Happy Birthday to Mii...

Part Two of Super Martio Party is here. Click after the JUMP for more pics and movies. Oh... and by the way. NICE SPARE.

Ana does a Joe Manning impersonation. Kyle holds court with Dan, Squeex, Rachel, and Kirk. Jessie tries her hand at Wii-bowling for the first time.

I'm popular, the swing is popular and Chad is DEFINITELY popular.

Due to a severe lack of pong balls, and a four person elimination wii-bowling tournament, many people preoccupied themselves by flipping TEH CUPS!!! Those include Kyle, Jim, Cam, Dan, Chad, Ana, Kathy, Tyler, Me and Mii.

What's inside and has to thumbs...? ERIN! Along with Meg, Julie, Wes and the stocked spice rack. Tyler and Jessie are swingers.

I call this montage, "Where the Cold Things Are..." A northwesterly wind came over the party, causing those that weren't dressed for the occasion to scurry inside and watch the Phillies.

My main bitch with her best bitch. Her best bitch with her main bitch. Her best bitch with her main bitch and two other best bitches. Or.... Rach, Meg, Meg and Barry, Meg, Me, Erin and Julie. Thank you ALL for coming.

More pictures and movies are coming. I swears!

Super Martio Party 28!!!

On Saturday, April 12th 2008... a party was held in the town of Boothwyn with the theme of Super Mario Bros. The party was expertly planned and executed by the lovely Rachel, who took care of prizes and decorations and anything else you could think of that carries the Mario image. What follows over the next few days are posts bursting at the seams with photos, videos, and video game goodness. For a tour of Teh Mushroom Kingdam, check after the JUMP.

The reason for all this nonsense was my birth, 28 years and four days sooner. What better way to stave off old age than have everyone act like they're 4. Let me introduce you to an Audio/Visual wet dream.

The projector screen was more than six feet tall, a loaner from my grandfather. The projector came from a close friend who will remain nameless to protect his reputation. It took a long time to get right and at this point in the day, the whole projected gaming was still not a guarantee of working. Only when the sun went down did I know if I could pull the whole thing off.

Thirsty? Drinks included Three Olive Voldka, Absolut Pear, Captain Mo', and a whole keg of Pabst. People came bearing gift drinks of Guiness, Stella, Harp and everyone's local fave Lager.

Everything from the prizes to the plates were colorful and remeniscient of the Mario world. All of the bags had a different character on the front, while Mario and Luigi adorn the special gift bags of yours truly and the lovely Rachel (the hostess).

Gift bag prizes included Gummy Nintendo characters, mini-mario statue imports, goomba keychains and cry baby tears bubble gum.

Finally, the guests arrive and the games begin. Here is a large showing of the NES classic, "Ice Hockey."

Here's a taste of Wii-bowling projected on the big screen. More tomorrow.

My Loony Bun is Fine Benny Lava... thank you.

via Justin

Do You Believe in Manning Claus...?

I know its 2008 and its January and your tree is out on the curb and your decorations are in storage. So sue me. Christmas ain't over till this post goes up. For a stuffed stocking of Joe Manning Claus media, click read more. And to all a good night!

A Year of Shows... Nostalgic Edition.

She graduated. She interviewed. She got a job. She gets a reward. I'm proud of her... truly. And to show it, I purchased two tickets to the past. A past that I wasn't a part of. There comes a time in everyone's life where they wished they knew the person they are with sooner or that they had been there for "this" moment or "that" moment in their significant other's life. Its a jealous pang that quickly fades but is significant all the same. Third Eye Blind, my gf's self professed favorite band was there for her during those tumultuous teenage years. They were there for relationships not having to do with yours truly. They were hers and hers alone. I personally enjoyed this band's music growing up myself. I tittered and guffawed when the lead singer would sazz about oral relations and drug use. I shed a metaphorical tear for the JUMPER, wishing he'd step back from that ledge. But they were never "mine" per-se. What follows is a group of photos and videos of that nostalgic journey to the Electric Factory on Nov. 11th... a journey where I was content with merely being next to my girlfriend as she experienced seeing her favorite band live for the first time.

Note the top hat...

The opener... needless to say the crowd was "excited." I had predicted that they'd open with "Losing a Whole Year"... and I was wrong. It was their SECOND song.

Graduate... a show stopper.

A Year of Shows... Lazy edition.

