Say Anything (Not The Sweet John Cusack Movie...)

Acknowledging that people will just get their music for free on the internet if they want, Los Angeles band Say Anything has thought of a brilliant way to address the issue of illegal downloading. For a fee of $150, you can submit a short scenario of a situation that you think there should be a song about (your relationship, your mom's mac and cheese, your awesome rabbit) and lead singer, Max Bemis, will take a week and turn it into a personalized acoustic song. He'll even name the tune after you.


Admittedly, Say Anything is not my cup of tea. But I have to give them respect for coming up with such an innovative idea. You can order your song here. The store is currently not taking orders as the response has been overwhelming, but you can sign up for an email notification when they are ready to start recording the personalized songs again. Very cool.

Live Music Sept. 24-26

There are lots of great shows that I'm excited about coming up. Oh Darling, Tea For Julie, The Minus 5, and Floydian Slips all have big shows in the next few weeks. There's just too much music goodness to talk about it all right now. However, this week, two of Portland's best acts will play in two of Portland's best venues.

The Dimes open for Liam Finn (son of Crowded House's Neil Finn) at the Doug Fir Lounge tonight. The Doug Fir is my favorite place to catch a show in Portland (be sure to try a Fir Burger before heading downstairs for the show) and as everyone knows by now, I am borderline obsessed with the music of The Dimes (Johnny posted on his blog that we may be expecting an EP of new material in the not-so-distant future: http://www.thedimes.com/blog/). Sadly, I will not be in attendance at the show, but if you can make it, I know you will not be disappointed. Show starts at 9PM and tickets are just $10.


Luckily, I will be at Jimmy Mak's this coming Friday night for a set from Debra Arlyn and her band. Debra is simply amazing; her voice is incredible and her live show focuses on her more jazzy side, as opposed to the pop sound of her records. As an added bonus, Debra will be dueting with singer Liv Warfield for a tune, which will make the whole night worth it right there. Debra has also promised to debut a few new tracks that night, a couple of which I have heard and they are solid. Debra's sax player, Dave Milne, and his band will open the show, starting at 8PM (Debra starts playing at 10PM). Cover is $10.

Debra Arlyn will also be featured on the Oct. 4th episode of PDXposed. Yours truly was interviewed for the show as well, which was filmed at the Bite of Oregon over the summer, and got to brag about this talented singer/songwriter. PDXposed airs on the local NBC affiliate or you can watch online at http://www.pdxposed.com/. Intervision was recently featured on the show and their segment is also worth checking out.

Oh Darling: Nice Nice

Oh Darling Video6 from Dummy Id on Vimeo.

Alright, I'll admit it, a have a bit of a thing for Portland singer/songwriter Jasmine Ash. Yes, every time I talk to her, I turn into a 14 year old girl flipping through the pages of Tiger Beat looking at pictures of Orlando Bloom. But what's not to like about her: she's a pretty girl, with a great sense of fashion (along with band mate J. Marie), and she loves bunnies. However, this post is not about my admittedly borderline-concerning crush for Jasmine. Nay, it is about the debut album Nice Nice from Jasmine's band, Oh Darling.

I was first introduced to Jasmine on her solo album Shine. I was drawn to her Lisa Loeb-esque vocals and her solid songwriting. I knew that she was also in a band which I had been told was quite different from her solo stuff. I was anxious to hear how that material would sound, though I did have concerns that a band might distract from all of the things I liked about Jasmine's solo work. A few months later, a copy of Nice Nice was sitting on my desk. I couldn't have been more wrong about my concerns...

Oh Darling is no mere backing band for Jasmine. Each band member contributes heavily to the final project, resulting in ten tracks of beautiful indie pop rock. The album opens with a simple guitar riff on "Shoulda Never" before the rest of the band kicks in, leading to a rocking chorus. Guitarist Daven is actually new to the instrument, having played bass in previous bands and being told he would need to learn a new instrument in order to join Oh Darling (bassist J. Marie had that role locked down already). Whether the simplicity in his playing is due to his lack of experience or intentional is not important. It works. In fact, the strength of the whole band lies in its unassumingness. Nobody is trying to outshine one another in their playing. Most songs last no longer than three minutes, leaving the listener begging for more. However, it would be unfair to say that what Oh Darling does on Nice Nice is simple. There isn't anything conventional about putting together an album this good.

It's hard to pick a favorite track since they are all solid, but "Blindspot" is certainly a highlight for me; three beautiful minutes of Jasmine's voice over a killer bass line from J. Marie, highlighted at the end by Jasmine's synth. However, "Electrocute," "Hey.Stay.Wait.Explode," and "Against A Skyline" have all been favorites at one time or another since I received a copy of the album. The music is happy, fun, danceable and although just released this past week, was a perfect summer album for those of us that were lucky enough to get a copy before the release date. There are even a couple videos to promote the album, filmed by Kyle Oddson; the video for "Waking Up On A Train" was filmed at the Secret Society Ballroom and the streets of Portland.

Oh Darling celebrates their CD release in Portland at the Doug Fir Lounge on Oct. 3rd. I've caught them in concert a couple of times already and they put on an excellent show (new drummer Jake adds quite a bit of energy to the live experience). UHF and friends of Northwest Noise, Tea For Julie, are also on the bill. Be sure to check out some of the best live music Portland has to offer. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and pick up your own copy of Nice Nice; you can preview it here. You can also listen to the Oh Darling interview on NW Noise here.

Happy Anniversary To Me

One year today. I did not achieve the goal I set for myself at the one year mark (mo' money), so it's time to hit the pavement and begin the job search again in this oh-so-thriving economy. Wish me luck.

My Favorist Little Guy

My good friend, Leslie, posted this on her blog about me and my bunny, Petey. I thought it was cute, so I'm posting it here so you all can enjoy.

"Pet Survey

People get nuts about their pets. In America it seems at times that pets are more revered than kids, and why not, they’re cuter and cry less often. I just thought for fun I’d do a little census of the types of pets of the people I know.

Justin and Petey:

Petey is Justin’s fluffy orange-and-white lop bunny. He has an entire carpeted basement to himself to hop around in. Likes girls, hiding in dark corners, and being picked up by his scruff. Apparently doesn’t like carrots and is potty trained. Rank of pampering: High"

It's true. The little guy does get ridiculously spoiled. And like his dad, he LOVES the ladies (also, like his dad, he has large ears and no chin, but is still quite handsome and charming).

If you get a chance, you should check out Leslie's blog. She focuses a lot on media in the news and her own personal struggles in the "secretarial arts." She is also an exceptional artist. Link is to the right, under the "Respect" column or click here.

Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts

I reviewed the debut album from Portland's own Chinatown Dance Rock band, The Slants, and posted it on NW Noise about a week ago. I was pleased with how the review turned out and got some great feedback from it (including from the band) so I decided to post on my personal blog. Enjoy and be sure to check out the cd.


"Being the chief resident “Asian expert” of NW Noise, it only makes sense for me to review the debut album Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts from Portland-based Chinatown dance rock band, The Slants. While the band’s name may raise a few eyebrows, their music is sure to gain attention based its own merit. Living in a town where “everyone is in a band”, it can be difficult to find a lot of diversity within the local music community. However, The Slants are unlike anything I have heard in the Portland scene, and as much as I love the “Portland sound,” in this case, that’s a good thing.

Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts opens with traditional Asian music, kicking into “Sakura Sakura” in which lead singer Aron proclaims “We sing for the Japanese and the Chinese and all the dirty knees.” Band founder Simon Young’s bass skills shine on “Love Within My Sins” and Jonathan plays some tasty riffs on “I Want Everything.” Jen Cho and Gaijin ensure there’s plenty of rocking synth goodness throughout to keep all the New Order fans in the house very happy and AC keeps the beats coming. Aron’s vocals reminded me quite a bit of Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode and even Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran, a big plus. Jen Cho adds her lovely backing vocals to a couple of tracks as well (admittedly, I am a sucker for a girl with a beautiful voice). Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts gets you dancing from the opening track and keeps you moving until the closing “Vice Versus Virtue.”

The band’s originality receives much appreciation from this reviewer and the strength of the music proves that this is more than just some novelty band. Though the music is promoted as having an “Asian twist,” with the exception of the opening track and a few song titles, the Asian themes are subtle. Many of the lyrics focus on the challenges and identity issues an Asian growing up in American society faces, but they could be adopted by anyone who at one time or another has felt slightly out of place in this world. Heartache and heartbreak also are prevalent themes of the music. My only complaint with the album is the songs don’t differ too much from themselves, but overall this is a solid debut from a talented group of musicians.

The Slants have received press from multiple sources, including NPR, MSNBC, and The Asian Reporter. They also have shows booked across the globe in the coming months, including a few anime conventions, not too shabby for a band that celebrated their first birthday just a little while ago. There are still opportunities to catch them here in Portland though, including a “Welcome Home Show” at the Mt. Tabor Legacy on Sept. 19. I hear these guys put on an exceptional concert and I’m looking forward to checking them out.

Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts will be available nationwide on Sept 16, 2008."

Oktoberfest!

Widmer Brothers celebrates its 4th annual Oktoberfest tomorrow (Sat. Sept. 6) at their Portland brewery. I went to last year's event with my roomie and had a great time and this year promises to be even better. Great beer, great food, and an excellent music line-up. The lovely Debra Arlyn will perform, as well as new friends of Northwest Noise, Tea For Julie (check out the TFJ audio interview that took place in my basement here). This will be my first time watching the guys perform and I'm stoked to see them. TFJ takes the stage at 8pm; still waiting on a time for Debra. Also performing are Keegan Smith and the Fam, Those Darn Accordions, and Colin Lake and Wellbottom.


Admission is free this year! Though sadly the beer is not. The brewery is located at 929 N. Russell St. and there is a Max stop within walking distance. Stop by, get your beer and brat on, and enjoy some tasty music.

More info at www.widmer.com.

Update: Debra Arlyn starts playing at 6pm. Also, the pictured hookah above is only used for smoking flavored tobacco and not illicit or illegal substances.

Way To Normal

Much respect to Ben Folds. Rather than have someone leak his new album Way To Normal online before its release, he decided to leak it himself. Only it isn't the actual album, rather a "fake version" of the new release.

Recorded in one night in Dublin, the fake version of Way To Normal contains 6 songs that will not be on the actual album, and three songs that will, albeit in a different form, including the first single "You Don't Know Me" with Regina Spektor. Although much more foul-mouthed and slightly more goofy than a typical Ben Folds release, the songs don't feel too far off from the real thing (this is the guy that told an ex to "give me my money back, you bitch" on "Song For The Dumped", after all). The tracks are quite enjoyable. My favorite of the fake tracks is the piano ballad "Cologne", which briefly discusses the crazy female astronaut in diapers driving to kill a lover's new girlfriend incident. Other than the overly cheesy background choir (which gives this version away as the fake), it is a great song with a beautiful melody.

The songs are so well done that it passed for the real album online for some time, until Folds last month gave the real scoop to the media. Bravo to Folds for combating internet piracy in a truly unique way and giving his fans more music for free. Even more kudos in that the fake release has got me excited for the real album, out later this month; I haven't been this excited for a Ben Folds album since he was still with the Ben Folds Five.

You can check out the fake version of Way To Normal yourself here. He is also releasing one song for download per week on his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/benfolds.

Feed The Animals

With all of the entertaining I've been doing at the new place, one album has received a good amount of play time on the ol' iPod, Girl Talk's Feed The Animals. I am constantly asked who the artist is or where one can pick up the CD. Well, it's time for me to give the artist and the album the credit they both deserve.

Girl Talk is Pittsburgh mash-up DJ, Gregg Gillis. Feed The Animals is his latest creation, over 300 music samples condensed into 54 minutes of danceable music. Highlights for me include Eminem's "Shake That" over the piano melody of Yael Naim's "New Soul", Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" over the opening guitar riff of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under The Bridge", and in the closing minutes of the album, Huey's "Pop, Lock, and Drop It" over one of the 80's ultimate power ballads, Journey's "Faithfully". The music serves as a hip hop history course, using rap from the past three decades and mixing it with various rock and pop songs. Gillis does an exceptional job blending the samples together and, as mentioned, it always gets a response from its listeners.


Gillis received much attention from the distribution of the album as well. Like Radiohead's In Rainbows, Feed The Animals is available through a "pay what you want" system. You head to the website, type in a price you are willing to pay, click, and the album begins downloading. Those opting not to pay anything need to select a reason, which include "I can't afford to pay", "I don't really like Girl Talk" and "I don't value music made from sampling". As a member of Northwest Noise, I selected the "I am part of the press, radio, or music industry" option.

Being someone that is fascinated with new marketing strategies related to music distribution, I'm willing to give music marketing pioneers a chance on their music. Lucky for me, most of these new strategies come from my some of my favorite bands: the already mentioned Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails (who released their latest album The Slip online for no charge), and The Smashing Pumpkins, who announced today that they are releasing their new single "G.L.O.W." on the new Guitar Hero game. But I'm also willing to take a chance on artists I am unfamiliar with that chart new terrain in promoting their albums. Girl Talk is one of those artists and the risk, although free for me, has paid off. And I've introduced Girl Talk to at least a dozen of my friends, getting the music out there, which hopefully in the end will pay off for Gillis as well.

Quick plug: anyone interested in new marketing strategies in music should check out my friend Ryan's blog at http://www.petmarmoset.net/blog/. He does an excellent job discussing new ideas and being as he is someone heavily involved in both marketing and music, I highly respect his opinions and ideas. It's definitely worth taking a look. Bonus, he tells you where to find the best nachos in town!

You can download the Girl Talk album yourself at http://74.124.198.47/illegal-art.net/.

So Effing Cool, I Had To Share

Anyone looking for someone to do graphic design for them really should check out the work of my good friend, Leslie. Simply put, she is incredibly talented. Here is an amazing drawing she did for some party invites, featuring yours truly (I'm in the middle and look far more bad-ass in the pic than I do in real life).

And another drawing from the same invites featuring Portland musician, Brandon Chandler.

I can't recommend her enough. If you need some design work done, message me and I will forward on to her. She ain't so bad on the eyes, either. :)

Winslow Homer

While I was bumming about the biggest musical loss in my life since Kurt Cobain passed, The Dimes quietly posted a brand new demo via their MySpace page. The track is called "Winslow Homer" and it once again shows why they are one of my favorite bands.

The track can be streamed here: http://www.thedimes.com/music/Winslow_Homer.m3u

Click and enjoy.

Leroi Moore 1961-2008

Yesterday, Leroi Moore of the Dave Matthews Band passed away. He was 46.

I met Leroi in the late 90's after my first DMB concert. He was a shy, quiet person, but very nice. The music he created with DMB has meant so much to me. I will miss him very much, as will thousands of other fans. The music will not be the same with him gone.

