Day 47 - Danny And The Champions of The World - Streets of Our Time

I loved this album based on the cover alone. Danny George Wilson (former Grand Drive kingpin) leads the Champions of the World (might as well aim big) through nine freewheeling folk spirituals that sound like they were recorded in one room, with one mic, in one take. Wilson sings like a less adenoidal Neil Young fronting Room to Roam-era Waterboys and each song is gently flecked with plonky banjo, luscious pedal steel and it all seems effortless.

Those who loved Ronnie Lane's Faces contributions and especially his solo stuff will recognize kindred spirits - there's a ramshackle, raggle-taggle feel to the Champions' gentle nostalgia that is hypnotic and life-affirming. So far not available in the U.S., Danny And The Champions of The World's Streets of Our Time is available from U.K.'s Loose Records.

Danny And The Champions of The World - "Henry The Van" (from Streets of Our Time)

Danny And The Champions of The World - "These Days" (from Danny And The Champions of The World)

Nolan Porter 'If I Could Only Be Sure'

To finish June off (it's the end of June, what happened there?It seems like only yesterday we were under two foot of snow), here's another from earlier postee Nolan (N.F.) Porter, this time with the equally wonderful If I Could Only Be Sure. Somewhat surprisingly Nolan is backed here by two of former Frank Zappa's Mother's Of Invention in the rhythm section and Lowell George of Little Feat on guitar. This is late 60s slinky, funky, gritty soul/r'n'b, with a pleading vocal, and is utterly cool.

If I Could Only Be Sure.mp3

N.F. Porter 'Keep On Keeping On'

Nolan (N.F.) Porter's 1971 northern soul scorcher Keep On Keeping On, ripped from Across the Kitchen Table Drew's own vinyl. Thanks Drew. This is a Bagging Area (living room) floor filler. I can't stop playing it.

Spotter fact- Joy Division tried to cover it for an early demo they did for RCA but it didn't work out. According to Bernard Sumner 'we tried to do it but we were always fucking hopeless at cover versions'. They learnt the guitar riff though, and used it for Interzone on Unknown Pleasures.

01 Keep On Keeping On.mp3

PRYOR There's a thin line between to laugh with and to laugh at.

Not the first black stand up, but still the benchmark for black stand up. Correction still the benchmark for stand up of any colour.
His comedic genius was there for all to see but it was informed by a tough upbringing, by his intellect and his depth. His stand up recordings are legendary, his TV shows brilliant in parts, his albums exceptional. In a checkered movie career he has appeared in Lady sings the Blues and the Mack; both important black movies, and in the excellent Blue Collar Pryor's shows depth of talent, superb alongside Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Koto. Richard Pryor was not 'just' a comedian he was much more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1zuIEjgfzI

Blue collar

'I believe the ability to think is blessed. If you can think about a situation, you can deal with it. The big struggle is to keep your head clear enough to think.'

'I can't just say the words, do a lot of one-liners. I love each person I play; I have to be that person. I have to do him true.'

'I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, I wanna grow up and be a critic.'

'I went to Zimbabwe. I know how white people feel in America now; relaxed! Cause when I heard the police car I knew they weren't coming after me!'

'It's been a struggle for me because I had a chance to be white and refused.'

'There was a time in my life when I thought I had everything - millions of dollars, mansions, cars, nice clothes, beautiful women, and every other materialistic thing you can imagine. Now I struggle for peace.'

'There's a lot more hypocrisy than before. Racism has gone back underground'

My Double Bills# 18 Eddie Murphy: Raw & Chris Rock: Bring the pain

Richard Pryor was of course the original incendiary black stand up / movie star and both Eddie and Chris owe a debt to him.In Raw Eddie does a routine about how much he admires Pryor. Both of these movies showcase stand up sets from these two talented comedians. There is a real sense of danger, almost Rock 'n' roll, about their performances, along with an underlying truth in what they say.

Murphy has a triumphant gig in New York and is on blistering form with a set rich in subject and execution. Rock talks about relationships, parenting, rap music, affirmative action and President Bush, among other things during his HBO show.

What both have is a charisma,stage presence and fearlessness. Both movies are available as audio and are as rewarding when listened to as when watched. Rock continues to undertake roles and projects that are diverse, while Murphy is known by millions for his roles in family movies. The young Murphy of 48 hours, Trading Places and Beverley Hills Cop is unrestrained in Raw. Watching it makes you realise what an exceptional stand up he was. Rock is the natural next generation from Pryor then Murphy.

Dangerous comedy from Eddie and Chris.Funny as hell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz_A6K9rSko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OnMgpkNk58

Day 46 - The Postelles!

