Sometime in December 2007, I sent out some emails asking local(ish) artists, venue owners, and other cultural workers if they wanted to participate in a monthly top 10 list project. The premise was simple: participants would choose their top 10 of anything, no theme necessary, and explain why they liked it so much. I had stolen the idea pretty much wholesale from ArtForum. I'm still looking to fill a few spots and would love to have more visual, artists, writers, and arts administrators. So if you're interesting in playing along, drop me a line.

Kicking off the series are local rockers Remora Deign.

Remora Deign has been around for about 4 years. The band has two full length albums: Red Skies and Lullabies (2004) and, more recently, Catharsis (2007) . The band was started by Guitarist/Bassist Ben Milliron and Singer/Guitarist Kyle Hoffman. After several line-up changes Garth Porter joined to play drums and Corey joined to play bass. Remora Deign is currently working on writing new material and playing shows.


Remora Deign's Top Ten

1. TA (Travel America). 24 hour restaurant we always go to late at night to take a break from practicing. It is located in Barkeyville right off of I-80

2. Sheetz. Another late night break stop. No Sheetz in particular, they all rock.

3. Brother Bean Coffee House in Seneca-This place and it's owners have been amazing to us. They are one of the only places around that still holds shows (acoustic only, but still great).-

4. The Victory Year-Awesome Band from down near Pittsburgh. They have always been really cool to us and we try and look out for each other.

5. County Market-Garth's place of employment...also frequently visited before practice. Located in Grove City,PA

6. The Whipset - "This is everything amazing and nothing both at the same time. The whipset represents all that you've ever enjoyed in life."

7. Kick Old Man - Garth's Other Band. Very experimental sound.

8. Darby Redford- Corey's other band. More of a Screamo type band

9. Guitar Center- No explanation necessary.

10. Hanging out and Practicing in Garth's Shop (which is basically a two story garage filled with motorcycles and other automotive stuff.)

Remora Deign plays tomorrow in the Slippery Rock University Battle of the Bands (7-10pm in the University's Multi-Purpose Room). You can stream their music at their MySpace page.

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Roadhouse Theatre is seeking a Caucasian female with singing ability. The production is a play depicting the career of a legend in music, which will star a local film, radio, and TV celebrity.Those interested in auditioning should be or should look to be 20-30 years of age. The actress must be confident and talented, along with having the willingness to perform in live duets. Stage and signing experience is welcomed but not necessary. The open auditions will be held Thursday February 28, 2008 between the hours of 6-8 pm @ The Roadhouse Theatre(145 W. 11th St. Erie PA).

The show is slated to open in April with a short 3 week run. Show details will be available at the open auditions. If you are interested but cannot make it to the open audition please call Steve at 814-873-5069

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Filmmaker Amy Aiello is seeking male actor for upcoming films.There are going to be two music videos, one standard and one more like a short film. They need one actor. The roles are not speaking parts, there is no pay and its looking to shoot the end of March/beginning of April, hopefully in one weekend. Experience isn't necessary but would be appreciated.

If you are interested, email me your measurements, headshots or pictures and resume ASAP. If you have any online media featuring your acting please email it to : higgins@cngmpictures.com

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The Guardian offers a "blog by blog" guide to art in Europe.

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One of my favorites, Head of Femur, have been listed as a Chicago band to watch in '08

. . . now it's Head of Femur's turn with a lush and irresistible album called Great Plains. Due on March 25, it comes complete with cello, violin, viola, trumpet, trombone, flute and a small orchestra's worth of other instruments.

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So you're going to self publish? Awesome. Now, start thinking about the hustle (or you know, hire me to help you out with it)

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Page France (From Suicide Squeeze Records ):
Hat and Rabbit (MP3)- From …and the Family Telephone
Junkyard (MP3) - From Hello, Dear Wind
Bush (MP3)- From Hello, Dear Wind

Head of Femur:
Leader and the Falcon (MP3) (via)
Isn't It a Shame (MP3) - From Great Plains
"Jetway Junior" (MP3) - From Great Plains
"Acme: The Summit of a Mountain" (MP3) - from Ringodom or Proctor (via)
"Curve That Byrd" (MP3) - from Ringodom or Proctor

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Veteran Status has a new website www.veteranstatusband.com. They play a free show at Meadville's Artist Cup Cafe (231 Chestnut Street, Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335) on Feb 29 at
6pm

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"Why," my friend asked this morning over coffee, "is the whitest woman I have ever seen writing a book about African-American heritage in Venango County?"

