My Attempt To Get Into The X-Mas Spirit: Part 1

Christmas is so mainstream.

Thanksgiving came and went. I filled up on some really great home-cooked meals, met up with some friends from back home, and even made a few bucks at my regular job. But even before my family members and I sat down for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas was in mighty form. Special sales, lit houses, those eerie 1970's clay animated Christmas specials on TV, the whole shebang. And now Christmas is batting a 1,000. The university and community is cluttered with seasons greetings decorations and even on KUR, every commercial break sees a holiday liner. For me, X-Mas couldn't feel further away.

I like to blame my workload. Senior year hasn't been as easy-going as anticipated. Did you know the library stays open until 12 am? Neither did I, until I was scrambling to get a project completed earlier this week. Finals week, stress and the run-a-round of campus life hasn't quite made me a Scrooge, but it hasn't made me anything, really. Maybe I'm looking for an end to it all.

With the show completed until 2010 (despite our second annual Christmas Special, which I'll talk about in another post), I find myself in a weird spot. What can I look forward to before and after Christmas? I need a little help finding joy in the season.

One person that has been a beacon of hope through all of this otherwise pitch-black holiday season for me, has been none other than Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan? Bob Dylan. He's got a new Christmas album out now, titled Christmas Is In The Heart and one song is a very cool remake. "Must Be Santa" is the name and it's all about Kringle coming to town. Not my favorite X-Mas tune ever, that comes later. But I do enjoy it and maybe you will, too. Reminds me of how much I looked forward to Santa delivering presents on that silent night. My favorite was writing to him on the Eve. The illusion sold and it's just something I always loved doing.

Bob Dylan - "Must Be Santa"

So enjoy the video for it. I feel like an alternative rocker in 1994, wishfully hoping for a simpler time. But then again, I've been thinking that way as soon as I entered college. But this sort of thing will continue until I get in the spirit, or the holiday passes and I'm cool with it. We shall see.

Merry Christmas.

This Day In Rock: 8-30-64

ON THIS DAY IN ROCK: In 1964, Bob Dylan introduced The Beatles to one of world's finest herbal delicacies: marijuana. An odd pairing to begin with, and I'm sure the pot only made it more awkward. What happened next, well, The Beatles got really experimental in their records and Dylan kept on being Dylan. Below is a video that fellow KUR DJ Andy Palamara showed me earlier this year which is pretty much what most people believe to have happened on this day in rock:

The Meth Minute #39: Bob Meets The Beatles

The Beatles - "I Am The Walrus"
Bob Dylan - "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"

The Beatles: Rock Band is out September 9th on all platforms of video games. And weed is out on the corner of any busy street.

Recent Stuff Wrap-Up

How have all you been? Good? That's good. How about that Radiohead? Pretty wild, eh?

It's been a busy week for me, personally. I officially feel like a grown-up workin' man after knocking out a 40+ hour work week. That sucked. But now it's over, and I'll have a nice paycheck in time for school (leaving for Kutztown on August 30th), and I can finally catch up on sleep/the world of rock 'n' roll. Let me see what I can muster up for a respectable post:

First, Woodstock was 40 years ago this weekend. I can't think of anything more anti-mainstream than the late 60's counterculture/hippie movement and the greatest concert of all time (I like to think Tim & Eric live in Philadelphia this past February was a close second). Have you seen the trailer for Taking Woodstock starring Demetri Martin, Emile Hirsch, and Eugene Levy? It looks really cool. And it's getting some nice reviews. Here you go:

My dad has a close friend who actually made it up to Bethel, New York back in '69 for the "3 Days of Peace & Music". He said it was incredible, and from all the footage and documents I've seen and read, I believe him. And my envy for those born in past generations that experienced great events like these, continues to soar to higher levels of jealousy. Dang.

Joe Cocker - "A Little Help From My Friends"

Next. Did you hear about Bob Dylan in my homeland, peeking into houses and spooking the natives? I'll go to CNN for this one. "Like a complete unknown". The man can do no wrong, despite his wacky antics. Check out this dude's quote at the end: "Dylan was really cool about the whole incident," Ahart said. He said he asked the singer why he had been walking in the rain and was told, "I just felt like going for a walk." Weird NJ.

Moving on. Be on the look out for new music coming out soon. The latest from Destroyer and Jay Reatard (August 18th); Arctic Monkeys and Imogen Heap (August 25th); and Whitney Houston (September 1st). Guess which one I'm really excited about. And though it hasn't been proven yet, Radiohead might slip us a surprise EP or a single tomorrow. Read Jim's post to get filled in. What an exciting time for good music.

In live music news, (I should've covered this while it was happening), KUR recently broadcasted live from Musik Fest in Bethlehem, PA. The whole thing lasted from July 31st til August 9th. Our manager did a lot of the work himself, covering the artists and the festival as whole. That's a bit of a distance for me, but I heard it was great. A lot great bands: The Wallflowers, Yes, Third Eye Blind, The B-52's, and a ton of local acts.

Yes - "I've Seen All Good People"

That's all for me. But like I said, the summer really is flying by. I can't believe it. I'm getting so old...

New Dylan - "Beyond Here Lies Nothing"

This song's got more rasp than a razz tea from Turkey Hill. And that's a lot of rasp. (Raspberries? Raspy voice? Get it? I will never be a legit music writer, not at this rate). Anyway, here's the video for Bob Dylan's latest from Through Life, and it's called "Beyond Here Lies Nothing". Dylan's getting up there in age and his son will definitely never reach his father's level, so here's what we've got from the coolest man on the planet for the past 50 years, now in 2009. The video, more like film, is pretty intense. And it's not for children. IFC gets the job done on this one. Check-check it.

I miss the radio show. I should've played this one.

But then again, I'm a bigger fan of "Tangled Up In Blue" and I believe it's more college radio-worthy.