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Wednesday Wadio: The Gorillaz ‘DARE’.


in Wednesday Wadio

“‘DARE’ is a staple song used by several car audio enthusiasts to test their sound system’s performance, as it contains both human voice, plenty of treble and a very strong bassline.” – Wiki

Granted, I am WAY behind the bell curve on writing about this song – but I love it, I love the 2 legendary bands whose former members are involved with it and we just mentioned ‘Dare’ as part of the gym mix post from yesterday. I built a Happy Mondays related site recently, and in the process read a few articles surrounding how the song came to be. It’s interesting stuff. I’ll elaborate.

Damon Albarn, formerly of Blur and the current mastermind behind the Gorillaz, had always wanted to work with Shaun Ryder. The only problem is, Shaun Ryder has been a drug-addled mess for the last 20 years, and getting him involved in a project is tantamount to slamming your dink in a door. Don’t get me wrong – I love the man’s work. The Mondays and Black Grape are two of my favorite audio guilty pleasures. But he likes the hallucinogens and has been in some trouble as of late.

“Shaun Ryder… threatens another Lazarus style comeback with his best contribution to a record for well over a decade. It’s his Manc whine that steals the show and makes Dare and so enthralling, he might have his debts paid off in ten years if he keeps this sort of performance up.” – Beat Surrender

The song is hella fawnky, with great spooky sound effects, a catchy chorus and an interesting vocal alternation between Ryder’s marble mouth, Albarn’s falsetto and the Gorillaz only female member, Noodles. The video features Ryder’s disembodied cyborg headed singing away just as soon as the Gorillaz release him from his closet.

Ian Brown, a proper media shit-disturber who also incidentally happened to be the lead singer of The Stone Roses, recently claimed that the song was originally supposed to be called ‘There’ – But Ryder had a little trouble enunciatingg that very tricky word. Brown smirks, “They were going to call it, ‘It’s There’ but Shaun couldn’t say ‘there’, so they called it Dare. I know the guy who was the recording engineer on it and he was like, ‘One, two, three, four…’ and it took Shaun five hours to come in.” DARE to keep Shaun off Drugs.

The video is equal parts disturbing and brilliant, and the song is just brilliant. Watch the full clip here, or listen to the song by clicking Radio Pye in the left hand column.

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Friday’s Quizzlet: Meming Out Justice.


in Monday's Quotelet

Kids, you’ve heard me talk about memes a time or two. Friday’s Quizzlet is a meme I get from an external source and I use it as a catalyst for material on dreary Friday mornings. I grow tired of it from time to time, and would also like to foster a little reader participation this week – so I’m going with more of a bullet-point quiz that I hope you’ll enjoy and take for a spin yourself. I stole it from The Duck, and God only knows where she dug it up.

What is your name?: They call me Pye.
What is your astrological sign?: Sagittarius
What time did you get up this morning?: 9:00 am.
Favorite toothpaste: Some sort of Crest. I’m in and out of CVS in a flash.
Oprah or Dr. Phil?: Heterosexual.
What was your prom theme?: I have no idea. But based on all recollection, probably something from Ritual de lo Habitual.
3 Favorite Movies to Watch Hungover: Whatever’s playing on TV in the Emergency Room at MGH.
Wax, pluck or shave: I pluck my eyebrows in the middle a wee bit and do a little ‘dirty lawn’ maintenance.
If free plastic surgery existed, what would you consider?: Contrary to what you read on here sometimes – I’m quite fond of myself. Nothing.
How do you take your coffee?: Cream and sugar if I’m out, black at home.
Favorite song in 6th Grade?: Pale Shelter by Tears for Fears.
Name Three Guilty Pleasures: The only question I’ve had trouble answering. I feel guilty enough about beer sometimes for all 3 spots. Sorry, Walla.
Who would you cast as you in the film adaptation of your life?: Vaughn, Fraser or Livingston – in that order.
If you could choose it, your last meal would consist of: Greek food, but I’d have no idea it was my last. As long as I stay out of the drug trade, I won’t.
Age you lost your virginity: TMI. Far too young.
Is there any accessory you wear every day?: My Bruins charity bracelet.
Favorite Vacation Ever: South Africa for scenery, Australia for fun.
Current Celebrity Crush: Rachel Weisz.
Favorite Book as a Child: John Christopher’s Tripod series. Now that I’m older and I know better, I liked it more when it was called War of the Worlds.
Where Were You on Your 21st Birthday?: The Brass Taps in Guelph. I’d been of age for 2 years. Big whoop. Here’s an actual photo from that night.
Side, stomach or back?: All three, repeatedly, incessantly, please crush up some Ambien so I can snort it immediately.
Your Most Overused Phrase or Word: ‘Comprehensively.’ At work. At home, it’s ‘Nate, lower your voice, it’s only basketball‘.

