Bibi just can't do the Chicago date on August 1--too little Butch and already been to Chi-town. Only a few tickets left for the London show, but Bibi is admitting that London is way too far away, even for a chance to see Butch.
Still love ya, Butch!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Butch Walker: Summertime Blues
Well, Eddie Cochran sang it right: there ain't no cure for the summertime blues...and no Butch Walker on the road. Making do with clips from Live from Daryl's House. Just love this one!
Sweethearts
Bibi just can't do the Chicago date on August 1--too little Butch and already been to Chi-town. Only a few tickets left for the London show, but Bibi is admitting that London is way too far away, even for a chance to see Butch.
Still love ya, Butch!
Bibi just can't do the Chicago date on August 1--too little Butch and already been to Chi-town. Only a few tickets left for the London show, but Bibi is admitting that London is way too far away, even for a chance to see Butch.
Still love ya, Butch!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Butch Walker: London Calling!
Guess Butch could no longer ignore the calls from London! He'll be playing The Borderline there on August 7. Hmmm....is this a lead up to the announcement of US dates? Hope so! Bibi is SO pumped!
Hope there's follow-up news soon.
Love ya, Butch!
Love ya, Butch!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Butch Walker: Will He Get on the Road Soon?
Seems like a long time ago that Bibi saw Butch in concert, although it was only in March. (sigh)
Lacking any more recent videos or pics Bibi took herself, enjoy this clip of Butch at Stones Fest, singing Honky Tonk Woman in LA recently:
Butch Rocks it in LA
Some very memorable highlights from Stones Fest L.A.:
Babe Walker, oh excuse me, I mean Butch Walker … He’s always a highlight at the Best Fests. The man killed it on “Honkey Tonk Woman,” and while taking the lead on the show’s closing song, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” where all the performers took part on stage.
Just love that the writer seems as taken with Butch as Bibi is! Quick disclaimer to the casual reader: Bibi intends all this gushing as a compliment to Butch, no weirdo/stalker shit, okay? Just so you know.
While anxiously, fervently, impatiently, longingly awaiting the summer tour, no cure like listening to the Butch Walker Mixtape X in the car and watching/listening to videos on the internet.
Butch Walker Mixtape X
Bodegas and Blood
Summer of '89
Sweethearts
Synthesizers
Closest Thing to You
Bullet Belt
Sucker Punched
She Likes Hairbands
Mixtape
Race Cars and Goth Rock
The Weight of Her
Here Comes the ...
Ponce de Leon Ave.
Oooh..Aaah...
Hot Girls in Good Moods
Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty)
Stripped Down Version
Maybe It's Just Me
Pretty Melody
When Canyons Ruled the City
The 3 Kids in Brooklyn
Driving to San Antonio this weekend for the Texas Folklife Festival and plan to listen to Letters, I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart, Sycamore Meadows and the Hey! Album instead of the mixtapes. Just to get to the deeper cuts of Butch's music. How could the drive get even better? Looking forward to it!
Love ya, Butch!
Lacking any more recent videos or pics Bibi took herself, enjoy this clip of Butch at Stones Fest, singing Honky Tonk Woman in LA recently:
Butch Rocks it in LA
Thanks to Grimy Goods online music news for the pic of Butch! Here's a cut from her comments about the event, germane to a blog that idolizes Butch Walker:
Some very memorable highlights from Stones Fest L.A.:
Babe Walker, oh excuse me, I mean Butch Walker … He’s always a highlight at the Best Fests. The man killed it on “Honkey Tonk Woman,” and while taking the lead on the show’s closing song, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” where all the performers took part on stage.
Just love that the writer seems as taken with Butch as Bibi is! Quick disclaimer to the casual reader: Bibi intends all this gushing as a compliment to Butch, no weirdo/stalker shit, okay? Just so you know.
While anxiously, fervently, impatiently, longingly awaiting the summer tour, no cure like listening to the Butch Walker Mixtape X in the car and watching/listening to videos on the internet.
Butch Walker Mixtape X
Bodegas and Blood
Summer of '89
Sweethearts
Synthesizers
Closest Thing to You
Bullet Belt
Sucker Punched
She Likes Hairbands
Mixtape
Race Cars and Goth Rock
The Weight of Her
Here Comes the ...
Ponce de Leon Ave.
Oooh..Aaah...
Hot Girls in Good Moods
Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty)
Stripped Down Version
Maybe It's Just Me
Pretty Melody
When Canyons Ruled the City
The 3 Kids in Brooklyn
Driving to San Antonio this weekend for the Texas Folklife Festival and plan to listen to Letters, I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart, Sycamore Meadows and the Hey! Album instead of the mixtapes. Just to get to the deeper cuts of Butch's music. How could the drive get even better? Looking forward to it!
Love ya, Butch!
Friday, May 17, 2013
Butch Walker: Top Shelf--of course!
Always SO cool to see Butch's name in print/on the web/really, anywhere! Mentioned in Rolling Stone recently in the context of his work with the singer from Sugarland:
For the new album, Nettles wrote songs on her own, or collaborated with top-shelf songwriters like Sara Bareilles and Butch Walker.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sugarland-singer-jennifer-nettles-teams-with-rick-rubin-for-solo-debut-20130517#ixzz2TZKJAW4S
Whoa! "Top-shelf" from the self-proclaimed leaders in internet music news. Bibi is so impressed!
Although, the story would have been vastly improved if a picture of Butch would have been included. Just saying. Something like this one:
That good ol' Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect--I feel better already!
Love ya, Butch! AND, congrats on the RS mention! You deserve even more!
For the new album, Nettles wrote songs on her own, or collaborated with top-shelf songwriters like Sara Bareilles and Butch Walker.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sugarland-singer-jennifer-nettles-teams-with-rick-rubin-for-solo-debut-20130517#ixzz2TZKJAW4S
Whoa! "Top-shelf" from the self-proclaimed leaders in internet music news. Bibi is so impressed!
That good ol' Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect--I feel better already!
Love ya, Butch! AND, congrats on the RS mention! You deserve even more!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Butch Walker: Lost Dog Alert!
So sad to report that Butch's French bulldog, Frank, is MIA.
If you're in the Malibu area and see this dog or hear of a dog like this one for sale, Butch Walker wants to know. If that picture didn't melt your heart, this one will:
Butch's son is devastated that his dog is gone.
Bibi feels their pain. As Butch has tweeted: hope someone has the humanity to give Frank back to his grieving family asap.
Fingers really and truly crossed for a happy family reunion soon!
Love ya, Butch!
Bibi feels their pain. As Butch has tweeted: hope someone has the humanity to give Frank back to his grieving family asap.
Fingers really and truly crossed for a happy family reunion soon!
Love ya, Butch!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Butch Walker, Chart Whisperer
Bibi--and her vast following--already know that Butch Walker is a fantastic musician, song writer, singer, total rock star on stage, and a remarkable music producer. A recent online review of Fall Out Boy's new Butch-produced album,
Save Rock and Roll, also gives Butch a thumbs up.
The production, by chart-whisperer Butch Walker, polishes everything until it's in your face and gleaming: the apocalyptic strings of "The Phoenix," the louche bottom-feeding of "Where Did the Party Go," the Adele-aping intro of "Just One Yesterday."
http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/74544/fall-out-boy-returns-trying-to-save-rock-and-roll
Believe it or not, Bibi had pondered the producer/artist relationship while listening to the cd. For Bibi, this partnership that results in enjoyable/salable/resume-building output is part of that whole creative process that fascinates the outsider (me). Given that Butch is so talented on his own, the process by which he works with FOB--Butch is not a focus or a player in and of the work, only a participant at a certain level--for the end product is so ineffably mysterious. Not something that easily lends itself to explication. Even if Bibi were present while it was going on, would she really understand how the generation of a finished record comes about? Combining the raw written lyrics, sounds of the instruments, the abilities and personalities of the artists, the way in which everything is put together and voila: a new album now exists? Just makes Butch seem so much cooler than ever.
One of the new staff members told me he and his friend were talking about the new FOB album (they really like it) including the more technical areas of who did what. Butch's name came up as the producer and the staff member thought, wait, isn't that the guy Bibi talks about? Bibi feels so satisfied with the level of fervor she puts into getting Butch's name and work out there for others when she hears stuff like this. It's what fans do--talk about the star, their abilities, talents, existence--but still, just made the day go that much better, hearing that Butch is known and appreciated by others.
