from a cherry cloud

03Jul09

Vandy played this cut on the Roadhouse this week, and it is still totally stuck in my head. It is such a jam. He played the Shuggie Otis version, which is the original. I’m partial to the Brothers Johnson take, but they are both pretty lord.

Every year, Greg puts together Soul Freedom, his Independence Day show. It’s three hours of sweet soul and funk, and well worth your time. The show is archived on the KEXP website. You should give it a listen.

Eli came over yesterday afternoon, and we worked on the deck. I grilled chicken, and we listened to lots of good music. He really is a delight to work with.

My basil is going bonkers.

Strawberries, nectarines, and cherries with mascarpone? Hello.

The Sunset celebrated their anniversary yesterday. It seemed like a good reason to have a drink. And, how can you go to the Sunset and not visit the Smoke Shop?

Man, that is one of the last remaining old timey bars in town. We drank Early Times. It seemed appropriate.

I like it when dudes offer to drive. I don’t know why Kelly’s was closed last night, maybe it was a gift from the universe. That joint is something else. A really good spot to get into trouble at.

Truthfully, there is no shortage of trouble in Belltown. It’s still pretty Wild West in that hood. I like it.

Come through on Sunday and celebrate George’s birthday. He’s one of my faves, for sure.

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hang on, baby brother

01Jul09

I know it’s a real obvious statement, but Pike Place Market truly is one of Seattle’s greatest things. Pretty much every job I have had has been within walking distance, or loosely associated with it in some way.

Even though it’s been awhile since I was in the beer game, I am always happy to see High Life logos. It is still the Champagne of Beers.

I know I said I didn’t want to talk about MJ, but I’ve got to lift my jihad for this: Time has published a special commemorative issue, all about the self-proclaimed King of Pop. It is the first time they have published a special mid-week edition of the magazine since 9/11.

Seriously?

Even more upsetting, however, is the magazine pictured at the top of the rack. To the left, and above Heeb. It is called Going Bonkers? and, according to its website, is the self-help magazine with a sense of humor. What the fuck. I am really not feeling this.

Look how diabolical this corn dog is.

Eli and I had an errand to run yesterday, which brought us to the Market. If you’re not eating chocolate vanilla swirl soft serve from Danny’s Wonder Freeze on a sunny day, you are really blowing it.

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i’m just myself

30Jun09

Mother Nature is really putting out lately, gracing the 206 with what looks to be a summer to remember. It is awesome.

The bounty of the season seems more vibrant than usual. On Sunday, I went to the West Seattle Farmer’s Market, as I tend to do each Sabbath. There were strawberries so ripe, they looked like they were filled with blood. Fresh mint, cilantro, snap peas, weird lettuces, and tomatoes that actually taste delicious. The last of the peonies, and bunches of devastatingly fragrant sweet peas.

And, of course, cherries.

This gruesome creature was terrorizing people. I kept my distance. Didn’t want to harsh my high.

I started the day at Lincoln Park, where the trails to the beach always rule. I know that park like the back of my hand now, and it never fails to make me happy.

The tides are cooperative right now. Earlier, I talked to my dun on the phone, and then watched his ferry come across the water. Overhead, a rowdy bunch of crows had the audacity to go after the eagle. That big famous bird was holding something in his talon. It kinda looked like a big stick, but I am hoping it was a snake.

How awesome is that. Eagle with snake, fighting crows? Thanks, universe.

Apparently, Team Mob Fuck is claiming stinkin’ Lincoln.

For dinner, Nikole and I had a picnic at Alki. I cooked.

This is old news, but the Cave Singers released a new song this month. Their record comes out in August. I am pretty sure it is going to be the soundtrack to this summer.

Everyone already knows how crazy I am about this group, and that I truly think they are the best band to come out of the Pacific Northwest in a long time. I talk about it a lot.

You should go listen to that song.

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make me tell you i’m in love with you

28Jun09

I haven’t had a drink for a couple of weeks, which means that I’m sleeping no more than six hours a night. The days are really long and busy right now, and it is great. I feel fantastic.

I attended my first wedding of the season yesterday, at that church on the corner of Broadway and Republican. Riz Rollins and Rob Green got married, with the sun high in the sky and a near capacity crowd supporting them. I stole this picture from their website.

The ceremony started with a rousing version of My Cherie Amour, and ended with thunderous applause. It was absolutely enchanting.

