Krassy Can Blog It

A Room With A View

Visited the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla. Checked out the Chicano Vision: American Painters on the Verge exhibition. My favorite gallery was the one below - an empty room with a 180-degree view of the ocean - a beautiful work of art, really.

In the afternoon watched the final for Copa America. Argentina were the better team, but they lost to Brazil. Go figure. Argentina took the lead with 2:1 in the 87th minute. They thought they had it. Their attitude ruined them. They got way too confident. They felt like champions, and they should've been the champions, but as people say "it's not over until it's over." Brazil scored in the 93rd minute, tying the game and taking it into penalty kicks. The Argentinean team was in shambles. Devastated. Penalties was never a fair way to decide for a winner, but that's the way it is. So Brazil won in penalties lifting their 7th Copa America. I could only imagine the party back in their homeland.

I could also picture the party in England where pretty much at the same time that Brazil were celebrating their victory, Ian Brown was playing a full set of classic Stone Roses songs. I wish I was there. In England. Or in Brazil.

But I'm here. And it's all good! Marie and I headed to the movie theaters for some great entertainment - The Bourne Supremacy is an awesome movie - just as good if not better than The Bourne Identity. Fully enjoyed it. As usual, we made it a double-header so we also saw I, Robot and I am glad we saw it on the big screen, because I don't think I would've ever rented this one. It's a big screen movie - you have to see it in the theater.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Sun (Section 8)" by The Polyphonic Spree

Fantasy And Reality Are One Tonight

Comicon was in town this weekend. Thousands of film characters were roaming the streets of Downtown San Diego, blurring the borderline between fantasy and reality. The streets looked like a movie set. It was so surreal to see Imperial Stormtroopers, Lara Croft, and Superman waiting in line for coffee at Starbucks. Apparently some celebrity folk were in town too - Jessica_Alba, Jamie King, Jude Law, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Keanu Reeves were all panelists.

Chris, Lorin, Marie and I spotted Catman crossing the street. Meow! We also witnessed this catfight between a mom and her daughter that started out with the two arguing about the vegetable floor of the parking structure where they parked their car, and then escalated to where the daughter was screaming from the top of her lungs, with her index fingers pointing at her forehead, going "I figured it out mom. You were with a realtor last night. I know! I know because I'm smart!" It was truly a scene out of a comic book played out on the street. Hilarious.

Headed down to Henry's Pub for a nice dinner and fun conversations. We then saw The Blackouts doing the street corner musician gig thing in front of Urban Outfitters. Oh, and did I mention Downtown San Diego was alive and buzzing tonight?

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Nice Dreams" by Radiohead

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

Today reminded me of the title of a song by U2 - "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"

Hold Me...in suspense, as I have been waiting for months to see The Thrills live. I went to the Belly Up to get my tickets during lunch. Behind the venue, the tour bus driver was having a one-man party - barbecuing some corn and rocking out to some fun-in-the-sun music blasted on his boombox...right there behind the club in front of the bus. That guy was my middle-of-the-day hero.

Thrill Me...and they did. The Thrills put on a great show tonight. I discovered the Thrills out of the blue several months back. I was supposed to see them this past March, but was out of town. Then tried to see them at Coachella, but missed their set. Tonight they played a great live set as an opening act for Gomez. It was fantastic to see a live performance of the songs that I've been percolificating over and over in the past several months. The Thrills played with feeling. Their harmonies were great live. And their attitude was one that invites the audience into a melodic romantic sonic world. The Thrills even gave me the chills on a couple of occasions. You know the power and magic of music when you get the goosebumps.

Kiss Me...is part of the name of the band that I saw at Brick By Brick later in the night. Angie's nephew Jake plays the drums for Kiss Me Stranger. And he is a great drummer, really. His band is a high-energy teen spirit fiasco - hardcore punk metal with enough theatrics to provide entertainment even for the ones who cover their ears when Tom Petty plays distorted guitar during the chorus of a mellow song.

Kill Me...with your attitude, security dude at 4th & B. Was supposed to get into the Crystal Method/Paul Oakenfold show to take some photos, but the Mr.T look-alike was riding a high horse so high up in the skies that I don't believe he could even hear what I was saying.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Plans" by The Thrills

Happy Birthday Jackie!

The Cheesecake Factory has a very misleading name. I always thought it was just a dessert place, but this is actually a full restaurant with a huge menu and a full bar. This place offers so much great food, and all of it is low-carb of course, so you know you'd like to try it all. I am too stuffed to write anything. Getting sleepy.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Cream" by Prince

Beauty On Canvas

I went to bed at 2am. She stayed awake. I got up at 7am and saw this beautiful creation drying in the living room.

Marie has become an oil painter. Impressive.

Bidding starts at $50,000.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Carnival" by The Cardigans

Sonic Youth Sounds Old

I got my fix with that cool song "Bull in the Heather" but the rest of Sonic Youth's concert at Soma tonight left me wanting more, especially for the high price of the tickets. The feedback was overdone, and the delivery of the music was a bit uninspired and dull. Yawn. I had never seen them live before so am not sure if they were always this boring, or if they are now riding on their laurels and not having to try too hard. Sonic Ripoff.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Bull in the Heather" by Sonic Youth

Bellofish

So my friend Chris Bello gets invited to play guitar on stage at Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay with one of his favorite bands, Hootie and the Blowfish. Really, plain and simple, this is a dream-come-true for him. Unreal. This doesn't just happen to people. This is some kind of a lucky arrangement in the stars - the stars in the skies and the stars on stage, including an extra one tonight - Chris, the Bellofish!

