PopTodd

Damn, I miss seeing Jonathan live!

God Angrily Clarifies "Don't Kill" Rule

Probably had a much cooler conversation with him because you didn't recognize him.

I've had email exchanges with a few other lead singers. Does that count at all? Ian Gomm Martin Newell Jeff Lescher (Green)

Now, THIS soon-to-be-released collection looks really interesting: I was wondering if and when a Jim Ford recording of my "Ju Ju Man" was going to ever surface. Sounds like it could be a trainwreck, but I don't care. When it comes to Ford, I think that I am going to have to be a completist. He is just too damn good. ("On a whole nother level," as declared by none other than Nick Lowe.) TRACKLISTING 1. Looking Over My Shoulder 2. We're Not Burning Bridges 3. Heartaches By The Number 4. I'd Be Ahead If I Could Quit 5. Throwing Footballs At Airplanes 6. It's Just A Picture Show 7. Out Of Sc

Heard him interviewed on NPR about this last week. Guess that he's a huge blues fan, a pretty good piano player, and has been wanting to do this for a long, long time. AMG review:

Just went to Border's over the weekend, and picked up a bunch of CDs for $5 or less, a piece: The Sea and Cake - The Moonlight Butterfly Black Francis - Nonstoperotic Jenny Lewis - Acid Tounge Tom Zé - Estuando a Bossa: Nordeste Plaza Not a bad haul. Oh, and that Ric Menck disc is pretty good. Not the 4.5-star masterpiece that AMG proclaimed it, but still rock-solid power pop that's an enjoyable listen and (strongly) adheres to the conventions of the genre.

I love Hopper, too. I love the psychology of his paintings -- the things they evoke. The loneliness of the lone figure in "Nighthawks at the Diner" being the most famous example. But then in this one: What, or who, is casting that shadow across the ground around the fire hydrant? There are little evocations like that in just about everything he's done.

Just ordered from Amazon. I'll check in when I get to listen to this thing.

Not a lead singer, per se, but certainly the lead guy in his band (Dixie Dregs): Steve Morse. Saw him walking by at a NAMM show when I was 16 and I caught his attention. Told him that I was a big fan. He gave me a big smile, thanked me, and asked me if I had anywhere to be. I didn't. "Come on, take a walk with me to the Ernie Ball booth!" On that walk he gave me all kinds of tips on how to practice guitar and just generally shot the shit. A super incredibly nice guy who was really generous with his time. Basically an ideal "meeting one of your idols" situation.

This is super, crazy cool.

This is just a little more than a little brilliant:

When I was interviewing the guys from NC band Dillon Fence (really, really cool guys), Exene Cervenka popped her head into the dressing room to say hi. (They were opening for X.) Seemed friendly and nice, but I wouldn't say that I actually talked to her... just said hi back.

Oh yeah, almost forgot: Larry Damore (Pegboy/Bophal Stiffs) -- One of my old bands shared a bill with his roommate's band at the time. I had seen Pegboy fairly recently and they absolutely KILLED. I told him as much and he got all shy and bashful, but really appreciative. Kinda funny, as he is a very big, imposing guy, and even BIGGER when he's on stage. (The man's stage presence fills the entire room.) He was really nice and I felt a little bad that I may have embarrassed him. Sinderella Pussie (My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult) -- A friend of mine dated her for a little while. She was oka

Jonathan Richman -- More aloof than you would expect. Maybe it was that I was an unprepared neophyte interviewer who was trying his patience, but he was kinda distant and easily annoyed. I would still like to have a double chocolate malted with him sometime. Dave Draiman (Disturbed) -- A good friend of mine grew up with him and we had the chance to hang out a few times. A really, really nice guy. It's been probably 12 years or so since I've seen him, the day before Disturbed had their first gig at Metro here in Chicago. He was excited and nervous. Now he headlines Ozzfest. Nash Kato -- Aga

AMG review for it is great. I will be picking this up as soon as I get paid.

Great post, shoes. Sounds like an amazing night. And, being in Chicago, myself, I really hope that he grants your request to come play here!

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/06/140037172/guest-dj-nick-lowe

This was back in May: And, the offer still stands that, if any of you want to see the video of me and my (full, now defunct lineup) band playing on the Morning News here in Chicago, send me a PM. (I can't post it online due to copyright stuff.) Some great stuff on here, folks. There are a lot of talented VCers!