Come see Deastro tonight.  He’s playing at the Berkley Front.  I’m not sure if he’s playing first or last or in the middle.  I am sure that we will have fun, and i’m sure they have a large selection of refreshments for you as well.

In other incredible news, I was interviewed by the editor of It Came From Culture City.   I’m going to assume it’s already a large number of people’s homepage but if not you can go ahead and bookmark his site.  He had 11 questions that he sent out to the top 19 people in the universe.  I’m not really sure how I made the list, but it was my pleasure to answer them.  He’s going to start posting the responses next week and I have no idea who else was asked to participate.  It will be great, I just know it!

Can someone please call Don Was and tell him not to post any more video from other cities until he’s finished posting the Detroit ones?  He usually posts on Thursdays, so when he said he was going to take Thanksgiving off I just figured he was in the union.  The next Thursday I was ready for the conclusion of the Detroit visit.  Do you know what I got?  Nashville.  Don?  I like you, I really do.  I saw you at the Darfur benefit and it was great to have you home.  Honestly, though.. we’re a little sensitive about Nashville around here.  Maybe next week?  

This is an excerpt from a conversation between 2 grown heterosexual males..

r - What are you doing tonight?
j - I’m going to see Tegan & Sara..
r - You are so gay.
j - What are you doing tonight?
r - Watching Project Runway and going to bed.

This was immediately after a conversation questioning whether it was “pussy” to leave anonymous comments on the internet. I said absolutely not.

Of course this all came from talking about the Blackwell / Freer royal rumble, and if you really believe there is no such thing as bad press, then I guess this is great for the both of ‘em.

It went on and on about who’s anonymous, and who isn’t.. and if an attached name would even matter if you had no idea who “john roberts” was in the first place, or if publishing reviews and critiques on the internet should always be accompanied by some idea of who was doing the critiquing. Me, representing the NO side of the argument suggested that most people know who’s writing what if they’re visiting the site. He disagreed.

Either way, I don’t want anyone thinking i’m attempting to be some anonymous dude/chick on the internet, so i’ve decided to just link my photo. Buy me a drink if you see me out. I drink Miller Lite.

It seems Deastro is stealthily creeping up everywhere. His song, “The Shaded Forest” is currently featured in Magnet Magazine’s New Music Sampler CD, he’s scheduled to have a track featured in January’s Under The Radar, and another track, “Light Powered” will be on the front page of CMJ.com for a week. So yeah…who’s your Artist To Watch in 2008?

Ugh. No wonder their subscription is free. Paste lists their Top 100 Albums of 2007. Bruce Springsteen at Number 3? Animal Collective gets placed 64, while Modest Mouse is up there at number 8? No !!!? Whose dad put this list together?

I’m getting shit together because I’ll be moving the rest of the week. So here’s some quick links because I don’t have time for anymore surfing today:

OVERLOOKED: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

FTDT has their weekend review up, offers to manage Deastro.

This makes me depressed because, for some reason, I’m still only running a fucking blog.

Last Saturday I had planned on seeing M.I.A. at The Majestic. I don’t know the ins and outs of show business, but the lovely girl at the ticket window told me that I “.. was on the list, but had to be taken off because there were too many people.” As odd as that sounded to me, I wasn’t too broken up about it because just down the street Deastro, Wildcatting, and Mas! were going to have a party. I certainly wasn’t going to shell out the $20 dollars for a re-released ticket since she forgot to bring LCD Soundsystem with her. No brainer, let’s go to Corktown.

Because I had to go set up a party at Bittersweet, I only got to stay for Deastro’s set. This kid consistently blows me away. I don’t think i’m telling any secrets, or talking shit when I say that he isn’t the most technical drummer. I mean that in a sense that he knocks shit over, at times misses drums completely, and other minor complications. This is made up for tenfold by his creativity on the drumset, and his insanely strong songwriting.

