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John Jodzio–“Ham” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #8] (2023)

December 8, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 8, 2024] “Ham”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was John Jodzio.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  And this one opens:

It’s December 8. John Jodzio, author of Knockout, isn’t sure how he’s going to explain this to insurance.

I used to be really into first sentences. I still am to some extent because a first sentence can really impact your decision to read a story, but I guess I don’t look for them so much as keep tabs on really exciting ones.  Like this:

Lucy and I are having car sex with a bald eagle drops a honey ham near us.

I mean, that’s a grabbber.  Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, John Jodzio, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Rocket (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 7, 2024) [RIDE]

December 7, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: December 7, 2024] Rocket

I’ve known of (and enjoyed some of) Ride’s music for decades.  I was never a huge fan, but there were a few songs that I liked a lot.

Last year, Ride played a show with the Charlatans, but a snowstorm kept me away.  So here was another chance to see them.

I hadn’t heard of the opening band (there are a few different bands called Rocket).  And it’s not lost one me that the marquee would read Rocket Ride.

This band is from LA and holy cow, they scratched just about every musical itch I had.

Soft female vocals, shoegaze to heavy crunchy guitars.  It was all there.  I loved every second of their set.

When the first chord change of Portrait Show was exactly what I hoped it would be, I knew this band was for me.

I wished that Alithea Tuttle’s vocals were a little louder (it’s probably because I was standing s close to the stage) although the quieter mix worked well with the overall sound.  Her bass was great though, understated and used perfectly to emphasize some of the songs.  Continue Reading »

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Ride, Rocket, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Basic / The Early / Totally Automatic (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, December 7, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

December 7, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: December 7, 2024] Basic / The Early / Totally Automatic

I have seen Basic twice in recent months and didn’t really feel compelled to go again. I do enjoy their music (and would have enjoyed seeing them at Johnny Brenda’s, but I had tickets to see Ride tonight and there’s no way I was passing up them for this.

The Early says about themselves

Formed in north Jersey in 2004, The Early’s music metabolizes the textural grandeur of post-rock, the communicational intimacy of jazz improvisation, and the patient grooves of minimalism. Currently operating out of Philadelphia, PA.

So what does that mean?  Interesting and improvisational-adjacent jazzy instrumentals, from the sound of their most recent record.  The Early appears to be Alex Lewis – electric guitar, korg minilogue and Jake Nussbaum – drum set, percussion, contact mics.  I’m not sure if there were more people on stage.

The Early released an album with Totally Automatic this year.

Totally Automatic was formed by Anne Ishii, Eugene Lew and Matthew Smith Lee in the summer of 2021. They play unarranged music with each other, on drums, saxophone and electronics, and can be found around Philadelphia.

So this set would be even more improvised, this time with saxophone.

Probably not the most enjoyable night I could spend, but it would have been kinda fun.

Posted in Basic, Chris Forsyth, Johnny Brenda's, Nick Millevoi, Philadelphia, PA, The Early, Totally Automatic | Leave a Comment »

Kenan Orhan–“The Renovation” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #7] (2023)

December 7, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 7, 2024] “The Renovation”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Kenan Orhan.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  And this one opens:

It’s December 7. Kenan Orhan, author of I Am My Country, can’t get anyone from the City on the phone.

This story started out with a really funny image Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Kenan Orhan, Prison, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

The Aimee Mann & Ted Leo Christmas Show (Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood, NJ, December 6, 2024)

December 6, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: December 6, 2024] The Aimee Mann & Ted Leo Christmas Show

My wife and I saw Aimee Mann 18 years ago.  When this show was announced, it sounded like a great way to see her again.  Way back then I didn’t know anything about Ted Leo.  And when the two of them got together as The Both, I was interested more for her than for him.  Now, all these years later, I’ve seen Ted Leo twice and am more interested in The Both because of him.

But I assumed that this would be a fun Christmas night out.

And it was.  But it also wasn’t what I was expecting at all.

I assumed that it would be the two of them singing Christmas songs and that their guests, the amazing Paul F. Tompkins, Nellie McKay and Josh Gondelman would add humor and song to the sets.

They had a backing band (whom they introduced but whose names I missed).  There was a bass player, a drummer and keys.  Aimee and Ted both played guitar.  The backing band started playing the haunting opening of Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime.  Then Aimee and Ted walked out (both dressed head to toe in black, which amused me) and sang.

And that’s basically what I expected.  Up next was a Christmas song that I barely knew but which I loved immediately–Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade.  It became a favorite Christmas song for me. Continue Reading »

Posted in 'til Tuesday, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Aimee Mann, Christmas, Christmas Album, Collingswood NJ, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Josh Gondelman, Krampus, Paul F. Tompkins, Scottish Rite Auditorium, Slade, Ted Leo | Leave a Comment »

Kim Fu–“For John” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #6] (2024)

December 6, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 6, 2024] “For John”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Kim Fu.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  And this one opens:

It’s December 6. Kim Fu, author of Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, is building up an impressive collection of landscapes.

This was a weird little story that I quite liked. Continue Reading »

Posted in Art, Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Kim Fu, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Hundreds of Beavers (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, December 5, 2024)

December 5, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: December 5, 2024] Hundreds of Beavers

I had seen an ad for Hundreds of Beavers and it looked weird and fantastic.

When I saw that it was playing at PhilaMOCA, I grabbed a ticket for myself and my son (my wife was bummed that she said no when I asked if she wanted a ticket, because she admitted that it sounded like fun).

So I picked up my son from school and we drove to Philly.  We had pizza at a nearby shop and wow was it bad.  It was made worse by the fact that when I poured grated cheese on it to make it more palatable, the grated cheese was actually sugar.

In fairness, it was in a sugar dispenser, but why is there sugar on the table at a pizza joint?  Have you ever had pizza with sugar on it?  It is, simply, not good.

But we were there in time for the movie and we grabbed seats in the back.

This was a special screening in which they had random prizes to give out (posters and such).  We didn’t win, but that’s okay. Continue Reading »

Posted in Hundreds of Beavers, Mike Cheslik, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA, Ryland Brickson Cole Tews | Leave a Comment »

They Might Be Giants: Big Tour (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 5 & 6, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

December 5, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: December 5 & 6, 2024] They Might Be Giants

Las year, after five failed attempts, They Might Be Giants FINALLY got to play Union Transfer.

My wife and I were pretty excited to finally get to see them and we enjoyed the show a lot.

When they announced that they were playing Union Transfer again I think we both decided that we didn;t need to see them again so soon. Continue Reading »

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, They Might Be Giants, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Katya Apekina–“My Smell Journal [orange peels, ink, coffee filters]” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #5] (2012)

December 5, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 5, 2024] “My Smell Journal [orange peels, ink, coffee filters]”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Katya Apekina.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  And this one opens:

It’s December 5. Katya Apekina, author of Mother Doll, is picking up notes of damp potato chip.

I enjoyed the conceit of this story.  The narrator has found an old device that records smells (because smells trigger memories, etc). Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Katya Apekina, Pregnancy, Short Story, Smells, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

J. Robert Lennon–“Vandring” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #4] (2024)

December 4, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 4, 2024] “Vandring”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was J. Robert Lennon.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  This one opens with:

It’s December 4. J. Robert Lennon, author of Hard Girls, does a series of wrist and arm stretches to prevent injury.

I have read some books by J. Robert Lennon and indeed, have some on my shelf that I intended to read but never got around to.

This story confused me right from the get go (I assume deliberately so). Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, J. Robert Lennon, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

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