The U.S. House of Representatives failed on Thursday to muster the two-thirds majority needed to pass a proposed constitutional amendment backed by President Bush to ban gay marriage. The largely party-line vote in the Republican-led House was 227-186, 49 votes short of what was required for approval. Read more of the story here.

What more need be said? Thanks to Doug Rule, and the entire staff of MW, for the great preview of WEDrock.

And if the cover photo of Henry isn't enough for y'all, check out last week's Blowoff photos. We are taking charge of the District this week!

UPDATE: This more can be said, courtesy the AU Eagle Online. Thanks to Emily.

UPDATE 2: Some CNN.com coverage. Thanks to Todd and Andy.

Guess I should have read this before today's post, huh?

I heard Geyster's first single,"Bye Bye Superman", in the Summer of 2003, on Radio FG. I fell in love with the track, as did most everyone who heard it, either at my house, or at Blowoff. It has the classic French house feel, the sound of speeding through the streets of Paris at night, the breeze caressing your face, the busy nightlife spinning around you. Washington is sometimes like Paris; the wide avenues and visual references are detailed in The 1901 Plan for Washington DC. (More information can also be found here.) In lieu of a plane ticket, this song took me away from all my troubles last Summer. Geyster's music is soothing to me; perhaps it's the ABBA-esque vocals, maybe the reference to mid-1970's Cali-pop, or, on a personal level, the memories of carefree times as a pre-punk teenager listening to the newest Wings single on phased-out AM radio stations from the Big Cities.

Geyster's full-length release is oddly titled "I Love 1984". The second single is entitled "It's About You". To me, it's firmly planted in 1975. Regardless, it's ear candy.

The official Geyster site, including tons of media.

Buy the full-length release here.

Kiko is one of the most influential DJs on the French techno circuit. Born in Grenoble, he first received acclaim as a producer via the Phunky Data albums and as a DJ playing at raves and festivals across Europe. Embracing the techno lifestyle, he ran the Ozone record shop (a local hangout for now well known names like Oxia & The Hacker) and later the Ozone label but he’s still happy to confess to the huge influence that popular 80s musical movements have had on his work. Kiko's 2003 artist release, Midnight Magic, remains high on my "play anytime at Blowoff" list.

The GoodLife artist page for Kiko.



GEYSTER: It's About You (Virgin Records France, 2004)

GEYSTER: It's About You (Kiko RMX)

MP3 files are posted for evaluation purposes only. Through this site, I'm trying to share and promote good music with others, who will also hopefully continue to support these artists. Everyone is encouraged to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel merit your hard earned dollars. If you hold copyright to one of these songs and would like the file removed, please let me know. Availability is limited. (Text derived from excellent disclaimer at music (for robots).)

TOUCHSTONES:
ABBA
Wings
Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio's official site (try the architecture page).

There sure are an awful lot of sacred cows in rock ‘n’ roll, an art form supposedly rooted in irreverence. That’s the premise behind Kill Your Idols, a collection of revisionist essays overseen by Chicago Sun-Times rock critic Jim DeRogatis and his wife, Chicago Tribune assistant editor Carmel Carrillo. Read the entire article here.

Record companies are taking such a large cut from tracks sold online that many of the burgeoning online music stores will go out of business, experts warned last Monday. Figures obtained by The Independent show that the labels take home the lion's share of the cost of a digital download - making more money per track than they do with CDs in shops. Read the entire article here. This article speaks on the UK model.

The new VHS or Beta record, Night On Fire, was released last Tuesday. The metronome precision of Mark Guidry's kick and snare, coupled with the searing guitars of Craig Pfunder and Zeke Buck and the rolling bounce spilling from Mark Palgy's bass, is nothing short of uncut, main-lined funk that should find sustained success. Read the entire article here.

Voting arrangements in Florida do not meet "basic international requirements" and could undermine the US election, former US President Jimmy Carter says. He said a repeat of the irregularities of the much-disputed 2000 election - which gave President George W Bush the narrowest of wins - "seems likely". Read the entire article here.

A beautiful site - I've been spending plenty of time here.

I can't wait to see this movie. Looks freaky.

If you prefer to not leave the house, try this site. Very odd stuff.

Check out this piece, from a few weeks ago, on Gomi No Sensei. To view the commercials, go directly to IDM Productions.

A shameless plug for some great sounding audio plug-ins. Loving the Neodynium.

A nice mention of wedROCK can be found at bigyawn, a DC based music site.

I may have linked to this site before; if so, it's worth a second look.

A few fun links to get you through the weekend.

