Archive for the 'Music' Category

My How Time Flies…

Published
by
DT
on September 13, 2008
in Bikes, Life and Music
. 6 Comments

Been a while since I’ve been in here - you should see the level of spam!  Hmm, lot’s I could write about, but not much of it really matters.  There was no SSWC08 after actually getting through registration and everything.  There was a lot of reasons for missing it, but I’ll lump all the reasons together under low finances.  Kristin and I were really looking forward to throwing down with all our friends, but it just wasn’t meant to be this time.  Thankfully our little rough patch seems to be passing and we can’t wait to start catching up on some trips we’ve been promising - DC, Ocean City, Philly - you know who you are! You all are always welcome up here, we got spare bed space, beer on tap, and miles and miles of trails outside the door…

So what’s been going on?  My parents made the trip to Bedford a couple of times.  The last time they brought my grandparents to see our house for the first time.  They spent a full week and it was nice to have some visitors.  We sat on the back porch, listening to them tell stories of growing up in a very different time.  Getting your history from somebody who lived through it is an amazing experience.  I only wish I was a better writer, because the book that could be written on my grandparents would not soon be forgotten.

Let’s see, spent my 31st birthday up in Maine. We stopped by Portsmouth Brewing on the way up and Kristin let me get one of their growlers of IPA as a present. Pretty good IPA, even better growler…

Growler, photo by Kristin

Growler, photo by Kristin

Work has been good.  It’s slowed down quite a bit recently, which means I’m working a more normal schedule.  Still locked away in a lab, away from internet, email, phone, etc., but at least when the day is done I can head out and it’s still daylight outside.  I’ve been using ESRI’s ArcGIS more lately and I gotta say, it pretty much sucks ass.  For those who don’t know what ArcGIS is, it’s basically a very large GIS (Geographical Information System) software set.  Most of the stuff we use it for is highly CPU intensive, so we have pretty beefy computers.  Here’s the rub, all the computer power we can buy and all the software does is slow down!  It can’t take advantage of a 64 bit machine and it can’t can’t take advantage of multi-core technology (this is a killer, because it means a single processor machine is actually quicker)…talk about lame!  Oh, but wait, ESRI is on it…should be ready sometime in 2010…nice, jerks.

Anyway, I’ve also been doing some riding, not as much as I’d like, but a lot of the rides have been excellent.  A few mini-epics here and there and I’ve been riding the Minuteman path and it’s BCT dirt extension more and more lately just to put in the miles.  From the house to the end of the bikepath and back is right at 20 miles.

There was an awesome ride that I kind of pushed my way into, the BADASS, only to have it all go horribly wrong.  You know it’s going to be a good time when you’re the first one to drop out before you reach the PR, which is like 3 miles into the ride, ha.  It was mostly because I had jammed my thumb a day earlier and it was really difficult to grip the bar (boohoo, I know).  On top of that my rear wheel was tweaked before the ride, so I put on a different wheel (with different tube/tire combo).  First set of rocks I got a slow flat that didn’t rear it’s head until reaching the first road climb.  I dropped out right after talking to one of the guys and telling him people shouldn’t wait for me (I noticed my rear flat as he was making the turn ahead of me).  Got home, pulled the wheel, trued the original rear wheel, threw on a new chain from deep in the parts box, even found a set of rotors that were in better condition than the ones I was using, so I switched those out.  Now the bike is running well, but a few weeks later and I still have a bum thumb…something must be cracked/broken.  At least the road/path riding is now tolerable.  It just sucks though, I was really looking forward to the long ride and if I was them I probably wouldn’t be too quick to invite me back.  Oh well, just gotta ride hard and get stronger, so if there is a next time, it’s not such a disgrace.  The first time I rode with of them I ended up cracking my collarbone, the second time was in some crazy snow and I was just sucking wind, then this for the third time!

Finally decided to pull the OMM rack off the commuter and put it on Aretha and now it’s all ready to go for some S24O action.  Plenty of loverly spots for it out here.  Ride, ride, ride…pull off, camp, crack a semi-cold beverage, wake up and head back home - hopefully using a different route.  Should be a good Fall activity, considering temperatures are dropping and leaves are already changing.

