It's Tool Time!

GOOD HAMMER

BAD HAMMER

GOOD HAMMER

BAD HAMMER

HAVE A SLAMMIN' GOOD WEEKEND! Here's to hittin' every nail on the head!

currently listening to: The Hammer Film Music Collection, Volume 2...hey, it inspired this post!

Let's Get This Over With, Shall We?

Here it is (collective intake of breath, I'm sure). The book art for the upcoming and final installment of the Harry Potter series. For the next 6 months at least, this is what we all will be hearing about. Get used to it, this is what will be staring you in the face during your morning and evening subway/train/bus commute. Make peace with it now.

I've skim read the whole damn series. It's really the best way. I know enough to ascertain that Hogwart's has a revolving door of Dark Arts professors. They should just get Jimmy Page in there. He's upper-snot British, and could teach the brats a thing or two about the evil; he could start off with a nice seminar about Aleister Crowley, then move onto a lesson in how to sell one's soul for limos, learjets and lines. He could introduce them to his Black Dog and his weird friend the Hermit, who in my opinion, has always looked suspect. And, with a simple, yet commanding flourish of his enchanted violin bow, Jimmy would cast a seductive spell over all his young charges (especially the young, female ones, 'cause let's face it, that's where Page has always been at)leaving them breathless in the wake of his Kashmir assault.

But with all due respect to Mr. Page, his production is MAGIC and continues to thrill and enchant me on a daily basis.

As for Harry, I'll bet he's a Smiths fan. Boy reeks of Morrissey style angst.



currently listening to: Devo, Q: Are We Not Men?

Help Me if you Can...

I found this album at the Annual Mothers Against Meth Face(MAMF) Bazaar and Rummage Sale. Paid nothing, just gave a solemn promise never to tweak. Does anybody know if it's worth anything? Thanks in advance.

currently listening to: John Vanderslice, Cellar Door

Answered Prayers

In lieu of a "proper" post, I am submitting for your consideration one quite incredible mini-documentary. My 9to5'er is keeping me crazy busy today...please forgive the "blogcheat". But I assure you it is 18 minutes of radness that I could never, ever even hope to equal entertainment wise. Enjoy!




Amen, Brother! Pass that collection plate! That sermon definitely delivered!

From Russia with Low Bottom Love

Today is officially "Russian Appreciation Day" here at HIWATT Central. Join me in celebrating Baryshnikov, Olga Korbut(that one's for you, Weiss!), Dostyevski, Marc Chagall, and Boney M. What? Boney M? Hey, they did that righteous tune "Rasputin", okay? That qualifies. Did you know that dude who created Boney M went on to commit an even more heinous act when he chose to orchestrate the whole Milli Vanilli debacle? Well, because of my love of useless information, now you do know. I would say "No thanks necessary", but I'm pretty sure based on the content of the given information, no thanks will be forthcoming.

My favorite Russian shoutout will go to Sovtek. The Brand 'o Tubes that Marlon would love. Marlon was fat. These tubes give amps fat, warm tone. 12AX7 is to me what THX1138 is to sci-fi geeks. The company that manufactures Sovtek product is owned by Mike Matthews who just happened to create the monster of distortion pedals, the famed Big Muff. The earliest issues of the Big Muff were manufactured in Russia. Different versions of the pedal are still Russian made, but manufacturing chores for other Muff models are also being shouldered by Matthew's other company, Electro-Harmonix.

I love this pedal. The day I found out it works marvelously and maliciously with a bass was a banner day. I have often wondered what crazy sonic brew would have erupted had Jaco Pastorius added a Big Muff to his arsenal. I have the army green Pi. Such a fitting chassis colour for such a swampy, sludgy, gooey beast.

The Big Muff wiki link gives a great list of songs where the pedal was used. Check it out. A great read, indeed.

I better not get any pervert traffic due to my first label...

currently listening to: Smog, The Doctor Came at Dawn

Teeth Clenching Goodness

Thanks once again to Todd for inspiring a post. Have you ever just been so emotionally overwhelmed when hearing a song that your face goes all crazy? Call it "Pulling a Hopper." I do. It's way more sophisticated than just doing the predictable "bite your lower lip and nod in time at a tasty guitar solo".

I Pull a Hopper whenever I listen to "The Concept" by Teenage Fanclub.
I Pull a Hopper at the whirling dervish that is "Tomorrow Never Knows" by them Beatles.
I Pull a Hopper whenever I watch and listen to this clip of "Money City Maniacs" by Canadian legends and heroes, SLOAN:

Check it! The opening pan across the logoplate of my beloved HIWATT inspires a Hopper moment onto itself. I think the siren going off increases the drama. Now everytime I hear a fire engine I find myself listening for powerchords that never seem to come.

currently listening to: Grandaddy, Under the Western Freeway, (Happy Birthday J-Ly! Miss ya, brother!)

April, Come She Will

Is it really almost April? I love the Spring. I love the Fall. I particularly love the month of September. Earth, Wind and Fire asks, "do you remember the 21st night of September?" in one of their fab-tastic groovefests. I would much rather remember the 19th night of September, 1981, if that's okay with all concerned.

Art did have Earth, Wind and Fire member-approved hair. The 'fro worked...for a time. But neither earth, wind or fire could have stopped the afro erosion. The "Afrosion". A receding hairline can be devasting, but a retreating afro is the worst kind of horrible as one cannot even do a combover to camouflage.

currently listening to: The Secret Machines, Now Here is Nowhere (sweet, sweet production! Glorious!)