Due out in the fall on Astralwerks/Capitol, it seems impossible to find out much about The Postelles and their self titled debut, and that is wonderful. We need more mystery - too much access dilutes the rock star-ness of our rock stars. But from their The Kids Are Alright pose to their Knack-y skinny ties, you know you're in for short spasms of teenage symphonies to mod.

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I stumbled upon these guys in their primo SXSW slot opening for the Big Star tribute, and they brought merseybeat via New York City to Austin. There's the staccato guitar, the ecstatic call and response vocals and an extra helping of fab, all wrapped up in 2:40, which I think we can all agree is the exact perfect length for a pop song.

The Postelles - "White Night"

Permission 2 Play.....Apron Stamping Class

June Class 2010

The Permission 2 Play members are stamping aprons

Click Images to Enlarge:

Kathy & Barbara

Apron Class

We decided to create our own aprons to wear in our classes, as most of our classes involve playing with messy techniques!

The aprons, stamped with our names, also serve as a way for us to know each other better.

Kathi is creating a hand made stamp from foam sheets

Julie is designing an image on a foam sheet

Textile Paints are used in the stamping process.

By heat setting the paints, they become permanent and the aprons can be washed if necessary.

Did everyone remember to heat set their apron?

Julie stamping her apron

Julie's Apron

Love the wine bottle and grapes!

Martha's Apron

Emily's Apron

Cindy's Apron

Kathi's Apron

Many Thanks to Kathi for taking pictures during this class while I am away.

LuAnn's Apron

Warm Hugs to Nancy Bryant & Virginia Gregory for leading this class in homemade stamp making.

Student Show 'n Tell:

Carolyn's Needle Felt Projects

CLICK HERE to view the Needle Felting Class

Martha's Woven Quilt

CLICK HERE to view the Woven Quilt Class

Join us July 22........"Make Your Own Fabric" Class

CLICK HERE to view Healing Stitches Exhibits

CLICK HERE to view P2P Slideshow

CLICK HERE to find out more about Permission 2 Play

Applecore, Antelope & Paul Harvey...

Never leave home without your Take-A-Long Quilt

Click Images to Enlarge:

Applecore Quilt Top

CLICK HERE to view Apple Core Tutorial

What do you do when your favorite guy enjoys driving?

Make a Quilt!

I do my favorite hand-piecing at 55mph

Antelope

Susanville, California

Antelope

Irrigated Alfalfa Fields

Paul Harvey keeps Brad busy when we are on the road...

There is always another great photo op just waiting down the road

Brad has been handsomely rewarded for his work with Paul Harvey...

Stetson Hats

This trip has been a breath of fresh air for both of us!

Why did I name my quilt Paul Harvey? READ HERE

CLICK HERE to view my Art Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Contemporary Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Traditional Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Citay 'Careful With That Hat'

This song came up on the mp3 player during the drive home today. I didn't even know it was on it, don't remember either downloading it or transfering it. It's good when that happens. Careful With That Hat, from 2009, is a blast of summery guitar goodness from San Francisco band Citay, about whom I know nothing except that I hope given their name they're not City fans. After the downpour this morning, this was like the clouds parting and the sun bursting through.

carefulwiththathat.mp3

Bernadine....The Donkey

Paul Harvey made it to Virginia City...

Click Images to Enlarge:

Saturday we spent the day in Virginia City

I made a new friend.....Bernadine

Bernadine is a BLM Donkey

She spends her days entertaining tourists with this Miner

She is well cared for and loved.

I would love to bring her home to keep Freckles company

Hot & Dry in Virginia City

Why did I name my quilt Paul Harvey? READ HERE

CLICK HERE to view Paul Harvey's Travels

CLICK HERE to view The Thread Shed

CLICK HERE to view Tutorials

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Heatwave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT2o3Tp4QNU

How best to deal with the heat?

It's hot. Officially, very hot.The heat brings out many things; smiles, relaxation,pleasure, fun. It also brings out a number of behaviours that put a dent into my feeling of serenity, for example inconsiderate shop staff who would rather not have to be indoors and therefore are irritable. Bus Drivers who just want to get out of the driver seat at the Bus depot; so much so that they drive erratically with spine juddering stops and starts.

The main thing that the heat results in is bare flesh. Now let me quantify that by saying that bare flesh per se is fine. After all who would prefer to be hot and uncomfortable when they can be cool and unrestricted? but it's the unleashing of third rate tattoos, rampant body hair and unkempt feet (a recurring theme some readers may say) that causes a kerfuffle in my minds eye.

It's 'get your tats out' time and sod us poor observers who prefer not to see badly drawn bulldogs and the legend Mum & Dad etched onto shoulders in black ink. Nor does the sight of spiritual Celtic etchings make for pleasant artistic visuals.
And of course young women with their Dagenham Barcodes on show sitting proudly at the base of their spine just above the bottom cleavage.
I'm not being stuffy or old fashion I just believe that if you've got it flaunt it but if you don't have anything remotely approaching 'it' for pity's sake keep it out of sight and out of mind.

