Read/Listen/Watch/Rent

READ: Oh The Glory of it All by Sean Wilsey

I had never heard of Sean Wilsey. I had never heard of this book. I was at the Goodwill in Ames, and I saw this book staring at me from the shelf. The cover is crazy, it reminds me of an album cover, so I picked it up. It is about 500 pages, which is about 300 pages longer then the books I like to read. However, I bought it, started it, and love it. Sean is the son of rich San Fransico aristocrats, who are terrible people. His mom is a crazy person, his father is a 70 year old who doesn't care about him, and his step mom is possibly the worst person alive. The kicker is, it's all a true story. He really lived this insaine life, that involves meeting the pope and Reagan (as part of his moms "children as teachers of peace" program), beating off to paintings of his bitch step mom, and being friends with Danielle Steel as an 11 year old in the early 80's. I am only 170 pages in, but it's addictive. For fans of Augusten Burroughs or David Sedaris, definatly check this book out.

LISTEN: Monsters of Folk

Let's pretend you have a favorite band, or a favorite song writer. Now let's pretend you have two or three favorite bands or song writers. Now let's pretend, the members of three of your favorite bands got together to form a band. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, Monsters of Folk. The name, tounge and cheek as hell, is comprised of Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes/Mystic Valley Band), Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), M. Ward (M.Ward/She and Him), and Jim James (My Morning Jacket). They released three tracks to itunes, with a new cd coming out on September 22nd, and I am a just a little more than excited. Of the three songs out now, there is "Say Please" which is solid with alternating vocals, "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F)" which sounds like track 8 on a Songs of the Seventies mix (but in a good way), and "The Sandman, The Brakeman and Me" which is possibly my favorite song released this year. Jim James and M.Ward singing together gives me chills, and that guitar, the steady rhythm and tiny picking, is perfect. I can see myself in 30 years listening to this song.



WATCH: Flight of the Conchords

Bret and Jemaine are New Zealand's 4th most popular folk parody duo. So obviously, it's time for them to take America by storm. The boys move to NYC and hook up with music mogul/New Zealand tourism director Murray (present), and set there sights on becoming rock stars. This is one of the funniest shows I have ever watched. The story is intercut with the bands music, and great side characters like Mel, the groups 1 fan, and Dave, a douche bag. You'll love seeing these guys deal with culture shock, love, parties, monkey killers as they follow the misdirection of Murray. It's hard to explain this show, so here's a sample:



RENT: (500) Days of Summer

You actually can't rent "(500) Days of Summer" yet. It came out last friday in theaters, but considering Stacie and I saw it on Saturday and we were the only ones in the theater, it will be on DVD soon. Which is a shame, it was great. It's the story of the 500 day long relationship between Tom and Summer, told in non-chronological order. Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (aka Tommy from 3rd Rock From the Sun) is one of my favorite younger male actors. After great rolls in Manic (which also starred Zooey Deschanel who plays Summer), Brick, The Lookout and Stop Loss, it's good to see he's blowing up in this movie and as Cobra Commander in GI Joe. Zooey Deschanel, who I mentioned plays Summer, is always good. I have loved her since I saw her in Manic, and since she's made indie flicks (Eulogy, Winter Passing, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Good Girl), big studio films (Almost Famous, Big Trouble, Elf, Yes Man) and television (Weeds, Tin Man) and in everything shes great. It doesn't hurt that she is the "She" in the band "She and Him" (where the "Him", is M.Ward, see this posts LISTEN section). This isn't a love story, nor does it try to be, but it does make you root for both characters. Also, within the first half hour the movie makes reference to my favorite song of all time, "Boy with the Arab Strap" by Belle and Sebastian. Roger Ebert, who is one of the only critics I pay attenion to (if Peter Travers wouldn't be such a dick about Star Wars, maybe him) gave this 5 stars. I have never seen him give a movie 5 stars. So go see it. Now.

