2018: January 23rd 5:56 PM

Walked up to do my words today. About a nice mile hike uphill. Trying to regain some of what I lost with my health issues last year.

I finished Patrick Kindlon and Maria Lovet's There's Nothing There last night. Really cool book. The part that sealed the deal for me was when Oscar Zeta Acosta showed up. I mean - holy shite! He appears as something of a spirit, although maybe not exactly, and he drops the names of the other spirits that had previously appeared to the main character, Reno. Oscar's presence spurred me to do some research and sure enough, all of Reno's visitors were real people from history who disappeared.

Awesome!

Kindlon's afterwards are worth the read alone - they're all fantastic snapshots of the comic industry from someone immersed in it, and in the back of the final issue he teases that there's more to tell, that maybe he and Maria will get back to it some day.

Please do.



Fell head over heels in love with Viet Cong and their current incarnation as Preoccupations. I remember when all of the hullabaloo with their name was going on two or so years ago, but I never read up on it. Also never had the chance to check out the band, despite the fact that over on Heaven is an Incubator Tommy swore/swears by them up and down. Another great thing about Apple Music - everything I think of is at the touch of a button. These are good enough to own on tactile though, so I'm sure I'll grab the vinyls eventually. As I keep saying, Apple Music is great, but so is giving the artists your hard earned money for their art - not just the royalties they get from streaming services.

I'll be switching gears from the standard Deafheaven for those daily words today:

2018: January 23rd 7:16 AM

Already been awake and at the job for a little over an hour - real hard time rousing from slumber this morning. The 8 or so alarms I have set on my iPhone perpetually pummel me and I perpetually snooze them, until the unending cacophony of alarms leave me no choice but to crawl from the warm arms of my love and face the cold, cold world.

Yes. I used cold twice, despite the fact that I live in Los Angeles and the lowest it gets at night here right now is probably in the forties. I am not unaware of the ridiculousness my friends and family in the Midwest and East Coast will look upon this with. I've earned my stripes - did I mention it was -12 windshield for several of the days I was recently back in Chicago? It's all relative. Trust me. If you lived here 47 would be cold cold too.

Drove to work listening to Barry Adamson's Soul Murder. Track 8 reminds me of laying awake all night in a Drumcondra Bed and Breakfast with a broken heart. It's a good memory - one that helped get me here today, even if it occurred at the tail end of a night that almost permanently removed me from the planet. But that's a story for a different time. Soul Murder is exceptional, possibly my favorite of Mr. Adamson's early works, when he was crafting film scores for the movies in his head and releasing them via MUTE.

I can't find Reverie to embed so I'll give you a different taste of the album:



Speaking of music, one of the things I've wanted to do for, oh, probably my entire life is keep a running journal of what I listen to everyday. Like, everything. I don't know how much I'll keep this up, but when I can amass a day's tally, I'll post it here. Yesterday's looks like this:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: From Her to Eternity
The Birthday Party - Mutiny/The Bad Seed
Blut Aus Nord: Memorial Vetusta III:
Helmet: Aftertaste
Odonis Odonis: No Pop
Protomartyr: Agent Intellect
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Henry's Dream
Deafheaven: New Bermuda
The Knife: Shaking the Habitual
Curtis Harding: Face Your Fear
Talking Heads: random tracks from Talking Heads 77 and Fear of Music

2018: January 22nd - 5:46 PM

Almost 12 hours since this morning's post. I just arrived at my writing spot, acquired more caffeine and am about to dig into the pure bliss of continuing work on a dream project, a kind of "what could be" for an iconic horror franchise that will probably never see the light of day. Or who knows? Between my writing partner and myself we have a few connections and an inimitable gift of salesmanship in certain situations.

As usual, digging into my favorite (and most played) writing music of all time:



Have an excellent night. I know I will.