Some fine art, and a lovely fable to boot.

A flashback to the 1970's, a segment from the childrens' TV show, Rainbow.

The young bodybuilders.

BLOWOFF tonight. It should be great fun.

There is no way to understate what Jim Barnett meant to the wrestling business. The flamboyant, creative genius, who died last Friday at 80 from pneumonia, has been credited as the man who created the studio wrestling show. Read the obituary here, and a subsequent piece on his time in Australia. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Barnett in the early 1990's. I sat with him during a pay-per-view at the (then) Baltimore Arena, and he patiently humored my voluminous criticism and praise of the product. At the end of the event, I was certain I had made a complete fool of myself. We ran into each other occasionally over the years, and little did I ever think I would eventually be working at the company he helped build (pro wrestling on TBS / NWA / WCW). A childhood dream realized, in no small part made possible by Jim Barnett.

At one point, I was very close to securing the rights to his life story. I had been trying to convince Jim that his life story needed to be told, that a book needed to be written, and he agreed in principle. There were certain elements that he thought needed to be off-limits, and I was of the opinion they needed to be included. We tabled the project, but remained on very good speaking terms. Somewhere in my files, I have the contract we drafted, as well as outlines and notes from conversations over the years. I will always have fond memories of my time with Jim Barnett, he was a very generous and caring person, as well as one of the promotional mavericks of the 20th Century.

I am so loving the Elton John in Taiwan story! If the music thing goes South on Sir Elton, he's got a hell of a future as a pro wrestling manager! If anyone finds a streaming video of any of this, please let me know - I'm clutching my sides in laughter! The baby blue sweat suit is priceless - all he would have to do is festoon the back of his sweat top with the words "Sugar Bear", preferably in silver glitter.

Elton in the elevator, getting major heat.

Elton's current doppelganger. I used to work with Bobby Heenan at WCW (he was one of our Monday Nitro commentators), he was a real gem!

UPDATE: Raw video can be viewed here, requires Real Player. Go to Entertainment channel, and look for Elton's picture. (Courtesy Dale)

I'd like to share the responses I received from yesterday's post. Thanks for the kind words, encouragement, and understanding. I appreciate it. Bob.


Thanks for the update on your projects. It's nice to be a fan of someone who has been so accessible to his fans throughout the years. To be honest, I'm not so much into the electronica stuff I've heard, but you've gotta follow your muse, don't you? I am looking forward to B.O.S. and I'll even sample the Loud Bomb and Blowoff stuff.

Good luck!
P***


I'm not normally a fan-mail sending kind of fan, but felt inspired to do so having read your last blog entry entitled 'When?' I have been a fan since about Black Sheets and right up to LoudBomb. I am assuming from the blog entry that you get bombarded with a lot of "when is this or that coming out" emails, so I thought I would send the opposite. If I recall, there was a bit of a wait before Modulate, but I remember that the day Modulate arrived in the mail, I found it fresh, exciting (and it's still one of my favourites). I also recall feeling happy that the music sounded so revitalized, that the songs were strong, and that it was very much worth the wait. I think that the best material comes with time taken to prepare it, and so I thought I would send an email saying take your time. You're a fantastic writer and your words and music have meant a lot over the years. That's my attempt at a fan letter. Have a good life.

Sincerely,
C*** W***


Thanks for the update on the blog about your various recording projects. I'm glad you're waiting until you are satisfied with what you have. No need to rush, though I am curious. I remember quite some time ago, pre-blog, hearing something about a DVD from the COLAS tour as well as a live 2CD from a fall 2002 show here at Cabaret Metro. Are these somewhere in the pipeline?
 
Hope all goes well with WedRock, etc.
 
J***


Hey Bob, thanks for the update on your various music projects. Great read. Just wanted to say how interesting the Blowoff and Loudbomb stuff sounds; I hope you decide to post some mp3 samples soon. I admit that while "Body Of Song" really piqued my interest at one time, it's the Blowoff and Loudbomb stuff that really sounds interesting to me these days. I say this because I remember how blown away I was at the July '99 show at Barracuda. You started up the DAT for "Sunset Safety Glass" and then layered the shimmering 12-string over it. Holy shit. However, the studio version didn't capture the essence of that Barracuda performance. I've long favored your live performances and how songs take off in different directions depending on where you're at emotionally, or where you feel the song takes you at that moment. I've listed to live shows far more than I've listed to your studio recordings -- that's not to take away from the studio versions -- but is a testament to the energy and pure emotion you put out in the live shows.

I'm really looking forward to your new work. And please consider releasing more live stuff.

