John Updike vs. the Blogger vs. Snowman Cookies vs. Jesus vs. JaayJaay vs. the City of Angels

"players hang around, tossing in their quarters, because folding is not belonging, and belonging is what poker's little democracy is all about" - John Updike



Winter is deeply settled in the Wintry City. We got ten inches of frozen sludge on the ground and a finicky sun in the sky. That means it's time for two things:

Numero Uno

The first annual churchbus Winter Podcast. Finding yourself a little figidity this week because you can't get your napcast on? Try the Winter Podcast. It's twenty five minutes of chocolate covered joy. I promise you that you will find a candy filling that is to your liking. AND It's the only way to find out who wins: Jesus vs. Snowman Cookies




Click here to get your own player.




Numero Two

Too cold in Chicago so let's check in with our Los Angeles Correspondent. Mr. Jaaay Jaaay. Damn, feel like I've been here before. Well anyway put some kicks on your dogs. Let's go

kilianamos (2:56:56 PM): Sad Nap checking in with da Plum Bomb. You there?

JaayJaay (2:53:39 PM): just climbing back in to the chair

kilianamos (2:57:23 PM): No kidding. How was lunch?

JaayJaay (2:53:49 PM): after a delightful visit to the Big Boy around the corner

kilianamos (2:57:49 PM): Oh yeah. Is the Big Boy a West Coast thing?

JaayJaay (2:54:20 PM): i guess so

kilianamos (2:57:58 PM): I don't think we have any in Chicago

JaayJaay (2:54:40 PM): didn't we have Kip's Big Boy back in H-town?

JaayJaay (2:54:52 PM): or something like that

kilianamos (2:58:31 PM): Yes. I ate at the Big Boy on Richmond (Editor's Note: Correction, Westheimer) a lot in Highschool.

JaayJaay (2:55:03 PM): i have some friends that stole the Big Boy once

kilianamos (2:58:54 PM): What did they do with it?

JaayJaay (2:55:28 PM): took it out into some pasture near La Marque, took a bunch of photos of themselves with it

kilianamos (2:59:17 PM): Send me one.

JaayJaay (2:55:43 PM): and then when they went back the next day to pick it up, it was gone

JaayJaay (2:55:50 PM): i wish i had a pic of that

kilianamos (2:59:48 PM): Wasn't that right about the time of the La Marque Sasquatch sitings?

JaayJaay (2:56:26 PM): lost touch with that bunch of hooligans long ago

JaayJaay (2:56:31 PM): Hmm...

JaayJaay (2:56:38 PM): i don't recall those

JaayJaay (2:56:40 PM): shesh

JaayJaay (2:56:54 PM): when was that?

kilianamos (3:00:51 PM): I don't know. I made that up.

kilianamos (3:00:56 PM): You got time to send the NAP some LA Love?

JaayJaay (2:57:21 PM): drat

JaayJaay (2:57:35 PM): you had me going on that one

kilianamos (3:02:37 PM): You told me you were blowing horns for Azalia Snail a while back...

JaayJaay (2:59:07 PM): yeah

kilianamos (3:02:56 PM): churchbus got turned on to her in the bus on the road to Austin once.

JaayJaay (2:59:32 PM): i was thumbing thru the LA Weekly and saw that she was playing a show with Lou Barlow

kilianamos (3:03:09 PM): She was doing something live on the radio

kilianamos (3:03:22 PM): you weren't there with her were you?

kilianamos (3:03:37 PM): cuz that would've sucked. I haven't seen your pretty whites in a long time, brother.

kilianamos (3:04:36 PM): I mean it would have sucked if we were in Austin at the same time and didn't hook up.

JaayJaay (3:02:26 PM): uh... nope

JaayJaay (3:02:38 PM): i never traveled any farther than San Diego with her

JaayJaay (3:02:56 PM): she did that Austin gig on the way to visit New Orleans

JaayJaay (3:03:07 PM): her mom moved there right b4 Katrina visited

JaayJaay (3:03:13 PM): (yikes)

JaayJaay (3:03:17 PM): all is well, tho

JaayJaay (3:03:31 PM): apparently, her mom's house was on high ground

kilianamos (3:07:17 PM): sounds like a soul song to me

JaayJaay (3:03:49 PM): right?