2018: January 22nd

6:30 AM - I've already been awake for 2 hours. Going to be a long day, between work at the biorepository, the commute home (which hopefully won't be that bad but, well, I won't hold my breath) and my scheduled daily words for this evening, I'll be running on caffeine and sheer force O' Will for the next... 13 or 14 hours. And then I'll do it all again tomorrow, probably with less sleep under my belt. That's okay, Wednesday is nap day (I swear to the Sleep Bank theory, something I'll either link to or define myself sometime soon) and Thursday night is Converge at the Regent. Going to be insane. I've been looking for a band to fill the hole left by Dillinger Escape Plan's retirement, hopefully this will do the trick. I will NOT be hitting the action in the Pit however, as my torn hamstring at December 14th's Jesus Lizard show (The Fonda) has convinced me that, just like K warns me when I step up to the plate to do stupid things, I'm 41 and well past the age I can surf over a throbbing crowd on other people's fingertips and kindness.

Well, at least until I properly heal...

K and I watched The Killing of a Sacred Deer last night. Jesus H. Christ, where to begin? I'll save it for another time. I loved it though, and it will definitely make my "Shawn's Favorite Films: 2017 list, which I'm delaying publishing on Joup until the day of the oscars, just to allow myself time to see everything. Hey, if the awards that almost always get it wrong can have until February to see everything, so can I.

Began the day with some Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - From Her to Eternity.


Finishing up Reinhard Kleist's brilliant Graphic Novel Nick Cave: Mercy on Me

Also jogging through a re-read of Patrick Kindlon and Maria Llovet's There's Nothing There - issue 5, the final issue, came out recently and it'd been a few months since I'd read the previous ones, so I thought I'd go back to the beginning and read through until the end. Reno is a strange character; because of her vapid, media whore lifestyle I should hate her. I don't. I want to see her come out of this journey with something new to her, a better outlook. That said, I'll be just as interested in the final issue of the story if she doesn't evolve but receives some kind of comeuppance instead.

Shawn's Favorite Albums of 2017

The list of my favorite albums from 2017, right HERE. Enjoy.

Converge - Murk & Marrow

Converge is new to me, though I've heard of them in an increasing capacity for the last few years. Now I understand why. After listening to the new album, I can say The Dusk in Us is definitely going on my top 10 albums of 2017. Also, a friend scored sold-out tickets for us to see them at LA's The Regent, the venue where I caught Dillinger Escape Plan's farewell LA show last year. Maybe these guys will act as a suitable replacement for seeing DEP live.

Maybe. Either way, great album.

Saturday, Oct 28th DwC Invades Stan Lee's LACC!!!

Drinking with Comics - Giant-Sized Con Edition!

Saturday, October 28th we will be invading Stan Lee's Los Angeles Comic Con and coming at you live to talk comics while knocking back some sweet suds courtesy of King Harbor Brewing Company. It's going down at 2:00 PM in room 306 A/B. More info HERE.

New Odonis Odonis Album Next Friday

No Pop is out on the wonderful Felte Records next Friday. Funds have been a bit tight so I haven't ordered it yet but I'm changing that today and you can too if you go HERE. In the meantime, here's the first track. So good.

Happy F13 - Here's the New Mutants Trailer to Celebrate

I said I wouldn't believe it until I saw it and now I've seen it - well, the first evidence of it anyway. What am I talking about? The fact that fox let director Josh Boone make the New Mutants a fucking HORROR movie! How awesome is that? Now if jump scares can only be kept to a minimum...

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 17 & 18)

One week ago tonight it ended. I think it could end here and be perfectly complete. That said, I certainly would love more. As far as arriving at a working interpretation, here are my thoughts.

John Carpenter's The Thing OST - Sterilization (Ennio Morricone)

You ever wanted to know where Boards of Canada came from, here it is. WaxWork put out a fabulous remaster of The Thing earlier this year and it is proving to be my most listened to record of the year.

RIP Walter Becker

My favorite song off Aja, a perfect record. RIP Mr. Becker.

