But Wait! There's More!

In addition to the other events this weekend (Dragon*Con, the World Domination Improv Tournament, the Drive-InVasion), here's something else I should try to catch:

On Saturday night, Eric Powell (of The Goon fame) and Dana Snyder (of Aqua Teen Hunger Force infamy) will be the featured guests at The Lucky Yates Talk Show at the Midtown Vortex. Cool beans (and hamburgers)!

I also wanted to mention that I had an incredible time at last night's Doug Dank Project, which featured several of the World Domination guests joining the Dank ensemble...once again proving that Canada is the world's leading exporter of awesome.

This Weekend: An Embarrassment of Riches

Well, the Labor Day weekend is approaching, and with it, more stuff to do than can possibly be crammed into a few days. Of course, the big thing this weekend is Dragon*Con. I'm looking forward to that immensely, and hoping to get a few sketches from the various guests. I'm particularly hoping to get a V sketch from David Lloyd in my musical sketchbook, captioned with the "Remember, remember the 5th of November" verse. (It may not be an actual song, but I'm not going to split hairs over a thing like that if it gets in the way of a drawing of V.) I also really want to get a sketch from Peter Bagge, of whatever he feels like drawing. (I've pretty much given up on ever getting an Adam Hughes sketch again, as his list fills up immediately even when he IS doing sketches, but just in case, there are a few ideas I'm keeping in mind for him...)





And on top of Dragon*Con, Dad's Garage is having their annual World Domination TheatreSports Improv Tournament, bringing in improv troupes from all around the world (or, this year, from North America). This year's teams include the ever-awesome Iron Cobra from Toronto (and elsewhere), Edmondton's Rapid Fire Theatre, General Fools (from Regina, Saskatchewan), Portland's Brody Theater, and Team Los Angeles (including Dad's Garage alumni Joseph Limbaugh and Tara Ochs). And on top of all that improv goodness, this year's tournament has quite possibly the most disturbing promo image ever:

And yet there's even more going on this weekend! There's also the Drive-InVasion at the Starlight Six Drive-In, featuring a great assortment of bands and a marathon of fun B-movies. Sadly, I think I'm going to have to skip the Drive-InVasion this year...I've tried going back and forth between the three events in past years, and I just spread myself too thin. Besides, while past Drive-InVasion shows have included guests from the featured movies (Jack Hill, Sid Haig, Mary Woronov, Repo Man's Susan Barnes, and coolest of all, the Faster, Pussycat! trio of Tura Satana, Lori Williams, and Haji), there don't appear to be any movie guests listed this year. So, that makes my decision a little bit easier (much as I still hate to pass up a chance to see The Woggles perform...)

What I Sang 8/27

I haven't been to the Star Bar for their stand-up/karaoke night for a while, but I managed to stop by last night, and sang one song (in keeping with the Dragon*Con-preparatory science-fiction music theme):

"Silver Machine" by Hawkwind.

What I Sang 8/25

Since I'll be at Dragon*Con next weekend (and thus unable to do the karaoke thing), I had a theme for my song selections tonight:

"Space Oddity" by David Bowie.
"Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling.
"Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down.
"Science Fiction Double Feature" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
"In the Year 2525" by Zager & Evans.

And Now, an Unprovoked Movie Thought

Just something that occurred to me today: I would love to see John Carpenter direct a Western. Not a horror-western ("Vampires"), a space-western ("Ghosts of Mars"), a future-western ("Escape from New York") or a modern-day-western ("Assault on Precinct 13")...just a straightforward period Western. I'm really kind of amazed that he hasn't done one yet, but I guess getting typed as a "horror director" has limited his options for other genres.

A Tiresome Story

Fair warning: This is one of those "Just because it happened to you does not make it interesting" posts (to quote one of my favorite lines from the "screwball tragedy" Search and Destroy).

Yesterday, after taking care of some business at the bank, I was stopped at a red light on the street leading out of the bank. While waiting at the light, I glanced at my rear-view mirror and saw a man standing right behind my car, just as he walked away. I thought it was odd, but didn't think too much of it...until I got home and saw that my right rear tire was flat. My mind immediately raced back to the man at the bank, eventually working out a wildly implausible scenario: Guy waits outside bank until cars are stopped, punctures tire. If driver gets out or opens window to yell, it's robbery time! Of course, after a moment's thought, I realized how monumentally stupid this scheme would be. It was broad daylight and there were cars behind me, which equals witnesses. Plus, even if a crook waits outside a bank for marks, that doesn't mean they'll have any cash on them (as I didn't). Factor in all the various risk-vs.-reward aspects, and it all adds up to a really unprofitable exercise.

