Zero Dark Thirty and Beasts of the Southern Wild

Zero Dark Thirty was a good movie--engrossing, exciting, good casting AND way too long.  It's refusal to take a stand on some moral issues:  torturing war prisoners, killing men and women suspected of harboring Osama bin Laden, making no attempt to capture bin Laden alive adds to its being a less than great movie, although it is a thought-provoking one.  (Liked The Hurt Locker way better.  It presented its case in a more succinct, focused way and gave the audience a clear idea of what the filmmaker thought about the concepts presented.)  Using the Jessica Chastain character as a stand-in for the number of individuals it took to gather and crystallize the information gathered into intelligence that could be used to search and find bin Laden did help to keep the movie from being longer and becoming tedious, and she's a good actor.  Bibi thought her guarded, unrevealing demeanor was effective in expressing the film's basic attitude:  here's what happened, how it happened--not adding a moral to it.  That's up to the viewer.  Also, could be that the blankness that character is effusing might be a stand-in for the general American public:  we don't know what to think about this (war) mess.  Kathryn Bigelow may have a strong sense of the brutality and pointlessness of torture as a means of eliciting information, she might have a strong dislike for the entire war on terrorism as it has played out, but for some reason, she's timid in expressing that outrage in this movie.  The last 20-30 minutes are the best part, the set up and carrying out of the raid. So, good, but not great.  B+ ish

Bibi has known for awhile is that she is almost completely assimilated into middle class life.  That has its good and bad aspects:  good in that I can afford to live in a way I find acceptable, pleasant, actually very good in most ways and am not a burden to anyone.  Bad because my life is in many ways so sheltered and narrow, I don't appreciate the value that others place on their different lifestyles or lifestyles choices.  Beasts of the Southern Wild gives a glimpse of a different way of living, freely accepted and desired by the people living it, mostly from the point of view of a six year old girl.  She's adorable, of course, as children in movies often are:  lovely, a wide-eyed seeker of warmth, love, meaning, making what she can of it, a marshland fauve. The community, the Bathtub, is on the edge of Louisiana levee life, a collection of misfits from civilization, who care for each other in a loose-knit, communal way, each person left to make their own decisions about their lives within the group.  Lots of drinking, eating, not taking baths, good times. We watch Hush Puppy explore her natural, if litter-strewn world, caring for pets and/or chickens and pigs.  She's fascinated by their heartbeats, attentively listening to them, a place of quiet assurance in her sometimes chaotic family setting.  There's no mother, although her father is mostly there, a committed drinker and forager who daily gives Hush Puppy lessons in self-reliance (she lives in a separate shack from her father) and the idea of personal strength required for living ("no crying" is a community slogan).  When a hurricane destroys the fragile community, Hush Puppy and her father struggle to find their scattered friends and rebuild, firm in their refusal to join civilization and the comforts it offers.

The movie is in color, but there are often some very effective gray/white scenes that made me wonder later, was the movie in color?  These scenes give palpable, sometimes terrifying life to Hush Puppy's take on the community teacher's explanation about cave men and the menacing, hugely malevolent aurochs who  destroyed as many big, strong cavemen as they could.  Hush Puppy equates the dangers in her life that could rip away her father, the community around her, maybe overwhelm her as snorting, snuffling, brutish aurochs, constantly on the prowl, looking for the weak to prey on.  

Loved this movie.  It has no chance against the heavy hitters like Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty, Argo or  Django Unchained (like Quentin's movie has any chance at all.  Talk about a group of people who are the epitome of middle class--the voters in the Academy).  A

 

Butch Walker Mixtape V.2

Although Bibi still has a few copies of the BWM II and/or II.2 and IV.3, the BWDDC (Butch Walker at the  Double Door in Chicago) cd is now available.  Late this week, introduced Butch's music to a new possibility, M.  She seemed open to listening and let her know there were Butch Walker cds, BTW II.2 and IV.3, versions with or without the f and the s words.  If Bibi were in a more reflective mood, she'd riff off George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, John Lennon, etc., about the power of some words....Luckily for the faithful It's been such a good week, I won't make them suffer through such a jejeune, and ultimately pointless exercise.  (but what about making the readers suffer through the use of words like jejeune?)  However, the conversation with M did guide Bibi to the realization that from a marketing standpoint, a new "meet Butch Walker" in a cd kind of way was needed.  Here it is:

Butch Walker Mixtape V.2

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

Some of the thought process behind the setlist:  so impressed with the Chicago Double Door show, I now love Pretty Melody--always liked the video--so had to include it with these other faves.  

I got some words you need to hear

I'm coming around to ATL, Closer to the Truth and Further From the Sky, and The 3 Kids in Brooklyn but not there yet, so didn't include them.  This version doesn't rock as much as Bibi would prefer, but as a sampler, really like it.  Plus, that s and f word thing--this selection doesn't have that element.  Have started giving it out; waiting to hear feedback.

Love you, Butch!

The Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect Works!

You know all those miracle diets and cures that are too good to be true?  Well, Bibi is here to tell you, the Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect works and not just for me.  I had been talking about Butch to a fellow staffer, gave him the BWMT II.2 (I think--have to start keeping better records on that) last week.  Today, he made a special effort to let Bibi know that he LOVED the cd!

Bibi about halfway up the Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan

He'd had a tough morning, lots of drama before he even made the drive to work.  Put the BWMT II.2 in the cd player in the car and by cut 7 (The Weight of Her), he felt SO MUCH BETTER!  I could have told him this would be true.  And why not?  He'd already heard

Mixtape (Butch--I will always love this song, even if you no longer sing it in your shows)
Bodegas and Blood (if this one doesn't perk you up, check your pulse.  You may be in more serious trouble than you realize)
Sweethearts (just want to squeal--this one is SO great!)
Day Drunk (raucous, rocking bar singalong here--millions of snapshots shoot through my brain....goodbyyyyyyyye)
Synthesizers ((I can stay out ALL night, like Sacajawea in a paint fight--OOOH!)
Closest Thing to You (Butch at his romantic best, best, best:  Cause I see your face when they turn out my light.  His voice--OMG!)

Very gratifying to Bibi that someone else feels the so positive effect of Butch's voice and songs.  After G told me this, I was energized for the rest of the morning.  And then, for lunch, had to share with y'all.

Highly recommend listening to Butch Walker to make your afternoon go WAY better.

Love ya, Butch!  Thanks for being there!

Butch Walker, MLK Day and Livin' La Vida TexMex

Oh, what would a day be without Butch Walker? 

Lucky for Bibi, don't have to know or find out.  Just feel sorry for those unfortunates who are consigned to a dreary life of Top 40 radio and/or other music environments sans Butch.  Thought about this a few times during the MLK weekend.  It was convertible top down weather in Houston and one of the downsides is hearing other drivers' lame music selections while at stop lights.  Poor things; so deluded. Have great hopes that the new album, accompanying tour and appearing at SxSW will change at least some of this bereft state for some/many.
Bibi spent most of the weekend working on the nest, getting almost all of the Christmas decorations put back in storage, rearranging the abode back to its everyday state, including the new calendars.  Not entirely satisfied with the selection this year, but there it is.  Too bad Bibi didn't get any time in the Robie House gift store in Chicago; probably could have picked up a cool one.  And although the Art Institute was world class, by the time Bibi reached the gift shop, she was totally over being there and had to escape as fast as possible.  Bibi did send in a wistful request to Butch's merch group that there be Butch Walker calendars in the future.  I know, I know.  A whiff of selling out, so probably a no go.  Not asking that Butch actually pose for calendar pictures--bet he'd make the most of it, though, joking around, giving up the BEST glamour shots, but I know there are plenty of stills from performances, the recording studio, some pics that Butch has shared with us on Twitter or his website.  Think about it, please.  Of course, there's probably something Bibi could do on this on her own, so will check it out and let you know. 

Have started making copies of the much-vaunted BWMT comprised of the December 30 setlist.  Have to tell you, TOTALLY GREAT!  He had an excellent (if somewhat short IMHO) group of songs and hearing them again, brings back some joyful and fantastic memories of that fateful night.  The etched in my memory banks first time I saw Butch live.  Sigh.....

Butch tweeted that he'd been in the studio all day.  Such sweet music news to a fan's ears.  Maybe he's working on someone else's stuff--saw something on the web about Butch working with Panic!at the Disco in the studio, scheduled for January.  Or, he could be finishing up the new album (fervent fan hope, hope, hope).  Maybe a week ago, he tweeted something in reference to SxSW about big news soon--tour dates, album release date, WHAT???  Butch Walker calendars maybe?

Monday afternoon I fought my way across town--who were all those people and why were they on the freeway?--to my favorite taqueria, Del Sol.  I love the boho area of Houston I live in, but really, there are no taquerias close by; guess that's a downside of gentrification onset.  The Taqueria del Sol not only has great Tex-Mex, including menudo, it has an eclectic selection on the jukebox.  Of course Mexican music of all kinds, trad, norteno, nuevo wavo, some old rock, some country and NO BUTCH WALKER.  Most if not all of The Spade could easily fit into the mix.  Don't know how juke box inclusions are made, but probably demand-driven in some way--sounds like another research project for Bibi. 

