The Pop Culture Addict’s Blog

I am so repentant for my playa hating ways. I saw Sondre Lerche Friday night at the Beacon opening for Elvis Costello. The crowd was polite but not as appreciative as I was expecting. I have become desensitized to the fact that many people have not discovered the wonder and beauty of Sondre Lerche’s music.

After people started yelling, “Elvis!” in the middle of Sondre’s set, I immediately felt guilty for any negative vibing I ever did towards an opening act. It is a tough place to be. But he was gracious and just said, “No, my name is Sondre Lerche.” And he gave due respect to Elvis throughout his set.

I have never heard Sondre play so aggressively! He walked on stage right around 8pm all by his lonesome, plugged in and played the loudest, fastest version of Days That Are Over, I’ve ever heard him play (live or recorded). It was like the resurrection of Kurt Cobain with some Bad Brains tossed into the mix. Sondre Lerche: Speed Metal Troubadour was in full effect.

Here’s an annotated playlist:

On the gold electric guitar he used on his last tour:
1) Days That Are Over – as noted, it sounded like he was on a mission with uncharacteristic in-your-face guitar-playing accompanying his trademark melodious vocals; then he introduced himself formally: “My name is Sondre Lerche (son-drah lair-kay)…” and some more stuff about how he would entertain us until Elvis Costello came out.
2) Dead Passengers
3) Track You Down – prefaced with a story about how 2 years ago in January, he woke up from this intense dream that inspired him to write this song.

He switched to his blue guitar with the blue-starred guitar strap:
4) You Know So Well
5) Wet Ground

a capella:
6) Moonlight Becomes You – prefacing it with him picking out the opening note on his guitar and telling us, “I don’t know how to play this on guitar but I love singing this song so let me just sing it for you.” Then much to my surprise, the lil firecracker threw his water bottle to the side – really Pete-Townshended the thing (if Pete Townshend bashed water bottles) and went straight into the next song.

Back to his gold guitar:
7) Sleep On Needles – Then he gave his promo speech directing us to his “merch table” where we could get his cds or concert tee. He said he wanted to spell out his name for us because clearly we already knew Elvis Costello’s name. And he told us he’d play one more song before we heard, “The best show of our life,” meaning Elvis. What a gentleman. Let me interject here that while I have long admired Elvis Costello, I was somewhat surprised he didn’t thank his opening act, i.e., Sondre Lerche.
Two Way Monologue

The people behind us talked about how Sondre looked like Ed Norton, which is innocuous enough. But when Sondre said, I have one more song, someone said, “thank god.” Grr. No respect.

So before I wrap up, here’s a nutshell review of Elvis Costello: he’s an old pro with a beautiful voice, catchy tunes, clever lyrics (not unlike our darling Sondre) who enjoyed performing to the crowd. Favorite moments include: 1) the theramin; 2) his brief Leonard Bernstein tribute (“I Feel Pretty” on guitar); and 3) and going back some: Sondre Lerche’s tribute of wearing his red Converses altho’ Elvis surprisingly did not sing (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes.

So, while there were moments when I was like, I can’t believe I’m finally hearing Elvis Costello play live after being a fan for so long, I must admit that my primary objective was to support Sondre Lerche. His music really is worth seeking out. I enjoyed hearing a different approach to his music but he didn’t really flex his virtuosity on guitar in this show because he was playing so hard (we definitely caught the flavor of his skills though). But it was interesting to see how he is working hard to get his name out there. I guess it’s to his advantage that he’s still young, full of enthusiasm with amazing depths of talent. I didn’t even feel suckered when I was moved to get yet another Sondre Lerche t-shirt – same design but different color (yes, I doctored the collar a wee bit).

4/25/05: A couple of things: I got a very high compliment yesterday on my shirt from a fellow PCA, the very fashion-forward Miss Info. She said, “Cool shirt. Vintage?” (Okay, she knows fashion and hip hop but not much about Sondre Lerche. LOL.) And I forgot to say, if you think you can stand more of my gushing Sondre adulations, I went to town here: Confessions of a Sondre Lerche Addict.

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Man, I feel like I’ve had the worse allergies of my life for the past week. But really it’s some mutant strain of the common cold. Curses! It’s also why I have the attention span of a gnat and keep ending up here. I know I’ve been spewing out more randomness than usual. I find it soothing.

It’s times like these when I’m so happy to have oodles of dvds stashed away for viewing. I keep forgetting that my brother loaned me Baadasssss! a million years ago. Maybe I will finally watch it. He did list it as one of the three-way ties for #6 on his Best Movies of 2004. And it is a good time to clear out that TiVo backup. If you haven’t watched it after a week, face up to the fact you will never get around to it. I’m trying to accept this reality.