Love ya, Butch!
The production, by chart-whisperer Butch Walker, polishes everything until it's in your face and gleaming: the apocalyptic strings of "The Phoenix," the louche bottom-feeding of "Where Did the Party Go," the Adele-aping intro of "Just One Yesterday."
http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/74544/fall-out-boy-returns-trying-to-save-rock-and-roll
Believe it or not, Bibi had pondered the producer/artist relationship while listening to the cd. For Bibi, this partnership that results in enjoyable/salable/resume-building output is part of that whole creative process that fascinates the outsider (me). Given that Butch is so talented on his own, the process by which he works with FOB--Butch is not a focus or a player in and of the work, only a participant at a certain level--for the end product is so ineffably mysterious. Not something that easily lends itself to explication. Even if Bibi were present while it was going on, would she really understand how the generation of a finished record comes about? Combining the raw written lyrics, sounds of the instruments, the abilities and personalities of the artists, the way in which everything is put together and voila: a new album now exists? Just makes Butch seem so much cooler than ever.
One of the new staff members told me he and his friend were talking about the new FOB album (they really like it) including the more technical areas of who did what. Butch's name came up as the producer and the staff member thought, wait, isn't that the guy Bibi talks about? Bibi feels so satisfied with the level of fervor she puts into getting Butch's name and work out there for others when she hears stuff like this. It's what fans do--talk about the star, their abilities, talents, existence--but still, just made the day go that much better, hearing that Butch is known and appreciated by others.
Love ya, Butch!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Butch Walker: So easy to look at
Recently started following Butch Walker Australia on fb. They often post great pictures of Butch, some I've seen, some are new to Bibi. Here's one they posted today
It's from that really funny video of Brendan Urie as a besotted fan who paid $25,000 for a BW pre-order and to spend time with Butch. It's a spoof on American Psycho with Butch doing an EXCELLENT take on another of Bibi's faves, Christian Bale. OK, ok, here's the video:
Won't speak on Brendan's future acting role opportunities, but I have always thought Butch would do better than just okay if he decided to act for a living. He's definitely got the face and in the music videos in which Butch has played a role, he's shown a well-developed confidence, a flair for expression and timing sense. Not sure about the tie in this video, but otherwise, Butch is very effective, exceedingly watchable.
Fan question: Do y'all think Butch wears these clothes in any day-to-day setting?
Love ya, Butch Walker!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Hey, Butch Walker: Waiting on summer tour information, please
This was true even when AC/DC was on their monster tour and Bibi got to see them six times.
Now that they're on hiatus and I've discovered Butch Walker--AND that unbelievable week of March 11, 2013, is past--the waiting is on, and on, and on....Oh, well, fans have to take the good with the bad, just part of the life.
Some of the good in the last couple of weeks has been hearing others--that I introduced to Butch's music--talk about Butch. For example: D from the office now has Butch on one of his playlists in his computer at work. Not only did D buy The Spade from ITunes, he includes it in his daily listening. N, gave her one of the first Butch Walker Mixtapes, said she watched a really bad Gerard Butler movie (besides the Guy Ritchie movie and The 300, there are good ones?) that had a BW song at the end! (It's Synthesizers.) I was so impressed! She did listen to the mixtape cd and she recognized Synthesizers. I felt so fulfilled: one of the basic tenets of the fan rules and by-laws was well-accomplished--spreading the word.
Butch seems to be in Georgia right now, enjoying family life. Great idea: charging up for the highly anticipated summer tour. The new album by Fall Out Boy, produced by Butch Walker, was released today and Butch tweeted to say it had a Top 10 single and was the Number 1 Album. So cool for him and F O B. More good to accept, right?
But that waiting thing....ugh!
Hope we get news soon on the tour dates, locations. Decided against buying tickets for the early June Fall Out Boy stop in Houston. What if it conflicted with traveling to or attending one of the dates for Butch? Of course, no question what Bibi would do, but can't throw $$ around like no big deal, even with that HUGE tax refund on its way. lol
I know. You're saying to yourself: Bibi--been patiently listening to you go on and on. Where are some Butch pics? OK, you're right. Here's one of Bibi's faves that Butch tweeted the other day:
Just like Bibi thought, especially when she got to see him so close up in Dallas and Austin: great handsI Well, er, um, in this picture, really, really great right hand. Bibi is such a fan.
And here are couple from Vice Bar in Austin:
Love ya, Butch!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
March for Babies 2013
This picture vividly illustrates how Bibi prefers to spend her leisure time.
One of the very few deviations from this behavior--besides attending Butch Walker shows--is Bibi's participation in the March for Babies event at the end of April each year. GRRRRR...Stop rolling on the floor laughing this instant! Yes, I actually walk the entire distance!
If you'd like to donate to this admirable and worthwhile cause (March for Babies, not Bibi napping), you can go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/Bibilovesangus
To date, Bibi has raised $50! And she only began yesterday! So, join the millions around the USA who will be supporting this effort: you can donate or, why not meet Bibi at UH on April 28, 9 am and we will struggle our way through the countless red wagons, baby carriages and dog walkers to the finish line, ensemble, as the French say?
Love ya, Butch! er, um, and, of course all the rest of the avid Bibi followers.
Bibi was standing just to the right of the mic when she made this snippet video of the totally fabulous Butch Walker. When you hear someone yell "alright!", that's Bibi.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect--Proof Positive
Now that I have your attention (ha, ha), Bibi will once again tout the fabulously positive Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect. You might say: proof, please. OK. The "year" for Bibi and her fellow staff members begins at the end of August. Although the fog of memory makes it less than pristinely clear, it seems that Bibi watched Episode 54 of Live From Daryl's House in mid or end of August. While in many respects the flow of life did not change for Bibi, some did, in a significant way, from that point in time. She began blogging about the wondrous Butch Walker and keeping track of the views of Say It Isn't So from that episode of LFDH at the end of August. Began buying his cds, his dvd, his book with no thought of: should I listen to Butch on YouTube or buy just a few mp3s before investing in him so heavily? For Bibi to invest in anything from a fiscal or emotional pov is a huge, involved decision process with lots and lots of research, time spent thinking about it, weighing the pros and cons, and FINALLY deciding yes or no. When it came to Butch Walker, though, almost immediately, snagged a stock of blank cds to make mixtape cds to distribute to (even vaguely) interested parties, started mentioning Butch on Facebook. Sure, there was some backlash, accusations of deserting Angus, etc., but Bibi was totally ensorcellee (enchanted, bewitched). Started listening to Say It Isn't So (here's your chance to do so)
The Butch version of Say It Isn't So: fab-u-lous!
daily, or more, along with Butch's cds and the BW Mixtapes. What Bibi noted and passed on was that listening to Butch Walker music was a wonderfully effective way to get past negatives--people, situations, unavoidable tasks, that energy draining ennui--throughout the day. You feel better, you're singing along, whatever you're working on is more fun, more satisfying and your output is just so much better.
Bibi's job is not so bad as "working at American Apparel, selling women's clothes to guys," but it could rank right up there. The point is, Bibi's work performance is evaluated annually and review time was this past week. Bibi's eval always comes out ok, pretty good and the number assigned to that performance is well within the keeper range. This year, the number for this year's eval was significantly higher than last year's! What other explanation could there be besides the Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect?
Oh, Butch! If you only knew how valuable you and your music are! Thanks again, guy, for being such a great talent and being there!
Love you!
The Butch version of Say It Isn't So: fab-u-lous!
daily, or more, along with Butch's cds and the BW Mixtapes. What Bibi noted and passed on was that listening to Butch Walker music was a wonderfully effective way to get past negatives--people, situations, unavoidable tasks, that energy draining ennui--throughout the day. You feel better, you're singing along, whatever you're working on is more fun, more satisfying and your output is just so much better.
Bibi's job is not so bad as "working at American Apparel, selling women's clothes to guys," but it could rank right up there. The point is, Bibi's work performance is evaluated annually and review time was this past week. Bibi's eval always comes out ok, pretty good and the number assigned to that performance is well within the keeper range. This year, the number for this year's eval was significantly higher than last year's! What other explanation could there be besides the Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect?
Oh, Butch! If you only knew how valuable you and your music are! Thanks again, guy, for being such a great talent and being there!
Love you!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Butch Walker Withdrawal and Renewal
Finally re-energized after the mercifully short period of lowdown blues that slammed into Bibi the week after seeing Butch perform three times in five days.
