Monthly Archives: August 2009

Razor Face

Nothing much happened today. Did some laundry. That’s about it. I may have another Susquehanna Investment Groups job coming up from another refugee from the jungle where I used to work. That remains to be seen.

I do have a job on Saturday, hanging some pictures in an office. That should take about an hour.

Tomorrow will be the trip to the Metropolitan Museum with Harpy. Then Hurricane Danny might hit here this weekend, making it an indoor weekend which is no fun. But I won’t know until I get there.

I hope it doesn’t happen. My friend Excer is supposed to play the Central Park band shell on Sunday afternoon and I would like to check that out. So fingers are crossed (which makes for difficult typing) for Sunday.

Time for you to roll your eyes since I’m about to write about the iPod shuffle.

Smalltown Boy- Bronski Beat
This came out in 1984. Jimmy Somerville’s falsetto. Patrick Morrissey and Alphonso Portillo’s apartment at 201 Madison Street. Crashed my last car in the afternoon, Patrick took me in and made me dinner. He and Alphonso lived on a floor below. Meat Loaf with cream cheese inside. And white wine. A good way to end a terrible day. A song about coming out and leaving home. It was a hit in the UK and got some airplay here on New Wave stations.

Towers of Dub- The Orb
A 10:24 track on a CD that Bill gave me as well as giving me an iPod one Christmas years ago. Fun trippy dance oriented stuff. Sounds great on headphones. Maybe in a club as well. But I’m not clubbing anymore, Blow Off was more than enough for me. I’ll be in the chill out room if you need to find me. Actually this would work better in the chill out room.

Filthy/Gorgeous- Scissor Sisters
From their first and best album. They are a fun group. Juan had a crush on Baby Daddy. Baby Daddy would probably have a crush on Juan if he ever met him. This album reminds me of being with Annemarie and Earl driving from the Saddle Brook A&P.

99 Problems- Jay Z & Danger Mouse
Most everyone knows who Jay Z is. Danger Mouse is a producer who is also one half of Gnarls Barkley. This is from the Gray Album which was Jay Z’s Black Album, mixed with the Beatles White Album. In this track, it’s Jay Z rapping over Helter Skelter. Of course it’s a totally illegal release, but it was everywhere a few years ago, and could be bought on Canal Street for $5.00.

Change- Killing Joke
Killing Joke was a band that a few people told me I would like since I liked Gang of Four so much. I couldn’t get into them. This is the only song of theirs that I like. Youth who was in Killing Joke is one half of the Fireman with Paul McCartney. I think it’s the right half since Macca is a lefty.

1/2- Brian Eno
From Music for Airports. Definitely a chill out track. I think the first time I heard this was when my brother Frank had a cassette of quiet songs to help with his wife Elaine’s delivery of their first daughter Meghan. I don’t think it was played since Elaine wound up having a caesarian section. I think it was played at La Guardia Airport for a time to help passengers relax.

Robber Dub- The Clash
I know the first time I heard this was when Laszlo Papp bought the 45 when it first came out at St. Mark Sounds. Then we traipsed over to some friend of his apartment and played our latest purchases. My purchase was Private Idaho by the B-52’s. Summer of 1980 it was. I was learning the truth at 17.

Get on the Good Foot (Pt 1) – James Brown
I never really heard James Brown when growing up. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that I really discovered him and that was mainly through the use of his beats and the sampling that went on in Hip Hop. I did go to see him once or twice at outdoor concerts. But I was so far away I couldn’t see him, only hear him. Would have loved to have seen him at the Apollo in the 1960’s though.

Be Here- Raphael Saadiq
I love Raphael Saadiq. He has one of the best voices out there and his music these days is very soulful, like in a 1970’s vibe. This also features D’Angelo who used to be the sexiest man in music 10 years ago. They also sang ‘She’s Always in my Hair’ by Prince together. Raphael Saadiq is always worth checking out if given the chance, especially if you like soul music.

