Friday, November 20, 2009 We are creeping, quite quickly actually in to the looming holiday season and the studios are sort of coughing up the small game in lieu of the enormous money makers to come. Of course, this is the weekend of Twilight, so perhaps I'm just talking out of my ass, but this feels like the calm before the storm. An animated flick from the creators of Shrek, a slightly chintzy looking sports flick, and of course Bela and Edward - consider me non-plussed. It's the limited films I'm interested in this [...]

Like many people "of a certain age," my earliest exposure to Warren Zevon was 1978's "Werewolves of London." It would be years before I learned that the witty lyricism of that pseudo novelty hit carried itself into much of Zevon's songwriting. A more recent (within the last few years, anyway) discovery for me was "Carmelita," a bittersweet song from Zevon's 1976 debut. The song is ostensibly about a heroin-addicted writer in love with a Mexican girl. There is, however, another school of thought that, in keeping with the album's leitmotif, "Carmelita" is actually about Los Angeles rather [...]
Not since an early teenage flirtation with Dungeons & Dragons has State ever really embraced the role playing genre with anything even approaching gusto, so it's a testament to just how good Dragon Age: Origins is that we've lost sleep, been late for work and even spent time on a bus worrying about which Dwarven faction for the vacant King-ship we should align ourselves with. You play as one of the last Grey Wardens, a legendary line of dark warriors who have traditionally protected the kingdom of Ferelden from the darkspawn, a race of [...]
Werewolves and vampires have been at each others' throats long before Twilight: New Moon (opening tomorrow) had them making pouty duck-faces at one another. Thankfully, the tradition of the vampi... Continue reading "Never Mind Twilight, Here Are the Best Werewolf and Vampire Music Videos" >
Time for some inscrutable black metal from the impossible-to-pronounce Wrnlrd. If you're wondering why you should give a toss about some lo-fi noise rock from a one mand band you've never heard of (and are frankly unlikely to ever heard of again) it's simply this: it's fascinating. Take a chance and listen to Marauder . It's only 82 seconds long, but it somehow manages to evoke a dark folk music, with a melody of extraordinary sadness buried beneath the roar of distorted guitars. Startlingly good stuff. It's taken from Wrnlrd's 2007 album Cperadt [...]

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" opens up with an image of a moon on screen suggesting the werewolves will come out and Bella's (Kristen Stewart) life is still dark and incomplete. The film ends with Bella taking an exaggerated breath of air, insinuating she will take a leap of faith with Edward. Everything in between is delivered exactly how Team Edward and Team Jacob fans want the plot to go down. WARNING: If you are on Team Edward then your [...]
Rapper 50 Cent brought a little reality to the Twilight premiere, proving once again that romantic stories about high schoolers and the vampires and werewolves that love them can melt even the most thuggish heart. When asked why exactly he would want to see a movie that is targeted at teenage girls, 50 Cent was quick to respond that he wanted to see some of the "rock star energy" present at the event. While 50 Cent probably assumed that he had fulfilled his endorsement obligation and could get home to some Debussy and a nice port, it's Vitamin [...]
Memorable Quotes "Another Successful interaction with a man."--Liz Last weekend I picked up this girl after practicing Jedi Moves at Prospect Park. Took her home on the handlebars of my bike, snuck her inside past my mom, she sees my mint condition Hell boy action figure and she starts quoting your damn book."--Frank "I did Big Sister in College. That little girl taught me how to use tampons."--Liz "Punish You? I've always wanted to film a student werewolf movie in Iceland where I'm filling in last minute for Victoria [...]

It is no secret that I like (love) The Twilight Saga . Yes, I've read all of the books and have had my tickets to New Moon for weeks (months), but listen, I'm not nearly as crazyface (AWESOME) as most of the Twihard community. Do you want to know what separates us, of course other than age, stalking tendencies, violent hysteria , and questionable tattoos ? SWAG. SO, just in case you don't spend your free time googling "Edward Cullen cookie cutters" (not invented yet!), I've compiled some of the best Twi-swag actually available for [...]
Good news, all you fans of condensed screen versions of self-indulgent Mormon vampire pseudo-erotic clit-tease fantasies: Twilight: New Moon is being released in only eight days. Rocks Off, accus... Continue reading "Werewolves Got Fingered: The 5 Worst Movies (Besides Twilight: New Moon) With the Best Soundtracks" >

Originally howled at SomaCow.com In this, the first Sunday hour, the guys and Jamie talked about: Vampires = Gay Werewolves Teenwolf Dad Mormons Taylor and Taylor Shark Boy Lava Girl & Robert Rodriguez Fed Up Kids Books Gossip Girl 90210 Mike Jack/Pee in a jar Rhiaanna Beatdown Mike Vick vs Roman Polanski If you'd like to join us live for these episodes, come see us Sunday from 10-12 AM!

