so i don't know if you all are fans of lester bangs or not, but i am a huge fan.  lester bangs kinda sorta "invented" rock journalism as we know it today.  he was a passionate and talented fellow, who took his inspiration from the beats and from nyquil, among other things.  in his pieces he rambles from one brilliant point to another, all the while insulting everyone possible and tearing down your expectations.  he's also incredibly tender about the things that have really moved him.



my favorite piece he ever wrote is, not coincidently, about one of my favorite records:  Astral Weeks by van morrison.  you can check out  the entire piece he wrote here.  (and you should.)



lester's writing style can't be beat in my book.  it's so upsetting that he died so young, pretty much burned himself out, cause it would be so fantastic to have him here today, railing against the dull- as- tombs stuff that passes for music writing these days.  it would be so interesting to hear his take on the world we have now, a world in which the internet (here we are) means that anything, any bit of information or connection we want we can have at our fingertips, instead of that long, weary and ultimately rewarding search we used to have.  i think if he was here lester would still see and point out the beauty in that brand of now- old-fashioned journey.

The Employee Interview
Second Edition: M. Nero Nava
3 + years at Amoeba
Floor Gent


Q:  What was the first music you remember hearing as a kid, before you had a choice?

M.N.N:  The first song I remember was Blondie's "heart of glass."

Q:  How have your parents' musical choices affected your musical tastes?

They affected me a lot because my dad likes blues music, which got  me into R&B, and my mom used to be a goth chick, so my aesthetic leanings were more towards post punk and all that stuff.  But of course I rebelled as a teen and I listened to hip hop.

Q:  What has been the biggest musical influence on your life?

Probably my mom.  She laid the foundation with bands like the Cure, David Bowie, Lou Reed.

Q:  What is your favorite record to get down to?

Probably Marvin Gaye, the I Want You album.

Q:  What is your musical guilty pleasure?

All those R&B chicks that have one good song and they have one name: Kelis, Aaliyah, Ciara, Amerie.

Q:  What's the last concert you went to?  What was the first concert you went to?

First concert: Jefferson Starship at Great America.
                                   Last concert: I saw Prince for my 46th time.
Q:  When did you start playing music and why?

When i was 16 I started playing keyboards,  then I sold my sampler and bought a guitar when I was 18.  I wanted to play because girls like that and I'm funky.

joni mitchell is killing me lately, just killing me.

ever since i picked up  these new dick cavett show box sets that are out and watched the rock icons collection, my interest in joni has been re-established.  the very first episode in the set is the "woodstock episode," literally taped the morning hendrix ripped the sh*t out of the national anthem.  the show features jefferson airplane, joni and (in place of hendrix) stephen stills and david crosby, still covered in mud.

although the entire show is fantastic to watch, it's joni mitchell that affects me the most.  it's obvious that cavett is enraptured with her, and it's easy to see why.  draped in green velvet, with her young, open face and unbelievably crafted songs, she's a mind bender.  there's no one else like her, is there? 

the expressions on her face while she performs her song "willy", a song she says is  " for my man and for the moon", are so gorgeous--  she's living her way through the song, lost in her own memories and thoughts.  you can see the spark lit on her face throughout the performance and just  like the line in the song it is  "like a shiny light breaking in a storm."

i've watched it several times through, over and over.  the optimism and honesty doesn't live just on her face, it permeates the entire program and seems so foreign to me and to my experience processing much music released and performed on tv these days.  for some reason, we can't afford to be that optimistic anymore? all i can say is when it's there, it's beautiful to watch.

......well, maybe not exactly, but there are some major similarities.



mainly, that i eat up both programs with a spoon.  they are both so light, so fresh, so speedy and zeitgeist-y.  they are both addicting.  when i watch either show, i am drawn in so quickly because the dialogue drops so fast and there are tons of in-jokes.  oh, and there's so much eye candy each scene is popping with it.  four friends take on l.a., much like four friends taking on nyc.

only different.

boys will be boys, right? i mean, entourage is very obviously created to appeal primarily to a straight male audience, with all its t&a and constant video game playing.  yet still, it manages to appeal to a "sophisticated" lady like me.........not to toot my own horn here, but i think that has something to do with how smart the show is. 

those four guys, Vince, Eric, Turtle and, of course, the luggish Drama, are so danged believable.  we all know crews of dudes that are just like them and operate just like them.  it's fun to be "in" with a group of friends like that, just as it was when sex in the city was on and i loved watching the gals sit around the coffee shop table exchanging witticisms.

there aren't so many actual rock n roll bands right now in san francisco, and taking in the energy and attitude of the dilettantes made me remember why i like good ol' rock n roll so much in the first place.
the band is centered around mr joel gion, formerly of the brian jonestown massacre.  in case you missed the fantastic documentary "dig", which came out a couple of years ago, chronicling the band's years-long troubles with labels and the law (not to mention rival band the dandy warhols),  joel's a tambourine player.   if you did happen to see the flick, you'll easily remember joel.  he's the one who dumps a drink down his pants. you know, that guy.  he's also the best tambourine player you'll ever see.  the guy has the magic touch, no joke!  he is the tambourine player, of course, in the dilettantes, but he has taken his natural charisma up a notch now and is also a lou reed-esque vocalist.  his stage presence is something to behold, full of appropriate and highly enjoyable rock n roll posturing and skill.

the two guitarists, jefferson parker and brock galland, also trade off singing different songs to great effect.  jefferson's soloing skills are amazing-- remember when american indie bands had crazy epic guitar solos with effects peddles and feedback?  i sure do.  this guy's got it down.