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  • Can’t Write? Maybe You Need A Ritual

    I’ll write anytime and anywhere. I’ve written on legal pads, receipts, in the margins of periodicals, really on whatever scratch paper was handy. I’ve even written on my cellphone in a pinch.

  • 191. Out All Night, Sleep All Day (I Know What You’re Doing)

    One afternoon while we were organizing the cassette wall I learned the secret to Theresa’s celebrity indifference. A well known television actor walked up to her, and before he could ask for help she said, “Oh, hi Daddy. This is my friend, Cool.” The TV star extended his hand and said, “Well hello, Cool, I’m…

  • From The Stacks: Larry Graham-Just Be My Lady

    Let’s get this out of the way: I love Larry Graham. The man is a genius bass player, and his work with both Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station is mandatory listening.

  • This Week on Paste: Drake’s Denogginizer

    Oh, beer. Is there anything you can’t do? You make the unattractive beautiful, the dull charming, and can even improve a shitty band. But can you denogginize us? Check out my review on Paste for the answer.

  • From The Stacks: The Donnas – Da Doo Ron Ron (Super*Teem! single)

    Now this is cool. If all you get out of listening to The Donnas’ cover of “Da Doo Ron Ron” is an “oh, now I see how the Ramones connect to the ’60s” vibe, then good enough. Check it out:

  • Throw Beck Thursday: Life as a Heavy Metal Dad

    Four good men talk about raising kids while living the rock star dream. You’d have to work hard to find a more stereotyped guy than the heavy metal musician. The headbanger (homo sapiens rockus) is an irresponsible, drug-addled boozehound found whoring it up when not busy sacrificing goats to the Dark Lord. Just one look…

  • Deep Cuts: Henry Rollins

    Over on Diffuser.FM this week I interview the great Henry Rollins. Man, what a treat. Love him or hate him, Henry always tells it straight. I admire that. Sadly, part of that honesty includes confirmation that he’s done with music—not as a fan, but as a performer. If you never got a chance to see…

  • Rising Appalachia, Lake Tahoe 9/27/14

    I’ve shot a lot of shows, but this may have been the weirdest. Don’t get me wrong: Rising Appalachia were amazing. What was strange was the juxtaposition of this cool, hippie bluegrass band and a Lake Tahoe casino. You can read all about it on Diffuser.FM.

  • This Week on Paste: The Road Trip Goes to the Gulf

      Are you digging the “Best Damn Beer Road Trip” series? I hope so, because I love writing it. There’s so much great, local microbrew out there. What a treat to be able to shine a spotlight on some of it. Let’s go get our gumbo ya-ya’s out, what do you say? Full article here.

  • The 8 Not-So-Secret Secrets to a Writing Career

    Building any career is a challenge, but a career in the arts is twice as challenging. Why? Because on one hand one has to develop his or her craft, and on the other one has to build a business. But “challenging” and “complicated” are not the same thing; in fact, the basic steps that will…