Kobe Japanese Steak House

Last night a bunch of us went out to celebrate Becky's birthday (one of Leah's friends). We had a really good dinner at Kobe Steak House over on Olive. A good time was had by all here are some pics (of course I brought my camera):

Jimu's brother Davu looks like a gruff sailor here, dontcha think?



And then this morning Leah took some picture while I was getting ready to leave:

Only God knows what this boy is thinking:

Apples In Stereo In-Store

I swear...this is my last Apples in Stereo post!!! Anyway, I woke up (went to bed around 3:30) and hopped in my car for the Loop. I got to Vintage Vinyl at about 11:45. I wandered around (a dangerous thing for me to do in a record store) while the store people set up the band's little performing area at the back of the store. I had about 10 CD's (well over $100) in my little boy arms...just walking around (saying the famous Leah "WOW!"). Then I remembered self control and put it all back (except a copy of the new Apples Album NEW MAGNETIC WONDER--come on...it came with a free bonus disc!).

The band came out on time (noon) but it took them a half hour to get settled in. They had them set up in the Jazz section, and while Robert the lead singer settled in (he's kind of a prima donna) the rest of the band kept yanking out jazz CD's and saying "Holy crap! I need this" or "Hey don't you collect these guys?" I was surprised at how steeped in jazz those guys were. I figured all they listened to was rock and pop...but then again, why should they? I'm not in a band, and I listen to all sorts of music. Living in the dorms, I've discovered that people that play instruments tend to listen to all sorts of crazy stuff.

Well I was pretty nervous, to be honest. I always read about these stories in Rolling Stone about Guns 'N Roses going ape shit at the sight of a camera. I guess filming is different because there is no flash (which I think would get a little old after a while...I mean who wants to be blinded?). Anyway, I whipped my camera out and filmed three of the 7 or so songs they did. I was really hoping that they'd do the new single "Energy" and they did! I almost got them doing "Go!" from THE WORLD INSIDE THE MOONE but they decided they didn't have enough instruments (this was, after all, a free show in the back of a small-ish record store...they didn't have drums or anything). I thought they did a great job, especially considering that they'd been up all night drinking and playing rock the night before. All I did was watch and I was exhausted!!!

The first clip is the first song they did, "Skyway." It's a great track from the new album:


Later they did "Energy" and I freaked out:



Lastly, they started playing "Green Machine" but realized that they had forgotten it. So they went into "Open Eyes" (which is also from the new album). Good stuff:


Alright, so that's it for my blogs extensive coverage of the Apples visit to St. Louis. I'm currently listening to the new album, and I'm going to write a review...but I'm going to wait until next week. Later, gators!

Apples Rawk

Well it's 1:21 and I just got back from the concert. It was awesome! Me and Leah went down to the Loop at about 4:30. We got there so early because Leah had to put up flyer's for the Trauma Recovery Center (where she works). Then we went to dinner at a sub shop. This is where things got fucky.

So I go up to the counter and place my order (I have to go first 'cos Leah can't ever make up her mind fast). As Leah is placing hers, I happen to see that there is a black leather wallet sitting on the counter (where the girl behind the register can't see). So I do the right thing, I pick it up and give it to her. She's all "oh, thanks." So we get our food and sit down. A few minutes later this guys with an "fuck I just lost my wallet" look on his face comes in. I say to Leah, "I betcha that's the guy." It was. The lady gives him his wallet, and he picks up some food. I tell him I found his wallet (because I'm proud that I did the right thing, and I want everyone to know...I'm special like that). Then he leaves. We go back to eating. A few minutes later he comes back in and says something to the lady behind the counter. Then he comes over to our booth and is like "Did you happen to find $20 in my wallet because now it's gone."

And I'm like "What exactly are you accusing me of?" and he's like "I'm not accusing you, I'm accusing everybody." Luckily for everyone he left. Dipshit. That's the thanks you get for not screwing someone over. I could have pocketed the wallet and kept all his cards and stuff. But I didn't. Instead I did the right thing. I'm still poor. But now that guy thinks I'm a thief. Oh well. I should have stood up and fought the guy, but then I wouldn't have gotten to go to my show.

