stephenhebert’s blog

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I'll probably be on a Wordpress hosted blog soon.  Why?

And I quote:

"Ok.  Done.  I'm officially quitting Vox and switching to Wordpress or Blogger or some other decent platform.

Reasons:
1) Video posting is crap.  Why?  Because a) the requirements are too strict (fair enough, but), b) YouTube search is not flexible at all and doesn't even give the option of specifying the video ID (which would still be fine, but), c) any attempts to embed a video by hand using HTML have blown up in my face.
2) Comments on posts are only allowed from other Vox members.  I've given feedback about this before (and received no response), and I've also heard rants about this from other Vox members.  This is a really shitty way to attract people to use your service.  Reality check: no one is going to start a blog here because they're required to register.  It's a pain in the ass, and the only thing it helps is your numbers (which must be your only concern).

The media library is a good idea, if only it were flexible enough to be really useful."

A bit harsh, of course, but I've lost my patience with this thing.  Catch you on the flipside.

Update. Go!

Went to the biweekly dodgeball game on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.  I could hardly move for about three days after.  Apparently, hurling a big ball as hard as you can over and over for about 4 hours is a lot of exercise.

I'm in the middle of a big project to cover my walls with pictures (see below).  I decided it wouldn't be classy enough without a black matte around each photo, so I went out and bought a truckload (wayyy too much, as it turns out) of heavy black construction paper.  Unfortunately, the prints got a bit bent in shipment and are a bit noncommittal in their relationship with the construction paper.  I've been picking up fallen ones all day, and have since shoved them all under every heavy thing in my apartment.

Got my turntable back from the shop on Friday.  It's got a shiny new top.  I've spent all morning listening to records: The Allman Brothers, Louis Armstrong's Greatest Hits, Bob Dylan, Porgy & Bess.  I think I'm going to really enjoy Saturdays.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KA1le5iIxg

I'm really looking forward to my trip home.  I'm planning on heading straight from the airport to the Carlotta block party, so I'll have to be swift with my costume. 

Well, today was pretty exciting.  As Emma and I were leaving our morning meeting, we noticed that a tree had fallen, and was partially on her car.  Luckily, she only got hit with a few small branches. The brunt of it was in the spot just adjacent to us.  The car two spots over wasn't exactly spared though, as a branch about 4" thick was lying across its roof.

Also, waves:

cred. basilio@flickr

The theme of late has been amazing places right on my doorstep that until now I haven't bothered to investigate.

First victim was Woodland Park / Green Lake Park, both just a few blocks North of my apartment, and on a perfect day light yesterday, you just can't get much better.  Woodland Park has some really nice gardens with sculpted trees, hundreds of red red red roses, a fountain, dogs and their walkers, etc.  The woods between the Zoo and Green Lake remind me a lot of Wivenhoe - the leaves are all manner of colors now and dirt paths dart this way and that.  Green Lake is a premier people-watching spot as walkers, runners, bladers, boarders, cyclists, street musicians, and vendors all enjoy the seemlingly limitless, and notably magnificent vantage points.

Second victim is the American Music store on Allen and Fremont.  Though it certainly lacks the naturalistic appeal of the woods / park / lake, it more than makes up for it in sheer utility.  It's packed with guitars, pianos, drums, gear, and all the associated junk - cables, strings, books, picks, etc.  Also, it is a mere two blocks from my front door.  Yes.  It's an independent store (check out americanmusic.com) and it carries enough audio monkey-wrenchery to make my usually regular trips to RadioShack completely unnecessary.  I even already have my eyes on a Roland digital piano, but it will have to wait a few months.

In other news, I cooked for the first time since moving into my new apartment (Yep.  I've eaten out every single meal since moving here.).  I invited Keith over and prepared the standard marinated-chicken-with-jalopeno,-bell-pepper,-celery,-and-onion stir-fry.  It never fails to please.  Though, I think next time, I'll try adding some ginger.  Or maybe basil.

Also, I have decided that I am in fact an auditory learner.  Reflecting, I remembered being told that I have a 'musical memory' - I hardly ever forget a piece of music - and I realized that my talent with remembering numbers probably relies on hearing the number spoken atleast once - must be something with the rhythm of saying the numbers.  Dunno.  After having this epiphany, I tested it by trying to remember a number I had called earlier in the day (and never before).  To my own surprise, it came to mind pretty easily.  I am a genius.  Buy my book.

On the more rockin' side of things, I finally went out and bought myself a stereo.  I picked up some speakers at a rummage sale for $10 (a pair of Boston Acoustics A70s) and got a vintage analog receiver and a turntable (Philips 212) from Hawthorne Stereo ("A pretty nice place").  After jamming pretty hard last night and tweaking the cables and the levels this morning (to the sweet tunes of 'Preaching the Blues' on 90.3 KEXP), I went out and blew my savings on some records (I'll start budgeting next month, I swear.) at JiveTime and SonicBoom (both 8 blocks away).  Tragically, when I got back and tried to get my groove on, the turntable started malfunctioning.  I may end up taking advantage of the seven-day full-refund period.  I've grown quite fond of the thing during these climactic hours, I hope I still get to keep it.

