Stars and Slights

Cover Tuesday: God Save the Queen and Other British Stuff

2013-05-14T14:25:00.002-05:00

By Justin Cates

Ryan Adams is a man of many tastes musically speaking.

He's worked with country legends like Willie Nelson, founded the alt-country groups Whiskeytown and The Cardinals, played loads of rock and just recently announced the formation of a new punk rock group called Pornography.

Given that, it shouldn't come as any surprise that he covers some interesting songs.

"Wonderwall" is one of the myriad of hit singles form the classic Oasis album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

The New Musical Express (NME), Britain's most popular music magazine named Adams' cover of "Wonderwall" the number one Oasis cover.

I was going to feature three songs from the list, but most of them are pretty bad. So instead here's a loosely related list.

Now here's Noel Gallagher of Oasis performing The Beatles' classic, "All You Need Is Love".

I can't tell how much of the rest of the band is there, but if you look closely you can see his brother Liam just chilling in the background. Probably so they would shut up and stop fighting for three minutes.

Finally, playing off that British connection we finish off with a pair of covers because i didn't want to show preference to one of John Lennon's kids.

The first is a cover of classic cut "Julia" performed by Sean Lennon, John and Yoko Ono's son.

The final track to be featured is from Julian Lennon, the only child from John's first marriage.

"I Need You" was released by the band America in 1972. It's a powerful song, especially when you consider it in the context of a father/son relationship. Julian sounds much more like his father vocally and I've always felt bad for him.

John wasn't much of a dad to him until later in life. In fact, Julian was much closer with Paul McCartney.

Paul and I used to hang about quite a bit...more than Dad and I did. We had a great friendship going and there seems to be far more pictures of me and Paul playing together at that age than there are pictures of me and my dad. -Julian Lennon

Julian was the direct inspiration for three Beatles songs, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", "Hey Jude" and "Good Night".

McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" (originally titled, "Hey Jules") to console Julian during the divorce of his parents.

So here we are at the end of a random jaunt through British music. Here's hoping you enjoyed it.

Cheers.

It's Derby Time! or Bourbon for Everyone!

2013-05-03T09:13:00.000-05:00

By Justin Cates

I don't really care about horse racing. Like most Americans it's not something that I realize exists outside of a few warm weeks each spring.

That's when the sun hesitantly creeps out to stretch its legs for the first time in months—except for Brian—and pastels and sundresses once again become appropriate attire instead of garishly defiant winter garments.

With the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby due this Saturday, that means it's time for some reading and drinking—not that one needs an excuse for such pursuits.

The first assignment is a yearly spring read for me and is required for a fan or would be enthusiast of the Derby.

The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved was written under duress by Hunter S. Thompson for Scanlon's Monthly covering the 1970 Derby.

It marked the first time HST had returned to his hometown of Louisville for the race in a decade and it was the first of many successful collaborations between Hunter and artist Ralph Steadman.

"And unlike most of the others in the press box, we didn't give a hoot in hell what was happening on the track. We had come to watch the real beasts perform."

The piece represents the birth of "Gonzo journalism" and was influential in the new journalism movement of the time.

It's hilarious, vulgar, and insightful. Absolutely a must read prior to post time.

Another terrific new article published just this week comes from 8th generation Louisvillian Michael Lindenberger.

The Biggest Week In Bourbontown discusses the heritage of Louisville and the relationship between its people, horses, bourbon, food and all the cultural nuances of Derby week.

It's a bit lengthy, but certainly worth a look while you're trying to figure out which mount to blow your money on this weekend.

So read up, stock up, and get to imbibing! Make some mint juleps and enjoy the pageantry of the pre-race festivities.

The race will be over in a flash, but bourbon lasts forever*.

* subject to personal tendencies and the crowd you're with.

Cover Tuesday: I'm Getting Older Too

2013-04-30T15:25:00.001-05:00

By Justin Cates

"Landslide" was released by Fleetwood Mac in 1975 and you still hear that version quite a bit in commercials and elsewhere. Whenever I hear it though, I'm reminded of how much I prefer the 1994 version released by the Smashing Pumpkins.

The stark acoustic guitar paired with Billy Corgan's mournful vocals is a huge departure from the angst-ridden aggressive style of most Pumpkins tracks.

I couldn't find the studio version on YouTube but it's worth downloading—legally even—if you're into that sort of thing. This is the audio of a live performance from 2010.

Next we have a pretty amazing cover completely different stylistically from the original.

Again it's a soft, introspective rendition but this time it's of Metallica's blood-pumping classic "Enter Sandman".

Youn Sun Nah is a South Korean jazz singer with a beautiful voice that turns an arena anthem into something completely different.

This is the first time I've been able to listen to this song without feeling compelled to run through a brick wall. The song is now completely haunting and unnerving in a way it never has been.

"Sleep with one eye open" has a far creepier connotation when it's being sung sweetly over acoustic guitar instead of James Hetfield growling over loud guitar riffs.

Things take a dark turn in the middle of this version too with some terrifying vocal runs and demonic breathing/singing that takes this cover in a very different direction.

This last cover isn't really something I'm terribly into, but I'm sure it will please at least one of our regular readers.

This is a band called A Static Lullaby covering Britney Spears' "Toxic" for a compilation called Punk Goes Pop.

I would enjoy this a lot more without the periodic scream/singing in the chorus, but this version still does a fine job of destroying Britney's original.

Besides I though we needed something loud and aggressive after two quiet, thoughtful covers.

Comparing Notre Dame and Virginia Tech's Recent Draft History

2013-04-29T14:16:00.000-05:00

By Justin Cates

Just like recruiting in college, you can never be sure of the success of an NFL Draft class until years down the line.

However, initially the 2013 draft is a reflection of last season when Notre Dame broke out in a positive way and the Hokies fell flat on their collective faces.

