So I've been shamed into making a music list. I have been known as some sort of list freak over the years because of my baseball and film lists. Hell, I even put together a list for my favorite music of the 1990s three years back. This list making started way back when I was a wee lad. I used to keep track of my favorite songs starting back in 1982. So if anyone is interested in what my ten favorite songs were from any of the years 1982-1985, this is your lucky day.

But, why no music list over the past few years? With baseball, I just write about the games I go to. With films, I go to see tons and there aren't too many that I miss that I want to see. However, with music it is different. I am no longer up on the latest, newest, freshest music as it comes out. Sometimes, it takes me a little bit of time to get around to hearing it so I don’t feel comfortable making a list of my favorite music over the year. Not to mention, my favorite records of any year fluctuate wildly from month to month. However, I can write about my year in music. So here goes...

2002 Awards

Three Bands I Just Don't Get Haiku

And You Will Know Us
By the Trail of Dead, Hot Hot
Heat, and Interpol

The "Was that Really Necessary?"Award

Upon signing to a major label, folk hushtress Mia Doi Todd re-recorded songs from her first three albums for her major label debut. Not bad if you like her, but why no new songs?

The "Dan Had Given Up on this Band Only to Be Pleasantly Surprised by their Latest LP" Award

Sleater-Kinney
I don't care what anyone says, their last two records aren't very good. I re-listened to "All Hands on the Bad One" this summer and there are some really laughably bad moments on that one album, lyrically, musically, and Corin Tucker pantingly. But, their new album is much better. It is no "Dig Me Out" and lord knows we didn't need a Sleater-Kinney Sept. 11 song, but overall the album is quite good. I even like the song with horns.

The "Best Band Featuring A Former Member of Faith No More" Award

Imperial Teen
I don't know much about these guys but their latest album "On" is fun from the get go. The first track "Ivanka" might be the catchiest song I've heard all year and my third graders can attest to that. There are a number of them obsessed with this band.

The "Chris Lawrence MP3 Hit of the Summer / Best Band to Listen to at a Prospect Park Cookout" Award

Mayflies U.S.A
Their album "Walking In A Straight Line" is like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day. This band goes down smooth like a Buffalo wing washed down by a strange concoction of Vanilla and Cherry Coke. Plus, they sound like Teenage Fanclub to me.

The "Maybe I Should Have Bought Their Last Album After All" Award

Sonic Youth
I didn't buy their last one and I was beginning not to care about Sonic Youth. But, holy shit, "Murray Street" is great.

The "10,000 Chakrabartys Can’t Be Wrong" Award

Super Furry Animals
Rishi's favorite Welsh band. At one point, they're performing sunny harmonies, the next they're concocting disco grooves. Don't know much about their other albums but "Rings Around the World" is fun.

The "Who Cares If He’s Not Breaking Any New Ground Because His Old Ground Is Still Worth Treading" Award

Tom Waits
"Blood Money" and "Alice" both came out the same day. Every song on each album could fit on another previous album of his. Oh, that song could be on "Rain Dogs!" That one could be on "Mule Variations!" But who cares? Every song is great. I don't think he's done surprising folks yet though. Hell, give the guy a break, both of these albums are for plays from a few years back.

The "Dan Shouldn't Have Called Their Manager Sleazy In His Movie List" Award

Wilco
I misspoke. I meant to call that guy in the band with the icy steel evil eyes that seemingly is just Tweedy's yes man sleazy, not their manager. Oh well, the damage has been done. Enough about their movie though. The music on "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" is stupendous. From the first line about how he assassins down the avenue. (What?) to the eerie lyrics of "Jesus, Etc" about tall buildings shaking and voices escaping singing sad sad songs to the weariness of "Radio Cure" to the Pavementness of "Heavy Metal Drummer" and the Beatleness of "I'm the Man Who Loves You", this album has it all. Even if one of the band members is sleazy.

The Bowery Ballroom show in April was excellent and it was capped off by the mild mannered Donovan in a shouting match during the super quiet "Reservations" with a Jersey lunkhead on a cellphone.

