I own, and wear, this t-shirt.

“My function is to raise the possibility, ‘Hey, you know, some of this stuff might be bullshit.’” — Robert Anton Wilson

Robert Anton Wilson

Pope, Genius, Awesome

BoingBoing paid homage to one of the most underappreciated pillars of the post everything culture. He is, by far, the most influential person in my life. I just realized this, upon reflection. He showed me that I am the master who makes the grass green, and the map is not the territory.

BoingBoing devoted a whole week to Robert Anton Wilson. You can read every wonderful word of it right here.

Thanks for the image, Mystic Politics

A better partnership than Page/Plant at this point

And you try to tell me with consternation
That you have found me a brand new lock
Then you try to warn me that there’s only one combination
One new sling – the same old rock

I told you I would post this as soon as I found a video, and I have. Ok, This video was around on Sunday morning, but a brother’s got to make his paper, so I had to put this off. Irregahdless, this song, and performance, is truly sublime. I owe my brethren at FBO for this, as they’re always the first with this kind of stuff.

Jimmy played on the original, back in 1969/70, and it was just like this, but not as passionate.  They key to enjoying this is to not expect a JIMMY PAGE performance. This is Roy’s night, in Roy’s town, to Roy’s crowd. Roy Harper is a true artist, bard, visionary… in a very English way.  He’s magnificent, pure, and (as a result) at times a bit hokey to those not in the same zeitgeist.

This song is an indictment of organized religion and dogma. The rock referred to is not rock and roll, it’s the hurled rock of the defiant against the system. Davy/Goliath.  It’s beautiful. Jimmy plays beautifully and really cuts loose at the end (this song is long. folks. Either pay perfect attention, or zone out and come back at the end when the guitar gets good), and it makes me wonder why the fuck Jimmy doesn’t do more work with Roy. After all, he’s made 5 albums with Roy Harper, and they’re all classics.  There’s been talk about tendonitis or arthritis impinging upon Jimmy’s ability to really bend strings that well anymore… so play acoustic, motherfucker.

This is beautiful. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2bdLAVHbQU

Jimmy Page joins Roy Harper for The Same Old Rock

The Fifth Of November

Remember

Roy Harper threw a 70th birthday concert on 11/5 (or 5/11 to our brothers across the pond), and Jimmy Page came out for the encore. I have pictures, and I have a testimonial, but I’ve not found any video. I will post it when I do.

Hopalong Zimmerman

He Held Your Hand

And He Sang You A Song

Ima kill the discourteous motherfucker.

This is one of the great SUN Records classics, completely hit out of the park by Balladeer Bob Dylan, the rockabilly troubador. I’m serious. Click the picture of Bob to hear the original. I’ll wait. … not bad, right? A bit tinny, and too fast maybe, but a really good song.

Now listen to Bob Dylan’s cover. It’s a zillion times better, and it’s (relatively) recent (2003 I believe).  It’s got swagger, groove, and some of that swampy creeping darkness. Like that point just outside the reach of the streetlight,  where there could be trouble. Dylan growls and wheezes the undercurrent of menace that the song has. Heartbreak and betrayal make guys kill people. They make people crazy. Who you been lovin since I been gone? Answer me.

He was long and tall, had plenty of cash. He had a red Cadillac and a black mustache.

[I just deleted some of the darkest, funniest, most alienating stuff I've written in years. Those who know me know how dark and mean and evil I can get... it was like that but funnier. Horribly, unforgivably awful. I'd rather run through Birmingham on MLK day in a white hood, yelling the n word with middle fingers upraised, than publish what I wrote. Lou Reed and William Burroughs would get up and leave. So.. um... listen to the damn song. It's good]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmTWrBmjRsE

Courtesy Of Cassini Probe

What Does It All Mean, Basil?

Which way is it pointing?

I wish the picture had been taken from a better angle, but I see it. The Cassini Probe has given me many lovely picture posts, like this and this. This arrow shaped cloud is, alas, not directions to the party that the cool kids are having. It’s just science. Pretty cool doodle, though. I found this story on Softpedia news.

This clockwork beauty actually writes on her canvas.

Articulated and Articulate

17th Century Robots

Karakuri is the art of clockwork automation, dating back to Japan’s Edo Period (17th and 18th Centuries). Once the spring powered clockwork mechanism hit Japan, in the 1600s, the Japanese put the spring’s stored energy to use with art, flair, and grace.