M***

I get a lot of mail from fans of my professional work, inquiring as to the status of various projects I've spoken of in the past. I guess my answers change, depending on what time of which day you ask me.

The main question: when are you releasing "Body Of Song"?

This morning's answer: as soon as I think it's finished. Had I released it in 2002, it would have been passable (at best). The two live band recording sessions from May and October 2002 yielded a few usable tracks, but to be honest, I was exhausted at the time, and failed to inspire myself, or the musicians I had assembled. There were a few fiery moments in those sessions, but generally, it sounded a little tired. Some of the songs are very good, some not so good.

Second question: will there be more LoudBomb releases?

This morning's answer: yes. Most of 1993 was focused on various LoudBomb remixes, as well as original material. There is easily another LoudBomb record ready to go - most of this music was played live last May at the Black Cat. I played bass and DJ'ed. Brendan Canty and Jerry Busher traded guitar and drum duties. All but one track was instrumental. I like this music a lot, and will likely release the studio versions early next year. It's pretty different from "Long Playing Grooves"; denser, moodier, less song structure, more loop-based.

The balance of 2003, in terms of LoudBomb work, went to the remix style. I deconstructed dozens of original recordings, adding beats, textures, effects. These remixes helped me think about sound in a different way, and kept the booties shaking at Blowoff. There's no way I can obtain masters clearance for all these mixes, so I highly doubt they will see a proper release. I have an idea, though. I'll keep you posted.

Third question: what's up with Blowoff?

This morning's answer: there are 12 songs finished, sequenced, waiting to be released. As with "Body Of Song", we've had a couple fits and starts with labels. It's a really good record; the handful of people who have heard it are shocked by the variety of styles we covered in less than an hour. It will be released early in 2005, one way or the other. We're hoping to tour, to promote the release.

One of the things I've learned over the past handful of years: it's great to have a live drummer, but sometimes, the loops and machines do the job just fine. I'm so tired of hearing people complain about drum machines; they are on almost every record you hear. Rock and roll, as we once thought of it, and as it relates to recording, is dead - it's OVER. The times have changed. Whatever gets the song across is what's important. We all have to move forward.

Another thing: the "demo" is almost always better than the "studio" version. The first time an idea comes out of my mouth and hands, it's pure. It's unconscious. It's the channeling of the raw emotion. With computer-based recording and mixing, it's not so difficult to salvage a wobbly but emotive vocal, an out-of-tune bass, or any other "unprofessional" glitch that would be erased when held under the microscope of the "professional" studio. The beauty of working at home: everything is a keeper, if I want.

CURRENTLY: The past 4 months, I've been focused on writing new material. Lots of guitars, both distorted and acoustic; song-based composition, using loops and programmed drums. Brendan and I did a session at Inner Ear some months ago, and we got some fun stuff on the hard drives. This morning, if I had to have something released next week, it would likely be the material I've written the past 4 months, mixed in with the best songs from what was the original version of "Body Of Song". I'll likely call it "Body Of Song"; this morning, I am certain there are a dozen really good songs.

Only one day goes by, and we already have two new additions to BlogJam: Chromewaves and Waremouse. BlogJam now has participants from DC, NYC, Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale. There's a few invites still unanswered, so the list may grow a little more.

Here's another show I'm helping to promote this season in DC. It should be a fun time, to say the least. Thanks to Bryan at DC9 for letting us stage the event at the club.

As it stands now, I'll be MC'ing for this motley crew:

Geekslut
Joe.My.God
Dogpoet
Jimbo
Vividblurry
Wonkette
Chrisafer

Jimbo and I have extended the invitation to a handful of other local and national bloggers, so stay tuned for more updates. We have the ad posted on the site - feel free to snag it and put it on yours. Or just give us a link.

Rich and I will be strutting our Blowoff stuff after the readings. I think this will be an interesting get-together; there's been blog-related readings in NYC, but I'm not aware of anything like this happening in DC before. And with this crew, who knows what could happen....

This past weekend was really nice. Nice weather. Saw lots of friends. Too much to recount. Something about a man in chaps, a Quaker, being surrounded by muscle boys, stuck in the middle, stuff like that. I got a lot of writing done, which is why this post is so vague and lame. Billy Doll says get well soon.

Blowoff THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

A mention, and photo in the slide show, of Ben Jelen in today's NY Times Style Magazine. (May require registration.)

Fall has arrived, in all its glory. More tomorrow - it's sunny, cool, and breezy today. I need to get out of the house now.

A mention of wedROCK in this week's Metro Weekly.