A more likely scenario: My tire was already flat (or going flat) and the guy was just looking at it, just out of curiosity, I guess. (A co-worker helped me put on the spare tire today, and we didn't see any puncture or visible damage, which would support the latter theory.)

Luckily, I'm off tomorrow, which gives me an opportunity to stop by Firestone. (Ehh, it's time for my oil change anyway.) Unfortunately, since I'll be doing as little driving as possible on the spare, this incident put the kibosh on my plans to see The Doug Dank Project tonight, and I was really looking forward to hearing Dave Bruckner's stories.

What I Sang 8/18

From last night at CB South:

"Blinded by the Light" by Manfred Mann (inspired by the recently-ended show "Drove" at Dad's Garage).
"Take Me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money.
"Iron Man" by Black Sabbath (a very prophetic song, in light of Tony Stark's recent behavior).
"Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot.
"Break My Stride" by Matthew Wilder.

Oh Geez.

I just found out that Mike Wieringo passed away this weekend.

I'm too stunned to say anything, except that 44 is much too young to go.

In his memory, I'd like to share this drawing I got from him a few years ago, from my "musical sketchbook" (convention sketches captioned with song lyrics that fit the characters). Black Bolt's thought is a verse from the Kelly Hogan song "Dirtclod."

Killing 'Em Softly with These Songs

Starting on September 7, Dad's Garage will be bringing back their "Murder, She Improvised" format (improvised murder mysteries solved by Scotland Yard's greatest detective, Sir John Holmes). I'm putting together a CD of songs for the pre-show and intermission music...compiling songs of MURDER.

I haven't burned the CD yet, but here are some of the tunes I'm considering:

"The Future" by Leonard Cohen ("I've seen the future, brother, it is murder")
"Dire Wolf" by The Grateful Dead.
"Murder by Numbers" by The Police.
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" by The Beatles.
"The Wedding List" by Kate Bush.
"Murder Incorporated" by Bruce Springsteen.
"Delilah" by Tom Jones.
"One More Murder" by Better Than Ezra.
"Moonlight Shadow" by Mike Oldfield.
"Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price.
"Where the Wild Roses Grow" by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue.
"Henry Lee" by Nick Cave and PJ Harvey.
"Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads.
"Psycho"; either the Teddy Thompson or the Elvis Costello version. (YouTube doesn't appear to have either version online.)
"Killer Queen" by Queen.
"Murder in the Graveyard" by Screaming Lord Sutch. (The YouTube link is another band, The Savages, doing a cover version.)
"Jack the Ripper" by Screaming Lord Sutch.
"To Keep My Love Alive" from the musical "A Connecticut Yankee" (I've got a track of Sophia Loren singing this one).
"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence.
"Death of Zorba" by The Jody Grind. (No YouTube video, sorry.)

I'd just like to get some feedback on this list. Does anyone have any other suggestions for "Songs of Murder" that I've overlooked?

Also, I'd like to avoid duplication, so I'm probably only going to use one of the Nick Cave duets and one Screaming Lord Sutch song. For SLS, I would have to go with "Murder in the Graveyard" (just for that 'Murder! MURDER! MUR-DER!!!' intro). As for the Nick Cave songs, which one do you think I should use?

What I Sang 8-4

From last night at CB South: I only had time for one song...a special request from Jessica the Destroyer.

"I Wanna Be a Cowboy" by Boys Don't Cry.

Friday Night Fights: Round 7

I'm probably not the only person to scan this panel for this week's Friday Night Fights, but come on...kicking Jetpack Hitler in the face? How could anyone resist?

(Thanks to Bahlactus!)

Thursday (Morning) Thinking

In case I can't get back online later today, I'm posting this week's Thursday Night Thinking on Thursday morning.

Abelard Snazz (the man with the high-rise head) has a plan beyond your comprehension!

You know, if Alan Moore decides to write any more comics, I would love to see an Abelard Snazz/Jack B. Quick crossover. The combined genius might just cause the universe to implode.

(Diamondrock doesn't need a double-decker dome for his ideas...)

Well, Here It Comes...

Tomorrow morning, I'll be reporting for jury duty. I doubt I'll be selected, but even so, I have no idea how long this is going to take or how it will interfere with my going on-line. Wish me luck!