Sample dialogue-

Lunkhead (holding up phone): Can you hear this? Can you hear?

Donovan: I can hear you! We Can All Hear You!

Lunkhead: Fuck You!

Donovan: No fuck you!

Lunkhead: No fuck YOU!

Donovan: Why don’t you just leave?

Lunkhead: Why don’t YOU just leave?

Luckily, disaster was averted and by the end of the night they were hugging each other. Really.

The "Dan’s Favorite Album of 2002 If You Asked Him What His Favorite Album of the Year Was on January 24, 2003" Award

Iron And Wine - "Creek Drank the Cradle"
Wow. It always amazes me what one person can do with a guitar. No matter how tired the genre of one man with a guitar might seemingly become, there is always someone new out there to put out an album to let you know there are always new things to be said. Maybe it is because when you have just voice and guitar, the voice takes on added importance as compared to a full-on rock band. And what is more personal and unique than a person’s voice? This probably sounds like a load of shit, but there is something about this record that does me right. Granted there is some double tracking of guitars here and a banjo as well, but you get the picture. His voice is so achingly pure. Great images lyrically. Sparse, sad, beautiful. The only thing I can compare it to off the top of my head in tone is the really quiet songs on the Replacements "All Shook Down" but even more stripped down.

The "Dan's Favorite Album of 2002 If You Asked Him What His Favorite Album of the Year Was on October 24, 2002" Award

Neko Case - "Blacklisted"
I'd been reading about her for awhile, but I'd never heard her other than her backup vocals on the New Pornographers album. This album is so amazing. Her earlier stuff is a little more country than this one, which is more torch songy. For late nights, countryside diners, lonely days, snowy roads, and David Lynch movies. Her voice is sultry and rich. This album is timeless and will age into a classic.

Her show at the Bowery Ballroom in September was one of the best shows I've seen in years.

The "Best Purchase Made After a Central Park Performance" Award

Kronos Quartet - "Nuevo"
Strings, traditional Mexican tunes, samples of Mexican street sounds, a musical leaf, an Esquivel cover — this album kicks ass. I saw them perform most of these songs this past summer in Central Park and I had to buy this CD. I was not disappointed with my first Kronos purchase.

The "Best Album Without Tape Hiss By a Guy Who Usually Uses Tape Hiss as an Instrument" Award

Mountain Goats - "Tallahassee"
I'll admit it, I'll buy anything that John Darnielle puts out. I'll go see him perform anytime I get a chance. I think he's a genius. I agree with a friend who a few years back said that Darnielle and Jim Jarmusch tread similar terrain in exploring what it means to be an American in the tradition of the great American writers of the past.

On his 4AD debut, Darnielle cleans up his sound and moves into the studio. While this might not be his best record, it it still really good. The sound is clean and his lyrics are as strong as ever. This album traces a couple's troubles as they move into an old house in Tallahassee. Check out Darnielle's amazing website on music: lastplanetojakarta.com. If you like any kind of music from death metal to Radiohead to the Carpenters, or pretty much any kind of music, you’ll appreciate his writing.

The "Best Kinks-Like Record By a Band Who Is Usually Quite Silly""Award

Of Montreal - "Aldhis Arboretum"
This band always sort of amused me, but I was never in love with them. But their new record is so much fun. All good pop songs, no silliness. There are great lyrics about things like a guy missing his ex-girlfriend as he is forced to eat pancakes for one. And there is a song about wondering what old people are thinking when they visit cemeteries knowing that their time will arrive soon enough. If you hate Of Montreal, this album probably won’t change your mind, but if you were always sort of on the fence about them like I was, this album will do it for you. Whimsical in a good way.

Best EP

Crooked Fingers - "Reservoir Songs"
Eric Bachmann can do no wrong. Everything he puts out turns to gold. This five song covers EP is incredible. His cover of Prince’s "When You Were Mine" is so achingly sad. He even has the balls to cover "Under Pressure" on this cd. The banjo never sounded so good. Go buy his new record!