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Meadville's Title Me Wrong plays a free show Friday at 5pm at Edinboro's Eclectic Etceteras Coffee House.

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Neocracy has a new EP out.

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newmen plays Brother Bean (2803 SR 257, Seneca, PA 16346) Saturday 7-9. No cover.

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My Paranomas has some really nice panaromic (duh) shots of Venango County (among others)

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Stephen King and John Melloncamp writing a musical together? Where are you now God?

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Newest literary darling Charles Bock's Beautiful Children, a best-selling debut novel about characters adrift in Las Vegas can now be downloaded free and legal. from the Web site . I guess I think that's great, but if it's as good as the publicists say, why make this move?

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Speaking of Free and Legal Downloads:

Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy Live at The Other Side Radio Show on August 12, 1992 (Includes a nice cover of "California Uber Alles" )

Mogwai Live at the dame on March 3, 2006 (flac, no MP3)

Mission of Burma Live at The EARL on January 13, 2007

The Poofdaddle has ended. Long live the poofdaddle. And free music.

Veteran Status is giving away downloads of their music on MySpace.

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The poofdaddle between the The Oil City Library and the Fifth District Peace Project. is over. Although this:

The library's exhibit policy, drawn up in 1991, will be reviewed and some changes are pending in a section pertaining to the "director's discretion," Duarte said.

sounds a little threatening. I can't help but think that this could have been avoided if Oil City would pony up the money for a trained MLS degree holding director. After all, says the ALA:

Priority Area C. Intellectual freedom
ALA will promote the protection of library materials, personnel, and trustees from censorship; the defense of library personnel and trustees in support of intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights; and the education of library personnel, trustees, and the general public to the importance of intellectual freedom.
Goals:
First Amendment rights are secure.
Persons whose First Amendment rights are challenged have adequate support.

Of course it may just be that the OC wants to be more like Boston.

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Venangoland re-visitsMonarch Park

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Why newspapers are dying. Still.

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The $3 million winning bid for the Record Rama collection on eBay was a fraud,

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Love regional high school musicals? No, me either.

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Political contributions by writers. It's nice to see Jane Smiley and I have something in common. Besides devastatingly good looks.

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With CD sales down the drain, musicians are spending more and more time making money the only way they still can: on the road

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Is it necessary for artists to make painful sacrifices in order to create good art?

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Ummm..maybe.

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Cambridge Spring's Yankee Zydeco Company is #3 on this week's Roots Music Radio Airplay Tracking Zydeco Chart.
You can purchase or stream their music for free at CDBaby.

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My mother is a huge fan of streaming music so I would be remiss if I didn't mention PC Mag's "12 Best Places to Stream Music"

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Cover Lay Down features MP3s of folk covers of popular music. The latest installment is Mary Lou Lord covering Van Halen, Daniel Johnson, and The Magnetic Fields among others.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

IODA Promonet is making their IODA SXSW Opening Day Bash Sampler 2008 available for download. The album includes Pittsburgh's bright new things Modey Lemon. (And if, by the way, you're headed to SXSW I'd love to talk to you.)
More On This Album

Oliver Future "Stranger than the Stranger" (mp3)
Emily Jane White - "Wild Tigers I Have Known" (mp3)
Chris Bathgate - "The Last Parade on Ann St." (mp3)
Modey Lemon - "Become a Monk" (mp3)
Curumin - "Compacto" (mp3)
Frightened Rabbit - "The Modern Leper" (mp3)
Jason Collett - "Out of Time" (mp3)
Sean Hayes - "Flowering Spade" (mp3)
The Wedding Present - "Interstate 5 Extended" (mp3)
Yes King- "40 Long Days" (mp3)


Mountain Goats' "Down to the Ark" (mp3) - Courtesy of American Public Radio.

It was only five years ago that I walked home from school with Liz Warner on a fairly consistent basis. Her younger sister was best friends with my daughter and they lived two blocks away from us, so as the two young girls walked three steps ahead of us Liz would make the sort of conversation that a 13 year old and a 29 year old can make. Very little. I talked to her once in a while as she was going through high school - about music, theatre, her plans for the future, but, as you can imagine, conversation didn't become any easier. Today I'm me and Liz, well Liz is almost 19 (or is it 20? I'm so bad with math) living in Pittsburgh and creating precious heartfelt DIY tapes of Sara and Tegan influenced music.
Download:
"Feel This Right"
"Let's Build An Ark"
"My Luck"
"Zombies and Pirates"

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Oil City Art's Czar Joann Wheeler is back in the news as her efforts have led to Art Calendar magazine naming Oil City as one of the 10 best towns for working artists.

