Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Feels Like Home
I'm back. And so fucking jet-lagged. I am tired beyond words, but I can't sleep just yet, since I don't want to get up at 2am wide awake. Getting in sync with Vancouver time ASAP is especially important because I leave for Bumbershoot on Friday. Speaking of which, I should email Carlos and Dan...
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
6:05 PM
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Towards the End
I'm coming to you from an MTR (re: subway) station his time. The pace has slowed somewhat, so it's been much better. A typhoon brought some cooler weather here, as well as some rain, which means that I've been sweating a lot less. I've basically eaten bought done all I wanted to do on this trip, and aside from hanging out with Wing Kee some more tomorrow, I'm about ready to go home. And knowing that Theresa Sokyrka will still be around when I get back heartens me :-)
NP: (rumbling of the subway)
posted by Hanson |
2:39 AM
Monday, August 23, 2004
Keeping It Short
I'm at an internet kiosk in the middle of a very western-influenced mall in Hong Kong. It's damn hot in herre, but it's worse outside. Suffice it to say that this trip is both tiring and rewarding. I got me some cool gadgets, and some mean blisters too. I'll post more when I have time, but I'll leave off by saying that there are some mean and ugly-ass looking people here. Laters.
NP: (Noise)
posted by Hanson |
11:23 PM
Monday, August 16, 2004
Leaving On a Jet Plane
Hey, this is Hanson. You have reached my blog. I'm in Asia for two weeks, so I can't post regularly, though I'll still try to get the ocassional update in. If you leave your name, your contact information, and a short message, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you!
NP: Rilo Kiley - Love and War
posted by Hanson |
1:33 AM
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Weekend O'Rama
I had a nice weekend. Friday night was the Sebadoh reunion show, Saturday was John Cho day, and today was the Abbotsford Airshow. I'll try to do this quickly so that I can finish packing (which would be necessary, since I leave in a little more than 12 hours).
It was weird seeing Lou Barlow and Jason Lowenstein backed up by recorded percussion pumped out of a Phillips boombox. Still, (the important) 2/3 of Sebadoh was no less cool. This unlikely sorta-reunion show even brought out the likes of Katie Sketch from the Organ, who was in attendance grooving to the lo-fi sounds of two very 90s dudes. A pleasant surprise came in the form of Imaad Wasif, 1/3 of Alaska, who opened the show with an acoustic set. He played one Alaska song (Sun Don't Shine), and filled out the rest of the set with new songs and a Leonard Cohen cover (it's not one of the ones I know). Meanwhile, Jason and the Lou played a bunch of old Sebadoh songs, a little over half of which I knew well. During one stretch, they pumped out six straight off of Bakesale, perhaps my favourite album of theirs. Hehe. I wasn't expecting that, but hell, I didn't think I'd ever seen Sebadoh either.
Saturday started out with me seeing Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, a film I got to see only after convincing Ricardo that Alien vs. Predator can wait. I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw, not only because it had two Asians starring in a non-kung fu fighting roles, but it had actually semi-realistically showed a glimpse into the Asian-in-North-America experience. Oh yeah, and it was hilarious, full of the kind of pee-pee-poo-poo humour that I love. Afterwards, I was hankering for more its stars. Since I had already seen Van Wilder, which featured Kumar (i.e. Kal Penn), I rented Better Luck Tomorrow, a film that had Harold (i.e. John Cho). Suffice it to say that I didn't like that nearly as much as Harold and Kumar. I didn't like any of the characters. They all seemed like pricks that reminded me of people I knew. The ending pretty much sum up my feelings for the movie: brutal, loathsome, and detached.
And today. I got me some wicked colour under that blazing sun down at the Abbotsford Airshow. I haven't been back in nearly a decade, and it was much better than I had remembered it. Of course, good weather helps, as does good company. The sunscreen I put on in the morning didn't do much, as my face was all red by the time I got home. Lets hope I don't peel. That would suck.
Oops, I did it again. I can never keep these things short.
NP: Tilly and the Wall - Ice Storm, Big Gust, and You
posted by Hanson |
9:53 PM
Friday, August 13, 2004
Reality Bites
Other than Canadian Idol, last night also brought us Big Brother 5 and the finale of Last Coming Standing 2. On BB, the chicks alliance officially took over, having ousted crazy Jase. I don't really have anyone to cheer for this time around, though I can't say I had anybody to cheer for last year either. Karen is obviously the hottest one left, but she isn't really entertaining. Ah well. I'll save all my cheering for Theresa.
Over on NBC, John Heffron became the last coming standing, beating out two funnier comedians, the hilarious Alonso Bodden and the freakishly tall Gary Gulman, to take the title. Although Heffron was the least funny of the three, at least he wasn't Dat Phan, last year's winner, who took down the comedic giant Ralphie May, riding only a handful of funny Asian jokes all the way to the crown. Overall, this year's crop of comics was much better than last year's, which begs the (rhetorial) question why Ant was cut last year but made the house this year. Alonso should've won, IMO, but at least Heffron is almost always funny and uses new material for each set, unlike Dat guy last year. On the last day of August, NBC will debut Last Comic Standing 3, pitting comics from LCS1 against those from LCS2. This year's house should win hands-down, Dave Mordal notwithstanding. Yay! More Dave, Ralphie, Bonnie and Alonso!