The Irish had 6 players selected this year—the most since 2007—while Virginia Tech had only two players picked.

The first Hokie wasn't taken until the sixth round with pick 171—the lowest the first Tech player has gone off the board since 1993 when no Hokies were drafted.

A number of the undrafted players agreed to free agent deals with various teams just moments after the final pick was made Saturday, but today we're looking at the draftees.

Earlier in the week Brian pointed out a note from NFL.com writer Gil Brandt pertaining to the most successful college programs in terms of players drafted.

Corey Fuller hopes to add depth to the receiving corps in Detroit.

Not including this class, both Virginia Tech and Notre Dame have seen 50 players selected since 2001.

Currently, there are 34 Irish alumni and 27 Hokies on NFL rosters though of course this will likely change a good bit in the coming months.

Still, the numbers give us an interesting look at one of the similarities of two programs that few people would make a connection between apart from Brian and I.

That will change soon with the announcement that Virginia Tech will travel to play Notre Dame in South Bend in 2016.

Tight end Tyler Eifert was the first Irish player selected with Pick No. 21 (Cincinnati)

It will mark the first meeting between the schools in football and it comes as part of Notre Dame's agreement with the ACC to play five football games per season against conference members.

It remains to be seen when the return date in Lane Stadium will be, but either way we're very excited to finally have a meeting on the field.

It may be a long way off, but consider the gauntlet thrown down for our game preparations.

Arizona, Guns and Money

2013-04-26T16:14:00.000-05:00

By W.T. Salisbury, M.D.

Arizona is a very strange place. In many ways it hasn't changed much from the old west, except there are far more golf courses now.

Oh yes these people love their golf and their dry heat, but most of all they love their guns.

Naturally, to protect those guns their state government passed two bills last week to make sure no one messes with them.

One of the bills bans Arizona police departments from destroying guns in their possession. It instead requires—in most cases—law enforcement to sell those weapons.

People in favor of the legislation have pointed out that destroying those weapons won't prevent crimes. That's true of course.

"It's not appropriate to tell taxpayers that they must subsidize, with their dollars, the destruction of useful property for no good reason, to accomplish nothing, other than make people feel good," Peoria Republican Rick Murphy said.

Fair enough sir. And it is with that reasoning that I propose that we make it illegal to destroy confiscated drugs once they're in police possession.

There's no sense in destroying perfectly useful property just to make people feel better right? People will still be buying it out on the streets anyway, might as well make a little money for the state.

But drugs aren't legal you say. True, but the end of prohibition is nigh if we're trying to make money, "rules" be damned. Besides, if the justification of this law is that it's silly to destroy useful property then it's clear those in charge don't understand the value of drugs—outside of alcohol of course.

There's a mountain of statistical evidence that supports the reform of drug laws, but that's not what this particular column is aimed at discussing. We can tackle that some other time while I'm in the midst of a legally induced drunken stupor.

No, today we're trying to make cash via the flimsy premise of "usefulness".

Money is all we can talk about these days. Cut this, cut that, reduce spending but increase revenue! This idea of legal one-stop-shops for guns and drugs could rake in the cash and mitigate much of Arizona's $50 billion debt.

They could really help their economy here. Who wouldn't want to go to a police station to pick up a handgun—slightly used—and a bag of weed?

Tourists would flock from all over the country to Flagstaff, Tucson...Hell even Phoenix to hit up these fledgling one-stop-shops. Support small business!

I can see a burgeoning cottage industry here.

"Get a gun! Get some drugs and see the Grand Canyon all in an afternoon!"

I'd even be willing to wager you'd see a sharp spike in attendance at Suns games and that's almost impossible.

An Arizona bargain bin.

The second measure passed prevents governments from creating a registry of gun owners and gun transactions involving federally licensed dealers. That is actually a perfectly reasonable idea and it's worth noting that it was something that was included in the legislation that failed to pass the senate at the congressional level in Washington on the same day.

That doesn't make it a a bad idea to pass similar legislation at the state level—especially given the incompetence of the senate—but people do like to complain an awful lot about redundancy in government...most of the time.

Back to my initial point, if we're going to sell confiscated guns, the drugs should be treated the same. While you're there snag a cheap car or some of the other stolen property collecting dust in the evidence room. It's like Wal-Mart but more exciting.

I've got plenty of other ideas for the Arizona tourism board they may want to take under advisement in conjunction with these new laws.

Apart from the canyon, there isn't a great reason to head to that state. It's mostly desert interspersed with strip malls and the elderly.

There are also coyotes—of the mediocre hockey variety as well as the animal.

These are dangerous creatures and if you live there they will end up in your backyard mauling the family pet. Visitors are not immune to this trouble.

Arizonans are big fans of fences, particularly if they signify some kind of border. Therefore, I would propose a series of protected fenced off parks for children and dogs to roam about in peace. It would also allow visitors a safe-haven where they could relax and soak up some of that famous "dry-heat".

But there are also terrifying and deadly snakes that slither about in packs with the hopes of murdering you once you're asleep. To combat this, all tourists should be given snake bashing sticks as soon as they get off the plane.

It'll be just like receiving a lei upon arrival in Hawaii, but infinitely more practical.

Oh I could go on and on, but I refuse to give out any more free tips to Arizona. I can of course consult with your government and tourist board as you see fit, however I will be charging four times my normal fee plus expenses.

I have strong references from the Columbian and Cuban tourist boards which you may find useful in justifying this arrangement. I assure you, my fees are more than worth it.

Trust me, I'm a doctor.

Cover Tuesday: Get The Led Out Johnny and Kurt!

2013-04-23T15:18:00.001-05:00

By Justin Cates

Clearly the world came off it's hinges a bit last week, so I temporarily shelved this edition of cover Tuesday.

Now that things have settled down for a minute, it seems like a fine time to resume our pseudo-weekly ritual.