A metaphor, if you will. Producing blog content is like stepping up to the touch screen at Wawa and ordering a Shortie Hoagie. Its warm and fresh and full of bits and pieces that are begging to be consumed. Posting blog content is like leaving the Shortie under you car seat by some strange twist of fate. The content, once topical and at least somewhat purposeful is now a soggy mess of untapped potential. Case in point... in the summer, I continued my one man onslaught on attending as many concerts as possible (within reason/expenditure). What follows is a slew of photos and videos featuring Rufus Wainwright, with special guests A Fine Frenzy and Neko Case at the Mann Music Center (after the JUMP). To see all the other shows I attended this year, put down the sandwich I subconsciously made you pine for and click on the MUSIC tag at the end of the post.

As we approached the Mann, my first time at the venue, the sky above provided us with the most beautiful cluster of cumulus. That civil sky turned rather quickly, and brought some of the most vicious thunder and lighting I've ever seen. Lucky for us, the Mann has a roof over the majority of its seating, and perhaps the man of the hour released some of his stars to decorate it. It is a WONDERFUL venue. There's something to be said about listening to one of R.W.'s quiet piano ballads, while crickets chirp approvingly in the dark around you.

A.F.F's lead red head doing her thing at the piano. Not to be outdone, Neko and her reddish mane took the stage (in a rather unflattering black dress) and turned in a strong performance. Rufus had multiple costume changes throughout his show, the first a flambouyant take on Beetlejuice, the 2nd consisting of lederhosen, and the third, a power-suit transforming him into Judy Garland. The bedazzled American flag, with black and white stripes was the perfect backdrop for the live recreation of his most politically and emotionally charged album.

Us. There are certain artists that have provided the soundtrack to our relationship, and Rufus is right up there. Oh, and apparently Brandon Flowers of the Killers fame is gay. R.W. went on this big gay rant about how "... it didn't work out... it just... just didn't work out" between the two of them before breaking into his song "Tulsa" which opens with the line, "You taste like potato chips in the morning." Don't we all...?

Neko Case - Star Witness

Rufus Wainright - Going to a Town

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I'm sure you've seen this commercial for dell insipron colors. I saw it the other night and asked those around me, "What is that song in the background?" Since real human beings are useless and could not provide me with the answer, I had to rely on the Internets. Flaming Lips... W.A.N.D. In the future, if you ever want to know something that all the idiots around you SHOULD know, but don't... google it, just a little bit. After the JUMP, the full version of the music video.

WORST WEEK EVAR!!1!

And why you ask...? Cause there's a hundred freakin' shows that I want to attend in the greater Philly area. Following is a list of the venues, dates, and songs I have on my library that IConcertCal picked up on. Take a closer walk with thee:

1. Say Anything - House of Blues (Mon, Oct 28), Atlantic City NJ/ Crocdile Rock (Weds, Oct 31) Allentown Pa.
SONGS* Alive with the Glory of Love, Wow I Can Get Sexual Too

2. the Weakerthans - Troc (Mon, Oct 29), Philly
SONGS* Sun in an Empty Room, Night Windows

3. Annuals - North Star Bar (Tues, Oct 30), Philly
SONGS* Carry Around, Brother, Dry Clothes, Bleary Eyed, Ida My

4. The Go! Team w/ Matt and Kim - TLA (Weds, Oct 31) Philly
SONGS* Silvertiles

5. The Thermals - the Church (Fri, Nov 2) Philly
ALBUM* The Body, the Blood, the Machine

The Shredder...

Get it...? The punchline and more videos AFTER the jump (Thanks to the Shadow).

What do all these have in common...? They're over-dubbed... horribly. Rock on.

At Last, She'sa Mine!

I CANNOT wait to listen to this tomorrow @ work on me bloomin' 'ead-phones. The official email is hidden after the JUMP, so Read More!

Gettting You Ready for Halloween: Part 3.

What could be spookier than winning a mansion in some contest you never entered and finding the place busting at the seams with the paranormal? Why, finding out your brother, Mario entered the same mansion just hours before, and was never seen or heard from again. This is the basic plot of Luigi's Mansion and it goes to show, a world without Mario is a scary place. Just ask all those people that picked up a gamecube at launch way back when. So there I am, bustin' ghosts with Luigi and his 8 lb Oreck in attempts to pull Mario out of this painting/mansion. I haven't beaten Twilight Princess yet and I played Mario Strikers for about 6 hours total, so I really fear for Mario's life as far as this game is concerned. Is it wrong that I love, adore, and obsess about READING gaming info, but really can't find the time/motivation to actually play the games? I know Bobby can relate, and in honor of him I'll close with this: "so they packed up, regrouped, got a grip, came equipped, strapped they proton packs on they back and then split, but now about Viggo, the master of evil... try to battle muh boys? That's not legal! OH OH oh oh oh oh oh ((echo))".

