Fly Like an Eagle...

...into the past. My first visit to the Eagles Club in South Minneapolis happened last night in honor of my friend Jody's birthday. The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 34 has risen to local fame this past year, due largely in part to it being the new regular home of the Front Porch Swingin' Liquor Pigs. ("What is an aerie?", you might ask. So glad you asked.) We quickly learned that this is still an active club. The main area was filled with folks my parents' age, two-stepping and twirling to The Alphalfa Males. The wood paneling behind the bar held glass dioramas containing huge stuffed bald eagles. Jody and her friends rented the lovely little hall in the back corner. Our first discovery was the huge calendar sale hidden in the corner. 11-month calendars for only $1! December is too busy anyway. Who needs it? The selection's standout? Ferret Frenzy 2007, with photos of ferrets dressed as characters from all of your favorite sitcoms: Gilligan's Island, Baywatch, The Brady Bunch, Miami Vice... And I can't believe we were in the room for 2 hours before someone thought to peek behind the red velvet-curtained boxes on the walls and pull the chains: more eagle dioramas, spotlit. Oh yeah.

Oh the Irony!

So it's all over the music press, or at least the music blogosphere, that Koopa is the first unsigned band to break into the UK Top 40, debuting at #31 with Blag, Steal, & Borrow. The UK charts decided to acknowledge the ubiquity of independent music and digital distribution by changing the rules this year to allow digital single sales to count towards a chart position even if there is no physical version. ...and I decided to acknowledge the same by buying my first MP3 Player. No, I'm not a Luddite. I'm just cheap.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I'm having a Shinsgasm! The Shins will be opening their Wincing the Night Away tour at First Ave on Feb. 8, and I will be there. (Thanks, Jon) I don't care if it's not cool to like them anymore- Garden State be damned. I suppose if I was a truly hardcore I would have downloaded all the tracks by now. But to me The Shins are such a whole-disc kind of band, so I'm waiting until the 23rd to buy the CD. But I have been listening to all the leaks and reading anything about the new release I can get my hands on.

Here are tidbits from the press junket thus far:

Don DeLillo's white Noise is "one of the best-written novels" James Mercer has ever read. Drowned in Sound, Jan. 15.

Part of the insomnia James Mercer writes about on the new disc was caused by living next door to a crack house. This is also where James Mercer is compared to Woody Allen. The Guardian, Jan. 5.

James Mercer will be singing backup on 3 of the new Modest Mouse tracks due out in March. Billboard, Jan. 5.

Eric Johnson from the Fruit Bats has joined the Shins. Pitchfork, Jan. 2

The cover art for Wincing the Night away, suggesting "diatoms," was designed by James Mercer's brother Robert. The Stranger, Dec. 5.

"Sea legs" uses the sounds of bottlecaps on the amp and a guitar pick on teeth. Officious Business: The Shins Go Hollywood with John Krasinski, Filter, Holiday 2006.

James Mercer writes the melody for a song first, then comes up with lyrics using "'some kind of imagery provoked by the music,'" usually from his personal life. He is living in the same house that Elliott Smith lived in when he recorderd Roman Candle. Great Expectations, Magnet, Nov/Dec. 2006.

The Kinks, 'Only You' by the Platters, 'Please Please Please' by James Brown and The Zombies and a Hawaiian band were all heard at James Mercer's wedding, Drowned in Sound, Nov. 22.

Other notable Shins press:
Shinning the Mainstream. The Sun, Jan. 12.
The Shins: Airy Pop Hits It Big NPR, Jan. 12

Headcase

Did you know that Pete Townsend is on record with at the O.E.D. as the earliest known user of the word headcase? Read all about it in Cyber-Neologoliferation.

Are you an amateur etymologist yourself? Well, here's your chance for fame and fortune...