Firewater - Green Light

From one of my all-time favorite albums, Firewater's 1998 The Ponzi Scheme. I saw Tod A. and the line-up for this record perform it in its entirety at the loooong gone but highly fabled Chicago venue Lounge Ax. It was amazing. Ever since The Ponzi Scheme came into my life I've held in the highest regards - to me its one of a handful of records that represent the highwater mark of the 90s indie music era (before "indie" was a, ahem, genre...). Ironically though the albums sonic scope is so extravagant in its influences that I've held it against everything else Tod A. has done under that moniker, i.e. I never listen to any of the other records because hearing his vocals I just want to turn whatever it is off and replace it with The Ponzi Scheme. After laying back into it for two days now I've just completed a fairly engaged morning listen and have The Golden Hour and International Orange! - both of which I have Brown to thank for gifting me - on deck and am going to try to finally broaden my Firewater palate.

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 16 No Knock, No Doorbell)

Hectic week and I forgot to post this here Tuesday night when it went up. Tomorrow 27 years of waiting comes to a head. I can't wait but will also, obviously, be sad to see it go.

Living Nudes - My World Exploded

Tommy from Heaven is an Incubator recorded and released an album recently! It's awesome and I suggest you head over to the band camp site HERE and buy it!

Cooper Light Socket/Ruby at the Roadhouse side x side

There's definitely something here. Unbelievable work by youtube Beyond Reason who also did the Sam and Tracy/Naido Cooper side x side from earlier in the season:



The idea of Lynch directing one scene while watching another to pace it is marvelous! The detail in this season is beyond anything he's done before, simply because he's had 18 hours to work with and what amounted to more time to shoot it than a standard film shoot.

2 weeks and 3 episodes left I want the climax but am afraid to get to it.

See you in the trees...

New From The Bronx Coming September 22nd!

Bronx I, II and IV are still among my favorite records from this century. If this first 'single' is any indication, V will join them up there.

Pre-order the album HERE.

Dead Cross - Live in Santa Ana

Monday was Dead Cross at the El Rey in Hollywood. My friend Keller and I hit it the early and caught Secret Chiefs 3 play a killer set; a great surprise as I didn't even realize they were playing. Spruance and Patton in the same building? FNM reunited, might Bungle one day?

I digress.

After more than a 45 minute wait between bands we became concerned. Our concern was justified when Dave Lombardo and Michael Crain ducked out from behind the curtain and told the crowd that Patton had been injured in a car accident and the show would have to be re-scheduled.

Crap.

Keller and I hit another bar, or rather a Mexican Cantina that appeared out of thin air after we found a strange green ring behind a beat-up old RV covered heavily with surveillance. The rest of that experience is foggy to say the least, but I think I ate a Negro Modelo and drank a chicken fajita.

Fast forward to Tuesday and the rescheduled show was announced for... that very night. Bummer, because there was no way I could make it to Hollywood. I had to miss the show.

Very glad Patton is okay and I hope Dead Cross come back to play LA again VERY soon. The album, which came out on Patton's Ipecac label is among my favorite things he's done in years.

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 15 'There's Some Fear in Letting Go')

Fifteen tops fourteen as my favorite of the new Season thus far (if you remove 8 from the equation). I think that weekly one-upping will continue unabated until the end.

The Genesis of Preacher (Season 2 Ep. 9)

Forgot to post this last week. First episode this season I had some problems with. Harry Connick, Jr.? Really?

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 14 "We Are Like the Dreamer")

My favorite episode of The Return thus far. Well, my favorite if you just remove 8 from the equation.

The new Brand New Album is on Youtube

Pre-order the vinyl, CD or digital here. Been waiting 8 fucking years for this - one listen in and it's not what I would have expected but it's good enough to buy and analyze for months on end. So yeah, I'm happy.

The Genesis of Preacher - A Preacher Discussion (Season 2, Ep. 8)

This episode more than any other so far has made us very interested in how Cassidy's origin and evolution is going to play out in this adaptation.

The Genesis of Preacher - A Preacher Discussion (Season 2, Ep. 7)

Finally! Ladies and Gentlemen... Herr Starr!!!

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 13 "What Story is that, Charlie?")

