Self-editing is overrated. Or is it?

Saturday, October 07, 2006

The single funniest concert rider that I have ever seen.

Normally, tech riders for bands aren't that interesting. Occasionally, they will have some outrageous request like brown M&M's only backstage in a bowl or things like "the artist requests an all-white dressing room with a white tiger playing a white grand piano". Things like that. It's typical.

OK, this is the concert rider for the upcoming tour for Iggy And The Stooges. It was written by tour manager Jos Grain and it is truly remarkable in how funny it is from page to page. Do yourself a favor and read this whole thing. It's worth it. Thank god for The Smoking Gun!

Click on each picture to see it close up or just click here to read it on Smoking Gun's website. Enjoy!

Friday, October 06, 2006

The Best Man



This life I got, it's good. Really good, actually. But sometimes it's kinda like being in the circus. Ya see, I go places, show up, do my tricks, and then move on to the next show as soon as I can. That's just how it's gotta be so I can make a living.

Along the way, I meet a lot of terrific people, some of whom become long-lasting friends and some of whom are my friends just for that time we're together. I don't mind. Working in the theatre requires all of us to instantly band together as a team (and hopefully as friends, although you never know) to achieve the common goal: a great show that people will respond to.

Sometimes, in the heat and rush of putting it all together, you might forget about the individual contributions of people because you're just trying to get it all done. Maybe you'll move on to the next show without really ever having time to reflect on what made the thing you just did so special.

But sometimes, things will happen that will force you to reflect.

I've been associated with the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company in Chicago since their inception 10 years ago and they're always one of my favorite companies to work for. Just a couple of weeks ago, we opened their new play "The Best Man" by Gore Vidal. It has a terrific cast, great direction, great script and, as a result, has been getting tremendous reviews and great houses. It was a really satisfying experience all around, and when things work like this, it makes me proud to do what I do.

Yesterday afternoon, in a matinee performance, Gene Janson, who plays the former president Art Hocksteader, collapsed onstage and was rushed to the hospital by the members of the cast and the audience. He died a short time later with his family at the hospital. He was 72.

I didn't know Gene well. He was celebrating his 50th year as a professional actor in Chicago. I hadn't worked with him before, but he was extremely friendly and took a real interest in what I was doing. As an actor, he literally stole the show, and audiences loved him. He was doing what he did best and it was a true honor to work with him.

I want to send my condolences and best wishes to his family, and also to the cast and crew of "The Best Man who are devastated by this loss. Gene will be truly missed.

Today's performances of the show have been cancelled, but, in true show business fashion, the show must go on. "The Best Man" will return soon, and will continue running. But for all of us, we have this moment to reflect on why we do this and what it means to everyone when it's done well.

Thanks, Gene.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

New Tom Waits track here!




Truly incredible news!

Tom Waits will release a 56-song, 3-disc collection called Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards on November 21 via Anti- Records.





The set, which took 3 years to compile and record, contains 30 new and never before heard recordings, plus rare songs taken from collaborations with artists in film, literature and music and comes complete with a 94-page handmade booklet of lyrics and rare photos.

Now, you're all like "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! WHERE? HOW DO I GET IT? HOW?!"

Relax, sugar! Ain't I been good to you?

Here, download a new song from the upcoming release, a truly gorgeous ballad called "You Can Never Hold Back Spring".

Nice, huh? Now don't say I never did nothing for ya!

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

The Devil Is Giving Away His Popcorn!






Oh my god.

This is not popcorn. This is the devil's popcorn and he is giving it away for free.

If you have not had this stuff before, save yourself! It is literally too freakin good. I mean it. This is serious business.

Do not click here!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

The Two Things That I Learned Today.

All right, I'm gonna admit something here. I have been working my ass off lately.

I know, I know, I work hard alla time, but seriously, the last month has been nuts. I've been in a different city every two days for the last month, and working on a different show every day. It's been CRAZY. And with 4 shows in NYC, LA, and San Francisco in the next two weeks, it's not gonna slow down.

So there I was, last night, working hard until I couldn't work anymore. Drowsiness was overcoming me slowly and I felt myself about to drift off to sleep with my computer still in my lap. Then, in my final seconds of consciousness, I suddenly bolted upright with a terrifying thought:

"Holy crap, I have to take my son to Disneyland tomorrow for his birthday!"

I have never been to Disneyland before. YES! YOU HEARD ME! JUDGE ME IF YOU WILL, BUT DAMMIT, I'VE NEVER BEEN! SO EAT IT, MICKEY!

In 6 hours, I have to go there. And I have no idea what the hell I'm going to do when I get there. I've got a total of 5 hours there with a 4 year old who's counting on me. What the hell am I going to do?



Thank god for this book right here: "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" by Bob Schlesinger. It is freakin awesome. I mean it, I don't know this guy, I do not work for the publisher, I have no connection whatsoever with this book, but let me tell you by the time I got to Anaheim today, I was the freakin expert on the place.

Now I hear what you're saying: "Lindsay Jones, did you honestly leave your child in the car and run into Borders this morning and buy this book so that you would somehow pull a successful Disneyland trip out of your ass?", to which I can only say: Are you kidding me? How long have we known each other? Would you expect anything less from me?

But I gotta tell you this book saved my ass! Why, you may ask? Well, literally, I was just sitting on my couch in the middle of the night thinking: "If only somebody would just tell me what to do step-by-step with a 4 year old in one day at Disneyland." and lo and behold, there is a chapter called "What To Do Step-By-Step With A Four Year Old In One Day At Disneyland"! Why isn't life always this easy?!?

Anyway, it worked out great. If you're going to Disneyland, buy this book. If anybody knows of other books where the answers to my questions are spelled out in chapter titles, please forward these books to me immediately.

So that's the first thing that I learned today.

The other thing? Oh, right. The other thing is: Always keep your eye on Goofy.

Monday, October 02, 2006

I Love YouTube...

But have you ever wondered how to save those damn videos so you can watch them whenever you want?

Enter Tian, to tell us what he has learned.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

There's weird, there's really weird...

and then there's Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" sung entirely in Japanese. Badly.

Fine, don't believe me. Just click play below.








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