The "Best Soundtrack to a Movie That Hasn't Come Out" Award

Eric Bachmann - "Short Careers: Original Soundtrack for the film Ball of Wax"
This movie is supposedly about a failed minor league baseball player or something like that. The soundtrack is typical Bachmann in the respect that it kicks ass. All instrumental, it has elements of his earlier Barry Black stuff as well as some of Crooked Fingers'. Sorry folks, it doesn't sound like the Archers of Loaf at all. But, it does have a song called "Ty Cobb"" and I think Ty Cobb used to like to listen to Ethel Merman.

The "Best Soundtrack to a Movie That Probably Didn't Need to Come Out" Award

Belle and Sebastian - "Storytelling"
Take out the dumb dialogue bits and the filler instrumentals and you've got yourself quite a nice little EP. The great song on the trailer isn't even by Belle and Sebastian which is quite irritating. Oh, and for the record, I did enjoy elements of the movie. And listen to me carefully, I am not calling anyone involved with this movie sleazy.

Their Philadelphia show in May was much better than the New York one at the Supper Club from a few years back.

The "Best Beck Hanson Album of the Year" Award

Beck - "Sea Change"
I haven't really had this album long enough to form too much of an opinion of it. "Lost Cause" sure is good and I like the strings. Marc always asks me who is singing when this CD is on.

The "Best And Only DJ-Type Album I Got This Year" Award

Boards of Canada - "Geogaddi"
This album isn't quite as good as their last one, but I still like it quite a bit. These guys do a really nice job of adding melody and pop elements to the soundscapes they create. When you put on this album it just puts you in an otherworldly floaty kind of mood for 70 minutes. Maybe one day there will be a connection made between this record and the remake of "Solaris" in much the same way that Pink Floyd record and "The Wizard of Oz" are linked.

The "Everyone I Know Hates This Band Except for Jeremy and Me" Award

The Boggs
Jeremy, Rishi, and I saw this band open for Calla last winter. We had no idea who they were and Rishi still wishes he could say the same thing. The banjo player looked like he should have been in The Band back in '69 — old suit with a vest and big bushy black beard. The singer was as skinny as a string bean and kind of looked like a hipster version of that weird kid in "Gummo." They jam in a 1930's Carter Family kind of way and I'm guessing their name is a nod to Dock Boggs, not Wade.

As soon as the singer opened his mouth and his bizarre weaselly voice could be heard, I was sold. Their album "We Are the Boggs We Are" features my favorite cover art of the year. The four band members are featured sitting next to two female hotties on a couch. The bearded guy is reading a magazine with The Strokes on the cover. I don't know, somehow it is quite brilliant in a "Bringing It All Back Home" for the new millennium to me. Everyone I know hates this band, but the cockiness of these Williamsburg hipsters doing their best 1930's country folk does me right. They serve moonshine at Enids, right?

The "Best Band to Dress Like Doctors Since 4 Out of 5 Doctors (Anyone Remember That Band Besides Stone Groove?)" Award

Clinic
Their "Walk With Thee" album is much spookier than their previous one. Less garagey and more eerie keyboards and creepiness. Still chockfull of melody and hits though.

I followed seeing them dressed as doctors at the Bowery Ballroom with seeing the Danielson Famile dressed as nurses the next night at the Knitting Factory.

Speaking of the Danielsons, born-again Christians who sometimes dress as trees and do lots of hand clapping and sing-alongs are always a good thing.

The "Wow, at Least He’s Not in an Austin Powers Movie or Recording With a Jazz Band, an Opera Singer, or Burt Bacharach" Award

Elvis Costello
Yes, "When I Was Cruel" is my least favorite proper Elvis record since the "Goodbye Cruel World" opus, but the album doesn't suck and um... that's about all I have to say about it.

His Beacon Theatre performance in June marked the first time I'd ever seen him and he was great. The highlight was when the microphone wasn't working and he did an incredible acoustic version of "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes."

The "Best Band to Dress Up as Furry Animals" Award

The Flaming Lips
I like their last two records, but don't have any of their others. Am I going to hell?

