dm Cityview

I picked up a copy of this week's Cityview for lunch since I don't currently have a book to read. It happened to be the week of April Fools Day, so I noticed that the first page's stories were even more ridiculous than usual. Then I realized that it was fake. They'd made up the stories as an April Fools Day joke. Okay, haha, funny idea. Next page - also fake. THE WHOLE DAMN 30 PAGE PAPER WAS FAKE NEWS. There already is a fake news source, Cityview; it's called The Onion and you'll never be as good at fake news as they are. I can understand the desire to pull an April Fools Day prank, but.... the whole paper? I found the whole thing to be humorous - only at Cityviews expense. I imagined myself writing in the Cityview format ABOUT that edition of Cityview:

...And even though the paper was obviously trying to be funny, the impact was lessened by the sheer volume of ridiculous stories - like a child not knowing when to quit. I wonder if our friends over at The Register took time off from their bar-crawling to pull an April Fools Day prank? Little did the folks over at Cityview know, they didn't need to pull any pranks to be funny - their publication is already a joke.
-LW

GDP Preview - Cashes Rivers

We had our first CD Review from the Des Moines Music Coalition:

"It’s the voice of singer/songwriter Cashes Rivers that immediately pulls you in – it’s sad and mournful and aching, but also hopeful and sweet. After that voice, though, you get some nice, lush instrumentation and arrangement (courtesy of some of Des Moines’ best local musicians).
Horns and vocal effects on songs like “Beep Beep” punctuate the poignant lyrics, and the lush introductory keys of “When it Rains” let you know you’re in for something special, and it doesn’t disappoint – the fading vocals and electronic beats at the end leave you wistful and wanting more. Cashes Rivers also hand draws the cover to every CD he sells – how cool is that?

Catch Cashes Rivers at GDP on Saturday, April 11th at 8:45 in the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Fort Des Moines. "

Esoterical, I know...

I'm really into instrumental bands of late. The Autumn Project and Telefon Tel Aviv sparked my interest, and I'm finding some GEMS recently. I like this type of music because it FORCES the focus to be on instrumentation and tone, which is what I'm focused on anyways. It pushes musicians to really get the most out of their guitars, their effects pedals, their amp rig. Drummers are so much a part of the sound in any band, but the dynamics in some of these songs is incredible. Here's who I'm currently listening to:

Russian Circles
Beware of Safety
Telefon Tel Aviv
Explosions in the Sky
The Autumn Project

So Say We All...

The Onion thinks that Obama is so cool, we shared the same favorite show.  And ensuing depression in its abscence.  

in these modern times....

thanks brock!

What a world...

Scary stuff. The headline alone is scary: Giant Lizards Kill Fisherman

I always knew that Komodo dragons existed, but I never really gave them due credit. I always assumed that the name was a misnomer, and that they were just an oversized iguana. I was wrong. Because it sounds like, from the above article, the only difference between these guys and full-on Anne McCaffery dragons are wings and breathing fire. Seriously! Read that article: they can cut you up with huge claws, they can bite you with POISON FANGS, they can kill you with their tail, they can crawl up ladders, they can run as fast as dogs, jump up on their hind legs, and apparently, kidnapp Swiss tourists.

Say 'Cheese!'

I've had two distinct "picture poses" my entire life.  I had one for a few years (the awkward thumbs up), then I suddenly changed it to the point-at-the-other-person technique that's served me well for years now.  Stephen Colbert's "Black Friend Allen" move was in the middle of this phase.  Note where my faces get... more intense.  Angrier.  That's post-colbert.

The "Point Technique" - A montage:

Quite A Change

A lot of Matt's lyrics are good - these have especially hit me. I may or may not have teared up a little when he busted the last lines out at the M-Shop (we'd never heard them before, they're new). The song itself is about the person you love dying slowly in a hospital (I think), but like all good songs, people internalize it and make it about whatever's going on in their own lives...

"so we bury our love in cemetaries
because its something pretty for us to look at.

And I'll come visit you...
And I'll bring flowers too...

And I know I can change myself!
And I know we can change our selves,
And I know I can change myself -
But who am I without somebody else?"

Concert Calendar

On the local radio station's (105.1 Channel Q) "Concert Calendar:"

We're listed in the top two shows, and we're playing the Gross Domestic Product show at the bottom as well. Essentially, this radio station thinks that there are 5 shows worth noting in the next two months, and we're playing in 3 of them.

Nice job, Matt!

Cola Musings

Coke --> best in a glass w/ ice.

Pepsi --> best in a fountain cup w/ ice.

Mt Dew --> best in a very cold can.