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After more than 50 years, Jay's Book Stall in Pittsburgh will close in a few months

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On Jan. 1, 1808, the U.S. government banned the transatlantic importation of people as slaves. By any account, it was landmark legislation. But its 200^th anniversary passed with little public acknowledgement -- and certainly with nothing like the commemorations for the 1976 bicentennial, or even, locally, for Pittsburgh's 250^th anniversary. Pitt history prof. Marcus Rediker wants to know why

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St. Vincent plays at the Andy Warhol Museum at 8 p.m. Feb. 25.

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I used to take pleasure visiting museums on trips around Britain, but now I am so clearly out-of-place: like Godzilla, a huge hulking man looming above the children. Our galleries and museums have been turned into playgrounds, with activity sheets and treasure trails, interactive video games and coloured signs that tell you about the exhibits in a few simple sentences, but nothing that an educated adult would not already know. It's no wonder I feel uncomfortable. Signs at the gates to children playgrounds warn that unaccompanied adults are unwelcome. There are no signs at museum doors - yet - but it feels as though their ought to be. What are they but giant creches, designed to hold our kids until they are old enough for vertical drinking establishments?

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Speaking of Joann Wheeler, she passes on that:

Christina Moffett at Oil City's Famoore's restaurant is interested in displaying up to 5 pieces of work on their walls, preferably work that reflects the Oil City landscape and surroundings. Her number is 676-4789 and she is easiest to reach on Mondays and Tuesdays. Take photos or samples of your work and be prepared with business cards so that potential buyers who see your work there can contact you.

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The first new album in 4 years from local band Zomo, Triangle of Drunk will be out on April 15 on Arbacarba Records

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Allegheny College will host the fifth annual High School Jazz Night on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ronald Stitt at (814) 332-3307.

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Andy Duncan, award-winning American science fiction and fantasy writer whose work frequently deals with Southern themes, will read from his work at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, in Grounds for Change Coffeehouse on the second floor of the Campus Center at Allegheny College. The program, which is free and open to the public, is part of the college's Single Voice Reading Series.

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So, yesterday, I dropped by Bell's Comics and picked up Abe Sapien: The Drowning #1,B.P.R.D. : 1946 #2 , Angel: After the Fall (dreadful), and 7 copies of a 50 cent reprint of Neil Gaiman's Sandman: Sleep of the Just (to hand out to non-comic-y friends). I also noticed that Dark Horse publishing is looking for finished proposals -- story and art -- from writer-artists or writer-and-artist teams.

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Jesse Lavery plays a free show at Meadville's Artist Cup Cafe (231 Chestnut St, Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335) at 6 pm tonight.

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Bruce Squared plays Brother Bean (2803 SR 257, Seneca, PA 16346 814-677-0232)tomorrow from 7-9 pm. No cover.

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Tiffany Apan plays Butler's Art Center at 8pm tonight (344 South Main Street Butler, PA) $3 at the Door.

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Meadville's Union Room (287 1/2 Chestnut Street, Meadville, Pennsylvania 16314)welcomes SKUDD, Manokin, God’s Day Off and First to Fall Cost : $6. Show starts at 6pm.

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Newmen plays a free matinee tomorrow at Edinboro's Eclectic Etceteras Coffee House

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Free and legal download:
Mountain Goats Live at North Star Bar on September 22, 2007

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First things first. I have to be honest. I am a mean, cruel, curmudgeonly man When my family and I went to see There Will be Blood (fantastic flick by the way, best thing I’ve seen in years) when the Daniel Day-Lewis character says, “I see the worst in people. I don’t need to look past seeing them to get all I need. I want to rule and never, ever explain myself. I’ve built up my hatred over the years, little by little . . . ” my wife and daughter's pretty faces swiveled to silently accuse me in the dark.

So that’s me. But.

But, the guys in Veteran Status are fantastically nice guys. Disarmingly nice. But, being who I am, I was prepared to dislike them. I approached their show with an attitude of, “All right. Win me over”. And they did. And there’s something to be said for the idea that an artist’s character, his being if you will, is best and perhaps only truly displayed through his art. So what do we have in Veteran’s Status latest album, Railbent? Well, let me say this, it’s taken me more than a month to write this review because my aforementioned wife and daughter – excellent judges of charter and of music, both, promptly absconded with the disc and made it difficult for me to spend more than 20 minutes with it at a time. eventually, I ripped it, stuck it on my player and listened to it while walking to the gym and stalking around campus.

