SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-The Media Club, Vancouver, BC (October 22, 2004).
Every year, the Rheostatics would perform what they called Green Sprouts Week in Toronto. In 2004 they did a West Coast version. Five nights in a row at The Media Club. This recording is from the fourth night.
Once again, the recording quality isn’t great (although it’s better than the previous night’s). And once again the show is edited down (it’s barely 90 minutes–just long enough for a cassette).
It feels like perhaps Martin’s voice was hurting by this night. As an introduction he says, “I’m going to try to sing a song called ‘P.I.N.'” Even though most of the banter has been removed, there is a funny part with Dave talking via the cymbals (being very silly indeed).
They play the first version I’ve heard of “Here Comes the Image” with a very long synth solo.
They cover XTC’s “Radios in Motion” with vocals by local musician Paul Myers. They also play The Clash’s “London Calling” and while Myers vocals are great, Tim can’t seem to get the notes on the bass right.
Strangely, for an edited show, it accidentally repeats “Aliens” twice and leaves off “Fan Letter.”
The intro to “Stolen Car” gives Dave a chance to throw in an “obligatory Beatles reference” when he starts singing the words to “Norwegian Wood.” And the end is scorchingly good.
The final song is a fun version of “Legal Age Life.” It starts with him asking someone to blow into his beer bottle for notes. The song ends with a twist contest. And the prize is the new Sting CD, which they love mocking. They even joke that Sting has a song called “Stolen Car” but it has a parenthetical “(Take Me Dancing)” which makes it an entirely different song.
It’s another great fun night of Rheos music
[READ: July 14, 2015] Modern Romance
I was really excited to see this book in the bookstore. Although I like to keep up with new books, I had no idea Aziz had a book out. And since he is hilarious and other recent Parks and Rec folks have had hilarious books out I was prepared for a lot of laughing.
Well, it turns out that this book isn’t exactly funny. I mean it’s funny because Aziz wrote it, but it’s actually a sociological book about modern romance. Really. He has enlisted the help of NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg and they have compiled and studied all sorts of data. They have sponsored panels and had discussions and really tried to discover how romance has changed in the last 50 or so years.
It sounds like it might be dry, but again, Aziz throws his snark and wit all over it so just as you get a little tired of statistics, there’s a funny joke about a rapper or some such. I mean any book that opens with “OH Shit! Thanks for buying my book!” has got to be funny right? (especially if you imagine Aziz saying it). (more…)
I Just Read About That... 