Bolt of Blue

I actually watched the Grammy’s this year. I normally will only tune in for a minute or two, get disgusted and change the channel pronto.

From the opening seconds, I got hooked for some unexplainable reason. The show wasn’t any better than previous years and the winners were mostly generic and lame. And don’t get me started on U2 winning as many awards as they did. Makes my blood boil.

But what I did enjoy was seeing Fiona Apple looking gorgeous and how amazing Christina did. She looked great and sounded fabulous. And getting see Damon on US television. Ok, so they only showed him for a brief second when Gorillaz were up for an award, but still. And his voice opened the show!

I had been so looking forward to the opening performance. And the portion with Gorillaz did not disappoint. It was hilarious and cheeky and I couldn’t believe they got away with it. Loved every second. I was however, disappointed that Madonna didn’t interact more with Gorillaz. She was hot but it would have been more interesting if she had done something different than yet another performance of Hung Up – that’s she done before almost the exact same way. Oh well.

Coldplay were just ho-hum for me too. I did like that Chris tried to give Jonny the spotlight when he went out into the audience. But it was ruined when the stupid people doing the lights didn’t even put a light on Jonny when he went into his solo.

Other random musings: Teri Hatcher would be gorgeous if she only gained 10 pounds. Kayne West is the new Michael Jackson. He’s a FREAK. Joss Stone is Joss Lame. Kelly Clarkson’s speeches were terribly cute. The show was too freaking LONG. I can’t believe I watched the whole thing. Next year, I’m only downloading the performances I want to check out. I vow not to get sucked in again. Yep.

This summer is going to be nuts.

First… June is the month of Blur. Got my plane tickets for BC and car rental reservation to make the trip to Seattle. Just need to get my Vegas plane ticket booked and all systems go.

July… shaping up to be the month of operation Duran Duran. July 17. Pacific Amphitheatre. Since the pre-sale stunk, will be attempting to get tickets tomorrow morning. Wish me loads of luck to ward off all the psycho Duranies so I can score some good seats. Granted, I’m a pretty scary fan myself but unless you really know the Duran scene, don’t judge. It’s hardcore and nuts. I’ve been waiting a gazillion years for this. I can’t believe it’s finally happening. Add that show with some rumors of other shows happening around that time and I am one excited, nervous, scared, thrilled, happy camper.

August… Dave Gahan at the House of Blues in Vegas. Whoot. Along with The Datsuns playing on my birthday. Double whoot.

Oh yeah, missed the premiere of the new season of The Amazing Race. I’ve never watched this show before but now my friend is on it so I’ve gotta watch him make a fool of himself now.

My little trip to Vancouver over this past weekend was amazing. It went by too fast but then my trips always do. The Ash show in Seattle was a good test run for Blur next month. It was an amazing show except for the sleeping crowd but I was able to give Tim a gift that he loved. Check out the photos I snapped on Rock Star. I’ll be putting up photos from Tuesday’s show soon… and that show at the El Rey here in LA was one of the best shows I’ve been to this year. It was definitely the best Ash show I’ve gone too. Wonderful energy from the band and crowd.

And man… so much to talk about it and no time to write… need to go into details about American Idol, my Vancouver trip, Matrix… but I’ve got Finding Nemo tonight. And Duran Duran tickets to buy tomorrow. And fanlistings to update and build. And fansites to update and maintain. And… and… and… at some point I need to sleep. Drinking all this caffeine today certainly can’t help! I’m such a bundle of energy right now that I can’t sit still! AHHHHH!!!!

Um. I’m still alive. Just been majorly busy. And getting a bit sick.

I had to finish this gift I was making by mother’s day for my mom. Work has been incredibly hectic. More than usual right now. So much so, I was not able to take off Friday and go to Jay Leno for Ewan. And because of traffic, I didn’t make it in time to see Ewan leave the studio. Ah well.

I spent most of last week finally redesigning and revamping my Jude Law fansite. This has been something I’ve needed to do for months and months. I came up with several discarded designs until finally coming up with the right one. I also did the entire site in PHP. I recently revamped the JRMfansite using PHP. And my first real stab at PHP was redesigning and restarting Glow. It’s going to be a while before all my sites get going with PHP but I’m very happy I’ve started to get the hang of using it. It makes life so much easier (I’m more knowledgeable and comfortable using ASP but most webhosting servers do not have that capablity). Plus I’ve almost completely changed all of my fanlistings to using either PHP or Megabook. I just need to convert one more… and ahem… I’m signed up for 4 more fanlistings that I need to complete.

Yeah. I’ve got issues.

And to top it all off… Blur are trying to kill me! Well… either that or get more money out of me. According to Pollstar (via Val), they are going to play Seattle June 20 and then Vancouver June 21. (Along with Vegas on June 12.) So looks like I’ll be visiting Remi that weekend. Already got pit tickets for Xfest just to see them. Hot Hot Heat were added to the bill. Just as long as they don’t play at the same time, June 15th will be a radness filled day.

Oh… anyone got details regarding the American Idol final to be held at the Universal Amphitheater?

I’ve decided I’m regressing back to my childhood. Well… with my reading habits at least. I’ve been re-reading some of my favorite books from when I was a kid. I’ve zipped through The Westing Game and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Now I’m working on Lord of The Flies which I have not read in ages and ages. Catching the movie on Bravo the other day made me pull out my old copy.

The Mellowdrone show on Wednesday was lovely. Though the set was too short (for good reason it turns out), Jonathan once again impressed me. I felt this was one of his strongest and more playful performances I’ve seen in a while.

It’s certainly something to be surrounded by new fans and curious folks in a packed Troubadour who are all there to see Mellowdrone. Vastly different from the times I’ve seen him in a small bar with 12 other people where he goes on to sample my friend’s laugh and use it in a song.

If you have not checked out his EP, what are you waiting for? You can download all the songs on his website or buy a copy of the EP online for darn cheap.

Coachella is tomorrow. I’m so jumpy and excited about it. They announced the schedule. Only one major conflict for me… Hot Hot Heat conflicts with Blur and that is so wrong. And it looks like I’ll be dancing to Interpol as it all ends.

Speaking of Blur… check out their new video for Crazy Beat on MTV of all places! Swoon. And check out there performance on Jo Whiley. And apparently, in a LA radio interview today, it was mentioned that one Alex James is lost in Mexico without his passport. And this happens often. No wonder he had trouble getting into this country. Let’s see if he turns up on the Craig Kilborn show tonight.

Be still my Duranie heart. Finally. Duran Duran are doing 4 shows in Japan in July. More dates are expected. And damn, they better announce more soon or I’m seriously considering going into further debt to make my first trip to Japan. No joke. These shows will be the first time all 5 original members have performed together since Live Aid in 1985. That’s 18 years! I guess it’s kind of fitting that they will play in Japan first (possibly) as that is where Simon, Nick and Warren played their last show together as Duran Duran.

The box set (all their singles from 81-85) is due out June 10 in the US, May 12th everwhere else. So I’m thinking they may do some things in the US in June too to help promote its release. Right?

For all those who were concerned or just merely curious, Miss Modern Age made it to LA and is alive and currently sleeping on my couch.

Ewan Alert:

• Regis and Kelly, May 6
• Making of Down With Love, HBO, May 6
• Tonight Show, May 9

So Blur isn’t doing the Coachella Festival. Oh well. I’m sad but have gotten over it.

Blur is coming to California!! Tickets go on sale Saturday for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. I don’t care all that much for any of the other acts except Weezer and Jane’s Addiction. I’m definitely going to try and go.