WHICH was great. The first band was started around 9:30 (like I said, we got to the Loop early). They were some local band, that apparently had 50 minutes notice before they got up and played (i.e. they are pretty small fish and were just okay). Bunny Grunt or something was what they called themselves (they never told us and when a couple of people called out "who are you?" (including Leah) the dumb asses told us THEIR individual names...not the band name...whatever). After that, Casper and the Cookies came on. Stupid name, good band. They were cool. The rhythm guitarist was like a gay Jack Black-type character. He had these long, fake lashes...and he was over the top. The lead singer, Casper (real name is Jason NeSmith) was pretty good (looked like an Italian Beatle). They played bright, cheery, sunny pop. Lots of hand claps and tambourines. I liked a couple of their songs--"Kiss a Friend" and "Hey Mr. Superstar" stood out (from their latest album THE OPTIMIST'S CLUB...that sums up the band right there really). Also, they have a cool song called "Krotenwanderung" which is all over the place. I'm a sucker for boy/girl pop bands, so they had me at 'ello. Being professionals, they also made a point in telling us their names (which was smart, because next time I find a penny I'm going to buy their album).

Then The Apples in Stereo came on (after a long break, as usual at these shows). The new songs were all great, I'm really excited about getting my hands on it (which I've decided to do tomorrow if I can make it to the in-store). "Energy" was the standout for sure. Then they played all the old songs I wanted to hear. I was shocked when they did "Strawberry Fire." It's basically their version of "Strawberry Fields Forever" and like that more famous song...it's really complicated and I wouldn't have blamed them if they skipped it (as they did the first time I saw them in Columbia). Well it turned out pretty good really, though I think it did slow the show down a bit, I would have done it as an encore. "Tin Pin Alley" off of TONE SOUL EVOLUTION was another surprise (didn't play it last time). Then there was the standards: "Seem So", "Go!", and "Please." I wish I knew more of the new song names, because they were really good. The band all had awesome clothes too (a really lame thing to comment on, but they were great). The keyboard player had on a crazy silver space suit with these radical (that's right, I wrote "radical") glasses with blues lights on them...one of the guitarists had an awesome polka-dot shirt that was so mod it hurt (I wish I had something like it). Overall the new members have really improved the band's live act (sorry Hilary...ye shall be missed but the new guy is a better drummer). And I have to agree with Leah, only one girly-sounding vocalist is needed (lead singer Rob Schneider is pretty high in the 'ol pitch). They got on sometime just before 11:00 and we got out around 12:30. One encore. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Shelly, and my friend/old dorm-mate Josh was there. A good time was had by all.

My hearing is shot to hell. Which is always nice. I'm sure one day when I'm old and can't hear shit I'll be pissed that young Jason loved going to concerts so much, but that's why they make hearing aids...right?

Oh, one other thing...is it sexist not to want your girl to get creamed in a mosh? Moshing, you all know, is that "dance" where you just beat the hell out of everyone else. I don't do it (I'm too big and strong...plus I would fall and kill someone). I don't really go to shows where a lot of it goes on (if at all) but there is always that one really drunk guy that wants to do it. I saw that our one guy was getting to close to Leah so I stepped in front of her...and I guess it pissed her off. After the show, on the way home she made me feel a little bad about getting in between her and him. SO internet...was I wrong to do this? Should I let some guy knock my fiance about? I'll let you all weigh in.

But regardless, it was a good time. I can't wait to do it all again (please, cool bands...come to St. Louis).

Ramble-log

It's a little too dark because I was sitting on my windowsill but I did one...

Red lights, Green lights...

I am so excited. I'm excited because tonight I'm going to a show. No matter how many I go to, or who it is I'm seeing I always get all tingly. As I'm complained before--there has been a serious drought of shows. Last semester's JET and Angels and Airwaves show was about all there was. My problem is that I like a dying musical genre (rock). Okay, maybe it's not dead ("not dead yet...") but it is more underground--which as Little Steven says is probably where it belongs. Anyway, their is a flood of albums out/coming out that I want...which usually means that there will be concerts to follow. Tonight, as I've written before, I'm seeing The Apples in Stereo at 9:30 in Blueberry Hill's Duck Room (which is another reason I'm excited...I've never been to the Duck Room before). If it's what I'm imagining, it's a real dive. Shitty lights, shitty sound, not much room...perfect for an old school concert.



Me and Amber (and my various floozies) have been to many a room like that. About three years ago I saw the Apples in Columbia in that twin trailer-bar known as Mojos. What a dive. It took them hours to set everything up on the postage stamp sized "stage" (which was more like a tapped off rectangle in one corner of the room). But I saw three great bands that night, I mean really saw them. There's something magical about seeing a band play and then watch them walk over to the bar and get a drink after their set (rather than descend into the stage or just walk off and then hop into a bus/train/limo/plane and then fly off). I saw U2 in a huge arena, and it was good but not nearly as good as if I'd seen them 20+ years ago when they were just starting out and were playing little club gigs.

