Guardian of the Non Sequitur

I was recently reminded that because I was so busy this year and didn’t make it to SXSW, that I had forgotten about the SXSW Bit Torrent.  I went looking and it didn’t take long to find that some had indeed put one together for 2009.

I was quickly reminded that the AirPort Extreme Base Station by default protects me from the wilds of the Internet and to get the torrent running you have to bypass to ports and directly map them to your inside computer.

I found an old write-up to tell me how to do it, but it’s very out of date. I figured it out from there, but anyone who’s non-technical likely couldn’t.  

I’m not going to take the time right now to explain the details again.  But you should be able to follow his text and my screen shots to get the gritty work done and allow you to bypass your default firewall with the current 5.4.1 Airport Utility.

A few days from now I’ll have more music than I need and it will likely take me months to sift through it all.  But I do have a new, big media drive just waiting.

So, here are the screen shots, if you have any questions, let me know! Continue reading

It’s Day 14 since Ike. Friday night. First time Molly & the Ringwalds have played the happy hour in three weeks -seems like longer. I’m back at the sound board where I have been most Fridays for over four years.

Big news is I stopped at home after work and I had power. Apparently a lot of the Heights was getting power tonight, because I saw entirely too many fire engines, lights blaring, heading into the ‘hood. And a circling police helicopter to boot. I battoned down the house, got on the bicycle (no telling if it might be faster to take to midtown: 20 minutes), and got to sound check.

It doesn’t take too many weeks away from the board for it to start to feel foreign, so I’m once again easing back into it.

Before the gig I ran into Jule Be Sorry (Houston Roller Derby season 2008 Campionship rescheduled from Ike+2 to the 28th). She said Greg Hinkel is having an open house upstairs. He lives in David Beebe’s old place immediately above the Houston Continental Club. I really want to check out what he’s done with the place, especially for an art exhibit.

It’s one of the lighter Ringwald crowds in a while, but they’re aren’t any wallfowers in the crowd.

Jennifer Ringwald’s We’re Not Gonna Take It rant was about Sarah Palin – not as great as it could have been, but pretty good for off-the-cuff ranting. Sam: “You’re the best kind of Republican, the kind that doesn’t vote”

Made it up to Greg’s art opening. It was a neat scene. Then back down to the Big Top.

G’night

Stumbling upon new stuff can be quite enjoying. After hearing an interview with George Hrab on a podcast, I knew I had to check out his podcast and music.

I finally checked it out a few days after he released a quick-and-dirty video for a fabulous song: Out of My Mind.

The music really reminds me of Thomas Dolby. Perhaps his shaven head doesn’t hurt that impression. But the thoughtfulness and the clean production quality moreso points that direction.

I’m sure I’ll come to enjoy the podcast in my regular rotation, and may have a few iTunes album purchases in my future.

Geologic Promo MP3

I saw many good friends and lots of great bands, and missed just as many good bands.

Asli from the Tontons 5

baldheretic

Here’s what I managed to see at the HPMA Showcase 2008: Flying Fish Sailors, The El Orbits, Umbrella Man, Katie Stuckey and the Swagger, The Tontons, Buxton, Los Skarnales, Blaggards, Bring Back the Guns, Thee Armada, Young Mammals, and Sideshow Tramps.

I only caught a song or two of a few of the bands. I really liked the Tontons; it was the first time I had heard or seen them. Thee Armada had an amazing ability to empty the room at the Venue – where the sign had been corrected: Three Armada.

I enjoyed hearing from a few guys in Pale that they enjoyed Miss Leslie a lot.

I noticed both Jay and Eric at many of the venues taking photos. And it seems Julie and Ginny were as well.

Once again the Houston Press Music Awards Showcase is taking over downtown on a Sunday. For only $10 (two for $15 if you buy early), you can enjoy 6 hours of music from 6-60 bands (depending on how hard you try).

And once again the Houston Press has shown an inability to produce a grid-like schedule for the festival-type lineup.

What is wrong with those people?! Venues across the top, timeline across the left. Humans have been doing it at least as long as they’ve been plugging in guitars, likely longer.

Despite this consistent inadequacy, you should attend this weekend’s event. I’ll be there.

Those that I’m familiar with?

Continue reading

My Friday and Saturday were true to form of many past years, centering on South Congress and socialization more than music. Though there were some notable music acts, still. I’ll try to transcribe my notes soon.

I’m back in Houston, back to work, dealing with some wind damage, (cancelled plans for tonight), doing laundry, and tomorrow a Gogol Bordello show, not to mention three podcasts in the can that I need to edit.

So, following busy with busy.