The Band, Our Street Team, Music, Living in Chicago, The Polish Mafia, etc.
Most of the talk today on the Ryan Adams message boards is of his "look" last night on Letterman. The performance was great and his new bass player (Catherine Popper) is hot as hell! Cold Roses really is a milestone for the man, and The Cardinals are a great band.
Here's what Ryan looked like last night :
Here's Ryan in less hairy times :
Ryan Adams is apprearing on the Letterman show tonight!
The new album is great. I will be watching.
Practice last night went well. I mentioned before in previous posts, we are working on alot of cover songs for a block party we are playing in August. Even though Dan and I have that live radio thing next week, the rest of the summer will be pretty quiet in terms of shows. Andy just can't commit himself to a practice schedule being that he's working second shift for the next few months. So, hopefully, we'll see all of your beautiful faces packing our next proper show come Autumn. We will still be busy, writing and trying to do another promotional push for UP THE LOVE. I hope to try some more internet promotion and possibly radio in the UK. It's all good in VAL land.
I just got an advance MP3 from my good friend Dave Suh of the Assembly. Even though the tune isn't finished, it's excellent. Sure to shake some indie asses. It's called "She's Going to Break You", and it's got a good Indie / 80's sound to it. Look for big things from The Assembly this year.
It's confirmed.
FRI JUNE 3rd - 5 to 6pm
88.3FM - WXAV Broadcasting LIVE From St. Xavier University.
Dan and I will be in the studio with acoustic guitars in hand.
Doing a few songs and speaking with "Pooch" in "Pooches Corner".
Debuting a new song you've never heard before, AND resurecting a beautiful tune from the past.
You don't want to miss it!
If the signal is weak, you can catch the web stream at : http://web.sxu.edu/wxav/
Just click on the little headphones in the upper right hand corner.
Band practice tonight. Can't wait. All the guys together again.
Today is Myron's Birthday! He's my good friend, and VAL supporter. So, raise a glass in his honor. One of the best human beings I know, period. Happy Birthday darlin' Andy gave me this picture from the May 12th U2 show. That's apparently Andy gazing upward at Bono! The picture was snapped by someone from the show and posted on u2tours.com. Take a look. That's Andy's head between the 2 security guards! One step closer to knowing, baby.
Looks like we will be live on the radio FRI JUNE 3rd. It's confirmed. Check us out on the South Side -- 88.3FM WXAV. Broadcasting from St. Xavier University from 5 to 6pm. We will be doing some acoustic numbers. They also broadcast on the web, so if you can't pick up the signal, check out their site.
Just thougt I would post this link for you all, in case you missed it. Andy alerted me to it yesterday.
Enjoy.
Bono vs Greg Kot
Greetings on a Monday afternoon. Weekend was very eventful with a majority of it spent on yard work. I want to thank all the boyz for their help with 7 tons of gravel and 3 tons of dirt. Darius, Buda, Freshy, Mike, (if I like the girl, who cares who you like...)1 . But seriously, my muscles thank you. Nothing better than sitting round a bonfire with a spyritus bottle and a shot glass after a hard days work.
Saturday was the ridiculous Golota/Brewster fight. Us Poles were duped again. Getting our hopes up with this guy every friggin time. We must look like real putzes to the entire nation every time this clown sleep walks into that ring for the big fights. You see all of the Poles show up in droves for the guy, waving the red and white behind the announcers like maniacs, and then having to quickly get out to the parking lot in disgrace when the dude doesn't show up. He is such a hack, and hopefully this is the last big fight we see him in.
Big VAL practice tomorrow night. The whole band in one room at one time! Can you believe it! I can't. I'm in a daze..... hopefully I can contain my joy.
1 New Addition Reference
As I have mentioned, it has been slow in VAL land. However, practice went fairly well on Tues with just Dan, Eric and I. Lately, is has become "let's learn new cover songs!" time at the Love Den on Berenice. So, it's fun. The whole band should be back together this coming Tuesday for a much needed rock out session. And, there is a chance that we will be on college radio again. 88.3FM WXAV (St. Xavier University). No specifics yet. 
My wonderful sister finally came back to Chi Town yesterday. She was on an internship in Arizona, and was able to turn it all into a truely fabulous "transitional, self-affirming" time. All while winning some dough in Vegas on someone else's dime! My sis is a charmer! 
Looking forward to the weekend. Seems the weather will hold up, and so you know what that means..... YARDWORK! Alright! I have grown to look forward to getting my excercise out "on the land" Always something to work on around the house. This weekend, I have a date with : An old fence, mucho dirt, and grande gravel.