The "It Sounds Damn Good at O'Connor's But I Haven't Bought It Yet" Award

The Reigning Sound - "Time Bomb High School"
Liked their last record good enough, but their new one seems more up for delivering on the Plumley-Lawrence hype.

The "Elephant 6 Is Dead, Long Live the Elephant 6!" Award

Dressy Bessy
Their latest release "Sound Go Round" is Robert Schneider (Apples In Stereo) produced and oh so fine. Catchy and poppy but not derivative.

The "I Like Will Oldham" Award

Songs:Ohia
Nice sparse songs with strange lyrics and a whiny voice that sounds like it should be preaching in the hills of Kentucky instead of preaching to the choir at the Knitting Factory. Hell, what was left for Jason Molina in 2002 other than to record some songs with The Oldham himself? And that is what he did. I still think "Steve Albini's Blues" is one of the funniest song titles I've heard in awhile.

The "I Love Nick Drake" Award

Neil Halstead
His "Sleeping on Roads" is so melodic and pretty. Great album. Who would have thought the dude in Slowdive would end up sounding like this?

The "I Just Bought This CD and I’m Really Listening to It For the First Time and Holy Shit It Is Kicking My Ass" Award

Liars - "They Threw Us All In a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top"
This is what the Trail of Dead should sound like. This is what Gang of Four could have sounded like if they had been influenced by the last 25 years rather than being an innovator. Wow, I don’t know what to say, but on first listen I'm digging this a whole lot.

Pre 2002 Tunes That I Got Into This Year:

The Best "Best Of" Jeremy Made For Me This Year

Ween
Jeremy is the master of the Best Of CDs and this Ween one is great. I never realized how much I liked them until I had 80 minutes of them. Don't know if I need to collect their albums but man they are fun. The country songs about dirty things, the songs about Philadelphia, the song about bananas and blow...it all just seems so wrong but right at the same time. Marc always gets quite disconcerted when I play this CD.

It Sounded Better At O'Connor's Than In My Apartment

Brian Jonestown Massacre - "Bravery, Repetition, & Noise"
Maybe this just isn't the right album of theirs to get, but I couldn't quite get into this. Plus, one song has two of the most annoying soundbytes ever on it —snoring and a dial-up Internet connection beeping. Why why why would anyone want either of those sounds on their CD? Why?

The Best Mix Tape With the 1980 Phillies As a Theme

Eric Plumley's "Phillies Phever"
Ever ask yourself what Greg Luzinski ate for dinner or what is Pete Rose's favorite Devo song? Now, you can find out thanks to this brilliantly conceived mix tape.

Archival radio footage and classic Phillies theme songs add to the fun times of what the Phillies might have or should have been grooving to that glorious season: Van Halen; AC/DC; Judas Priest; The Vibrators; The Dictators. Good stuff. And if the songs aren't good enough, you’ll never be the same after hearing Tug McGraw's song or Mike Schmidt's odd vocal inflections. The best sports mix tape ever. Bar none.

Best Box Set

When the Sun Goes Down
Amazing 4 CD compilation tracing the birth of rock and roll from the 20's through the 50's. Every single song is great. Early blues, folk, and country merge into some great R&B by the end of the set, right on up to Little Richard closing it out.

Best Band Who I Don't Really Have Much to Say About But I Listened to A Lot

Mogwai
Their last two records are really, really good. "Rock Action" is kinda rocking and kinda dreamy all at the same time and "Come on Die Young" is a kick in the pants.

Best Band That I'm Probably Not Cool Enough to Listen To

Godspeed You Black Emperor!
I don't know where the exclamation point goes. I like "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antenna to Heaven" a whole hell of a lot. At first, I didn't like the spoken word weird clips, but now sometimes I can't get the wistfulness of the guy lamenting the old Coney Island out of my head. Majestic and beautiful this music is. And scary sometimes. Don't have their new one.

Am I An Asshole For Finally Admitting to Myself That I Don't Like Hüsker Dü As Much As Everyone Else?

Well, am I?