Veteran Status are, at its heart, two guys (Doug and Brian -- both veterans, one a purple heart awardee, hence the name) with acoustic guitars. It’s a straight forward formula creating unironic folk music – strong voices with strong writing. In fact, although they tackle pretty standard musical themes, love, loss, and destiny, they never lean heavily on cliché. Nor do they try to make their voices sound like something they're not. They sound…honest. The first two tracks, in fact, reveal not the soft folk of Iron and Wine or "Bonnie" Prince Billie, but more of a rock troubadour style. These aren't hushed still lives in song, but gutsy acoustic numbers which could easily be reimagined as fully amplified Born To Run-era Springsteen-esque songs.

When we saw them live (at Seneca’s Brother Bean) the question that my wife leaned over to ask me was, "Are they brothers”? They’re not, but they have a familiar, easy give and take with each other that also shows through in their music in songs like the jumpy up-tempo number “Beautiful Rebecca”

The production on Railbent is weak on the low end, but it’s perfectly appropriate. This is not a bass heavy album. Veteran Status has a light, bright sound. It’s by no means a Pollyanna album, but instead one that creates the overwhelming feeling of gladness, not happiness, that giddiness that doesn’t last, but an low-key sense of, “Yeah, maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem.”

There’s a lot to be said for a Rust Belt band just starting out that, like Veteran Status, insists upon the importance of original music. There’s no doubt in my mind that with their skills and presence they could play classic rock covers in a smoky bar every weekend, but instead, they choose to see themselves as artists, as writers and performers, and if there’s any justice in the world, that choice will play out for them. So, yeah, Veteran Status are nice guys who make nice music. But don’t count them out, nice guys don’t always finish last.

Visit Veteran’s Status’ blog

Befriend them on MySpace. Where you can also buy their songs.

Free and Legal Download from Veteran Status' Railbent:

"San Francisco"
"Your Destiny"
"Beautiful Rebecca"

Veteran Status live at Brother Bean:

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First Punk Planet. Now No Depression. How, in a fair world, do those magazines die, whilst Rolling Stone persists?

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threadless is having a pinewood derby contest for grownups. Yes, there will be a venangago-go car. If you submit your own, make sure you send me a photo of the car so we can post it here. I'll be wearing the time fades shirt while I put mine together.

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via Erieblogs.com:

[Comedian] Mike Birbiglia had 100 posters hand-screened and numbered for his recent engagement at JR's Last Laugh in Erie, PA. All proceeds from this poster benefit the Erie Zoo. They're 11" x 17", screen printed, and hand numbered. Only $10 plus shipping. You can purchase them here.

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Arts and Drafts will be held March 27-29 at the Brewerie at Union Station. Over 30 artists will have their works exhibited and a number of local bands (including Veteran Status) will perform in the 3 day arts celebration. Admission is free - beer is not. Hours are 12 noon to close each day.

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There will be a Rust Belt Bloggers Summit on July 11-12 in Erie. People from Youngstown, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and other area cities will be attendance to discuss economic development issues in the region.

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Reserve January 16-19, 2009 for next year's Pittsburgh area Burning Man festival held at Cooper's Lake in Slippery Rock, Frostburn.

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The Slippery Rock University Archives is using Flickr to reach out to the larger community.

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Minnesota Public Radio features a streaming performance from former Soul Coughing front man Mike Doughty.

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Bradley's Almanac is featuring a downloadable Bob Mould concert.

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Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers are in the top 50 Roots Music National Radio Airplay Ranking beating out Shooter Jennings. Meanwhile, the Tiger Maple String Band are #1 on the PA chart!

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Vessels of the Strand, written by Ron Allen Ames, has been chosen winner of the Editor's Choice Award for history fiction in 2008 by AllBooks Review.

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"This is a vital area with dynamic, tech-savvy business people, students, visitors, and residents who want to stay connected," Yep. That's us.

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The Irish invented kilts, bagpipes, and whisky. The Scotch didn't realize the first two were a joke. Banter! Anyhow. ldypypr@yahoo.com is "a professional bagpiper currently booking appearances for St . Patrick's day 2008....If anyone is interested , please contact me and we can go from there."

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The Butler Art Center has issued a Call for Artists:
"Futuristic! What will life be like 10, 100, 1000 or a million years from now? Artwork must represent the future: our town, world, universe, our fashion, technology, environment, music, film, aliens, spaceships, galaxies, etc.

If you would like a call for entries, please call 724-283-6922 or email exhibit@nauticom.net!

Exhibit held from June 13th - July 11th, 2008.Butler Art Center"
I'd just be happy with the flying car that I was promised oh so many years ago.

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Free and Legal downloads

Jazzam Live at Pittsburgh's Thunderbird Cafe' on January 26, 2008

Chicago Afrobeat Project Live at Uncle Festers on January 24, 2008

The Evens Live at Ahimsa House on 2007-02-25 February 25, 2007

Apparently, bad weather be damned, the Oil City Bluegrass Festival was a big hit. If I have a complaint it's that there wasn't a schedule so I could see who was playing when. Which meant that I blew off the only time I could have gone - Sunday morning - only to find out that Jerome Wincek did an extended gospel set which I would have loved to have seen. Fortunately, Wincek has made the songs available for free and legal download. Nice.

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Four major percussion concertos will be performed in the United States over the next month. One of them, "TriplePlay" will be by the Pittsburgh Symphony on Feb. 21.

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Reading 200 books in a year? Amateur.

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Has PBS outlived its usefulness?

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The Independent reports that the painting that adorned the cover of Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation album will be auctioned next week.

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DIY Gallery Space

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Digital Democracy is a Pittsburgh conference that will explore how the digital revolution — including blogs, online video, websites and social media — is changing traditional news media coverage and citizens’ access to the political process.

The event includes national-caliber speakers who are coming to town on Saturday, March 15.

• New York Times Online Politics Editor Kate Phillips, who writes for and edits The Caucus, The New York Times politics news blog.
• Newsbusters.org Executive Editor Matthew Sheffield
• MediaMatters.org Senior Fellow & Director of Special Projects Paul Waldman
• Hearst-Argyle Director of Digital Media Content Jacques Natz
• J-Lab Executive Director Jan Schaffer
• Media Bloggers Association President Robert Cox

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Pink Martini has announced an Erie area show, but at $25/ticket, it's out of my range. Check them out at NPR's World Cafe.

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My editor at Pennsylvania magazine has informed me that my article and photos on Foxburg's Lincoln Hall will see print next month. I also noticed that Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers (who play Seneca's Brother Bean tonight) have a date scheduled for Lincoln Hall on July 5th. If you haven't seen this restored gem yet, the Stumperjumper show would be a great date to save.

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How do the national candidates feel about Arts Funding?

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The Art of the Campaign Poster. This year though, with Edwards gone, I'm voting for Chairman Meow.

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Tonight's Clarion-Venango Indie Film is Half Nelson(R). Film starts at 7:30 in Rhoades Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

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The Post-Gazette talks to George Romero (who I think looks more and more like Stan Lee all the time) about his new zombie flick, Diary of the Dead.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Free Listens is a blog of free downloadable audiobooks including classics as well as contemporary pieces like "A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman

Chicago Afrobeat Project Live at The Cubby Bear on May 28, 2006

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Venangoland has a special Valentine's Day post.

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Veteran Status plays a free show at the Hermitage, PA VFW (5550 E State St., Hermitage, Pennsylvania 16148) February, 16 2008 at 9:30 pm

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Newmen play a free show at Meadville's Artist Cup Cafe (231 Chestnut Street, Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335) February, 16 at 6pm.

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Remora Deign plays the Rock Against Cancer benefit show at Franklin High School (246 Pone Lane, Franklin, Pennsylvania 16323) February, 16 at 5 pm. $7 cover.

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The Old Hats take part in the Oil Country Bluegrass Festival (Arlington Hotel, Oil City, Pennsylvania 16301) February, 17 2008. No cover.

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Gypsy Dave and The Stumpjumpers play Saturday February, 16 at Brother Bean from 7-9 pm. No cover.

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Pittsburgh's Teeny "One Shot" Harris, is the inspiration for a new dance project.

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The ArtCorps is a program specifically design for professional artists. The program focuses on using art as a teaching tool, as well as a means of expression, for communities that face pressing social problems. Though the program does require that participants do some personal fund raising, the cost of travel is otherwise fully covered, along with a small stipend. Most assignments last 11 months.