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Congratulations Meredith & Seamus!


in

I just got a crazy little text message from Hartford to tell me the great news! Seamus and Meredith are engaged, and licensed event halls everywhere are lining up to bid on the reception. Way to go guys – here’s to a great life together.

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New Pornographers/Belle & Sebastian @ Avalon, Boston.


in Musical

At one point during the concert tonight, I turned to the group of friends and siblings I was with and made the uproariously hilarious remark: “Hi, I’m the Boston Fire Inspector. Thanks a lot for not inviting me?” The February 28th Belle and Sebastian show at Avalon in Boston (just a pause for the search engines here, folks) was grossly oversold, and I’d like to sarcastically thank the powers that be for jamming us in there like branded cattle. I’ve seen about 800 shows there since 1988 – including packed houses like Coldplay and the Pixies, and I’ve never been welfarically uncomfortable before. I could actually see the panic attacks taking place on the faces of the people around me. Especially when New Pornographers covered “Once Bitten, Twice Shy“. All horribly tasteless jokes aside, that was a real pain in the ass you money grubbing Landsdowne fucks.

The NP‘s were great, and I’m adding their new song Bones of an Idol to the Wadio right now so have a listen on your left. I’ve spun it 8 times already today – it’s awesome. They’re from Vancouver, and have developed a huge ex-pat following a la the Hip here in Boston. I saw tons of Maple Leafs being rocked on hats, scarves and jackets last night. They use two keyboards, a mouth organ and male/female vocal mix that’s about 50/50. A pulsing, unique sound that I’m going to be delving into deeply over the next few weeks. Super band.

Belle and Sebastian sounded amazing, despite the fact we eventually retreated to one of Avalon’s back corners when the crowds began to surge forward. One thing about hipster crowds – they don’t brush their teeth and fart uncontrollably. I have to chalk it up to all the cheap food available in Davis square, or the fact that sometimes they’re forced to eat Decemberist records when their student loans run out. Either way, it was like a focus group for Crest and Gas-X and I gladly hid in the back, hence my completely awful pictures. Not to mention I was asked to stop taking photos by a 4-foot tall bouncer who also smelt like he’d been eating aquarium scum.

I thoroughly enjoyed Stuart’s silly dancing, and the horns sounded perfect. Judy and the Dream of Horses and Seeing Other People were the highlights for me, although Stu forgot the first verse of the latter. These guys are a tight, tight outfit. The tour has just started, and here’s a list of the dates lest you wish to venture out. Just remember to wear fire retardent clothing and to spread Vaporub under your nostrils like Clarice Starling.

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The Dulcet Tones Of Scotland’s Finest.


in Uncategorized

“Belle and Sebastian are not snogging. Sometimes they hold hands, but that is only a display of public solidarity. Sebastian thinks Belle ‘kicks with the other foot’. Sebastian is wrong, but then Sebastian can never see further than the next tragic ballad. It is lucky that Belle had a popular taste in music. She is the cheese to his dill pickle.” – Jeepster.

It’s just sort of dawned on me that I’m going to see Belle and Sebastian tonight with the New Pornographers opening up. I kind of want to go to the bathroom and rub myself. Something had to fill the gaping void that Big Country left in my life. My new camera will be making the trip (to the concert, not the bathroom), as will Nate, Tom, Janet etc – and I’ll be sure to post some wacky related concert photos tomorrow.

I started listening to this band in early 1998 while I lived in England. Moynihan reccomended them to me over this new technology we’d discovered called e-mail. I ran down to HMV in Maidenhead and picked up the then just released ‘The Boy With the Arab Strap’ before quickly moving on to ‘Tigermilk‘. That CD would go on to join the Verve’s Urban Hymns as the Hinds Head lockin CD, and it was a glorious time to be a 24-year-old. Pisshead.

