The smell of burning leather, as we hold each other tight. 
Some videos to look at, and a few thoughts on each:




Do you ever wonder what your beliefs really consist of? I'm not talking religious beliefs. I mean what, at your core, you truly give a shit about. One time I was challenged to give a description of what I care about, and I say 'challenged' because it was asked not so much with gentle curiosity, but with a sort of 'prove to me you have character, right now' attitude. It was as much accusation as it was question. And it was coming from a girl for whom I had endless warm love-y feelings, so it was extra acutely wonderful (I was also driving, stuck behind someone going 3 mph under the speed limit). No idea what I answered, and I'm sure I didn't say what I was really thinking, but right now I believe in a world where there is room for what is happening in this live Tubes video. I caught this for the first time a few weeks ago at my friends' house and I keep thinking back to it, not just because it's sexy and wild and the music is great and the transition from "Don't Touch Me There" to "Mondo Bondage"--visually and musically--is so well-executed. But also because seeing this made me realize how much of a drag most shit is. I know that's real descriptive. What I mean is, thank christ things like the spring 1977 Tubes tour existed so that life isn't just the feeling of waiting at the check-out line at the grocery store and hearing your boss talk about Newt Gingrich. There's some questionable content in this clip, but fuck it, questionable is a good thing. Isn't life more exciting that way? Am I taking this too seriously?? Also, musical theater is rough, but this works. I don't know why. Also, watch The Tubes 1978 Documentary to get a better idea of the band, and go get copies of their first two records.



On a lighter note, Shirt Tales. Look for punk shirts!



And then Bill Evans. It's sunday as I'm writing this, so this makes sense. It's also just beautiful, and I found out where that sample from Madvillain's "Raid" came from. Seriously, I've listened to this full set 4 and half times today, while I read the new Paris Review. FYI: the Terry Southern interview is pretty good, and the short story by David Searcy ("El Camino Doloroso") is good enough that I almost ordered one of his books right after I read it. Haven't gotten into the John Jeremiah Sullivan piece yet. Shit is like 60 pages! I'm going to read the Crass interviews from the new ANP Quarterly right now. See ya.