My Year in Reading

Overall, this was not a particularly satisfying year for me in terms of reading. I read less than last year, thanks to acquisition of a computer, and what I chose to read didn't make me want to tell everyone about it. Before turning in for the evening, I found myself reading more about books (and music) on my computer than actually reading books. I still read every night before turning off my light, but was so tired that I was often only able to read a few pages before the head bobs began. Of course, last year was a particulary strong year and any other year would likely have been a let down. I had streaks of several books in a row last year that I just couldn't put down.

All that said, here is a list of the ten books I enjoyed the most in 2006, in order of when they were read. These were obviously not all published in 2006.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen

Intuition by Allegra Goodman

The Velvet Underground and Nico (33 1/3 series) by Joe Harvard

The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo by Peter Orner

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marissa Pessl
Random Family by Adrian LeBlanc
When Charlotte Comes Home by Maureen Millea Smith
Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi
The Yacobian Building by Alaa al Aswani

Christmas with the Devil's Music

I know it's a little late, but since I'm not posting the MP3s for these songs it doesn't really matter anyway! I present to you Christmas with the Devil's Music. My selection criteria, to throw in a little goofy library lingo, were: no crooners, no meaningful songs or renditions, and no overplayed versions(well...forgive me for throwing in Bruce, but it's so good!) The likelihood of inclusion increased significantly if the song was funny, up-tempo, or, better yet, both.

1. Jingle Bells (Greetings from Esquivel)—Esquivel
2. The Little Drummer Boy—The Dandy Warhols
3. Christmas in Hollis—Run D.M.C
4. Step Into Christmas—Elton John
5. Christmas with the Devil—Spinal Tap
6. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)—The Ramones
7. Merry Xmas Everybody—Slade
8. Father Christmas—The Kinks
9. Christmas at the Zoo —The Flaming Lips
10. Christmas Smorgasbord—The Swedish Chef
11. The Christmas Song—The Raveonettes
12. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town—Bruce
13. Christmas Reindeer—The Knife
14. Christmas Wrapping—The Waitresses

"You wouldn't believe what this guy..."

Everyday at the Information Desk, I am continually amazed at what people will ask of librarians. Does this shirt match these pants? I need the mailing address for the leader of Somalia so I can send him a Christmas card. And I am constantly appalled by the behavior of customers: they will answer their cell phone right as they are asking you a question or right as you are answering it; they will call and ask you to do the research for their son's final research paper and put everything on hold for them so they can pick it up in a few hours.

I complain vigorously about all of the above to my colleagues, making me wonder sometimes if I am in the right profession. But today I didn't have a shift out at the Information Desk, and I missed it. I do love learning something new every day and digging for information, but I've realized that I also truly enjoy complaining about demanding customers. I'm sure that the DSM-IV has a perfect way of describing this personality quirk, but there it is!

Strange Array

Here is the strange array of 2006 discs that captured the most of my attention this year (but there are so many I haven't heard yet!)

The Alarmists - A Detail of Soldiers
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
The Cherry Tempo - The Cherry Tempo
The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America
Chris Koza - Patterns
Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home
Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
Spank Rock - Yo Yo Yo
Zero 7 - The Garden

Restaurant: Grand Cafe

A friend and I checked out the new Grand Café (formerly Bakery on Grand) for brunch Sunday, and mmm… I had stopped in the old Bakery on Grand a couple years ago for a tasty little pastry, and the feel of the place hasn't changed: a classy, slightly upscale café.

I had the heavenly Banana Bread French Toast with Home-Made Peach Syrup and Bavarian Cream. I was afraid it might be a little too weighty for french toast, especially after seeing how huge the regular toast coming out of the kitchen was, but I just couldn't resist the homemade peach syrup. What appeared before me was mouthwatering--one long, thick, piece of banana bread covered in fresh, chunky peach syrup, topped lengthwise with a full-size (what I'm guessing was baked) banana. The french toast was just the right density…heavier than regular french toast but not too much. The syrup was almost thick enough to be preserves but just liquid enough to qualify as syrup. The bavarian cream on the side was just the right flavor. Not super sweet, and nicely balancing the intense sweetness of the french toast.