Coal to Diamonds- The Gossip
From a collection of songs that Juan made for me when we first started hanging out. The Gossip are fronted by Beth Ditto and she’s a sensation in the UK. Here she wouldn’t get arrested, much like Scissor Sisters. I can easily picture Juan singing this song onstage. He’s be a good performer I think. Does he think so?

That’s it. Nothing more to see. Move on.

Da Doo Ron Ron

Well it’s a later posting than usual and I am sure you have all been sitting on pins and needles and with bated breath.

That must be an uncomfortable position for all concerned. Sitting next to someone who’s on pins and needles with breath that is bated.

Bill was up and out around 7:00 this morning. I just lay there. What am I supposed to do, get up and see him out the door? Nah, me lying there totally disoriented is the way to go for me.

I did get out of bed earlier than usual. 8:30! I showered and shaved and had some cereal and coffee in that order.

Got a text from Bill that Senator Ted Kennedy died. Everyone knew it was coming, especially Ted. True he fucked up in a major major major way, and would never forget it or be allowed to forget it.

I think that Ted Kennedy did the unexpected and poured his energies into making this nation a great country for all. Especially the downtrodden, the shunned and the loathed.

I was surprised to find some people remembering only the bad things, but I guess it was like when my father died, all I could remember was the shit he put me through. Oddly enough that’s about all I could remember about my father.

Of course when I saw a comment about Ted Kennedy that I didn’t agree with I spoke up which further opened the can of worms. I was just glad I had my cereal before embarking on a diet of worms.

I was glad and thankful that Senator Kennedy was able to make life easier for LGBT people, and also hopeful that a torch has been passed to a new generation who will help the fight for equal rights for LGBT people.

But until then know nothing/do nothing people like Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Bachmann, Maggie Gallagher will do their best to maintain their status quo on the necks of the oppressed.

Christian compassion like that can only be found under rocks.

For Bill and myself, a lion has passed. For others, a spoiled rich man who got away with murder, even though the Kopechne family never said anything like that, at least not publicly.

I was planning on going to the Metropolitan Museum with Harpy but he bagged it, being hungover and whining about the temperature supposed to go up to 90 degrees. Maybe Friday.

I decided to head into the office to take care of something and to smooth the waters for Greg Stevens since Vivek seems to be showing his true colors. Greg is on vacation and I needed to take care of that so it wouldn’t explode on his face when he returned.

I’m so loyal.

Also lined up a chance to get some Cafe Press T-shirts on the weekend so the office visit worked out well for me.

I had a pass for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) so I decided to go there on my own. It’s not my favorite museum but it was free and it actually turned out to be one of the better times I’ve ever had at MoMA.

There was a surrealist sculpture show which was as entertaining as I would have expected it to be, as well as a Punk Rock exhibition and of course the usual Warhol, Johns, Rauschenberg, and Pollock works that I always like to visit.

Then a quick bus ride home and out the door again to have dinner with Casey Chasm and the missus at McSwells. Casey and the missus are fleeing Hoboken on Saturday and it’s off to the land of maple syrup for them.

I’m sure they will do well, they’ve both have good heads on their shoulders and the missus has an extra one in her uterus which will be debuting in a week or two. The missus had that glow about her and I think everything will be alright.

Casey, the missus and I met up with Bill at 14th and Washington where he got off the bus. The four of us walked down Washington Street in a light summer rain, just chatting.

The missus invited Bill and me up for a visit somewhere down the line and as we parted ways at 10th and Washington, Casey gave the same invite. So that might be something to look forward to in the future.

And also Rest in Peace Ellie Greenwich.

The work begins anew, the hope rises again and the dream lives on.
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David Wojnarowicz

David Wojnarowicz


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Chicago 7

Chicago 7


Malcolm X

Malcolm X


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Lew Alcindor

Lew Alcindor


Picasso

Picasso


Diego Rivera

Diego Rivera


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Man Ray

Man Ray


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Never mind the Pollocks

Never mind the Pollocks


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Joseph Beuys

Joseph Beuys


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Andy's Gold Marilyn

Andy's Gold Marilyn