Beards and Novels

It’s true, they are two of my favorite things.

November couldn’t be a crazier time. I would like to go ahead and apologize for how unstable I will be. You can thank Whiskerino, NaNoWriMo, and the other things on my plate.

HERE is where you can keep track of my four-month-long beard-in-progress. And HERE is where you can see the word count of my novel. The novel will be called TRY AGAIN, and is a new draft of the thing I wrote last year, originally titled BRILLIANT!

Here’s a brief synopsis:

TRY AGAIN is the story of clashing egos and clanging guitars. It is the story of one mediocre band’s first and final U.S. Tour.

The last thing the world needs is another travel narrative. Scratch that. The last thing it needs is another teenager-comprised rock and roll band. But The Richardnixons aren’t aware of these two things, and certainly aren’t aware of what disastrous place a combination of them will lead. Besides, if you tried warning them they’d spit at your face and watch you run off crying.

When it comes to the road, and to the saving graces of rock and roll, the last thing The Richardnixons need are unbelievers. The first thing they need is to get there before soundcheck.

The Band:

Charley Discovery – Vocals, Guitar, ego, supreme style
Babybear – Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, vicious teeth
Georgie Ullman – Drums, physical fatness, white socks, self-esteem complications (baker’s dozen)
James Donovan – Bass, dead brother’s ghost on his shoulders
Braxton Evanson Stephenson – Roadie, Nerd of the Highest Order, video game console

and Victoria — Girl

Please buckle your seatbelt.

Sidewalk 2k9

Is anyone making their way to Sidewalk this weekend? If so, the real question is, what are you seeing?

So far I think I’m in for The Red Ace Cola Project, Dear Lemon Lima (pictured above), and possibly another movie or two if I can be talked into it.

File Under: Can’t Wait

Perhaps the best songwriter to come from my home state, Chris Staples, has recently started blogging.

I’m pleasantly surprised to hear that he’ll be delivering some new music. A new Discover America release, titled “Future Paths,” should be on the horizon, along with a follow-up to the stripped-down “Blackest Hair, Bluest Eyes” solo release. Did I say I can’t wait?

The cover art reminds me of a TV I used to watch cartoons on while eating breakfast at my grandma’s:

Check out some new recordings on the Chris Staples Myspace page, and some older ones on the Discover America one.

Leaving Los Angeles

My wonderful professor, Kerry Madden, has a story in the L.A. Times today about the difficulties accompanying her recent move from California to Alabama. I think I should assure her that, in seven or so years, I have not decided between Auburn and Alabama. Nor will I ever.

Check out Kerry’s story. Excerpt:

Another apartment we checked out was in a gated community that boasted “Virgin Margaritaville Night” and a location handy to Chick-fil-A. We also considered Fannie Flagg’s nearby neighborhood of Irondale out of homage to “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe,” but from the back seat, Norah gazed at the faux train depot and announced, “I feel empty inside.”

Loveless Love

Eskimo Snow

“The eskimos had 52 words for snow because it was important to them. There ought to be as many for love.”

— Margaret Atwood

Look at the Birdie

Get excited. There’s a posthumous collection of unpublished Vonnegut stories coming out next month.

Here’s the strange artwork, illustrated by the man himself no doubt, for Look at the Birdie:

Around the release of the new book, Delacourte Press will also be re-releasing many of the others. While not mind-blowing, these simply-designed covers newer seem to have a bit more in their favor than the boring outstretched “V” editions from the late-nineties.

I never liked it when Jay-Z announced his retirement, only to immediately return. But with Kurt I can only greet this decision with enthusiasm.

Adventures in Literature

I’m sure by now most of the folks I know have seen this shot Cary took of me, which was posted on his blog, Dr. Frank’s, and now this one. If not, here you go:

I was stoked when Frank took the requests and played one of my favorite songs at his release party, which I streamed online before bed Tuesday night. My wi-fi cut out right as the second bridge of Population: Us came to an end. If this had to happen, it was as good of a time as any:

“conversation, exploration, manipulation, stimulation, penetration, consummation, procreation, domestication, population: us…”

Smart Cat

Taken from Yewknee.

Music at the Meelheim

I know it’s tiny, but have your eyes ever seen a flyer prettier than the one below?

Still can’t get over it. Created by the talented Jamison Harper for this upcoming Handwritten Letters show.