My friend tried the Huevoes Rancheros (Quesadillas filled with Pork Confit, Oaxaca Cheese, Two Eggs, Roasted Corn Salsa, Black Beans, and Sour-Cream) and gave it a thumbs up as well.

I remember looking at the Bakery on Grand dinner menu when I stopped in that one day, and thinking it wasn't for me. I appreciate unique flavorful food, but my palette is not developed enough to appreciate brisket, pheasant, or fish soup. After checking out the lunch and dinner menu while waiting for the arrival of our food, I can confidently say it is a place I would now happily check out!

added bonus...here is Jeremy Iggers' review of the new place.

Gimme Some Stranger Than Fiction

I finally got to see Stranger Than Fiction this weekend. Yes, I know it didn't get stellar reviews, but between the literary theme and the Britt Daniel-driven soundtrack, there was no way I was going to miss it.

I really liked it. I had read reviews that said it was similar to Momento and Adaptation, but simpler and therefore less successful. So...I went into it not expecting to have to think alot. A person can definitely enjoy it without thinking too much, but there was plenty to think about and figure out. I think the best literature, music, and film should be able to be enjoyed on multiple levels. To compose 2 or 3 successful works takes talent, and to be able to weave 2 or 3 works into one coherent work takes extraordinary skill. Stranger Than Fiction did that.

Great or Grating?

My band-packed funfest continued Friday when we headed over to the Nomad to catch a little of Coach Said Not To's set. We were early, so we caught opener Sleeping in the Aviary. They started off too frenetic for my taste, but I warmed up some to their sound, which brought to mind Tapes 'n Tapes. Their cover of The Exciters' Tell Him was a clever match to the aggresive vox style. But wow did one of his former girlfriends do a number on the lead singer...every song screamed it. Hmm...I'm guessing he just might have been too intense for her!

I had high hopes for Coach Said Not To. I'd heard good things, and I'm always ready to get behind a band fronted by females. Of the 4 or 5 songs we caught, I really liked their sound. It had an ambient, sexy quality that reminded me of Zero 7, though faster and not nearly as electronic. Unfortunately, the lead vocal for all but one of those songs had a voice and a pretentious phrasing that I found grating. If I had known before the show that their latest release was entitled Words That I Employ, I wouldn't have been as surprised. But one of the songs was sung by the bassist, who had a gorgeous, full voice. Maybe she sings lead more than I heard, but if not she should!

Workin' Hard

Got to see another great show Black Friday. Mark Mallman and The Alarmists played a doubleheader at the 400. A friend and I were at the early show, and it felt like walking into a family reunion. I'm assuming it was the Alarmists' family, since the large gang of aunt- and uncle-looking adults left after their set. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Their presence spiked the average age up from sixteen to right about my and my friend's age.

With all the great things I heard about the Alarmists, two things surprised me. One, they didn't look old enough to get into the second show! Two, for how young they appeared, they sounded incredibly tight. But watching them on stage made it apparent how that could be; they are serious and work hard. In tone and simplicity they remind me of Spoon, especially on New Romans and Some Things Never Stop, and the similarity of Eric Lovold's voice to Jeff Tweedy is pretty obvious, especially on Coming to Meet Me. I just read on their website that they are going to start recording their follow-up to A Detail of Soldiers on December 1. I can't wait to hear it.

Like the Alarmists, Mark Mallman sounds great and works hard. But where The Alarmists are economical, Mark Mallman is all about the drama. Through the course of the set, my friend and I compared him to Billy Joel on acid, Rush, Meatloaf, and Alice Cooper, and I'm sure if he'd played longer, we would have come up with a few more. He is undeniably clever and truly entertaining. I would be unlikely to listen to a CD of his at home, but Mark Mallman is not meant to be listened to in the solitude of your own home. You must have him in the room, and be surrounded by friends and booze. I was surprised to learn Mark Mallman is backed by half of The Melismatics, and that that half is married to each other!

