Axl Fool?

Jeff has posted a link to Spin.com's review of the long-delayed (I'd say "anticipated," but that would be a lie, for me, anyway) Guns 'n' Roses opus, Chinese Democracy.

The more I read it, the more I contend it's a brilliant April Fool's joke. You be the judge.

Will the Fans be Hit by Shit?

Well, my source was right: The Replacements have done some recording. It's not a full-fledged reunion or anything, but I won't be the least bit surprised if they play some shows. Two reports, one explaining the semi-controversy over the photo seen at left:

http://colormeimpressed.com/news.html

http://paulwesterberg.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=generalpw&action=display&thread=1143597334

Have Mercy

Marchapalooza rolled on last night with the John Davis show at the Beat Kitchen. I'm not generally a fan of the solo performer thing -- and I was disappointed that John was opening not headlining -- but I thought he did a really good job with it.

About the only mildly disconcerting thing was that John is sporting a shaved head these days. I didn't recognize him when we walked in. The dude can belt, but the dome takes a little getting used to.

Friday: Pollard at Metro.

Pop Tarts

A little late with this, but the Minus 5 put on a fun show to about a 3/4-full Abbey Pub Wednesday night (probably bad for the band, but it was good to be able to move around). The set started out kind of slow but picked up steam and ended seemingly too soon. They played about 70 minutes, which seemed too short to me. However, "Ghost Tarts of Stockholm" is my favorite M5 tune, and they kicked ass on that one, so all is forgiven.

I talked to Scott McCaughey very briefly afterward; I was happy he remembered me, and he was as gracious as I expected.

Best line of the night: After one song ended (forget which one), Scott goes, "Finally, a song that allowed me to show off my lead-guitar chops."

(pause)

"An article in Portland said that I had chops."

(pause)

"Never has an article been so wrong."

He's way too modest.

p.s. Fuck Gonzaga.

Reason #1498 Why the Music Industry Sucks

You may want to cleanse after reading this, from Greg Kot's South By Southwest wrap-up:

And then there were the panels, in which self-congratulation and the occasional revelation ruled. The juiciest bit of insight into the rusted machinery that is the music industry came during a panel of talent scouts who revealed their criteria for signing artists.

"She had a bad complexion and small breasts when she came into my office and warbled a song," said one former record company executive, Michael Caplan, of Britney Spears. "I couldn't wait to get her out of my office."

The exec who eventually signed Spears, Jive Records' Jeff Fenster, said he based the decision not on a song in particular, but on a picture of the then-teenage Spears. She was sitting on a picnic blanket, wearing cutoffs and cuddling a puppy, Fenster said. "She looked like the sweet, All-American girl that you just wanted to defile and do bad things to, and that appealed to me."

Color Them Unimpressed

So last night, I had a dream where the Replacements got back together (rumor has it that this is not out of the realm, by the way), with Tommy Keene taking the Bob Stinson slot. (This is not part of the rumor, FYI.)

I was assigned to interview the reformed band for Magnet, and guess what? My tape recorder didn't work. In addition, Paul Westerberg didn't remember our earlier interview, furthering my humiliation. I ended up driving all over the place, trying to catch up with each member to talk to them separately. Dream analysis, anyone? (Seems pretty easy.)

Reminds me of that classic dream where it turns out you graduated from college without turning in a term paper and have to go back and write it. Or am I the only one who's had that one? That dream finally stopped for me about five years ago.

Coach

Any basketball fan who grew up in the Chicago area during the late '70s/early '80s has great memories of Coach Ray Meyer and the amazing DePaul teams he had during that era. They had a stretch where they lost three games TOTAL in the regular season (one each year) but lost early each time in the tournament, including a devastating defeat to St. Joseph's in 1981.

So while he was 92, it still came as a bit of a shock to hear about Coach passing away. My fandom for DePaul faded the longer I was gone from Chicago, and upon my return I don't really follow them, but I never lost my admiration for the man who was arguably one of the top 2-3 most important figures in the city's sports history. RIP.

March Madness

I'm in six pools this year. Stosh needs a new pair of shoes...

