One of the coolest things EVER

Many thanks to Brian Gibb of Art Prostitute for this link...

Watch the 160 second version at http://www.bravia-advert.com/commercial/braviaextcommhigh.html

Then watch making of http://www.bravia-advert.com/commercial/braviamakingofhighqt.html

Cowboy Junkies

Excerpts from the Dallas Show 2-18-06

The Granada Theater on Greenville Avenue

Watch the video

For your listening pleasure - "Sweet Jane" from the Cowboy Junkies album "Trinity Sessions". This album is available at iTunes and is WONDERFUL.. This was a fantastic, intimate show...you should try to go if they come to your town

By the way - the Milton Mapes were great - an excellent mood-setter for a wonderful show. Get to the show early to check them out.

Clip from the Show- Sound quality is terrible!

Memphis Documentary Trip

Watch the video

This video includes a few photos from our recent Memphis Trip.

For your listening pleasure...
Dr. "Feelgood" Potts
Song: "Bluesin and Cruisin" (Available on iTunes)

When watching the video keep in mind that we have hours and hours of footage taken with the official camera...these represent ONLY those events of which I alone took photos / video... meaning....we did actually work too (ROFL)

A quick rundown of the coolness of this trip to visit with Ryan Thompson (AKA Synide) of MLG

We arrived on Sunday night and found our way to our hotel (the Radisson Inn at the Memphis Airport). After stowing our luggage we bundled up and traveled to Beale Street - the birthplace of rock n roll, I hear. The friendly policeman on the street HIGHLY recommended that we eat at the Memphis City café for dinner so we did – the ribs were fanfreakin’tastic.

Then we continued onward down the neon-bedecked street to a couple of clubs where we heard the musical stylings of the Dr. "Feelgood" Potts Band and another (unfortunately misremembered) band at the nightclub adjacent to the Memphis City Café. Great times were had by all.

Bright and early the next morning we met Ryan for breakfast – he was a great combination of quiet personality combined with raucous aggression (when playing Halo). I hope all our candidates will be as organized, accommodating, succinct and friendly as Ryan – we couldn’t have asked for a better subject!

We bugged Ryan for a couple of days shooting at a local coffee shop (Empire Coffee), Ryan’s home and home office (the amazing Exchange Building downtown) and through an eight-person Halo Xbox LAN party (as hosted by Ryan and roommate, Ryan.) Keep in mind that the footage won’t reflect much of the latter parts of the evening after the affects of the beer started to become apparent…

BTW…It was amazing how a LAN party is a LAN party whether in Dallas with your friends or in Memphis with a whole ‘nother group of friends you never knew you had. The similarities are amazing – it must be the constant stream of testosterone that flows when eight men gather around a video game.

We wrapped up the interview segments with Ryan by mid-day on Tuesday and traveled the city on foot and by car over land and bridge. (Ask me about, how we got the shot of Memphis from the bridge over the Mississippi – a bridge-o-phobic should never traverse a bridge without a seat belt, holding the side door open while another hangs out the car door and another holds that person by the belt….)

A visit to the gates of Graceland then another rib-adventure off Beale Street capped the shoot for our team. Exhausted, full of red-meat and ready for sleep we wrapped up the day at 10 pm on Valentines Day by falling into our sleep-number beds at the Radisson.

Notable unmentionables:
- Phil & Jeff and dancing with the girls from Memphis City Café
- Lost, lost and lost ....again ...and again
- Phil & Jeff attempting a southern dialect with their Chicago accents
- The very tall van and the very short parking garage
- Phil & Jeff on the cleanup crew for all food available on the table
- The proliferation of panhandlers in Memphis - Egad. Do NOT talk to strangers on the street if you can help it.

New Kitchen Curtains

So we went to IKEA and finally spent the kind gift card gift that the Gunters gave Ethan and I for the wedding.

Its funny. I thought our kitchen was done until we hung the curtains. It looks GREAT!

Thanks Danny and Shanoa and Tap...

And Ikea rules...

The colors shine

The colors shine

Watch the video

Sometimes music is sometimes best enjoyed alone… Not much beats listening to a CD in your car with the wind whipping in your hair and your thoughts a swirling…

At night this is how the road registered on my RAZR phone. I thought it was a very cool effect. Song - Coldplay "Yellow"

OK after swearing that I wouldn't do this again, I tried to replicate the effect last night and couldn't. Realized the effect was related to the density of the night and the water on the road...

Chicago Shoot - KidStatic - Sunday the 5th

No one should have to greet the dawn in Chicago..

It was cold...

To pass the time waiting for our car to the airport, I spent some time chatting with the doorman at the Intercontinental. He was super-cool!

Unfortunately I don't remember his name but I did get a photo of him in his styling uniform.

Then - lo and behold we were picked up in a stretch limo. We relaxed all the way to O'Hare...

All shoots should be so lovely.

Chicago Shoot - KidStatic - Saturday the 4th

We woke up bright and early and went to the Hot Spot for breakfast. Stacy the owner met us at the door and from the moment we arrived took FANTASTIC care of us. And the food was great.

Thanks Stacy! http://www.planet99.com/chicago/restaurants/15011.html

From there we went to meet with Stephen Hitchock's house and did a quick interview segment of Stephen and KidStatic planning the upcoming video shoot for the song Barnyard. Check him out at http://www.hitchcockmedia.com/

After that we did a little tour of the city and shot photos from the van.

Then on to Moses' house for the final wrap up and a thrilling band practice session with the Cankles. www.thecankles.com

When we wrapped the shoot, Evan and I were free to wander so we hit the Magnificent mile. This time we ate at Cafe 1011.

We had some fantastic coffee and desserts - Evan had a chocolate layer cake while I had creme brulee.

Then we text messaged with friends for a bit (kudos to Corey for being so txt message responsive) and finally hit Borders bookstore before heading back to the Intercontinental.

Waiting for our table

Chicago Shoot - KidStatic - Friday the 3rd

Following are some shots from the trip - taken with my RAZR phone - the stars of this three day featurette are Evan and myself.



Friday the 3rd - arrived and went to dinner @ the Grand Luxe Cafe

The walls are adorned with Klimt-esque artistry. We were floored by the beauty of the restaurant.

The bread was fabulous. Evan really liked his martini. We ordered the beignets and they arrived in a mound...Far too many for two full people.

The food was good. the patrons were young. The waiter was funny. Recommended.

Check out the audio blog we posted while waiting for our table. (in the next posting)