First up is quite possibly the best Led Zeppelin cover you'll see anywhere on the Internet.

This comes to us from the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors tribute to the honored Zeppelin.

It features original Zepp drummer John Bonham's son Jason behind the kit and Ann (vocals) and Nancy Wilson (guitar) of the band Heart out front.

Contrary to popular belief, you can in fact cover a song as challenging and transcendent as ,"Stairway To Heaven", just don't ever attempt it in a music store because you will be judged and promptly chastised.

"No Stairway? Denied!"

It's a beautiful rendition, fully fleshed out with a handful of backing musicians and multiple choirs.

The kicker is when you see how much John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page love the version.

Robert Plant cries! I can't really fathom a moment watching someone play such a wonderful thing and think, "Wow, we wrote that".

It's a moving song to begin with, and the band's reaction adds to the emotions of the moment.

Next on the docket is the late Johnny Cash's cover of Bob Marley's classic, "Redemption Song".

Joe Strummer joins him and as all the covers on Cash's American albums, this one is tinged with a melancholy that can only come from a voice as weathered as JC's

You can hear the weight of his life's experience in every word he sings. It's like the world is sitting on his shoulders and he's just tired of it all.

It's one of Marley's most lyrically poignant songs, focusing on the troubles of humanity but it's also an expression on the great physical pain he was experiencing as he battled the cancer that ultimately took his life.

The connection between the two men performing this song at the end of their lives is obvious. My only complaint is I wish Johnny's was solo just like the original.

It would appear at this point that I've gone from the musical triumph of the first song to an increasingly dark playlist culminating with Kurt Cobain's piercing wail. My bad.

Cobain was trendy without trying to be, the "Anti-Bieber" in other words.

I couldn't remember what the third song I had in mind last week was, so I organically stumbled onto Nirvana's cover of the Meat Puppets', "Lake of Fire".

The cut comes from Nirvana's 1994 release MTV Unplugged in New York—remember when MTV was a thing that mattered? I mean really mattered because things like Unplugged were cultural events not just, "OMGZ MTV TRL Bieber takeover in 10 min!!! #Belieber #SoHawt".

That felt dirty just jokingly typing it. Anyway, this Nirvana cover is terrific and one of my favorite moments from that Unplugged session.

Editor's Note: Without trying to, I found pictures of both Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain holding kittens. For whatever reason, the Internet goes bonkers for that kind of stuff so I'm presenting them here to show an added dimension to these emotional complex individuals. Plus, it's kind of funny.

Daaaaawwwwwwwww

Creepy but cute. Seems about right Kurt.

Lift Your Spirits Up

2013-04-16T02:12:00.000-05:00

By Justin Cates

Today is a dark day for many reasons.

There is of course the obvious sadness emanating from Massachusetts following the bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Today also marks 6 years since the shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech that touched the lives of so many people important to me as well as many I'll never know beyond the intangible bond of belonging to the same community.

It's a day I always spend in reflection. I think about where I was, where I am, and where I might be going. I also invariably think of those who are no longer able to enjoy the latter two states of being.

There are many uplifting thoughts and quotes floating around that serve to console the heavy hearts of those touched by tragedy. I tend to come back to a simple thought I've mentioned before from one of my favorite musicians, Warren Zevon.

Knowing that he was dying, when asked what lesson he would like to impart to those he would soon depart he said simply, "Enjoy every sandwich."

Don't take anything for granted. Savor everything right down to a quick meal as you rush out the door. No one knows when things will come screeching to a halt.

We are sad that this is true, but that's why we have each other.

The flag pictured above was made the night of that shooting six years ago with my roommates and close friends. Through shock and pain it was cathartic and a proud sign of unity and strength in a time when both were sorely needed.

We weep for those lost in these tragedies and we curse those responsible, but we do it together and that's important.

Humanity has the power to cause unthinkable harm to itself, but we also possess the unique ability to band together and move ahead.

No one is immune. From American students of all ages, marathon runners and spectators, or the 31 people killed yesterday in Iraq, the world is all too often engulfed by the worst in humanity. It's easy to be disgusted by it all.

But somehow, wherever the worst happens, the best happens too.

People manage to put their differences aside and do what they can to help others.

We see it in the first responders who always selflessly rush into harms way in the moment. We see it in the aftermath in the kindness of total strangers directed at people they will never meet.

It restores faith, if only for a short while, that we can strive for something more than these senseless acts here at home and around the globe.

We're in this thing together, for good or ill.

Cover Tuesday: Peppers, an Apple and Multiple Boys

2013-04-09T15:09:00.001-05:00

By Justin Cates

I really dig Fiona Apple and on this song she reaches into the Beatles back catalog to cover "Across the Universe".

It's by no means one of the best Beatles songs, but it's still good music in it's own right. On a side note, I've never entirely warmed up to the film of the same name though there were certainly some good bits in it.

Essentially, I thought it was the Beatles adapted for teenage girls. Remember, send those angry comments of dissent to Brian.

Anyway, as she often does Fiona Apple performs this song beautifully with a hint of melancholy. It doesn't hurt that the music video depicts something I can only describe as "beautiful chaos".

I could be crazy, but around the 3:45 mark I'm relatively certain that John C. Reilly steals a record from the juke box then leaps out the window.

Apparently, Fall Out Boy are about to release another album but I can't say I really care anymore. At the risk of sounding like a hipster who dislikes a band once it gets popular, they kind of lost me with their more recent releases but I really enjoyed the first few albums they made.

Their first EP My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue, was released in may of 2004 and featured acoustic renditions of two of their previous songs, two new acoustic tracks and this cover of Joy Division's 1980 song "Love Will Tear Us Apart".

When you strip away all the other stuff going on in their songs, you can begin to appreciate that Patrick Stump actually has a good voice when he's not screeching depressing Pete Wentz lyrics.