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Utne looks at The Fine Art of Cool Posters

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Comic Book Conventions has an online calendar of upcoming comic book conventions.

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Museum of the Lost

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For your smarty-pants sweetie! Tomorrow, Dealing with the Dragon: America's Economic Relationship with China will be shown at the UPitt at Titusville library. Flick is free and open to the public.

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Free and Legal Downloads.
Band of Horses -"Is There a Ghost"
Okkervil River - "Our Life Is Not a Movie, Or Maybe"
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - "The Sons Of Cain"
M. Ward - "To Go Home"

Information about Pittsburgh's Frostburn Festival has surfaced including Mr Rogers Naked Sing-A-Long as well as a few theme camps such as:

THE BURLY TEN-PINT MEN The medieval-themed camp of a hardy band of Scadians keeping the Pennsic fires burning in the depths of winter. Look for us in the woods at the bottom of Runestone Hill. We few, we happy few, we band of buggered...

(obscenities follow the jump)

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StrawberryLuna makes fantastic gig posters from Pittsburgh. She's interviewed here.

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GY Production has announced dates and lineup for the 2008 Cambridge Spring's Spring Fever Festival.

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Brother Bean's Game Night this friday night is special for newbies. if you bring a friend who's never been to game night, both of you will get $1 off your first drink of the night.

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Free and Legal Downloads:
Drive-By Truckers Live at 40 Watt Club on January 12, 2008

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eNature.com is offering free mating call ringtones for Valentine's Day.

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Still home sick with a body composed, apparently of 87% sputum. Ick. I know.

The thing is, my eyes are burning and my concentration limited so reading is out of the question. I'm not a TV sort of guy, but since Wedensday I've watched 3 seasons of Monarch of the Glen, 2 seasons each of Buffy and Angel, 2 seasons of Monk, every Reaper made so far, 2 seasons of The Office, a half season of Supernatural, countless SNL clips and shorts, Night of the Hunter, The House on Telegraph Hill, Sunset Boulevard, Fighter, Primer, Groundhog Day, and Corpse Bride.

I'm really sure that's not healthy.

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Today is the 10th anniversary of the seminal indie album, Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

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Neil Gaiman is asking readers to vote on which one of his books should be given away free on the net. I'm voting for Coraline.

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Facebook? You can check out anytime you want...

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This morning's News Herald has a nice farewell to CPT (with quotes from my relative and all-around good guy Dave Pyror.)

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So. There was this city. Had seen more luxurious days having bet all of its chips on the fickle petro goddess. There had been some signs of renewal lately with artists moving in, but there was a problem - both in terms of economics and safety - too many empty houses. Oil City, PA? No Houston, TX. And there, in 2005, they decided to make some proverbial lemonade - turning soon-to-be-demolished houses over to local artists to be transformed into transitive sculptures.

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Jim Berlin is picking up the tab for everyone on Valentine's Day at Erie's Hookah Bar. Sucker.

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Slippery Rock University is sponsoring a show of Marine Corps combat photographer Russell Lee Klika through Feb 14th.

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No more polaroids.

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Westmoreland County is the "Roswell of the East".

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Temporal Things is a blog run by a Venango Campus student and local hardcore fan (and fine photographer)

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The Westmoreland Museum of Art is hosting "Seeing the City: Sloan's New York," a traveling exhibition of 97 paintings, drawings and prints that present an in-depth view of John Sloan's years in the city and the city's effect on his art. I love Sloan's work and will probably make the drive down before it closes in April. The Butler Institute in Youngstown also has a couple of nice Sloan's including "Recruiting in Union Square":

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Speaking of Art, the Smithsonian is offering
A Thousand Kisses: Love Letters from the Archives of American Art. My Favorite? "I Went to Buy The Sunday Times":

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Dengue Fever
"Seeing Hands" (mp3)
"Tiger Phone Card" (mp3)
"Sober Driver" (mp3)
Buy at iTunes Music Store


American Music Club
"All My Love" (mp3)
"I Know That's Not Really You"
Buy at iTunes Music Store




Jason Collett
"Out Of Time" (mp3)
"Charlyn, Angel of Kensington" (mp3)


Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble
"Music for 18 Musicians" (mp3)
"Music for 18 Musicians" (mp3)
"Music for 18 Musicians" (mp3)


Vic Chesnutt Live at 40 Watt Club on February 2, 2008

Last year at about this time, I mentioned that if I didn't have restraints, I would have headed out to Calvin College's Festival of Faith and Music. Since then, I've noticed that Calvin actually does a number of really interesting thigns regarding faith and popular culture. I'm not prepared to wear a "Johnathan Edwards is my HomeBoy" But it's fascinating to see a faith based college approach the world in a very different way than say (ugh) Grove City College or Hillsdale.

