Onelinedrawing - Believer
So long, bye bye
Sad, but in a way it feels nice
I understand
I wouldn't have stayed either, believer
You're truly through with me
But it's all right now, you're finding out
It's like I'm drunk
Can't see straight, and this fever
I can't hold food
It's more than I deserve
Believe her, believer
You're truly through with me
But it's all right now, you're finding out
How all these little cruelties
Were just a weight around my neck
You left a wreck
All the ways you didn't know me (truly)
Could fill a hundred homes (truly)
It wasn't love you didn't show me (truly)
It's a perfect day to let you go
You're truly through with me
So long, bye bye...
Download: Onelinedrawing - Believer (Acoustic Demo) from the album, The Volunteers
 The artist that has made what could very well be my favorite record of the year is finally coming to my neck of the woods to rock the house. M.I.A. has been slowly traveling along the U.S. promoting her new masterpiece, Kala. Kala is a dance freaks wet dream; filled with perfected congo-electroclash beats and M.I.A.s distinct vocals that really cannot be easily described. Nearly every song is flawless in its own way being pretentious or over experimental. After seeing her TV spot on MTV, I thought to myself, “I really need to see her live before this magic disappears.” It won’t be long before you hear her music in the next iPod Nano commercial. So sad. I any case, I have had so much fun dancing like a complete retard with Katie and my brother Cully to her infectious tunes. I hope you will too. Oh! And she’s touring with The Cool Kids! How freakin’ sweet is that? They’re like Lupe Fiasco without being cheesy. Or what they like to call themselves; the black Beastie Boys.
Download: M.I.A. – Paper Planes from the album, Kala.
Download: The Cool Kids – Pump Up The Volume from the EP, Totally Flossed Out
M.I.A. / The Cool Kids Tour
Monday, Nov 26 @ 8:00 PM Metropolis
Montreal, Quebec
Wednesday, Nov 28 @ 7:00 PM The Palladium
Worcester, Massachusetts
Thursday, Nov 29 @ 7:30 PM 9:30 Club
Washington, DC
Friday, Nov 30 @ 9:30 PM Sonar
Baltimore, Maryland
DECEMBER
Saturday, Dec 1 @ 8:30 PM The Electric Factory
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Saturday, Dec 8 @ 8:00 PM ICA
London, United Kingdom
Monday, Dec 10 @ 7:00 PM The Custard Factory
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Wednesday, Dec 12 @ 7:00 PM The Arches
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
Friday, Dec 14 @ 7:00 PM Brighton Concorde 2
Brighton, United Kingdom
Saturday, Dec 15 @ 7:00 PM Anson Rooms
Bristol, United Kingdom
Monday, Dec 17 @ 7:00 PM Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Tuesday, Dec 18 @ 7:00 PM Manchester Academy 2
Manchester, United Kingdom
Wednesday, Dec 19 @ 7:00 PM Waterfront
Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Thursday, Dec 20 @ 7:00 PM Coronet
London, United Kingdom
 This past holiday weekend had me visiting my hometown of New York once again. This time in particular was very special to me. I didn’t do anything wild like ramp my car off a draw bridge or anything. I did however get to spend time with people I don’t normally see very often. Not only that but I got to do it all with Katie. Granted things are not perfect over there, I see healing within the family. I got to leave my hometown feeling content, which is better than the last time I left my old address. Whether it was eating shitty food with Rob (shitty as in: tasted good, but I felt like I ate 12 hot pockets afterwards), strolling gorgeous Cold Spring with my Aunt and Uncle, or beating the ever living crap out of my little brother in Mortal Kombat. It all felt good…that just felt nice to write. If you haven’t been to Cold Spring, you need to. I guess growing up there; I never really appreciated its beauty (refer to picture).
Ian LoveOne of the best driving albums I own is the Rival Schools CD, United by Fate from 2001. Unfortunately they never made another full length and only squeezed out a split EP with Onelinedrawing. The members separated into new bands and solo careers. One solo career in particular is that of Ian Love. There’s nothing generic about what Ian is creating nowadays. His sonically enhanced acoustic songs radiate a fresh sound that makes one think of road trips and, well, home. Feel free to check out his rarely updated website or just pick up his album at Limekiln Records. Or hell, download these songs!
Download: Ian Love – Old Enough from the album, Ian Love
Download: Ian Love – The Only Night from the album, Ian Love
Download: Ian Love – Butterfly from the album, Ian Love
 Random Thought #6 - Has anyone seen that commercial where this father buys a buttload of Domino's pizza for dinner and the mother walks in and says, "(Gasp) I love you!" That's complete bullshit.
When I went out to school in San Francisco, Katie and I went to see folk-jazz singer-songwriter Jolie Holland in her native town. What we did not expect was the opener, Sean Hayes. We were not even paying attention to any of the acts until he took the stage. I can not remember the last time I heard an artist I never heard of play live and go, "This guy is brilliant!" Sean Hayes' folk-dance sound is addicting as well as enlightening to the listener. He's been said to be Bob Dylan with groove, Devandra Bandhart without being annoying, Iron & Wine without the hipster following (although it's only a matter of time), etc etc. Whatever genre you want to fit him in; you have to admit he's someone you need to let your friends know about. Also, he has a new song called “No No Guantanamo,” which calls attention to his views on the current situation at Guantanamo Bay.
