'Since I Left You'
Oh man, a friend showed me this video to "Since I Left You" by The Avalanches, and I had to share it.
I really like the song, and this video takes it to new levels of awesomeness.
July 6, 2008
July 5, 2008
Joe Cocker interpreted
Ever wonder what he's really saying? I did too, until I saw this video.
July 4, 2008
Club soda
not seals.
July 3, 2008
4th of July in the Sky
Of all the 4th of July celebrations going on around town, this one really stuck out.
It's called the 4th of July in the Sky, and it's sponsored by Lindy Promotions, 98Rock and Miller Lite.
For $50, you get to party on the roof of the Maryland Science Center, complete with open bar, a picnic buffet (potato salad, burgers, hot dogs, etc.), DJ Jason Cruz and dancing.
The party runs 7 p.m.-11 p.m.
Not bad. Not bad at all. You can get tickets here.
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Sun Photographer)
July 2, 2008
I'm baaaaack!
What's cookin' kids? Miss me?
I missed you too.
And before we get back to business, I just want to say thanks for keeping Midnight Sun alive when I was away.
Even though there were less posts per day, you guys kept some pretty hilarious discussions going.
Maybe I should go on vacation more often.
I brought y'all back this here picture of a six pack of Corona beer. Enjoy!
Also there's something I forgot to post about ...
June 23, 2008
Woohoo!
We're doing something right!
I'm referring, of course, to the royal "We." Today, Midnight Sun has its first partially sponsored ad (look near the top of your screen). It's for Bedrock. Big deal, right? Actually, it kind of is.
That means enough people are reading this bloggy that the Advertising Gods sold (suckered) someone into paying money for little old Midnight Sun.
I'd pat myself on the back, but my shoulders are so swoll it's hard to reach.
Now if only I could get Chipotle to endorse either this blog or my radio show. Come on Ad Gods! Shower me with steak burritos!
(Photo of me by me. My, what a lovely thumb I have.)
June 20, 2008
Ta ta for now!
I think it's about time I hit the old dusty trail.
Exit, stage left.
My departure should look something like this ...
June 18, 2008
I'll be on vacation soon
Soon I must leave you, Midnight Sunnites.
Starting Friday, I will be on a glorious vacation. I won't get back until July 1.
And for once, I'm sure as heck not checking this blog on vacation.
Not gonna happen. My wonderful editor Meredith will approve your comments in the meantime.
So I'm going to be posting less frequently for a little while. And I would love love love some topics from you guys. Maybe a good FFF idea? Maybe just a random thought?
Holler at me.
(AP Photo)
June 14, 2008
Swoll, part two
June 12, 2008
Swoll
As most faithful MS readers know, every once in a while I like to hit you with some knowledge.
Today I'm gonna share some hip slang all the kool young kids are slingin' around. Why? 'Cause I'm dope like that.
Anyway, the word of the day is "swoll." Check it ...
June 11, 2008
Brett Manning's five octave range
So I'm writing this story about local singer Caity Lynn Fisher, who landed a spot on the TV show Can You Duet, and I see that Brett Manning is one of the judges.
He's an acclaimed vocal coach with a reportedly ridiculous singing range.
So I plugged his name into YouTube and watched this video ...
Hi, I'm Reds
How important is a bartender's name?
Todd Conner's over in Fells Point is run by a guy named Reds (pictured, to the right).
As you can see, Reds has a handlebar mustache and -- get this -- red hair.
And none other than Biff Baker pours beer down at Charlotte's in South Baltimore.
I mean, when you go into an Irish pub and the bartender's name is Blarney MacJameson, don't you feel like you're getting the real deal? ...
June 10, 2008
Inside a World Cafe Live taping
Ever wonder what a World Cafe Live taping is like?
(Never heard of World Cafe? It's a syndicated public radio show hosted by David Dye with live performances and interviews with bands.)
Usually, they record the show in the studios of WXPN in Philadelphia.
But sometimes, they record them live in the adjacent music venue called World Cafe Live.
Dye perches on a stool at stage left, leaning into a microphone to introduce the band and ask questions between songs.