But, like the Rolling Stones say, that's all over now; the blues, that is. Bibi keeps remembering: man, what a roller coaster rush that week was! Did spend a short time in the dumps thinking about not being able to speak when Butch signed the motorcycle magazine,
but finally told myself: whatever! You did speak when you (finally) met Angus and think about how great and memorable that was for both of you. LOL
What does Bibi owe the renewed enrgy to? She's gotten to do some things she loves to do. Like, talk about:
Bibi doesn't understand how she could have thought that she might not follow the summer tour. Cats! Who can understand their labyrinthine thought processes? (woohoo--check out the big brain on Bibi!) Sure, she can't be stalker-like about it, make the entire tour, but hopefully some short stints on both coasts. Bibi realizes there's no chance Butch will come back to Texas and that's fine. Who wants to go to Amarillo or Corpus Christi during the summer? Can't imagine that Butch's management team has stats that would back up a tour schedule so bizarre as that.
Anyway, Bibi has a renewed sense of purpose: let as many as possible know about Butch Walker, his music, his talents. Have already given out three copies of BWM IX, made a new supply of the BW cards. Going to a possibly cool party on Saturday; hoping to let new people know about the one, the only, the truly remarkable and talented, Butch Walker. I know. How could it be a cool party if Bibi's invited? Ha, ha, ha.
Love you, Butch!
*She Likes Hair Bands Bodegas and Blood
Summer of '89
Sweethearts
Day Drunk
Synthesizers
The Closest Thing to You
Bullet Belt
Sucker Punched
Mixtape
Race Cars and Goth Rock
The Weight of Her
Here Comes the...
Ponce de Leon Ave.
Oooh...Aaah...
Hot Girls in Good Moods
Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty)
When Canyons Ruled the City
Maybe It's Just Me
Pretty Melody
The 3 Kids in Brooklyn
But, like the Rolling Stones say, that's all over now; the blues, that is. Bibi keeps remembering: man, what a roller coaster rush that week was! Did spend a short time in the dumps thinking about not being able to speak when Butch signed the motorcycle magazine,
but finally told myself: whatever! You did speak when you (finally) met Angus and think about how great and memorable that was for both of you. LOL
What does Bibi owe the renewed enrgy to? She's gotten to do some things she loves to do. Like, talk about:
- Butch Walker,
- the wonderful "Week of 3 Shows (March 11-15)",
- Butch Walker's music, his voice, his rock star qualities,
- the set lists in Dallas and in Austin at SXSW,
- SXSW 2013 as one of the best Spring Breaks ever. Right up there with the Spring Break in Paris with my favorite person on earth.
- the development, reveal, and gifting to a select few of the new and best ever, Butch Walker Mixtape IX*
Bibi doesn't understand how she could have thought that she might not follow the summer tour. Cats! Who can understand their labyrinthine thought processes? (woohoo--check out the big brain on Bibi!) Sure, she can't be stalker-like about it, make the entire tour, but hopefully some short stints on both coasts. Bibi realizes there's no chance Butch will come back to Texas and that's fine. Who wants to go to Amarillo or Corpus Christi during the summer? Can't imagine that Butch's management team has stats that would back up a tour schedule so bizarre as that.
Anyway, Bibi has a renewed sense of purpose: let as many as possible know about Butch Walker, his music, his talents. Have already given out three copies of BWM IX, made a new supply of the BW cards. Going to a possibly cool party on Saturday; hoping to let new people know about the one, the only, the truly remarkable and talented, Butch Walker. I know. How could it be a cool party if Bibi's invited? Ha, ha, ha.
Love you, Butch!
*She Likes Hair Bands Bodegas and Blood
Summer of '89
Sweethearts
Day Drunk
Synthesizers
The Closest Thing to You
Bullet Belt
Sucker Punched
Mixtape
Race Cars and Goth Rock
The Weight of Her
Here Comes the...
Ponce de Leon Ave.
Oooh...Aaah...
Hot Girls in Good Moods
Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty)
When Canyons Ruled the City
Maybe It's Just Me
Pretty Melody
The 3 Kids in Brooklyn
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Butch Walker, SXSW update, the Fan's Lot
A fan's life is not easy or easily sustainable. Although overall, this week has been a diehard fan's dream--seeing Butch Walker three times within five days--to actually accomplish it, well, at some points, Bibi thought: really? I have to endure this (traffic, getting lost due to seemingly willfully incomprehensible directions, some poor food choice decisions, not eating for long periods of time, w-a-i-t-i-n-g in lines, sunburned left arm, sitting next to flaky people) bullshit because I want to see Butch? The two trips (Dallas and Austin) weren't that expensive, so positive in their favor, the two hotels were fine (the Dallas hotel had a Hotel California air to it, though, yes, I was allowed to check out without incident) and the SXSW hotel was in Round Rock, about 15 minutes (30 agonizing minutes in bad traffic conditions) from Austin, again, not such bad aspects of the trips. And who doesn't like to anticipate those little soaps?
But sometimes, the waiting was not only the hardest part, it was the worst part of what Bibi had to do to see Butch. Few of the gory details are needed since they are irrelvant now that Bibi did see Butch and did enjoy his kick ass shows tremendously. And, of course, none of them were caused by Butch; only by those incapable of understanding the importance of seeing Butch perform live, in person, up close. At SXSW, if you don't buy the all-showcase access badge, around $800, and you don't live in the Austin area (you have a few chances to buy wristbands for less than $200), you have to hope that the shows you want to see will NOT be a major draw for the badges and wristbands--they get in first--since they could fill up the venue and make day-of tickets difficult to get. For Bibi, this not knowing was just so stressful.
From Day 1, everybody kept consoling me: even if you don't get in to see him, there are so many other acts to see! They did not get it. Why would I go through making travel arrangements, making sure I could be away from my national-importance level job for a week, aka, work for weeks before so that nothing was left undone for this week, decide the money spent was just money well-spent and damn it, worth it to spend, if just any act would be okay to attend? Really, who goes to SXSW with that plan?
To quote C-3P-0, thank the Maker, Bibi got into both of Butch's showcases relatively easily and for a total of $10! Didn't spend money on drinks since the first show was in a church and Bibi couldn't get through the crowd in Vice Bar to get a drink.
One of the beauties of this Texas mini-tour was the unexpected opportunities to be in such close proximity to Butch while he performed--Bibi would have never even dreamed it would be possible to be three feet in front of him, much less have him pass right next to me on his way through the audience in Dallas. On Friday night at the Vice Bar, Bibi was on the front row! I know the readers are going to roll their eyes when I reveal that at a certain point in Butch's set, Bibi could swear he noticed her being in the front AGAIN and he smiled right at her!!!! REALLY, REALLY!
It was deleriously FABULOUS and I deleriously clung to that feeling for the 6 1/2 hours that I stood there. (a sort of lol here) My cowboy boots are really comfy, but, whoa, all that standing with no drink in hand was a Texas-sized challenge. Fan note: maybe laundry has to be done each night while Butch is on tour? He wore the same ensemble on Friday that he wore on Thursday, at least the tee shirt and vest. Butch is probably a way better traveler/packer than Bibi; I took three pairs of boots, a pair of sandals, and the Doc Martins for a two day trip, along with enough clothes for four changes.
Bibi digresses. The first three acts were country singers, okay. The first two were appealing and seemed viable, but kind of laid back, overall. This made it easy for Butch to come on and ROCK THE JOINT DOWN!! The crowd was more than ready to jump up and down, stomp their hearts out, join in with Butch's songs full out: complete Butch fan overload! The time frame was shorter than the night before, so the set list was, too.
Closer to the Truth and Further from the Sky
Pretty Melody
new song, Let it Go the Way It's Supposed To (maybe that's the title)
The Closest Thing to You
new song
Synthesizers
3 Kids in Brooklyn
Vice Bar Finale (sigh) I'm in this video, stage left at the front!
Butch is a superbly talented musician and an experienced performer; regrettably, the stage was tiny, allowing less expressive movement from Butch than usual, the mike in front of him flopped over three times (his tech finally had to tape it together while Butch sang), the strap on Butch's mandolin fell off, requiring Butch to sing, play and reattach the strap, and Bibi could swear she heard feedback at least once during one of the all too few songs. That Butch kept it together and pulled off a hell of a rock star performance was incredible. And at the same time, something Bibi knew Butch could and would do. I did think that within his performer ethos, Butch was royally pissed off and he used that to give the show even more oomph. But, Bibi did sense a pissed off-edness. Maybe just besotted fan imagination. Whatever, once again he rocked us black n blue, baby!