Defeated By The Heat

Anyone in Portland this past weekend knows how unbelievably hot it was. Too, too hot. It was difficult to find the motivation to do anything but sit in my slightly-cooler-than-the-100-degrees-outside basement and try not to move. Sadly as I sat in the sweltering heat, pissing and moaning, I realized the Las Vegas-ian in me may be completely gone. It's been a long time since I lived in the desert and already my immunity to the blazing sun has left my body.


Luckily, a couple of friends played shows that helped serve as a distraction from the extreme warmth. Ehren Ebbage played another happy hour show at the Alberta St. Pub on Thurs. There's not a whole hell of a lot more I can say about Ehren; every one of my friends know that I think he is an incredibly talented musician. I was fortunate enough to introduce him and his music to a few of my friends at this show. Once again, Ehren played a solid set and even threw in a cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U" for good measure (my friends also know I love my Prince...). Nice thing about Alberta St. Pub, in addition to the talent, is that their happy hour runs until 7:45pm and the food is actually pretty decent. Unfortunately, the staff is less than accommodating. They were rude to some of my friends and, in an unforgivable move, were rude to the evening's talent. Online reviews also note the same thing: good food, horrible service. One would assume in a service industry this is something they would address. However, one would assume incorrectly in this instance. I'll give them one more shot, but treating an artist that brought in the majority of their patrons for that evening with any disrespect at all is unacceptable.


On the other end of the spectrum, the Buffalo Gap has always provided me exceptional service. They have a late night happy hour menu every night with good food for $2.95, including some killer BBQ pork tacos that I highly recommend. On their musical menu last Saturday evening was a new friend of mine, Brandon Chandler and his band The Revival. I've really been getting into his first album After All This Time (Leslie writes a great review of the album at http://deludedsecretary.blogspot.com/2008/08/review-brandon-chandler-revival.html) and I'm looking forward to the release of his second album later this year. Brandon and his band played an excellent set and I am looking forward to seeing them again in a month at a very special gig that some of you will also join me for.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you have an opportunity to catch a live show from either of these artists, jump on it.

Madison Mercy

Many congrats to my step-brother, Justin (yes, I have a brother whose name is also Justin; my folks were highly unoriginal), and his wife, Cara, on the birth of their daughter, Madison Mercy. Madison was born at 3:45am on 8/4/8 weighing in at 7lbs 12oz. She is a beautiful girl and a very welcome addition to the family.

Casa de Bondioli, Greif, y Pederson

Finally got moved into the new place. The whole process has kept me quite busy over the last week, but it has been well worth it.


The house is in the Hollywood District and is massive; way more space than my two roommates and I can reasonably justify having. Four bedrooms, a few bonus rooms, 2700 square feet plus a giant basement.


It is the perfect house for entertaining. We've already had a ton of people stop by to visit. It's what I've always wanted, especially after being in West Linn for a year and a half where no one wants to drive all the way out.


Petey has a ton of room to run around and play. That should help him get some exercise in and lose some of this extra baggage he's been carrying around. People probably think I've been trying to fatten him up for a meal this coming holiday season.


I feel incredibly blessed to call this place my home with two exceptional roommates, and one slightly overweight rabbit. I'm already looking forward to all of the good times that we will host within these walls.

Ehren Ebbage Interview And Album Review

Anyone who I have a had a conversation about music with in the past few months has heard me mention Ehren Ebbage. Ehren is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter that just released his debut full-length album Ten Cent Souvenir. He also just happens to be a member of my favorite Portland band, The Dimes. Before that, he was in Justin King's band, my favorite Eugene artist.


A couple of weeks ago I finally had the opportunity to interview Ehren at the Doug Fir with Gears and Leslie. We discussed his new album, his time with The Dimes, his experience with Epic Records, and his other band, The Floydian Slips. Johnny Clay of The Dimes also joined us to ask his band mate a couple of questions. The interview can be found on the Northwest Noise page at http://www.northwestnoise.com/interviews/ehren-ebbage-interview.

Leslie also reviewed Ten Cent Souvenir for the website. However, I have to say that I disagree with her on the song "Snakes," which happens to be one of my favorite tracks on the album. It's a beautiful track and I love the honestly in Ehren's voice. It's her first review for the site, so I can't give her too hard a time about it. :) http://www.northwestnoise.com/reviews/ehren-ebbage-ten-cent-souvenir

Ehren plays regular solo gigs at the Alberta St. Pub and the Buffalo Gap. If you haven't seen him yet, do yourself a big favor and check him out. He is also an active blogger and writes about his experiences as a struggling musician. The link is to the right in the "Respect" column, or you can link to it here: http://ehrenwords.blogspot.com/.

Brandon Chandler & The Revival

While at the Debra Arlyn show at the Doug Fir this past week, I had the opportunity to meet another talented musician, Mr. Brandon Chandler of Brandon Chandler & The Revival.

Gears actually bumped into Brandon in the bathroom of the Doug Fir and convinced him to meet the rest of the Noise Boys. That certainly brings a lot of concern for Mr. Chandler's decision making abilities, but he had just given an amazing performance, so I decided to let it slide, this time.

Brandon Chandler & The Revival reminded me a lot of Jason Mraz, only with a lot more soul (and a lot less annoying, IMO). I really enjoyed his set, as well as the tracks he has posted on MySpace. He is in the process of recording his second album, to be released later this year. In the meantime, his first album is available on iTunes and CDBaby and his song "Until The Whiskey Wears Off" can be found on the just released Kink FM Plug In Portland Local CD Sampler.

NW Noise plans to interview this talented artist upon the release of his second album, but you can check out some of his tunes now at http://www.myspace.com/brandonchandler.

I Bet I Could Get Petey To Do That

He already eats my books and my baseboards. Adorable.

Plug In Portland, Where Everyone Is In A Band

This week, Kink FM released their Plug In Portland Local CD Sampler and I have to say I am pretty excited about the track selection. Many of my favorite local bands are included on the CD, including The Dimes, Intervision, Oh Darling, Jasmine Ash, and Brandon Chandler, who I had the pleasure of meeting last night at Debra Arlyn's show at the Doug Fir.


The track list is as follows:

1. The Dimes * Paul Kern Can't Sleep
2. Dirty Martini * Waiting for Magic
3. Intervision * All I'm Thinkin About
4. Courtney Jones * Awake & Dreaming
5. Justin Klump * No More Decembers
6. Amelia * The Great Escape
7. Echo Heltrom * Davy Jones
8. Jasmine Ash * Fall (Hidden Fortress Remix)
9. Brandon Chandler * Until the Whiskey Wears Off
10. Breanna Paletta * Follow Me Home
11. Derby * All or Nothing
12. Julia Dawn * Beautiful Lie
13. Jacob Merlin * Donut
14. Oh Darling * Blind Spot
15. Stephen Ashbrook * 21 Young
16. Beth Willis * Nothing
17. Throwback Suburbia * Circles
18. Alex Arrowsmith * The Zaps
19. Lindsey Pool * Conversation
20. Cronin Tierney * Burning Bridges

The CD is available at no charge at all Kink FM events this summer, including Noon Tunes, Bridgeport Village Concert Series, and Kink Friday Early Escape Cruise (I will be picking up my copy when The Dimes play Bridgeport Village at the end of the month). Burgerville restaurants will also carry the CD starting next week, however I believe there will be a charge involved for those copies.

