January 22, 2008

BQT postmortem

Okay, I might be hot shit in the dorky quizmaster department, but I'm an absolutely failure at the art of predicting the size of Big Quiz thing crowds. Two weeks ago, I swore we'd have a packed house for the BQT, so much so that I warned you all on this here blog (it's not worth linking to). But last night, as I made my way to Crash Mansion, I steeled myself for a weak turnout—the holiday, the cold, a couple of people actually informing me that they were bailing on their attendance plans. I was prepared for prize money and clever questions to be utterly wasted, for the Four-Part Question sound cue to be met by the haunted rustle of a sole tumbleweed drifting among the empty mahogany chairs.

Well, how 'bout this: packed house last night. Approximately 135 were present. Well done, trivia lovers. Never listen to anything I have to say about attendance ever again.

And it was a great show. They debut of the "Proofread-O-Rama" video round was a success, in my mind (some complained that the error-laden signs whizzed by too fast, but come on, I can't make it too easy), and audio rounds about drugs are always fun. Denial-Anger-Acceptance-Trivia was unable to reprise its debut victory, but they made a handsome showing; the only teams who beat them were the same eggheads who always kick ass at the show (victory for Gerard Depardouche, Fantastic Fournicators only half a point behind, Jefferson Davis Starship in third). Plenty of harmless MLK Day humor too, and hazelnut cupcakes from Batter Up.

Fun fun fun fun. We're back February 4, then we're off for three weeks, returning 2/25. Rock on.

January 17, 2008

Monday, ho!

Just to remind you that yes, there is a BQT this Monday, MLK Day. My day job isn't giving me a break, why should my night job?

Smile—someone somewhere is masturbating to your picture


Today, in the copy bullpen of Time Out New York, we were discussing the physical comeliness (or lack thereof) of the model for our previous two covers. Our latest cover is at left (I can't find the preceding cover online and I'm not about to scan it).

I know, it's hard to see in detail, but trust me here… People were commenting about how atypical, um, ugly she is for a model. Who knows—she's not my type. Some were marveling over why we chose such an unattractive woman to appear on our cover two issues in a row. Others opined that her lack of typical beauty made her more interesting.

But I noticed something: She's smiling on this cover. You don't often see that. In fact, the preceding issue's cover depicts her with that standard vacant-model stare on her face.

This is a pet peeve of mine, something I've never been able to understand. Why don't models smile? Why do so many of them look bored, or stoned, or distracted, or stupid? Is it supposed to make them more beautiful? (I know, I know—maybe they really are bored, or stoned, or distracted, or stupid.)

I don't see the logic of the nonsmiling-model paradigm. A model, theoretically, is in a situation, wearing clothes, whatever, that I'm supposed to want to buy/buy into. But if the model isn't enjoying herself, isn't having fun, why would I want to be part of it? I mean, sure, maybe I'd want her on a carnal level, but isn't the idea that the model is in a world I wish to enter? If it's so boring or enervating, why wouldn't I just stay where I am, wearing lousy clothes and not making $100-bill angels?

Some of this is probably sour grapes on my part, sure. Not that I ever wanted to be a model, or particularly sleep with one, but there's got to be something nice about being so physically beautiful (by someone's standards) that you can make a living from your face. So maybe I criticize because I'm trying to find fault.

Anyway, I'm casting about for a theory here. Is it because models are so cool? They're so awesome that the world bores them? Or is it in order for us to take them seriously? I'm reminded of a subway ad campaign from the late '90s; it was for KISS-FM, the local R&B radio station. Each add emphasized how the station played both old-school R&B and current hits, depicting an example of an artist from each era. One showed the Temptations, from their '60s heyday, side by side with Dru Hill. The Temps had smiles a mile wide, the Dru Hill guys had scowls that screamed, "We would kill you and/or make sweet love to you just as soon as look at you." Interesting. Certainly, in the '60s, black men like the Temptations had to look "friendly" and "presentable" (hence the matching suits) to get over with mainstream crowds. By the '90s, black culture had asserted itself in pop culture to the point where it was more important for an R&B artist (let alone a rapper) to keep it real, to look slightly dangerous, to refuse to tap-dance for the white man. My college pop-culture theory education comes back around again…

January 8, 2008

The devil's in the details

A brief recap of Monday night's BQT:

-- Congratulations to Denial-Acceptance-Anger-Trivia (né Too Friggin' Cool for Words): Victory at long last is ever so sweet. (And a 2.5-point margin is actually kind of large.)