By now, the crowd was sort of pressing on Bibi and the other front of the stage fans, both from excitement and the people coming in for Matt Nathanson (Bibi liked him, his sound, although she didn't know any of his songs.) I knew he must be good: Butch follows him on Twitter! He especially endeared himself to Bibi when he did a shout out to his friend, Butch Walker.
The final act was Fall Out Boy. I had seen them sing the song Butch wrote for them on Jimmy Kimmel, so I at least knew that one song and they did do it later in their set--with acknowledgement to Butch. Their music was more melodic than the previous band and their infectious, effusive energy was echoed by the enthusiastic crowd.
The crowd was major-ly pushing from behind, but luckily, the photographer who stood behind Bibi for the entire 6+ hours was a big guy and very kindly held off a lot of the shoving, plus, it was a short set and before complete body compression took place we were released into the teeming 6th Street action about 2 am. Whew!
Have to say, though, Butch set the feverish (in a really good way) tone for the show and he set the energy, rock action bar high. Hope Butch, Matt Nathanson and Fall Out Boy all had a great meet up after the show.
Speaking of the fan life, just before the Thursday night performance, as we were settling in our seats/pews, an exotic-looking young woman sat down to Bibi's left. She told all around her a vaguely interesting, possibly true story about how she got her wristband. It caused Bibi to ponder on that dichotomy between a celebrity's stage persona and real person life, whether the story was true or not. Fans and wannabes!
SXSW was a cool life experience for Bibi--not only did she get to see Butch twice in two days, she experienced some great new music (new to Bibi) and had an excellent time meeting new fans.
Thanks, Butch, for coming to Texas, being part of SXSW, and especially for your kick-ass, leave 'em wanting more, more, more shows! Eagerly awaiting the summer tour dates and locations.
Love ya, guy!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Butch Walker Rocked Us in Dallas AND in Church!
Bibi has been dragging her dainty little paws in letting y'all know about Butch's performance in Dallas on Monday--what can I say: I come from race cars and Goth rock.... Yes, it's a wonder and a curse: responding to almost any comment with lyrics from a BW song. Really, though, it was SO INTENSE! The venue, the Kessler was set up with very limited seating around the edge of the room and most of us standing. Believe it or not: I was at the front of the stage, Butch was standing in front of me!!! Possibly, some of his sweat fell on me during the show. lol Just let me say: BUTCH KILLED IT!!! It was Bibi's expectation and Butch satisfied. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, Butch scored at least 17!
He looked fabulous, of course, sleeveless vest over white undershirt, jeans, lace up boots. Looks like he got a haircut that clipped the hair on the sides really close. Said it before: Butch has the best hair in rock! And one of the great guitar acts! Although, when he first came out, he sang Cigarette Lighter Love Song (!) a capella.
Beautiful voice, Butch Walker
Butch has such a fantastic voice, it was so beautiful! Here's how close I was: I could see the set list taped to the floor in front of Butch! It wasn't much different from the December 30 show at the Double Door, except he started with Cigarette Lighter Love Song (Butch loves that song and I'm SO happy he included it. It wasn't written on the set list--Joan was and didn't get sung.)
Another difference from the Chicago show was the duet from the new album with Nikki Lane (she was the opening act with Odessa didn't get her last name).
As usual, he was at the keyboard for ATL--I have really come to love that song--then he played guitar by himself for the next couple of songs. The rest of the band joined him for the remainder of the show, starting with the middle of Closer to the Truth --excellent way to showcase his phenomenal talent: voice, guitar, keyboard, AND his great rockin' band.
Getting confused, so here are the songs he sang:
Cigarette Lighter Love Song
ATL
Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car
Race Cars and Goth Rock
Battle/War (with Nikki Lane)
Going Back/Going Home
Closer to the Truth
Pretty Melody
Let It Go Where It's Supposed To
Dublin Crow
The Weight of Her
The Closest Thing to You
I've Been Waiting for This
Synthsizers
Hair Bands
Summer of '89
End of the World
The 3 Kids in Brooklyn
Sucker Punched
He was so personable, joking about forgetting lyrics, musing on his long absence from Dallas, and attuned to the really exuberant crowd. WE LOVED HIM!
Then, Thursday night at SXSW in Austin---Butch totally brought the house, er, church, DOWN!! Bibi was so happy to see a very Butch-friendly, slightly wild (for being in a church) crowd at the show, especially since it was 1 am.
I had been worried that I wouldn't be able to get a ticket for the show, but things worked out very well. Met some people, including PinkSparkle from Twitter and her dad and a friend. Very nice fans! Since the venue was unusual, Bibi had some concerns, but once Butch got started and the fans warmed up--as you know they would with Butch singing and playing--the church was rocking! Not sure the church authorities wanted that, but Butch Walker fans are incorrigible and once you get the Butch spirit, well, it takes over. If, for God, it's all about making a joyful noise, He certainly heard that on Thursday night, ahem, Friday morning.
Given the time constraints, it was a short set, but totally Butch, i.e., great:
ATL
Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car
Going Back, Going Home
Closer to the Truth and Further from the Sky
Pretty Melody
one of the new songs
The Closest Thing to You
new song
Synthesizers
3 Kids in Brooklyn--starting to really like this song
Bibi got back to Round Rock really late, about 4 am, so today has been laid back. A really beautiful sunny day, so went to the famous Round Rock Donuts (pretty good stuff!) and to the Round Rock geologic formation--yes, there's a round rock in the stream/river that runs through Round Rock.
Thinking a power nap would really be a good idea before heading back into Austin. I had heard there would be a lot of people, but it's monumental, really! Reminded me of crowd scenes in The Ten Commandments or other bibilical proportion movies. SXSW is a truly immense production. Hope Bibi can get into the venue tonight (Vice Bar), but the line up is impressive: along with Butch, the two acts following him are well-known, with the last act (added late?) being Fall Out Boy! So, we will see. Paws crossed!
Love you, Butch! Fantastic couple of shows this week!
Beautiful voice, Butch Walker
Butch has such a fantastic voice, it was so beautiful! Here's how close I was: I could see the set list taped to the floor in front of Butch! It wasn't much different from the December 30 show at the Double Door, except he started with Cigarette Lighter Love Song (Butch loves that song and I'm SO happy he included it. It wasn't written on the set list--Joan was and didn't get sung.)
Another difference from the Chicago show was the duet from the new album with Nikki Lane (she was the opening act with Odessa didn't get her last name).
As usual, he was at the keyboard for ATL--I have really come to love that song--then he played guitar by himself for the next couple of songs. The rest of the band joined him for the remainder of the show, starting with the middle of Closer to the Truth --excellent way to showcase his phenomenal talent: voice, guitar, keyboard, AND his great rockin' band.
Getting confused, so here are the songs he sang:
Cigarette Lighter Love Song
ATL
Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car
Race Cars and Goth Rock
Battle/War (with Nikki Lane)
Going Back/Going Home
Closer to the Truth
Pretty Melody
Let It Go Where It's Supposed To
Dublin Crow
The Weight of Her
The Closest Thing to You
I've Been Waiting for This
Synthsizers
Hair Bands
Summer of '89
End of the World
The 3 Kids in Brooklyn
Sucker Punched
He was so personable, joking about forgetting lyrics, musing on his long absence from Dallas, and attuned to the really exuberant crowd. WE LOVED HIM!
Got to stand in a crowd in front of Butch after the show and have him autograph his motorcyle magazine cover! (He was wearing a cowboy hat!) He was so sweet to everyone who spoke to him or gave him something to sign. 
However, once again, in the presence of greatness, that happens to be combined with total hot-ness, Bibi could not formulate actual words to say to Butch. Talk about a case of being Butch-struck!
Then, Thursday night at SXSW in Austin---Butch totally brought the house, er, church, DOWN!! Bibi was so happy to see a very Butch-friendly, slightly wild (for being in a church) crowd at the show, especially since it was 1 am.