There are a ton of good downloads from last year's festival including a Neko Case Interview, an Emmylou Harris interview, The Psalters "The Cry of the Exodus", and a Music Criticism Roundtable

I just woke up from a fever dream which found me the owner of a wine bottle filled with a crystal clear liquid. Inside a half dozen, inch long, perfectly formed seals flipped slowly and buzzed around each other’s wet-suit smooth bodies. Watching the bottle filled me with a profound sense of peace, of happiness, and ownership of that peace. Nothing could take it back away from. Except, you know. Tylenol.

Belsapadore’s album, C’Mon Everyone Get Happy is like my dream bottle. Pretty to take in, a bit private, and endearing in a way that makes you want to listen multiple times.

Belsapadore began in 2003, when Justin Hoenke's other musical project Zomo decided to go on hiatus (now re-enlivened). With, C'mon, his latest album, Hoenke finds himself headed in a new direction -- creating big fat pop songs, unapologetically. Belsapadore is primarly a studio band, and C'mon's sound reflects that. There’s a lot going on, sonically, in his music –synths taking up the sound of xylophones, a thick drum beat - but Honeke’s production stays away from a Wall of Sound. Eveything is distinct, replicating a live show in both the looseness and the flow. The album's first track, “End of the World”, unwinds with a No Soul No Strain-era Wire Train feel to it -- that loose, relaxed, carefree vibe. Track 7, "Checkmate", meanwhile channels a 1950’s Supremes song through the sensibility of a indie cool kid. Amy Winehouse’s bedrugged body is no where to be found –this song with it’s heartfelt lyrics, is pure soul.

Drawbacks? Sure. Sometimes the recording of the vocals, especially on an otherwise stellar song “The Old Fools” (track #9) sounds a little too low-fi, muddy in some places, overdriven in others.

In the end, Honeke’s infectious style contains at its core an unfaltering sense of, well, fun, creating an album that sounds different (and better) than many other, glossier albums.

Belsapadore plays Seneca’s Brother Bean (2803 SR 257, Seneca, PA 16346 814-677-0232)this Saturday from 7-9 pm. No cover. A limited number of C’Mon Everyone get Happy will be sold for $1 as a special offer, so gather up those nickels. CheezusAKApeanut opens.

Download:
“End of the World”
“The Ballad of Haley Read”

I've slept 40 out of the last 48 hours. My fever is checking in at 100. I hurt a stomach muscle coughing. My family is tired of me. My cat, SB, curled up on my head and purred sweet consolation in my ear. Which made me feel better, until I remembered that whole "cat as the angel of death" thing. And then I felt...differently.

Old people are right. Talking about illness is fun.

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Frankin On Ice is this weekend. I would be remiss in not mentioning that my lovely and talented wife will be storytelling at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m in the Barrow-Civic Little Theatre (1233 Liberty St., Franklin, PA 16323) Free and open to the public.

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Talented area performers are invited to step into the limelight at Open Mic Night at Clarion University–Venango Campus on Friday, February 22, 2008, at 7 p.m. in the Robert W. Rhoades Center Lounge. Acoustic performances and poetry readings are encouraged. For more details regarding set length, performance pieces, and technical specifications please contact Emily Aubele at (814) 676-6591, ext. 1269. This event is free and open to the public.

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Want a super secret code to order Hairspray tickets for the Pittsburgh performace before anyone else? Email me, ask nicely, and I'll pass it on to you.

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Speaking of such, I have Hulu invites to give away. Email me and I'll hook you up.

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The date for the 2008 Oil Region Indie Fest has been anounced. Reserve May 24th, 2008. And drop Fest mastermind Jerome Wincek a note - yesterday was his birthday.

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Belsapadore plays Seneca's Brother Bean this saturday from 7-9pm. No cover.

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title me wrong plays an acounstic set in the Meadville High School Cafeteria tonight at 7 pm. $1 cover.

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The Allegheny College community's annual soul food dinner is Sunday feb 10th at 5 p.m. in Schultz Dining Hall. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday if space is available.

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The J Paul Getty Museum has acquired photographer Irving Penn's blue-collar portraits, “The Small Trades”.