This last one is one of those classic surprises where I don't even know how I found it.

This is the Red Hot Chili Peppers covering the Beach Boys standard "I Get Around".

It stays true to the original while still giving it a distinct Peppers flavor. Flea's funky bass—complete with a pelvic thrust—and John Frusciante's guitar flair reminds us who's covering this classic.

I was really impressed with the vocals. I never realized the range of Frusciante. He totally nails the falsetto here and the group's harmonies make me happy.

Here's hoping they do the same for you.

Big Mac's Are Out to Get You OR Welcome Back Doctor!

2013-04-04T11:03:00.000-05:00

Editor's Note: Prior to the reception of this column, Dr. Salisbury has been out of contact for many weeks. According to a brief note accompanying this diatribe, Doc has been on a journey through South America checking up on some property he owns there. It should be noted that any and all medical advice administered in this space be taken with a grain of salt as during the time I've known him, he has yet to produce a proper confirmation of his credentials. Per his request, his byline will now have his letters following his name.

By W.T. Salisbury, M.D.

Hello friends! Jim Nantz be damned that's a wonderful greeting. I come to you fully rejuvenated following an extensive retreat in the southern America.

While I was fighting my way through customs and stewing in various airports during extensive layovers, I was confronted with a disturbing series of advertisements.

Right. Most advertisements are rotten to the core and feature little to no truth. We all know this in our hearts, however, there are some ads that rise above the scum in an unnatural way to set themselves apart with their horrifying suppositions.

In this instance, the culprit is McDonald's.

We all know the food factory to be one of the world leader's in hamburger sales and obesity induction.

Usually, they hide behind the number of total sales made and the strange products exclusive to their en-arched monopoly such as "ribs" made from leftover meat shavings, golden french fries and milkshakes that inexplicably stay frozen in a sweltering car through the duration of a summer's day.

Recently, they've done away with the charade and cut right to the core of their message.

To Hell with your brain, this shit tastes GREAT!

They aren't wrong.

If you can somehow shut your mind out of the decision and focus on the disturbingly delicious dish placed in front of your food hole, it is in fact a tasty treat.

The actual fact that it's murdering you not withstanding, the flavor (i.e. FAT) simply melts in your mouth like a rare French delicacy.

Those aforementioned golden fries—perhaps emblematic of the arches—disappear down your gullet like the lifeblood of civilization.

The monstrous soda you receive with your "medium" combo washes away any misgivings you might have. The nectar of the GODS! It's a wonderful salve for your aching wretch of a body and any and all side-effects are an afterthought.

Of course, we all know by now the horrifying consequences of voluntarily ingesting poison into our delicate systems.

No, I have no problem with that. I've done it and I'll do it again.

The trouble is with the insidious advertising aimed at the lowest common denominator of humanity. It's designed to make Joe six-pack shut down what little brain activity he has working in his favor so that he mindlessly shovels garbage into his beer-encrusted, cigarette-seeking mouth.

Literally, this campaign commands you to ignore the one part of your body capable of making rational decisions and instead follow the sage advice of your stupid tongue that would gladly lick the underside of a tow-hitch if it enjoyed the post-winter salt content.

McDonald's is attempting to murder you with slick advertising. You shouldn't be happy about that.

Sure, you might enjoy a disgusting hamburger slathered in pickly/mayonaise sauce on occasion but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Just realize that with this idiotic ad campaign the burger giant is quite literally admitting before our eyes that this product is a bad idea, but it tastes so gooooooooood.

Keep that in mind the next time you're hungry and too lazy or incapable to cook something that isn't actively trying to kill you.

The golden arches are keenly aware.

Cover Tuesday: A Kick in The Shins

2013-04-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

By Justin Cates

The eclectic mix of songs I picked last time were surprisingly popular, so I'll attempt to make this a weekly thing since Tuesday's are dumb.

The first one today isn't particularly random, it's just good.

Before frontman James Mercer decided to fire his band and replace them with the new Shins, they made this terrific cover of The Postal Service's "We Will Become Silhouettes".

I'm pretty sure I've posted this song previously, but I don't care. It's terrific.

Next up is The Band. I rank them right up there with Little Feat for most underrated band. It's another case where you've heard their songs and enjoyed them, but didn't know it was them.

The first tune from The Band I really fell for turned out to be a cover of the Bob Dylan tune "I Shall Be Released". I think this version from the Band's debut album Music From Big Pink is the definitive version.

Granted, I've never been a huge Dylan fan but I still appreciate his art. I just think the vocals of Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Levon Helm are far superior to those of Mr. Dylan's original cut.

This song is also cool because of the Dylan/Band connection. The Band was Bob's backing group when he toured the U.S. in 1965 and Europe in 1966 after going electric.

The Kooks are an indie band from the UK that has perhaps best been described as a less abrasive Arctic Monkeys.

They are self-described "musical whores" listing countless recognizable influences like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Police and David Bowie.

In fact, their name is derived from the classic Bowie song "Kooks" and the distillation of all these influences has led to a really cool sound beyond their initial label of "typical Britpop".

Today's selection is a cover they did of the Gnarls Barkley hit "Crazy".

The Kooks have stripped it down to simple acoustic guitars. Luke Pritchard's heavily accented lead vocals completely change the tone of the song, and while a little rough in this video where he's playing in the street, are quite honest and charming.

April Fools

2013-04-01T18:57:00.002-05:00

The Interwebs are a scary place today. More than normal even. As usual, Mr. Samuel Clemens sums it up best.

I've no dirty tricks for you all so fear not.

Editor's Note: I tried to type Clemens several times and each attempt ended with me typing Clemson. NOT COOL BRAIN! April 1st has cluttered and confused my mind. Be wary friends.