Hootie and the Blowfish never grabbed me. Back in the day when they were making it big, I never paid attention - simply not my cup'o'tea. But this is beside the point. I won't be a hater and will say that tonight I gain respect for what they do. They are inspired playing their music and try to please the crowd. The music still doesn't do it for me, but it's not about my taste in music or about Blowfish tonight; it's about Bellofish.

JC and I are invited to take pictures and video and be Chris's support group. We're the paparazzi and his bodyguards tonight. I can feed off of Chris's excitement. Preshow he's climbing up an 80-degree incline with his rollercoaster cart.

Then the time comes, and the Hootie guitarist announces in the microphone: "Tonight we have a very special guest - Chris Bello from San Diego" The crowd claps and his support group in the back - Kevin, Amber, Rod, Tanya, and I yell from the top of our lungs "Rock out Chris!!!" The song kicks off, and Chris's rollercoaster cart speeds down a rapid slope. I know he's experiencing an incredible adrenaline rush. Rockin' with his heroes.

He looks comfortable on stage and plays with confidence, a smile on his face, and a joy that glows an aura around his space. I am so stoked for him. I make my way to the front and snap some photos.

The band plays for a while without him, but to everyone's surprise, including Chris's, they call him back on stage for another song. Chris has won an extra ticket for his favorite rollercoaster ride. This time around he boards right at the top and goes for the big drop again.

The show is over, the crowds leave, and family and friends surround Bello like groupies. We're escorted backstage where the band is hanging out chatting and drinking. Good vibes. All in all I had an excellent time and enjoyed so much to be a part of one of the happiest nights of someone else's life.

Dreams do come true!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Waltz #2" by Elliott Smith

Get Your Kicks On Route 66!

Saw "Route 66" - an entertaining musical full of catchy tunes and humorous short stories produced by the The La Jolla Stage Company.

Leaving the Firehouse after the play, I had Bobby Troup's famous "Route 66" song (covered by everyone from Chuck Berry and Nat King Cole to the Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode) stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

If you ever plan to motor west:
Travel my way, the highway that's the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66!

It winds from Chicago to L.A.,
More than 2,000 miles all the way,
Get your kicks on Route 66!

Now you go thru St. Looey...Joplin, Missouri!
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty.
You'll see Amarillo...Gallup, New Mexico.
Flagstaff, Arizona: don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino.

Won't you...get hip to this timely tip:
When you...make that California trip.
Get your kicks on Route 66!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Route 66" by Depeche Mode

College Football in Your Hands

Spent yet another fine evening at Lorin's house with a fine group of relaxed cool cats. Met Rod's wife Tanya and also Lorin's friend, Adriana. Bello was DJing some Heavy Metal as well as some Rush and what-not - stuff I never listen to. The fun really is in observing his enthusiasm for a style of music that was never appealing to me. I am only broadening my horizons and enjoying seeing Bello have so much fun playing air-guitar and lip synching to Hair Metal. Fun stuff. I just love seeing people being really into something.

Tonight I was also exposed to something else I am not too familiar with - PlayStation2. Unreal. Bello showed me the new EA Sports' NCAA 2005 College Football for PlayStation2. It is unbelievable to see how much the gaming industry has advanced. This game is so close to looking and feeling realistic - it's incredible. It almost looks like a Pixar animation that you are in control of. The 3D rendering is near-perfect. The interactivity is full-on - you have the sounds of the roaring stadium, the commentators being on top of the action on the field, and lifelike sounds and actions of the players running or tackling - everything controlled by you. You can also have instant replay and views from different angles. Truly Impressive!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "My Generation" by The Who

Come On Baby Light My Bonfire

Haven't been to a bonfire in such a long time. Tonight, Marie and I joined Alexis, Amanda, Koa and some other dudes and dudettes for some serious pyro-s'mores mania. I love staring at the fire. The dancing flames relax me and hypnotize me. The dying fire in the late hour of the night was the perfect way of drawing the curtains and ending the showtime of a long day.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Light My Fire" by The Doors

Stunning Sunset at Sunset Cliffs

Joined Chuck, Anna, Bella and Joe for a drink and a chat at the Grand Opening of the Inn at Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach - great place, great company, and a great way to unwind after a long day of work.

Happy Birthday Bella!! I hope you didn't think I'm crazy when I almost walked through the glass door. I was just trying to entertain you for your Birthday. No, really!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Triple Funk" by Lemon 8

Let the Stars Sing Your Lyrics

Got lyrics but can't sing? Have the pop stars do it. Let them sing it for you is an interactive online project that lets you hear any lyrics that you type in sung by some of the world's greatest pop stars. The creator is Erik Bünger - a Swedish sound artist.

If you get a pretty decent sounding piece, let me know what were the lyrics that you typed in.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Mercy" by Marvin Gaye

Let Your Car Park Itself

If you have trouble parallel parking, you need to check out the Evolve Project. 17 students from the mechatronic project course of 2004 at the division of Fluid & Mechanical Engineering Systems at Linköping University, Sweden, have developed a mechanism for a car to find a parking spot and then park itself. Is this cool, or what? I'm thinking this could really come handy in Downtown San Diego on a weekend night - especially on a one-way street where you need to park on the left side of the road. It always feels awkward to me parallel parking on the opposite side of the road - it's kinda like eating with your left hand (or the right hand, if you are left-handed)

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand

Spider-Man 2

I figured it out - the "2" in Spider-Man 2 stands for the 2 things you might like in the movie:
1. The character of J. Jonas Jameson played by J.K. Simmons.
2. The special effects when Spider-man is in action.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Hit" by The Sugarcubes