A mention of wedROCK in this week's Washington Blade.

It's been a busy week with wedROCK business. The happy accidents and disappointments of putting together a show of this size came and went through the past few days; all in all, everything is under control, and people in DC are buzzing about this event!

Rest in peace, Johnny Ramone. Your music changed my life.

The guitar.

The edition.

My 16th birthday purchase. I learned to play this album on my first guitar, and did so, every day, for many months.

The poster for wedROCK. Artwork by PJ Gallagher. Please distribute freely and often!

A wedROCK mention at MTV.com.

A local race, with a nationally infamous name. Scroll down to the Ward 8 City Council Race. It's already a story outside the District.

A blast from the past.

...but someone's gotta do it.

Fortunate Son video.

I can't wait until Midnight to order one. Then, when I get it sent to me, I'm going to head to Tysons Corner, and have as much caffeine as the law allows. It's insane.

I saw the Gang Of Four once, in September of 1979, at the Longhorn Bar in Minneapolis. They were the support act for another group who had an enormous impact on this then-18 year old punk: The Buzzcocks. I was pinned to the front and center of the low stage, soaking it all in. I lost interest in the band as time went on, the dance-heavy recordings were of little consequence to me. These days, I appreciate Solid Gold. But for me, as the '80s rolled on, the essence rare had dissipated.

Bands created in the wake.

An interview with guitarist Andy Gill.

An interview with drummer Hugo Burnham.

Buy a version of the song here.



GANG OF FOUR: Armalite Rifle (Original Single: Fast Records, 1979)

MP3 files are posted for evaluation purposes only. Through this site, I'm trying to share and promote good music with others, who will also hopefully continue to support these artists. Everyone is encouraged to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel merit your hard earned dollars. If you hold copyright to one of these songs and would like the file removed, please let me know. Availability is limited. (Text derived from excellent disclaimer at music (for robots).)

TOUCHSTONES:
Delta 5
The Mekons

A shameless plug for CNN: Barack Obama, 8 PM ET. One of the future voices of America; his speech at the Democratic convention had me wishing he was on the Presidential ballot this year.

Summer is over, and everyone is back in town. This past weekend, the neighborhood was buzzing with activity; streets overflowing with people, sidewalk seating at restaurants filled to capacity, and several events for all to attend.

Friday night, happy hour at Windows. The room was packed solid with regulars and rodeo men - nuts to butts, as I often say. I endured as much cigarette smoke as I could, then peeled off for a (relatively) quiet repast with Clickboo at Health Bar. A stroll back down the runway, some late night refreshments, and I am asleep by 4 AM.

Saturday night, Rich and I returned to our home base, and what a return it was! Our biggest night yet, lots of familiar faces, many first timers, the best sets we've spun in ages, and, without a doubt, the most shirtless men ever. Waremouse and Sassy Mark were spotted, sans laptops. Some NYC boys, Boston girls, Baltimore beef, Mr. IML, lawyers and realtors, a few confused Guided By Voices fans, and an overwhelmed bar staff. The next Blowoff is Saturday, September 25. Arrive early, and avoid the long lines.

Sunday was spent out of doors. The cumulative effect of the weekend's clubbing left me with raccoon eyes, so I thought it best to air out the pores a little. Many people went to the rodeo, or to Adams Morgan Day. I kept it super low key, no more crowded spaces for me for a while.

I woke up this morning to the strains of remembrance services and memorials to the events of three years ago. I watched the intersection of personal and political dialogue, the history of war and freedom, the pain of loss of colleagues and loved ones. On CNN, two newscasters were comparing their reactions of the day's events, and how their paths had differed from that day forward. When they made mention of "toxic soup", I had to turn off the TV. Sometimes, when I open an old box of paperwork or clothing, I can still smell the burning. Occasionally, I get calls from the NYC Health Department. I presume they want me to be part of a study regarding the long-term health risks associated with living in lower Manhattan in late 2001. There's a part of me that doesn't want to know. That's the way I am with some things.

I turn on the music. I have a large stack of music to go through for this evening's gathering. The Gay Rodeo is in town. There were lots of men in Western gear wandering around my neighborhood last night. I was not one of them. I was wearing my Eastern gear. Maybe I'll go to the rodeo on Sunday.

The model of the record industry: we are the filter, we are the taste makers. You are paying us to sift through the piles of music, and present you with the best. The Internet, and file sharing, allowed anyone to make their music available. Years ago, my concern was one of quality control - how in the world would anyone sort through everything, and eventually find the music that spoke to them? One answer is mp3 blogs. Increasingly, I feel that mp3 blogs are the best thing that has happened to the failing industry in years. It's the perfect amalgam of two things that are hard to find these days: good music criticism and review (think fanzine), and discerning taste and deep knowledge of style (your traditional indie record store clerk).