Jazz Isn't Dead, It's Just That No One Cares Anymore

Bassist William Parker is amazing. I saw him in 2002 and he was incredible. He fit his band of, like, 15 or so members on a little stage and it was intense. One 45 minute song which kept ebbing and flowing, rising and falling, all back to the beginning theme by the end. They swung in a cocky "we've been around the block quite a few times" kind of way. His recent "Mayor of Punkville" is damn fine.

The Band I Would Have Liked 8 Years Ago If I Hadn't Been So Snooty to Dislike Anything on MTV

Supergrass
They're fun.

Some of My Favorite CDs Burned From Stone Groove

Tom Petty's - "Greatest Hits"
Hot damn, it really is one hit after another.

The Flamin' Groovies - "Shake Some Action"
One of the best albums I heard all year. Perfect marrying of mid-70's power pop, British Invasion harmonies, and 50's sock-hops. Could this be any more perfect for my dad?

The Merry-Go-Round - "You’re A Very Lovely Woman - Live"
Emmit Rhodes started this band in the mid-60's when he was 17. Perfect L.A. sound of the time, shimmering harmonies, dazzling melodies, wistful lyrics. Quite perfect. Since this is only available as an import, my dad warned me when he lent it to me that he would burn all my old baseball cards in the basement if I scratched his CD.

Old 97's - "Fight Songs" and "Satellite Rides"
Okay, so I bought him "Fight Songs" for his birthday, but it was ol’ Stone Groove himself who bought "Satellite Rides." He usually just says things are just okay, but he dug the Old 97's. Rock on, Stone Groove.

CCR - "Cosmo’s Factory"
Ohmigod! Every song is a hit or should have been hit. I've gotta get me the rest of their LPs.

The Band I Gave Up On Years Ago, But Now I Like Again

Smog.
The last time I heard a Bill Callahan album, he was moping his way through "Doctor Came At Dawn" back in '97. He kept putting out records, but I didn't care. But, man, one breakup with Cat Power and a children’s chorus later, I love him again. "Knock Knock" is unbelievable! I just burned "Red Apple Falls" and I'm looking forward to hearing his even more recent stuff. Hell, unless Huey Lewis comes to hang out on Cumberland Street, 2003 could be the year of Smog.

Best Cover I Heard All Year By a Former Member of Slint

Papa M - "London Homesick Blues"
What do you get when you trade in your math books for books about the Dust Bowl? You get Papa M's brilliant cover. Driving through Texas this summer daydreaming about the beautiful women and friendly folk of Abilene was a transcendent moment.

How Did I End Up Waiting Until 2002 to Listen to Her?

Laura Cantrell
Hell, I just burned her first record. I don’t even have her 2002 release. I bought her first one for Stone Groove and he says he likes it more and more on each listen (could part of that be due to the Sir Douglas Quintet-sounding organ on one of the tracks?).

I saw her perform at Bart's "20 Midgets" premiere in 2001, but I guess I was too starstruck by my performance in the movie to really listen to the hot jams Cantrell was laying down. If Nashville had any clue, she would be a huge star. Thank God it doesn't so we can all be cooler than everyone else, huh?

Best Late 70's Power Pop Discovery of The Year

The Vibrators - "Pure Mania"
O.K., when I say discovery, I'm talking about my discovery of their great album. Obviously, most folks in the know, know this band. But just because I came late to the party doesn't mean I didn't bring beer, if you know what I'm saying. Apparently, this band played hippie jams when the punk movement hit big and then they changed their sound. Who cares when you are so catchy and good?

Best Non 2002 Release That Might As Well Have Been Released in 2002

The Hives- "Veni Vidi Vicious"
Their matching ties, their silly video, their rock star swagger, their good musical influences, their kickassedness... I like them.

The Dude Could Write 5 Songs While Taking A Dump and 3 of Them Would Be Good

Robert Pollard
Jamie's 3 CD compilation of non "Bee Thousand" and "Alien Lanes" stuff makes me do jumping jacks.

Best DJ Record to Listen to During Third Grade Writer's Workshop Time

Four Tet - "Pause"
Melodic, relaxing, and plenty of keyboard typing sounds inspire 8 year olds to write.