NP: Tilly and the Wall - Fell Down the Stairs
posted by Hanson |
4:25 PM
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Sokyrka Watch: Week Four
This week, Theresa gave me goosebumps during her breath-taking rendition of Lionel Ritchie's "Hello." I really dug her performance, but unlike the judges, the scatting doesn't do anything for me at all (nor that green whatever that she was wearing). On tonight's results show, she made it through to next week's Gordon Lightfoot theme show (at the expense of Kaleb, the only brotha on the show), so she lives to fight another day. I sure hope she picks a good song to sing, even though I wouldn't be here to vote. I hope she's still around when I get back from Japan/HK!
NP: Sebadoh - Together or Alone
posted by Hanson |
9:35 PM
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Da-Done
As of 2:15 this afternoon, I stopped being a full-time student (for the foreseeable future). *takes bow* And I found the new Charlotte Martin at another A&B Sound too! Today's been a good day.
NP: (TV)
posted by Hanson |
5:13 PM
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
I Want Char Mar Superstar!
Coquitlam sucks. Really. It does. I went to three record stores today, hoping to pick up a copy of Charlotte Martin's On Your Shore. At the first two stores, A&B Sound and Future Shop, they had one copy but sold it mere hours ago (today is the release date). At HMV, the girl told me that they don't even have it in yet! Fuck!
NP: Not Charlotte Martin
posted by Hanson |
2:24 PM
Monday, August 09, 2004
Bursting With Excitement
I just bought tickets to see Tilly and the Wall and Now It's Overhead open for Rilo Kiley in Seattle on Saturday, Sept. 25th!! It's an early show, so I should be able to do a day trip thing, i.e. drive down the day of the show, and drive up right after. It'll be like the Postal Service show last year, which, coincidentally, also featured Jenny Lewis, except perhaps even sweeter! To understand the magnitude of awesomeness of the show, let me break it down:
* Rilo Kiley is one of my favourite bands of all time and I've never seen them live. They are responsible for More Adventurous, one of the finest records released this year.
* Tilly and the Wall is probably the most exciting band I've discovered this year. They play melodic indie pop that makes me giggle with glee.
* Now It's Overhead features Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink (aka Azure Ray) in non-lead-vocals capacities. Azure Ray is another one of my favourites that I haven't seen live.
The sweet, sweet music that's going to be made that night is the reason why I'm driving all the way down to Seattle for the show; but honestly, the sheer hotness factor alone is worth the trip. Think about it: earlier, I had called Tilly and the Wall the most attractive indie rock band this side of Azure Ray. Now both bands (in a sense) are on the same bill. Add to that the drool-inducing Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and you've got something that makes "special" sound like an understatement. It's like an indie rock beauty pageant, except without all that fake-ass bullshit that makes beauty pageants so nauseating.
I'd say this is a dream come true -- except I've never dreamt it'll be this good! Anybody else want to share in this better-than-dream?
NP: Elliott Smith - Let's Get Lost
posted by Hanson |
2:22 AM
Sunday, August 08, 2004
I Have Forgotten You
While studying at school (specifically, reading about the formal definition of an ISIS clock), I suddenly forgot how Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Not Forget You" started. That led to me realising how long it has been that I've listen to Solace, which led to me thinking about when I last listened to Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. I still know all the words to the album, but it's probably been a year since I spun the thing in full. That would've been unthinkable when I was in high school. My how times have changed.
NP: Sarah McLachlan - I Will Not Forget You
posted by Hanson |
7:06 PM
Eye On the ... Prize?
As of 10:45pm this evening, I'm in lockdown mode. I've taken it easy the last few days, finishing season three of Six Feet Under, reading a whack of Asimov short stories, and catching the excellent Bourne Supremacy. But until my exams are over, I won't watch season four of 6FU, nor will I watch the Sliders seasons one and two DVDs that I bought today. Depending on how much studying I get done over the next couple of days, I might not even watch any new TV, Big Brother 5 and Last Comic Standing 2 included. This is my last hurrah, so to speak, and I'm not tripping up now.
Just to make it clear, it's not so much about the grades; it's more of a pride thing. School hasn't been about grades for a long time. With the amount of credits I have, my GPA isn't going to move significantly irrespective how well I do on these exams. But I'm a stickler for continuity. It'll suck tremendously for me to fuck up now after maintaining six years of having only one of two letters and one of two signs on my grades. I have to do this, if only to feed my borderline autistic thing.
By 11:30am on Wednesday morning, it'll all be over. Until then, I will try to go cold turkey. Go Ho!
