I mUst be LoOsiNg my mInD...

ManScare

MANSCARE!

The Face of Music

I went to the feedback forum at the Edge 103.9 office last night. Eight of the ten invited made it. Something happened that I should have foreseen. Those that were there, cared about music in general. Who else would make the effort? The majority audience of the Edge, was grossly misrepresented. And that’s a good thing. I don’t have any backing stats, but it is my educated guess that the main Edge listener is your High School teenager. I don’t think there was anyone under 20 at the forum and they were all male. In fact, I’d say a couple of them were in their early 30s.

The forum was moderated by someone from L.A., not affiliated with the Edge. We started by filling out a survey, with questions very similar to a previous on-line survey. Then the moderator asked for our answers and we discussed. Everyone there was for more variety and less “big hit” repetition. However, most everyone there felt the Edge was close to be being a great station, not much more to change. One of my answers stated that the Edge “was definitely better than before, but still needed a long way to go.” He came back to me and asked my why and how. I stated that the Edge is playing more of a variety of songs, but that the majority of the bands played are still on corporate record labels and it would be great to hear more independent bands. I also mentioned that my fat CD case is still 95% filled with bands that aren’t played anywhere on the radio. He asked what my top three current CDs were and I mentioned a few and no one had heard of them. He mentioned that I seemed knowledgeable of the independent scene and asked how I stay up on that. I just said “Internet, word-of-mouth, and concerts.”

So, it all went pretty well. I got a free CD out of it also. I think we’ll have a decent FM radio station here in Phoenix. As long as they have enough listeners that advertisers will still want to spend money. Will we have the perfect station? Most likely never. In order for that to happen, it’d have to be privately financed or at a college. And there are some colleges that have awesome stations.

Peel Pictures & Audio

BBC News has a cool feature on John Peel with pictures and audio.

Synch it up!

If you haven't already heard by now, on last weekend's Saturday Night Live, there was a technical difficulty with Ashlee Simpson's second performance. The wrong vocal track came on for her to sing, or lip synch, along to. Oops! If you didn't get the pleasure of seeing her awkward moment, catch it here.

There have been all kinds of excuses coming out since the incident, from her, her record company, even her father. The big one being that she lost her voice before the show due to acid reflux.

Apparently it was the drummer's job to play the track. I don't know if he messed up, sabotaged it, or the machine messed up, but the record company will probably can him as a scapegoat. I love it when pop stars are exposed for what they are...puppets.

Radio Revolution

Years back, about nine or ten, there was an AM radio station in Phoenix that was kick-butt. It was called The Q. I even remember the call letters, KUKQ, 1060 AM. They played a plethora of independent, punk, ska, and other music. How cool was it? Go to the link and check the Nov/Dec '91 playlist. It lists "Rhinoceros" by The Smashing Pumpkins. It was were I discovered some new bands that shaped my CD collection, like Jawbreaker, Sublime, Fugazi and more. They even had a weekly program were they played some new music, and had the listeners help pick the new song. Then it died.

One of the current local radio stations, The Edge 103.9, was your average, "play all the hits the kids love" radio station. Then, probably due to some corporate cut-backs, it was dropped. It then resurfaced with a new frequency (106.3 was the original) and new ownership. It was now independently operated! They were touting the phrase "independent radio." We were then blessed by independent music flowing through the air waves, right? Wrong. The playlist didn't change one bit! We got to hear the same old crap. I believe it had to do with the fact that the program director was a former manager, or something, from the old Edge. She still had the same mentality.

Then, a few months ago, The Edge didn't have DJs blabbing, and they started playing a variety of songs not heard in a while. Then, every once in a while, an announcement from the new owner would play, asking listeners to call or email him, giving him feedback on what they wanted from their local independent radio station. They even had a feedback form to fill out on the website. After a few weeks, the DJs came back on and the format had changed a little. It's better, still a long way from great, but it is better than before. They don't repeat songs as often, and they play some songs from the alternative/grunge era, plus some good 80's songs as well.

I signed up for their "Insiders" email list. Early this week they sent out an email, saying that the first 10 people to reply, would be invited to the station to discuss more ways they can improve. I'm one of the ten. Tonight, at 8:00 PM, I go to The Edge and let my/our voice be heard. I hope I'm not alone. I don't want to contend with 9 teens wanting their pop-punk back. I'll let you know how it goes.

The Everlasting Blogstopper

It’s quickly becoming that time of year again… Yes, for many movie fanatics, the winter season is a beloved period of time in which many get to view great (or awful) films for the very first time. Moreover, moviegoers get a chance to check out preview material for new and upcoming films, like Tim Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.
Ah yes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Do you remember when Gabe first mentioned that film on the blog? I do, and I also remember how interested I was to learn that Johnny Depp was chosen for the role of the enigmatic candy maker, Willy Wonka. I was equally astonished to hear about Burton’s plans for the film in the coming months, like his inclination to tell the story from a darker vantage point. My appetite was further whetted by the rumored plotline for the film: a tragic tale about Wonka’s fall from grace. Even more telling was the fact that Depp himself cast the character of Charlie with a good friend of his, Freddie Highmore. The original film itself serves as the catalyst for the boiling cesspools of interest inherit in this new adaptation. And since people are greatly interested in seeing how Burton approaches the remake of this film, they’ve also become curious about what the new characters will look like, namely Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

Photographer Darren Goff managed to snag a very rough headshot of Depp as Wonka. It’s not very telling but it does confirm the suspicion that Depp would be a gloomier, wicked version of Wilder’s classic character.