In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book. The Simpsons is one of my favorite television comedies of all time, and John Ortved has written an invaluable oral history about the show. Covering the show's inception of The Tracey Ullman Show to its unlikely and unpredicted success in its first season and on through its later years, The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History not only reminds us of the greatness of the show but [...]
Veronica Falls Indiepop fans will be interested to hear there's a free instore gig at Rough Trade East on Monday 16 November to launch the new Rough Trade Shops Indiepop 09 compilation. Veronica Falls, Pocketbooks, Betty and The Werewolves and Sad Day For Puppets will be playing live with DJ efforts from Ian Watson (How Does It Feel To Be Loved?) and John Jervis (Where It's At Is Where [...]

Townsman chuckflack sent the following thoughts to The Back Office to pass along for us to ponder. Patti Smith once said she wanted to come back to life as a guitar solo. Beautiful idea, though I of course want specifics: which particular solo, Patti? For me, I'd happily come back as Garth Hudson's organ solo in "Apple Suckling Tree." Or maybe Warren Zevon's "Huh, draw blood," exclamation in "Werewolves of London." Or maybe Neil Young's big sideburns. Or maybe Mississippi John Hurt's fingers. You? [...]

Townsman chuckflack sent the following thoughts to The Back Office to pass along for us to ponder. Patti Smith once said she wanted to come back to life as a guitar solo. Beautiful idea, though I of course want specifics: which particular solo, Patti? For me, I'd happily come back as Garth Hudson's organ solo in "Apple Suckling Tree." Or maybe Warren Zevon's "Huh, draw blood," exclamation in "Werewolves of London." Or maybe Neil Young's big sideburns. Or maybe Mississippi John Hurt's fingers. You? [...]
Liturgy @ Market Hotel on Halloween ( more by Andrew Frisicano ) tonight in NYC * Sunday Best @ The Bell House * Vijay Iyer Trio @ Jazz Standard * Monsters of Folk @ Beacon Theater * Nana Grizol, Golden Ghost @ Cake Shop * Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band @ MSG * Gary War, PC Worship, Liturgy, Florida @ Death By Audio [...]
Let it be known that I do not care much for Twilight . To me, vampires are becoming a far too common cliché in film, and I have to draw the line at teen romance novels under the guise of modern horror. That said, I'm especially surprised and baffled by the latest bit of Twilight -related news, which reports that Peter Murphy , the dark and decadent frontman of Bauhaus , will be making a cameo in the latest film, New Moon . The news [...]

Saturday – a straightener in old Hector's House then over the road for tonight's fandango. Starting with Chora – very much an acoustic improvising band with minimal electronics, violin, little instruments, clarinets – driven by supple and strong drumming to give them a steely yet flexible framework. A keyboard of some description (I assume – he was at the back of the stage slightly offsighted from where I was sitting) set up a drone some way in, coming in and easing back, providing a bottom line of structure. This was a well-paced set, [...]

With all the talk of vampires, werewolves and the New Moon soundtrack these days, the Whistler daringly gave their bar over to a group of undead to liven up the evening. From the land of 28 Days Later, Leeds' Sky Larkin and Londoners Peggy Sue treated the small cocktail bar to a mixed concoction of indie and folk not yet seen in Chicago. Granted only a few people got bloodied up, lost a limb or were irreparably transformed while everyone got a dose of the up and coming [...]

DOWNLOAD: The Mary Onettes - "Puzzles" (MP3) Jesus and Mary Chain/Smiths inspired Swedish four-piece band The Mary Onettes release their sophomore album Islands today (Labrador Records) and the band is playing three local shows over the next week. Here are the upcoming shows: - Nov. 4th - Union Hall, Brooklyn (w/ Blacklist and Submarine Bells) - Nov. 6th - Studio @ Webster Hall (w/Kordan) - Nov. 8th - Mercury Lounge (w/The Art of Shooting, Coyote Eyes and Werewolves) Tickets for [...]