Super Tuesday: Cover Edition

2013-03-26T15:45:00.001-05:00

By Justin Cates

Any time spent on YouTube invariably leads to unearthing some strange things. When you're into music, this is a good thing.

It's very easy to get lost on that website, so I'm not even really sure how I got to these but they're all cool.

The first cover is The Avett Brothers taking on a personal favorite of mine "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel.

The brothers laid back style fits the mood of this tune pretty perfectly and the smoother, quieter vocals give it a slightly more somber quality than the original desperate wail of NMH frontman Jeff Mangum.

While there's no one playing a saw or trombone like the original cut, the instrumentation works quite well here.

The next cover comes from the 2010 Halloween show put on by Phish. Every Halloween, the group picks a band they've been influenced by and they do a "Musical Costume" show covering an album by said group.

For this particular concert they chose one of the best live albums of all time, Little Feat's Waiting For Columbus.

The whole show is worth checking out and it's all on YouTube. I've chosen to feature the cover of "Spanish Moon" because I think it's one of the best grooves you'll ever come across and Trey Anastasio alludes to it being one of their favorites too.

A few vocal flubs aside, this rendition is very faithful to the original right down to Trey's solo which is very reminiscent of the tasteful extended melodic lines originally played by Lowell George.

The last one is the biggest surprise here. Don't get mad. It's Miley Cyrus covering Dolly Parton's country standard "Jolene".

It's not shocking that she would cover it being from a country music family. It's slightly more unexpected that I like it and further surprising that's it's actually quite good.

To be fair, I don't think anything about this was recorded in her backyard as the video would suggest.

From the guitar tone to the fact that there's a clear breeze blowing the whole time that isn't noticable, there's a clear coat of studio sheen here.

None the less, the vocal doesn't really sound like it was significantly tampered with and Miley really kills it. I feel like perhaps I've been to hard on her regarding all the garbage pop music she churns out. Hopefully she can make some cool stuff down the line that shows off her natural ability.

No Really, My Bracket was Great for a Minute

2013-03-25T16:04:00.001-05:00

By Justin Cates

I only filled out one bracket this year so that, in theory, I could remember the teams I picked while sitting in a noisy bar or watching games at a birthday bash while distracted by a pantless push-up contest.

As it turns out, I can't help but forget how far I had Syracuse going or if I should be rooting for or against Minnesota because I have the short term memory of a goldfish.

None the less, for the first two days of the tournament I was living high off the hog. My bracket was almost perfect complete with the correct upset selections of LaSalle, Minnesota and California. Yeah I missed Harvard and Florida Gulf Coast, but so did nearly everyone else. I should have been giving interviews on TV explaining my methods.

In fact I was surprised to wake up and check my standing in the ESPN bracket challenge Saturday morning was as follows.

That's right, I had one of the best brackets in the country and it was then I realized I was doomed.

No bracket goes long without a catastrophic misfire unless you've made proper sacrifices at the alter of the basketball Gods. But I'm a Hokie, the basketball Gods hate me.

Saturday started off fine with a beer downtown and a Michigan State victory. Then back to the house for a little drinking game during the Louisville win that kept my show rolling.

The game was basically one drink for a made three-pointer and two drinks for an alley-oop. We quickly ruled that a made two-pointer combined with a made free throw counted as a three, then we added dunks to the list, then charges, then commercial breaks and soon it was, "Hey let's play beer pong!"

That brings us to the evening and that's when things went south on a number of fronts.

Why exactly I picked Gonzaga to make a run is beyond me. They've been one and done in the tournament every year since I was in high school and somehow I decided they were getting to the Final Four. Perhaps it's best I hadn't been giving interviews.

I figured I was done even though it was the only Final Four team I'd missed on—in fact it still is.

But then the Syracuse game happened and like a dummy I'm cheering along with all the other 'Cuse fans I was hanging with, thinking I had picked them over Cal.

That was incorrect.

It turns out I somehow had Cal over the Orange and didn't realize until the following morning when I found my challenge ranking hovering around 700,000.

Now, as I rest comfortably just below 3 millionth I can finally just watch and enjoy the mayhem.

I've been enjoying the bittersweet triumphs of Virginia Tech transfer (seriously they mention this constantly) Tyrone Garland as he's helped LaSalle to the Sweet Sixteen with his, 'Southwest Philly Floater'.

Everyone loves Florida Gulf Coast, even though I'm not convinced it's a real school. I'm game for more of this bunch as they seem to have a blast ruining everyone's bracket. Plus, I'm sick of hearing how loyal Billy Donovan is to Florida.

Am I the only one who remembers him taking to Orlando Magic job for a day? Actually, yeah I probably am.

"I'm happy to be here....NOT....Rickrolled NBA style!!!!"

I'll continue to disregard the many rodent faces of coach K and his boring Blue Devils and I'll keep enjoying my guilty pleasure by kind-of, sort-of rooting for Miami. I can't help it, that Jim Larranaga is so darn likable!

It should be fun even if your bracket, like mine, has taken a turn for the worst.

In fact, that's probably for the best. At least that's what I'll keep telling myself.

"You WILL respect me!!! EEEEEEEK"

Think Green

2013-03-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

Tom Knight is letting his distaste for the road post-season uniforms known.

Without question, the "Shamrock Shake" green uniforms worn by Notre Dame's Men's Basketball team during the Big East Tournament are ugly. There's no way to sugar coat, not even with an extended challenge by my colleague.

Nonetheless, here's my attempt at making some sense of the Adidas experiment gone wrong.

Cincinnati, Kansas, Notre Dame, Baylor, UCLA, and Louisville show what happens when camo meets the hands of an unskilled fashion designer.

Adidas didn't just mess with ND, they also somehow tricked several other programs to join in the post-season 'fun'
The 'home' white versions of the uniforms, save for the camo shorts, aren't half-bad
Notre Dame's uniforms are far from the worst of the bunch. That distinction should belong to Baylor, who not only utilizes a brighter, more neon uniform but also features built-in sleeves. Gross.
It's March, ND is simply being on brand.