If "Timorous Me" is the Indie Rock Version of "Jack and Diane" What Will Be The Indie Rock Version of "Pink Houses?"

Only Ted Leo's forthcoming LP can answer that question.

Best 2001 Album That I Listened To A Lot in 2002

Beulah - "The Coast Is Never Clear"
Every song is a winner and dare I say this might be my favorite Beulah yet? If 2002 was the year of The White Stripes vs. The Strokes then I deem 2003 Beulah vs. The Shins. And as much as I like the Shins, I know which corner I'll be standing in.

Speaking of Chris Lawrence's favorite band....

2002: My Year With the Strokes

January

I wanted to dislike this band because it is always fun to be on the same side as Chris Larry. I really wanted to dislike this band. Hell, that lead singer dude bumped into Chris at a Built to Spill show and instead of apologizing, made out with some floozie. Chris wrote back in October 2001: "My band could be that cool with someone buying us vintage equipment, designer rock wear, women, and songs!!! With the White Stripes, believe the Hype, it’s from the gut and the heart and all the other places music should come from, with the Strokes it is wannabeitis! They might as well be Live with greasy hair and a better record collection." Yikes.

I saw the "Last Night" video and found myself secretly tapping along. Still, I hate them! I must hate them!

Rishi and Jeremy came to visit. With Jamie and Marc in tow, a huge argument ensued. To Stroke or not to Stroke? Rishi argued that they were easily the best band around and could kick the White Stripes’ ass (yeah right!) and we all yelled at him.

Heard "Is This It" at Mitch's while playing poker and was nonplused. Kinda dull, I thought. Yay, Chris likes me!

February

Somehow I ended up with a burned copy of their CD and found myself kind of liking it. Sarah becomes obsessed with it.

March

Now I'm in the shit. I love the CD, but I don’t dare tell Chris Larry. I mean, he has to deal with them strutting down 7th St. all the time like they fucking own the East Village. He has enough on his plate.

At the end of the month, I found myself in London while they were playing The Brixton Academy. I ended up buying a ticket outside for the sold out show. I was already in a music mood because every street sign in London reminded me of a Kinks or Clash song.

The crowd was going nuts. The scene was crazy. People were screaming for the drum technician when he was testing the drums. I swear it was like reverse Beatlemania. It was impossible not to get caught up in it. Julian could have come out, taken a shit and left, and fans would have cheered. I wondered what Chris Larry would think if he could have witnessed the excitement of the crowd. The show was great and I was glad I shelled out the pounds. The post show street scene reminded me of the Cap Centre parking lot after a Billy Joel show I saw in high school. Lots of counterfeit t-shirts and posters for sale.

I bought "Is This It" at the Virgin store in Heathrow airport just so I could get the British cover art and the song "New York City Cops" not on the American version. I guess I was officially a Strokes fan. Rishi was pleased to find out.

April

Baseball started, I was distracted.

May

Who was my favorite Stroke? The curly haired guitar player? Julian? Or Fabrizio?

June

My crush on the Strokes eclipsed Sarah’s crush on the Strokes.

July

Went ten days hearing only one Strokes song at one point because I had only put one of their songs on a mix for Jeremy as we were embroiled in Mix Tape Road Trip '02. Finished the month not listening to any because Jamie doesn't particularly care for them as we were cruising the South on our baseball trip.

August

Scored a ticket to see the White Stripes and the Strokes at Radio City Music Hall. Ended up in the tenth row for face value. I hadn't been to Radio City since going to see the Christmas Spectacular in '81. No Rockettes, but I did get Meg White! Even though I do like the White Stripes more, I must admit that the Strokes were better on this evening. Shut up, Rishi! Jack White came out and did an amazing solo on "New York City Cops" to close the show. Julian was on crutches!

After the show, met up with some folks including Chris Larry at O'Connor's. I could sense the disappointment oozing from every pore when he found out where I had just come from. Come on Chris, I still like Teenage Fanclub too! I felt like a small child letting down his father when he uttered, "Come on Dan, I thought you were on my side!"

