I grew up in town called Hull. Hull was bombed flat during the war, not because it was of any particular strategic importance, but because it was the last population center on the German planes’ route home, a suitable place to lighten their load by dumping any remaining bombs before starting back across the North Sea.

I remembered this when I noticed that three bands I would not have expected to see play in Houston have announced shows in the three days before the Austin City Limits festival in October, the Shins and M83 on Wednesday night, and Gotye at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (are they really that big of a draw?) on the Thursday.

It’s nice to have an opportunity to experience each band’s full set instead of the abridged 45 minute slot they are allotted at ACL but I can’t help but wish they weren’t obviously coming because they have another show nearby. A couple of years ago I missed the opening day of the festival to go see LCD Sound System at the Verizon Theatre instead, the day before their appearance at ACL. I am very glad I did, it was an awesome show and a real treat to see such an amazing band two days in a row, but it would have been even better if it they had come to town a month before or a month after.

Peter Gabriel is another offender. Apparently the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion was fine for his recent “New Blood Orchestral” outing (no drums, no guitars, plenty of strings), but Houston was not one of the five U.S. cities honored with a scheduled appearance as he tours behind the 25th anniversary of the release of his landmark album So.

“Tchah!” I say to you, struggling to suppress a “fie!”

Face Off

Breakin Bad Season4 Finale

Fuuuuuuuhhhh!!!!1

Chinese White Bicycles at The Mucky Duck

Joe Boyd read extracts from his book White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960's and Robyn Hitchcock played tunes from the era by the Incredible String Band, Syd Barret, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan.

After the show, Hitchcock played for about an hour unamplified outside on the patio. I was sitting just behind him, close enough to touch him. Every so often he would ask what people wanted to hear. I would pause for about two seconds, to give other people a chance, then I would pipe up. At my request he played Chinese Bones, Queen of Eyes, Visions of Johanna. He also played the Doors' Crystal Ship and a number of other tunes of his own and other people's. And then after that he just sat down, lit up a cigarette, and chatted with members of the crowd. To say this was a special night for me would be a bit of an understatement.

Found dog

While driving home on Sunday afternoon, my daughter and I saw a dog sitting by the side of the freeway off-ramp. The way he was wandering around on and off the freeway and the exit ramp, I don’t think he would have lived very much longer if we hadn’t stopped and picked him up.

On Monday evening my wife and I walked him around the neighborhood where we found him. I had expected him to lift up his head and sniff the air as soon as we got out of the car and lead us straight to his home. Well that didn’t happen. We put up some flyers in the local convenience store and launderette. Today his owner called and he’s coming to collect him tonight.

He’s stayed with us all week and I have to say I’ve become quite attached to him. I haven’t owned a dog before and the way he would pick up his head and wag his tail whenever he saw me was very charming. He’s a chow/lab mix about eight years old, very friendly and sweet natured. The cats were a bit freaked out when we brought him into the house but it seemed like they were adjusting. I foresee a trip to the local SPCA in our very near future.

Alasdair shreds

The Clientele has released some great cds. They specialize in gentle, jangly guitars, subtle arrangements, and emotionally vulnerable lyrics. What you might not realize if you haven’t seen them live is the way Alasdair can metamorphize into a flat out, balls to the wall, rock ‘n’ roll guitar god. Despite being fairly drunk last night, hitting several bum notes, and misreading the set list, when it came to let rip on the solos, he shredded. If shredded is the word I’m looking for.

Next time The Clientele comes to town, if I’m lucky enough for there to be a next time, I’m bringing everyone I know: friends, family, people from work, everyone. I’m going to pack that smoky little dump called Walter’s On Washington with civilians who will all leave devoted Clientele fans, each clutching at least one cd and a T-shirt apiece. It’s a promise.

Always at this time of year

Small heaps of sawdust on the back patio as the carpenter bees make their homes in the wooden beams above.

Mocking birds dive bombing our cat as he patrols the front and back yards.

A perversion of pleasure

The theologians tell us that cruelty comes from the devil, and this may be the ultimate cause, for it is most certainly evil in intent. But in its immediate cause I do believe that true cruelty comes from a perversion of pleasure, for the cruel man enjoys the torment he inflicts on others and, like an experienced musician with his viol or virginal, can play upon his instrument and make all manner of harmony, exciting torment and humiliation, distress and empty anger, shame, regret and fear at will. Some can produce all of these, together and singly, with the most delicate touches, sometimes playing more loudly on his subject until the motion excited in the mind is all but unbearable, then more softly so that the misery is summoned gently and with seductive delight. Such a man as Grove was an artist in his cruelty, for he played for the pleasure of his creation, and the delight of his skill.

Iain Pears
An Instance of the Fingerpost

More Gore

...there is no such thing as a homosexual or heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture of impulses if not practices, and what anyone does with a willing partner is of no social or cosmic significance.

So why all the fuss? In order for a ruling class to rule, there must be arbitrary prohibitions. Of all prohibitions, sexual taboo is the most useful because sex involves everyone. To be able to lock up someone or deprive them of employment because of his sex life is a very great power indeed, and one seldom used in civilized societies. But although the United States is the best and most perfect of earth’s societies and our huddled masses earth’s envy, we have yet to create a civilization, as opposed to a way of life. This is why we have allowed our governors to divide the population into two teams. One team is good, godly, straight; the other is evil, sick, vicious...

Gore Vidal
Tennessee Williams: Someone To Laugh At The Squares With
The New York Review of Books
June 13, 1985