Well, tonight's the night. Star Wars III opens after midnight. Hopefully it lives up to all the dreams of my youth.
Word on the street is that there will be 3 new releases from The Twilight Singers soon. The full length precursor to BlackBerry Belle entitled "Amber Headlights", then an EP in the Fall, with another new full-length in early 2006. Dulli is on a tear! He's never been this prolific, and it could be due to his good friend's death a while back. 
VAL is regrouping tonight, if only with a skeleton crew. Bob and Andy are AWOL. The entire band took off last week. Things get slow like Molasses in August with the VAL crew when summer rolls. There are no scheduled shows on the horizon. Just a few leads that aren't confirmed, and a block party in August.
Weekend happenings ...
A few of us are going to visit Tom (BT Rentals) tonight. He's recovering from ACL surgery and so he's been in hibernation for the last week. 
Tomorrow, we are sending off our good friend Chris. Bachelor Party time! What can I say, there is a certain excitement leading up to these things. Giddy guys herded together by beer and spyritus, acting immature. IT'S THE BEST!
Some shows of interest this weekend
Bright Eyes at the Riv
The Assembly at Bottom Lounge
What a morning. Get up, get ready for the 9 to 5, run out the door, jump in the car, turn the key and........ click click click.....
Battery dead! Make some phone calls for jumper cables after my old cables don't work. Call on BT and Buda, no dice. Jump in Doll Face's car over to AutoZone for cables. Get back and try. It turns, turns turns... doesn't catch. Click click again. The battery is probably dead, even though it's not that old! Got to look for paperwork and warranty info. Anyway, took about an hour, IN THE RAIN. I'm already late for work, so Doll Face gives me a lift on the way to her gig. Called upon a friend again and Kid Marek aggrees to drive me back home after work. So, I'm all set. Just have to install a new battery tonight.
WAUKEGAN, Ill. - The father of an 8-year-old girl who was slain along with her best friend admitted to authorities that he was the killer, saying he was angry at the girl for breaking curfew, authorities said Wednesday. Read More..
What a downpour this morning! Finally some needed rain in Chi-town. The lightning strikes were cool as hell. Best of all, it didn't last too long, so it was a nice little wake up call. The ride into the 9 to 5 was (of course) effected. Traffic lights out at the intersection of Ogden and Pasquinelli. A crawl.
Got alot of things going on, and so the days go by like Lance Armstrong down a mountain. Ok, that was a stupid analogy, but I don't care. Houses are a responsibility. Someone once told me that you can measure your responsibilities by the number of keys on your keychain. I got big metal jingling going on in my pocket, in addition to the natural wiggle.
Michelle (Shelly) says that the U2 shows are great. She's been to 2 of them in the last few days! I am jealous, and I guess that Kot and Derogatis are wrong. No one is better at judging talent than Shelly. She loves the Vultures! That's proof!
be keen.
Finally got enough listens to the new Ryan Adams CD. It is sweeeet.
Excellent stuff. Seems like he has found his true voice. Melodies are great, and it comes from the heart. I have to get the new NIN in my head now. 
VAL seems to be in a state of limbo at the moment. Andy's on the sidelines, and I can't make rehearsal tonight, so things are a little somber. But, not to worry it's just the shifting culture of vultures.
Renee loves the music men.
There's a scathing review of the new Weezer Album at pitchfork.
Read more
This is the big U2 week in Chicago. The boys are taking over the city!
Check out this diverse set list from the first show!
Bobby will see the boys on Thursday night. This might be the first U2 tour since Joshua Tree that I will miss.
1. "Love and Peace or Else"
2. "Vertigo"
3. "Elevation"
4. " An Cat Dubh "
5. "Into the Heart"
6. "City of Blinding Lights"
7. "Beautiful Day"
8. "Miracle Drug"
9. "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
10. "New Year's Day"
11. "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
12. "Bullet the Blue Sky"
13. "Running to Stand Still"
14. "Bad"
15. "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
16. "Where the Streets Have No Name"
17. "One"
18. "Zoo Station" (first encore)
19. "The Fly" (first encore)
20. "Mysterious Ways" (first encore)
21. "All Because of You" (second encore)
22. "Yaweh" (second encore)
23. "40" (second encore)
The weather is finally getting nicer here in the Midwest, and I am looking forward to a great weekend. Got the Polish Constitution Day Parade on Saturday, as well as a party to attend, and then Mothers Day on Sunday. Ahh, what would the world be without Mothers? Well, no world at all actually....