September

I dreamt of someday being the sixth Stroke.

October

Baseball post-season.

November

We all gave thanks to something at Thanksgiving Dinner and I gave thanks to the privileged boarding school boys made good. Amen. Let's eat.

December

On the way to Philadelphia with Eric Plumley, Chris Mooney, and Tim Dugan. Eric looked at Tim's CDs and asked him to put on the Strokes since he hadn't heard them before. I couldn't wait to see EP's response. Would he silently stew for a bit before exploding in disgust like he did on the baseball trip in 2001 when Richard (Washcloth) Judy put on Radiohead's "Amnesiac"? I still hear his lament of "Where are the guitars?" But, EP was preoccupied with tales of crazy mothers so he didn't really listen to the cd. Maybe 2003 will be the year I get my answer. Otherwise, I do believe their second album is due to be recorded soon. Bring on the backlash!

The Year In Huey Lewis News

2001 was a banner year for Hugh Craig III and me. I ended the year stripping to "The Power Of Love" at Village Karaoke which then spurred me to make a long awaited best of CD and buy a video of Huey videos (my original Beta copy would not fit in my VHS as much as I tried) and a DVD of a live show from Germany in 1984. Ich liebe Huey Lewis, ja?

His 2001 release "Plan B" led to my dad referring to it as a "stone groove"" in front of Eric Plumley, the king of nickname giving.

So 2002 had a lot to live up to. But other than my mom and sister ogling his fine 52-year old ass through binoculars at Wolf Trap and "Back to the Future" being released on DVD, it was a slow year for Huey and me.

Either "Duets 2" better be coming out or else my parents better get me tickets this year if he comes back to Wolf Trap!

I Was Wrong Six and a Half Years Ago Haiku

Jason, Bob, and Lou
Did not like in '96
Harmacy, wow, good!

Shows I Want to Mention That I Haven't Already Mentioned

Beachwood Sparks at Mercury Lounge- July

The show was fine enough, but I'll never forget the opening act. This stand up comic / performance artist wowed the crowd for 45 minutes with a combination of offensive jokes (aimed at women, gays, every ethnicity, and religion), insults of the crowd, and really (intentionally) bad jokes.

It started innocently enough with "How many Rufus Wainwright fans are there here tonight?" A few folks raised their hands, everyone looked around at each other like "I kind of like Rufus, but why should I raise my hand?" He then said, "Okay, good, I just wanted to know how many faggots are in the crowd here tonight."

The crowd went from respectful to stunned to angry to throwing things all within 45 minutes. Everytime people would yell angry things, our hero would respond with "Come on guys, this is my big chance." Either that or he would insult the person.

I don't remember a lot of his jokes, but one of the things I do remember was something along the lines of an excuse made for a bad band, "If you think this band is bad, my other band is a Bettie Serveert cover band." I don't know, maybe Jamie remembers. I wish I knew the name of this guy. I kind of felt like I was watching Andy Kaufman pissing off people while reading "The Great Gatsby" at a comedy club. The crowd just didn't seem to get it. Utter brilliance. Beachwood Sparks came on afterwards like nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.

This was probably my most bizarre show experience since the Six Finger Satellite sex doll/ handcuff opus of '95.

Arthur Lee and Love at Bowery Ballroom, August

Holy shit. You can't keep a rock star down! Fresh out of prison with a lot to prove, Arthur tore shit up.

Bob Dylan at Madison Square Garden, November

"Love and Theft" is great, isn't it? This was the first time I had seen him and also the first time I was at MSG. Couldn't see a thing, but it was still a good time.

The Bronx- Williamsburg, November

Jason Curtis and the art punk gang.

Instrumental post-rock+
my cuz on a turntable+
Jesse James type bandanas+
confetti=
hott!

John Wesley Harding at Southpaw, November

It was like visiting an old friend for the first time in a few years. A little older, a little grayer, but the spark of what drew you to the person in the first place remains.

The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players at Fez, December

Fun, but the overbearing dad makes me sad for the 9-year old Rachel.

Bring on the rock 2003 style!