On the cover of this week’s EW are the men of LOST. I just read Ian Somerhalder’s, aka Boone’s, interview about his character meeting his demise. He sounds somewhat bitter but still grateful for the experience. I enjoyed his LOST storyline and am sure he’ll forever be referred to as “Boone” wherever he goes. And as Bernardo Bertolucci said about Keanu Reeves, whom he cast as Siddhartha in Little Buddha, he will always have work because of the way he looks. Hey, work is a good thing. I suppose it would’ve been nicer to hear he will always get work because he is an amazing talent. Look, there are plenty of “lookers” who are out of work so clearly there is some talent attached to the unique looks Bertolucci described. Anyway, let me state again how I loved Keanu in Point Break. Great movie!

I had really wanted to see Kung Fu Hustle tonight but it ain’t gonna happen. There is a K-Pop concert tomorrow night a fellow PCA asked me to but I’m not sure I’ll be up for it. So it looks like no Asian pop culture for me this weekend.

Hey, there is yet another O.C. Mix out – Volume 4. I must admit to enjoying those. It’s sort of the easy way to listen to some cool music I might otherwise pass on by after hearing it once. As I noted somewhere, that is how I found myself already owning the Veronica Mars theme song, “We Used to Be Friends,” by the Dandy Warhols. It was on The O.C. Mix, Volume 1. But of course, I also found it at digthemovie.com – a great find if I do say so myself. I also like Bohemian Like You by the Dandy Warhols.

I saw that Mayor of the Sunset Strip will be on Showtime starting April 22 or so. I never saw it though I talked about it here. It is a documentary about radio personality and music aficionado Rodney Bingenheimer.

Also, as I watch Popular, I wonder again about Joss Whedon’s statement about how we never get over high school and his implication that this is why it’s not only high schoolers who are drawn to these high school type shows. And also he said that is why he and the writers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had so many stories to tell though they also covered the college years pretty well. Ah, makes me miss Undeclared though. When is that going to be released on dvd?

Hot off of the Undeclared website:

Release date of DVD!!!!
Posted By: JUDD APATOW
Posted On: 03/30/2005

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The DVD is coming out in late August. We have been working really hard on it. it has tons of deleted moments, auditions, rehearsals, an unaired episode, a hilarious script we didn’t get to shoot and some footage of Loudon Wainwright live. More info to come.

Yay! What awesome news to end the day on!

P.S. Can this PCA have any more burning questions answered today? It appears that “Still Life,” that Jensen Ackles show that was supposedly shelved due to it’s “downbeat” vibe is set to air in June 2005. One of the “kids” from Popular, Bryce Johnson is in it as the narrator I think. This show is supposed to be really well-crafted. I guess we’ll have to keep our ears open for news on this front.

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Well, I don’t have anything new to say. I am supposed to be doing something else right now and I keep getting sidetracked. I finally finished reading Donna Tartt’s My Little Friend. In case you were wondering, I try to include the author’s name when I mention a book because whenever I talk about a book with M. E. Kerr, the first thing she asks is, “Who wrote it?” And if I can’t remember, she says, “People always forget the author’s name.” And then I kinda feel like a jerk.

A friend (and fellow Felicity and OC fan) gave me She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb saying I should read it despite any reservations I have about books endorsed by Oprah. Hey, I should clarify that I don’t have any problems with Oprah or her book club. I’m all for Oprah and her good works. I don’t read books on purpose that are recommended by her, but I don’t go out of my way to avoid them. Of course, ever since someone tried to start an argument with me on public transportation about what I was reading (I’m not going to tell you because I don’t want to start an argument here), I’ve invested in book covers. This is also because I am a rough and tumble kind of commuter and things wear and tear like crazy where I’m involved. So anyway, you wouldn’t know if I was reading an Oprah’s Book Club book or not. Ha.

Edit: I keep forgetting to say that also on my “to be read” list is Jeff Chang’s critically well-received Can’t Stop Won’t Stop. A gift from a fellow PCA. And I have yet to read one word of Freaks and Geeks. Darn it. I’ve been re-reading a book I picked up at a used bookstore recently rather than cracking open one of my new books. Isn’t that always how it goes. We are drawn to the comfort of the familiar.

I forgot to say I saw this play by Neil LaBute starring Ben Stiller, Amanda Peete and Jeffrey Wright called This is How It Goes. I saw it to support the work of Jeffery Wright. I had heard Neil LaBute’s plays aren’t as good as his movies. In the end, I really wanted to like Jeffrey Wright but I found his performance a little too mannered. I like that Neil LaBute was so incensed by a racist letter by a “fan” of his work to write this play about racism in middle America (this person was offended by Morgan Freeman and Renee Zellwegger’s characters’ kiss in Nurse Betty). But my lil crew agreed that Dave Chappelle’s sketch about whether white people can dance did the job much more effectively and with actual humor. But it was cool to see the actors so up close and personal. There was a high school class in the best seats and they were so thrilled by the experience I was tickled for them. Clearly they recognized Ben Stiller at the very least from There’s Something About Mary and maybe Meet the Parents. I don’t know. I was talking to a 10 year old about how Ben Stiller was hosting the Kids’ Choice Awards and she was like, “I have no idea who he is,” even after looking at his picture. Also, Neil LaBute was in the audience and seemed to enjoy the performance from his actors.