From the waist up, the home white uniforms are tastefully done.

On a final note, Notre Dame Women's Basketball team is also sporting an alternative look this post-season. They aren't likely to face anywhere near the criticism as their male counterparts, though, because they opted out of the camo look.

Winning also helps, too, as the Lady Irish earned their first (and last) Big East Conference Tournament Title by defeating the Connecticut Huskies in Storrs, CT last Tuesday night.

Skylar Diggins and the rest of the Irish Women's Basketball team celebrate their hard-fought Big East Conference Tournament Title.

Now, the Skylar Diggins-led Irish look to earn the school's second National Championship.

Happy Birthday to Brian!

2013-03-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

Clearly, Ms. Monroe isn't remotely close to having enough candles on this cake to properly honor Brian, but it's the posthumous thought that counts.

While Brian has been noticeably absent as far as recent posts are concerned, he claims new stuff will appear in due time.

I can't wait for a spring review of Notre Dame basketball culminating with a strict condemnation of those retina-searing abominations masquerading as "basketball uniforms" worn by the Irish during their final Big East tournament.

Look away! Look away! These make staring at the sun seem reasonable.

Ugh, I just vomited birthday cake everywhere. Actually...it kind of matches the uniforms.

If only there was someone around who could put the proper spin on this. A wise old sage who could lend us some perspective. A critical voice of reason to rise above the cacophony of nonsense.

I'd even settle for a post from Brian.

Happy Birthday buddy*

* Yes I know his Birthday is the 17th.

Saluting ACC Player of the Year Erick Green

2013-03-15T12:59:00.000-05:00

To say I'm bummed that the 2012-13 Hokie basketball season is over would be incorrect.

I'm very thankful that I won't have to watch this incompetent bunch bumble their way through the Atlantic Coast Conference any longer. Frankly, they should have been put out to pasture at the start of the new year.

The only thing I'll miss is watching Erick Green, the incomparable Hokie point guard who finished his senior season as the nation's leading scorer and as the ACC Player of the Year—both firsts for a Hokie.

In his final regular season game against Wake Forest, Erick broke the school record for points in a season with 786 surpassing the old mark of 785 set by Bimbo Coles in 1989-90.

Other teams put their best defenders on him and trapped and double-teamed him almost every game knowing he was the only real offensive threat, but still he piled up obscene numbers.

Those would be 25.4 PPG on 48% shooting from the floor including 39% from behind the arc.

That's right, he made half his shots and I can assure you having watched nearly every painful moment this season (Thanks ESPN3?) there weren't that many easy lay-ups.

He embodies everything you want in a team leader, heart, toughness, talent and work ethic. He gave his all every single game, often to the point of exhaustion.

Green was helped off the court suffering from dehydration against Georgia Tech Feb 9.

If you haven't seen him play you might assume he's a selfish player who rarely involves his teammates, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Green averaged just under 4 assists per game (3.9) and should have had many more. The guys around him just didn't make any shots.

No one expected much from the Hokies this season with a first-year head coach and only eight scholarship players, and that's mainly what folks got.

There was plenty of frustration for the Hurryin' Hokies this season.

The lone bright spot was Green doing his best and desperately trying to get his teammates to follow his lead.

There were lots of voices in recent weeks arguing against Erick's case for player of the year based on Tech's abysmal record (13-19, 4-13 ACC), the thinking being you can't be the best player if your team doesn't win.

Indeed, there haven't been many instances of MVPs on losing teams and in ACC hoops the only other example is the late Len Bias of Maryland in 1986.

In professional sports, I had a hard time finding anyone beyond the great Andre Dawson in 1987 when he took home the award after hitting .287 with 49 home runs and 147 RBI for the last place Chicago Cubs.

No these types of honors aren't just about stats, but certain individual performances can overcome playing on a bad team.

Ultimately, it doesn't really matter if you thought Shane Larkin of Miami or maybe Seth Curry of Duke was more deserving. EG just finished a season so impressive that he convinced even the Carolina media mafia he was worthy of their highest honor.

I'm sad to see the best thing about Hokie hoops head on, but I look forward to following him as he attempts to play professionally.

He'll make it somewhere because of his skill and make-up. He had the drive to keep going even when it looked like many of his guys had given up.

Come to think of it, that sounds like the perfect point guard for the Charlotte Bobcats.

White House Photography, or Why I Need Pete Souza to Follow Me Around

2013-03-13T15:47:00.002-05:00

Editor's Note: This post is in no way an endorsement or condemnation of specific policies or of the President himself, it's simply a commentary on excellent photography. Outside of politics I do happen to think of the POTUS as a cool guy, so we're pretty much the same person.

By Justin Cates

Pete Souza is the current Chief Official White House photographer for President Obama and was also the official photographer during Ronald Reagan's second term in office.

That means he's had incredible access to people and places few could ever dream of. This presents a truly remarkable opportunity for an artist with a perpetually refreshing canvas.

One doesn't need extraordinary skill to make photos interesting, but great photographers like Souza have the innate ability to make everyday actions carry an unexpected weight.

"No I'm still getting a PC Load Letter error..."

I don't need someone to take candid pictures of me sitting around in sweatpants, but a shot of me silhouetted against a setting sun as I gaze thoughtfully into the distance would make a lovely Mother's Day gift.

Plus I do lot's of amazing things that go sadly unnoticed. When leaning on something, I too kick a foot on it's toe. I'm not even trying to be a badass, it just happens!

"Look, if you want seconds governor just ask."

Granted, I don't hold as many press conferences as I probably should, but I think my personal pho-tog would still have plenty to cover.

I often stand idly while waiting for someone to tell me where to go, I sometimes walk with purpose and rarely do I attend an event where I don't think, "Man, I bet I look absolutely terrific in the foreground."