In other local music news, MTV gave Portland some love earlier this week when they ran a segment on the local music scene this week. As Mr. Wines noted in his blog, the news clip seems to focus on a certain niche within the Portland music scene, not entirely reflecting the immense musical talent we have in our fair city (http://www.petmarmoset.net/blog/2008/07/17/mtv-news-everyone-in-portland-is-in-a-band/). Anyone involved in local music scene knows there is much more to the Rose City than pop punk for jaded teenagers. Of course, MTV has been more focused on promoting Heidi and Spencer of The Hills than promoting actual music for a few years now, so I suppose I should be happy that they gave some local bands any attention at all. Though I would have loved to see some of my favorite local bands get some love as well.

• MTV
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All Of The Hard Work Is About To Pay Off

For the past few weeks, the boys of Northwest Noise have been working diligently on a new project, our first CD release, a live album from the lovely Ms. Debra Arlyn recorded last December at the Doug Fir Lounge during the NW Girls Make Noise show.

To say the album has been a huge undertaking would be quite the understatement. However, we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and we are very excited to have this project available to everyone.

Debra Arlyn Live At The Doug Fir will be released this Friday. The initial run will be a limited edition release with each CD personally autographed by the 2008 Portland Female Artist of the Year winner herself. The album features tracks from all three of Debra's albums, as well as two covers, "Too Good To Be True" and "I Want You Back." Those of you at last Decemeber's show know that this was a truly memorable performance; Debra showcased exactly why she is one of the top live acts in the Northwest.

Debra Arlyn and her band are joined at the Doug Fir on Friday, July 18th by Scott Fisher & 1AM Approach and Brandon Chandler & The Revival. Show starts at 9PM and tickets are $15 ($12 if purchased in advance). The NW Noise Boys will be at the show with the new album, so stop by and join the party, complete with air conditioning, tasty beverages, and great local music.

At What Point Is It Considered "Obsessed"?

Saw The Dimes twice this past weekend. Two times in less than 24 hours. Once Friday at 9:30PM, then again Saturday at 4:30PM. I'm not ashamed to admit it, though I'm convinced the guys think that I'm stalking them ("Oh hey, it's you... again..."). I've seen them close to a couple dozen times in the last year and they have quickly became my favorite Portland band. The new music they are working on is incredible. Standout tracks for me include "Paul Revere", "Clara Barton", and "Evangeline". I wonder how I can obtain some of the new music. I'm not sure if I can wait until their new album is released, though the guys were nice enough to tide their fans over with an EP in April. Unfortunately, I'm an impatient person and the EP just fueled the fire even more for my need for the new tunes.

The Dimes played at the Doug Fir on Friday night. My favorite Portland band, my favorite Portland venue, double bonus for me. After enjoying a juicy Fir burger (I do mean that literally, and not as the obvious double entendre), I headed to the green room with Gears and Leslie to interview the newest addition to the band, Mr. Ehren Ebbage.


I've been a fan of Ehren's for awhile, since he was the guitarist in Justin King's band. He recently released his debut full-length album, Ten Cent Souvenir. I've really been digging the album the more I listen to it. I recommend checking it out. It's not flashy; it doesn't stand out right away. But it rewards repeated listening. Ehren is an exceptional story-teller in his songs and it's been very cool to get to know this talented musician over the last few months.

Johnny Clay of The Dimes joined us for a new segment that Gears and I refer to as "Hot Artist On Artist Action". You'll have to listen to the interview to get the scoop on that. It is hot action though; that's all I can say. I'll post a link to the interview as soon as it is up on NW Noise.


The Dimes are playing Bridgeport Village's Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 31st. I was really impressed with the concert series when I checked out Intervision there last Thursday. In addition to being a free show with some of the area's best talent, there's plenty of free sample food and drink to enjoy from the mall's vendors. Show starts at 6:30 and goes until 8:30PM. You know I'll be there. I'll be the guy the band is desperately trying not to make eye contact with.

My Dearest Lisa

I know you were at the local Barnes and Noble this weekend promoting your cd of children's music. I wanted to be there. I was planning on it. Alas, something came up and I was unable to attend. I'm sure you understand, being a fellow bunny lover. In the end, it was probably for the best. Might have seemed a little creepy to have me hanging around while you sing songs to the kids. I promise next time you are in town, we will meet up.

Love,
Justin

Justin Royce: SECRETS!

1. I throw away pennies. I hate them. HATE THEM!

2. I can't blow bubbles with my gum. I've tried, I can't.

3. I like John Mayer. I just do.

4. Touching foam makes me cringe. Not styrofoam, but soft foam, like they use in bed mats. Just thinking about it makes my hair stand on end.

5. As much as I piss and moan about my ex leaving me with the bunny, I really, REALLY love the little guy.

Boo to Sprint

Sprint has been a constant thorn in my side since I switched to them as my cell phone provider (thanks for setting me up with them, Krake!). I have had multiple problems with them, as has my roommate and just about everyone else I know that is a customer of theirs.

That said, my phone is not working, yet again. Please message or IM me if you need to get a hold of me and I will give you an alternate cell number to call (don't want my internet stalkers to track me down, otherwise I'd just post it).

Weekend Music June 10-11, 2008

It's another busy weekend of music as two of my favorite local bands are playing shows in the Portland area.

First up, Intervision, laying the funk in your ear holes at a free show at Bridgeport Village on Thursday, July 10th at 6:30PM. It's forecasted to be a sunny day for this show, making it a nice way to spend a summer's eve. Bonus, you can pick yourself up a new Rubbermaid storage bin at The Container Store while you are there.

Photo by Shawn St. Peter

The Dimes rock it at the Doug Fir on Friday, July 11th at 9PM. The Dimes are previewing songs from their in-the-works second album, focusing on the people and history of Boston. The new material ranks among their strongest work yet (my review of a recent show featuring the new songs: http://www.northwestnoise.com/reviews/the-dimes-bring-new-england-to-mississippi-studios). Gears, Leslie (new addition to NW Noise), and I will be interviewing Dimes guitarist and solo artist, Ehren Ebbage, before the show. I've been a fan of Ehren's since he played in Justin King's band and have got to know him over the past few months. The guy is a class act and I'm looking forward to rapping with him this weekend. His new solo album, Ten Cent Souvenir, is a delicious slice of Americana. Bay Area band The Mother Hips also plays. Tickets are $15.

Photo by Dave Getzschman

Support local music.

Intervision Audio Interview

Gears and I had the pleasure of sitting down with the front man of one of our favorite bands, Mr. Paul Creighton of Intervision, a couple of weeks ago before his band's show at Jimmy Mak's. I met Paul a couple of months before in Corvallis where he proved himself to be a scholar and a gentleman. Of course, he completely erased all of that during this interview, but he provided us with multiple laughs throughout the evening.

You can check out the debauchery at:
http://www.northwestnoise.com/interviews/intervision-interview

Intervision's funky good-time music can be found at:
http://www.intervisionmusic.com/

Please note, I did not involve myself in the "Debra-Arlyn-is-a-skank" discussion. Debra is a tall woman with a big voice and I am smart enough to not piss that girl off :)

NW Girls Make Noise Live CD

NW Noise is releasing its first cd, a live album from Debra Arlyn and her band recorded last December at the Doug Fir. Of the couple dozen Debra shows I've been to in the last few years, this one sticks out in my mind, not just because NW Noise was hosting the show, but because this performance truly shows Ms. Arlyn as one of the top live acts in the Northwest and why she won the Portland Music Award for Best Female Artist. Please mark your calendars and plan on being at the cd release and concert on July 18th.

