“Espace Jean Villar” is an unassuming movie house and club in an outlying suburb of Paris. This twisty, drizzly township is called Arcueil, and it was (we’re told more than once) the home of minimalist composer Erik Satie. Happy Apple, a Twin Cities jazz trio, is making its European debut here. I’m along as the … Read more
I think Bob Mould [The Broken Clock, March] deserves to do whatever he wants, and I know that no matter what he does I am going to respect him as the talented songwriter he is. What he has produced on Modulate is interesting; there is that underlying Bob Mould attitude that he will never lose, … Read more
Steve Perry’s story on Carl Pohlad and the effort to eliminate the Twins was interesting and well written, but Perry could scarcely hide his contempt. That’s fine, but I think he inadvertently gives these old men way too much credit. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that these people are simply bumbling dilettantes … Read more
As a native provincial, until recent years I’d always maintained the private notion that our city was smart rather than nice or mean (or nice and mean). But without a free non-monopoly press it hasn’t been possible to hear the voices of real individuals like I had been used to. The current formula of the … Read more
To quote Maggie Smith in Gosford Park—“Yummy, yummy, yummy!!” What a splendid opening entre! Indie writers unite! Thanks especially for Billy Golfus’ memorial piece on Larry Kegan [“Last Song from the Big Chair,” March]. I didn’t know he’d left us and what a day to go! I’ll miss Larry around the planet. Looking forward to … Read more
In your review of the Xena DVD [The Broken Clock, March], your writer suggests that the Xena series paved the way for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon type films. I am writing to remind you that wirework fight scenes involving women and men have been utilized in Hong Kong cinema far before Xena existed. And while … Read more
You may recall a sampler CD that I sent to you last week containing 8 songs from Weezer’s forthcoming album, Maladroit. Please ignore that CD for the time being as I wasn’t supposed to have sent it yet. I was overeager for you all to hear it and I jumped the gun. Unfortunately, there is … Read more
I want to describe where we are trying to go with The Rake, and to beg your patience while we inevitably stumble on our way. Basically, we want to be storytellers. All the other stuff we’ll do will be to make room for more stories. I always envied my father’s ability to make up stories … Read more
Thanks for Steve Perry’s honest assessment of the post 9/11 prettification. If the experience is edited down to the fiery explosions, a few brave men raising a flag, and a sweetly stoic wife, you’ve got a Bruce Willis movie. The horror that is the reality is, I suppose, depressing and therefore un-American. I worked across … Read more
If you think Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign was the last time Minnesotans were considered a threat to their fellow Americans, guess again. According to fans of public radio here in California the Gopher State, and in particular Minnesota Public Radio President Bill Kling, are squandering one of our most precious intellectual resources. “The daily advertisement … Read more