NP: Elliott Smith - Don't Go Down
posted by Hanson |
12:43 AM
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Bleeding Yellow
The English Division 1 Championship season began today. Watford went down 2-1 at Deepdale against Preston North End, former United man David Healy sealing the deal with a spot kick (Coxy was unable to do the same after Ashley Young was brought down in the box). Unlike last year, there isn't a sense of doom-and-gloom about the team. Vicarage Road has been bought back, and none of the players are taking any pay deferrals. Most importantly, the lads don't have to suffer through the death of a teammate. The club is still dirt poor, but at least it isn't under heavy debt (Leeds style). There's still plenty of time to make a run!
NP: Elliott Smith - A Distorted Reality is a Necessity to be Free
posted by Hanson |
10:19 AM
Friday, August 06, 2004
Last Hour
I'm learning not to over-analyse my own emotions, so I just write what I feel.
I'm still listening to From a Basement on the Hill, and it's really doing a number on me emotionally. It's fucking brilliant, but given the circumstances, it's so fucking sad too. I almost lost it on "Fond Farewell" when Elliott sang the line a little less than suicide. In fact, I almost lost it on several occasions while listening to the album. There are so many lyric/music/vocal combinations on this record that evoke similar feelings. It's just really hard getting through it without getting choked up.
It's like seeing a picture of someone you'll never see again. That sense of lost is just profound. That emptiness inside is so persistent. It's both visceral and physical, like a phantom vial of acid that's slowly dripping and burning your skin. You know it'll eventually stop, but with each drip, it hurts more, burning already burnt flesh. You wince, but it's still there. You hope the stinging will stop, but it won't. It's just there, eating into you, hitting just where it hurts. There's a good chance I'll spontaneous break down while I'm listening to this. I'm weak like that. Lets just hope it's not in public.
It's odd that I'm writing this on August 6th, 35 years to the day that Elliott was born. I'd wish him a happy birthday, but that wouldn't be of any use now....
NP: Elliott Smith - A Passing Feeling
posted by Hanson |
2:26 AM
One Last Bite
I'm listening to Elliott Smith's final studio album now. Bittersweet.
NP: Elliott Smith - Let's Get Lost
posted by Hanson |
12:02 AM
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Sokyrka Watch: Week Three
I voted my ass off while watching Six Feet Under last night, the phone held up to my ear and my thumb repeatedly hitting re-dial. I must've called nearly a hundred times, though not all the calls went through. Lets jut hope she makes it through this week and picks something that suits her better next week. Joplin. *shakes head*
NP: Elliott Smith - Coast to Coast (live, not the album version)
posted by Hanson |
4:49 PM
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
A Break From This and That
Sometimes, when something's been in the works for so long, when plans are actually finalised, you're not even consciously aware that it's actually happening. You see, I realised a few days ago that I haven't blogged about my trip Hong Kong that's happening in about two weeks. I blog about the most trivial of things, but apparently not something that might stop my blogging for two weeks! I'll be leaving on the 16th and coming back on the 31st -- just in time for Bumbershoot. Before going to HK, we'll be spending a few days in Japan. Hehe. Anybody who wants anything that's not hard to find from Asia, let me know before I leave :-)
Yay. No exams for 6 days. I can finally breathe a little!
NP: Tilly and the Wall - Do You Dream At All
posted by Hanson |
5:04 PM
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Up For Air
You don't know how hard it is to NOT dick around on the computer when you're studying in a room with one. Still, I made it through the day, and other than the odd checking of the download progress of my Six Feet Under episodes, I stayed away. Speaking of which, I should get back.
NP: Rilo Kiley - It's a Hit
posted by Hanson |
11:59 PM
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Pretty Disappointing
Last night's Pretty Girls Make Graves show was a bit of a downer. I got there almost an hour late, having lost track of time at Greg's barbecue. Apparently, I didn't miss much, though, as Eggy said the first opening band, Bakelite (or was that Bake Lite?), was just a bunch of dudes screaming on-stage. I suppose my reason for being late was well worth it (actually, few things would've made it /not/ worthwhile, but that's another story).
Ratatat followed up with a half-hour instrumental set played over flashing images from a projector. Despite the lack of vocals, their songs were actually pretty catchy, their guitar work intricate and their backing electro-stuff more than just noisy. Not bad for a band that doesn't sing.
When it came time for the headliners, I became anxious. Well, maybe that's not the right word, but I was worried about the sound. You see, the first time I saw them, Andrea's vocals were, for the most part, inaudible, the twin guitars and heavy bass and drum action completely drowning out the vox. The next time I saw them, it was fine -- after the sound guy turned the vocals up as per our/the audience's request. This time, though, it was the first time all over again, and our pleas for more vox were not heard. Not only that, for some reason, there was only /one/ guitar! Where was the white dude who plays wingman to the black dude? So, not only couldn't we hear Andrea's singing -- the perfect counterpoint to the aggro instrumentation of the PGMG sound -- we couldn't even feast on the dual guitar action! Talk about a devastating one-two punch...
Still, I tried my best to get the most out of it, even stomping and screaming my ass off to get them back for an encore. But there was only so much /I/, an audience member, could do. No vocals. No twin guitar action. Meh. The show brought down what was otherwise a pretty darn good day filled with Anchorman, Stargate(s), and other good stuff.
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
11:58 PM
|