I had been worried that I wouldn't be able to get a ticket for the show, but things worked out very well. Met some people, including PinkSparkle from Twitter and her dad and a friend. Very nice fans! Since the venue was unusual, Bibi had some concerns, but once Butch got started and the fans warmed up--as you know they would with Butch singing and playing--the church was rocking! Not sure the church authorities wanted that, but Butch Walker fans are incorrigible and once you get the Butch spirit, well, it takes over. If, for God, it's all about making a joyful noise, He certainly heard that on Thursday night, ahem, Friday morning.
Given the time constraints, it was a short set, but totally Butch, i.e., great:
ATL
Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car
Going Back, Going Home
Closer to the Truth and Further from the Sky
Pretty Melody
one of the new songs
The Closest Thing to You
new song
Synthesizers
3 Kids in Brooklyn--starting to really like this song
Bibi got back to Round Rock really late, about 4 am, so today has been laid back. A really beautiful sunny day, so went to the famous Round Rock Donuts (pretty good stuff!) and to the Round Rock geologic formation--yes, there's a round rock in the stream/river that runs through Round Rock.
Thinking a power nap would really be a good idea before heading back into Austin. I had heard there would be a lot of people, but it's monumental, really! Reminded me of crowd scenes in The Ten Commandments or other bibilical proportion movies. SXSW is a truly immense production. Hope Bibi can get into the venue tonight (Vice Bar), but the line up is impressive: along with Butch, the two acts following him are well-known, with the last act (added late?) being Fall Out Boy! So, we will see. Paws crossed!
Love you, Butch! Fantastic couple of shows this week!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Countdown to Butch Walker in Texas
Bibi is trying to stay calm, trying to patiently wait for Monday and then Thursday and Friday, but it's becoming a losing set of attempts. The video of Butch singing Patsy Cline with Martina McBride is and isn't helping--totally terrific:
She's Got You with Martina McBride
Fans know that Butch can sing with so much heart and soul--why don't more people get on board with the idea?
Butch looks and sounds great--wonder if there will be guests at the Dallas show?
Really looking forward to Monday!!
Love ya, Butch!
She's Got You with Martina McBride
Butch looks and sounds great--wonder if there will be guests at the Dallas show?
Really looking forward to Monday!!
Love ya, Butch!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Butch Walker: Antici---Pation! Dallas! SXSW!
Bibi is such a fan! It's daunting for a fan, thinking that one truly fine day, they would get to meet the star-object and ask all kinds of questions. Of course, the chance doesn't offer itself frequently, and let's try to fondly remember the time Bibi did meet Angus. Try to remember it fondly, although it was a complete disaster for Bibi. She came away knowing that Angus saw her as a complete fan--weirdo variety. He's probably met a lot of those. BUT, Angus was ever so polite (throught the cloud of cigarette smoke) and that counts for something. My friends never tire of asking for a re-telling of this ignominious episode of Bibi's life.
For the fan, lots of land mines in approaching their star. The momentous moment (great syntax!) will be unexpected, actually being in their presence will be overwhelming and breath taking, rational thought evaporates, no matter how many times you've practiced. You do know your precious seconds with the star are so very limited and you must ask/say something profound, witty, insightful, and memorable. A lot to process for anyone, but particularly difficult for someone who finds themselves within the aura of greatness tht surrounds the star. All this and total sensory overload was at play when Bibi met Angus and would be if she had the gob-smacking luck to run into Butch.
Love ya, Butch!
For the fan, lots of land mines in approaching their star. The momentous moment (great syntax!) will be unexpected, actually being in their presence will be overwhelming and breath taking, rational thought evaporates, no matter how many times you've practiced. You do know your precious seconds with the star are so very limited and you must ask/say something profound, witty, insightful, and memorable. A lot to process for anyone, but particularly difficult for someone who finds themselves within the aura of greatness tht surrounds the star. All this and total sensory overload was at play when Bibi met Angus and would be if she had the gob-smacking luck to run into Butch.
- Does Butch own a polo-type shirt?
- What hopeless and heart wrenching yearning he expresses in Race Cars and Goth Rock: wake up and lose yourself in me....
- Is there a perfect sequence of songs for a Butch Walker Mixtape? Bibi is up to version VI (or is it VII?) and it's not exactly right yet.
- Is that a Pure Prairie League reminiscence in RCAGR?
- Upon reflection, I may have heard My Way in the murky past. Not sure I would have liked that era of Butch's music.
- What about Maybe It's Just Me and Brandy? Just love that song,but who wouldn't?
- Who decided the set list on episode 54 of Live From Daryl's House, besides Why Was It So Easy?
- Petty Fest outings: is the performer rush different from playing your own songs? Satisfaction level? Analogous to producing for others vs producing and performing your own songs?
Does Butch have favorite Butch Walker songs? One from each album?
Love ya, Butch!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Bass Lines--Way Underrated, Like Butch Walker
Bibi knows the allure of the lead guitar player--e.g., ANGUS YOUNG, lead guitar player par excellence--but what would the band's sound be without the bass guitar player? Let's face it: we say we love Angus, for example, but true fans love the work that the artist has produced. For AC/DC, that work includes all the band members. We love the sound of it, the words (even if we can't actually understand what the words are), the attitude expressed, the entirety of the song/songs. Bibi focuses on Angus, as AC/DC intends, but it's the whole AC/DC package that Bibi is enthralled by. Everybody knows that one of AC/DC's strengths is the tight, rock solid, killer rhythm section, led by Malcolm Young, reinforced by Phil Rudd on drums and as Bibi once said to AC/DC's bass player, Cliff Williams, with his irreplaceable bass line. Actually, Bibi referred to one of Angus's primo show-off songs, Let There Be Rock, and giving Angus his due, said to Cliff that the song would not be as great as it is without Cliff in the mix.
There was a 92 decibel rocking band
http://youtu.be/DNZXjPES7Cs
Of course, there's no way a living human being will not be totally overcome by Angus in this song. He's so un-fucking-believable in this one. (Don't get Bibi started: Angus is ALWAYS un-fucking-believable, this is just one of the best songs EVER!)
Cliff seemed pleased to be acknowledged. But, each time I've met Cliff, he's been such a sweetie, so his reaction was completely in sync with what I had come to expect from him.
What brought this to mind today? Was thinking about the Blues Brothers; watched it again the other night. What a movie! Action/adventure, finding your path tale, musical, they just don't make 'em the way they used to. sigh Bibi was in Chicago in late December and really liked it. Thought of the almost end of the movie which took place at Richard Daley Plaza.
Bend over, let me see you shake your tail feather!
With Donald "The Duck" Dunn playing bass, never fails to get Bibi moving.
Of course, SO many scenes in The Blues Brothers are so memorable, like Bibi said: they just don't make 'em like they used to.
And I hope you ALL know: Butch is a fucking awesome bass player! We know it's true because, well, we LOVE BUTCH and his music. AND, he said it on Twitter. Who could ask for more in terms of validity? In the meantime, "do the twist, do the fly, do the swim, and do the bird..." Have a fab, wonderful, dancing around day!!!
There was a 92 decibel rocking band
http://youtu.be/DNZXjPES7Cs
Of course, there's no way a living human being will not be totally overcome by Angus in this song. He's so un-fucking-believable in this one. (Don't get Bibi started: Angus is ALWAYS un-fucking-believable, this is just one of the best songs EVER!)
Cliff seemed pleased to be acknowledged. But, each time I've met Cliff, he's been such a sweetie, so his reaction was completely in sync with what I had come to expect from him.
What brought this to mind today? Was thinking about the Blues Brothers; watched it again the other night. What a movie! Action/adventure, finding your path tale, musical, they just don't make 'em the way they used to. sigh Bibi was in Chicago in late December and really liked it. Thought of the almost end of the movie which took place at Richard Daley Plaza.
Of course, there's this number.
Bend over, let me see you shake your tail feather!
With Donald "The Duck" Dunn playing bass, never fails to get Bibi moving.
Of course, SO many scenes in The Blues Brothers are so memorable, like Bibi said: they just don't make 'em like they used to.
And I hope you ALL know: Butch is a fucking awesome bass player! We know it's true because, well, we LOVE BUTCH and his music. AND, he said it on Twitter. Who could ask for more in terms of validity? In the meantime, "do the twist, do the fly, do the swim, and do the bird..." Have a fab, wonderful, dancing around day!!!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Butch Walker: Guest on LFDH and Rock Star at The Double Door in Chicago
As my vast, devoted following knows, Bibi LOVES Episode 54 of Live From Daryl's House, her introduction to the great, the wonderful, the truly under-recognized, Butch Walker. After Daryl gives a short, intriguing lead-in for Butch, we meet Butch, who introduces himself, giving us an idea what he's about.