It's Coming...

For the official website: here.

Drops: Digitally (oct 10) Physically (dec 3)
Amessage from the desk of...

Hello everyone.

Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days;

We've called it In Rainbows.

Love from us all.

Jonny

The site HAD links for purchasing purposes that have ceased to exist. In the meantime, a preview of the new album after you "READ MORE."

Last of the MerrJacksons..

I am a pop-culture god. The minute I saw this commercial from Nike I made the pop-culturey connection that the music playing in the background was from "Last of the Mohicans." The final scene from the film starring Daniel Day Lewis can be found after the JUMP, with music close behind.

Chad sings like Poiiisonnnnn...

My co-worker might have THEE worst singing voice ever.

TicketMeiser...

The Klaxons were playing Transit Nightclub on Spring Garden awhile back but due to my fear of clubs and horrible websites ... I missed it. So they're back and playing the TLA/Sillymore and for the low low price of 15 smack-a-roons. Not bad... until TicketMaster does its magic pimp cane point and twirl... and POOF. I understand that allowing me to use the Inter-web to gain admittance to this show is CONVENIENT, but to charge me 5 dollars a PIECE for that convenience is not very... I've said the word enough. To add insult to injury, they charge you another 5 dollars for a "processing fee." FUCK YOU TICKETMASTER. I beg the visitors of my site (yes, all four of you) to never use them, ever... ever... again.

I Needs This on DVD.

Why hasn't this happened yet?. Two more after the JUHHHHHMP.

MC Rove Gets Dissed... YO!

Why you all in his grill... what with your subpoena and shiiii....? Karl Rove is the king of spin... he coud make the world (and Mel Gibson) believe that Hitler's march across Europe and the "Holla"caust were just a coincidence. He's the one that made all you idiots re-elect Bush. I made this awhile ago... and I've been waiting oh so long for a reason to post it. Click on DOA Rove for an animation and look after the jump for a youtube treasure. PAAAYCE!

Year of Shows...

The saga continues... and this wasn't even a definite. My co-worker went on this "National Treasure" like journey to secure his ticket to this "free" show LCD Soundstyem was putting on at the Sillimore last Wednesday (June 6, 2007). Why was it free? Click Read More to find that out and to see some blurry pictures.

Well, I do believe that Myspace has this new thang called "The List" and they decided to buy up all the tickets, place a large crane camera to the right of the stage, a large tv camera to the left, and probably a few more here and there. They also plunked down a rather large trakka-trailer out in the middle of South Street. As I waited patiently outside the venue for my free ticket to arrive (via The Shadow) a roadie, a priest and a horse offered me tickets. An expensive Irish car bomb (would it be wrong to start calling those IED's?) and a frisk or two later, we were secured in the rather packed house in the left hand bar.

I like the lead singer, James Murphy... I really do. For a picture of him that isn't blurry, click here. He's got great stage presence and he wields a wicked looking microphone. At one point he joined the drummer (aka human drum machine) and then screamed alot. He kept introducing his band which makes me think he just brought them along for the tour and does most of the work on the albums himself. There's a female asian keyboardist/back up vocal who really annoyed me. It had little to do with the fact that she was Asian and more to do with the fact that she couldn't sing very well.

Note to LCD... next time you're in Philadelphia, try not to sing a song the expresses your love for New York. I'm sure you know what happens now and you must have heard that small patch of ruffians. What did they do you ask...? Well, everytime the word New York was uttered, a wave of boos rained down on the band. There might have even been an E-A-G-L-E-S chant in there for good measure (Joe). Upon further inspection, one of the culprits was wearing a Manu Ginobli jersey, which pretty much makes him a racist.

So we left the show with an empty bladder and a free myspace hankerchief (thanks Tom). I don't know that I love LCD Soundsystem but they were enjoyable. Perhaps bearable is another word. I find that any normal human being can only listen to the word "yeah" being sung so many times before going deaf.

Just Beat It!

On Friday, May 25th in the year of 2007, I headed to the World Cafe Live on Walnut just outside Center City, Philadelphia for a concert. The English Beat were in town, serenading hundreds of white kids (and dad's) with the reggae pop they've become known for. I drank two magic hats, threw 5 dollars at the saxophonist for a ride on the smile train, and took videos of my two favorite songs. All this can be yours, after the jump, Mon'.

Save it For Later

Mirror in the Bathroom

Joe Manning is No Pete Townshend...

At least I hope he's not. Watch the ENTIRE movie to find out why. For those of you with the attention span of a coked up Tyrone Biggums, click here.