Now here’s where my issue with the film comes into play. Whenever someone begins describing Depp’s Wonka as a more sinister version of Wilder’s Wonka, I can’t help but roll my eyes. I can completely understand Burton’s desire to bring out some of the darker subject matter inherit in Wonka’s psyche. And there should be no question that Depp is one of the few actors who could pull the character off without stepping on Wilder’s toes. But my beef lies in the fact that writers and critics often downplay Wilder’s sinister nature in their praise of Johnny Depp’s characterization. Personally, I thought Wilder’s performance was deeply sinister, wicked and even a little bit frightening. If I had to outline some of the creepiest performances I’ve ever seen, I’d count Wilder’s Wonka as one of the top few. It wasn’t a brilliant performance because he was seeping with edgy subject matter and was beheld in a sinister manifestation. It was brilliant because Wilder let so many of those darker connotations go unsaid. It was a mastery of understatement. Wonka was unaccountable for his actions in many ways and his egotistical and childlike personality made the performance special. It was a subtle piece
I sincerely hope that Depp isn’t just tacking his performance with the “a more sinister approach” label. Defining it that way is like adding sugar to Pepsi. It’s overkill, and it’s the fastest way to proving that Wilder may have been the only man to capture the character perfectly. At least, that’s just how I see it.

Just Peelin'

Broncos embarassed on MNF. I saw it coming.

John Peel, famous for his "Peel Sessions" has passed away. I have the sudden urge now to pull out the Smashing Pumpkins' Peel Sessions.

Today, right after work, I'm dropping off "The Glove Box" to the Phoenix Film Project. Here we come.

I can feel

Just last night I was feeling a little bit depressed for various reasons. I think more then anything I was coming down from the extreme pressure and stress related to the final three films I shot this weekend for Scottsdale Community College. Unfortunately, I was asked to be cinematographer on all three films, and in some cases asked to do a little bit more. It was a very stressful and trying situation for me and I spent many a moment thinking to myself, “I really wish I was hanging out with my friends right now or doing something else”. Thankfully, that was the last batch. Unless I film something with Gabe and Josh, I’m done putting my eye through a diopter for the rest of the year.
But like I said, the pressure, my required presence and the anti-climatic letdown after the shoot all served to dampen my spirits. I ended up spending the rest of the evening listening to the last two songs on Grandaddy’s Sumday, ‘The Warming Sun’ and‘ The Final Push to the Sum’. They’re not terribly dour songs, just vaguely self-critical. And when I get depressed I seem to self-criticize.


However, there is a beacon of hope. Yes, there is something else behind this shell of blank-eyed youth. Something driving his visage throughout the glum and sun-drenched dust of this week’s harshness. The Glove Box. Oh yes, I’ve been waiting for quite some time to see the final cut put together by Gabe and Josh, and very soon the wait will be over. This Thursday at the Valley Art Theater I’ll (hopefully) get a chance to see their final product on the big screen, along with a plethora of other short films put together by local visionaries. Just last night Gabe told me that they extended the submission deadline for the contest, which only serves to prove just how big Phoenix’s local film scene has gotten. And it’s a close-knit community as well. When I was filming one of the student films, an actor on the set began chatting with the crew about the contest and mentioned that he put together a film with none-other then our former screenwriting teacher. What a hoot! The premise he described sounded very cool as well. So I’m looking forward to that.
I guess the other thing that has begun to lift my spirits has been the recent acquisition of freedom: freedom from work, freedom from commitments, and freedom from student films. Now I can spend the rest of the year editing my own work and focusing my mind upon whatever subject I choose. Sure, papers will be due, and I’ll have to attend class, but that stuff is null in comparison. I think I’m most looking forward to getting to work on my next screenplay. And I’m also pleased to be able to spend time with my friends and family.

Oh yes, and I’ll get to blog more. Right? That’s got to be an upside.

On a side-note, I checked out that new U2 song Vertigo today. Yeah, I actually bought it from iTunes just because of their commercial hype. But get this: I actually liked it. I didn’t love it, but I thought it was a great deal better then anything found on their previous album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”. In answer to your question, no, I didn’t pay for that self-indulgent tripe. My cousin burned it for me. But I was still equally dissatisfied by their lurid tunes and glitter-littered pop rock. This new song Vertigo is a little bit better and a little bit more like my favorite U2 tune, "Sunday Bloody Sunday". But then again, I’m not a big fan of U2. My appreciation for them comes about because of borrowing War from Gabe and realizing that some of my favorite bands, like Radiohead, borrowed a great deal from the Irish group.
Moving on…

I’m anxiously looking forward to checking out Ted Leo’s new album, “Shake the Sheets”. It hasn’t gotten very favorable reviews, but I’ll decide for myself if it’s a valid Leo album.

And that’s that.