My excitement over this band has been somewhat muted by age and time, but 7 years ago I would have burned off my own pubic hair with a magnifying glass to get a ticket. I have to get in touch with that young fanboy lad tonight and properly soak in the magnitude of the moment. But definitely try and talk him out of the whole pubic hair thing.

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Bonnie Bounces Back.


in

I’ve felt like I’ve hit a plateau lately. Head first from about 20 feet in the air. Dropped by the ankles. If I were a pool of water, I’d be so stagnant there’d be more tadpoles swimming around in me than in Paris Hilton’s hair. Things can go from so exciting, to so stressful and stupid, so very quickly. Something big is about to happen – I’m just not sure what it is yet. And then there’s that little thing called perspective that comes knocking…

But if I may be allowed to put down my own violin for a moment, my mother called me yesterday to let me know that her post-chemo tests are completely negative. She had a long painful summer, the extent of which I cannot imagine. Although I keep this site fairly impersonal, I know there’s a lot of readers who will want to hear that news. Way to go, Mom. We love you. And I’m not just saying this because I’m moving into the trailer with you next week.

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Wednesday Wadio: The Tragically Hip’s ‘Nautical Disaster’.


in Wednesday Wadio

“This is a success story that is unique unto itself, its country, and most definitely its band“. – Matt Sheardown.

Yes, I know it’s Friday. Many of you have have read me rant about this band over the years, and I’ve even dragged a few of you to their concerts with me. I wrote a decent piece about Gord Downie a few years ago, which is down for some reason – I’ll have to repost it from my desktop backup at home – but this article that Nate just sent me is truly amazing. It’s a comprehensive history of the band, written with painstaking detail and a lot of love.

“The music, though consistently solid, only tells us half the story of The Tragically Hip. Bands rarely become legends on music alone: The Beatles had LSD and Yoko Ono, The Stones had Keith Richards and Altamont, Nirvana had suicide and MTV Unplugged, and so on and so forth. The Tragically Hip have Gord Downie, and because of Gord Downie, The Tragically Hip have one of the most memorable live performance reputations this side of the 49th parallel. Sure, the sound is spot on, and the instruments rarely miss a step, but you can only hear them. The show isn’t in the instruments.”

The article’s author, Matt Sheardown, goes on to explicate his favorite Hip songs at the end of the article, and chooses 1994’s Nautical Disaster to bestow the following praise: For my money, the single greatest song the band has ever made. The lyrics are sung paragraphs, and the memories they drum up are so vivid in their unsettling nature. Brilliant from start to finish. Since Matt’s article inspired me to feature the Tragically Hip this week, I figured I’d abide by his opinion and use his favorite tune.

The Hip are proponents of all things Canadian, and their lyrics and themes often delve into obscure references that only select senior citizens in Manitoba may ‘get’ – but are important and fascinating all the same. Hip concerts around the world are flocked to by ex-pats, and they could sell out the largest venue in Toronto more nights in a row than any major act going. I’m talking to you, Jagger. Nautical Disaster is a great example of Hip Canadiana:

Few believe that the song is about a single theme, but it seems that one theme may be about the raid on Dieppe during World War II. Dieppe was a daylight, pre-D-day raid of a German held port on the coast of France. In the assault, carried out by Canadian troops, nearly 4000 men were killed out of a force of about 4800. The lyrics to “Nautical Disaster” are extremely close to these facts. Gord Downie himself has alluded to the fact that the song is one long metaphor for a failed relationship, but the literal meaning has ties to Dieppe.”

I normally introduce people to the Hip via Bobcaygeon or The Darkest One, but Nautical Disaster is definitely in the top three somewhere. It is reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot’s The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in it’s imagery. It also reminds me of the scene in Jaws where Quint is describing what it was like to be on the U.S.S. Indianapolis when it was sunk: “So, eleven hundred men went in the water, three hundred and sixteen men come out, the sharks ttook the rest, June the 29, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb.” Tragedies at sea. For my female readers (unveiled sexism) – picture the end of Titanic.

