Hey, remember way back in November of last year when I mentioned Kirby Krackle was working on a secret project we called Project:MOONBASE?
No? Well, I almost forgot about it myself, until late last week. Long story short, Marvel (yeah, that Marvel) commissioned a song by us for a web series called "The Watcher." Since Marvel owns the tune, we had to wait for them to release it. Which they eventually did, during the San Diego Comic Con, only I didn't hear about it until now.
And! Marvel apparently made a video, which is by turns wondrous and hilarious and disturbing with more than a few WTF? moments. So please enjoy "Who Watches The Watcher?"* featuring Mr. Kyle Stevens as the voice of Uatu. Yeah. That's messed up.
Still Alive Undead: My Life as a Slayer Discography, by Kelly O. "This first night, I get too close and I'm immediately rewarded with an elbow to the face. The experience doesn't stop me from seeing Slayer 19 more times, though, 'cause like Mom always said: Nobody ever died from a bloody nose."
Just wanted to tell y'all that the new Kirby Krackle's new high-precision nerd-rock album Super Powered Love is now available on iTunes, Bandcamp and probably elsewhere. (Except Spotify, which is sloooowwww to get new releases, apparently.)
We debuted SPL at the San Diego Comic Con this year. It was pretty great. I've rarely had the chance to perform for an electrified audience that knew all the lyrics. I unfortunately didn't get the chance to check out any panels or the crazy tradeshow floor action, but this guy dropped by our show:
Also: John Cusack was on our return flight to LAX, two seats in front of me.
If you're reading this, and you're in Seattle or parts nearby, get thee to Piecora's Back Room tonight and witness Explone and Super Projection tear it up at a rare all-ages show. I can guarantee there will be pizza and there will be rock. Pizza topped with rock, perhaps.
So, Kin to Stars. Straight up, I was nervous as hell. Nearly - but not quite - puke nervous. I thought I was just dehydrated and had been drinking what seemed like gallons of water beforehand, trying to shake it off. It wasn't until I sat down in front of the full-house crowd and started tuning up one last time that I realized it wasn't dehydration but sheer, mute terror. My god! The lights! The people! The tuning! Thank god Jerin took the lead, introducing us to the crowd and making happy intro chatter, before some piteous mewling escaped my lips.
I didn't start to loosen up until the fourth song or so. I assume we did well up to that point since I do recall hearing excited applause through a bright, gauzy haze of panic. Then I finally got a grip and started enjoying the ride.
We played eleven songs, eight originals, two reworked solo tunes (one mine, one hers) and one cover song. The crowd was with us, and Jerin and I have done enough shows together pre-KtS that between-song banter comes pretty easy. The show was recorded, so with any luck we'll make some live tracks available soon.
Starting what we hope will be a tradition, we put out comment cards for people to fill out, and encouraged them to doodle during the show. We just posted a gallery of some of them on our Facebook page. All of them are awesome! Some are both awesome and worrisome! Dragons, archers and locomotives? Was the spirit of Ronnie James Dio in attendance? I'd like to think so.
In any case, not bad for a first run, test-your-sea-legs show. We have a better idea now of what worked, what could be improved, and where to go with it next. So, many thanks to everyone, for your listenage and feedbackery. I think it's safe to say there'll be a Show #2.
As for rhinos and hippos -- you kind of had to be there.
Walking around at lunch last week I found this ghost bike memorial for Mike Wang, who was struck and killed by an SUV while biking home from work. Police are still looking for the driver, who fled the scene.
The influx of new businesses and upscale restaurants, shopping and residences in the revitalized SLU area of Seattle have immensely increased the danger to the (likewise) growing number of cyclists and pedestrians. At rush hour, hundreds of impatient drivers pack the streets near Mercer and the I-5 ramps, jockeying for position in brief fits of road rage.
Seattle has a reputation as a bike-friendly town, but suffice to say, I am less and less interested in biking around my city these days.
Via Mike Barbre, a nice snap of us (Explone) playing at the benefit for Tracy Dart at The Bridge, which despite its dive-y exterior had a really classy menu (bacon-wrapped dates, you guys!) and awesome selection of IPAs on tap. There were like a gazillion people in attendance so I hope they raised a ton of cash for Tracy. She is well-loved.
I -- probably should have buttoned that top shirt button...
I meant to write a recap of the Kin to Stars debut show here today, but I'm dead knackered after a (literally) hot weekend of folk and/or rock, and it's back to normal life on Monday. So, more to come on that.
Felicia Day: Mogul In The Making. Forbes feature on how the creator of The Guild built her mini-empire on the web after most studios turned down her script.
This Saturday 8/6 is the live debut of Kin to Stars, my urban-folk-pop duo project with Jerin Falkner. All the details are here if you're still thinking of coming, which you totally should.
Then on Sunday 8/7, Explone will be performing at the "We Heart Tracy Dart" benefit, to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer activist and survivor Tracy Dart, who is fighting the disease for a third time. Also on the bill is In Cahoots and Pete Seäzle of West Seattle Funblog will be MC'ing. Also: door prizes! If you're local, we hope you'll check it out.
