Joe, it just takes practice. Like a workout.

Or, you know, Carnegie Hall.

I just saw Demetri Martin work out some new jokes, including "I've always wanted to live near Carnegie Hall. Then, if people asked me where I lived I'd say, 'practice, practice, practice, make a left.'"

Yu-Mex

Fans of offbeat cross-cultural fads, rejoice! During the '50s, Yugoslavia embraced Mexican culture with fervor. Why? Yugoslav premier and strongman Josip Tito broadcast Mexican films on television as an alternative to Soviet programming. The films were a hit, and they inspired dozens of Yugoslav musicians to don mariachi outfits and croon cantina ballads in their native Slavic tongues. Slovenian novelist Miha Mazzini has lovingly assembled a jaw-dropping gallery of album covers and song clips from the golden age of Yu-Mex. Djordje Masalovic's album cover for "Meksiko" says it all -- a pudgy white guy in a sombrero. There are also several dark-eyed, frilly-dress enchantresses, such as Miroslava Mrda. Don't miss the song samples; they're must-listen material. Gracias, Belgrade!

from Yahoo! Picks - August 10, 2005

Wow, that's right up there with the large Latino fan contingent of Morrisey for "huh?"

No Chicago dates...

Slowcore godfathers Alan Sparhawk (Low, Black Eyed Snakes) and Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) are joining forces, along with Duluth comrades Eric Pollard and Matthew Livingstone, as the "Retribution Gospel Choir" for a U.S. tour this fall...Word on the street is that the Choir is a full-blown rock band.

Lots of Southern and West Coast cities but the closest thing to me (so far) is Minneapolis. And of course:

08-30 Lawrence, KS - Gaslight Tavern

The Gaslight is teeny itsy bitsy small. What a great place to see them. Sigh.

Thanks for the earbud info, all. I am still trying to decide.

Jilli - did you get special advance word on the Bauhaus show? I've been trying to find tour info, and their official web site just says to stay tuned for an announcement.

Pvt Hendrix plays a musical instrument during his off hours, or so he says.

[link]

When Low worked with the Dirty Three, it was one of the most fulfilling things we have ever done.

Have you heard this album, Tina? It's beautiful, but doesn't much sound like The Misfits.

Pvt Hendrix plays a musical instrument during his off hours, or so he says.

That's intersting. The story that's been going around, based on this recent biography & the guy's media appearances is that Hendrix claimed to be gay to get out of the Army. Maybe that's in another report, or maybe before don't ask, don't tell became actual policy it was de facto policy & the Army didn't like to put it in writing. (As a way to keep someone out, sure; as a way to kick someone out? There's none o' them to kick out: do you read me, soldier?) Or maybe he really was discharged for being a bad soldier.

ETA: The Hendrix claiming to be gay to get out of the Army story has been popular in part because it gives the radio guys the chance to trot out the "Purple Haze" mishear, "'Scuze me while I kiss this guy."

I thought this was where I heard the Hendrix bio interview. It isn't, but there are interviews with & performances by some names I've seen pop up here (Ted Leo, Spoon).

Corwood, I still don't understand what Beefheart was saying. I mean I get the basic point (Ornette's a genius, Cecil isn't), but I don't get the whole measuring thing. Cecil thinks too much? He's trying to figure out how to be a genius when any half-assed fool knows that genius isn't something to figure out, it's something that just happens, but it doesn't happen without guts... or something like that. I'm rather bulbous, so I guess I'm not fast enough to understand the Capt. And I'm crying a tin teardrop over it.

Jilli - did you get special advance word on the Bauhaus show? I've been trying to find tour info, and their official web site just says to stay tuned for an announcement.

I did indeed, via the pet DJ's LiveJournal.