And then he did Sweethearts! Oh, dear!
Butch singing Bibi's favorite: Sweethearts
Maybe I knew then that a new world had opened for Bibi or maybe I didn't realize it until a few hours later when I was still watching YouTube videos of Butch, taking in as much as possible about this fantastic performer.
Thing is, now, having seen Butch live, I'm amazed at the different sides of Butch--the sweet, almost diffident singer on LFDH--and the rock star on glorious display at the Double Door on December 30.
Butch Walker: You're SUCH a pretty melody!
I suppose many performers have multi-faceted personalities that they reveal at different times. Let's take Angus Young as an example. Apparently, he's quite shy in regular life, unassuming, sitting around drinking cups of tea and smoking Benson & Hedges cigarettes. Onstage, though, OMG--total fucking wild man on guitar! Running all over the stage, killing it for two solid hours, driving the audience insane with those riffs, so familiar and such an intense rush of unbelievable energy, excitement, intensity. Sigh.
Focus, Bibi...Butch Walker, Butch Walker, you were writing about Butch Walker. Right. For Butch, these differences manifest themselves so dramatically, really cool that these two disparate views of him both appeal to Bibi. You HAVE to see Butch live, really! His records are fantastic and if you haven't watched episode 54 of Live from Daryl's House, what have you been doing? GREAT showcase for Butch and then, take any opportunity you can, get out of the house, get yourself downtown and shake it all out at a Butch Walker show. INTENSE!
Love you, Butch!
I remember thinking: hmmm, this guy seems nice enough, a bit self-effacing, pretty low-key, laid back. Wonder how he'll do up against Daryl's band? He proceeded to rock it with Bodegas and Blood first on the set list--on mandolin, no less--having a ball, singing back and forth with Daryl and the guys, confidence and performance full out. Aaaahhh, the beginning for me with Butch.
Butch singing Bibi's favorite: Sweethearts
Maybe I knew then that a new world had opened for Bibi or maybe I didn't realize it until a few hours later when I was still watching YouTube videos of Butch, taking in as much as possible about this fantastic performer.
Thing is, now, having seen Butch live, I'm amazed at the different sides of Butch--the sweet, almost diffident singer on LFDH--and the rock star on glorious display at the Double Door on December 30.
Butch Walker: You're SUCH a pretty melody!
I suppose many performers have multi-faceted personalities that they reveal at different times. Let's take Angus Young as an example. Apparently, he's quite shy in regular life, unassuming, sitting around drinking cups of tea and smoking Benson & Hedges cigarettes. Onstage, though, OMG--total fucking wild man on guitar! Running all over the stage, killing it for two solid hours, driving the audience insane with those riffs, so familiar and such an intense rush of unbelievable energy, excitement, intensity. Sigh.
Focus, Bibi...Butch Walker, Butch Walker, you were writing about Butch Walker. Right. For Butch, these differences manifest themselves so dramatically, really cool that these two disparate views of him both appeal to Bibi. You HAVE to see Butch live, really! His records are fantastic and if you haven't watched episode 54 of Live from Daryl's House, what have you been doing? GREAT showcase for Butch and then, take any opportunity you can, get out of the house, get yourself downtown and shake it all out at a Butch Walker show. INTENSE!
Love you, Butch!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Oscar Race: Argo, Best Picture of the Year
Bibi is a very discerning movie goer. Don't even, not even as a joke, ask her about movies like The Hangover, American Pie, A Lot Like Love (Ashton Kutcher movie with a Butch Walker song in it),
It's all about Butch's voice
For all her attitude about good movies, Bibi believes movies are for the masses, not an elite group of snooty know it alls. The Oscar race throws this argument into the spotlight annually. Making the best movie category larger doesn't make it a better race, it just gives more less than outstanding movies a shot at muddling the odds for the other movies. In any case, the faithful readers already know Bibi's favorite (which has no chance at all), Beasts of the Southern Wild. This favorite seems to run counter to Bibi's claim that movies are for the masses, but that's because of the way movies are marketed. Apparently, each movie must fit into a category:
a) Drama
b) American Pie kind of movie
c) Action/Adventure
d) Chick flick
e) Art movie
If the movie is marketed so that the intended audience isn't reached, it won't be seen by a large number of ticket buyers. Too bad for Beasts of the Southern Wild. It's such a good, unusual, market niche averse film, depicting a hard scrabble community and lifestyle unfamiliar to 99% of the American population. Great characters, fabulously authentic capture of slices of their lives, piercingly poignant rendering of a lovely, enfant sauvage, so young, so exposed to fear and loss and so strong. That said, really do not see how some of the other movies got a nomination. We won't go there for specific undeserving films, but Bibi will say that Argo definitely belongs in the nominated group and should win Best Picture of the Year.
It's a Hollywood movie. In all the best ways. My film prof always began class by writing on the board: Why are movies made? Then, through the examples of films he would show, we would see why those movies were made (to make money, so you could make another movie, to make more money so you could make another movie, on and on ...) and how and why they might or might not be successful movies. Argo hits all the marks. (It's like Ben Affleck was in the same classes with Bibi! Or, he's absorbed all the best ideas on how to make movies by watching lots of great movies.) It tells a captivating story in a familiar, very successful, way--first, this happens, which leads to this, and in an unusual, but plausible way, this happens, etc. It builds our knowledge of a character and the events he's involved in, giving us insight into different worlds: the CIA, US/Iranian history, movie making, and although the time line is straightforwardly linear, we experience an increasing excitement and tension up through the thrilling success of the caper.
Every bit of information, visual or spoken, is essential to the story and the eventual ending. The casting is superb and the actors are channeling: just be the part, totally. Success all the way around on this. Production values are way up there, all the better to see the contrast between it and the purported movie-in-the-making, Argo. The time period and the mindset of the time is excellently evoked. Like any real Hollywood movie, everyone is attractive. The scope and reach of the movie is appropriate to what the movie accomplishes. If there were a weakness, it might be that Ben Affleck is too young and/or didn't look tired enough to be Tony Mendez. Our interest is piqued and then maintained through the end of the movie such that we rejoice with the characters' enforced silent pride of having accomplished the unexpected outcome: the rescue of civilians trapped in Iran using a far-fetched plan. We really want an occasion to mock snarl: Argofuckyourself!
Which might be what Bibi says by the conclusion of the Oscar awards presentation. Hope not!
the Twilight movies. If you did ask her, you would deserve the look of pity and scorn you would earn for your tiny little effort. (Butch has a gesture for that, below.)
And if you pushed Bibi on it, you would deserve the resultant mocking, belittling, totally wipe the floor with your half-wit butt rant that would ensue. Bibi doesn't mind using her v-a-s-t vocabulary on these little exercises, but they are ultimately unsatisfying. She'd rather talk about movies she likes and wishes more people would go see.
For some time, Bibi has been dispirited over what passes as movie entertainment for the masses (see above for a short, incomplete list and see below for dispirited Bibi).
a) Drama
b) American Pie kind of movie
c) Action/Adventure
d) Chick flick
e) Art movie
If the movie is marketed so that the intended audience isn't reached, it won't be seen by a large number of ticket buyers. Too bad for Beasts of the Southern Wild. It's such a good, unusual, market niche averse film, depicting a hard scrabble community and lifestyle unfamiliar to 99% of the American population. Great characters, fabulously authentic capture of slices of their lives, piercingly poignant rendering of a lovely, enfant sauvage, so young, so exposed to fear and loss and so strong. That said, really do not see how some of the other movies got a nomination. We won't go there for specific undeserving films, but Bibi will say that Argo definitely belongs in the nominated group and should win Best Picture of the Year.
It's a Hollywood movie. In all the best ways. My film prof always began class by writing on the board: Why are movies made? Then, through the examples of films he would show, we would see why those movies were made (to make money, so you could make another movie, to make more money so you could make another movie, on and on ...) and how and why they might or might not be successful movies. Argo hits all the marks. (It's like Ben Affleck was in the same classes with Bibi! Or, he's absorbed all the best ideas on how to make movies by watching lots of great movies.) It tells a captivating story in a familiar, very successful, way--first, this happens, which leads to this, and in an unusual, but plausible way, this happens, etc. It builds our knowledge of a character and the events he's involved in, giving us insight into different worlds: the CIA, US/Iranian history, movie making, and although the time line is straightforwardly linear, we experience an increasing excitement and tension up through the thrilling success of the caper.
