Tim Minchin

Tim Minchin performs If I Didn't Have You at the Secret Policeman's Ball 2008!


Here Tim gives his review of the movie Donnie Darko, hilarious.

Old Crow Medicine Show

Another LastFM recommendation from a friend. Thanks irockedthe80s for the tip.
This is a real throwback to the sixties, seventies and that's a good thing.
Real old time hometown music.
I guess they've been around a while, just never crossed my radar, and it seems they will be in my neck of the woods in early November.

So enjoy WagonWheel by Old Crow Medicine Show.


TOUR DATES

November 2008
Thu 6 Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Fri 7 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
Sat 8 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
Sun 9 Humboldt State University CenterArts, Arcata, CA
Tue 11 McDonald Theatre, Eugene, OR
Wed 12 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
Thu 13 Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA
Sat 15 Wilma Theatre - SOLD OUT, Missoula, MT
Mon 17 Knitting Factory, Boise, ID
Tue 18 The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT
Wed 19 Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
Thu 20 Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO

December 2008
Wed 3 Legends at Appalachian State, Boone, NC
Thu 4 Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
Fri 5 Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN
Sat 6 Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC

Can you say that again?

And again, and again. Regardless of who you may be voting for don't you think the candidates have become a bit repetitive? If you don't believe me, check out the video of the three Presidential debates, combined into one.

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Leonard Cohen Down Under soon

The further adventures of Leonard Cohen on his world tour.
Next he is of to the lands down under.

Jan 20, 2009 Wellington, NZ
Jan 22, 2009 Auckland, NZ
Jan 24, 2009 Yarra Valley, AUS
Jan 26, 2009 McLaren Vale, AUS
Jan 28, 2009 Haymarket, AUS
Jan 31, 2009 Pokolbin, AUS
Feb 1, 2009 Bowral, AUS
Feb 3, 2009 Boondall, AUS
Feb 5, 2009 Melbourne, AUS
Feb 7, 2009 Caversham, AUS

Hopefully on the way back he may play some dates in the USA.


Meanwhile here is a clip from his concert in Zurich at the Hallenstadion on 25th October, 2008.
Dance me to the end of love

Wassup - now

Originally the "wassup" ads were funny, that was back in the day that beer commercials were funny. They just ain't anymore. Then there was an overkill of the "wassup" stuff. Anyhow I came across this one, sure looks like the original guys but 8 years later they have gotten a bit political. But it's funny and for a good reason.
Check it out.

Human - The Killers

Well, they continue with their excellence. This is a great new single from the Killers. But what does it mean?
Are we human?
Or are we dancers?
Are they saying maybe that the folk on "Dancing with the D listers" are really aliens? Works for me.

Eric Sardinas

Here is some very nice slide blues guitar.
Eric Sardinas is an American blues-rock guitarist born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1970. He is noted for his use of the electric resonator guitar, his powerful live performances and is known to set alight his guitar on stage. During shows in 2000 in Sydney, Sardinas suffered third degree burns to his left wrist.
Sardinas began to play the guitar at age six and leaned toward vintage recordings by such Delta bluesmen as Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Big Bill Broonzy, Elmore James and Muddy Waters. Although he was left-handed, he eventually started to play right-handed and his impressive style may be due to this fact. "The rawest, most emotional music is what sparked my excitement for the blues," Eric says. "I still listen to music from the 20s and 30s on a daily basis. That's where it all began." [Wikipedia]

Eric Sardinas for Young Guitar Magazine
Open G and Open D with a capo at the 2nd Fret.

Slide Blues Force


And here he covers a Robert Johnson classic, with Levell Price (bass) Patrick Caccia (drums) at the festival "Rock Wine & Blues" in Silvi Marina 2007.
Come on in my kitchen

Isgaard

Isgaard Marke (born 1972 in Husum, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) is a classically trained singer, who is also involved with the project Classic meets Pop. Her greatest hits were "Ein schöner Tag" and "Dream of You" with the dance project Schiller, in which she sang single, short lyrical lines.

In 2003 she participated in the German pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and reached seventh place with the song "Golden Key". Her album of the same name achieved moderate success in Germany and reached the Top 10 in the Philippines. The album was released in more than 15 countries and contained the song "Dreams Will Never Die", a duet with Piero Mazzochetti. Videos were made for the songs "Earth Song" (originally by Michael Jackson) and "Dreams Will Never Die", the latter of which was occasionally broadcast on MTV.

