Any vehicle that has a compact frame, sleek styling and two seats can be referred to as a “sports car,” in the strictest sense. However, that is not all there is to sports cars, and this has been shown by automotive history. Many sports cars have come and gone, but only the truly iconic ones …
Watched the whole game yesterday. A few observations: 1. The cold didn’t impact the game as much as people thought it might. Not a lot of slipping or sliding going on, and both teams were able to throw and catch the ball. The kicking game was affected, though. Kickoffs were noticeably shorter even on good …
As the title suggests, I am about to disparage Peter Jackson’s latest installment of his Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug. Before I do so, however, I should point out a few things. I am as familiar with the Tolkien literature as anyone could be without being totally obsessive, having read most of it multiple …
Here’s an article in Slate on Sweden’s love of Donald Duck, or Kalle Anka, which literally translates to Charlie Duck. It’s an interesting take on Swedish culture and the appeal of similar cultural icons, especially during the holidays. – Chuck Strom http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2009/12/nordic_quack.html
It’s been an exceptional year in music, so I’m breaking with tradition to create a “best of” list of sorts. My 2013 list includes nine favourites, actually. Why only nine? It was nearly impossible to name a tenth and leave off everything else, so I’ll leave it there. Subjective though these lists may be, one …
If there never was a reason before to eliminate divisions in the NFL conferences and go to a playoff structure seeding teams strictly by their regular season record, there is now. There is something unjust about a team tied for the second-best record in the NFC being rewarded by a first-round playoff game in the …
According to the liner notes of Black Box, WaxTrax! Records moved from Colorado to a storefront on Chicago’s North Lincoln Avenue in 1978 after being “fueled by the punk revolution.” WaxTrax! issued its second single in 1981, featuring Divine of Pink Flamingos and Polyester fame. Also, in 1981, the record store and recording studio released …
When you go to baseball games, what you see at the park can be totally at odds with what happens over the rest of the season. Last October, I watched the Cincinnati Reds beat the Giants nearly to death 9-0 in the second game of the playoffs, which everyone in attendance assumed would be their …
Rimkus!’s old pal – and Pacific Northwest National Treasure cartoonist – Ambrosavage was born and raised “across the (proverbial) tracks” on the blue collar side of Madison Wisconsin in the 50’s and 60’s, where he is presently spending the holidays with his Dad (now in his 90’s) – an original swingin’ “Mad Men” who worked …
Another Saturday night in Seattle and another stellar punk show is staged at El Corazon. This time legendary punk band X were headlining. Opening the show were the equally legendary Blasters and legendary (in the Pacific NW) Girl Trouble. Does it get much better? All three bands lived up to their legendary status. X is …
Over at Lost Wax Method, my cousin deftly recounts a performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Marshall Field’s Choral Society which we and some others attended in the 1980s. As an eye (and ear) witness, I can vouch for his accounts and descriptions, which are compelling and accurate. He recreates the tension, disappointment and humor …
…MRS. Rimkus was, along with the 13 year old Rimkus daughter and one of her BFF’s (the friend got Rimkus’ ticket – Rimkus MAD!). All reports are that it was a “f___ing awesome” concert. Enough so that the increasingly sullen early teen 13 year old Rimkus said “Thanks Mom – I really enjoyed it” (this …
Lost Wax Method has put together a lovely sonic Advent Calendar which features delightful, rediscovered, seasonal music every day ’til Christmas. See also: The Three Greatest Recordings of Handel’s Messiah, By Don Lundell The 20 Greatest Christmas Albums of All Time, By Don Lundell Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium Sung By the Robert Shaw Chamber …
Last Saturday night November 30, Seattle’s foremost punk club, El Corazon, hosted the legendary Dickies. Although I’ve been a Dickies fan since 1979, I never saw them live until two years ago. I was so impressed I went back for seconds last Saturday. The Dickies play so fast live that it made it difficult at …
Photographer Chris McLennan attached a camera to a remote controlled car which he then rolled up amidst a pride of lions to get amazing close ups of the brood.