One fun thing Kristin and I did manage to do this summer was get down to NYC to see 2 Skinnee J’s live.  We took a new Skinnees fan, Notte (Kristin’s friend from Syracuse who now lives in the Boston area) and our beautiful as ever hostess, Kim.  It wasn’t the best show I’ve ever seen the Skinnees play - that honor belongs to the time they came out in spaceman outfits, lots of smoke, and playing Irresistable Force, not to mention they were touring with Fishbone!  It was still a great show, especially considering they haven’t played live in something like 5 years and this was only a one week tour.  Lot’s of crowd participation and one of my favorite parts of the night were when they released 500 or so bouncy balls with glow sticks in the middle.  Talk about pure chaos!  Check out the video taken from the other side of the room…

Oh, and the opening band was Tragedy - a metal tribute to the BeeGees…talk about some funny shit!

I guess there has been a lot going on, considering I didn’t talk about going to Maine, hanging out with Mike & Cindy, brewing up some beer, or even the 3rd anniversary of being married to my incredible wife Kristin…at least that gives me a few fun things to write up now that I’m back and trying to dig through the memory banks.  More to come!

2 Skinnee J’s!

Published
by
DT
on January 25, 2008
in Music
. 2 Comments

That’s right boys and girls, smoke ‘em if you got ‘em! It looks like the 2 Skinnee J’s are doing up the 10 year anniversary of Supermercado in true skinnee style…a mini-tour bitches! For those that haven’t see them yet, here’s your chance. For those die-hards, here’s a chance to see them rock out one more time. Who knows if it will ever happen again…we can only hope.

Stolen from the 2 Skinnee J’s myspace page:

Dear 2SJ peeps…

Over the holidays, a golden light shone down from above and it was shaped like Stumpy… I picked up the phone and called an old friend… who called another old friend… who called another. One call led to another and before we all knew it, we were back together fighting over ketchup and eggs in NYC (ok, it was just me and Lance fighting over the ketchup). We all are a little older, larger, and definitely wiser (I hear AJS has exceeded omniscient).

Next summer is the 5 year anni since the last show with the full line up. 10 years since $upermercado. The time for the full fledged renunion has come. To make things complete we even got Action back on drums (B is on sabitical selling his ball swing - no, Eddie didn’t help).

August 6 - 11 2008

DC, Norfolk, NYC and two others TBA.

Put the request in for time off and book your flights now. Convert your 401Ks into small bills for Stump. And most of all, get ready to ROKK!!!

Aight, so it’s back to the drawing board…who else is up for some space suit action!

Monday Music

Published
by
DT
on December 13, 2006
in Music
. 0 Comments

This was meant to be posted on Monday, but for some reason I forgot to publish it, oh well, here it is.

Fantasma by Cornelius

Cornelius (aka Keigo Oyamada) is an out there artist.  He’s a japanese clothes designer, who just so happens to make some great electronic music.  This isn’t your older brothers electronic music though, this stuff has layers upon layers upon layers.  You get about 12 layers deep and you realize there’s no use trying to go any farther and fall into the deep grooves.  Everything from rock to hiphop to sound samples…it’s like a Japanese Disneyland on crack.  So give it a whirl.  I’ve yet to pick up his follow on album, but I hear it’s worth picking up.

Download here.  I think this one ended up being around 20mb.

DT

Monday Music

Published
by
DT
on November 27, 2006
in Music
. 0 Comments

Well it should be no surprise that I’m posting this one.  Here’s another selection of Cut Chemist songs from the newly released “The Audience’s Listening” album.  Chemist brings his usual turntablism skills to the show, clean concise cuts and scratches, yet this album is unique in that while it is firmly rooted in hip hop, it also dabbles in many other styles…can you say surf rock!  This tends to be one of the few albums you just throw in the CD player and let play from beginning to end.  Not only because it’s that good, but because the flow just moves along, like a ribbon of singletrack that flows along a mountain top ridge trail.  The grooves are infectious, if only Apple didn’t make such a crappy product (iPod), I’d be grooving a lot more.

What we have here is just a few of the selections, Track 2: (My 1st) Big Break - scratching is what he does best, Track 4: The Garden - taking it international with the world music, and Track 6: What’s The Altitude - bringing it back to the hip hop.

The Audience's Listening

Download here.  *Note: the zip file is 20MB.

Monday Music

Published
by
DT
on November 13, 2006
in Music
. 1 Comment

Better late than never again…

So what to come back with?  How about some hard hitting Minor Threat…just what you need to perk up on a Monday morning right?

Minor Threat

As a youngin’ I remember being fascinated by this record.  There was just something about the blue image above that could draw you in deeper and deeper as the vinyl spun on the player.  If you’re into punk, then you already know who they are, but if you don’t know the band, you owe it to yourself to give it a listen.  If you’re local to the Washington, DC area then you might recognize this band as some of the members went on to start the Dischord record label, offering great punk music at exceptional prices.  Damn, now I gotta make my way over to the records to see what else might be stuck in there…COC, Cro-Mags…who knows!

