VH-1 Classic Running Diary

Back in the spring I tried to keep a running diary of The Alternative on VH-1 Classic. I’ve been a big fan of VH-1 Classic for a while now for two reasons: it is either hilarious or incredible and it often switches from video to video.

Needless to say, my favorite show is The Alternative – a block of videos from the late 70s to the early 90s that focus on the same kind of college radio-y stuff that I play on my show.

In an attempt to showcase my love for this programming (and pay an homage to the running diaries that ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons keeps) I tried to log my thoughts for each video. I realized about 30 minutes in that it was much harder than I imagined because I wrote about every video for 2 hours rather than just selecting the hilights.

Nonetheless, I decided to revist the file on my computer and I realized that it was more amusing than I remembered (as I watch this there’s a hilarious video by The Farm on VH-1 Classic – it’s some late 80s vaguely dancey video where the band is on some large technicolor Risk map and people keep falling into a grave in reverse (so rather, they are falling out of the grave) and this is a reminder of why I decided to document it.) So here it is (and once I get more time I’ll figure out how to make a “cut” so that it won’t all appear on the main page of the blog)

Seriously, WTF

First of all – it’s nice to see the Mets win game 1. That goes without saying. I missed the game because I was in class so I don’t have a whole lot else to say about it. I’m just really happy that they won.

Now on to more pressing concerns(?). I have no idea how to describe this video other than by saying that if you don’t know what Pancake Mountain is, you should probably go to their website and watch some of their clips and read about the show.

Without further ado… here’s this (via Pitchfork)

EDIT: I should have mentioned this before – the less puppety one in the video is Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips

Let’s Go Mets!

The “real season” starts this afternoon for the Mets as they play the Dodgers in the NLDS. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous but I’m equally as nervous as I am excited (which often are one in the same). I’m especially nervous since El Duque is off the roster for this series (although I’m strangely OK with John Maine starting in game 1) but the games aren’t played on paper or on radio talk shows, after all.

That being said, I don’t like to gripe about experts (or, as many might prefer, “experts”) and their opinions, but I have to attack one point Keith Law made on ESPN.com calling Paul LoDuca “the weak point” in the top half (or, top 5 rather) of the Mets order. Sure, he’s probably the low man offensively when compared to Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, and Wright, but he’s certainly no pushover. He hit .314-ish this year and he does all the intangables that don’t show up in stats like moving runners and (simply) not striking out.

Now if I only didn’t have to go to class during Game 1 this afternoon I’d feel much better!

PS – This is why I Love MetsBlog. Despite the neurotic tendencies of us Mets fans, Matt remains optomistic by pulling something like this out of the vault. I’d like to add more recent QB (perhaps the closest parallel to a pitcher) who made a quick transition from bench to spotlight and did it well – Mr. Tom Brady.

Still, I’m not saying anything.

“He likes the warm feeling but he’s tired of all the dehydration”

Despite evidence to the contrary (my beloved YouTube links), this blog is primarily about me. Sure, that sounds a bit conceited but it’s true; the things I write about are all connected back to me somehow (even if it’s just because I find something hilarious/outrageous/infuriating or the like).

Regardless, I saw the Hold Steady play last night and it was incredible. I seem to be one of the last people on the internet to catch on to the band (I have 2005’s Separation Sunday but I can’t say that I’ve really listened to it) but I’m glad that I did. Their new album Boys and Girls in America (streaming here) is a fantastic mix of bar band guitars and Craig Finn’s literate (but not obtuse – he’s more of the drunken poet than the untouchable intellectual) rants and it’s one of the best albums this year.

However, the band is ten times better live – Finn’s vocal shortcomings are non-existant as he bounces around the stage screaming lines at the crowd. But like I said, this isn’t about the band (who, don’t get me wrong, are fantastic and I highly recommend them) but rather about me. It’s shows like this one that remind me why I still seek out live music. The crowd (I felt like one of the younger ones there as it was largely filled with drunken, aged ex-punks) was completely insane – screaming back lyrics, clapping along, and generally having a great time (on their website, the band declares that a “Hold Steady show is a show where you take the next day off of work”). I spent most of the hour and a half set alternating between smiling, laughing with complete strangers, and generally being in awe of the band.

I left the show feeling “recharged” – since going back to school I’ve been perpetually running on empty and sometimes it takes something like a good show to put everything else on hold and enjoy life. So thanks to The Hold Steady for giving me what Wilco calls “a shot in the arm.”

And to the rest of you, go buy Boys and Girls in America on Tuesday. You’ll know why I love this album by the time “Stuck Between Stations” is done.

BW

PS – Here’s a great article on the band from the New York Times.