From the first line of the song, you know you’re in for something quite horrible: “I had this dream where I relished the fray, and the screaming filled my head all day.” It starts slow and builds to the line everyone loves to scream at shows “…off the coast of France, dear!” before it kicks into high gear. Have a listen for yourself by clicking on Radio Pye in the left column, and you can read some great fan explication here.

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Dave Is A Featured Lensmaster!


in

And a massive tool! Regardless, I am being interviewed by Squidoo and featured as a leading Lensmaster. I think I am currently #6 or #7 out of a few thousand. I am getting emails out of the blue from marketing professionals from all over the world, and I want to strip naked to the waist and rub Squidoo all over my chest right now. Anybody look familiar?:

Click here to see my profile and lengthening list of lenses. And this is my personal lens. I will let you know when the interview is live, and I’m going to try and make it funny without scaring off all of my new potential collaborators. I am such a nerd, I am actually steaming right now. I’m a nerd. But I know I’m a nerd. And that almost makes me cool.

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NBA All-Star Game 2006 Exclusive Celebrity Pics.


in

Well raise my rent. Or the roof. Who ever thought you’d see a title like that here on PITF? Unfortunately, Gary Puppa is in most of the photos too. For example – please marvel as Fat Joe (aka Joey Crack) represents with Gary (aka Gazza, aka Hairdoo) backstage at the Toyota Center in Houston. Gary obviously taught him how to throw up Burlington crips signs, and the publicity will undoubtedly lead to scores of wannabe Eminem fist fights in front of Emma’s Back Porch.

Anyway, Puppa – most recently of the dispicable and sacreligious Christmas Eve in Toronto fame – owns a pretty cool company which allows him to work for the NBA. You may remember three years ago when he was snapped bothering Beyonce. Then there was the time Nikki Hilton tried to goose him behind one of the beer carts. And how can I forget that party where Saget tried to scoop Pupp’s peeler? Always the trooper, he was back again this year, and he’s sent me a gallery‘s worth of new hip-hopping-hob-knobbing pics. Also of note, Gazza mugging with DMC and Mike Jones.

I want to quickly point out that Gary actually asked me to go with him, and I want to give him a quick shout-out and thanks. Houston is like my second home. If Joey Crack and I didn’t currently have mad beef, I would have been there with Timberlands on. And what’s up with Ronald McDonald? I thought Chris Penn died last month. Also in attendance – Nelly, George Clinton and you’ll even see Ice Cube messin’ around and gettin’ a triple-double. Peep dis.

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Red Sox Tickets And Blogs.


in

Alright so I’m trying to get another Squidoo lens spidered. So what? I’ve been working on this one a lot – chock full o’ content and probably one of the biggest lenses out there. So please have a look at my new Red Sox Tickets page. Then rub yourself. Repeat.

It’s shaping up to be a nice little weekend. A few laughs with the coworkers tonight, and a party at the Shit Disturber’s in Charlestown tomorrow. And I’m sure you can guess what I’ll be filling the rest of the time with. That’s right – furious Squidoo lens building. I have a problem.

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It’s Funny Because They’re Only Acting Drunk. Right?


in Heartwarming


Maxim has just released a “Greatest Drinkers of all time list, and I thoroughly endorse their choices. “E.T. is No. 9 on the list, while Bluto (John Belushi) from “Animal House” is one spot ahead of him.” Blutowski is an obvious choice, but how many of us would have considered the scene from E.T. where he sneaks downstairs and drinks the shit out of a case of beer, causing poor Elliot to experience the same buzz while he’s at school? He kisses the young girl, lets the frogs loose, gets an OUI on his Big Wheel, beats a homeless person to death, etc.

But it gets better, deeper, liquorder: “Other top movie drinkers include The Waco Kid (Gene Wilder) from “Blazing Saddles, who comes in just ahead of the McKenzie Brothers (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) in “Strange Brew,” and just behind Coach Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) of “The Bad News Bears.” Kudos for remembering the Waco kid and the McKenzie’s. The list just became bloggable.

But where the heck is Arthur, I asked myself. At #2, of course. And the #1 movie booze bag of all time? Frank the Tank. I think Arthur should have won the top spot, hands down. But still a well complied and humorous little collection of souses.

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