The line between video games and movies blurrs even more with this amazing trailer for the new World of Warcraft game: Wrath of the Lich King

Art Is Resistance
-Zero

Labels: new release, Video Games

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Stuart Davis. He played acoustic folk music at coffee shops in Minneapolis and St. Paul. And once upon a time, I stumbled across his first recording, "My Baby Is A Snake".

Once upon a time, I was hooked.

I loved the music he made. It was intelligent AND catchy, style AND substance, ying AND yang. I became his biggest fan. Rarely missed a show, and snapped up every new release: "Big Energy Dream", "Self Untitled", "Nomen Est Numen"...

What inspired me most was that he did it all himself. He had occasional guest musicians join him onstage, but it was just spice, he certainly didn't need them. He was able to write great songs with just his voice and an acoustic guitar. Stuart Davis was one of the people who inspired me to become a singer/songwriter. I had lunch with him on two separate occasions, once at Fabulous Ferns and once at Sgt Preston's, each time trying to tap into the secret of what he was doing.

Once upon a time, Stuart Davis moved to California and shaved his head.

These things happen, and I didn't feel bad about it. We weren't friends, and there were other local heroes waiting to be discovered. I did feel bad for Stuart, thinking that there was no place in Hollywood for a Bald-Coffeeshop-Folk-Singer-Songwriter, and I doubted I would ever hear from him again, but he would surprise me with the occasional "Anti-Christmas" show at the Fine Line.

When I saw the show listing for a Stuart Davis CD Release "Something Simple" at the Varsity Theatre, I was surprised. Turns out one of his songs was used in the soundtrack for the new "Drillbit Taylor" movie. When I saw him perform live, I was even more surprised.

There he was, the Stuart Davis I knew from years ago (sans hair) wielding his acoustic guitar with as much energy as he ever did before, and full of his trademark witty banter between songs. Only now he was accompanied by a drummer, bassist, and lead guitarist. A full-on, overcompressed band.

While his songs still had all the hook and energy of his early days, the band steamrolled over any intricate nuances in his work. Saddest of all was the song "Universe Communion" which might be Stuart's best song, involving some amazing guitar work lost beneath the din; a glittering jewel packed in mud. People were surprised when I Booed after the song was finished. They'd obviously never heard the original. It was like eating a Wolfgang Puck Frozen Pizza; after having the real thing. I suddenly sympathized with the people who booed Bob Dylan offstage for using an electric guitar.

So did Stuart 'sell out'? Or did his music evolve into this?

I'm happy for Stuart, seems he finally got his big break. The room was packed, and I can't say his songs sucked. I'd like to think the full-backing-band was his own idea. But I'm sad for the people who will hear Stuart Davis for the first time, and write him off as a lite version of "Foo Fighters", because he is so much better than that.

Interested parties can read about Stuart's sordid past on his blog: http://www.stuartdavis.com/blog?page=1

Art Is Resistance
-Zero

Labels: Concert, music reviews, new release

For all of you Replacements fans out there (sorry, but I refuse to call them 'Mats'. They aren't fucking Mats so stop calling them that. Call them 'Mints' or something.) Writer for City Pages and Reveille Magazine, musician and all-around local troublemaker, Jim Walsh, has written a book detailing the rise and rise of the Replacements.

The book release at First Avenue should be quite the shindig, and has a slew of bands covering Replacements songs. Revolver Modele will be there, so you should too.

Wed Nov 28th
First Avenue
7PM
18+

Tickets are $5.50 plus whatever "Fees" TicketBastard charges. I recommend stopping by First Ave and pick them up in advance yourself.

I have a couple 'essential' Replacements CDs, and I recorded "The Replacements A to Z" when it aired on KQ92 many years ago. But I don't share the popular opinion that they were the Greatest Minnesota Band That Never Was (although I do allude to that in The Demonslayer's Handbook) Then again, I never saw the Replacements live, and it sounds like they got more reputation from their live antics than their music. So it should be interesting to experience them second and third hand from people who lived through the chaos.

