Punch Brothers in LA (featuring Fiona Apple, Sean and Sara Watkins!)

Jon and I went to the Punch Brothers concert last night at the acoustically-amazing, yet socially-inhibitive Largo at the Coronet Theater. (No talking, no coming in late, no drinking, no pictures, no laughing, no clapping...you get the point.) Besides the uppity venue, the performances never fail to disappoint. They played a great mix of their old album, some great new songs which make me very excited for their next LP, and as always, great covers.

The thing I love about the PB is that they are a collection of very talented individuals - all accomplished masters in their respective fields - that come together to create a perfect storm of harmonies (even bizarre, fun cacophonies), as well as a highly-entertaining on-stage performance. Their chemistry and banter adds a lot to the dynamic of their playing. Gabe Witcher is by far the most amazing fiddle player I've ever seen/heard. And Noam "Pickles" Pikelny is the perfect "straight man" to Chris Thile's smiling fool he tends to play on-stage.

The boys managed to play all 4 movements of "Blind Leaving the Blind," though in varying order, as well as an amazing cover of "2+2=5" by Radiohead. Other cover favorites were the White Stripes' "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" (as Chris Thile tipped his hat to Jack White remarking of the song: "[Jack] may or may not have meant to write one of the best bluegrass songs of all time.") and "How to Grow A Woman From the Ground" by Tom Brosseau.

But the obvious highlight for me was not only their cover of Fiona Apple's "On the Bound" - but then they brought out Fiona herself to join them in a rendition of "Walking After Midnight." Fiona, as she seems to be in all her Largo cameos (she did the same at the Watkins Family Hour I saw with Jon last year), was very "surprised" to be called on-stage and acted very nervous and humble. Shut up, Fiona, your voice is sick, you know why you're there. I did think she looked a little haggard, mentioned to Jon she almost looked like a older, rougher Miley Cyrus. He nodded and added "A VERY rough Miley Cyrus." Poor Fiona. Maybe a comb, would do her a good? Ok, bad lyric joke.

More fun was had when Chris called out his old Nickel Creek counterparts (Sara and Sean Watkins - or as I like to refer to them, Bossy and Fat Hobbit) for some great harmonies and even a very cool encore performance of them playing acoustic on the very front of the stage.

After the show it was great to see Noam again and catch up, as well as see a hovering Ed Helms by the green room door, trying to get back stage. As I texted my friend Rachel Pikelny (Noam's brother's wife and my old roomie from college) about this, she explained that they had all hung out with Ed Helms a lot that past week at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival because he's a big PB fan and an avid banjo player. Too bad Steve Martin didn't come out, that would have made my night!

All in all, it's always invigorating to see that much talent in one room, and the guest appearances are such a great bonus and make the ticket prices that much more worth it. Can't wait for their new album which should be coming out (per Noam) sometime in early 2010.

Bowtie,

Bowtie

Separated at Birth: Rumer Willis and Syndrome

The GOP is killing the GOP

I'm motivated by this article from the Washington Post to address an obvious dilemma, one that the Republican party is so stupidly ignoring: your stance as the "high-moral ground" party, defending Christian beliefs and rights in the name of the Constitution, falls flat when you do not emulate those principles.

I've had so many debates with my lovely and smart boyfriend, Jon, about all of my grievances with this collection of snake-oil salesmen that call themselves the GOP these days, but Jon had the best point that ends my argument flat: the historical legacy of conservatism in America has nothing to do with what we call the Religious Right today. Think about it, conservative Republican once meant someone who believed in small government (not just fiscally, but socially) and was not dictated by a Christian agenda that (surprise!) demands big government when it comes to meddling in people's personal social rights. At some point in the past century, the Christian Right hijacked this political party as its own. Or, perhaps more truthfully, some power-hungry Republicans realized that capturing the hearts and minds of middle America was as easy as bringing together church and state. And abracadabra, you have a powerful, core constituency that will always vote your way because you ordain it so in the name of God.

Sound familiar?

Yeah, the Vatican has been using this trick since the Dark Ages. Hell, this is why religion was formed in the first place - to fulfill the superstitious tendencies of unenlightened subjects and wield them tame to lords. What better security policy is there than an imaginary man that can smite you from the Heavens, but He can never be seen until you're dead? But I digress.

Back to the GOP. So good for you, you figured out how to manipulate the gullible masses. Now all you have to do is to live up to those principles you spit from your lofty pulpit. Maybe you're not the best Christian yourself, but at least don't be cavalier about it. Try to keep the man behind the curtain under wraps! And yet, there is the constant stream of conservative Republican politicians that are forced to "come clean" (only after they're caught) about extramarital affairs (not always hetero). "Let he cast the first stone"... eh boys?