Hands down the most frustrating episode of the series to date. Better upon second viewing but then again I don't pretend to expect David Lynch or Mark Frost to do anything other than what they want. I'll still be here cheering it on. Even if it frustrates me so this close to the end.

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 12 "Let's Rock")

Watched this in the Seatac airport on my way back from Twin Peaks Fest 2017. First time through was super-charged up front and disappointing on the back end. Second time through I really dug.

The Genesis of Preacher - A Preacher Discussion (Season 2, Ep 6)

We missed a couple due to my surgery, subsequent escape to Twin Peaks Fest and Chris's jaunt down to San Diego Comic con. With Episode 6, we're back!

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 11 "There's Fire Where You Are Going")

Damn good pie!

Evolution of the Arm: A Twin Peaks Discussion (Ep. 10 "Laura is the One")

Yep. I said it. Diane is inhabited by BOB.

The Genesis of Preacher

Along with the Twin Peaks video series I'm also doing a weekly after-episode discussion video on AMC's Preacher with Chris Saunders, one of my co-hosts on Drinking with Comics. Chris is helming the editing on this one and he's doing an outstanding job. I still have my issues with the series but overall this second season has more often than not delighted me, and we're trying to spend about ten minutes a week covering how the show deviates from the book, what we like and don't like about those deviations, and occasionally theorizing about where this version of the series is headed.
As I mentioned in my post for Twin Peaks Episode 9 I've been backlogged with responsibilities and as such am a bit behind posting stuff on this blog. Here's the videos for our discussions about Preacher episodes 2 and 3, with 4 to follow early this week. After that I hope to return to posting these as they come out.

Evolution of the Arm (Twin Peaks: The Return Ep. 9)

I've been burning the proverbial candle at both ends and as such I've fallen way behind in updating this blog. With Episode 10 landing in just five hours I thought I'd go ahead and finally post last week's edition of my after-show discussion video Evolution of the Arm here. As usual, great discussion taking place in the comments below the video so if you want to chime in, please do!

The Genesis of Preacher: Discussing Preacher Sn 2.1

My good friend and fellow Drinking with Comics host Chris Saunders and I decided to do a discussion show for the second season of AMC's Preacher. I'll admit to being something of a skeptic on the first season - Preacher is my all-time favorite comic and holds a very dear place in my heart; the formula for its incredibly powerful story is a nuanced one, and I've always been fairly afraid that adapting it another medium would 'miss the heart' of Jessie, Tulip and Cass's journey. Preacher season one had it's ups and downs - I fully expected to hate it (AMC has already tarnished my second favorite comic of all-time with their TWD so my prejudice is not without basis) but ended up liking it enough to continue with Season Two. Imagine my surprise when I LOVED the first two episodes. And Chris - also a huge fan of the book - did too. Why? Click play and let us tell you.

Morrissey Biopic Trailer

Thanks be to Mr. Brown for forwarding this on because I had never heard of it before. Looks good and with the same producer as Control I'm in.

Evolution of the Arm - Twin Peaks Episode 8 Discussion

My thoughts on what is quite possibly my favorite episode of the new series so far.

Gold Class - Twist in the Dark

LOVE this; that guitar - holy smokes! From the forthcoming LP Drum, releasing on the always lovely Felte Records August 18th. Pre-order through the bandcamp here!

Ride A White Swan

Nice way to start my day, even if it is the beginning of what will be my third day/fourth night in the hospital. Thank you Warren Ellis for the inspiration. If you would like some Warren Ellis inspiration -  which is among the strongest I have ever encountered, subscribe to his weekly Sunday newsletter Orbital Operations. You won't regret it.

QOTSA

This video makes me extremely happy.

Remember in 2013 when Queens of the Stone Age teased the hell out of us for what seemed like -and may very well have been - months before ... Like Clockwork was released? Well, they did it a bit this time too, in the run-up to their forthcoming album Villains. Wait, is that the name? Well, let's take a look at this video and see.

Dead Cross - Seizure and Desist

Well, about time I posted something that didn't revolve around Twin Peaks, eh? This landed sometime within the last week. So did news Dead Cross is touring. I'm so in.