The long format used to tell a story, taking the listener on an emotional journey. The radio stations of the 1970s did the same. Now, radio stations are beholden to song pluggers, jockeying and cajoling program directors into adding increasingly disposable tracks, surrounded by bombastic commercials that have helped to blur the line between art and commerce. Was there ever a difference? The short attention span has played a part in redefining the art form. The art form is the telling of a short story; now, it's the punch line first, and if people respond, the back story follows.

It's a beautiful weekend here in DC. I'll be outside all day; one of my usual perches in the neighborhood offers both patio seating and free Wi-Fi. (I only wish the coffee drinks were a little better - they're passable.) I can get all my work done while watching the neighborhood parade roll by. Life is good when it's good.

In addition to all the fine entertainment at WEDrock, it's a great pleasure to announce the addition of DC Councilmember David Catania to our event. Earlier this year, Mr. Catania made a decision, as outlined in these articles:

Salon, June 3, 2004 (requires registration for viewing entire article)
Washington Blade, August 20, 2004
Queer Day, June 3, 2004
DNC: Kicking Ass, June 3, 2004
MSNBC, March 8, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Catania; we look forward to hearing your thoughts at WEDrock.

Cheney followed Zell, and couldn't help but begin with … not a lie, but certainly a howler: "People tell me Sen. Edwards got picked for his good looks, his sex appeal, his charm, and his great hair. [Pause] I said, 'How do you think I got the job?' "

Funny, apparently self-deprecating line, but does anybody remember how he did get the job? Bush had asked Cheney to conduct the search for a vice presidential candidate, and he came up with himself. He got the job because he picked himself.

Half-truths and embellishments are one thing; they're common at political conventions, vital flourishes for a theatrical air. Lies are another thing, and last week's Republican convention was soaked in them. Read more here. First spotted at Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish.

We restart on Saturday.

Well, it's official: WEDrock will be happening in DC!

The date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
The time: 7 PM
The place: Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St NW, Washington DC
The tickets: $40 / $100
The cause: A benefit for Freedom To Marry
The talent:
Henry Rollins (Master Of Ceremonies)
Sandra Bernhard
John Cameron Mitchell
Bob Mould
Avenue D
Morel
Ben Jelen
Purty Mouth

We have been working hard to get this show up and running, and now, it appears as if it will be a reality (tickets are on sale!). Thanks so much to Donna and Seth at 9:30 for supporting the cause, and my partners-in-crime: Josh Wood, Steve Gdula, and JCM.

The latest press release.

NNB was one of the early wave of Minneapolis "punk" bands. Led by the twin-guitar attack of Dick Champ and vocalist Mark Freeman, NNB were well known in the Twin Cities scene, but made little impact outside the Twin Cities. I have seen several interviews with Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo) name dropping the band. The disbanding of NNB saw members scatter to projects such as Red House and The Scene Is Now.

Their sound on this track, which most consider their finest recorded work, places them in the Television / Pere Ubu / Red Krayola school of alternating space, sparsity, and tension. The sonic temperament of this recording is pretty astonishing for the day; I'm guessing this was an 8-track production, and it certainly sounds "live in the room". Later recordings from the band did not have the urgency of this track, but are still interesting, if only for the hypnotic guitar interplay.

(If anyone involved with the band knows what NNB stood for, let me know via e-mail. The most popular answer I remember hearing was "No Name Band".)

Reference to the track's appearance on a 1994 compilation.

Buy the single for $175.

This person wants to buy the single, but maybe not for $175.



NNB: Slack (Wave Seven Records, 1978)

MP3 files are posted for evaluation purposes only. Through this site, I'm trying to share and promote good music with others, who will also hopefully continue to support these artists. Everyone is encouraged to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel merit your hard earned dollars. If you hold copyright to one of these songs and would like the file removed, please let me know. Availability is limited. (Text derived from excellent disclaimer at music (for robots).)

TOUCHSTONES:
TELEVISION: Marquee Moon
PERE UBU: 30 Seconds Over Tokyo

A quick note to remind everyone in the DC area this weekend: Taint is Sunday night. Also, check out Waremouse's new mp3 blog, Music Is A Virus, deftly combining music and politics.

I'm taking some personal time. Thanks for all the kind words about the mp3 postings. Music brings back lots of memories. See you soon.