Computers perplex me. I am working on a site that I built over a year and a half ago, and it’s been chugging away fine. This morning I edit a database table ever-so-slightly, and all of a sudden I can no longer query this table, or that’s even named similarly. It doesn’t like the NAME of the table. I create an identical table with a totally random name and it works fine. I change it to the original name, and poof! it’s gone. I can run queries from my MySQL client no problem, as far as it’s concerned, everything is copacetic. What the hell. My eventual fix? Give the table I want an intentionally misspelled name and change every single reference to that table throughout my site. Blaaaah.

I went to see The Godfather Part II last night at the Bloor, they’ve been running ‘Classic Films of the 70s’ the last while. I had never seen this film, and only saw the first on a couple years ago… yes, yes, I know, it’s mandatory viewing for anyone with a Y-chromosone and all that. Anyway, I thought the first one was good, but I wasn’t awestruck, and I guess the same goes for this one. It was engrossing enough, even though the Bloor’s scratchy print made it difficult to hear the quieter dialogue at times. Robert DeNiro was uncanny as the young Vito Corleone, though – I could have sworn I was looking at a young Marlon Brando. Remarkable. You can read read the entire script of The Godfather Part II here, if you feel so inclined.

Continuing this week’s Pernice kick, I picked up the Scud Mountain Boys’ The Early Year compilation last night, which collects the first two Scuds albums, Pine Box and Dance All Night. Good stuff, and Pernice fans should check back tonight when I update the mp3 of the week, I have a bit of an exclusive treat for ya.

np – Lambchop / Is A Woman

The Weakerthans are performing a free show in Toronto at the El Mocambo on August 26, the same day Reconstruction Site is released. Doors are at 5, show is at 6. I don’t think I’d be able to make that without taking a day off of work to stand in line. But since I do work, I can attend a paid show without too much wringing of hands. Everybody wins. More details here.

The Dandy Warhols seem to have posted an odd little message in the Missed Connections section of Craiglist Toronto. Are Portland’s most notorious hedonists trying to play matchmaker? I don’t understand.

I lost my iron ring yesterday at rehearsal. Yes, again. I took it off at rehearsal but have no idea where I put it. I think it went in my pocket but seems to have fallen out somewhere. Maybe it’s lying in corner somewhere in the space, I have no idea. I’m going to keep poking around for it, but I suspect this time it’s gone for good. I’m a little saddened that it’s gone, and I’m not sure what the policy for replacing rings for people not working as engineers anymore is. I may inquire but don’t have my hopes up. Even though I don’t do the engineering schtick anymore, I still earned that bloody thing.

np – Elvis Costello & The Attractions / This Year’s Model

This will be the third time this week I am up past 2AM. Oddly, I haven’t really felt the lack of sleep – to the contrary, I almost feel like I have more energy. Odd.

So “Operation: Harass Dan Burke” is over before it began. He actually returned the first message I left last night, and immediately went into how bad, financially, Monday night was. Blah blah blah. Quite obviously, we’re not getting paid, and that’s actually okay – the lessons learned from that one evening are far more valuable. He offered us another show next week with a couple acts I’ve never heard of, he said it’d be more profitable, but since we have Wavelength that weekend and really would rather not deal with Danny boy unless it’s necessary or really beneficial, I passed. My biggest regret is that I don’t get to keep calling and leaving happy fun messages for him, and that he didn’t offer me a pair of shoes.

On a related note, I have seem to have been appointed/acclaimed ‘manager’ of Lake Holiday, which basically means I get to deal with the fun bullshit like the above. Why? Because no one else wants to but someone has to. I had been taking care of a lot of (read: all) the financial and logistic stuff anyway, but now I guess I have to start paying attention to shows, bookings, etc etc. Despite the personality requirements for this position running totally contrary to my own personal nature, I’ll give it a go. But first I need to get a cricket bat.

You know you’ve been to too many shows in too short a period of time when you’re more concerned with getting good pictures instead of the music. So was the case at Rainer Maria tonight. Between scurrying from one side of the stage to the other trying to catch them in action and the fact that I was wearing earplugs (my ears still haven’t recovered from Tuesday), the show almost turned into background music. It’s tough to snap a three-piece on stage when they’re set up pretty far apart and frequently pogo-ing all over the place. I got some good ones, though.

It was a good show – high energy and fast paced. Kyle Fischer has got more rock guitar moves than anyone I’ve ever seen and sweats like a fiend. I’d always thought that Caithlin de Marrais’ voice was a little thin and reticent on the older records, and was pleased with the vocal strength displayed on Long Knives Drawn. Her improved delivery really helped out the older material, which had considerably more fire and energy. Their between-song political commentary, however well intentioned, came off kinda vague and unnecessary, though. The crowd was smallish, but very enthusiastic and the band seemed really pleased with the response. I enjoyed the show but am at the point where I’m more concerned with getting all the concerts on my schedule over with. I’m glad August is wide open – Radiohead is it for the month right now. I need to take a breather.

More shows that I’m not going to but you might: Mogwai come to the Phoenix on September 2 to perform happy songs to happy people. My ears haven’t recovered from the last time the Scottish troubadours came through town, so I will instead cower at home. I’m sure braver souls and eardrums than mine will enjoy it. I don’t even have the new album yet. And New York uber-hipsters The Yeah Yeah Yeahs crash the Opera House August 29th. Start tearing the sleeves off your t-shirts now, kids. Tickets for the shows are $15 and $16 respectively at the usual outlets.

np – Rainer Maria / Long Knives Drawn

That Batman short film that had me all a-flutter earlier this week? Download it here. It’s pretty damned impressive, though the dialogue leaves something to be desired. And the plot twists are… unexpected. There is an interview with director, Sandy Collora here.

After several very late nights, I am enjoying this one night of doing absolutely nothing. I’ll probably be asleep by 11. And then tomorrow, late night again. Rainer Maria, dontcha know. I think I am bailing on Metric on Friday, though. I will be too damned beat to hoof it over to the Lula Lounge on my own.

There is a grassroots movement spawning off of the Secret Arcade message boards to try and start up an artist-run performance space somewhere downtown. The notion is pretty exciting and while I have no idea what it would really entail, I am getting involved in the process. I think it’s a worthwhile goal to pursue.

np – Portastatic / The Summer Of The Shark