JaayJaay (3:04:05 PM): we played together for a couple of years

kilianamos (3:07:55 PM): but alas no more right?

JaayJaay (3:04:42 PM): correct, sir. i picked up the bass and started another band with a friend

JaayJaay (3:04:56 PM): played in both bands for a while and then left to focus on the other group

kilianamos (3:08:41 PM): bass huh. you can be in the LA franchise of my dance band then.

kilianamos (3:08:52 PM): the Step Brothers.

JaayJaay (3:05:27 PM): which i recently left to go and play with the drummer and guitar player from Azalia's band

JaayJaay (3:05:35 PM): totally

kilianamos (3:09:23 PM): I'm dizzy. So you're still playing bass?

JaayJaay (3:05:49 PM): i'm all about the band franchise

kilianamos (3:09:35 PM): Finger picker?

JaayJaay (3:06:00 PM): bass with a group called the Pick Up Sticks

kilianamos (3:09:48 PM): like it, cute. Cover band right?

JaayJaay (3:06:22 PM): i've used my fingers to pick since i was very young

JaayJaay (3:06:31 PM): nope, we do original stuff

kilianamos (3:10:20 PM): I didn't really think so but something about the name...

JaayJaay (3:06:47 PM): although, the Singer/Guitar player does a mean John Mellencamp

JaayJaay (3:07:05 PM): i need to start another band soon, tho

kilianamos (3:10:47 PM): Oh yeah why's that?

JaayJaay (3:07:23 PM): i like the yin-yang of being in two bands

kilianamos (3:11:21 PM): me too. the dance band is slow going though.

JaayJaay (3:07:49 PM): plus, i need to resume my horn playing

JaayJaay (3:08:02 PM): the trumpet and baritone have been gathering dust

kilianamos (3:11:52 PM): that's too bad. seems like a horn town too

kilianamos (3:11:55 PM): get to it.

JaayJaay (3:08:21 PM): right

kilianamos (3:12:09 PM): Let's talk for a min about this LA thing that's taking off right now

kilianamos (3:12:18 PM): I'm talking about the Smell

JaayJaay (3:08:45 PM): well...

JaayJaay (3:08:54 PM): i haven't been there since i saw...

JaayJaay (3:09:24 PM): a really great band that i can't recall the name of

JaayJaay (3:09:29 PM): Conor tipped me off to it

kilianamos (3:13:40 PM): maybe Conor will read this and do a little comment-editing for us.

JaayJaay (3:10:33 PM): i guess the only thing i could compare it to in Houston would be Catal?

JaayJaay (3:10:48 PM): but w/o the booze

kilianamos (3:14:26 PM): some how I'm picturing Harvey's.

JaayJaay (3:10:50 PM): or coffee

kilianamos (3:14:32 PM): same place. different smell.

JaayJaay (3:10:59 PM): yeah

kilianamos (3:14:46 PM): so is it byob or completely straight?

JaayJaay (3:11:19 PM): there used to be a great bar here, Alex's, and it was much more like the Axiom

JaayJaay (3:11:30 PM): it's byo

JaayJaay (3:11:33 PM): as far as i know

kilianamos (3:15:21 PM): that's how the old cabaret was in h-town

JaayJaay (3:11:52 PM): i can go do some recon

kilianamos (3:15:33 PM): bunch of kids. it does sound olde school punk doesn't it?

kilianamos (3:16:05 PM): so where you like to hang out, hear a tune or good dj?

JaayJaay (3:13:26 PM): i think the crowd is a bit youngish, but nobody has hurled any 'grandpa' insults at me

JaayJaay (3:13:47 PM): everyone there is pretty damn friendly

JaayJaay (3:13:54 PM): but then i feel that way about LA in general

JaayJaay (3:14:08 PM): i usually hit the local spots

JaayJaay (3:14:17 PM): I can walk to the Echo

kilianamos (3:17:55 PM): that's good. so you like the smell. and LA is a friendly town. how can it not be? It's not cold and grimy like Chicago right now.