The lovely Ms. Debra Arlyn was kind enough to send this out to her mailing list this evening. I was gonna post all this later, but since Debra did all the work for me already, I'll just copy and paste what she wrote.

"A question I often get after a live show is, "Can I get that song on CD?" And regrettably there are a few tunes we perform live that have yet to be recorded...until now!

Thanks to our lovely friends at NW Noise.com, we are releasing limited copies of, 'Debra Arlyn Live at The Doug Fir!'

The live CD will have 10 tracks, including some songs that have never been recorded before, and a few of our favorite covers. The CD was recorded at our previous show at The Doug Fir last year...and will be available for the first time at our next show...JULY 18TH @ THE DOUG FIR!

As I mentioned...there will be limited copies available, so plan on getting a copy on July 18th!

Once again, details for the show:
FRIDAY, JULY 18TH The Doug Fir(830 E Burnside, Portland)
Tickets:$12 advance/ $15 at door
To buy tickets go here:
http://www.dougfirlounge.com/
or here...
http://ticketswest.rdln/. com/Venue.aspx?ven=DFL
Set times:
9pm: Brandon Chandler & The Revival
9:45pm: Debra Arlyn & Band
11pm: Scott Fisher & 1am Approach

We're very excited for our return to the Doug Fir...and to have this live cd available for you! See you on the 18th ;)

Have a great & safe 4th of July!

Debra ;)

http://www.debraarlyn.com/
www.myspace.com/debraarlyn
www.cdbaby.com/debraarlyn3"

What The Mux?!

My friend, Ryan, recently introduced me to the Muxtape via his blog (you can check it out here: http://www.petmarmoset.net/blog/; he also has a great selection of Muxtapes up there that I can't recommend enough). While I'm sure there are multiple concepts online similar to this one, Muxtape gains a little cred by recently having Portland band Menomena release a series of b-sides and other unreleased songs through the site (menomena.muxtape.com).

I decided to spend some time this evening uploading a few tracks for my own Mux-mix. Of course, I focused on a few of the local bands that I'm listening to at this time, as well as a b-side from a more well known band that blows me away every time I hear it. I'm sure the local musicians would appreciate you taking a listen to their tunes and taking a further look at their music if you really dig 'em.

http://justinroyce.muxtape.com/

The Cost Of Gas On Independent Musicians

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080622/ap_en_mu/touring_on_empty

Found this article to be an interesting read. Lately, many of the local artists that I have talked with have mentioned this problem. Intervision is cutting down their summer tour this year to focus more on local shows due to high gas prices. Oh Darling mentioned that diesel in California was close to $5 a gallon, making travel to Los Angeles difficult. And Ehren Ebbage of The Dimes only plays the band's larger shows to cut on gas costs as he lives 2 hours away from the rest of the band in Eugene. Not to mention all of the fans that have cut down on the number of shows they go to due to rising cost of gas (guess I did just mention it).

Bringing this topic close to home, the article features local label, Dirtnap Records, as well as Bottom of the Hill, a venue that The Heavenly States frequent.

Disappointment, Then Redemption!

As much as I love my DVR (perfect for repeated viewings of Lost), I find myself incredibly frustrated when a TV program runs over its regularly scheduled time and the DVR cuts off the last few minutes of a show. As mentioned previously, Scott McCaughey debuted his new band, The Baseball Project, on Letterman last night. Gears and I had the opportunity to hang out with Scott at the Doug Fir back in April and it's been cool to see him pop up all over the place as his other band, REM, promotes their new record. I tried to stay awake to watch, however the busy week insured that as soon as I lay down, I was out for good. I awoke this morning, turned on the tellie, and forwarded through Letterman's usual schtick (Will It Float? yet again?) to get to the performance. Of course, the performance started with 2 minutes left on the recording, meaning it cut out about halfway through.

Garr!!! (Yes, I make pirate noises when I'm upset.)

Thankfully, some nice fella, or damsel, was kind enough to post the performance on YouTube. Not sure how long it will be up before CBS takes it off, but here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2RNfhhlY-Y. Oh yeah, that IS Peter Buck from REM playing bass. Very cool, even if I can't stand baseball.

Scott McCaughey on Letterman

Friend of Northwest Noise Scott McCaughey (REM, The Minus 5) will debut his new side project, The Baseball Project, tonight (June 20th) on Letterman. Check it out if you're home early tonight, or Tivo it and watch it tomorrow morn.

You can check out Scott's interview with Northwest Noise at http://www.northwestnoise.com/interviews/scott-mccaughey-interview

Intervision at Jimmy Mak's

Intervision will perform this Saturday night, June 21st, at Jimmy Mak’s in the Pearl (10th and Everett) at 10PM. Evoking the styles of Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, and Jamiroquai, the show is sure to be a funky good time. Lead singer, Paul Creighton, is also featured on friend of Northwest Noise Debra Arlyn’s new cd Tomorrow Another Day (see CD review here: http://www.northwestnoise.com/reviews/debra-arlyn-tomorrow-another-day). Cover is $10.

Northwest Noise will be at the show, interviewing the band beforehand for a future podcast, as well as checking out the tunes. Stop on by for a rockin’ good time (be sure to arrive early, Jimmy Mak’s fills up quickly).

Check them out at www.myspace.com/intervision

Oh Darling is Nice Nice

Northwest Noise had the opportunity to interview Portland band Oh Darling this past Sunday before their show at the Doug Fir Lounge.

Oh Darling features the lovely Jasmine Ash (who is so cute I just want to pick her up and put her in my pocket) on vocals and keys, J. Marie on bass and fashion, and Daven rockin’ the guitar, which he had to learn to join the band. Jake from the band Jonah fills in on the skins and adds plenty of enthusiasm and on-stage theatrics to the group.

The band’s first full-length album, Nice Nice, is officially out in Mid-August, but is available at their shows now. I have not been able to stop listening to the album since I received a copy a week ago. I was a fan of Jasmine’s solo stuff (“Fall – Hidden Fortress Remix” being one of my favorite tracks from last year), but have been pleasantly surprised by the dynamic a full group adds to her vocals. The songs on Nice Nice are exceptional and act as further proof that the Portland music scene is chock full of talent.

You can hear the full audio interview at http://www.northwestnoise.com/podcasts/the-oh-darling-interview.

So Much Rock, You Will Need an Extra Pair of Socks!

Friday night brings a night of music with The Dimes, The Heavenly States, and The Minus 5. The Dimes are one of my favorite Portland bands and well worth checking out. They played an amazing set at Mississippi Studios last week featuring almost new music; I’m hoping they rock some of the new tracks tonight. The Heavenly States are heading north from the Bay Area. Gears, Tim, and I will interview them tonight for a future podcast (VERY excited about that). And The Minus 5 feature Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck from R.E.M. The evening begins at 9PM at the Doug Fir Lounge and will only run you the price of a couple beers ($10). The boys of Northwest Noise will be there early to get our Fir Burger on!

Saturday brings even more rock as Mike Doughty (formerly of Soul Coughing) will be performing a FREE in-store performance at Music Millennium on Burnside at 3PM. Mike Doughty has been one of my favorite artists for awhile and has had his music featured on Grey’s Anatomy and Veronica Mars. Friend of Northwest Noise, singer/songwriter Debra Arlyn will also have a FREE in-store performance at the Tigard Border’s at 7PM. Debra is promoting her new album Tomorrow Another Day, a cd that I highly recommend. Finally, the Mike Doughty Band will be at the Wonder Ballroom at 9PM. The Panderers open the show. Tickets are $18.

