Grab Bag

This week I went on an excursion to the Lakewood megachurch (the nation's largest megachurch) for some high quality entertainment. For those not familiar with the megachurch phenomenon, the presentation is light on religion and heavy on show. So in addition to the personal empowerment sermon, you get pretty colored lights, smoke machines, automated waterfalls, a gospel choir, and an eleven piece band (not counting solo vocalists). Sadly, no pyrotechnics, but hopefully they'll get with the program on that. This being a music blog, I'm here to talk about the band. Oh, the band. The band consists of two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a keyboard player, a piano player, a percussionist, a sax player, a trombone player, and two trumpet players. They play uplifting Nashville-ized songs which they execute flawlessly. So flawlessly, in fact, they might as well be animatronics playing along to recorded music. Come to think of it, I'm not sure they aren't. After all, it's not like I could get very close to find out for sure; the best view I had was on the big screens that hang above them. And everybody knows not to trust everything they see on T.V., so I'm pretty sure they are real, but not 100 percent certain. But since it's so hard to tell, it's equally as hard to be at all inspired by the music the band plays. Lots of people give it the old college try, though, closing their eyes and holding a hand in the air. Sometimes two hands. Really concentrating. Or I guess they could be praying. Maybe I should have asked. "Excuse me, are you trying to be moved by the music or are you communicating with God?" I'll have to remember to ask if I ever go back.

I also watched LoudQuietLoud-A Film About the Pixies this week. For their 2004 reunion tour, the Pixies gave a camera crew access to film them for the whole tour, from rehearsal to final show. What the filmmakers got was a lot of silence, as the band members don't really talk to each other very much. The filmmakers point out that this is the opposite of the Metallica movie, where the band tries to resolve all problems out loud. It's an interesting watch--not unintentionally funny as Some Kind of Monster, but it has its moments.

It seems that Eminem was born in the wrong century.

Are you on the fence about whether you hate Nickelback just a little or whether you hate them a lot? Maybe this can help you come to a more informed conclusion.

Finally, the Eagles are finishing a new album. Did somebody ask for a new Eagles album? Seriously, which one of you jackasses told Henley you missed hearing his voice? I swear I'm going to break your legs when I find out who you are. You can't hide forever.

Update:

It appears that Tony Wilson has died.