Make sure to check out her latest album Wooden Houses. This is one young lady with a beautiful voice.

Earth Song


Dreams Will Never Die - feat. Galileo


And just to prove it not all in the mix on video, here she is live with Peter Heppner in Schiller Concert.
Just check out the power of her voice.
Dream of You

Nailin' Palin

Gotta love that Graham Norton. He has his own talk show in the UK, shown in the USA on BBC America. On this episode he has the "script" from the upcoming porn movie Nailin' Palin. His usual trick on his show is to get his guests to embarrass themselves as much as possible. So here he gets Thandie Newton and Ricky Gervais to perform the script. Outcome, hilarious.



Who knew porn films had scripts?

Ricky Gervais was on the show to promote Ghost Town.
Thandie Newton was there to promote "W"

On Target

Some days are better than others.
Some days you would be better to stay in bed.
But if you can bring a smile to all of us, maybe it is worth it.



Or, how not to unload a truck.

Pass on down the bus please

This is a quaint outlook on the public transport system in and around London back in 1950. Very much beloved of Victor Lewis-Smith, this production by the Colonial Film Unit tells those finding themselves foreign, how to use London's bus service.
Maybe this is what attracted me to become a Bus Conductor back in 1961, nahh it was the money. I don't think it was as civilised in the early sixties as it was in the fifties. Or maybe this is just too perfect. But it did have it's good parts in the swinging sixties, mini skirts not the least of them. It was three and a half years that had good times, and bad times. But it was an experience I won't regret.

Everybodies talking about it

It would appear that the whole world is talking about the McCain and Palin attack ads, speeches, rallies except McCain and Palin. Does this give you a warm fuzzy feeling?
Are they people you would want running your country?
Here's what Keith Olbermann has to say about it.

Analog vs Digital

In case you haven't heard, analog TV will cease to exist in February.
It will be extinct, deceased. It will pop it's clogs and leave this earthly soil (in the USA at least).
In case you need assistance here is a primer for the "older set" on how to be prepared for the switchover.


Note: I removed the Hulu version and replaced it with YouTube. Hulu hasn't yet realized that the internet is global, not just for the USA. And their videos won't stream outside USA. Very shortsighted I think. Mind you the BBC is also guilty of that in that certain of their videos can only be seen in the UK. Wake up people! It is the 21st century.

How to handle a crazy woman

Bill Maher and his panel discuss the VP Debate on Real Time with Bill Maher.
The panel is Alec Baldwin, Christiane Amanpour and Garry Shandling.
For once in his life Garry comes across as intelligent, and of course he has the greatest line heard yet about Sarah Palin when he explains how Joe Biden trained for the debate by watching how Johnny Carson handled Charo. Classic!


12-01-2008: Another re-link, this not quite the same as the original video, but when You Tube tosses them they sometimes stay tossed.

John Otway at Weyfest 2008

John Otway appeared at Weyfest 2008 (September 6 - 7, 2008) in Farnham, Surrey.
Here he is with The Osmonds classic, Crazy Horses. Showing his expertise on the Theremin yet again. He truly is the master of the instrument.

Eddie Izzard at The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008

Surrealist king of comedy Eddie Izzard does his routine for The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008 at London's Royal Albert Hall. It took place on Saturday 4th October 2008. Eddie as always is in fine form, enjoy it here because if it gets to BBC America it will be severely censored.




If you've enjoyed this video, please consider supporting Amnesty International.

I don't like Monday's

Some great music from 1979, although as I recall I hated it at the time. I dismissed all punk music as garbage. But over the years I have come to appreciate most of them.
Still can't handle the Sex Pistols, but The Boomtown Rats, The Clash, John Otway, and even Elvis Costello have managed to grow on me.



Bob's looking a bit young in this.

A new way to debate

I know after the second Presidential debate a lot of comment was made about how we need a new style for the debates. This "town hall meeting" style didn't really succeed and the previous Presidential and VP debates were too stodgy.

Well of course the Japanese had to show us how to do it, even with an existing debate.
Here is how the VP debate was seen in Japan.

