Fire in the Disco, Fire in the Taco Bell

I've successfully passed another St. Patrick's Day without ingesting Green beer. It's one of those holidays that sounds good in theory, but for me has always represented hardcore, chaotic drunkenness, rather than my much preferred low-key, friendly drunkenness.

There's a UGO feature on Ted Leo, including a video of him doing an acoustic version of Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone". Check it out twice.

Be on the lookout for The Decemberist's trailer, which was stolen with all their gear in it. At this point their tour is going to go mostly as planned, including a stop in Boulder about 35 miles away next week, but for me, it's A) On a Tuesday, 2) about 35 miles away, and iii) at a venue I don't much care for.

Some shows I'm excited about in the next few weeks at the Larimer, though. Two nights with Split Lip Rayfield on 4/1 and 4/2, and Electric Six on the 10th.

I've alluded to it in the past, but I'm a big fan of Mimi Smartypants. The other day I was looking in the mirror and one eyebrow hair on each side was sticking straight up. I was sorely tempted to glue sesame seeds to the ends and pretend they were antennae. The difference between me and Mimi though, is that she would have actually done it.

Alan wants to take you to a Gay Bar

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I get a contact buzz

So, I'm pretty much all moved. Everything is out of the old place, but I still need to get a few boxes of kitchen stuff out of storage (I was using my roommate's stuff before, not eating out of a Burger King bag over the kitchen sink, if that's what you were thinking). New place is working out well, it's great having a 25 minute commute at the peak of rush hour, vs. 45-60 from the old place. I have the sneaking suspicion it's going to pretty unbearably hot come Summer though, since we had a nice warm weekend and it was hitting 75 with the windows closed. Perhaps I can get a second job so I can afford to run the air conditioner. There's always sex work.

So far three different people have suggested I grow things on the balcony. I'm not sure the coca, poppies and marijuana idea will work in this climate, but if anyone knows any Peruvian peasants I'd like an expert opinion before I completely nix it. If that doesn't work out, I do like the idea of getting one of those lattice-work pergolas and training peas and tomatoes up the sides.

If I hadn't just simultaneously moved and donated all my money to worthwhile causes like the U-Haul corporation, I'd be more than just tempted to hop in the car after work Friday and drive down to Austin for The Features/Kings of Leon show Saturday night. Perhaps I would develop mechanical trouble that would force me to stay there all next week, and I'd be forced to console myself by drinking heavily and watching as many other live shows as humanly possible during SXSW.

Alan is intended for external use only

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For a long time I felt without style or grace

I get the excitement and privilege of moving to a new place this weekend, the second time I'll have moved in the last six months, after living in the same place for 15 years. Much as I hate moving, the new place is huge, closer to work, and I'll be living alone again, all of which are good things. On the down side, it's in a neighborhood that is nothing but asphalt and appartment buildings, there's no landscaping to speak of for blocks in most directions, and it's now going to be a lot less convenient to stop at the Larimer for a beer or ten after work.

Speaking of the Larimer, I caught a really good local band there Monday night. They're called Fallout Orphan (three members used to be in another local band called The Penelope Project). Very, very good stuff, and one of them plays a sax, which is always good for points in my book. No Morphine covers, though I toyed with the idea of suggessting it. Based on the crowd reaction, including the Larimer employees I was drinking with, they should be a band to watch.

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