There was hardly a dry eye in the house. I cried like a little bitch.

Lots of nuptials taking place over the next couple of months. I need to find some good wedding escorts.

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that mean mannish boy

27Jun09

Less than 24 hours into the story, I was completely sick and tired of hearing about Michael Jackson, and I barely even watched any of the amazing television coverage. What an incredible media circus.

What am I saying? It was way before the 24 hour mark.

There are a million things to say about MJ, and none of them are particularly original. You’d have to be Helen Keller to not recognize the man’s formidable talent. Words extolling his impressive body of work are unnecessary. Dude had cuts like nobody’s business.

There’s not a DJ I know, myself included, that hasn’t reached for a slab of Jackson wax. He is a dancefloor’s best friend.

There are just as many things to say about his descent into madness. I can’t think of any modern day cultural figure that comes close to Michael’s eccentricities, whack job ideas, and bizarre behavior. The shortest checklist on the fly sounds like a fucking joke. Pet monkey? Yes. Hyperbaric chamber? Of course. Gruesome surgeries, outlandish outfits, and a private fantasy land?

Yes, sure, and why the hell not?

This is a human being that purchased the bones of the Elephant Man, and dangled a real live baby off a hotel room balcony. A baby named Blanket. Jesus Christ.

And then there’s all of his deviant sexual behavior. I know, I know — MJ had a rough childhood. Didn’t like his daddy, thrust into the spotlight at an early age, freakishly genius. I get it.

But, here is the deal: he used children for sexual gratification. Little boys, all hyped up and super psyched because they just roller skated with a monkey wearing clothes at the Neverland Ranch.

Fucking inexcusable. I don’t care how bad ass Thriller is. Dude was a pedophile, the lowest of the low. That is fact.

Everyone already knows all this stuff. I am not saying anything new. That is the deal, if you are a personality as recognizable as Michael Jackson. Everyone knows everything about you, except for all the tremendously creepy shit you’ve managed to keep under wraps for the last couple of decades.

Man, the floodgates are gonna bust right open. The levee always breaks when someone dies, famous or not. You learn a lot of secrets about folks when they leave this mortal coil. I can’t even imagine how insane Michael Jackson’s must be.

I flipped around the major networks and cable news outlets the other night, jumping from morbid curiosity to sorrow to pity to disgust with each change of the channel. MTV was losing its mind, MSNBC told me that Madonna couldn’t stop crying, and FOX pulled out all the truly crazy footage.

After 15 minutes, I couldn’t take any more. My circuits had already been blown by the internet. Cry all you want, Madonna. Nice exclamation usage. Are we really in an age where statements to the press come in the form of 140 character Twitter feeds?

I will always love the Jackson 5. Off The Wall? Genius. I’ve got a reel of good times set to MJ soundtracks, from teenage make-out sessions to late night dance parties. My most famous DJ story involves a Michael Jackson record.

You know, when it flew off the turntable at the Gorge mainstage. While it was playing. I tell it all the time. It’s a good one.

Red vinyl seven inch, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, from a super cool multi-single reissue pack, given to me as a birthday gift from Ruben and Lacey. I got the record back. It is barely scratched.

The big story for me this week is the way this major pop culture event unfolded. TMZ changed the game on Thursday. Michael Jackson almost broke the internet. I already talked about it, with the Stranger. So did a bunch of other Northwest yahoos. It’s not all that interesting any more, but you can read it here.

Rest in Peace, you talented freak. I don’t want to hear any more about your weird and sad life, Michael Jackson, and I really don’t want to talk about you any more. Sorry.

To quote the great Silvio Dante, I said my piece, Chrissy.

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wanna be startin’ somethin’

25Jun09

Man, what a day in pop culture history. Two true American icons in one day? Incredible.

I can’t believe the internet isn’t broken.

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we gonna understand each other

23Jun09

Have you seen the current show at Greg Kucera yet? You better hurry up if you haven’t. It closes June 27.

I saw it last week and I am still thinking about some of the stuff. Plus, I always forget how much I love Chuck Close, and then I am reminded that he blows my mind.

It’s not that hot out right now, but that didn’t stop Nikole from coming over for steaks on the grill this weekend. We laughed so hard we couldn’t even talk. That is good times.

I forgot to mention the other day that I am really going to miss that eagle at Adams Elementary. I seriously love it. It looks like he is in a field of green beans.

I mean it about that show. You should go see it.

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