have to appear on Letterman.”
Junior Boys on the South Stage.
Elvis Perkins in Dreamland on the North Stage.
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