The Cops Finally Busted Madame Marie

RIP, Marie Castello

I've always had half a notion to drive down to Asbury Park and pay her a visit, even though I think she had closed up shop there years ago. So it goes...

Everybody Loves the Sunshine.

While I'm getting my vacation recap together, I'd like to direct you over to my other blog, where you will surely delight to early-90s footage of Alice in Chains cavorting at my former place of employment.

A little from Column A, a little from Column B...

Friday I saw Be Kind Rewind. My thoughts? I love Mos Def. A little Jack Black goes a long way, and I wish more directors would realize that and rein the guy in. The Sweded films were great, though I'm glad we only got a glimpse of their version of Last Tango in Paris and not a full recreation of that scene with Marlon Brando and the butter. Most importantly, the movie has a HUGE heart. The entire neighborhood getting together at the to make a Fats Waller biopic goes further toward making Passaic a nice place than the new condos the developer wants to replace the old video store with ever could. An effort doomed to failure? Probably. A bit hokey, sure. But whatever. Heart- miles and miles and miles of heart.

Last night, I skipped the Oscar telecast and went to see the Magnetic Fields at Town Hall. Stephin Merritt writes wonderful songs. Here he is singing one of them:



Yesterday's NY Times Metro section featured a great article on WFMU. Go read it, and then go over to their site and give them all your money. If you call this evening (and several evenings to follow) you just might have the extra bonus of me taking your pledge. Fair warning- I will try to upsell you. Because that's how I do. And because they deserve it.

The Boss of Me.

One of my co-workers confessed to me this morning that he doesn't get Bruce Springsteen and that he felt lost when the people in his area started debating the relative merits of everything from Greetings From Asbury Park through Magic. I told him that the best thing to do whenever he found himself in a situation like that is to confidently state that Born in the USA is a great album that suffers because of its production. In addition to being true, it's the kind of statement that makes you sound like you've given the matter a lot of thought. Whoever you're talking to may disagree, but that's fine. Springsteen fans are an opinionated bunch. And they (okay, we) are used to being on the defensive. It's the Jersey thing, I suppose.

Anyway, observe the E Street Band in 1975:




And covering the Arcade Fire (with Win & Regine lending a hand) in 2007:



I love the audible audience reactions. So much joy....

And as a bonus, here's Badlands. Just because it's awesome.

Across the River to the Jersey Side

Over on the WFMU blog, Mike Lupica explains the PATH. Complete with Teddy footage.

I'll admit, if I'm traveling on the 33rd Street line late at night, I am one of those people who will get on the Uptown train so I have a seat when it comes back down. It's not drunkenness, it's strategy!

And, as a public transportation bonus, here are some of Neighbor Doug's awesome subterranean photos.

I made my mind up back in Hoboken

I went to Maxwell's yesterday for the Glen Jones Radio Programme's annual Holiday Party. I was a little apprehensive to go in, after the Incident on New Year's Eve, which I shan't go into here, suffice to say it earned me a dedication on the Cherry Blossom Clinic. The song? New Year's Bathroom Magic by the Starlight Desperation. Anyway, the Skels and Holmes played, but my favorite moment, by far, was the sight of X-Ray Burns prancing about the stage, chest exposed in his Santa Clown outfit, to the strains of Cabaret.

(Many more photos can be found here.)

Amazing. Liza who?