I really should get out from behind this computer more often. I have so much fun when I do.

So I caught the Spinto Band at Amoeba today. Started out kinda liking them, then liking them, and finally really, really liking them a whole lot. Yeah, I even bought the CD. (Thanks for the enviro-friendly packaging, guys! I appreciate that.) I'm even thinking of going to see them at Cafe du Nord tonight. But since I saw them for free today, and will see them tomorrow with Arctic Monkeys for a mere $13 (thank you GAMH!), I kind of hate to pay $10 to see them tonight. Contrary to popular belief, I am not made of money. There is one guy on craigslist looking for a date to the show tonight. Maybe I'll look him up and at least save $2 on an advance ticket.

So March is my friend Kathy's birthday month (the official party was last night, plus drinks tomorrow on the actual day). She's Irish-born / Italian-adopted, so with St. Patrick's day in close proximity, she pretty much lays claim to March as an all-out excuse to drink the rest of us under the table. I'm a lightweight to begin with, so that's not hard. The thing that's killing me this year is, I said I'd meet for drinks tomorrow (her actually birthday) because the crew that works at the West Coast Since trading hours are EST, they start work at 5am and hit the bars by 2:15pm. Then I'm supposed to meet Larry and his 2 friends at the Hemlock Tavern at 7PM for a brew or two before the show. So I have to pace myself or I'll be under the table by the time the Arctic Monkeys come on. Yeah, it's not easy being me.        
    

Craptastic cell phone pic of Spinto Band at Amoeba

p.s. - oh, NOW you tell me!

Wow. Great show last night! I am really kicking myself now for missing them the last two times. (Yeah, I was kicking myself before, but even more now.) They used to open for the Lovemakers (gave Lisa & Scott a shoutout at the show last night). I've seen the Lovemakers four times with Larry since the first time we saw them open for Kaiser Chiefs at Slim's last March, but never with She Wants Revenge. The Kaiser Chiefs show was the first Larry/Ed encounter - which is way too long a story to go into now - but it turns out Ed hates the Lovemakers. He says they're the only band he's ever walked out on. (Which just goes to show, it pays to window shop [inlink]twisted,329[/inlink] when it comes to music buddies to compensate for anomolies like that.)

Anyway, when Larry started going out with Britta he took her to see the Lovemakers with She Wants Revenge at the Fillmore last November (without me, obviously, since they were just starting to get together). Then, they were going to see both again co-headlining at Mezzanine on New Year's Eve. But instead of going to the show, they broke up. In other words, I missed two great double bills for nothing!

All I can is, if I could go back in time, I would do things differently. Ok, that might not be at the very top of the list, but still.

p.s. - I'm really not heartless. Just practical.

Ok, I would not have phrased it quite this way, but apparently I'm The Window Shopper (Random Gentle Love Dreamer). Yes, I admit even when I'm in a relationship I have one eye open in case something better comes along, so that's probably what nailed me. But I've never cheated on anyone. That I can remember, haha.

Thank God my usersound is already appropriate. You'll just have to endure one more round from Dogs Die In Hot Cars. I promise I'll change it later. Maybe I'll grab a sound clip at the show tonight. Then I can spend hours transferring, converting, editing and uploading my clip. Great! (e:Paul) - could you please stop making this site so cool? I barely have time to keep up as it is. ;-)

p.s. - I think recent circumstances may have skewed my results somewhat. I wouldn't really call myself "random" so much as, um, noncommittal. Yeah, that's it. Then again, everyone's self-perception is skewed to begin with - including mine - so maybe that's it.

I'm finally getting around to finishing the Sunday paper. Here are a few tidbits from the "Pop Beat" column.

I'm compiling a list of my most memorable music moments of 2006. Right at the top of that list is the Lovemakers' Valentine's Day show at the Great American Music Hall, when, for their encore, the East Bay foursome pulled from its retro repertoire a dead-on cover of the spooky Cure classic "A Forest" that would have had black streaks of joy running down Robert Smith's powdered cheeks.

That's exactly [inlink]twisted,307[/inlink] what I said!

Oh, and (e:Jessbob)'s pal's the Spinto Band are playing a free show at Amoeba on Sunday. Anybody want to go? Oh, dagnabbit! You all still live 3,000 miles away! Can't I get anybody to come out here?

p.s. - wow, three posts in one day. Just like old times!

p.p.s. - I also suggested to dear John that we catch the [link=www.beniceparty.com]Be Nice Party[/link] next month, since I noticed it too late for tonight. Never hurts to have a wingman/woman.

I guess I should inlink even if I'm only referring back to my previous post when continuing a story. Let me clarify.

"Break up" [inlink]twisted,326[/inlink] was a exaggeration. Here's the whole timeline:

Sunday 9PM: I respond to a m4w post on craigslist
Sunday 10PM: after a few rounds of email we decide to meet for a drink
Monday 6-8:30PM: aforementioned drinks, as described here [inlink]twisted,325[/inlink]

Here's exactly what happened after that. He sent me the following email from his "real" email account (previously he had used a generic account - common practice on craigslist before you meet face to face):

"It was fun to meet you. If you're really interested please send me your # so I can call you."

I responded, also switching to my real email account:

Hi John. It was great meeting you last night. It's uncanny how much we have in common - especially considering we met through craigslist.

From your ad I know you're looking for love and a LTR. I really enjoyed hanging out together and would be into doing that again. But I don't feel the kind of connection to be dating each other. I don't mean to make what may seem like a premature determination, but I've been putting off sending my reply for that reason, so I wanted to be upfront about it. Anyway, I do like you and would be interested in doing stuff together. Some guys who are looking for a LTR only want to focus on that. You don't seem like that type, but with your limited social time I could totally understand if you wanted to reserve it for finding that special someone and spending time with your current friends. But if you ever want to do something together, give me a call or send me an email!

Lisa
(with my phone number)


His reply:

Lisa,

Thanks for the nice note, I appreciate your candor. Yes, I am interested in meeting someone with an intimate relationship as the end goal.

That being said, I did enjoy meeting you and you seem very cool and together and I could see getting together from time to time for some laughs. Who knows we might introduce each other to the perfect mate! And as far as I know yo can't have enough friends.

So promise to call me if there is something going on or youre in the neighborhood and I'll do the same.

John

My point about screwing and chemistry is this. I would much prefer chemistry and good conversation any day of the week. That's ultimately what I'm looking for. But the difference I've seen between women and men is, even if there's no chemistry some guys will screw you until they get bored. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but don't be surprised when the chick is pissed six weeks later when you then tell her you're breaking up because there's no chemistry. Can you guys get that, or no? I thought it was pretty simple. It would be better to say upfront "I really don't see us together long term, but I could sure use a good fuck if you're up for it." See what I'm saying?

On the flip side, if there's chemistry but no conversation, hopefully at some point you both come to the same realization. But I agree if I ended up screwing someone I couldn't see having a certain rapport with, I should probably say something upfront about that too. Unfortunately that hasn't come up for me yet. I'll keep you posted.


p.s. -

Just so you know I'm not out to lambaste the male of the species (if that were the case I would have properly categorized my post with one of the many colorful categories created by hodown - which I have been dying to use - but my damn inherent sense of diplomacy won't let me until I have just cause) here's an afterthought.

I have to correct myself about women 'typically' not screwing a guy if there's no chemistry. I have seen some women who will screw a guy just to prove to herself she's worth screwing. I have no other words of wisdom about that, just an observation.