Read/Listen/Watch/Rent

READ: Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk

Chuck Palahniuk just writes one crazy book after another. "Snuff" is the story of an aging porn star, Cassie, who decides as her last hurrah she is going to break the record for most sexual acts in one day, 600. The book is told through the eyes of four people. An aging male porn star who wants to bang Cassie out of respect. A confused middle aged legit-actor who recently lost his job on a popular "Law and Order" style tv show because of his sex life, who wants to propose to Cassie so they can get a reality show. An 18 year old high school graduate who is obsessed with Cassie, and doesn't want to fuck her but save her, because he beleives she is his birth mother. And the last character is the girl who organized the whole gang bang, Cassie's right hand girl. A tough feminist. This isn't so much a sex story, as it is a "who-done-it", "it" being Cassie. I'd say this book is better than "Invisible Monsters" and "Lullaby", but not as good as "Survivor" or "Rant". But still, the worst Chuck Palahniuk book is still pretty fucking good.

LISTEN: The Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Grave

So back in Febuary when I made my "Top 10 of 2008" this was on it. At that time, I had listened to it once or twice and thought it was great. Since then, I have listened to it maybe 500 times. Kristian Matsson, who is The Tallest Man on Earth, has a voice like no other. It's not great. But it is booming. The music is beautiful folky/blue grass. Matsson is from Sweden, where latley I have found lots of great music (Jose Gonzales, The Knife), and he has a great take on the world. The best thing is, this is his debut album. And the 10 songs on it burn through your soul. I can't wait to hear how he progresses. Below is a live version of "Honey Won't You Let Me In", enjoy.



WATCH: Entourage

A lot of people, including one of my favorite bloggers Dan Hopper, write Entourage off as some douche bag parade. Well it's not. It is great. For anyone who has great friends that they have had for years, this is a show for you. Not to mention crazy story lines, a cool slant on Hollywood and the most beautiful girls in the world. Entourage follows Vincent Chase, a young budding star as he tries to make a career in the pictures. He wants to make good movies, not just popcorn bullshit, which can be a hard decision for a young actor to make. The "entourage" is his boys from Queens: Eric or "E", his manager, a feisty irish mick who is small but can talk the shit and beat your ass. Turtle, his driver, who is a little bit ghetto, but there for you at the drop of the hat. and Johnny Drama, Vince's brother and a washed up character actor on shows such as "Blue" (Pacific, not NYPD) and Melrose Place. Then there is Ari, Vince's agent, who is a complete asshole, but has Vince's best intentions at heart. The first 5 seasons are great stories with definite re-watch ability. Season 6 started last night on HBO, and I have yet to watch the first episode. I cannot wait though. The only negative of the show is the fact that it's sometimes a full year between seasons. Here is the trailer for season six. Get hooked.



RENT: Push

Push is a great movie. I wish I would have seen it in the theater. I don't really know how to explain it, but think X-Men meets Logan's Run. Great performances by Chris Evans (probably his best roll since Danny Boyle's Sunshine) and my biggest surprise was Dakota Fanning, as a 13 year old "watcher" or person who can see the future (sort of). Go rent it, it's in the Red Box.

Gonna Build Something This Summer....

It's been a while since I made a post. Mostly because no one is reading this. Except Jen. (Hi Jen). Anyways....

I haven't posted because I have been busy as all hell lately. It all started last Tuesday the 30th of June when after a solid night of bowling I jumped in the car and drove down to good ol' Glenwood to see some old friends and check in with some family.

It was a good couple of days, except when the car busted. The power steering on it was already wrecked, but now there was a problem with the fuel tank. Basically no gas would go in it. So I dumped the car at Schenck and Melissa's house and started using my Grandpa Kid's farm truck.

The night the car broke, I met up with Alister, Emilie, Tim and Sara. It was really fun night, full of hookah and some beers. It's great when you only see people a few times a year, but still can catch up without missing a beat.

On the 2nd, I woke up at 9am, and spent the day with my family. Hanging out with my grandparents and my Uncle Dickey who is now home and recovering very nicely from his brutal surgery in mid June.