I quite like the idea of having a stereo as the entertainment center of my apartment (instead of a TV).  I'm excited about sitting around and listening to Tull, Hendrix, Chet Atkins, Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, Zeppelin, Santana, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Ink Spots, The Mills Brothers, The Velvet Underground, Fairport Convention, and all those other bands that demand the highest possible audio quality.  At Hawthorne Stereo yesterday, there was a shelf of old radios - the kind that hark back to FDR and his 'fireside chats' or radio shows like 'War of the Words' and 'The Shadow'.  Maybe if I listen hard enough, I can will myself one of those sweet black Chevys from the old 40s ganster flicks.  Here's hoping.

Over the Sound, cloaked in mist; smooth and swift; serene; surreal.

I forgot that the Fremont bridge was closed tonight, so I had the pleasure of taking my first ride over the Aurora Bridge.  That is all.

So.  It has been something of an adventure, but I have survived a month of living in Seattle.  That's one month of sleeping on the floor, one month of being harassed by crazy people (trying to hit me in the street, running into bars screaming, asking cashiers to help them dislodge whatever keeps toilets from flushing, etc), and one month of great concerts (Avett Brothers, KJ Sawka, Bonobo).

Things are finally starting to come together.  I found a place to live, ordered a bed (which should be in Monday), shelled out for a bike so I can commute the two miles to work, met a few people I can honestly call friends, and even joined the 21st century and bought an iPod.

Seattle is a great place, and it's ridiculously beautiful here in the summer.  I wish I could share it with you all.  I advise anyone even considering a trip out here to do so as soon as possible, before it gets gloomy.

I am planning on taking a trip home sometime around the end of October - probably the 27th 'til the 1st.  See you then?

I'm all moved in my apartment.  It took all of five minutes since I have all of two suitcases and a sleeping bag.  Now I need a piano.  There are plenty being given away here all the time on Craigslist, I just need someone to help me carry it.  It has loads of natural light during the day (owing mostly to two giant windows) and I have my own fireplace.  So, I'm all set for visitors now.  What are you waiting for?  Bring it on.

Bumbershoot 2007, the 37-th installment of Seattle's own annual music festival, started today.  It doesn't have the big names of some of the larger festivals, but it definitely holds its own.

Today, I saw The Shins, Honey-dripper All Stars (southern blues band), The Avett Brothers (my new favorite band ever.  Check out 'When I drink.'  These guys just rocked, period.  Well done.), Bert Jansch, Rodrigo Y Gabriela (Wow.  Wow.), plus about five seconds each of DeVotchka and Gogol Bordello, neither of which by that time could hold my attention.

Some girl with a pink wig gave me a dollar for putting my empty water bottle in a recycling bin.  Apparently, Esurance gave her $1000 to hand out.

The concert site was packed with people.  There were loads of vendors and quite a few performers - bongo players, folding-chair balancers (?), some pretty hip group from Peru, etc.  I passed a cross-eyed guitar dude doing an acoustic version of "Sober".  Pretty damn well, too.

In other news, I went out on Friday (last night?  Seems like it was much longer ago.) and ended up in The Dubliner listening to a local band called Woodrush.  They were doing some crazy three-part harmonies and using mouth percussion with a loop pedal for phat beats.  Anyway, they did a cover of Jude's "Out of L.A." - notable, since I've never heard anyone do a Jude cover.  (My favorite song by Jude just so happens to be the version of Prophet on "You're So Hot I Love You", which blows the recorded version away and, incidentally, was recorded live at KLSU.)  (Furthermore, if you've never heard of him, at least listen to "I Do (Cammie)".)  After their first set, we got to talking about Jude - they discovered him in a stack of value discs - and they told me that he's now teamed up with a few other guys and started touring as the Low Stars.  News to me.  Here's the myspace music page.  Apparently, a lot of solo acts have been joining forces recently.  He tried to tell me about Pete Yorn and someone awesome who I can't remember teaming up in a project called Thorn (sp), but Google has nothing for me.

Some links:
"When I Drink" on YouTube  Highlight: I didn't mention it earlier, but after these guys finished, the crowd went crazy.  One of the brothers came back on stage to do an encore.  He sang one of the songs from their new album, Emotionalism.  The lyrics:

If I get murdered in the city
Don't go revenging in my name
One person dead from such is plenty
No need to go get locked away
When I leave your arms
Things that I think of
No need to get over alarmed
I'm comin home

I wonder which brother is better
Which one our parents love the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble
They seemed to let the other go
A tear fell from my father's eyes
I wondered what my dad would say
He said I love you and I'm proud of you both
In so many different ways

(The other brother came on stage now and walked up to share the mic.)

If I get murdered in the city
Go read the letter in my desk
Don't bother with all my belongings
But pay attention to the list
Make sure my sister knows I love her
Make sure my mother knows the same
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.

Ok.  Now I know it's not hip to be emotionally expressive instead of coolly reserved, but the end of that song could not have been more touching if they would have fought, said how much they looked up to each other, cried, and hugged.  Seriously.  The YouTube video.  (Try to ignore the obnoxious crowd.)

Gabriela (from 'Rodrigo Y' fame) doing a solo jam on YouTube  This girl is phenomenal.
This one too.

Highlight:  They did a cover of "Wish You Were Here", but as they don't sing, they just told the audience to take over the vocals.  Great song.

Finally, I am have finally joined the rest of the world and will soon be the owner of a brand new(ly refurbished) iPod.  Whoop dee freakin' doo.

Now I'm going home.