Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Incase You Have Any Doubt...

... Who our next president should be:

(I know its long and happened a little while ago but to me, this speech embodies what I hope for in a leader and in a man with an honest aim) Rob



In this speech, it is clear Obama embraces Reverand Wright as a friend and inspirer but does not agree with certain radical statements Wright has made. Obama is eloquent and precise in expressing his feelings. He shows an incredible amount of honesty and insight into our cultural differences and need for unification. After watching and listening to this speech I am unclear why the Wright/Obama issue is still so prevalent. It's as if the news stations and guests on talk shows had never actually listened to the meaning of this speech. Rob

Sunday, April 27, 2008

SLY





Chris and I were given some tickets to Sly & The Family Stone at House of Blues last night (Sat. April 26th). As we are both fans (I am especially fond of the album FRESH) we were quite excited to witness this spectacle... and what a spectacle it was.

As I drove past the club, searching endlessly for parking, a massive snake of a line weaved its way down Sunset blvd. I looked at my clock. 11:15pm. Shit. Doors were at 10:30pm. Chris said "no worries. Sly is notorious for being late.". Ok. Sweet.

Finally found parking and made our way down the steepest hill in Hollywood. The line had waned and we managed to get in rather quick. Still it was now after 11:30pm. He must have started. I raced in to find... a closed curtain. Cool we didn't miss anything.

Looked around. The crowd was pretty eclectic. I felt pretty young for once as most people were past 40 or 50 actually.

Skip to over an hr later. Several attempts from the crowd to lure Sly out, through chants and screams, have failed. My eyes were closing. Suddenly I got a shove from behind and trail of wasted looking people and security barge through the crowd where we were standing. For a second, a small bundled character, which could have easily been mistaken for ET, bustled by with a cheeky grin. "Slyyyy!" someone yelled.

It was still 20 mins. before he went on...well... before he stood in front of the curtain and rambled in an almost inaudible slur about having to go to the bathroom. Apparently thats just what he did 'cuase he was gone for another 5 mins.

The curtains rolled open and there he stood, or rather stooped. A simple lyric breathed feebly from his lips "Don't call me nigga whitey, don't call me whitey nigga'".

Somehow it was brilliant and terrifying at the same time.


At any moment during the show it felt like everything might just fall apart. For this reason we stayed.

They played the hits and played them well. Barely a minute or two went by without feeling the urge to sing along or shake your hips.

Seeing sly in person was bizarre, to say the least. As the result of extensive drug use (I assume) his body moves and curves in a way where you expect strings to be attached to his limbs and a puppeteer to be perched above controlling his moves. He wore a brilliant generals coat ala Jimi Hendrix, sported a strange mohawk hidden beneath a black bandanna. He was the human embodiment of Jim Henson's greatest creation.

That being said. Sly sang only a few lines, meandered on the keyboard like a teenager on acid, and disappeared half way through the set to never return. This seemed to have little effect on the band who just kept going with the set.

His band couldn't have been cast better. A token white guy in full "ghetto getup" playing keys, a couple of soul sistas- one who'd seen better days but sang like a queen- the other a bright eyed curvy mama who screamed for the spotlight, a top notch horn section featuring a senior citizen 'sista' who could move like a rattle snake and play the trumpet like Louise Armstrong (she was dressed in a Gospel preachers robes), a guitar and bass duo in shimmering gold, and a "what what: brotha- my term for that guy you see in rap groups who raises the roof, gets the crowd goin', and says "what... what" every now and then (and basically filled in whenever Sly got lost). He took over when Sly mysteriously left the stage.

All in all this show was both amazing and a bit sad. Its great that Sly can still get up there and do his thing but at times I felt like I was watching a comedy of disaster. His charm is as evident as ever and he exudes a warm and intriguing presence. His songs still came off well but the band often had no idea where Sly was planning to go with the number. The band was stacked with great musicians, the choice of songs was perfect but still I wonder... Where did Sly go?

I just hope he's still alive.

Rob Kolar

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

YOUNG AT HEART

This is a fantastic film. I can't deny I shed a few tears. But also laughed like a madman. Definitely go and see it. Rob

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

INFLUENCES! Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty is one of those rare commercial artists that has an undeniable quality to his music. His charming drawl and interesting collage of music (like a melange of The Beatles, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, The Byrds, and Dylan) make him unique and intriguing. Mike Campbell also adds a superb flair with his bluesy guitar hooks. Petty has lasted 3 decades as a renowned and exciting performer. He has a knack for writing a terrific tune and still performs an amazing live set.

After being on the scene already 15 years, in 1993 Petty released an instant classic. The video features Kim Basinger playing his gorgeous, dead "Mary Jane". Brilliant!


Awesome 1978 live version of "Refugee". They sound awesome. And check out Petty's awesome Neil Young chops (in blonde).

CA Tour (&Vegas)

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Friday, April 18, 2008

Tonight. LA Record party @ Charlie O's

This place is an awesome divey joint in the dirty heart of downtown. My sis and I are playing so come on down. www.myspace.com/hesmybrothershesmysister . Rob

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

1 4 5 in E



blues in e (almost) never sounded so sweet. thank jesus rock & roll won out over the priesthood.

i stumbled upon this while checking out www.rawkblog.blogspot.com...thanks david!

enjoy,
melissa

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Rosewood Thieves

We are touring with this brilliant NY band in MAY! A few dates in CA and Vegas. Don't miss these. Other great bands will be on the bill. Click the photo for link to their myspace.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Kitundu!




This is a video of a great friend, otherwordly artist and all around amazing human being - Walter Kitundu. Back in the day, Walter and I would hang out in my apartment in the Mission for hours on end making music together with headphones, computers, guitars, keyboards, mbiras, clarinets, minidisc recorders, found sounds, turntables, samplers, an MPC, and Walter's amazing phonoharps. I know our paths will cross again and that our musical conversation will continue but for now I have this video to share. For more info please check out www.kitundu.com.

xo,
melissa

Monday, April 7, 2008

WATCH OUT!




Last week I went to the LA Kings hockey game vs. the San Jose Sharks. Midway through the first period, the puck whizzed over the Kings bench, through an opening leading to the dressing room, and screamed into the stands. And wouldn't you know, it hit the girl two seats down from me in the leg, and hopped into the hot dog wrapper of the girl sitting next to me!!! She picked it up and handed it to me. WHAT ARE THE ODDS! Getting a puck from the game! Its like catching a fly ball or a stray tennis ball that goes into the crowd (does that happen?). Oh yeah, the girl... She didn't know what happened, but seemed to be ok. Just a little shaken up and slightly flustered from all the attention. I realized however, the puck wasn't mine to keep. After all, I wasn't the one who got hit. So, reluctantly, I handed it over to her.
She didn't seem to know what happened, but put the frozen puck on her leg as a joke. Shortly after they all got up and left. So close to getting a puck... The Kings season is over sadly, but next year I'll try again. - Chris
P.S. In case you are wondering, the picture is of Sean Avery, former Kings player, and hottie girlfriend at the time Elisha Cuthbert. And you are right, it's not really related to my story. But its a cool hat.