The ‘unplugged’ show at the book release went pretty well today. The rain turned out to be a non-factor – the sun was actually more of a problem – it got pretty damn hot out! But still, the drummerless (Clay had prior commitments) played a pretty nice acoustic set down in the schoolyard. Definitely a configuration that merits revisiting if the show dictates it.

I watched Die Another Day in the afternoon. Bond is fun. I never rush out to see a new Bond film, but generally enjoy them when I do see them. The Madonna theme song was god-awful, however, and while Halle Berry’s character was alright I don’t see the need to spin her off into her own film. She wasn’t anything special.

The main event of the night was Richard Thompson at the Toronto Star Blues Festival. I appreciate the irony of having an artist as far removed from the blues as RT is playing a “blues” fest – anyone listening to his utterly unique folk/celtic/rock-influenced playing would know in a second that there’s nothing from the Delta in this man’s music. Having missed him in concert at least three times in the last four years, I was really looking forward to finally witnessing him play live, and was not disappointed. The man is simply a guitar god, no one can touch him. Though you’d not know it from listening, he’s been a tremendous influence on me… I bought my acoustic guitar because it looked like the Lowden he was using at the time, and my Telecaster has the same unusual pickup configuration as his Ferrington. And as otherworldly as his playing is, his songwriting and singing are just as good. If I have to pick highlights, I’d go with the obvious – “Shoot Out The Lights” – and the encore solo acoustic performance of “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” Am I gushing? A little? Good, I mean to. Did I take pictures? Yes, I did.

Pirates Of The Carribean is bloody fun – A summer blockbuster you don’t feel guilty or stupider for enjoying. Not much sense going into any sort of a review of a movie that most people will be seeing, so I’ll just say that Johnny Depp is terrific as Cap’n Keef, Keira Knightley is some kinda pretty (sorry, am I broken record?) and Orlando Bloom… feh. Don’t know what the ladies see in him, sorry. Y’ahhhhr.

The weather doesn’t seem too accomodating for our afternoon gig in the park. It’s overcast and threatening to thunderstorm at some point. If the forecasts are to be believed, it’ll all have passed by the afternoon, but we’ll see what shakes out. I’m looking forward to the acoustic set, but if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. The weather better not interfere with the Richard Thompson show tonight, though. I hate being at the mercy of the elements.

np – The Decemberists / Castaways And Cutouts

I bought Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance this afternoon. I figure, I have a bitch slapping new computer, it can handle anything I throw at it, right? Wrong. Turns out my video card is about 1500 model numbers too low to run the game. I can *listen* to it, but can’t see jack or shit. My cousin works for ATI – maybe I can get a new video card through him. Man, this sucks. At least the game only cost me $25. I’ll be able to play it… someday…

Back to Snood for me. Sigh. It just seems so… hollow, now.

np – Death Cab For Cutie / The Photo Album

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