I’m not sure how long Deastro has been being Deastro. But I do know that he’s a savant, and I blame all of you for his ridiculous amount of local shows. We’ve got a shit ton of sub par acts who all want to play 2 shows a month, for whatever reason. Each one of you want Deastro to be on the bill to spruce it up, and i’m not sure he’s capable of saying no. This isn’t Deastro’s fault, the guy is just too nice. Word is he’s getting contacted now by some major players, a perfect time for someone to throw their hat in the ring to manage the guy. Maybe i’ll do it. Deastro. Call me.

I’m not going to spend any time telling you about the Art Fag party. Some people came. People danced. It wasn’t the turnout I would’ve liked, but I had no idea about other parties going on at the same time. I’m not going to use the same spin that bands use in attempt tp convince themselves that 50 people is a total success, but i’m not completely disappointed with it either. Get your shit together for December 21st.

This takes me to last night.
I’ve now been to the Pike Room in Pontiac a handful of times. I’ve yet to see less than 100 people there. I was told the last two nights were sellouts. Hmm. Last night wasn’t a sellout, but it was pretty much packed. That room sounds great, the drinks are reasonable, and I think i’m just about over the fact that I have to drive north to get there. Check the schedule of the Crofoot complex often, then call me and we’ll go.

If you missed the Aquarius Void show there last night, then you missed out in a pretty big way. Hold please. I’ve just been informed that this band was called Bluesong. This means that I really don’t care what he calls it, if Ross Westerbur brings any organ, or keyboard into a venue then you just shut up and watch. You will be blown away.

The fact that Ross didn’t just kick out anyone who was in The Electric Six and start a new Aquarius Void must mean that Aquarius Void still exists. I don’t understand the formula of starting a band, playing out sparsely to generate a buzz, generating a buzz, packing out shows, and then stop playing. Great. When I manage Deastro, he’s only allowed to play with Aquarius Void.

Since i’m tearing up about them, and getting all nostalgic.. here is a live Aquarius Void song. It’s a White Stripes cover.. I’m not sure the band is impressed with it, but I thought it was awesome. It was the encore after a grueling set.. I heard something about the bass keyboard not being on or something, but if you were there you know it didn’t matter.

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I would be doing you a great disservice if I didn’t at least mention the drama that is unfolding not only now, but pretty regularly over at this blog.
I have no idea what happened with Jeremy Freer, or if he really did try to kiss Ben Blackwell. I do know that the problem is most likely Jeremy, since Ben kisses me all the time. No, not really.

I’m sure by now you’ve all seen the new White Stripes video.

Some of you are seeing super old content in the side columns. Like April of last year’s concerts or some shit. I don’t know. I can’t see it. And none of the computers I have access to are bringing it up either. And none of the people I work with can see it. And only 1 of the people I e-mailed can see it. That text doesn’t even exist anymore, so I don’t know where you’re getting that information from. You all have magic computers that can see into the past.

Either that or I have no idea how my site works so if anyone has any idea how this could be happening, I’m all ears.

Today is called Cyber Monday. That’s stupid. I guess it’s the day where people shop online for the crap they couldn’t find in stores over the weekend. Why didn’t they just order it online in the first place like citizens of the 21st Century? Fat fucking Wal-Mart shoppers. Black Friday should be known as Time Warp Friday or Old Timey Friday because, seriously, what was the last year people shopped in malls? 2001? 2002? I’m pretty sure Fairlane Mall has become part of Greenfield Village. The pretzel-making guy and the blacksmith share an oven.

I did a bunch of shit this weekend but I’m still hung-over from Saturday’s Art Fag thing. We learned that starting an after-party at midnight is a bad idea, since no one’s going to show up until after 2am anyway. Also, Bittersweet scares people. Getting a drink there is like buying a crack rock — you pay one guy and he waves you down to the next guy who hands you some random alcohol. But we had a decent turnout, so thanks to all of you who showed up. We’re back at The CAID on December 21 with Friendly Foes.

According to NME, according to Jermaine Jackson, the Jackson 5 are going to tour, with Michael, next year. With credible sources like that, it has to be true! How much would you like to bet that the trail of information goes back one step further, to LaToya’s magic eight ball?

Also according to NME, Lily Allen to quit music. I wish. She can take Amy Winehouse with her. But seriously, the article says she’s going to make one more album and retire in the next three years. Um…how relevant does anyone think she’ll be in three years. This is like the VHS tape announcing its retirement in 2010.

