[tws]

Wow, sorry. It's been a little while. As was advertised in that last posting, the Laughing Lizard showcases are back in full force. Actually, next month may be kind of sparse, but the two we had this month both kicked ass. Thanks much to the new ownership and management of O'Shaughnessy's for the support. And thanks to all the comics who came out to bring the room back in a big way. Here's to a great next couple of months.

So that's one of several reasons that May was jammed for me. Reason two: the sister graduated college and moved away (sad). Reason three: I had a great weekend with Tony Woods and Mike Aronin at the Baltimore Comedy Factory (happy, though I only had a few good sets, but I did my job as the emcee, so...positive experience?). Anyway, here's photographic evidence.

Mike looks like he's plotting something. And some video evidence, which I cut to the last four minutes of my set for a number of reasons, mostly because more people will watch it if its only 4 minutes long. Note that the joke I'm referring to in the beginning is this new joke I've been doing about Trot Nixon. And it's not complete.

Alright, this generally isn't a blog about my comedy shows. This is a blog about stuff people care even less about, my opinions about music, TV, culture, and other minutia. Before I go into that, ARLINGTON CINEMA/DRAFTHOUSE THIS WEDNESDAY AT 7:30 PM. 2903 COLUMBIA PIKE. $7.

 So I went to go see Radiohead a couple of weeks ago. It was my first and last time at the Nissan Pavilion out in Bristow. From what I understand, that place sucks satan's ass on even nice days, so when you factor in the Nor'easter that pounded NoVa on that night, waterboard yourself and you'd probably have a more enjoyable experience than many did trying to get there. I completely support a boycott of the Pavilion until they improve the transport/parking situation out there. This was ridiculous. Granted, the road that flooded, and the car that blew up and got engulfed in flames (no joke) were beyond their control, but still, they're terrible.

The concert itself was great. When Thom Yorke broke into the opening chords of "Fake Plastic Trees," a few things occurred to me. This is probably the greatest band in the world, and they made all the aches and pains of braving the apocalyptic conditions ALMOST worth it. Damn.

I decided to celebrate by compiling a list of my ten favorite Radiohead songs shortly thereafter. Why it's taken me this long to post them is beyond me. Actually, it's right in front of me, you just read why I couldn't up at the top here. Anyway.

1. LIKE SPINNING PLATES (LIVE VERSION)
   The version on “Amnesiac” is great, but the trippy tape loops take a backseat to the sheer awe-inducing translation onto piano when they play it live. Plenty of their songs send a massive jolt down your spine, but none as powerfully as this one.
2. FAKE PLASTIC TREES
   ...but gravity always wins. You can't NOT turn this one up as it builds.
3. HIGH & DRY
   I remember seeing this video on MTV’s “Top 100 Videos of 1995” countdown. At 98. I went to Merle’s Record Rack in Guilford and bought ‘The Bends’ the next day, and the rest is history. This was a favorite sing-along, too, among my friends and I freshman year of college.
4. ALL I NEED
   The Korg line (or whatever it is) crushes on this song. Proving how and why Radiohead are the masters of subtlety.
5. LET DOWN
   Just catchy and pretty. Edges out a number of songs on "OK Computer," which I still think is the band's best.
6. KNIVES OUT
   Catch the mouse! Squash his head! Whatta guitar clinic.
7. EXIT MUSIC (FOR A FILM)
   We hope that you choke! Best ending line of a song ever.
8. BLACK STAR
   According to my buddy Ted, this song is about a couple who have jobs that alternate day shift and night shift, thereby creating a brief window in the late evening when they see each other and have sex. Neat. Getting drunk and screaming along with the chorus in New Orleans was pretty awesome.
9. WHERE I END AND YOU BEGIN (THE SKY IS FALLING IN)
   This was my favorite song on “Hail to the Thief,” which is kind of like Radiohead's “The Boy with the Arab Strap.” Oh, yeah, they still rock pretty well when they want to.
10. ANYONE CAN PLAY GUITAR
    “Pablo Honey” is like a bastard child in their discography, but it still rocks in retrospect. This is their best ‘early’ song when they were a band who many “cool” magazines like Spin wrote them off as a one-hit wonder.