Don Herbert, aka Mr. Wizard, died today. He was 89.

I used to watch Mr. Wizard's World on Nick all the time. Many times, I would try the experiments (I even had the Mr. Wizard books!). Mr. Wizard actually made science fun. Then I grew up and learned that science is all formulas that make no sense to me.

Labels: Flashbacks, RIP

Our friend over at The Rich Girls Are Weeping have Fergie's cover of the classic rock track, "Barracuda" posted, as well as the original. I took a listen and it sounds way too much like the original. But, dear reader, make up your own mind and take a listen.

Labels: Flashbacks, Other Writing, Random

Sometime in the late-1990s, my friend Kyle and I went to see Modest Mouse at Hollywood Athletic. Everyone at KXLU had it bad for Modest Mouse at the time. I was no different, particularly on account of the song "Heart Cooks Brain," which reminded me of Colin Newman's song "Alone" (also covered by This Mortal Coil). Buzzo was standing in front of me at the show. I had a hard time seeing over his hair, but I remember it being a freakin' awesome night nonetheless. I also remember thinking that someday when I got to brag about seeing a band way back when, it would be Modest Mouse at Hollywood Athletic at the end of the summer right before I started my senior year of college.

I kept that thought in my mind and it came back to me recently when my friends started talking about The Shins and Arcade Fire debuting at #2 on the charts. I told them that they hadn't seen anything yet, just wait until Modest Mouse's next album hits the streets.

Dudes, I was totally right.

Labels: Charts, Flashbacks, Modest Mouse

On the Wikipedia main page, the featured article is on those musical pioneers, The KLF, who gave us such memorable songs as "3 a.m. Eternal," "Justified and Ancient" featuring Tammy Wynette, and "What Time Is Love?" along with other songs done under the names The JAMs and The Timelords. Check it out.

Labels: Flashbacks, Other Writing

Whilst in the midst of a round of phone tag that extended the whole evening, Estelle left me a message that forced me to laugh like some crazed Sunset Strip partier as I waited for Carlos outside the Key Club.

"Do you remember that time we saw one of Calvin Johnson's bands play. I can't remember which one. It must have been ten years ago. There was this girl at the side of the stage with headphones on and she was just there dancing during the whole set."

I called back and sang into her voicemail.

"Oh my God, Estelle. You're too much. I forgot about that until now. It was Dub Narcotic. At The Troubadour. Was it with The Makeup? I can't remember. Was it really ten years ago?"

I think the show occurred somewhere around the time that the DJ who would go on to become my boyfriend threw half-rotten pumpkins out of a fourth floor window because Bis' new single "Eurodisco" so compelled him. I can't remember much about the night, but I think it might have been Dub Narcotic and The Makeup. Maybe it was just Dub. Things become a blur after years of clubs. It was definitely the Troubadour because I remember standing by those poles at the side of the stage with Estelle and probably Suzie and maybe Shamus too. I can't remember. All I remember was this girl at the side of the stage. We thought she must have been part of the show. She was thin and very indie. Her hair was long, the same shade of blonde-brown that colored the hair of all of the AYSO diehards in elementary school. Her headphones were huge, perhaps double the size of the ones I wear to DJ and covered in either a light gray or dingy white plastic. Total flea market headphones. And she was there at the side of the stage dancing all night and we weren't sure if she was dancing to the band or something else that was playing in the headphones. It was random, even by the standards of two girls who were prone to jumping on furniture for impromptu renditions of "Dig Me Out" and hung out with boys who threw half-rotten pumpkins out of fourth floor windows.

Labels: Flashbacks