Please support independent musicians (and a very cool signed artist) by checking out one of the shows. Hope to see some of you out this weekend.

jp

Jedi Master

I would do the world a great disservice to not share the info that I have received from my own personal hero:

The underlying principle beneath all of this is to make sure that you are in control of your emotions, and the situation. If at any point you do not control one of these, it is often a safe idea to make yourself scarce. Women are genetically wired to be attracted to men that are in control, doesnt mean you have to BE in control, you just have to APPEAR you are in control. (i.e. dont be shaking, talk confidently, take up space when you sit down, look overwealmingly and uncharictaristically comfortable.)Given that you called you last night: If I was you, I would call back tonight and be cordial, be friendly, act however you normally act, and then end the conversation abruptly, perhaps making reference to some set of plans your looking forward to this weekend. Whatever you say, just do it genuinely with a strong frame (like you would say "the sun is shining") and you'll be fine. Take the weekend to re-evaluate some things and see if you can grasp some of the principles in the book, then call on Tuesday. As a side note, its always a plus to make her the aggressor (make her call, make her initiate hugs, make her do the work to get your attention) and the book go's over ways to do this, as does the double your dating ebook. Just breathe deep, dont be in a rush, and apply sound principles one by one and all things fall into place. The objective is not to let the drunk monkey in your brain control your actions (we all have one, you just have to learn how to tell him to shut up.).

Who's Gonna Drive You Home Tonight

Yesterday, I requested that Tara from 94.7FM play The Cars "Drive" for the 10AM theme of the day, which happened to be driving. She gave me a nice shot out (thanks Tara) and played the tune. As I listened to it, I remembered just how much I enjoy that song. Something about it brings me back to my childhood in Vegas. Driving home late at night, sometimes from Grandma's in Boulder City, half-asleep in the car, with that song playing. It puts me in this great mood as my mind wanders back to a simpler time. I've listened to the song a couple more times since and each time it puts me in a happier frame of mind. That song truly is one of my happy places.

RIP Benjamin Orr (bassist for The Cars and singer of hit single "Drive")

29

There's no denying the fact that I am a very lucky man. I have been fortunate enough to find myself surrounded by the most incredible people and I can't express enough how grateful I am for all of them.

A week and a half ago, I celebrated my 29th birthday. I had not been looking forward to it as it would signal less than a year until my thirtys. However, a good group of friends can get you through such trying times and a great group of friends can help you forget that you were even bummed about getting older to begin with.

The weekend of festivities began Friday night at a jazz club in downtown Portland, Jimmy Maks, to watch my friend, Debra Arlyn, perform. The vibe at Jimmy Maks was certainly cool, even if the older female bartender was obviously lacking in any social nice-ities or customer service skills. Jimmy Maks, you would be wise to let this one go. I also didn't like the fact that if you didn't make reservations to get a seat, you were pretty much screwed as there was minimal standing room. For a venue that specializes in live music, how do you not have a decent area for patrons to stand and watch the show? They do have a back room with pool and TVs that is great for lounging, but with no view of the stage. In any case, I had good friends Gears, Tim, Nathaniel, Matt, Nikki, Clarissa, Dusty, and Marcie all join me for the show. My ex was also there with a friend of hers. The show was, as usual, amazing, though Debra was obviously fighting a cold or some other illness, as well as exhaustion from a long week of travel. Took in a few drinks, some tunes, and company from my friends. An enjoyable evening capped off with a trip to Life O' Riley for yet more drinks and a full-on view of a couple going to town on eachother (the girl was straddling the lucky bloke; Tim coments on the incident on his website at http://www.northwestnoise.com/articles/making-out-at-bars) and another girl that was flashing her breasts to distract her pool opponent (I was buzzed enough to believe the girl had a decent rack). As the lights went up in the small bar, it was time to call it a night, but the rest of the weekend awaited.

Saturday brought with it a "surprise" party planned by Nikki. While Nikki had every intent of making it truly a surprise by telling me that she was taking me out to dinner for my birthday, she neglected to let everyone else know it was a surprise, so in the days prior to the party, I had many friends tell me they were looking forward to seeing me Saturday night, or they were gonna to be a few minutes late, or so on. So the cat was out of the bag. I still didn't know where or who was to be there, so at least that remained a surprise. We met at the Manzana downtown and Nikki had managed to round up Cla, Gears, Marcus, Sara, Becky, Christy, Timmers, David, and the Johnsons (Ryan, Robin, and Matt). Of course, having Nikki put this all together meant the world to me as she had obviously spent a lot of time planning everything. The restaurant was decked out with balloons and party favors. She even had a cake brought out with a Chinese candle, which is more like a firecracker and quite frightening to try to blow out. After the restaurant we headed to Blitz, a cool little bar that I had not yet been to. There we were joined by Luketan, (Holla!) Kristi, and Lil' Willey (if any others joined us and I have forgotten, I apologize; there was a lot going on and I had been drinking). My friends made sure the drinks were flowing and both hands were always full, with an extra on the table next to me just to be safe. Thankfully the darts were plastic tipped, otherwise that's an accident waiting to happen.

While at Blitz, I met a 5th grade French teacher. Not sure how that works, but after all that drinking, I may have crossed some of the details. Maybe she was French or she taught French; I don't know. Now as she was talking to me, I gaze around the room and notice that no less than 10 of my friends are gawking at me. Yeah, that's not incredibly creepy. We talk for awhile, but with all the eyes on us, I'm uncomfortable and she obviously is as well. We say our goodbyes and as she leaves, a couple of my friends take her place to ask me what was going on with the situation. Ask they are asking their questions, one of the members of the girl's group is still sitting next to us, listening to my interogation. Needless to say, my friends are horrible wingmen/women and I don't think I will be talking to ladies while they are around. But an amusing story anyway.

After Blitz, it was off to Life O' Riley once again where luckily we managed to miss out on any couples straddling and making out, but sadly missed out on any flashed breasts. At this point, I don't remember much of that bar, though I do remember Audi Isaac joining us with some of his crew and the return of Kristi. However, after closing out that bar two nights in a row, Matt brought a group of us to a late night Jewish deli that was nothing less than "da bomb." The service was a little strange, but nice enough. Our server provided us with a toy elephant, giraffe, and My Little Pony to play with, which reverted all of us to our middle school years as we posed the toys in pornographic positions. But little maturity can be expected at 3am from a group of drunks, I suppose. While I can't remember the name of the deli, I can say that the pastrami was incredible. Easily the best late night eats I have ever had, surpassing even Old Mac at the Montage (though the vibe of the deli could never stand it's own against the all mighty Montage). The deli does have an interesting environment in that it is located in close proximity to one of Portland's gay clubs and has big windows for the exiting club patrons to display their "talents". It also happened to be Mardi Gras weekend, meaning we did manage to see many breasts, unfortunately none of them female. I also did manage to see one of the scariest transsexuals I had ever seen in my life as this "lady" was way too big and burly to ever legitimately pass as a lady. I must say though, no matter how conservative you are, the pastrami is by far worth the sideshow you have to watch.

That ends Saturday night and sadly for now, this post. I didn't even get to the Super Bowl the next day. I'll have to save that for another time as I'm at work and have already wrote way more than I anticipated writing today.