Sean Hayes will be touring with Jenny Owen Youngs all over the country (I'll be going to the Portland, ME date, anyone wanna go?). Jenny Owen Youngs sounds like your run of the mill folk-rock female singer, however she plays a hilarious version of Nelly's "Hot in Herre"
Thu 10/25/07 Portland, ME SPACE
Fri 10/26/07 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Sat 10/27/07 Burlington, VT Club Metronome
Mon 10/29/07 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Tue 10/30/07 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
Thu 11/01/07 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
Fri 11/02/07 Toronto, ON University Of Toronto
Sun 11/04/07 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
Mon 11/05/07 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
Tue 11/06/07 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre
Thu 11/08/07 Boulder, CO Rock N Soul Cafe
Fri 11/09/07 Denver, CO The Walnut Room
Sat 11/10/07 Park City, UT Celsius Lounge
Mon 11/12/07 Seattle, WA High Dive
Tue 11/13/07 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
Thu 11/15/07 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Fri 11/16/07 Santa Cruz, CA The Crepe Place
Sat 11/17/07 Los Angeles, CA Bordello
Wed 01/16/08 Conway, AR Hendrix College
Download: Sean Hayes - No No Guantanamo
Download: Sean Hayes - Same God from the album, Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star
Download: Sean Hayes - Flowering Spade from the album, Flowering Spade
Download: Sean Hayes - Rattlesnake Charm from the album, Alabama Chicken
Download: Jenny Owen Youngs - Hot in Herre (Nelly Cover) from the EP, Take Off All Your Clothes
 Random Thought #5 : Sometimes when I'm on line at the Gap, I wonder if the person at the counter has shat his pants sometime in his adult life.
I recently finished a biography on the late great Charles Bukowski that Katie got me for my birthday. I don't know why it took me so long to finally sit down and read it, but this man has inspired me like none other. Immediaetly after reading his bio, I bought and read Post Office. Quite possibly one of the best books I've ever read. Poetry suffers from poets who do or did very little; they worked a job, paid the bills, got married... Charles Bukowski lived, he roamed, he experienced a variety of 'living' situations; good and bad, sometimes very bad. I believe Bukowski had 'something' to write about. There are a ton of BUK knock-offs/wannabes living in moms basement and drinking beer hoping for the same success, not gonna happen. For some of us being forced to read Shakespeare in high school was a major downer, to later on discover a writer (B) using language and words we speak and understood was very appealing. Many compelling aspects to his work; just the vast amount of writing is impressive. The variety of the short stories, poetry, novels delivers so much more than you find from other writers. Bukowski didn't belong to any movement (certainly not the BEATS), he was far and beyond any group of writers from his time. He was the last one that wanted to be grouped with 'others', he was an individual, no other poet comes close to what Bukowski achieved. I have posted some art work from Mr Bukowski in the Fotoes section and a video of one of his poems on the Vlog.
These archival recordings feature Bukowski reading "Fan Letter" and "The Soldier, His Wife and the Bum" taken from the audio anthology "Run With the Hunted," courtesy of HarperAudio.
Download: Charles Bukowski - The Soldier, His Wife and the Bum
Download: Charles Bukowski - Fan Letter
 Who’s that smokin’ girl to the left you ask? That my friend is my beautiful girlfriend Katie. For the past 3 years we have loved, fought, and experienced everything a working relationship experiences. Recently we celebrated Katie’s 22nd birthday at her favorite Italian restaurant, Massimino's. After the night was over, she expressed her gloom over the fact that that I have not tagged her on these blog posts I've made. So in light of that conversation (and a few others); I have dedicated this weeks blog to Katie.
At this point of our relationship; it’s best to think back at how it all started. At a little website with a girl called Magical Mystery Girl and a guy called Spark the Sun. Two people who have named themselves after a song from their favorite musical artists. I guess we should have seen this coming, but it was still a surprise that we clicked instantly after a meeting in a Finagle A Bagel® Even now; with everything we’ve done, it just seems like we’ve known each other for so long. I remember how much I missed her when she went away to California. I remember how I ran 20 blocks to buy a bag of cracker to make sure she didn’t pass out at the Kendall Square Cinema. I remember petting sting rays in Cayman Islands. I remember taking her to see Jonah for the first time and hearing her saying that it was one of the best concerts she’d ever been to (and meaning it). I have learned so much from her too. I mean; the person I am today…all this drive and determination to reach goals and all this compassion for how she feels. I never felt like this before. I know that seems cliché and all, but it so true. It’s too easy to take something this good for granted. This is a girl who changed me whole view on life. How can I be so selfish as too take something this precious for granted? And that’s what this relationship is; precious. No amount of money or capital can express the worth of what we have created. We have been to so many places and filled our lives with random paper towels, sidekicks, and odd named stuffed toys. We have saved each other from horrible experiences that neither of us could even begin to explain (or would like to). At this point in my life, when all perfect stories are ending unpleasantly, it’s our responsibility to stay true to the feelings we worked so hard to build for each other. This is the most important thing in my life right now and I will do whatever it takes to seize it for however long I can. I know she loves me and I know she feels the same. That, my friends, is the best feeling in the world.
I love you Katie and I can’t wait to see you again.
In light of my little dedication to Katie and love in general; I have posted a 5 song mix for Katie and anyone who cares to download any of these songs. Stay tuned…
Download: They Might Be Giants - She's An Angel from the album They Might Be Giants
Download: iLIKETRAINS - Come Over from the album Elegies to Lessons Learnt
Download: Iron & Wine - Innocent Bones from the album The Shepard's Dog
Download: Flight of the Conchords - Business Time from the EP The Distant Future
Download: The Promise Ring - E. Texas Ave. from the split Texas is the Reason/The Promise Ring
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