-- Noah You Didn't makes its first top-five showing. Not bad for a buncha broads!

-- The Batter Up Cake Bar supplied lovely strawberry-frosted cupcakes. I'm convinced last-place finishers the Wombats threw the game just to satisfy their sugar jones.

-- Ana amazingly large number of people know who Roscoe Lee Jones was.

-- The crowd also showed an impressive talent for the mano cornuta hand gesture. Ozzy rules!

-- Crash Mansion's new video projector is a fine piece of technological equipment, yesiree it is.

-- Quizmaster Noah's joke about Joe Strummer, Bette Davis, Madonna, Van Gogh, and every gay uncle on earth dying last year bombed horribly.

-- And the weirdest thing: Last night, our lovely door gal Lori took in exactly $666. The number of the beast, in cover-charge form. Coincidence?

January 7, 2008

Year End List

Hello BQT friends,
As the DJ and musical guru of The Big Quiz Thing, I'd like to share my list of my favorite records from 2007. They're not all 2007 releases, and it’s certainly not a critic’s list. It’s just what I liked or disliked last year. Enjoy.

Though I keep hearing of things that I missed this year (MGMT, Battles), I doubt I’ll hear anything else that will make this list at the 11th hour. So another year passes, another list passed around. Happy reading/listening. Sorry in advance to go on so long about my favorite album this year. And sorry for the length...I guess I got carried away.


A-List:
#1


Of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
“…Nihilists with good imaginations...”


Rarely do indie rock records combine spouse separation, severe nervous breakdowns, and Nordic references; in fact, I can't think of any. Sure, Kevin Barnes’ voice gets shrill, and the false Brit accent gets annoying. But the psychedelic pop harmonies are perfect. I listened to the hell out of this record.

Be warned, this record takes some getting used to. I had resisted this band for years; their brand of sugar-coated indie pop was never to my liking...so sweet it made my teeth hurt. Really. On my first listen to Hissing Fauna…, their 10th(?) release, I was still skeptical until about the third listen, when its brilliance hit me. As you listen closer to the lyrics, the juxtaposition of bitterness and dejection to the sunny, bright melodies might surprise you…but in a good way. Since I never listened to them before this year, I can't comment on how Hissing Fauna... compares.

There are no subtleties in his acrimonious songwriting, presumably directed toward his separated wife, nor does he make any attempts to hide his clinical depression: “I found myself on the verge of a nervous breakdown while living in Norway…” he sings on “A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger.” He is as brutally honest as one can be about the past year, while setting the stories to infectious tunes. Isn’t that what comprises the best songs anyway?

"Gronlandic Exit"
**If I managed this band, this song would be in a commercial by now. A perfect bass line by which to sell Gap jeans or Toyotas. I guess we'd have to leave out the parts that describe Barnes' slow descent into isolation and panic attacks, while lambasting religion as a crutch…those parts not so much a sales tool.

“The Past Is a Grotesque Animal”
**A 12-minute stream of conciousness where Barnes lashes out, occasionally repeating particularly acrid and personal lyrics with emphasis: “But at least I authored my own disaster.” At whom is this torrent of resentment? Who is the “you?” I suppose his ex-wife and the mother of his child. Though, maybe his parents. Maybe a disloyal friend. What does it matter?

“Bunny Ain’t No Kind Of Rider”
**A story about fighting off drunk girls and gay men at a jam-band party, as best I can figure.

“We Were Born The Mutants Again With Leafling”
**I haven’t dissected these lyrics as much, but I really like the song.

The rest:

Datarock Datarock
**Norwegian disciples of the “new rave” indie electronica. Technically this album was released in 2005, but it just found its way to me this year.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raising Sand
**A very pretty album. The lovely-voiced Alison Krauss is perfectly complemented by the Golden God.

LCD Soundsystem
Sound Of Silver
**Declared in 2005 as one of the “coolest people on the planet,” James Murphy’s follow-up isn’t as fun or silly, but just as smart and clever. Includes sarcasm and a 5-minute + lament to NY’s loss of cool: “New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down.”

