all of the things that go to make heaven and earth are here

Not a single day off since August. That's why I've been so quiet. Won't get one until November 10. And yes, my sanity is challenged a little more every day. But a few things have helped out in that regard.

Example: New Pornographers show last night. It was everything I hoped for. No, it was more than that, actually, as I'd already resigned myself to the fact that Neko Case doesn't usually tour with them, but there she was, in fact there the entire band was, as if to carry out a mandate to confirm, with live performance, that Challengers really is something special, a rare moment of confluence of good-to-great musicians' schedules and inspiration. Thinking about that during "Myriad Harbour", I felt a pinch of sadness that the record is so good it's not likely to be matched their next time out, but the song kept going and I couldn't keep the sadness up in the face of it. Favorite moments (correspond with favorite album tracks): "Go Places", "The Spirit of Giving".

Example: Across The Universe. After five weeks, Sony finally brought Julie Taymor's latest spectacle to Asheville. Five weeks. The thing even opened in Hendersonville a week before it got here. In the 80's, Sony used to be really cool, but I digress. What a hell of a thing this movie is. I call it massively flawed and tremendously beautiful, to which my friend Heather replies "just like life". Yes, it should have ended with the newspaper exploding to bits on beach, but oh well. Go see it, and see it as big as you can. The DVD will be great because of the commentary, but if you miss it on a big screen you'll kick yourself when you finally see it small. I should stop here before I give anything away, but I will say that it's fun to see one of the best rock videos of the 90's (which was itself a Beatles reference) recreated on the big screen (there are countless cross-references and inside jokes just like that, which is why the DVD commentary will also be a must-see), and that the movie as a whole is even better the second time. If you're in Asheville, skip the Regal Hollywood. Carmike has digital projection and superior sound. Favorite scenes: "Let It Be", "Happiness is a Warm Gun".

Examples (anticipated): Nada Surf tomorrow night. Menomena on Thursday. Aesop Rock next week. I'm going to go broke.