Every bit of information, visual or spoken, is essential to the story and the eventual ending. The casting is superb and the actors are channeling: just be the part, totally. Success all the way around on this. Production values are way up there, all the better to see the contrast between it and the purported movie-in-the-making, Argo. The time period and the mindset of the time is excellently evoked. Like any real Hollywood movie, everyone is attractive. The scope and reach of the movie is appropriate to what the movie accomplishes. If there were a weakness, it might be that Ben Affleck is too young and/or didn't look tired enough to be Tony Mendez. Our interest is piqued and then maintained through the end of the movie such that we rejoice with the characters' enforced silent pride of having accomplished the unexpected outcome: the rescue of civilians trapped in Iran using a far-fetched plan. We really want an occasion to mock snarl: Argofuckyourself!
Which might be what Bibi says by the conclusion of the Oscar awards presentation. Hope not!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Butch Walker Coming to Texas--Based on Which Data Sets?
Woohoo! Got the tickets for the Dallas show, made the hotel arrangements for Dallas and Austin. Well, it's not precisely in Austin (Round Rock), but at least it's not in San Marcos (!)
and it's reasonably priced with an excellent rating from Trip Advisor. Plus, already have a restaurant recommendation for Round Rock--known for its pie! Was a bit touch n go getting it all settled, but now feeling a sense of accomplishment. Hey, Bibi, it'll be spring break, lighten up with all the planning and thinking ahead!
Bibi is fascinated by the whole decison process that brings BW to Texas, especially Dallas. There has to be more to it than geography, airline routes, and seemingly interminable airport to hotel distances, right?
As the readers know, Bibi's MBA background kicks in every now and then and excel tables sprout up, along with questions: what data was gathered to come up with this itinerary? It could be that Butch has other things he wants to do in these cities around these dates--heard there are some good art museums in Dallas, not sure what there is in Little Rock, maybe it has a hot, undiscovered music scene? Is Chuck there? (Read Butch's very-readable Drinking with Strangers for the backstory on that.) These and other opportunities drove the decisions to construct this route? Just wondering. Could Bibi have access to the SWOT analysis on this?
Right.
Burning question: why favor Dallas instead of Houston? Doesn't matter, really, in terms of Bibi making the trek--SO HAPPY Butch is coming to Texas outside of SXSW--I'd go to El Paso, Nacogdoches, hell, even Eagle Pass, Pasadena or Baytown if any of those had been his city of choice. Kind of funny: been talking about Butch to my economist/finance prof friend, also one of the statistics profs, and my supervisor, a management Ph.D. All of them expressed curiosity about how Butch's management group decided on Dallas: industry data showed a higher level of Butch cd, mp3 sales there? Disposable income substitutes trended higher there for Butch tickets? Facebook and Twitter hits were tallied and gave the Butch edge to Dallas? Views of Live From Daryl's House, episode 54 and YouTube BW videos tracked higher in northern Texas vs southern Texas? How DID they use best business practices and all kinds of regression analysis to know this? Or, some secret, trademarked algorithm using information from some/all/other of the factors mentioned? Something like:
Little jokes. Will check with my marketing prof to see how entertainment world data is generated and made available.
Bibi has been so engrossed in these business geek considerations, the Downton Abbey routine for Sundays (homemade cherry/pineapple pie to go with the traditional tea--lovely DA viewing. Thanks, Janet Neighbor!) and some time watching the Superbowl adverts, not much time for thinking about the set list requests. OK, spent a few random minutes thinking on that; keep coming back to the BWM series. BWM V.2 is really, really good:
Maybe It's Just Me
Mixtape
Don't Move
Race Cars and Goth Rock
Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty)
The Weight of Her
Here Comes the…
Ponce de Leon Ave.
Ships in a Bottle
Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car
Sweethearts
Synthesizers
The Closest Thing to You
Pretty Melody
For Texas, would leave out Mixtape, Ships in a Bottle and one of my all-time Butch faves, Don't Move and ROCK it way more by adding Summer of '89, Day Drunk, Bullet Belt, Bodegas and Blood--just love this song, maybe Dublin Crow and of course, Sucker Punch. (that would make it almost all of The Spade, but it really is so good.) Plus, She Likes Hair Bands--cannot leave this one out. This would still leave room for three of the new songs, right? Hmmm...too long? Leave out Ponce de Leon Ave.? It's a great BW showcase in versatility, with that oh so cool Todd Rundgren vibe. Would like new listeners to discover it, but, OK. Please add Here Comes the...please. Have been listening to I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart and really like it. A couple of those cuts added to the set list would go over very well: Days/Months/Years, Don't You Think Someone Should Take You Home. Jeez, it's tough discerning the BEST of Butch Walker's songs to really show off his phenomenal talents.
Butch will come up with a GREAT set list; he's a seasoned professional, knows what works in a live setting, what he's comfortable with, how to reach the audience, etc., etc. Brings to mind the consistent AC/DC fan concerns about the set list. I could never believe some fans' complaints about the selection. Some would even say that leaving out You Shook Me All Night Long would be no loss!!! Weirdos, really, they are everywhere! In the end, AC/DC made almost no changes in a tour that lasted almost two years. I saw them six times during the tour and LOVED EVERY SHOW. So, we will see what Butch does.
Love you, Butch! Can't wait to see you in Dallas and Austin!
Bibi is fascinated by the whole decison process that brings BW to Texas, especially Dallas. There has to be more to it than geography, airline routes, and seemingly interminable airport to hotel distances, right?
As the readers know, Bibi's MBA background kicks in every now and then and excel tables sprout up, along with questions: what data was gathered to come up with this itinerary? It could be that Butch has other things he wants to do in these cities around these dates--heard there are some good art museums in Dallas, not sure what there is in Little Rock, maybe it has a hot, undiscovered music scene? Is Chuck there? (Read Butch's very-readable Drinking with Strangers for the backstory on that.) These and other opportunities drove the decisions to construct this route? Just wondering. Could Bibi have access to the SWOT analysis on this?
Right.
Burning question: why favor Dallas instead of Houston? Doesn't matter, really, in terms of Bibi making the trek--SO HAPPY Butch is coming to Texas outside of SXSW--I'd go to El Paso, Nacogdoches, hell, even Eagle Pass, Pasadena or Baytown if any of those had been his city of choice. Kind of funny: been talking about Butch to my economist/finance prof friend, also one of the statistics profs, and my supervisor, a management Ph.D. All of them expressed curiosity about how Butch's management group decided on Dallas: industry data showed a higher level of Butch cd, mp3 sales there? Disposable income substitutes trended higher there for Butch tickets? Facebook and Twitter hits were tallied and gave the Butch edge to Dallas? Views of Live From Daryl's House, episode 54 and YouTube BW videos tracked higher in northern Texas vs southern Texas? How DID they use best business practices and all kinds of regression analysis to know this? Or, some secret, trademarked algorithm using information from some/all/other of the factors mentioned? Something like:
Little jokes. Will check with my marketing prof to see how entertainment world data is generated and made available.
Bibi has been so engrossed in these business geek considerations, the Downton Abbey routine for Sundays (homemade cherry/pineapple pie to go with the traditional tea--lovely DA viewing. Thanks, Janet Neighbor!) and some time watching the Superbowl adverts, not much time for thinking about the set list requests. OK, spent a few random minutes thinking on that; keep coming back to the BWM series. BWM V.2 is really, really good:
Maybe It's Just Me
Mixtape
Don't Move
Race Cars and Goth Rock
Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty)
The Weight of Her
Here Comes the…
Ponce de Leon Ave.
Ships in a Bottle
Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car
Sweethearts
Synthesizers
The Closest Thing to You
Pretty Melody
For Texas, would leave out Mixtape, Ships in a Bottle and one of my all-time Butch faves, Don't Move and ROCK it way more by adding Summer of '89, Day Drunk, Bullet Belt, Bodegas and Blood--just love this song, maybe Dublin Crow and of course, Sucker Punch. (that would make it almost all of The Spade, but it really is so good.) Plus, She Likes Hair Bands--cannot leave this one out. This would still leave room for three of the new songs, right? Hmmm...too long? Leave out Ponce de Leon Ave.? It's a great BW showcase in versatility, with that oh so cool Todd Rundgren vibe. Would like new listeners to discover it, but, OK. Please add Here Comes the...please. Have been listening to I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart and really like it. A couple of those cuts added to the set list would go over very well: Days/Months/Years, Don't You Think Someone Should Take You Home. Jeez, it's tough discerning the BEST of Butch Walker's songs to really show off his phenomenal talents.
