I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: DEFTONES-“My Own Summer (Shove It)” single CD 1 (1998).

This is a four track single (it’s out of chronological sequence, but it does follow the B-Sides release, so lighten up!).

Obviously, “My Own Summer” is awesome.

The other three tracks are live from Amsterdam.  The sound quality is not as great as I would like–Chino’s voice is mixed strangely and he seems to be “above” the music–almost like he is rapping to prerecorded music. It’s especially notable on “Lotion” which I don’t especially like here–it doesn’t really sound like the song so much as a guy talking over background.  It’s better on “Fireal-Swords,” but what’s most notable about the song is that in the middle of it, while the band are still playing, he talks to the crowd and asks them to be a little gentle to some guys (I can’t imagine the context) at least for the rest of this song, okay?

In the final song, “Bored” the band sounds great–and Chino’s vocals distortions are incredible (and incredible in how consistent they are–does he have pedals or something).  But in this case, in the middle of a verse, the band completely stops when Chino sees a kid on the ground.  He asks if the guy’s okay and you can hear the relief in his voice when you find out he’s just looking for his shoe.  So they bring the kid on stage and tease him a bit and then let him stage dive off as they pick up at the next chorus–from zero to ten –like nothing happened.  Cool.

It was very impressive to hear genuine concern from such a loud and screamy band.

[READ: March 5, 2013] “Deeper Winter”

This is a story about an illegal immigrant.  And what’s interesting about it is that there’s no “message” one way or the other about illegal immigrants.  Eduardo is just a guy looking for a job and a place to stay.

The story opens with Eduardo and his Uncle Luis at a Dodgers game.  Luis is telling him that he has to move out because he and his lady want to get married and have the place to themselves.  Eduardo understands, he knew the place was only temporary for him.  Luis feels bad, but he has already gotten in touch with a friend in Idaho who can get him a job and give him a place to stay.  He also gives Eduardo a down parka and a bus ticket.

Eduardo sets out on a quiet Sunday morning bus.  They stop briefly in Las Vegas and then they’re off to the north.  When the bus arrives, Miguel is there to pick him up.  Miguel’s mother is very excited to see Eduardo (Eduardo of the Angels she calls him).  She reveals that she and Luis were an item a long time ago and she thinks of Eduardo as family.  They give him his own room and tell him that he’ll be working with Miguel on a construction site–working for Johnny Danilo.

Eduardo is a quick study and learns the fine art of roofing so that when the job is finished (it’s a big job and takes awhile), Danilo lets him put on the finishing caps–something of a rite of passage.  There’s plenty of work upcoming, so Danilo invites Miguel and Eduardo to keep working for him.  Eduardo becomes friendly with Danilo and his son Leo.  Eduardo even shows Leo how to pitch like Fernando Valenzuela.  But one day when Eduardo returns home, Miguel and his mom have taken off–they left Eduardo’s things but cleared out everything else.  Eduardo has no one to turn to except Danilo.

Leo says that Eduardo can live with them.  Johnny grimaces but agrees.  Eduardo, ever aware of his status, basically asks if it’s okay short term.  Danilo agrees.   But what happens when the work suddenly dries up?  What will Eduardo do?

The story ends with an unexpected scene on top of a mountain–a scene which leads me to believe that this is an excerpt because so much more could happen and because Maksik’s new book is called A Marker to Measure Drift.

What I really liked about this story was the friendship and the camaraderie that was established between the characters   They became actual friends and cared about each other despite their transience.  There were also funny jokes and jabs which established their friendship more.  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this and was pleased that (minor spoiler), nothing tragic happened to Eduardo.