JaayJaay (3:14:27 PM): ugh

JaayJaay (3:14:28 PM): yea

kilianamos (3:18:27 PM): what's the Echo echo echo?

JaayJaay (3:15:33 PM): it's the place to see a good mix of your local indie fare (rock, dance, country - you name it...)

JaayJaay (3:15:38 PM): plus touring acts

JaayJaay (3:16:21 PM): Beck played there a couple of weeks ago

JaayJaay (3:16:30 PM): one of those, 'secret' shows

kilianamos (3:20:11 PM): Did you go?

JaayJaay (3:16:42 PM): couldn't get ticks

JaayJaay (3:16:53 PM): i would've loved to have seen him

kilianamos (3:20:34 PM): sure

JaayJaay (3:17:08 PM): the last show like that that I caught was the New York Dolls

JaayJaay (3:17:27 PM): i just happened to be checking my e-mail when the BUY TICKETS NOW!!! announcement came in

JaayJaay (3:17:36 PM): and I lucked out and got a pair

kilianamos (3:21:17 PM): Yeah they're in good form lately. They recorded the show that got some PBS airing here in Chicago.

JaayJaay (3:17:47 PM): I always miss Beck's shows

JaayJaay (3:18:03 PM): saw him at a cafe once

JaayJaay (3:18:07 PM): woo hoo

JaayJaay (3:18:13 PM): so the Echo is great

JaayJaay (3:18:29 PM): unfortunately, they recently dumped a TON of cash into refurbing the basement

kilianamos (3:22:14 PM): oh? why is that bad?

JaayJaay (3:18:38 PM): redubbed it the EchoPlex

kilianamos (3:22:21 PM): cool name

JaayJaay (3:18:51 PM): so now they operate two clubs

JaayJaay (3:18:58 PM): well, it sucks for a number of reasons

JaayJaay (3:19:41 PM): number one, is that getting into the Echoplex (yeah, great name) is always a pain in the arse

JaayJaay (3:19:58 PM): they have more security than a sunset strip club

kilianamos (3:23:45 PM): sounds very LA

JaayJaay (3:20:16 PM): wasn't always like that

JaayJaay (3:20:43 PM): the upstairs room is very chill, still

kilianamos (3:24:30 PM): it sucks when you find a bar and then it takes off

JaayJaay (3:21:07 PM): right

JaayJaay (3:21:25 PM): there was a great bar downtown, Bar 107, that's operated by one of the LA Derby Dolls

kilianamos (3:25:06 PM): it's happening to a couple of bars I like here. the Skylark and Bernice's Tavern.

JaayJaay (3:21:47 PM): has an awesome vibe that makes me think that I'm in a Chicago Bar

JaayJaay (3:21:52 PM): (very unusual for LA)

kilianamos (3:25:46 PM): The Mary's Danish guitarist took me to a cool late late bar

kilianamos (3:25:49 PM): in LA

kilianamos (3:26:03 PM): it was all red and velvety

JaayJaay (3:22:31 PM): yeah!

kilianamos (3:26:12 PM): I can't remember the name.

kilianamos (3:26:22 PM): reminded me of the movie Chinatown for some reason.

JaayJaay (3:22:58 PM): there is a great Opium Den themed bar in downtown now

JaayJaay (3:23:01 PM): Bordello

kilianamos (3:26:47 PM): Man I got to get there.

JaayJaay (3:23:16 PM): yes you do

JaayJaay (3:23:25 PM): basically, there's WAY too much going on

JaayJaay (3:23:36 PM): but it's great

kilianamos (3:27:25 PM): what's the temp?

JaayJaay (3:23:53 PM): perfect right now

kilianamos (3:27:43 PM): I got 27 F going on.

JaayJaay (3:24:08 PM): 58 degrees here in beautiful Burbank

JaayJaay (3:24:11 PM): BRR.

kilianamos (3:28:05 PM): Yeah, started early. Hopefully it wil be a short winter.

