Fried Green Tomatillos

Living life fully each day, with pictures, recipes, music and love.

Last Thursday Jeffe and I had date night (love date night, especially when it's with musica!).

We went to Pokez and then to the House of Blues for the Xavier Rudd show. Now, I am going to preach the gospel about this man because not only is he PETA's hottest vegetarian of 2007, but he is an incredible, under appreciated musician and person all-around. I wouldn't say I hate PETA, as they do a lot of really great things, but extremist groups like them don't usually appeal to me since they do ridiculous stuff that unravels the things they accomplish [all the f-ing time].

Regardless PETA likes Rudd and I like Rudd. His records are great, but live, well... His music rips at you, just pulls at your soul and your mind. It's the kind of music that you can see, swirling around you in a multitude of colors. During Xavier's set, I noticed two things: a large Sea Shepard flag and the Aussie Aboriginal flag (thought by some to be Australia's true flag). His website and myspace page is full of causes and his lyrics are simple but powerful with the constant underlying message: individuals change the world, for better or worse. He holds no prisoners in his lyrics, criticizing and applauding humanity in turn, but there is always an underlying positive message.

During the show, he had an incredible bassist and percussionists accompany him, but the music is essentially still Xavier, who is often described as a one-man band as he sits in the middle of layers of instruments including the fantastic didgeridoos in different keys and multiple slide guitars, bongos, a gong, a harmonica... I heart the slide guitar. The concert (I feel like it was almost too intimate for that word) was akin to feeling like you were in the middle of the largest, most talented and moving drum circle you could be so honored as to imagine, all led by Paul Simon and John Lennon's love child, with Dave Matthews singing backup. Needless to say I enjoyed it, danced like crazy, and even teared up a few times.

Everytime I listen to one of Rudd's songs I am OVERWHELMED with inspiration and the motivation to do something to help people, help the world. That's what great people do, they inspire you. I don't know if Xavier is nice, I don't really care. All I know is that usually when I listen to "Better People" I get the urge to sell everything, quit my job and go save the seals in Canada. One of the reasons I'm going back to school is to gain the tools I need to change the world. This music urges me to go and make that difference. It's as simple as picking up that bottle or planting that garden. Go now, listen and believe. Better yet, go to a show.






Flick this.

Jeff sent this to me this morning. Like I need to spend anymore time on FLICKR. The programming alone I think is awesome.

http://labs.ideeinc.com/multicolr/



How do you spell amazing? B-U-R-T-O-N

Just a quick note on how excited I was to see the promo shots for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland this morning, and I just had to blog about it.

I have both of Carrol's Alice novels on my ipod, and it's one of the few Disney films I own. I think it is a story that can be endlessly adapted for new generations and the dark/sinister twists could be fun to bring out. On that note I am of course a big fan of Burton films, and especially Burton/Depp collaborations. I find I am in awe of the creativity bursting at the seams of this man and have yet to dislike anything he has done. He is the prefect person to spin a new Alice tale for the big screen, using the latest technology properly and not going all "Lucas" on us.

Apparently it's a "return to Wonderland" sequel/female power movie and it looks super freaky awesome. 40 days of filming and the rest is CG, 3D, and motion capture. The possibility of a musical is there, not so sure, as the screen play was written by Linda Woolverton who is responsible for a number of remarkable feats on Broadway [so wish I had seen Lestat] and the cast is entirely musically trained. It's supposed to be pretty dark, even though it's DISNEY, for instance Carter's Red Queen has a moat that contains "bobbing noggins"...delicious.

Not to mention that the makeup alone is incredible in this film. If you can't tell in that picture it's Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter(Red Queen, <3), Anne Hathaway(White Queen, double <3). A few years ago Emily and I went to the International Make-Up Artists Trade Show and got to see a few demonstrations with prosthetics and air-brushed make-up for cinema. The competition that year was Lord of the Rings, so you can use your imagination to think of the fantastic things we saw made in front of us. If I wasn't a scientist, I'd be a make-up artist and this is still one of my favorite things to see on the screen or stage.

The rest of the cast includes Alan Rickman (Caterpillar), Michael Sheen (Rabbit), Christopher Lee (Jabberwock), and Timothy Spall (Bloodhound). I noticed this was entirely people Burton, Depp and Carter have worked with endless times. I'm going to assume this could be only a good thing, with actors hand-picked for the parts. Right, and I adore Anne Hathaway so I'm happy with that new addition. March of next year is a long ways away.

Can I just mention that Edward Scissor Hands was made 30 years ago? I saw it on t.v. the other day and it is still just as great.

ces soirées-là

So Broadway... I love Broadway. You'll recognize the song if you like Jersey Boys.



I <3 the French.