New Name

I quietly changed the name of this blog a few weeks ago in honor of my good friend and personal hero, Chris Grow. On his Facebook page, he lists "The Inimitable J... P..." as one of his favorite books. I believe it is only fair that I at least try to create some sort of reading material that bears that title for the man. So here you go; much love, my brother.

Carl Karcher 1917-2008

Heard on television last night that Carl Karcher, the founder of Carl's Jr. passed away on Jan. 11 this year. I was a little bummed out, not because I'm a huge Carl's Jr. fan, but because I had met Mr. Karcher a few years back when I was working at the Marriott. He was very friendly and respectful of the all the staff. The weekend that he stayed in the hotel, he always had a smile on his face (he was in Eugene for a relative's graduation). He even gave me a VIP pass for Carl's Jr, which I believe entitles me to free burgers for life, though I have never used it. The few people I have talked to that have also met him, mostly former employees of Carl's Jr., have always had positive things to say about the man. Though I didn't know him well, this burger pioneer will surely be missed. Perhaps I will take advantage of the VIP pass this week in his honor.

Music Recommendation

If you have not yet heard Jeff Buckley's tune "Everybody Here Wants You," do yourself a favor and download or purchase it and listen to it immediately. It's around 10 years old now, but is still an amazing song that I still am digging.

How Long Can One Man Go Without TP?

Apparently a LONG time...

For whatever reason, I have been appointed the designated toilet paper purchaser in my household. No big deal, I work for a retailer anyway.

A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a total of 8 rolls of TP for the house. A week later, it was gone. No joke. I consider myself to be pretty conservative with the stuff and I live with only one other guy, so I have to assume he is the guilty party. And as the guilty party, I thought it should be his turn to make this oh-so-important purchase.

So I waited...

And waited...

And waited some more...

In the meantime, I had a roll for my own "personal" use hidden away. I just wanted to see how long he would go without some Angel Soft or Charmin. A social experiment, if you will.

Finally today, I gave in... a week later. Even Milgram had to put an end to his experiment when it got out of hand, and a week without TP is out of hand. I purchased another 8 rolls, which I anticipate will be gone by next week. Don't get me wrong: I love my roommate and will miss him when I move out this month. I mean, we've been living together for 5 years now. But a week without? Damn, that's gross.

Other Purchase...

I also purchased a humidor today (in addition to the Pete Yorn ticket), though it's hard for me to say what exactly I need a humidor for. I did manage to pick it up for the great price of $.99 off Ebay, though it was another $30 for shipping. Maybe I'll become a bit of a cigar aficionado now, like my good friend, Nick. Any recommendations for a good cigar?

Pete Yorn in Portland

I just bought the last ticket to Pete Yorn's upcoming show at the Doug Fir Lounge. That's right, ticket #300 out of 300. Wicked awesome! I unfortunately could not purchase another ticket to bring a date, but at least I'll get the chance to see one of my favorite singer/songwriters and the man responsible for one of my Top 5 desert island discs, "musicforthemorningafter" (actually, I'll see him twice that day, as he is doing a free in-store performance at Music Millenium before the concert).

Slideshow From My Trip To Seattle

RIP 200SX

DSC00299
Originally uploaded by JPizzle.

Was in a pretty bad car wreck a couple of weeks ago. Completely totaled my car. From the picture, I'm sure you can guess it wasn't my fault. Had some wicked whiplash to boot.

I'm doing much better now. Ended up with a sweet new ride, which I will post pics of shortly. And I certainly feel better. But I thought I should share the damage with you all...

Quit Yer Sniveling

I am really tired of hearing the individuals associated with the movie Brokeback Mountain complain of how they were robbed of the Best Picture Award at the Oscars last month. These people make ridiculous claims: the Academy members are close-minded, Hollywood is playing it safe, the Academy is out of touch with the rest of the country, etc.

And now the author of Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx, is joining in. Here’s a thought: maybe your movie wasn’t the best one that was released last year. To be fair, I have not seen Brokeback Mountain, nor the movie that actually won the Best Picture Award, Crash, however I did hear that both are excellent films. But it seems to me that Brokeback… offers little more than a love story, albeit one between two men (cowboys, nevertheless; didn’t South Park lampoon this idea years ago, claiming that independent films were just about gay cowboys eating pudding?).

Brokeback Mountain received a lot of attention because of it’s subject matter, and that seems to be the card that the makers of the film want to exploit (by claiming they didn’t win because the Academy voters are close-minded). However, there have been plenty of films dealing with the subject of homosexuality before, and there are sure to be plenty more afterwards. Should To Wong Foo… have won an Oscar because the movie features drag queens as the main characters?

While I don’t agree with every award given by the Academy, it seems to me that Crash was simply the better film. And since when is Hollywood concerned about stirring up controversy?

Update on "The Legend of Hatoon"

I received this comment from an old acquaintance of Hatoon's. It tells quite a different story than the ones that have been reported before. Based on the information I had at the time, I had made the assumption that it was her children that had neglected her. However, it seems that quite the opposite was true. I appreciate receiving this other perspective and thank the author for sharing this information with me:

Hello,My name is ----------, and I knew Hatoon very well back in the 70's. This letter is a year late, but I just returned to Eugene for the first time in decades. Because you mentioned her children, I thought I could possibly fill you in on a bit about that. I ran the Women's Center here in Eugene in the early and mid 70's, and at that time, Hatoon, who was then known as an alcoholic, stayed there frequently. I spent months talking to her, and often went to her apartment to stay with her in the evenings. She also came to my home frequently. Hatoon was a heavy drinker then, but it was clear she was intelligent, and could be interesting. She had attached herself to the women's community, and spent much of her time interfering with activities and parties given by individuals and groups. People tried very hard to be kind to her, but she always managed to thwart their efforts by reacting in a cruel and belligerant manner. In the center, she created problem after problem, mostly by endless manipulation, with the goal of dividing women from each other. At that time she already had many of the habits described in the articles from after her death, but in a less smooth form. She developed her habit of walking up to people and complimenting their looks because she had an angry relationship to the lesbians in town. She would go up to them and offer them lipstick, feminine clothing etc in an angry manner. Her compliments were a means to make people nervous. When she saw that I was making a difference at the Women's Center, she began to attack me personally in front of new women. She verbally attacked a dozen people a week though, so I did not take it personally. She did a lot of screaming and yelling around town in general. Ironically, I actually made a big impression on Hatoon, who admired my college background. She began to read, and learned the tactic of acting crazy, but then 'coming to' when people patronized her, so as to make them look and feel stupid. She began to dress, and speak more consciously, and made a point of copying me.She was particularly cruel to her children. Her daughter, whom she spoke of rarely, did not live in Eugene, but her son did, and feared her greatly. She was frightening, because she was essentially such a heartless person, who was utterly unfazed by the pain of others. Instead of enjoyment or warmth toward people, she was able to feel only jealously. Her take on life was -- people better notice me, or else. She always had an apartment when I knew her, but she preferred for people to see her as homeless. I don't know what her situation was when she died, but I'd be willing to bet there were individuals somewhere who knew a lot more about how she survived than the general public. Or maybe her methods had changed by her last years.If you Google Hatoon, you can find a blog from 'Bob', a friend of her son's, attached along with many others to the article on her death, who tells it like it really was -- how inhuman she was to her son. She threatened him, screamed at him, and made life unlivable for him. All she wanted from either child was attention, but even that had to be utter enslavement, and giving it did not stop her from her sarcastic cruelty toward him. She gave no money, physical care, clothing or food to either of them by the time I knew her, but I had heard she was marginally better when they were very young. I see that Eugene seems to be a place that applaudes and even deifies mental illness. Coming up here from Berkeley has been a real shock. Recently a toothless man who urinates in his yard was asked to move from a cabin in my ally because he was living in squalor, throwing his trash in the ally, and constantly sponging off everyone who attempted to walk there. When they heard he was leaving, several neighbors wrote letters to the owner of his house pleading with him to let this man stay, and calling him 'an asset to the neighborhood.' After he left, I found there were no more beer bottles thrown up and down the ally, nor trash littered everywhere, especially around my back parking in the ally. I am a single woman, and he specially picked me out for all kinds of harrassment. This is a man who was considered 'colorful and interesting,' just like Hatoon. In Berkeley people like this are given real help, and places to live. They are not allowed to live on the street, where they satisfy their narcissism by becoming public figures. I believe Hatoon was not schizophrenic, but probably manic-depressive and somewhat paranoid. I think she learned to exaggerate many of her tendencies in order to mask her essentially cruel personality. I'm sure she suffered terribly from the pangs of conscience she must have had, and I'm sorry she is considered a 'legend,' rather than someone whose behavior was at best benign, and at worst psychopathic.