"Man, I bet I look absolutely terrific in the foreground...you too honey"

What about kids you say? I don't usually hang out with them, but when I do it's undeniably adorable. They love me even when I have a scary beard. Lot's of opportunity for some heart-warming moments...which come to think of it takes care of Christmas for all the grandparents.

"Hurry kid! Michelle's going to make us eat vegetables!"

Ultimately, my friends and I simply don't take enough pictures and most of the ones we have are either unfit for publication or staged. I'm all about in the moment naturalism when it comes to this stuff and you're lucky (or probably a girl) if you can convince me to pose for a picture.

It makes remembering life easier when you have a visual reference, plus how else will you bore your relatives and Facebook friends?

So I guess this is an open casting call to anyone with some free time who would be interested in documenting my existence.

Silence? FINE. I'll just do it myself then, as soon as I can figure out the timer on this stupid camera...

Yep, it's a walk-off. Where's David Bowie when you need him?

Check out some more of Pete Souza's work at his official website where you can find everything from portraits of world leaders to the Chicago Cubs (see what I did there?).

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

2013-03-11T19:59:00.001-05:00

"It's long been a dream of mine to play bluegrass music at Virginia Tech, and tonight I think I'm one step closer to that goal." -Steve Martin

Shock and confusion were in abundance two Friday's ago as my normal pre-road trip ritual of feet-dragging and groggy packing played themselves out in my room.

I was headed back to Blacksburg for a weekend to take in the final men's basketball home game of the season, and unexpectedly I stumbled into a bluegrass concert.

A member of my legal defense team sent a frantic—at least I read them it in that voice—text message that said, "Dude Steve Martin and the steep canyon rangers are at Burruss Sunday".

A quick Google search confirmed that legendary comedian and noted banjo picker Steve Martin was coming to Blacksburg and there were still tickets available, which made very little sense to both of us.

"You missed out on seeing THIS live? HAHAHAHA!"

After giving the go ahead to purchase a block of seats, I spent all weekend cursing "kids these days" and railing against some vague and vengeful "youth" that had no respect for proper art.

In reality, the reason for extra tickets was likely that it was for a bluegrass show in a college town, but that didn't slow my whimsical denunciations of "millenials"—and yes, I came to realize that technically I'm a part of that increasingly narcissistic group, but why can't they be more like ME?!

Anyway, I've long been a fan of Steve's comedy and I've been aware of his banjo abilities since, as a child, I uncovered his 1977 comedy album, Let's Get Small, hidden in a box of old cassette tapes.

I'd argue having that tape during my formative years explains a lot of my deadpan style and penchant for sarcasm. Also, I've seen a banjo on television.

"I'm not into the drug scene or the booze scene or the dope scene, I'm not into that. And I think people who are should be taken out and maimed."

His delivery and style are truly unique, "Tonight I'll be the guy up here in the red suit." He told us during his introduction.

Make no mistake this was a music concert, but it was hilarious too.

The Steep Canyon Rangers are fresh off their win for Best Bluegrass Album at the Grammy's and they play along with the gags in between demonstrating their musical chops.

At one point, Martin claimed he and the band had agreed the day they met that the moment it all stopped being fun they'd quit. The band then all set down their instruments and walked off stage leaving Steve to play a couple songs alone.

He had a total of five banjos on stage which he played off as an "ego thing". He then explained that he thinks of his banjos like his children, "which means that one of them probably isn't mine."

We were all particularly impressed with the talents of Nicky Sanders on fiddle and harmony vocals. In fact the entire group, Charles R. Humphrey III (bass, harmony vocals), Mike Guggino (mandolin, harmony vocals), Graham Sharp (banjo, harmony vocals) and Woody Platt (guitar, lead vocals) are all terrific singers and their voices blend beautifully.

Woody Platt is straight from central casting for a country singer, a fact he's ribbed about from Mr. Martin. He just sounds like he should record the vocals for everything coming out of Nashville.

The best example of the group's vocal prowess is, "I Can't Sit Down", an a cappella number about arriving in Heaven that leads into the much funnier, "Athiests Don't Have No Songs".

The latter provided a subtle yet impressive feat. During the last refrain when Steve is screaming, the other four guys actually harmonize with his off-putting pitch to form something quite pleasant. Steve held his note a bit longer in person so the effect was a bit more dramatic, but it's still awesome.

Finally, an expansive tune called "Auden's Train" handled the encore in a big way.

Martin wrote this song as a tribute to poet W.H. Auden and like the title, it winds and weaves its way punctuated by the long wail of the fiddle.

Sanders stretches his legs on this one, referencing such classic works as The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" and The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" and doing it in a manic style that brought everyone to their feet.

Stephen Colbert on Whose Line Is It Anyway?

2013-02-25T14:38:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I often stumble upon things that enrich and enlighten my worldview, helping me to grow as a person.

This is decidedly not one of those things.

Most of us remember the innocent family friendly comedy of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the show that brought the art of improv from the trendy darkened theaters of big cities into the living rooms of everyone.

It began as a British show and like most of their creative endeavors, it was later brought to America where we described it with terms like 'Fresh!' and 'Fun for the whole family!'.

The basic cast was almost always the same featuring Colin Mochire, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and host Drew Carey.

The fourth comedian slot rotated among a pool of other regular contributors (there's one online featuring Robin Williams), but once in a while they picked a relative unknown to chime in.

These two episodes feature a young Stephen Colbert.

"Did you say there isn't enough ME on this show? I agree completely."

They aren't the funniest episodes—I chose to fast forward through the non-Colbert parts—but we see some precursors to the current King of American satire.

In both episodes, Stephen hosts a fake newscast worth a few chuckles. He demonstrates his inability to rap while showing off dance moves that are distinctly 'him'.