“…it’s flattering that people are making copies of the movie and releasing it on the internet. Besides, all movies today are released onto the web. It would have been worse if no one wanted to share the movie.” The director of some low-budget Norwegian film feels it’s “an honor” to have his movie traded freely among evil internet pirates. Of course the film’s distributor is pressing charges and telling said director to STFU. How long before distributors go the way of Lily Allen?

Two more reasons why Tiny Mix Tapes is the most well-written site for music news.

I don’t feel like typing anymore. Can anyone get me one of these for less than $300?

Seems a lot of you are going to M.I.A. tonight, since it’s completely sold out. That’s cool. I guess. Personally, I’ll be over at Corktown for Mas!’s…Mas’s!… Mas’!…um, these guyses CD Release Show with Deastro and Wildcatting. That seems like the place to be, especially since word on the street is that the new Mas! album is tits.

After all the “legit” shows are over, Art Fag Incorporated (check out our Degrees!) has secured a “space” in “a building” and we’re throwing you a “dance party”. Mostly because we love you, but also because we love seeing exactly what we can get away with in this city (wait till you see what we have planned for Valentine’s Day, keep February 15 open). The party’s at Bittersweet Coffee on Woodward, across the street from The Majestic and one block south. So if you’re at M.I.A. and don’t at least stop by for a drink, you are teh suck. You don’t even have to move your car. And don’t worry if you forget your I.D., we trust you. You look like a mature 21 year old, even from here.

See you around midnight?

Oh, and The Hard Lessons totally pwned last night (review here), but that’s not really much of a surprise. When was the last time The Magic Stick was that full? Of Montreal earlier in the year? I can’t remember.
Anyway, don’t forget to grab their FREE EP here. “See And Be Scene” is a bona fide hit.

Most live review of Hard Lessons shows read pretty much the same.  The band was amazing, the crowd interaction was great, the antics were top notch.  Last night was no different.  It’s probably a lot more fun to talk shit about bands that experience some success, and we all know that there’s been several sources of Hard Lessons bashing.  Then you get the Hard Lessons supporters talking about the negative things talked about, and it turns into a fun game of “did you hear what [whoever] said..”  And that’s what we talk about.  Somehow with all of that going on around them, the band just seems to ignore it and do what they do.  Then again, when you’re consistently drawing 500+ in this town, it’s probably a whole lot easier to just laugh it off, and be completely humble.

At the end of the show Augie dropped an old-school inspired freestyle.  Call me an ego freak, but I could’ve swore he said five three dial tone.  It was almost like I was famous for 2 seconds.  Then the kid next to me whispered to his friend “I guess nothing rhymes with webvomit.”  Drats.

I think if you want to be in the cool kids club, which I certainly do, you have to say at least one thing bad about The Hard Lessons:  Remember when Augie was Gin?  Who does this guy think he is?  Why is he the only one allowed to change his name?  The Anvil has always been The Anvil, Ko Ko Louise has always been Ko Ko Louise.. but Gin.. or Augie.. or whatever you’re calling yourself today.. if you focused on recording maybe we could get some more Hard Lessons material in our hands.  What?  You’re having another CD release party next month at St. Andrews Hall?  Call yourself whatever you want.

Tonight, you people should go out again.  Go see MIA, go see Deastro, Wildcatting, and Mas.. but more importantly, come see me.  I will be across from the Majestic Complex, in what once was a functioning coffee house.  “Hey, that sounds kind of sketchy..”  How about you shut your fat mouth, and just come, okay?  Somewhere around midnight, until our coolness melts your face.

I should at least mention that The Hard Lessons are having a little cd release party tonight at The Magic Stick. That way, maybe a few people will show up. Oh, you already knew about that show? What? AND you’re going? great. I’ll see you there.

I had more items to share with you, but I really am pressed for time. I’ll have more time tomorrow, when I plan to tell you lots of things, and invite you to the Bittersweet Coffee House tomorrow night for a big giant fun time. After MIA, after Mas and Deastro, and way after most peoples bedtime. Hint: They don’t serve Coffee.