Butch will come up with a GREAT set list; he's a seasoned professional, knows what works in a live setting, what he's comfortable with, how to reach the audience, etc., etc. Brings to mind the consistent AC/DC fan concerns about the set list. I could never believe some fans' complaints about the selection. Some would even say that leaving out You Shook Me All Night Long would be no loss!!! Weirdos, really, they are everywhere! In the end, AC/DC made almost no changes in a tour that lasted almost two years. I saw them six times during the tour and LOVED EVERY SHOW. So, we will see what Butch does.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Butch Walker: Prayers Answered
Just being dramatic--pretty sure Butch doesn't believe in prayers (read his book) and we really don't want to get into Bibi's track record with successful prayers--but wanted to make the point: BUTCH FUCKING WALKER IS COMING TO TEXAS!!!! And not just SXSW (March 14-15). He'll be in Dallas on March 11. What a Spring Break for Bibi!!! Here's what Butch tweeted earlier today:
alright alright alright… i’ve had it. i can’t sit still and i need to play a few shows to wet my lips for summer touring. so how’s about we all saddle up and go play Austin, Tx for the SXSW Music Fest? i think what we will do is play a few shows on the way out there to warm up for y’all… here’s what i was thinking:
3/8/13 - Nashville, TN @ High Watt (Tickets - on sale 2/1 10am CST)
3/9/13 - Little Rock, AR @ Rev Room (Tickets - on sale 2/1)
3/11/13 - Dallas, TX @ The Kessler Theatre (Tickets - on sale 2/1)
THEN, we will be doing the following shows at SXSW in Austin:
3/14/13 - Austin TX @ Central Presbyterian (SXSW)
3/15/13 - Austin, TX @ Vice Bar (SXSW)
then it’s back to the studio to put the finishing touches up on a new record for y’all. what do ya say? wanna come have some fun with us?
I love you.
-Butch
Such wonderful news--tough to think, talk coherently after I read this! Don't think anyone at work noticed my difficulties, though. That's the kind of place it is sometimes. Oooohoooo--what can I say, I come from race cars and pop rocks Not to be too stream of consciousness about it, really WHAT CAN I SAY?? Just never thought Butch would be somewhere so close to Bibi, geographically, unless Bibi first traveled to some faraway place. Thank you SO much, Butch! His timing of coming to Texas reminds Bibi of ...playing Spring Break parties in the red neck sand. And who couldn't love his closing "I love you. -Butch" How this guy doesn't have the music-listening world eating out of his hand, er, buying his albums, cds, mp3s, book, etc., I do not know.
Already emailed The Kessler in Dallas, asking about ticket prices. Hope to get room reservations done by tonight.
Unfuckingbelievable!!!
Love YOU, Butch!
alright alright alright… i’ve had it. i can’t sit still and i need to play a few shows to wet my lips for summer touring. so how’s about we all saddle up and go play Austin, Tx for the SXSW Music Fest? i think what we will do is play a few shows on the way out there to warm up for y’all… here’s what i was thinking:
3/8/13 - Nashville, TN @ High Watt (Tickets - on sale 2/1 10am CST)
3/9/13 - Little Rock, AR @ Rev Room (Tickets - on sale 2/1)
3/11/13 - Dallas, TX @ The Kessler Theatre (Tickets - on sale 2/1)
THEN, we will be doing the following shows at SXSW in Austin:
3/14/13 - Austin TX @ Central Presbyterian (SXSW)
3/15/13 - Austin, TX @ Vice Bar (SXSW)
then it’s back to the studio to put the finishing touches up on a new record for y’all. what do ya say? wanna come have some fun with us?
I love you.
-Butch
Such wonderful news--tough to think, talk coherently after I read this! Don't think anyone at work noticed my difficulties, though. That's the kind of place it is sometimes. Oooohoooo--what can I say, I come from race cars and pop rocks Not to be too stream of consciousness about it, really WHAT CAN I SAY?? Just never thought Butch would be somewhere so close to Bibi, geographically, unless Bibi first traveled to some faraway place. Thank you SO much, Butch! His timing of coming to Texas reminds Bibi of ...playing Spring Break parties in the red neck sand. And who couldn't love his closing "I love you. -Butch" How this guy doesn't have the music-listening world eating out of his hand, er, buying his albums, cds, mp3s, book, etc., I do not know.
Already emailed The Kessler in Dallas, asking about ticket prices. Hope to get room reservations done by tonight.
Unfuckingbelievable!!!
Love YOU, Butch!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Butch Walker: Such a Pretty Melody
Bibi's readers know how much she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Say It Isn't So from episode 54 of Live From Daryl's House--had to listen to it this morning to resolve some Monday family blues. It worked, too!
Since December 30, though, have been experiencing a huge crush on Pretty Melody. "Oh baby we don't have to be like the rest of them....there's not a single part of me that would ever let you go.....ooooooh, oooooooh....."
Got I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart the other day, so discovering that part of Butch's work. Very, very interesting to Bibi. It's Butch, but a different shade of Butch from the other albums. Not sure how much I liked it at first, but you know how it is with Butch: just listen, pay attention, let the words and melody flow over you.
One of my fan-tasies runs like this: what if, I got to meet Butch and had the opportunity to get his autograph on Drinking With Strangers? ha, ha, ha on the readers--they were thinking: okay, a fantasy involving Butch, HOT! Well, maybe, er, sure, just LOOK at these pictures
but not for sharing on the world wide web. Please. On this blog, the R rating is due to use of foul language, okay? Anyway, in Bibi's fantasies, as it's playing out, I'm wearing whatever I'm wearing at the moment, so for this one at this moment, asking for the autograph in my office clothes. Including the Ralph Lauren pumps. Kinda funny. Under what circumstances would Bibi be standing around Butch in her office-appropriate attire? He'd actually be on this campus? Happened right after work? OMG! But anyway, in the book signing fantasy, the really big question is, what would I ask him to write? My best ideas are lyrics from his songs, but there are so many great ones, tough. And, admit it, a lot of the lyrics from Pretty Melody would raise eyebrows (and scorch 'em off) when you showed off the autograph. Dilemna.
Off to a book reading and signing now. Not Butch (sigh). Michael Chabon, though, almost as good, right?
We will see.
Love ya, Butch!
Since December 30, though, have been experiencing a huge crush on Pretty Melody. "Oh baby we don't have to be like the rest of them....there's not a single part of me that would ever let you go.....ooooooh, oooooooh....."
Got I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart the other day, so discovering that part of Butch's work. Very, very interesting to Bibi. It's Butch, but a different shade of Butch from the other albums. Not sure how much I liked it at first, but you know how it is with Butch: just listen, pay attention, let the words and melody flow over you.
One of my fan-tasies runs like this: what if, I got to meet Butch and had the opportunity to get his autograph on Drinking With Strangers? ha, ha, ha on the readers--they were thinking: okay, a fantasy involving Butch, HOT! Well, maybe, er, sure, just LOOK at these pictures
 |
| Butch Walker channeling hot male model |
 |
| Butch Walker, spokesperson of the year for whatever--I will buy it! |
 |
| Lost in thought about ... who cares? |
but not for sharing on the world wide web. Please. On this blog, the R rating is due to use of foul language, okay? Anyway, in Bibi's fantasies, as it's playing out, I'm wearing whatever I'm wearing at the moment, so for this one at this moment, asking for the autograph in my office clothes. Including the Ralph Lauren pumps. Kinda funny. Under what circumstances would Bibi be standing around Butch in her office-appropriate attire? He'd actually be on this campus? Happened right after work? OMG! But anyway, in the book signing fantasy, the really big question is, what would I ask him to write? My best ideas are lyrics from his songs, but there are so many great ones, tough. And, admit it, a lot of the lyrics from Pretty Melody would raise eyebrows (and scorch 'em off) when you showed off the autograph. Dilemna.
Off to a book reading and signing now. Not Butch (sigh). Michael Chabon, though, almost as good, right?
We will see.
Love ya, Butch!
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