I can't wait to read the book, and might even make it out to the Reading/Signing at Treehouse Records on Thanksgiving Eve.

Art Is Resistance
-Zero

Labels: Authors, Concert, Cool Event, Minneapolis Event, new release

Nothing on Television interests me. Nothing. Not CSI-[Fill-In-The-City-Name-Here] or any of the Un-Reality shows. And the music shows? I would rather be making shitty music than watching other people do it. Same with sports.

But this looks interesting: http://www.sanctuaryforall.com/ Its a new web-only production that looks like it has some quality and substance to it. The trailer is out now, and the webisodes are coming soon. The only part that disturbs me is the "create an account" button. Why should I need an account to watch webisodes? That's like needing to Log In to watch television.

But I might actually give this a chance. The fact that it looks to be the same genre as my novel, The Demonslayer's Handbook, might have something to do with it.

Call it research.

Blog on,
-CZ

Labels: new release, Videos

The interesting news is NOT that the R.I.A.A. doesn't know it's A.S.S. from a H.I.T.G., we knew that already.

The interesting news is NOT that Trent Reznor tips some info about the ongoing NIN Year Zero marketing campaign:

...The same source told Billboard that NINE INCH NAILS frontman Trent Reznor views the campaign as a "new entertainment form." The source added that the campaign will continue for the next 18 months.

"Year Zero" is reportedly the first of two concept albums, the second of which Reznor hopes to finish next year...

-From http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69841

Of course, "The Campaign" mentioned is well documented at ninwiki.com, so I won't cover it here.

No, the potential news is a lovely theory I just concocted, which the tools on Digg.com nearly figured out.

Fact: Roadrunner Records, as pointed out on Digg, is a member of the RIAA.

Fact: A member of the RIAA is pointing out that the RIAA sued website owners for posting intentionally leaked copies of the new NIN album.

Sounds stupid right? Why tell everyone that you did something so stupid?

Until you add this:

Fact: Trent Reznor is a marketing genius.

If the tools on Digg.com weren't so busy posting "The RIAA SUX!!!!", "NIN RULEZ!!!" and providing links to download copies of songs which are already easily streamed from the yearzero.nin.com website, they might have figured it out.

My theory, of course, is that the lawsuit and press release were expected, and possibly planned. I would not put it past anyone to take advantage of the free publicity offered by the RIAA's timely lawsuit, not to mention how fast the word spreads on the RIAA's foolish decisions.

Make the RIAA look bad AND get free publicity for your new album release...which JUST SO HAPPENS to be this month....

*What* a coincidence!

I'm telling you, folks: Marketing Genius.

Blog on,
-CZ

Labels: music, Music Industry, new release, NIN, Viral Marketing

As if we needed further proof that Nine Inch Nails kicks every manifestation of Ass conceivable, you can go to this link, and listen to the new album Year Zero in it's Entirety. For Free.

Click on "Listen to Year Zero" and enter your e-mail, Bam. Stream The Entire Album For Free.

This should tide me over until April 17th when the CD comes out, and the conspiracy should rise to new heights. The CD Packaging hides a secret which only heat will reveal...

Blog on,
-CZ

Labels: music, new release, NIN, Ubercool

An album for ME? Thanks Trent. You rawk.

Just in time for my birthday too.

Shucks
-CZ

Labels: music, new release, NIN

Looks like someone is trying to make a movie that's worse than Bloodrayne.

Blog on,
-CZ

Labels: anti, Hollywood, Movie News, movie reviews, new release

Man, this is OLD news.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/12/08/news/companies/coke/?postversion=2006120813

I've been spiking my Diet Coke with a multivitamin for years. Every hardcore D&D-er / LAN gamer / 3rd Shifter / Time-To-Sleep-When-You're-Dead-er knows this trick. I only eat real food at my moms place for the holidays.

Thanks to Energy Fiend for the linkage....

Blog on,
-CZ

Labels: Caffeine, Cool Product, new release