Some more Chicago area happenings 
Underpass Mary is gone
The Mayor's on the defensive
Water Main Break Shuts Down Orland Mall
Well, seeing as I am a career South Sider, I thought I would post some news about that fabled I-355 extension from I-55 to I-80. Supposed to pass through Homer Glen and near Lockport. 
FROM THE DAILY SOUTHTOWN:
....full-blown construction in the Homer Township area should begin in August and take about 14 months to complete.
The $738 million highway extension is expected to open in 2007.
Read more
There's a good review of the new Ryan Adams disks at pitchfork.
Listened to the new NIN disk today, and haven't formed an opinion yet. Although it does strike me as kinda groovy and danceable!
Practice went as well as possible with out our big gun, Andy. We unloaded our equipment, and started working on some new possible cover songs for our summer gigs. I think you would all be surprised at the "out of character" songs we are thinking of doing. I'm keeping them secret for the time being. Maybe one of the boys will spill the beans. 
Rumors that we might be on the air at WXAV sometime in July.
Summer is waiting to be hatched my friends.
Listening to : NIN (With Teeth), Ryan Adams (Cold Roses)
Polish Constitution Day Parade is this Saturday in the south loop. The actual day is wed the 3rd, but they always have the parade here in Chicago on the closest Saturday. It’s a tradition, and I try to go. This year, looks like it will fit. I will be there. Starts at 11:30 on Columbus.
Did I mention that Polish women are beautiful? (I’m quite partial to all nationalities actually.... shhh)
This was over at the VAL message board. My brother "Kid Marek" has been posting his poetry there for quite a while. I want to feature this one, since it's exceptionally good. Maybe I will put it to music...
STICK FIGURES
ya can stay till they dim the lights
and the drinks become thin and boring
and all the people you know
disappear like smoke
the faces
like notes in a diary
and the words turn into ghosts
in a poem where the hero is golden
someone always gets hurt
even if only with words
still, hearts and bones can be broken
cuz, the reasons get easily blurred
its the funniest thing that we ever heard
still ya want to believe
if ya fall to your knees
it doesn't make sense
but it works
so the victim will carry the shame
like a badge that you wear
instead of a name
at a table of guests
you guess you can stay
as long as the question remains
when ya figure it out
let us know
there is reasonable doubt
that we shoulder
like the sticks that ya throw
we all pick up stones
as big as boulders
and you step like you're counting the days
we missed out
just because of the rain
it can all be a dream
it can add up to nothing
if it were me
i would piss it away
The new Ryan Adams CD is out today. I'm hoping it's good, but the guy can do no wrong with me. I love his stuff. Him and Conor are wrestling for my heart. Conor has the upper hand so far this year.
Rick
Andy e-mails us today and gives the bad news that his work schedule will keep him away from the Love Den for a while. I will have to hold back my tears and live without the g-slinger at practice for a while. Don't worry, he will be back. I just wanted a controversial headline.
No word on any upcoming shows. I have a few leads, but nothing is panning out at this time. We have even more original material on the way and we are keeping busy.
Got to see Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst) on Leno last night, and couldn’t believe he did his "President Talks to God" song. I wonder if it will cause some controversy or just be overlooked. Hard to peg the media these days. They might be too busy with Pat O’Brien and that Runaway Bride. Either the kid has balls, or it’s just for attention. Either way, it was an interesting choice for his introduction to a very mainstream audience. He could have done something with a full band, but stood there alone with a red cowboy outfit complete with a big black cowboy hat that he tilted to the crowd when he was done. Here’s the lyrics to "When the President Talks to God" :
When the president talks to God
Are the conversations brief or long?
Does he ask to rape our women’s' rights
And send poor farm kids off to die?
Does God suggest an oil hike
When the president talks to God?
When the president talks to God
Are the consonants all hard or soft?
Is he resolute all down the line?
Is every issue black or white?
Does what God say ever change his mind
When the president talks to God?
When the president talks to God
Does he fake that drawl or merely nod?
Agree which convicts should be killed?
Where prisons should be built and filled?
Which voter fraud must be concealed
When the president talks to God?
When the president talks to God
I wonder which one plays the better cop
We should find some jobs. the ghetto's broke
No, they're lazy, George, I say we don't
Just give 'em more liquor stores and dirty coke
That's what God recommends
When the president talks to God
Do they drink near beer and go play golf
While they pick which countries to invade
Which Muslim souls still can be saved?
I guess god just calls a spade a spade
When the president talks to God
When the president talks to God
Does he ever think that maybe he's not?
That that voice is just inside his head
When he kneels next to the presidential bed
Does he ever smell his own bullshit
When the president talks to God?
I doubt it
I doubt it