While the band plays, he stays on the stool, his knees bobbing in time with the music. You almost expect him to start singing along.
Sometimes he puts on a pair of reading glasses to skim notes placed on the metal music stand in front of him.
The whole thing takes less than a half hour.
And the club sounds fantastic.
(Photo from Sun archives)
June 9, 2008
My favorite Muppet
Nobody bakes like the Swedish Chef.
June 7, 2008
What makes a "punk?"
Rustling through the archives this morning, I came across a clip from 1986 about the punk movement.
It reads like the informational clip they show on dope fiends in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Check it out:
(Photo by Sun Photographer Kim Hairston -- no pun intended)
June 4, 2008
Dirty hands
I didn't shake hands with World Cafe host David Dye this past weekend for two reasons.
1) He didn't wash his after using the bathroom (yuck).
2) My furious scribbling made my pen explode, covering my right hand with black ink (pictured).
It took days for the ink to come off.
In the meantime, I was known as Inky.
(Photo by me)
June 1, 2008
Fixated on Fleet Foxes
The past couple of days, I've been at a conference where dozens of bands are playing live showcases and conducting interviews.
But when I get the chance, I'm listening to a group that's not even here.
They're called Fleet Foxes, and they're from Washington (the state, not the city). It seems like each song is built around this wall of four- or five-part harmonies drenched in reverb. Here's their MySpace site.
I love throwback bands like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and Amy Winehouse. But most of them are just re-creating the sound and feel of a different era -- not really pushing the music forward.
Fleet Foxes brings the Beach Boys and Motown to mind with a fresh perspective.
(Photo courtesy of the band)
May 31, 2008
Bad concert karma?
I have a question, and I'd like an answer.
I saw tons of concerts in college.
On the day of the show, my friends and I would never, ever play the music of the band we were going to see that night.
I'm not sure whether they thought if you played the band's music the day of the show then the show itself would be bad or if it was as toolish as wearing the band's T-shirt to the show.
But I'm curious. Have any of you ever heard of this before?
(AP Photo)
May 27, 2008
Some love from NY Mag
New York Magazine did a piece on discovering Baltimore, and Midnight Sun was one of the referred links at the end of it.
Thanks, NY Mag!
Perfectly spherical ice
Dig this: A Japanese company called Taisin has developed a machine which makes perfectly round balls of ice, according to CScout Japan.
The idea is, since round ice has less surface space, it melts slower than regular square ice.
I think it's awesomely ridiculous.
I mean, how can you make the perfect drink without perfectly round ice?
Bam! I think my head just exploded.
This reminds me of the "hot ice" scene from Rookie of the Year. It's at the 1:55 minute mark on this video.
(Photo from CScout Japan)
May 22, 2008
So I tried a Southside ...
Memories were made last night.
As promised, I, Sam Sessa, downed my very first Southside -- just before the stroke of midnight.
Why so late?
It took me that long just to find the right liquor to put in George Lee's famous mix.
We were out of normal rum and club soda.
And we were out of amaretto, which is what Roommate Patchen usually puts in his.
So, as a last resort, I dug up a bottle of Bacardi 151 and added a shot of that, three or four shots of mix and ice.
Then I took a sip ...
"Bad Times" = bad song
Ever wonder what happened to the Presidents of the United States of America?
I didn't, until yesterday, when a friend sent me an mp3 of their new song "Bad Times."
You might remember the Pres. of the USA from their hit single "Peaches" ...
Meeting Jimi Hendrix
A while back, local jazz bassist Slim Manicotti sent out an email blast.
In it, he casually mentioned the time he met Jimi Hendrix.
Yesterday, I emailed him back and asked him to tell me the story.
Here it is ...
May 21, 2008
It's Southside time
Sad fact: I've lived in Baltimore City for three years and not once in all that time have I had a Southside.
Ever heard of a Southside?
It used to be a country club drink, made with an icy blend of rum, club soda, mint and magic -- depending on who was behind the bar.
These days, you can buy the mix at various places around town and add your own liquor at home.
But in all my time and travels in Baltimore, I've yet to slurp down a Southside.
That's gonna change tonight folks, thanks to my roommate Patchen ...