What else have I been doing… well, at the New Directors/New Films Festival, aside from Murderball (just see it, I don’t think I have anything else to say about it except I couldn’t stop thinking about it), I saw an interesting French movie called “L’esquive” which highlighted a very unique vernacular – hip hop with a North African twist. I would’ve liked it better if it were shorter though. And then I saw a Japanese movie called Starlit High Noon which kinda reminded me of the quietness and acceptance of solitude in Cafe Lumiere. My brother said it was “Wong Kar-Wai lite.” Speaking of Wong Kar-Wai, I am finally going to see 2046 as I was talking about many moons ago.

Um, what else, (can you tell I’m procrastinating?)… I forgot how much I enjoyed the show Popular as I slowly make my way though the dvds of Season 1. And yes, this week’s ep of The Office was funny. I think the best thing they did was cast unknowns aside from Steve Carrell who is doing an admirable job trying to make us forget about Ricky Gervais.

I guess I’ll end with saying that Sin City looked gorgeous – Robert Rodriguez did wonders with technology and made it look much more expensive than his $40 million budget. And Mickey Rourke really was as good as everyone says. I will also admit to dozing off during it. I saw it right after Starlit High Noon and the double-featuredness of it was too much for my brain to handle it seems.

Okay, back to the grindstone. L8rs.

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Saturday, 3/26/05

pop culture addict: We r seeing “murderball” 2morrow
pop culture addict: Documentary abt parapalegic rugby players. Sposed 2 be very aggressive hence the title
dubious colleague: Jesus!
dubious colleague: That’s sounds so horrible!
dubious colleague: And exploitive
dubious colleague: And almost like a snl skit
pop culture addict: They went to greece 4 the olympics in athens
pop culture addict: It is sposed 2 b inspiring
pop culture addict: Actually they r quadriplegic athletes

The next day:

pop culture addict: We just saw murderball
dubious colleague: And?
pop culture addict: It was really good, the athletes were at the theatre too
…
pop culture addict: Those guys r in better shape than any of us
dubious colleague: Man u guys r twisted
dubious colleague: Murderballl
dubious colleague: Jeez
pop culture addict: It is not exploitative
pop culture addict: But it isn’t all kittens and cotton candy
dubious colleague: The name is kinda salacious no?
pop culture addict: That is what it is called
…
pop culture addict: But then they changed the name to quad rugby

Murderball was just as good as I expected it to be. I will try to write more about it later but let me just say for now that I highly recommend it for entertainment value and for a thought-provoking story. The guys were real and interesting. It was cool that 3 of the players were at the Q&A afterwards with the producers.

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Next, an explanation of today’s title:
Do you remember that t-shirt Urban Outfitter put out a couple of years ago with 3 guitar chords labeled A, D and G? Then under it was “Now go start a band” or something like that. It was really cute. And then Seth Cohen (Adam Brody’s character on The OC) wore it in an episode. It was really cute on him as well. (Added 4/6: I was looking for an image of the shirt to show you and learned two things. 1) The shirt read “Now start a band;” and 2) Many people are obsessed with that shirt. Edit: And apparently it is available at Urban Outfitters again by popular demand. Also, Reel-Style.com sells stuff shown on tv and movies.) Well, I read a cool interview with John Frusciante in this month’s Guitar World Acoustic that made me think of that t-shirt. Let me quote him here:

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“I’m really excited about using familiar chords and progressions in ways that are so in tune with the current of life that it gives the song a deep emotional feeling. Or using familiar chords and progressions with rhythms that never have been applied to them before. All this is completely opposite from the way I played when I made By the Way with the Chili Peppers, where I tried to make the songs harmonically unique by using interesting chords.
…Sometimes it takes just living your life a certain way to be able to open yourself to the rhythm of the cosmos, to the point where you can use those familiar chords in the same way you might speak a few simple words of love to someone. A few of the most basic words in the language might be the most meaningful thing someone can hear, and the same can be said with basic chords.”

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Occum’s Razor strikes again? Actually, it’s more like you can say a lot in an interesting and meaningful way with a few tools in hand. Anyway, I think John Frusciante’s words are self-explanatory. And I think it’s a good reminder not to get caught up in whatever. Also, this is me expounding a lil, when you start to get stressed out about what you can’t do or what you think you must do, remember that what you do know and can do might be just what you need.What I ellipsed was cool too. It was about how JF was being experimental and trying to incorporate, whether consciously or subconsciously, different sounds and approaches and anything with “abnormal chords.” And he was happy with the outcome but he came back around to the basics for the latest album. I have had that experience where I get really involved with exploring every and any angle of a situation, paper, project, etc. and things become really elaborate and I am filled to the brim with ideas and thoughts about what to do next.Good things can come out of that kind of thinking and activity too. But it is refreshing to return to the fundamentals because you now have a renewed outlook and your brain can make things happen with the fundamentals it couldn’t see before.So though I said I wouldn’t state the obvious, I couldn’t help myself.Let me just add that the end of yesterday’s episode of “24″ freaked me out a bit. I am looking forward to tonight’s ep of “The Office” to balance me out.

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