I've got a wicked mix of CDs in the changer right now, one from the QuidProQuo Yellowknife chapter, one of the great Slatch mixes, and my newest arrival, Mark's famous Grope! mix. That's something like three-and-a-half hours of music to entertain me while I pet the cat, eat a caesar salad, and then clean out the spare room to fit all my equipment in there.

Thanks to all who came out to the late Amscray show last night, it was our best show in ages, and I'm pretty sure everyone in attendance had a great time. Fluke Starbucker played a great set, with half distorted, brooding songs, and half catchy-as-the-Pixies tunes. After that, Bitesize put a little pop into all of our lives with a bouncy set of songs. All were great, and I had a blast playing Golden Tee (the official video game of Amscray Tour 2001) with Mike while bopping along to the bands. I think that Charlie explained the show best, everything just seemed to go right for once.

I've already heard Hayden's "Bass Song" three times today, it just keeps popping up on random. I really don't mind.

Check out the daily photo for a couple more pictures from the show. Being up front and having room to move around was a welcomed change from the packed packed packed Modest Mouse shows a couple of weeks ago.

Off to eat dinner, then in the car for the Amscray show tonight over in SF's Mission. We play last, stop by after dinner or drinks for a little late-night action. We're going to try out some new-ish songs (again).

Coffee Is Good: Back from the Sonoma County drive today feeling relaxed and energized at the same time, like drinking a double latte laced with downers. It's a good feeling, but I'm not quite sure what to do with it. Tonight it's off on the train to Amscray practice, then on over to a last minute Unwound show at the Justice League in San Francisco. I should wear earplugs, there's going to be so much rock tonight. No complaints.

I like my hippie oatmeal: I went to the dentist this morning, it was a glorious feeling driving down San Pablo listening to the new Joey Ramone record, looking at the clock, seeing 8:45 AM, and smiling because I wasn't at work. Remember that feeling you got when you cut school and you were driving around town, knowing that you *should* be somewhere, but being happy you weren't? That's how I felt this morning. After my dentist finished fussing and I grabbed my toothbrush and headed on my way, I stopped by Peet's and got some good coffee, comfortable knowing that I was in no hurry to get anywhere.

I'm glad someone has acknowledged the wonders of My Aim Is True. Damned fine music. (thanks slatch)

RE: Pitchfork. I got an email this morning regarding the Pitchfork debacle mentioned below. What I said was a joke, it was not true and was just me trying to make stuff up about why a popular indie music site *might* get "shut down." I was overanalyzing (on purpose) and coming up with conspiracy theories, I did not mean for it to be an actual news item or to be taken as what was really going on. I guess I should have mentioned that sooner. Anyway, here's the email:

I'm certain that a quality publication such as Pitchfork woudln't trick its readers for a record lable, but it's still fun to think about.

It was supposed to pour rain all day today, but instead the sun is out and a cool breeze is blowing in through my open window. I couldn't ask for better weather for sitting around the room burning CDs and playing with the cat, sunny, yet cool, and altogether completely comfortable.

Went to the Laney Flea Market yesterday, they've cleaned the place up since my last visit there and had Alameda County Sherrifs roaming around outside the gates, making sure nobody set up an illegal booth apart from the actual licensed market. The place was packed and our favorite sellers had some quality stuff. The flea market is like that, some days you don't buy a thing, other days you run out of money and have to call it a day before you even make it through all the rows and rows of junk. Picked up a bag full of jukebox 45's from the 1980s, all I wanted was Springsteen's "Hungry Heart," but the guy talked me into buying the entire box. We've been sorting through them, playing stuff like Bryan Adams and Quiet Riot all morning, discussing the pros and cons of each while we sing along. There's just something special about singles that almost cause you to pay attention to them more than you would an album. We also picked up some bad magazines ("How To Rope A Calf" and some Square Dancing monthlies), a stack of old photos, an Alaskan Highway shirt, and other odds and ends.

Braved IKEA after that and finally picked up some pictures frames. Once I get all the pricing sorted out I'm going to start selling framed prints of the daily photo. Three frame choices, cheap shipping, and original photography can be yours for the low, low price of...well, I haven't figured that out yet. I swear though, yesterday was "bring your screaming kid and get half off" day or something, that place was full of children behaving badly. When we got home I put on an old Green Day record and put together some bookcases, then opened all the windows to get rid of the nasty wood pulp smell that the Swedish furniture leaves behind. I can still feel it burning my nose.

Relaxed after that and watched a couple movies, Special Something was a very, very bad early 80's flick about a girl who wishes she were a boy, then wakes up the next morning with a penis. Hilarity ensues. After that we took on The Anniversary Part and struggled as we watched Hollywood people "act," which they've somehow defined as being very childish and constantly screaming at each other. When we thought it couldn't get any worse, they all take ecstasy and yell and scream some more, this time in various stages of undress. If you're looking for a naked Parker Posey, this is your movie. All in all it was slightly more irritating than entertaining, but worth the cheap rental price.

MP3 of the week: Right click, Save As, Download, open WinAmp, turn up volume, press play, shake your ass. Enjoy.