Legendary American musician and record producer Nile Rodgers is featured in this video, which is trending today. The clip’s main artist is Jota Quest, an enormously successful Brazilian act, and scenes of an apparently shy Nile are added to this roller disco melee, showing him strumming his guitar alone in what looks like a home …
On Tuesday night two days before Thanks Giving, pop-ska band Less Than Jake headlined a show at The Showbox Market. LTJ are the only ska band of notoriety from Gainesville, Florida. Florida is not known for its ska by any stretch of the imagination. But Less Than Jake would be a hard act to follow, …
Last Saturday November 23, I had the utmost pleasure of heading out to Chop Suey to see Seattle legends Girl Trouble play their 25th anniversary show. 25th anniversary re-release of the Hit It Or Quit It album on Saturday in Seattle at Chop Suey. Front man, Kurt (K.P.) Kendall wastes no time in emoting the …
On Saturday night November 16, I received a Facebook message that Natalie Wouldn’t were playing a show at Darrell’s with Nigel Mustafa opening. I received this message about two or three hours before it was supposed to happen. Obviously I was going out that night after all. It had been awhile since I’d seen Nigel …
A few months ago, San Francisco Giants announcer Mike Krukow said that baseball players generally do not sign new contracts with their old teams when they include a pay cut. Worse than a loss of income, he suggested, a cut brings a loss of status that players prefer not to endure in their former clubhouses. …
Vancouver (CA) Western Swing band Petunia & the Vipers have a great and diverse sound. And a swell name. Blaster Phil Alvin called them “one of the best bands in the world of any type” and infamous Hollywood impresario Kim Fowley recently recommended them in an interview. Thus, what’s good enough for Kim Fowley is …
And here are 24 more huggly pugglies from Buzzfeed.
To borrow from Steven Tyler (or Gene Autry), Trentalange is back in the saddle again, after a four-year semi-hiatus from recording and performing — and the wait will be worth it, trust me. Her new album is due on shelves Jan. 28. Often twisting the knob a quarter-turn from the darkly tinted atmosphere of previous …
Behold Barbara Trentalange’s video for her new song “Same Illusion.” It’s a nifty little kaleidoscope, a cascade of arresting synaesthetic images which project a brave and cool new world, rearranging the old world of black and white coolness and making it new by injecting a steamy, red-lipsticked blush of carnality. Fear not, Trentalange has an …
Yes, the most expensive movie in Bollywood history is about to be released and it was filmed in… Chicago. It’s the long-awaited third installment of the Dhoom series, which is set to be released on 12/20/13. If this video is any indication, the movie is going to be sexier and more Śānadāra (spectacular) than the …
A bright beam swept the night skies of Britain’s East Anglia for decades, looming large in genius-musician Thomas Dolby’s memories of childhood. It was doomed to darken, it’s supporting tower about to literally crumble into a sea that will eventually claim Dolby’s ancestral land, as well. This poignant aspect of Dolby’s homecoming — after spending …
Юлия Беретта – Подруга-Крокодил – Julia Beretta – Girlfriend-Crocodile I kinda like this Russky chick band – for all the obvious reasons – but also for their catchy Crocodile song – and models or not, I think they may well actually be able to play their instruments – they’re not faking it in the way …
A friend and trusted contributor has lamented the recent nomination of Kiss for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame saying, “In that same nomination group is Nirvana and the Replacements. Wrap your mind around that. A talentless marketing phenomenon anchored in heavy makeup pitched against the very essence of substance over style. …
During one furlough day I had to break from my massive deck project to rest my bones from all the bending, lifting, and stooping. I choose to do something I had never done in my 25 years of living in Chicago: I toured the Bohemian National Cemetery located at 5255 N. Pulaski Road on Chicago’s …
Tuesday was voting day here in the US, but it was also a day of action all over the world. Sponsored by the Group calling themselves Anonymous, The Million Mask March took over major cities worldwide to protest the power grab by the very wealthy and to defend democracy. I attended a small gathering of …