Abe Vigoda is not dead!

He is neither dead in body nor in musical form. When asked by a friend to describe the band Abe Vigoda's music, I stated that it is like a harder, better, quirkier version of Vampire Weekend, except not shitty, pretentious, or a post-ska ripoff (Bedouin Soundclash already perfected the latter). Moreover, Abe Vigoda has one of the most unfortunate yet enjoyable band names in existence. Double (secret probation) moreover, they kick major striped tail live.

Kid City

Skeleton

The online blogopolis

The newest development on the campaign trail for US President is that John McCain is apparently "aware of the internet." I respect that. I too am aware of things. I am aware of black oppression. I am aware of thermal dynamics. I am aware of menstruation. I am aware of the centre of a Tootsie Pop. In order to further aid McCain's burgeoning awareness of the internet, I provide this embedded instructional video:

The Great Plains

I certainly am a fan of Tex-Mex. Well, Tex-Mex food anyway. Last week I was at Rancho Relaxo for an evening of actual bona-fide indie music and had the pleasure of seeing the Rural Alberta Advantage, a Toronto-based band whose music captures the heartbreak and isolation of growing up in the Prairies (notably, frontman Paul Banwatt actually is from Alberta....not just appropriating the experience in order to have an indie edge). At times Banwatt's voice channels that of Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Magnum to the point that I forget who I'm listening to. By no means do I find that to be a bad thing, however. Following the show, I opted to gambol down College Street and have a Tex-Mex nightcap (three pitchers and veggie nachos) at Sneaky Dee's. If there was a Tex-Mex streetfight between the primary two Tex-Mex/Concert venue contenders in Toronto (involving secret moves like the enchilada death-ray), Sneaky Dee's would reign victorious and be awarded a die-cast figurine of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns