Oh, hey, if any nerds body reading this is interested in doing that MacHeist thing and hasn't gotten an invite, I have 3 to give out. The premise is exceedingly dorky, but I got a couple neat freebies in the first heist, and, y'know, the stuff's free. Comment with your email address if you want in.

Hey, anybody want a free copy of the premier issue of Knit Simple magazine? Due to a printer's error, I got two copies of the same issue and obviously I don't need both. If you're unfamiliar with it, this is a new magazine that's being produced by the same people who did Family Circle Easy Knitting (and Crochet), which sadly is no more. It's a nice-looking magazine. As the name implies, most of the projects are not too complicated, so they're good for beginners, but they're cute patterns and there's some more elaborate stuff too. Also some nice articles. You can see previews and lots of photos for the stuff in this issue at the link above, but none of the actual patterns or articles.

I'll send it out to anybody reading this who wants it. First one to leave a comment gets it. It's been claimed!

These two shows have already been put up at archive.org, so you could go over there & download them and have something to listen to while you read this, not that this will take that long. Also, my pictures from both nights are on my website. I think the Wednesday ones turned out significantly better. And not to give too much away, but I felt that the Wednesday show was the better one in pretty much every way. ( I mean, holy crap! The Tain!! )

Anyway, as I say, these shows are now up on archive.org (along with several others). I haven't heard the one of the 18th that's on there (I grabbed a different version of that one from dimeadozen.org), but the one from the 19th sounds absolutely amazing. Well worth the download. And go see them yourself the next time they're in town.

Right, so, I was going to tell you about the Sleater-Kinney show last Thursday, because I know all of you are dying to read about it. However if you want to skip right to listening to it, the full recording is here. No pictures. Anyway, I went to the show. ( Wackiness ensued. )

p.s. to hobbitgrrl, I did get the Decemberists tickets, so there will be more Metro excitement in the near future for us.

I'm feeling all pissed off 'cause the post office keeps losing our mail, but perhaps recalling yesterday's Fountains of Wayne mini-show will cheer me up. I have four bad photos here and a couple of mp3s below. Setlist scan to follow soon.

It was a short set:
Red Dragon Tattoo / interview 1 / Maureen / Hackensack / Valley Winter Song / interview 2 / Hey Julie / Half a Woman

The interview bits were mercifully brief, about 3 minutes apiece. ( Actually this report is pretty short. Much like the show. )

Hey, I do feel a little better. Good.

Hey, if you were interested in picking up the whole Sleater-Kinney show (described in my last entry), it's here (FLAC and mp3). As always, if you decide to take it I'd appreciate it if you'd comment here so I can get a rough idea how many people grabbed it. Thanks, hope you enjoy.

Wow, that show was fantastic. Check out a couple of the songs:

The Fox / Wilderness / Burn, Don't Freeze / Light-Rail Coyote / Rollercoaster / Modern Girl / O₂ / What's Mine Is Yours / Was It a Lie? / Oh! / Let's Call It Love / Night Light / Jumpers / Entertain // Little Babies / I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight / The End of You / Words and Guitar // Get Up / Step Aside

I set the levels too high (when will I learn?), so there's noticeable distortion on the vocals, especially when Corin launches into her trademark howling. Nonetheless, I'm pretty satisfied with it overall. But if I had the money I'd buy some better mics. ( The usual ramblings about the show (not too long this time), and a bit of grumbling about how I messed up the recording. No pictures. )

Last note: unless a better source comes up, I will be making the whole show available (in lossless format) in the near future, so watch this space if you're interested. And if you like the recording, go see them yourself next time. They're definitely worth it.

Whoa. Definitely a unique experience, and while I still love the full-band adult rock shows the best, I am very, very glad I didn't miss this one. Pictures and stuff, mp3s there and below.

setlist:
Older / Robot Parade / interview 1 / Meet James Ensor / Fingertips / (West Hollywood) L.A. House of Blues / interview 2 / Istanbul (not Constantinople) / Alphabet of Nations / Doctor Worm / interview 3 / James K. Polk / New York City // Flying V / Bed Bed Bed / Birdhouse in Your Soul

( An evening of music and conversation. )

I finished the artwork for the Ann Arbor and Madison shows. Making these things is fun—I tried out a couple of new techniques on these and I like the way they turned out.

I know none of you have the full Madison show yet, but it'll be available soon, so watch this space.

We had an excellent time. Listen to the whole show right now if you like, photos and stuff are here, or scroll on down if you want to read more about it.

(intro) / Alphabet of Nations / Istanbul (not Constantinople) / Flying V / Robot Parade / Doctor Worm / Clap Your Hands / No! / Alphabet Lost and Found / New York City / Particle Man

The recording came out way better than I expected based on where my mics were placed. It's actually pretty clean; there's occasional audible conversation between children and parents and a few times the noise of bags and coats being shifted as parents shove their children forward into the pit area, and me apologizing as I hit the guy in front of me in the head a couple times. Also, during Clap Your Hands, hobbitgrrl's and my terrified cries as we are sure we're about to plummet down to certain death or at least significant injury on the first floor below. But more on that later.

( The devil (and hobbitgrrl and I) went down to Ann Arbor. )

( Afterwards. )