Anyway, I need to do a video blog but me heart ain't in it...so I may just skip it (rather than post some gibberish or rambling nonsense).

Hope you have fun tonight, I know I will.

"If There's Rock Show
At The Concertgebow
They're Got Long Hair
At The Madison Square
You've Got Rock And Roll
At The Hollywood Bowl,
We'll Be There ... Oo Yeah ...."

Scary Movie

Today I watched the Al Gore documentary AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH in one of my neighbors rooms. It was the scariest movie I've seen in a while. Compounding my fear was the days "wacky weather" which may or may not be my (and your) fault. I woke up and turned on the tube...and they were talking about how St. Louis was under a tornado watch. I thought to myself....Jason, you're asleep...because that makes no sense.

But I was awake, and though there was no tornado here, there were several across the country. It was damn windy out today. I walk to class (pretty much every day) and I was nearly knocked over several times by the wind. This guy Sam, how lives here in the dorms, said he almost lost his back pack to the breeze.

Anyway, go and rent/watch Gore's movie. It will scare the shit out of you. According to Gore, the polar caps and Greenland are melting. If only half of them melt away the World Trade Center site will be totally underwater. Scary stuff.

Anyway, I had dinner and then I went upstairs at the MSC (our student center) and wrote for like two hours. Then I came back here to the dorms and typed up the first five pages of my next short story "Sea Change." I'm excited because it's really strange/bizarre. I liken it to an acid trip. Not that I have any idea what that's like. I hope to have the first draft done by the end of the weekend (much like the past two weeks). We'll see...this is going to be a busy weekend (for a change). Tomorrow I'm going to see The Apples in Stereo with Leah down at Blueberry Hill in the Loop. This will be my second time seeing them (the other was in Columbia at Mojo's (which is a dive let me tell you)). Then Saturday I'm hoping to catch them at a free in-store appearance at Vintage Vinyl (also in the Loop). Maybe I'll be able to get them to sign something? THEN that night is Becky's birthday party/dinner...which is going to suck because I always get bored and act like an ass at social gatherings involving 4 or more people. Sunday is homework day. Then I get to start the whole thing all over again.

Wellspring

I'm not sure what happened to me, but recently I have been doing a shit load of writing. I know that I'm not doing as much as I probably should be, but for the past two weeks I'm managed to churn out a story a week. Okay, so I've written two short stories (like 30 or so pages total). But considering that I was at a zero page count since my failed attempt at a novella over winter break...I think that's pretty good. I'm trying to figure out what is behind the sudden surge of writing (so I can keep it going). Here is what I've been able to come up with:

1. I'm reading more. Not just for class either, I've been reading at lot for pleasure too. Last semester I felt like crap for not reading more...so I started reading again (for fun) and boy did it make me feel good. I was doing really good (like two books or so a week)...but now that I'm writing my spare/free time is being used that way. I'm currently stuck in Steinbeck's TORTILLA FLAT (which I started because I thought it would be a quick read).
2. I have more of an audience. My buddy Paul and I have been swapping stories, and well, having an audience has motivated me somewhat. I miss not being in a C.W. class sometimes because I used to be so prolific. I mean, I was constantly churning it out. Not always my best work, but at least I was writing.
3. Contests. A couple of competitions got me back into writing, specifically the annual Wednesday Club. Even if I never win that thing, I feel like I owe it a great debt for putting a fire under my lazy ass.
4. My support-system. They say behind every great man is an even greater woman...in this case I have several behind me. My eternal editor/cheerleader (mommy) and now Leah (who always has really good suggestions I'm finding). Terri and Amber have helped me too by saying some encouraging words (and in Amber's case reminding me of why I write in the first place...I hope you write your screenplay someday).
5. Sly. Over the break I caught Rocky fever (the new movie was just okay)...but I read an interview with Stallone where he talked about writing the first Rocky script when he was a scrappy youth...I thought "if that guy can write something that can touch people...why not me?"

I have a few preliminary notes for my next story ("Sea Change") but I think my story a week streak is going to break. This weekend is going to be BUSY. On Friday I'm going to see The Apples In Stereo with Leah down at the Loop. Saturday is her friends birthday (and the party required by law). Sunday will be homework day/night, and I have two scary tests early next week. We'll see though, I may be able to pull off.