I just got back from seeing Punch-Drunk Love with a few friends: Jamie, Willis, Scott, Jane, and Colin. People like to see their names listed on websites as important as this one, especially the often experienced, rarely mentioned Dave Spiese, with whom both Tom and I ate lunch on Friday. We typically eat lunch together on Tuesdays and more often than not patronize Dairy Queen for some reason. In any case, Adam Sandler was unexpectedly brilliant in Punch-Drunk Love, playing a terribly off-kilter and unbalanced personally, with the right mix of humor, charm, psychosis, and uncontrollable rage that one likes to have in their leading movie characters. Emily Watson somehow balances him out, and, while her role is brilliant as well, it is not as amazing as Mr. Sandler’s. All in all, P.T. Anderson delivers a quirky, intriguing, dark comedy with enough tension to leave the viewer on the edge of his or her seat waiting for everything to derail. Maybe my opinion will change by morning.
I just looked through the autographed copy of Zadie Smith’s The Autograph Man. There is some lush irony in seeing “To Scott, Zadie Smith” written on the title page of a book about a man who sells autographs. But, that’s okay, and in the days and/or weeks to come, I can look forward to reading this novel. Willis also came through with some special bootleg recordings, as a good friend should.
Last night was the big show at ResetArt in Philadelphia. Though sparsely attended, the evening was a good one for music. I cannot say that Reels of White Softly Flow’s set was great without any degree of bias, so I will just mention that it was at least fun to have played. Joey Sweeney delivered a solidly amazing acoustic set, purposely wowing the crowd and pandering to the request of a Smiths’ cover (I think Ethan was a little too wound up for asking). Mr. Sweeney definitely played his A game. Early Day Miners definitely impressed, overcoming the possibilities of bad sound in the tiled gallery space, the band offered up a couple of new songs, as well as several songs from Let Us Garlands Bring, and at least one song from their Placer Sound debut. I think everyone who attended was genuinely pleased.
Afterwards, quite a few of us visited the nearby German establishment to round out the evening, before I escorted the Early Day Miners to Pat’s Steaks for a showing of true Philadelphia. We were not let down. At least one of the males behind us spent at least half of our time in line quite loudly cursing out his girlfriend for her unknown offenses. No wonder we stopped being the city of brotherly love, but what can one expect while getting a cheesesteak at about 2:30 in the morning. After I watched the meat eaters in the band descend on their greasy sandwiches, we swung by the Liberty Bell before going to my house.
So, all in all, it was a pretty busy weekend. Not too much excitement planned for the week, except for the Damien Jurado/TW Walsh/Songs:Ohia show at the Northstar on Thursday. I’ll be there ready to soak in the rokk.
:::scott:::