Here is S.C. Govenor Sanford giving an interview about gay marriage. Keep in mind this was 5 months into his affair. My opinion is, if you are sullying the sanctity of this most divine institution, you should not be allowed to determine who can enter into matrimony!

And then there is Nevada Senator Ensign who so viciously denounced Democrats caught in sexual scandals, calling on them to resign! But is he going to resign? Nope.

Don't get me started on Sarah Palin endorsing Bristol Palin being the new spokes-bitch for abstinence-only education...

So you see, when the conservative constituents have these as their leaders, and Rush Limbaugh as their mouthpiece, no wonder they're going off and murdering abortion doctors. Because with this logic, murder is the best way to send a message that murdering is wrong. Murder and a dearth of logic in the name of religious activism, I mean, c'mon, we may as well be in the Inquisitions. It's sad that in 2009, we still face this ignorance.

My closing message: If you want to save your party, GOP, ditch the Christian agenda and return to your true conservative roots. Take a page from the Log Cabin Republicans playbook and get in touch with the reality of our country today (or maybe just the coastal states). And maybe then the whiny, liberal elite media might take you seriously and give you favorable airtime. Maybe.

You Can't Fix Stupid: An Open Letter to Interns Everywhere

Dear Readers,

Second post, and already we have a rant afoot! Gird your loins! (That has no relevance on the topic, but I just love imagining Stanley Tucci roaring that in Devil Wears Prada.)

Ok, so I'm not saying my generation (Y? Z? One before Millennials, right?) is this "greatest generation" by any means. But I think it's pretty objectively agreed that as we progress in our society and culture, each new batch of ankle-biters are raised in more favorable circumstances and, with help from technology, everything comes much easier and faster. This creates a population of young, enfranchised, entitled, ADD yutes (as my dad, and my cousin vinny would say) that think their life is going to be a cake walk.

I say this because of my experience with interns over the past year. Honestly? WTF, guys. You're not that much younger than me, and yet it seems you emerge, bleary-eyed and hungover from college, expecting to trip into a full-time job above an assistant position. IN HOLLYWOOD.

Nuh Uh. Not how it works. Sure, you had a friendly advisor or family friend refer you to the coveted, yet elusive UTA joblist. Sure you copied a cover letter template and tried to use active voice in your resume bullet points, but it seems the (minimal) effort stopped there.

How many times do I have to show you how to use the phones, after you've read the manual as well? Remember how we have to screen calls for the boss? This means you also have to ask who's calling. Did you order the replacement Expo dry erase board cleaner like I asked? No, you ordered a gallon tub of cleaning fluid and then 3 empty windex bottles. What did you come in here to ask me? Oh, you don't remember? Then why are you still standing here? You need this week off too? Ok, sure I understand you're not getting paid, but you've taken 4 vacations in the last 2 months and I'm starting to question your commitment. No, no, I understand, Fright Night at Disney is important.

Oh, and BTDubs? You friended me on Facebook, so stop posting snarky comments about all the "bitchwork" you're forced to do all day. Guess what? You're an INTERN.

Oh, what's that? You think you should be first in line to get a job, should we be hiring? Well, seeing as how none of your work directly contributed to advancing our company and actually, at times, hindered our efficiency, no, no you're not our first candidate. The 260 resumes I just got of experienced, qualified individuals might get preferential treatment. So hey, best of luck, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. And don't think I don't know about all those office supplies you stole.

Bowtie,

Bowtie

Blogging - More Work Than Twitter!

Dear Readers, (if there are any)

Blogging seems to take WAY more dedication than Twitter, which is why this stint in blogging may be short-lived. Can I honestly commit to topical, interesting thoughts that run more than 140 characters? I suppose this very fact can act as a filter to only allow worthy content of being composed. But as you can probably tell this far into my blog, "worthy content" is nowhere to be found! I also don't hope this blog becomes a forum for mere rants and raves. If all goes according to plan, I may have actual lessons to impart, or fun reviews to dole out to enraptured readers. Are there readers? "When a tree falls" I guess.

Ok, well, since I've already mentioned blogging and Twitter, allow me to entertain you with this limerick, which I enjoyed composing on the fly:

To all those who think they hate Twitter

Just know that you sound oddly bitter

You're on Facebook and

Myspace for your band

So shit or get off the damn shitter

ah-thank you.

Bowtie,

Bowtie