(Photos courtesy of Tay-lo.)

Light It Up

I love Faux Jean! They rock, but they're not afraid of a disco, or even a hoedown.

Friday the 17th was their CD release show for Light It Up, Burn It Down. I was sure that it wouldn't measure up to Dead Lover (Drunk and Stoned being one of my favorite songs ever). But no! Though it's not quite as good as Dead Lover over all, there are some great songs that sounded great live, especially Dirty Dogs and Get With That. Like Dead Lover, Light It Up is highly danceable with lyrics that are clever and a little dark. Corinne Caouette really makes the live show. She loves the music and it shows. You wonder if she's forgotten about the crowd, in a good way. The extended-play, Dead-Lover-packed encore was like an extra bonus free show thrown in, and made more complete with a blazin' cover of Jive Talkin'!

The Owls and First Communion After Party opened. I enjoyed The Owls, and their ability to trade instruments nearly every song impressed me. Their sound reminded me of a slightly shinier (less drug-addled?) Velvet Underground. I think I would have been more into them if I hadn't been anticipating the dance beats of Faux Jean. First Communion After Party had an intriguing psychedelic sound also, come to think of it, reminding me of the Velvet Underground in a slightly different way (more drug-addled?), but they need to come up with a way to end their songs. ...and figure out what to do with the chick with no rhythm standing on the side of the stage!

Reading People

So, I admit it. I love looking at People Magazine. Something about looking at pretty people cheers me right up sometimes. Though I did choose the verb "looking" deliberately, I do read one section faithfully. The letters. It is some of the only writing that makes me laugh out loud. Yup. David Sedaris, Dara Moscowitz, and the dear, faithful readers of People. Here is one of this week's highlights, written by Julie C. Pannell of Grayson, GA:

"I do think that Keith [Urban] and Nicole [Kidman] have a solid marriage and truly hope they are for 'better or worse'".

Does she really think she knows anything about how "solid" this marriage of two celebrities is from reading celebrity gossip magazines?

Book: When Charlotte Comes Home

I was nervous about reading When Charlotte Comes Home by Maureen Millea Smith. Ms. Millea Smith is a colleague of mine who I think is just wonderful, and I was afraid I wouldn't like it. What would I say when she came to read at my library tonight? No worries. The story is mainly set in late 60s Omaha, and centers around a family dealing with the serious illness of the charasmatic youngest daughter. The scenes were written with just the right amount of detail; evocative with few wasted words. At first, I wondered at how different the 2 main families were from families that I knew. Yet they were so deftly written that I was quickly wrapped up in their lives and had trouble putting the book down. Going about my day, I would wonder what might happen to them and couldn't wait to get back into their lives at the end of the day.

Another thing I really appreciated about the novel was that there were gay characters and a character with Down syndrome, but that they were well rounded. The author did not let those specific aspects of their personalities define them. Interestingly at the reading, the author related that she only realized later in the process of writing the novel that the main character was gay.

And yay for Maureen! Her book was just featured in Minnesota Monthly as a good gift for book clubbers.

Restaurant: Broder's Pasta Bar

Yum! I'm one of the few people in the Twin Cities who had not been to Broder's Pasta Bar yet, but tonight that all changed. ...And my life is definitely better for it!

I had pretty much sworn off Italian restaurants because the good places were too expensive and the anything-less-than-the-good places? Their menu might as well just say: Giant heap of overcooked pasta with your choice of meat and red or white sauce. Blech...

The soft breads they started us off with were crusty and chewy and the flat bread was crispy. We tried a tasty little anitpasto to whet our appetites: salsicce con finocchio e cipolla, grilled mild Italian sausage links with caramelized fennel and sweet onions in a sambuca reduction.