Another Birthday...

I've been requested to write about my birthday, which occured a little over a week ago. Quite honestly, I didn't want to think about it a whole lot; I was depressed about turning 27. B was quite sweet in helping me to deal with it, but it was pretty hopeless at the time, as I was so bummed.

B took me to dinner at West Bros. for some good ol' BBQ. She got me tickets to O in Vegas when we go next weekend, as well as sweet ass pair of shoes, that I love. She managed to cheer me up at that point, but I really had to push aside my feelings of inadequacy and failure in order to be in a better mood.

The next day was the Super Bowl, which allowed me to play host to many of my friends. While the outcome of the game wasn't as we had hoped, I always enjoy having company. B upped the ante on sweetness by showing up on my doorstep with a lighted birthday ice cream cake and leading my friends in a chorus of happy birthday. While the effects of a six-pack prevented me from throwing my arms around her, it couldn't stop the smile on my face.

I can't really explain why I felt so depressed (and while I continue to feel so if I think about my age). Deep down, I still feel like a kid: irresponsible and immature. I haven't really accomplished the things I wanted to by 27. Not that I know what those things are, but I feel like I'm so behind in things that I should have already done. I should be smarter, more mature, richer, have more credentials and accomplishments, etc. I'm currently at where I feel that I should have been 5 years ago, and that bums the shit out of me because I have nothing to show for those 5 years.

In addition, the age 27 holds some weird feelings for me as the people I idolized as a kid: Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix, all died at 27. Robert Johnson and Janis Joplin as well. Wikipedia states that "occasionally, this (27) is the ideal age to die." At one point in time, I bought into that. How messed up is that?

To those that sent cards and birthday wishes: thank you. They helped to cheer me up in what was, and still is, a speed bump in my life's journey.

Sunriver

So I promised drunken updates from Sunriver and failed to deliver on that promise. So here is a brief summary of the weekend:

Got drunk on Crown and effed up on Absinthe, smoked a cigar, passed out, had Leslie draw tits on my face, was awaken at 5am by drunken brothers in the hot tub, talked to the police about the loud, drunken brothers in the hot tub, and received a $250 disturbing the peace citation as the person in charge because of the loud, drunken brothers in the hot tub.

Quite a weekend. And the Monday after, I received a call from the rental company "thanking" us for trashing the house and informing me there would be some additional cleaning charges.

So while I spent the weekend putting out fires, there was no time to post. My apologies and I hope this makes up for it.

Challenger, Twenty Years Later

Wow, has it really been twenty years? I remember that day very vividly: sitting in a school gym in Las Vegas watching on a tiny television the launch and the following explosion. I'm sure I was too young to fully understand what had happened, but it is one of those memories that sticks with me, a moment that, in part, defines my generation.

The fact that it has been twenty years also makes me feel VERY old, especially with a birthday fast approaching...

"I'm allowed one "my-bad", right?"

It's not my line, but it's funny as hell, and so true.

Can't Get Enough "Cannonball"

Seriously, I've really been diggin' on Damien Rice's music a lot lately, much like when I first got into Pete Yorn. "Cannonball" is an amazing song (you can listen at my MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/jppederson), but the rest of the album is incredible. I can't believe I never heard of this guy when he first came out a couple of years back.

Rock n' Rodeo, Take Two

Met up with some friends at Rock n' Rodeo tonight, the first time I'd been there since it reopened. I stopped going a few months before it closed down; way too much drama going on that I didn't want to deal with. Quite honestly, I was afraid I might end up hurt or killed as I found myself involved with a few fights there (I didn't start anything, I just had friends that liked to talk shit). One time, I remember we had to sneak my friend Mookie out before the cops found him. I think they got him through the kitchen and out the back door. I became sick of the scene and was no longer a regular there.

I know they reopened a few weeks ago, but I hesitated to go. Didn't know what I would be walking into. Stepping through those front doors certainly brought back memories. I looked across the dance floor and wouldn't you know, there's Mookie. Just like the good ol' days. We BS-ed for a while and caught up. All was good. While it was a definite blast back to the past, I didn't see a lot of people I thought I might, which in this case, was good. Some skeletons need to remain in the closet. But there were some people I did get to see, which was also good.

All in all, I had a decent time, although I could only survive an hour and a half there. Had a chance to see some people that I hadn't seen in a long time. And it did bring back some good memories of years past, my pre-college days. I may have to go back, bring beautiful B and tear up the hardwood floor.

That's what I'm talking about.

Fireworks?

Tonight was supposed to be chill. I met up with Forrest, Sam, and Anton for some drinks at the Indigo. We B.S.ed, hung out, that type of thing. At closing we walked out, when I witnessed a fight breaking out. I didn't think much of it; going out to bars, you somewhat expect it. But the fight dragged on longer than it should of. People jumped in to break it up. It kept on going. I was about to jump in myself when a gun went off. Not 20 feet from where I was. Scared the shit out of me. Luckily, the shooter was brought to the ground and his weapon taken from him. He may have ended up shooting himself in the struggle. He didn't get back up after the shot. I ended up directing traffic while the onlookers debated whether it was a real gun or not. The police showed up shortly there after.

I hate guns. Hate them, hate them, hate them. Stopped going to Kokomo's back in the day because I had way too many experiences with guns. Now this. Not cool, not cool at all.

Something in the Air

You can just feel it. With the Oregon/USC game taking place this afternoon, there's a lot of excitement around. And it really is a win-win situation for the Ducks today, since no one is expecting them to win, but if they do... this town will be crazy tonight.

This is probably my last big college football experience. Time to make it a good one. Go Ducks!

1500 Miles and Counting...

B and I have done quite a bit of traveling in a little over week; 1500 miles worth of traveling to give a good estimate. It's been crazy; now I know what she has to go through for this job of hers. And I always thought she had it so easy...

I'm exhausted. Totally wiped out. Took a LONG nap this afternoon. It was great.

To recap our adventures (all within Oregon): Eugene to Bend to Burns to Bend to Eugene to Portland to Eugene to Coos Bay to Eugene to Redmond and finally back to Eugene. One week. That's friggin' insane.

Lots of "good times", of course, but way too tired to try to tell it all now. Time for a full night's rest in my own bed and then off to watch the Ducks play Montana at Autzen. My last season watching football games as a student. So sad...