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Burkina Electric will appear Sunday Feb 10th at 3 p.m. at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 20 E. Fifth St. Admission is free, but a donation of $10 is suggested.

Stream their album Reem Tekre at CDBaby

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The perfect man? 6 ft and a maximum of 145 pounds say fashion designers.

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Why we kiss. I mean, not you and I. Not that I wouldn't kiss you. It's just...you know...complicated.

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Confederate Pennsylvania:

Says a senior citizen named Kurt: "That flag is a cherished symbol of Christianity."

Comment would be superflous.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Massive Attack, Santiago Chile, May 04, 2004. (via)

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It's the year of the Rat ！！！恭喜发财！！！

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Literary lion Paul Coelho reveals a passion for promoting the online piracy of his own books. He thinks publishers should follow suit.

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A rock tour of NYC

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The Erie SeaWolves that National Anthem tryouts will be held Saturday, March 8 at the Millcreek Mall. Tryouts will be on the center stage in the mall near Burlington Coat Factory. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. and tryouts begin at 1 p.m.

Those interested in auditioning will perform the National Anthem for a panel of judges. Auditions must be performed a capella.

For more information about the National Anthem tryouts, please contact Carol Trumbo at (814) 456-1300

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The New York Times is looking for people to photograph polling places

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Meadville area band Veteran Status has started a blog.

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A quick note - sorry about the last post - I hit "Publish" instead of "Save" which meant you saw what my usual typing looks like before spellcheck and proofread.

Sick as a dog today - I'm off to get ashes and antibiotics and will take help from either side.

Art news later today.

So, as promised, I trotted to the library and took out Mary Dressel's Visions of Enchantment - the romance that is supposed to take place in Franklin. I don't see it. Enchantment bears no resemblance to Franklin - there were cozy tea houses and bookstores with wood paneling and wood fires in Enchantment. We have the plastic drunken frat vibe of Oskies' yard in the downtown.

I haven't really read enough Romance novels to judge this one, but I will say that I giggled everytime she used the word "womanhood" to refer to...you know...tee-hee.

Dressel's next installment in the series comes out in two weeks.

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Venangoland says goodbye to Conneaut Lake Park.

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The Jose White String Quartet will perform at 3 pm Feb 10th at Marwick Boyd Auditorium at Clarion University. Free and open to the public.

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Namoli Brennet plays a free show Wedensay at noon at the Venango Campus' Rhoades Center.

She'll follow up with the inaugural concert at 8 pm Saturday Feb 9th in Oil City's newly reopened Latonia Theatre (1 E 1st St, Oil City) Tickets at door $10 general, $5 student

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Pianist Dennis Geib plays a free show 7:30 pm Feb 11th at the Belles Lettres Clubhouse (W. 1st St OC) presented by the Schubert Musical and Literary Club

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The Barrow is promoting an evening of "operetta" on Saturday March 8th, more info when I get it, but I'm thinking more HMS Pinafore and less Candide. Not that there's a thing wrong with that.

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I Made It! Market and the Brew House Association present:I Made It! Now accepting applications for vendors/clothing designers for fashion show.To apply, send your name, email address, phone number, business name, URL and three images of your work to imadeitpgh@gmail.com

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Local Motion is looking for designers for the 2008 event to be held in September. Local Motion is an annual Fashion Show featuring local designers, models and stylists. Last year, more than 300 people gathered at the New Hazlett Theater to celebrate Pittsburgh's local fashion designers and talent. Proceeds from the show benefitted Dress for Success, an international non-profit organization which provides professional clothing, programs and ongoing support to help women become self-sufficient and successful in their careers. If you are a local clothing designer and would like to be involved with the '08 event, please fill out the form on the CONTACT page.

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The Holga Show is Erie area Photmoedia's second annual show of fine art photography produced from toy cameras with plastic lenses, such as the Holga.

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The "usual gang of idiots" now includes Pulitzer Winners.

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Over the Rhine has announced a March 21st 21+ show at Mr Smalls Theatre

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frostburn is the Pittsburgh regional Burning Man festival. If anyone's going, I'd love to hear about it. I missed out on the early registration and can't justify the full gate price.

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Free and Legal Downloads

Over the Rhine Live at St. Elizabeth (Cincinatti, OH) December 16, 2007

David Bazan Live at TT the Bears (Cambridge, MA) October 27th, 2007

Pittsburgh's The Karl Hendricks Trio Live at Great Scott (Allston, MA) November 11th, 2004