As for the entrees, I can confidently say that I would not have been disappointed by any of them. I had the gnocchi verde con vitello e coriandolo, homemade gnocchi with veal, carrots, zucchini, coriander, dill, and marsala. It is very easy to get gnocchi wrong, but mine were of the perfect tenderness. My folks ordered the ravioli con zucca (squash-filled ravioli with sage, butter, and parmigiano) and the stringozzi con arragosta (homemade pasta with lobster, roasted squash, and truffle cream). The ravioli were flavorful and, most importantly, not drowning in a sea of butter. Though I wouldn't have been able to finish the stringozzi because it's superb richness, it was again flavorful without so much cream that you couldn't taste the lobster and squash. And all portion sizes were perfect. Not too much...just enough to leave you satisfied and planning your next visit!

They Can Make Me Like Them

I am now officially a Hold Steady fan. I saw them at Grand Old Day a couple years ago after Separation Sunday came out. Really liked the music, but Craig Finn's speak-singing drove me nuts.

But...after a couple Boys and Girls in America reviews that said Craig Finn actually sings, I decided to give the new one a listen. I love it! Well, except for Chillout Tent... But I can even handle the lapse back into speak-singing on Same Kooks.

Luckily, a friend of mine became a hard-core fan with Separation Sunday and was up for hearing them at First Ave last night. The show was great. They played all of the the ones I liked, and didn't play Chillout Tent (though it would have been cool to see Dave Pirner come out on stage...) I'm not an "I have to be in the front row" person, but this is one show that I really wished I had been. The first 3 rows had to feel like they were the only ones in the room many times, when Mr. Finn leaned in and sang lovingly into their eyes!

Random facts: the keyboard guy is a dead ringer for a young (everyone's favorite comedian)Gallagher and Mrs. Finn's (mom's) favorite song off the new disc is Southtown Girls.

Word of the Day: Busking

Something the Moral Majority should be pontificating about, perhaps? NO! Busking is just playing music or performing entertainment in a public place, usually while soliciting money. The Brits use it more commonly.

I came across the word in an article about those cuties Old Crow Medicine Show in the Sept/Oct 2006 No Depression. Marty Stuart is exclaiming " 'I missed them between the two Opry shows that night-- and then learned that they were out busking in front of the Ryman, after their encore!' "

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about busking.

Restaurant: Nala Pak (formerly Udupi)

My friend and I checked out the former Udupi Cafe on Central last night. It reopened this year under new ownership, after the former owner got in trouble for employing illegal immigrants.

After being relieved to learn that they served alcohol, we ordered the appetizer sampler. Though the vada, paneer pakora, samosa, etc. were tasty, all were deep-fried. A bit too heavy to eat more than one item. For my entree, I had the Special Rava Masala Dosai. Yum. The dosa was tender but crispy with a nice onion flavor. The filling consisted of mashed up potato and onion. Not sure if it was the filling or the dosa, but there was a nice level of heat to it. I forgot they are about the same diameter as the tire of an 18-wheeler and only got through half of it.

The atmosphere, unfortunately, is not even as good as the old Udupi, which wasn't exactly Chez Panisse itself. Cold tile floors, unpleasantly-shaded empty walls, and terrible lighting. And if that isn't enough, the very kind owner enthusiastically told us about the 3 big-screen televisions that will soon hang from the ceilings...

Word of the Day: Shibboleth

Shibboleth: a word, pronounciation, custom, practice, or behavior that is distinctinve to a particular group.

I came across this word in an interesting Rift Magazine article about what First Ave was like in 1987. "At the time, the club also employed several iffy skinhead types that made me seriously uncomfortable. These were the guys with neck tattoos before visible tats became a hipster shibboleth in the mid '90s."

Read more about this fascinating word courtesy of Answers.com, and don't forget to check out the website of the famous Dallas, TX instrumental rock trio Shibboleth...