Day 45 - "Waterloo Sunset"

Original Kinks bassist Pete Quaife died last week at age 66, another rock and roll pioneer gone in what seems like an unending procession of recent passings. Rock and roll can be hard but few songs were as perfect as "Waterloo Sunset". It captures the moment when you feel you're home, where loneliness or the world passing you by ceases to matter. Buffalo Tom main man Bill Janovitz, in his fantastic blog Part Time Man of Rock, reminisces about Pete Quaife and his "descending intro line on one of pop music's most beautiful songs" and offers up a heartfelt, bare bones cover of the Kinks greatest song.

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If you're only having one, make it a "Waterloo Sunset".

Bill Janovitz - "Waterloo Sunset"
The Kinks - "Waterloo Sunset"
Elliott Smith - "Waterloo Sunset"
Robyn Hitchcock - "Waterloo Sunset"
Islands - "Waterloo Sunset"

The Adverts 'One Chord Wonders'

From 1977 The Adverts' debut single, One Chord Wonders, was a rush of energy and a celebration of lack of musical skill and ability coupled with the spark of punk that got them up on stage. 'Come back when you've learnt to play' TV Smith sings self-deprecatingly at the end of the first verse, and finishes the song with 'We're one chord wonders, we don't give a damn'. They went on to release Gary Gilmore's Eyes and the Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts album, both of which are great snapshots of 1977 punk, and despite their obvious limitations TV Smith could write songs and in bassist Gaye Smith English punk's first female player. Like Paul Simonon she couldn't play very well at the start, but looked great.

03 One Chord Wonders.wma

Paul Harvey at Squaw Valley...

Paul Harvey at Squaw Valley in California

1960 Winter Olympics took place here

Paul Harvey keeps Brad busy while we are on the road

1960 Olympic Village

The Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, California,


The scenery has been gorgeous on this trip...
We are making time to stop at quilt shops, antique stores, garage sales & thrift stores along the way.
I have lots of goodies and treasures that I can incorporate into my fiber art when I return home.

Nothing like a change of scenery to inspire the artist in all of us...

Why did I name my quilt Paul Harvey? READ HERE

CLICK HERE to view more of our Travels

CLICK HERE to view my Art Quilts

CLICK HERE to view Classes

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

Ponderosa Pines...

Ponderosa Pines

I am drawn to the amazing bark on these pine trees.

Paul Harvey is really getting around on this trip!


I have more images to add to this post, but for some reason I am unable to add anymore. I will try again later.
Posting to the blog is a bit more challenging on the road than it is at home...

Why did I name my quilt Paul Harvey? READ HERE

CLICK HERE to view The Thread Shed

CLICK HERE to view my Tutorials

CLICK HERE to view my Class Sample Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

What’s all the fuss about? # 1 The Lord of the Rings

Peter Jackson seems to have mastered the art of making movies about running away from things, stopping and having a bit of a fight then running away from things a bit more and stopping and fighting a bit more; see his pointless and trite remake of King Kong. Much like the chase sequence at the end of The Benny Hill show but with ponderous bombastic music.The lord of the rings trilogy is seven plus hours of effects driven tedium masked in sheen of cod spirituality. That it received such acclaim at the academy awards is baffling. These movies are also lauded by the UK’s leading film magazine Empire. Recently part two was voted the second greatest film of all time by its readership. Now seriously, any magazine that is committed about its intent to discuss cinema has to be having a laugh if it gives serious critical plaudits to this overblown piffle.

The differences between fantasy movies and science fiction are pronounced and Sci-Fi has rendered such movies as Blade Runner, Alien, Planet of the apes, 2001: a space odyssey and Metropolis, whereas fantasy needs a lighter touch. The Dark Crystal, Snow White, Jason & the Argonauts and Time Bandits are all good examples of Fantasy movies in that they are not cloaked in pomposity.

Jackson is looking to cast for a remake of Battleship Potemkin

I really find it unfathomable, the credibility given to the Rings Trilogy. It is almost as if a cult has grown up around these over long celluloid sermons and any dissenters are shunned for not having any ‘imagination’.

It’s this slavish adulation to Peter Jackson’s sensibility of over elaboration and unfettered overindulgence that allowed the general consensus of what makes an epic to become one of over wrought showing off and reliance on effects. Spartacus, Gone with the Wind and Lawrence of Arabia are epics where character comes first and unfortunately, post Jackson we now have such unedifying attempts at the epic movie as Avatar, Clash of the titans and Prince of Persia.

Look what you’ve done Jackson and your acolytes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cFucXYlw94
 

Jackson casting his next movie-Joan of Arc