So here it is, 3 songs to get you going - Minor Threat, Steppin’ Stone, and Good Guys (Don’t Wear White).  Not their hardest stuff, but just some fun stuff.  Download it here.

DT

Pluto Is A Planet!

Published
by
DT
on August 24, 2006
in Music
. 5 Comments

Screw the new age scientists…Pluto is a planet! even if 2.5% of them believe it isn’t. Can I get an amen!

With depravity I break laws of gravity
Blast past the atmosphere to the last frontier
I go boldly through space and time
The sky's the limit but they're limiting the sky
I break orbit by habit
I ignite satellites and leave rings round the planets
A flying ace like that beagle
Nevertheless this alien remains illegal
'Cause their discovery don�t cover me
The immigrant's been left in the cold to grow old and disintegrate
Discriminate against the distant and disclaim this
'Cause their small minds can't see past Uranus
But I shun their rays
'Cause stun's just a phase
And my odyssey runs in two-thousand and one ways
And I can see clearly now like Hubble
Shoved off the shuttle here's my rebuttal

It's a planet.

Who do you represent?
I represent the smallest planet
Attorney in this tourney versus those who tried to ban it
If you don't agree go see interplanet Janet
Cause sun is star like Pluto is planet
So lend me all ears and let me state my case
about all the types of satellites we must embrace
Cause like my parents' great grandparents - this planet is an immigrant,
to deport it�s an offense
It's an upstanding member of the solar system
Apply the laws of Earth and make it a victim
Of Proposition 187
If Pluto spawns a moon, it will apply to the heavens.
I'll damn you like Judas of Iscariot
If you demote this mote remote to affiliate
It's like taking ET's custody from Elliot
Support your Lilliput, 'cause simply put

Pluto is a planet

Do it for the children
(If not for yourselves)
Pluto is a planet

Download “Pluto” by 2 Skinnee J’s from the Super Mercado album.

DT

Music Monday

Published
by
DT
on April 17, 2006
in Music
. 0 Comments

Artist: Johnny Cash
Album: The Original Best of Johnny
Song: What Do I Care
Description: Rock and Roll or Country?  Who cares.  I’m putting this song up this Monday since this is what I was listening to on the way home from Charlottesville on Saturday.  The song is simple, as most of his songs are, but it’s a song that makes you happy to be heading home to your lady…and after a day like Saturday…that’s all I needed.

Download here.

DT

Music Monday

Published
by
DT
on April 10, 2006
in Music
. 1 Comment

Artist: Fat Boys and Run DMC
Album: Both songs are from greatest hits albums
Song: Fat Boys and You Be Illin’
Description: And it’s back, Music Monday.  Tonight I’m going with a theme and that theme is near and dear to me…food.  Both are old and funky.

Download here.

DT

Music Monday (just a bit late)

Published
by
DT
on March 28, 2006
in Music
. 2 Comments

Cut Chemist/DJ Shadow: Brainfreeze

Artist: Cut Chemist/DJ Shadow
Album: Brainfreeze
Song: Track 1 and Track 2
Description: This is an essential mix CD. I think they only released 2000 copies and I was lucky enough to get one of them. It’s filled with the sounds of rare soul and funk, all from original 7″ vinyl 45s! This is the CD that really challenged all those crate diggers and beat geeks. You can really hear the different styles between Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow. Because this CD is so rare and no longer in production…I’m gonna be a nice guy and give you the opportunity to have both tracks that make up the almost hour long CD. That’s what you get, because I forgot to post something yesterday.

Download here.

DT

Music Monday

Published
by
DT
on March 20, 2006
in Music
. 7 Comments

John Scofield: A Go Go

Artist: John Scofield
Album: A Go Go
Song: Hottentot
Description: This is an album I recently borrowed from my friend Chris. Surprisingly, I never heard this one even though it’s from 1998. Why is this such a good album?…because it’s funky, funky like my non-wool bike jerseys on a hot summers day. Scofield is pretty amazing on the guitar and with the backing of Medeski, Martin, and Wood, the funk really shines through. My only complaint would have to be MMW just isn’t as all out crazy as they are in their own endeavors. Martin’s drums keep me in the groove the entire time though and Sco does what he does best…playing the guitar like no one else.

Download here.

DT