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Tag: review

Review: Obvious Child

I thought this was honest and brave and beautiful. Jenny Slate gives a very compelling central performance, and Jake Lacy is excellent, too. Recommended.

Side note: I wrote a poem inspired by this film, although the poem is related only to some of the visuals, not to the content of the movie. Here’s the poem.

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Los Lobos: Spanish for “the bomb”

los-lobos-bw-portrait

Jen and I saw Los Lobos at The Egg tonight. The set list included Tejano classics, Jimi Hendrix, the Dead, and a whole bag of original music from one of the greatest bands of all time.

I said it. One of the greatest bands of all time. These guys are absolutely amazing, more than 30 years after it all started in East Los Angeles.

Here are some selections from tonight’s set list, in no particular order:

  • Don’t Worry Baby
  • Kiko
  • Last Night
  • Will The Wolf Survive?
  • Volver
  • Bertha
  • Little Wing
  • Mas Y Mas
  • Manny’s Bones
  • Are You Experienced?
  • Ooh My Head

David Hidalgo still sings like an angel and plays guitar like the devil. And his squeezbox is the bomb!

Cesar’s got all the blues he needs and some cumbia on top.

Louie spent time tonight on drums during the tejano set, and then ripped out several guitar-god solos during the impromptu Hendrix medley.

Conrad Lozano? Love him. And who knew that he sang the harmonies on “Will The Wolf Survive?”

Steve Berlin took it to the woodshed on the bari.

Cougar Estrada kept it all together on the drums.

If all you know about Los Lobos is La Bamba, it’s time for you to experience the full reality. If they come anywhere near you, go see them.

Added “bonus” photo:

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Kristi Gustafson from the Times Union took this photo of Jen and I at the Los Lobos show

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Book Review: Albert Goldbarth’s Budget Travel through Space and Time

The shortest review Rolling Stone ever published was a one-word review of the album Chase by the band of the same name. The review was:

“Flee.”

In that spirit of brevity, but with the opposite opinion of the work in question, let me say:

“WowthisisanamazingbookinfactoneofthebestbooksofpoetryI’veread.”

Highly recommended.

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