These automatons can perform incredibly intricate, and detailed, acts like writing calligraphy, notching and shooting a bow and arrow, and serving tea. Watch the video. It’s totally worth it.

These are nothing link the creepy, gonna get you, Japanese robots of today.

I found this video on Laughing Squid, so thanks to them for showing me the Coolest Thing Ever.

Karakuri from Matthew Allard on Vimeo.

Just Watch It. You Will Be Moved.

Unbelievably Powerful

Sand Animation

Ukranian artist (and polymath) Kseniya Simonova seems a little Bjorky, in a good way. By this I mean I think he creativity is off the chart tectonic, like a meteor of ball lightning. If you read her About Me, you’ll see she has a bunch of degrees in carious subjects. She’s a genius for sure. It’s nuts.

The level of performance over expectation may not be as great as Susan Boyle, but it is much higher than the Natalie Imbruglia Mime (and he was great!). This video features Kseniya Simonova’s appearance on Ukraine’s Got Talent, which I’ve never seen but assume is better than 90% of US programming.

“You are always nearby” is the name of this piece. It is about the Nazi invasion of the the Ukraine, and what it did to the people. It’s rough. The music is absolutely essential to the experience. The camera cuts to the audience, and the judges, a few times, and everyone is in tears. A comment from the actual YouTube page is enlightening. I know I have a Vimeo vid embedded. It’s because it’s better quality.

The whole animation reflects the events of the Great Patriotic War in 1941-1945 which devastated hundreds of cities and villages in Ukraine, Belarus and Western Russia and killed 20 million people . At 1:40 your can hear the voice of a radioman announcing German invasion of the USSR. Since there was practically no family in the Soviet Union who would not had lost at least one family member to that war, it’s still hurting. That’s why people crying. I hope this answers your question.

Watch it and tell me what you think. I think it’s the Coolest Thing Ever.

Война from simonova.tv on Vimeo.

The man gets around

It’s Not Led Zeppelin

Moldejazz 2011

You will probably not like this. It’s pure, free, improvisation. Most people call it noise. Supersilent is a Norwegian avant garde improv group, that’s been around almost 15 years.

This clip is from the Moldejazz Festival 2011 (just a few days ago), and features Jonesy jumping in and kicking ass with the mighty nords. John Paul Jones keeps busy like a mofo, and always doing cool stuff, like Seasick Steve, or the collaboration with Sonic Youth, or the Anna Nicole opera, or his own supergroup, Them Crooked Vultures.

Jimmy Page recently launched a website. John Paul Jones FTW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GkS6dVZqEw

One Of Their Best Concerts Ever

Unbelievable Solos From Jimmy Page

Synced With Knebworth Video

Today is the 32nd anniversary of the last truly virtuoso Led Zeppelin concert (in my opinion). On July 23rd and 24th Zeppelin played two gigs at the Falkoner Theater, in Copenhagen Denmark, as a warm up for the huge Knebworth shows the next month (8/4 and 8/11/79).

The first Knebworth show was pretty awesome, but it didn’t reach the levels of fluidity, and virtuosity of the Copenhagen gigs.  Jimmy Page plays like it’s 1973 again, and the rest of the band is right behind him.I recently shared the band’s 1971 Copenhagen gig.

This version of Ten Years Gone has been synced to the video of the same same song, from 8/4/79.   The sync works almost perfectly. The solos played by Jimmy are exquisite. Not ‘grading on the curve’  or ‘exquisiste for junky Jimmy’.  I mean really, truly amazing (especially that descending run at the end of the second solo).  32 years ago today, this song was played marvelously, and you can hear it anytime you want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXH64kAigBE

ZoCrowes Reunion 2011

Final Crowes Show In UK

Jimmy Page got offstage about two hours ago, from playing with the Black Crowes on their farewell to England Tour. This video appeared on YouTube about 20 minutes ago (from post time). I act fast. Jimmy Page was supposed to launch his website today. That hasn’t happened yet, but he’s getting a shitload of traffic from thousands of fans refreshing ten time a minute. Clever, Mr. Page, but a bit dickish. The teen girls on Tumblr are apoplectic.

Continuing the trend of actually playing the guitar (rather than just posing with one) Jimmy Page joined the Black Crowes at the Shepherds Bush Empire, for a rousing rendition of Shake Your Moneymaker. Jimmy’s looking good, rocking the leather jacket and white hair. He’s cool as fuck. In fact he’s the Coolest Thing Ever. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QQ4HSPejX4