One of the things I like about diners or taquerias is the background music.  Makes a tasty meal that much better.  And, having a day off--thanks, MLK--and a good meal along with great music, superb!  Or would have been, if Butch were singing in the background.  Everyone in the place would have had their day vastly improved, as well.  (This isn't just about Bibi feeling good.)  With such a remarkable talent, singing, songwriting, making music with really good musicians, how is any of this a negative?  Butch's inviting voice, eager and assured delivery, outstanding guitar playing--rocks it with the best of 'em--the hit-home expressive lyrics, outstanding production values that give his songs an irrepressible immediacy that demand you play them again and again.  Who wouldn't notice him? Sometimes, I think maybe all that Butch puts out there is too much for the undiscerning and un-curious American listening public.  Look at who's considered popular now--how can it be they're popular?  Are their voices great?  Their songs?  Honestly, no.  But the listeners aren't demanding and don't really want anything that might make them think about life, stuff that happens, shared experiences.  Which Butch does have in his songs.
Bibi will keep pondering on this....after all, think of all those whose lives are a bit less happy, more dreary since they don't know Butch Walker's music.  How to get more Butch out to them?

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Rock on!

Butch Walker: He's the Best for a Monday Morning

Yes, it's agreed by all who matter--these are some cool guys I met in front of AC/DC's hotel in Paris, Manu, Didier and Robert--and I think they would go along with Bibi:  there is nothing finer in Carolina (or Texas) on a grey and dreary Monday that is also the first class day (yikes!  what a stomach-churning combo!) than listening to Butch Walker to make the day somewhat less foreboding.  Just hearing:   And I don't want to remember, but I don't want to forget, That no one will believe me if I say:  So honey don't you call now, don't pick up the phone now, don't you know we're better off this way? mellows me out.  That lovely, lovely voice, the Todd Rundgren vibe in the words...we can be in love for just one day...so I met you by the bathroom to escape....Aaaaahhhh! 

Sometimes, listening to Butch sing, Bibi thinks that Butch so loves to hear his voice.  Not saying it in a "he's so full of himself" way.  What a gift he has!  Not just the sound/texture/shading of his voice, but the lyrics he writes, the phrasing he uses.  (sigh) AND, he's sharing it with us, his lucky, lucky fans!!!

Here's Butch reportedly singing Ponce de Leon Ave. sometime in the past.

It's a different look from the one he currently has, but the voice is still as fab as ever!  Of course, the camera adores Butch as much as ever--that hair! those eyes, those cheekbones, that thoroughly adorable nose!--though, emphatically, he's so much more than a pretty face.

Love you, Butch!

Butch Walker: Post-Show Blues

Every day's a Monday now that the show has come and gone, right?  Bibi's been really busy at work and suffering from a diagnosis-proof toothache, living on Advil, and a lack of Butch Walker shows.  Guess, toothache or not, had to unfold this way for the fans lucky enough to see Butch in Chicago.  Like Tom Petty says:  waiting is the hardest part--until the new album hits and the supporting tour.  The BWAE (Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect) has been put to the test all week, helping Bibi through the pain, but really!  Just want it to go away and never come back!

Confession:  haven't been upholding my duties as a fan.  Want to make a new mixtape cd--the songs that Butch sang on December 30 at the Double Door, sans the new ones, of course--and have run out of the Butch cards I give out to those whom I want to become familiar with Butch's work.  Did get more card stock today and think/hope I'll be up to putting together the setlist for the new batch of cds later today.  There's a new indie-looking eatery next to the library and wanted to offer them the BWM II.2 (without the s and f words), but need to make a few more of those, as well.  Geez, really behind in carrying out the fan oath of purpose and obligations!  Did I even remember to pay dues recently? Priorities, Bibi!  lol

Did talk up (through the mist-inducing pain) Butch, the recent show, his talent, his persona on stage to two new people at work--that's when I realized I was out of cards and BWM II.2.  Bibi loves Butch's work and understands about the use of the s/f words--they fit in the flow, meaning of the songs, are not hate-inspired, mongering--but the idea is to introduce Butch to simpatico listeners, not give them the opportunity to get hung up on details. 

My competency with the phone camera at the show was really challenged.  Show pics would make very effective ppt-like effects while I'm talking about Butch.  But, have been able to let folks see photos other people took; some are quite good.  Very appreciative of those.  LOVE this pic someone took on NYE while Butch was singing....you know the song lyrics this gesture fits....tick, tock, tick, tock....ok, Race Cars and Goth Rock. 

Thinking that next time I see Butch, will try to get closer to the front, just for the sake of pictures.  Given different factors, Bibi's strategy had been to leave the struggle, time consumption of being at the front, difficulty of going to the bathroom or getting drinks to others, but re-thinking that.  Not something that ever bothered Bibi at AC/DC concerts--and have the pictures to prove it (ha, ha)--but with Butch playing such small venues, seems absurd not to have great pictures of him performing.  Plus, the camera LOVES Butch and the Internet needs more pictures of him looking totally fab.

Who could argue with that need?

Love you, Butch!

Butch Walker: Suggestions for Tour Dates

Butch tweeted about an upcoming tour for the Flaming Lips and the Black Keys:

4-28 Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center

4-30 Pittsburgh, PA - CONSOL Energy Center

5-02 Atlanta, GA - Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood

5-03 Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena

Wouldn't it be cool if Butch played the same cities a day or two before or after these shows?  that way, Bibi would have a chance to see both!

Just saying.