There's also a sketch where he and Wayne Brady are supposed to 'fake' German, and based on my rudimentary foreign language skills (and the video comments), Stephen actually speaks bits of the language including the gem, “Today Germany is ours, tomorrow, the whole world!”

Notre Dame Beats Miami at Soldier Field (Again)

2013-02-22T13:05:00.000-06:00

Photo Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast

Different sports, different Miami, same outcome.

In October, the Fighting Irish football team, en route to an undefeated regular season, pummeled the Miami (FL) Hurricanes 41-3 on the gridiron at Soldier Field.

Months later, the Irish returned to Soldier Field to take on the Miami (OH) Redhawks as part of the Hockey City Classic.

Although this Irish team is not on its way to an undefeated regular season, it does have its sights set on a berth in the National Championship game.

If they manage to do so, here's hoping the Irish icers fare better than their gridiron brethren.

Behind the Scenes of an Epic Comeback: ND vs. Pitt Basketball

2013-02-22T12:43:00.001-06:00

Some of Notre Dame Men's Basketball 21 wins have come easier than others. Count Monday's comeback of epic proportions among the more difficult.

After 14 minutes had elapsed at the "Zoo" in Pittsburgh, the Irish had managed to score a whopping three points. At that point, Head Coach Mike Brey decided he had seen enough, so he did what any self-respecting coach weary of an embarrassing loss would do - he earned himself a technical foul.

As you can hear in the video below, ND's radio announcer Jack Nolan was the most pleased he had ever been with a 3-point halftime deficit.

Ensuring their efforts weren't all for not, the Irish stormed out of the gates in the second half and eventually pulled away for a remarkable 51-42 victory over the home Panthers.

Notre Dame's digital media team has done an outstanding job over the past few years delivering high-quality behind the scenes content, and the following is no exception.

Next up for the Irish is a reeling Cincinnati squad who has lost four out of their last five games. Tune in to CBS at 2pm EST this Sunday to see if the Irish can put another "L" in the Bearcats' loss column.

Happy Weezer Day!

2013-02-14T16:27:00.000-06:00

Each year on February 14 while most men are engaged in a panicked scramble to unearth the last box of chocolates at the drug store, I kick back and listen to one of my favorite bands and inevitably I attempt to share some of that quirky joy with others.

A quick reminder, the band had their first official practice on this date in 1992, making this the group's 21st birthday. Birthday shots for everyone!

Of course, there's nothing wrong with showering a loved one with homogenized greeting cards and overpriced sweets, but I've always found the gift of music to be one of the most meaningful things one can give.

That being said, enjoy your day no matter how you celebrate. Take some time to tell someone you care about them and then make them watch YouTube videos like I'm about to do.

First, "Undone (The Sweater Song)". A great cut off their debut album and a wonderful video shot in one continuous take by inimitable director Spike Jonze.

Next comes the criminally underrated song, "The Good Life" from 1996's Pinkerton. The video features Chloe from 24 as a pizza delivery girl. That's nice.

And finally, a fitting epitaph to a day of love is the classic b-side, "You Gave Your Love To Me Softly".

"Feeling Good" on Hump Day

2013-02-13T15:44:00.001-06:00

Struggling to get to the weekend? It happens to most people once and a while (or every week) and if you need a little pick-me-up, you've come to the right place.

The Sheepdogs are a Canadian import from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Despite becoming the first unsigned act to grace the cover of Rolling Stone in 2011, they've continued to fly largely under the radar—probably because I don't think anyone reads that magazine anymore.

They've got a kind of blues/rock thing going on that the kids love, which makes it no surprise that their next album is being produced by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys.

They're certainly on the rise, and with an unbelievably awesome music video like the one above, there's no reason to think they won't be wildly successful.

New Song From The Postal Service

2013-02-11T14:39:00.001-06:00

By Justin Cates

While the United States Postal Service is busy hemorrhaging money and reducing delivery days, the outstanding musical side project The Postal Service is entering a banner year.

Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello's side project is celebrating the tenth anniversary of their fantastic release, Give Up.

Yeah it's hard to believe it's been ten years of beeping and blooping along with classics like "Such Great Heights" and "We Will Become Silhouettes", but it's true.

The band has said there won't be a new album, but they're releasing a ten-year anniversary reissue of Give Up that will include two new songs.

The first new tune was just released in the form of, "A Tattered Line of String".

The song features vocalist Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame—she was also on many of The Postal Service's original songs—and it would fit in quite nicely as a B-side on Give Up. In fact, it wouldn't even be out of place on the album proper.

The group has announced 12 tour dates for 2013 including stops at the Coachella Music Festival and the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, Spain.

They close the tour June 14 at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, NY where no doubt myriads of hipsters will be stampeded trying to acquire tickets to what's sure to be an awesome show.

L.A. Noire Was More Impressive Than I Realized

2013-02-04T13:50:00.000-06:00

By Justin Cates

When L.A. Noire was released in 2011 it represented an enormous leap forward in motion capture technology.

I remember not being in love with the story, but being able to essentially play a movie was a really cool idea that was more than worth a run through.

Where the game really set itself apart was the idea that you were actually a detective in a way you couldn't previously experience.

Your main task was to go around 1947 Los Angeles and interrogate suspects in various cases and unrelated side cases.

Not an unusual concept, but finally you were able to really read people to determine if they were telling the truth.

Australian company Depth Analysis developed the MotionScan technology that brings the game to life.

Through the use of 32 high definition cameras, the actors faces were able to be depicted in the game with stunning detail. Even the smallest facial movements are picked up and transferred into the digital world through the process outlined in this video.

This brings us to the secondary point of this post.

Presumably just for fun, Depth Analysis recently released a blooper reel that shows the real-time reactions of the actors as they attempt their lines.

Best gag reel of all time? Based on the synergy of technology and acting represented, I say yes.