That night, at 2am, I left Glenwood in my Grandpa's truck and headed to the Des Moines Airport. It was a 2 hour drive up I80 in the middle of the night, and I really enjoyed it. I stopped off at the Kum and Go in Underwood and the fountain machine blew up on me, but the old man working the night shift laughed at me and I cleaned it up for him since I could tell he was in the middle of his shift cut. I've met this same old man several times at that Kum and Go and every time he has been nothing but nice to me.

I got to the airport at around 4am. After checking and security I found my gate and had a seat. Sitting across from me was a man with sunglasses on and a shit-eating grin. He looked to be in his mid 30's but he was listening to new rap on his phone. Not through head phones, just using the phones speakers. Which meant everyone sitting there was listening to it. He even rapped a long with it some. This fella also was wearing a t-shirt that said "Socialism" on it and the "o" was the Obama logo "o". And to top of this schmuck had a Glenn Beck book sittin' in his back pack. It was like someone said "hey Patrick, if we were to build the perfect example of a person you'd hate, what would you want it to look like?"

Well, time and the aeroplane flew and before I knew it I was at LaGuardia. (remember in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when Raphael is chasing Casey Jones and that taxi pulls out in front of him and Raph rolls across the hood? and then the guy in the cab goes "what the hell was that?" and the cabbie goes "looked like a giant turtle, in a trench coat.... you goin' to LaGuardia right?" I like that part).

On that Friday the 3rd we went down to Jersey to a Medieval Times. It was BAD ASS. Stacie and I got seated in the "City of Leon" which made us root for the Green Knight. Well the Green Knight kicked ass, talking shit to the king, fightin' everyone, and he even tried to succeed from the realm. We were fucking South Carolina circa 1860 (without all that slavery/states rights bullshit). At the end the Green Knight was struck down by the Yellow and Red or Blue and Pink Knight. It was a total fix. But whatever. It was fun as hell. Stacie and I decided we were gonna go to every Medieval Times. There are like 8 or 9 and I have already been to Myrtle Beach (hey, that's in South Carolina, I like it when shit ties together like that).

The next day was good ol' Fourth of July. We went to Battery Park and saw Jenny Lewis and Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band. It was perfect.

Here is a video of "Roosevelt Room" from the set. I didn't film the video, but I am in it.





After the concert we went to Brooklyn to see Stacie's workplace and one of her job sites. It was really cool to see what she does. Then we went to some side street of Amsterdam and watched the fireworks.

The next day, Sunday the 5th, we went to Avenue Q. It was amazing. Sesame Street for adults. I sugguest you go here and watch everything available.

Later that day, we went to 30 rock, and went to the top. There are some great pictures, but I don't have them here. So you can see 'em later.

On Monday I left NYC and flew back to Des Moines, where I got in Grandpa's truck and drove to Boone. After seeing Mattie Cattie and Murpho for awhile I went to work. I then went on to work something like 46 hours over the next 6 days.

Now I am back in Glenwood, at my parents house having a camp out of sorts with my two oldest nephews Hunter and Jackson and Murphy in my parents living room. Tomorrow I plan on getting the car fixed. And then Tuesday it's back to Boone for Bowling Night. Then I just gotta get through till the weekend and on Monday Stacie is back for good. No more internship, we can FINALLY be together again. It's pretty exciting. Murphy and Mattie can have a Mommy again.

Jesus Christ

This is a music video I made for one of my favorite songs Jesus Christ by Brand New. There was no plan behind the video, but people who have seen it have said they think it's about a ghost floatin' around lookin' for heaven. I like that idea.

The Lights and The Buzz

This is another short. It was easier to film with my nicer camera, and I tried to film scenes. Same basic story as before, just the guy (again, played by me), is a little older, a little skinnier and a little druggier. But, when morning comes, he has to go to work. My idea was, do you really know what the people you work with are like outside of work? They could be manic depressive heroin addicts.

The Good Times are Killing Me

This is a short I made about a guy (played by me) who's life is terrible. He lives a Bukowski novel. It's black and white, and this was my first expereince filming anything. Enjoy!

Tuesday Night Bowling League...