I whipped up this e-poster to e-wheat paste all over the e-internet.
Is it e-propaganda if it’s true?
January 12th, 2010
Classiest man in late night
People of Earth:
In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.
But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.
Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.
So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.
There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.
Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.
Yours,
Conan
December 19th, 2009
Malekko’s Omicron line of pedals: Pint-sized rawk.
Malekko Heavy Industry is rolling out a fantastic-looking (and amazing sounding, but that’s a given) line of miniature pedals sure to induce fits of extreme happiness when cuddled. But these aren’t meant for cuddling, they are meant for bringing the noise, the funk, and everything in between. All this from a quality company known for their amazing & unique pedals, in a package the size of that mole on your right butt cheek.
The only one available for purchase at the moment is the Chicklet, up for grabs on Malekko’s catalog page.
However, the Vibrato and Fuzz are next in the pipeline, becoming available in the next month or so, and many more effects are planned. I’m not sure what the exact number of pedals in the line is going to be, but there will be at least two more. What those may be remain only to be seen (I’m personally hoping for a chorus and delay).
Here’s an excerpt on the Vibrato pedal from Josh:
For those knowledgeable on the subject, the long since discontinued MN3007 IC’s result in a much nicer sound than it’s little brother, the MN3207. The MN3007 are coveted by pedal builders and the D.I.Y. community for their superior sound quality. Often counterfeited, these ICs are tricky to purchase. Early in the year 2009 Malekko acquired a giant lot of actual obsolete MN3007 BBD ICs and went to work. The result is a superior lush analog vibrato pedal in an unprecedented tiny enclosure…all at an affordable price.
Gotta catch ‘em all!
by Preston | Posted in HEROES, PEDALS | No Comments » | Tags: Fuzz, Malekko Heavy Industry, PEDALS, reverb, Vibrato
August 13th, 2009
Les Paul dead at 94
Les Paul died today. June 9, 1915 – August 13, 2009.
The man was an innovator, inventor, brilliant jazz guitarist, and an all-around nice guy. If it weren’t for him, it’s likely we wouldn’t have multi-track recording. Think about that for a minute.
This man was so hardcore that after an automobile accident in 1948 he decided to have his arm set permanently at a right angle rather than having it amputated so that he could continue to play guitar.
(CNN) — Les Paul, whose innovations with the electric guitar and studio technology made him one of the most important figures in recorded music, has died, according to a statement from his publicists. Paul was 94.
Paul died in White Plains, New York, from complications of severe pneumonia, according to the statement.
Paul was a guitar and electronics mastermind whose creations — such as multitrack recording, tape delay and the solid-body guitar that bears his name, the Gibson Les Paul — helped give rise to modern popular music, including rock ‘n’ roll. No slouch on the guitar himself, he continued playing at clubs into his 90s despite being hampered by arthritis.
He was an icon, and he will be missed.
June 26th, 2009
Sky Saxon, lead singer and bassist of The Seeds, has died
Sky Saxon died yesterday, and amidst all the other tragedies I was worried his passing might go unnoticed. But as I walked around Austin today, news of his death seemed to have affected a lot of people. My downstairs neighbor was a close friend of his near the end, and was evening trying to produce an interview between Sky and the Austin Chronicle for a three part feature (of which only a third had been finished at the time of Sky’s death). The local record store owner down the street from me (End of An Ear) opted to put Sky Saxon’s records at the front of the Psychedelic section as a small tribute to a legend. Here is the AP story:
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sky Saxon, lead singer and founder of the 1960s band the “Seeds,” who had a Top 40 hit in 1967 with “Pushin’ Too Hard,” has died after a brief illness.
Publicist Jen Marchand said Saxon died Thursday but did not have other details. He was in his 60s.
The Seeds sprang up in California, and their garage-band sound with Saxon’s distinctive vocals became a favorite of the flower power generation. Another hit single of 1967 was “Can’t Seem to Make You Mine” and their song “Mr. Farmer” was included in the soundtrack for the movie “Almost Famous.”
The Mick Jagger-influenced vocals by Saxon (born Richard Marsh) dominated the sound and in turn influenced later punk rockers.
“All the bikers around San Diego thought the Seeds were apocalypse, then,” famed rock critic Lester Bangs wrote in “The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll.” “I recall one hog-ridin’ couple … who didn’t take the Seeds’ first album off their turntable for three solid months.”
Saxon had recently moved to Austin, where he played with his new band, Shapes Have Fangs.
He had been planning to perform this summer with the California ‘66 Revue, a tour featuring a lineup of California bands from the 1960s.
If you have never heard The Seeds, I found one of their live albums (Raw & Alive / Rare Seeds) online, free to download. This is one of the most amazing live albums ever recorded. Please enjoy:
The Seeds - Raw & Alive / Rare Seeds (click to download)
1. Introduction by ‘Humble’ Harv (0:21)
2. Mr. Farmer (3:47)
3. No Escape (2:30)
4. Satisfy You (2:07)
5. Night Time Girl (2:32)
6. Up In Her Room (9:54)
7. Gypsy Plays His Drums (4:31)
8. Can’t Seem To Make You Mine (2:38)
9. Mumble Bumble (2:30)
10. Forest Outside Your Door (2:43)
11. 900 Million People Daily (All Making Love) (4:57)
12. Pushin’ Too Hard (3:00)
13. Daisy Mae (1:58)
14. The Other Place (2:25)
15. Lose Your Mind (2:19)
16. She’s Wrong (2:16)
17. Chocolate River (3:13)
18. Sad And Alone (2:51)
19. The Wind Blows Your Hair (2:33)
20. Satisfy You (2:05)
21. 900 Million People Daily (All Making Love) (Full Length Version) (9:43)
22. Wildblood (2:26)
23. Fallin’ Off The Edge (Of My Mind) (2:55)
by Preston | Posted in HEROES, MISC, NEWS, OTHERS' MUSIC | No Comments » | Tags: downloads, free music, obits
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