Pop Culture Blog: Music, Movie and Humor

Leveraging low-hanging synergies outside the vertical fruit box since 1999.

Wednesday Wadio: Tribe’s ‘Joyride’.


in Wednesday Wadio

“The problem was that no one outside of Boston got the memo on how great they were. They made an appearance on Conan O’Brien, but it looked as though Tribe was going to remain a local treasure rather than a national one.“

As it relates to my personal era, I look at Boston music in threes. The high school years were chock full of Big Dipper, the Pixies and Tribe. I recently asked if anyone had a copy of Here at the Home, to which one friend replied – yes! I finally made it over to her house last night, and was absolutely pumped to spin that sucker once again. HATH is out of print, as is its follow up, Abort – and it had been 10 years since I’d had a listen.

Imagine my surprise then today when I took a shot in the dark and looked them up on YouTube. Joyride (I saw the film) is a song off of their second last album, and it’s not so bad. I would have much rather found Daddy’s Home or Rescue Me, but it’s truly amazing to me that a Tribe video is available at all. I’ll take it.

There is precious little Tribe info available online, although I do know that their last ever show was in 1994 and lead singer Janet LaValley has always been very easy on the eyes. One should never say never, however, and a friend of the band recently told me they would be reforming in 2007 for a few local Boston dates. Guess who’ll be there? Go on, guess.

Abort saw many of the best songs on HATH re-recorded, with “better” production values and Pixies producer Gil Norton twiddling the knobs. It is a solid album from start to finish, and I think where Tribe really stood out were their harmonies and Spectre-esque soundscapes. However I always preferred the stripped-down, dirtier versions from HATH, and I want to repeat my request for a copy. Come on people, this is Boston, afterall.

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Bobby McFerrin Raped My Grandmother.


in

Did anyone see Alec Baldwin on SNL last weekend? The show has been so spotty over the last 2 years that even I, Mr. “There are always rebuilding years that aren’t very funny,” have been starting to worry. The early hype created by Lazy Sunday dwindled quickly as even Dane Cook and John C. Riley failed to rally the troops towards consistently funny shows. But the Baldwin episode was almost 100% funny, and I was very glad to see a little life left in the old studio. Some other thoughts on the current cast:

– Keenan Thompson should be used more. But at SNL, if you don’t come up with your own characters, and you’re not always a suitable utility player (like Hammond or Hartman) then the writers won’t put you in many sketches. The characters he does repeat, i.e. the gay disco show host, are weak. But the kid has a lot of talent. I hope he starts to stand out beyond the Bill Cosby impression soon.

– Andy Samberg is a funny kid, and I like the way he has spearheaded the digital shorts, but he’s a little too overtly Sandlerish. If he finds his own identity, and keeps writing his own stuff, he’ll be around for a long time. If he keeps playing songs on his acoustic guitar and trying to be cute, he may make a nice living for a few years but won’t be remembered as one of the greats. Ask Jimmy Fallon.

– I really liked Finesse Mitchell. I was sorry to see him taken off the cast. But I understand why he was axed. He didn’t do many impressions, wasn’t writing and also couldn’t be used much for utility. Not much call for a full time Steadman.

– Releasing Rob Riggle was a huge mistake. I am glad to see he landed on his feet over at the Daily Show. Riggle was a real standout during 2005 and I am still scratching my head, Lorne. Chalk him up right underneath David Koechner and Sarah Silverman as the most premature SNL firings ever.

– I see a lot of potential in Bill Hader and Kirsten Wiig. His impressions are amazing, and she has devised some off-the-wall characters so far. I am still laughing at the “canderls” Target lady.

So basically my question becomes, can Alec Baldwin just host every week?

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Cat Burglaring For The Handicapped.


in

I have been on the road today, and having trouble finding inspiration for a good post. Luckily, it just came in the form of an instant messenge from a friend. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the worst burglar in human history. Please believe me when I say this is worth the time it takes to watch it.

When I think of a cat burglar, which is defined as: A burglar who is especially skilled at stealthy or undetected entry of a premises, I think of Catherine Zeta-Jones’ sweet buttocks pointed in the air as she navigates lasers under the tutiledge and raging erection of Sir Sean Connery. Or James Caan in Thief, but in this case more skill set and less buttocks. Regardless, the subject of the surveillance in this case is going to be burned into my related funny bone for a long time. He can’t even hit the camera with the margarita mix. Like a rat in a trap, as the police arrive, he sits down for a quick surrender smoke.

50 contact bottle top bruises, 5 to 10 with good behavior, a new respect for drop-ceiling strength and a pack of Marlboro Lights. A haul worthy of Danny Ocean himself.

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Things That Give Me Bumps In The Night.


in

As I walked past the mirror on my way to the bathroom this morning, I noticed an enormous bump in the middle of my forehead. It’s closer to the hairline, and I sort of look like a budding young unicorn – I have an impacted wisdom horn, perhaps. It’s pretty ridiculous, and I almost thought about working from home today rather than face society with this goose egg. But then again, I’ll stay home for a good episode of Columbo. I am a professional, you see.

So I have to assume it was some sort of bug. And due to the bump size, likely a spider. And that’s just nasty. What else is fucking with me while I slumber? Is the cat tea-bagging me with little furry orange nuts in retribution for questionable litter box cleanliness? Is it Santa who keeps drinking all my beer? I just don’t know.

So some nasty little bug bastard sat on the middle of my head and drank blood to its heart’s content. And he’s on to a good thing now, so I can probably look forward to this again. There will be a thorough ceiling spider check when I get home tonight, and possibly masturbating.

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