The Stalker

I don't know if you have ever watched cats stalking their prey. They are so graceful and so patient. Although because they tend to pick on things that can fly they are not always successful. Here are some Norwegian cats hunting birds. Enjoy.


Clever Cat Hunting For Birds - The best video clips are right here

OK, they may not necessarily be Norwegian cats, but the commentary is certainly Norwegian.

Maverick

How did he come to be known as a maverick?
What keeps that name in the mind of the electorate?



What is a maverick?

maverick
1867, "calf or yearling found without an owner's brand," in allusion to Samuel A. Maverick (1803-70), Texas cattle owner who was negligent in branding his calves.
Some folks say he didn't brand his own calves so that when they did the big roundups he claimed all un-branded calves and cows as his. Thereby a lot of folks considered a "maverick" to be nothing less than a cattle rustler or thief.
Sense of "individualist, unconventional person" is first recorded 1886, via notion of "masterless."

Eric Clapton and Friends

How about just for today we feature some Eric Clapton sounds with guests?

First up how about Tracy Chapman back in 1998.
Give me one reason


Now let's jump forward a year to 1999, add Lenny Kravitz with a take on the Bob Dylan / Jimmy Hendrix classic.
All Along the Watchtower


Now we can go back a bit to 1990 with one of his frequent blues collaborations.
Here with Buddy Guy June 6 in New York.
Sweet Home Chicago


Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan from "Eric Clapton and Friends In Concert" at Madison Square Garden on 30 July 1999 in aid of 'The Crossroads Centre' in Antigua that Eric set up to help alcoholics and drug users.
Crossroads

5 Friends

I passed it on to all my friends, not just the five. And then I thought why not put it out here so a few more people can see it.



Leonardo DiCaprio, will i. am, Tobey Maguire, and Forest Whitaker have created public service announcements to encourage American youth to register to vote. The non-partisan PSAs, produced by DiCaprios Appian Way, were created to engage and inspire young people to register and vote and participate in the upcoming election. Celebrities appearing in the PSAs include: Amy Adams, will.i.am, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, Halle Berry, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Connolly, Courteney Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Jonah Hill, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Kiedis, Ashton Kutcher, Adam Levine, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Ethan Suplee, Kyra Sedgwick, Michelle Trachtenberg, Usher, and Forest Whitaker. [5Friendsvote]

A bear walks into a sandwich shop

This is a fast food restaurant in Kitimat, British Columbia. Imagine it, your making up sandwiches and you look at the security monitor and see a bear wandering in through the front door. I know I would have done the same thing the young lady did. Get the hell out of there.
I still can't work out how he opened the door though.

Sons of Anarchy

Well the cable channels keep getting better and better. This is not on a premium pay channel either.
Check out Sons of Anarchy on FX. It's a little family sit-com, not. But it has a lot going for it, not the least being the theme tune. Apparently written and performed by Velvet Revolver/Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner.
It all takes place in California, and there have been some local cities in the bay area featured.
The cast is impressive, including actors previously on The Sopranos, Deadwood, Hellboy, Mad Men and Married with Children to name a few. Tune in and see who you spot. Wednesday nights at 10pm.

The Great Debate

Musical version with dueling T-Shirts.
The song is Skinny Bones by The Ditty Bops.

Steve Earle

Steve was on KFOG this morning, made my day. This is one guy who is a straight shooter, he has convictions and sticks to them. He is one of the best and gutsiest songwriters around these days.
If you want to see him this weekend get over to San Francisco and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. He'll be on The Banjo Stage at 6pm on Saturday. Lots of other artists to see and hear.

Here are three of his tunes, not on banjo.

The Revolution Starts Now
Steve Earle at the Operation Ceasefire Concert in Washington DC on 9/24/2005.


Christmas in Washington
As Steve say's this is not a Washington song and it is not a Christmas song.


Copperhead Road
This is a Solo version from 1991, the original video from 1988 has the dreaded "Embedding disabled by request" label.


BTW: Steve produced Joan Baez new album Day After Tomorrow to celebrate her 50 years in music.

Pipe Dream by Animusic

I've been neglecting this site a bit. Time to get back to what I like to post most, music. So let's start of with this little gem of a musical machine (animation).
I thought this was really cool.