Mildly amusing NCAA Tournament drinking game.

Prioritized

Someone explain the unexplainable: Why am I a Cubs fan?

I mean, what the hell? Mark Prior is hurt again, and Derrek Lee may be as well.

Want to find me this summer? I'll be at Heartbreak Central HQ, covering my eyes.

Oh, and I took Prior in the third round of my fantasy league draft. Nice. I wish I could quit him.

Comes with Coupon for a Free Angioplasty

Stolen from Hold My Life:

A minor-league baseball team has created a burger that is so bizarre, I can't decide whether it's disgusting or potentially awesome. I'm leaning toward the former.

Smokin'

Nada Surf was quite good last night here in Chicago, kicking off my personal Marchapalooza in fine fashion. (Related side note: Matthew Caws spilled the news that they're probably playing Lollapalooza here this summer. Will that make me want to go? Doubtful.)

UPDATE: Nada Surf is indeed in the Lolla lineup announced today (3/16). Just wanted that on the record.

Anyway, I do think a second guitarist would be helpful to fill out the sound, but that's a minor complaint. (The guy from ever-dull openers Rogue Wave played second guitar on "Do It Again" and that was the best-sounding tune of the evening.) They opened with an unplanned "Blizzard of '77" due to the snowy conditions, and they played "Popular," which was kind of a shock. Lots of surprised looks in the crowd.The place was absolutely packed, which, for some reason, I was not expecting. It thinned out a bit after Rogue Wave, so at least we were able to get into a halfway decent viewing spot.

Metro is now a non-smoking venue, as per city regulations -- bars/restaurants have until 2008 to comply, I think, so they're thankfully ahead of the game -- so some cranky anti-props to the beotch who decided to light up about five feet to my left with about 10 minutes remaining in the set. I guess she just couldn't bear it any longer.

On the Bus...

So I'm standing way in the back of a crowded Chicago bus after work last night, and this woman I vaguely recognize makes her way to the same area. It isn't until the next stop, when someone gets out and she takes that person's seat, that I realize it's Sally Timms. (Or, I was about 75 percent sure; I haven't seen the Mekons in over 10 years, but I was reasonably positive it was her.

Anyway, I decided to just ask, and, yes, it was her. The ironic thing about it was that I interviewed her over the phone 12 years ago. I was supposed to be interviewing Jon Langford, but for some reason he left the studio before the call. Sally answered, and I ended up having a great conversation with her. Last night, she seemed a little embarrassed that someone recognized her, but she was as nice and gracious as during that phone call in '94.

And while this sounds made-up, I heard "Blow Your Tuneless Trumpet" on my iPod about 10 minutes before I spotted her. Freaky.

Even freakier? Timms singing "Wild and Blue" is playing in the kitchen as I type this...

The unrelated photo? Stosh watching a Robert Pollard live clip. The cat's got good taste. (By the way, drummer Jon Wurster gets nailed with a beer can about halfway through the "Love is Stronger Than Witchcraft" portion of this clip.)

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

On May 11, 2000, Glenallen Hill hit a homer that landed on top of one of the buildings outside of Wrigley Field. Still one of my all-time favorite bombs. Enjoy this clip of it (the quality's not great), followed by an at-bat where Hill spends too much time out of the batter's box; the umpire tells the pitcher to go ahead and throw while Hill's not ready, but Hill calmly steps in and doubles to right.

Bonus points to anyone who remembers how the title of this post ties into Hill's career.

Nada Surf on Sunday night. Can't wait. The show kicks off a March that will be pretty active, show-wise, for this old-timer:

• Nada Surf, Metro, March 5
• Ted Leo, Abbey Pub, March 10 (not definite anymore, plus it's sold out)
• Wedding Present, Double Door, March 12 (also not definite because it's a Sunday and there are three bands before the Weddoes)
• Minus 5, Abbey Pub, March 22
• John Davis, Beat Kitchen, March 26
• Robert Pollard, Metro, March 31

Physical Graffiti

I find that when there's nothing to say, a wacky photo will suffice. I love stuff like this. (The pic is of a dumpster, FYI.)