Peter, Bjorn, & John
Writer’s Block
**While technically released in 2006 overseas, this still managed to make a strong showing this year. The ubiquitous “Young Folks” hasn’t even gotten too annoying yet. A solid, enjoyable album.

B-List

Feist The Reminder

**I’m sorely tempted to leave this off after finding it on the Blender 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums list (WTF?). But I did enjoy this record this year, from time to time, though I can’t imagine I’ll be listening to it next year…

Kings of Leon Because of the Times
A pretty good album, a GREAT live show.

The Brakes Give Blood
**Overall mediocre, but contains one great, 1:37 song: “Ring A Ding Ding”

The Ponys Turn The Lights Out
**I really dug The Ponys for a while, but it just didn’t stand the test of time.

Wilco Sky Blue Sky
**The first half is a pretty decent record. Then it loses me big time.

Dr. Dog We All Belong
**Oddball pop that can appeal to fans of both 60’s pop revivalists and jam bands.

Best Discoveries--More Garage

The Seeds (thanks to Bob Irwin)
**Best song: “Pushing Too Hard”


Best Shoegaze Song

The Besnard Lakes “Devastation”


Best Discoveries Carryover from last year

NRBQ
Still a very cool band.


Best album from 2003 that I still listen to all the time

Lilys Precollection
**I can’t seem to get through a week without listening to this album. The Lilys are the coolest. And I just found out Higgins is the new Lilys backing band? Oh happy day.

Best Re-Discoveries


Komeda The Genius of Komeda
**Believe the title. This album really is genius.

Slint Spiderland
See "Good Morning Captain"
**A textured, chilling, and ultimately exhaustive tribute to Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"


Best In Shows:

Black Mountain, Mercury Lounge
**A completely hypnotic show from one of my favorite 2005 bands. Black Mountain is an unbelievable live show.

Porter Wagoner, Joe’s Pub
**R.I.P. Porter...amiable, humble, and clearly thrilled to be performing.

Spiritualized, Apollo Theatre
**A clean and redeemed J. Spaceman (does he even call himself that anymore?) with strings and gospel.

THE END

January 6, 2008

Character actors blend into the background for our sins

I saw Juno last night, and it was pretty darn fine. Considering how boneheaded most of America is these days in regard to touchy subjects like abortion and teen pregnancy, it's a wonder any sober discussion of the subject can rise to the surface, let alone something as funny and cutting as this film. This is the second movie by director Jason Reitman that I really enjoyed (he did Thank You for Smoking), and it depresses the crap out of me that he's two years younger than I am. Not that I want to be a film director, but you know how it is.

But one of the best things about it is J.K. Simmons. He plays the title character's father, and he is awesome. I've always had a fondness for character actors, those people who appear in 8,000 films yet somehow get to stay fat and ugly (or at least normal looking). They're usually better than nine tenths of the actors they're working with; since the tabloids don't give a shit about whteher they're gay or have a fat ass, they get to focus on, you know, actually acting. Some of my favorites:

J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man, the psychologist on Law & Order, the Shaggy Man on Justice League)
John Amos (the dad on Good Times and in Coming to America, Adm. Fitzwallace on The West Wing)
Peter Scolari (the guy on Bosom Buddies who wasn't Tom Hanks)
Wallace Shawn (My Dinner with Andre, the "Inconceivable!" guy in The Princess Bride)

See, this is my problem—now I can't think of any others. Suggestions?

January 4, 2008

This Monday, be warned…

So this Monday, of course, the BQT returns after a little holiday hiatus (inevitable from the Mondayness of Xmas and New Year's), and I get the feeling, that tingling in my bones, that it'll be a busy night. It's usually crowded when we've been away for a while. Plus, you know how people are always making New Year's resolutions to go to more live quiz shows? Yeah, well, that'll be a big factor too.

Also, I wasted most of my holiday vacation putzing around on Facebook, cavorting with lost friends, and everyone seemed to take an interest in the status of the quiz. So I think—or maybe I like to think—that'll we be seeing a lot of old friends at this one (the dude who coined the team name "Strippers for Stephen Hawking" said he might be returning, after, like, a four-year absence).

Anyway, it's not as much of a problem since we left the Slipper Room for the roomier climes of Crash Mansion, but do show up in a timely fashion on Monday to guarantee seating. And if it turns out I'm completely wrong, and no one shows up except me and that guy who dresses like a Renaissance Fair elf, don't laugh…

- QN