JaayJaay (3:24:37 PM): Al Gore said it would be

kilianamos (3:28:30 PM): Good on him.

JaayJaay (3:24:58 PM): i love the weather here

kilianamos (3:28:41 PM): mm.

JaayJaay (3:25:10 PM): i now complain about heat when it is 80 degrees tho

kilianamos (3:28:55 PM): Yeah me too.

JaayJaay (3:25:21 PM): i've lost my H-town toughness

kilianamos (3:29:03 PM): True.

kilianamos (3:29:15 PM): I haven't been to H-town in Summer in over seven years.

JaayJaay (3:25:39 PM): i also scream like a little girl when i think of flying cockroaches

JaayJaay (3:25:47 PM): but then, i always did that

kilianamos (3:29:34 PM): Ha! So all this stuff lately about the world without humans

kilianamos (3:29:38 PM): you know what I'm talking about?

JaayJaay (3:26:17 PM): i've heard some ramblings of this

JaayJaay (3:26:20 PM): sort

JaayJaay (3:26:35 PM): i've also heard paglia say that we don't need men anymore, too

kilianamos (3:30:19 PM): Alan Weisman I think - newish book

JaayJaay (3:26:44 PM): i just don't know what to think anymore

kilianamos (3:30:40 PM): He says that cockroaches wouldn't survive in Chicago. too cold

JaayJaay (3:27:09 PM): pfft.

JaayJaay (3:27:10 PM): yeah

kilianamos (3:30:58 PM): They're only here in large apt buildings. can survive because of the heat.

JaayJaay (3:27:24 PM): those buggers adapt

JaayJaay (3:27:36 PM): like a virus with 6 legs

JaayJaay (3:27:45 PM): and creepy antennae

kilianamos (3:31:28 PM): One thing that is weird everytime I go back to stonio is the bugs

kilianamos (3:31:35 PM): we got none here except flies

JaayJaay (3:28:01 PM): yeah

JaayJaay (3:28:06 PM): we don't have any skeeters here

kilianamos (3:31:43 PM): although this year the skeeters were kinda bad

JaayJaay (3:28:11 PM): ha!@!!

JaayJaay (3:28:16 PM): sigh

kilianamos (3:31:53 PM): and no lizards

JaayJaay (3:28:29 PM): we do have a $#!+load of spiders

JaayJaay (3:28:34 PM): which is kinda cool

kilianamos (3:32:13 PM): so we've digressed quite a bit

JaayJaay (3:28:43 PM): uhm, yes

JaayJaay (3:28:48 PM): so, i also hit Spaceland

JaayJaay (3:28:57 PM): which was the first LA club I saw a show in

JaayJaay (3:29:06 PM): I saw Mikey DeLeon's band play there

kilianamos (3:32:52 PM): cool. he still in houston?

JaayJaay (3:29:16 PM): one of his post Jinkies bands

JaayJaay (3:29:19 PM): i think so

JaayJaay (3:29:23 PM): he just got hitched

JaayJaay (3:30:06 PM): Spaceland plays to the same audience that the Echo does, which would make sense - same ownership

kilianamos (3:34:03 PM): Is it like Space Mountain?

JaayJaay (3:30:33 PM): it's very zoomy

kilianamos (3:34:14 PM): and cool.

JaayJaay (3:30:44 PM): i think i have some pics i can send you

kilianamos (3:34:29 PM): yeah do that. I'll put 'em on the post.

JaayJaay (3:30:57 PM): from one of my last shows

JaayJaay (3:31:04 PM): none w/me in it, tho

kilianamos (3:34:41 PM): you guys got a myspace page?

JaayJaay (3:31:10 PM): yeah

JaayJaay (3:31:15 PM): let me dig it up

kilianamos (3:35:07 PM): you do that and I'm gonna hit my One on One meeting.

JaayJaay (3:31:38 PM): http://www.myspace.com/thepickupsticks

JaayJaay (3:31:40 PM): word

kilianamos (3:35:18 PM): cool

JaayJaay (3:31:44 PM): 1:1

kilianamos (3:35:21 PM): love you

JaayJaay (3:31:49 PM): ciao!