Viva La Vida (Or, Death And All His Friends)

I’m sitting next to Charlize Theron in the fifth row of The Gibson Amphitheater when the string section walks in. Coldplay, a little matchy-match in their quasi-revolutionary, epilette-laden outfits, tear into the hook: four synthy chords and a house-inspired beat. Behind them, naked, desaturated Romanesque soldiers storm an ancient gate. The stage, once cast is…

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Without Love It Ain’t Much

Ok, so here’s my super-glamorous life on location at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, part two. It’s 10:27. R.E.M. — my favorite band of, like, all time — is performing exactly 2.4 miles away at The Hollywood Bowl. For a minute, I considered jogging over there (Driving in L.A.? Not so fun.). And then I…

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Goodnight, Hollywood Boulevard

Invariably, every time an event like the 2008 MTV Movie Awards pops up, I’m on the receiving end of all sorts of comments about how cool, glamourous or sexy my job is. So let me set the record straight. True, I woke to the sun rising over Mountain Wilson. And yes, the air smells like…

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It Never Rains In California (It Pours)

True, my life has unfolded differently than I might have planned (or dreamed). Tonight finds me at Universal Studios Hollywood (more Burbank than Hollywood, really), not on the road like my pals The Nadas or Raining Jane. Fortunately, though, I receive the occasional email from my rock ‘n roll pals. In fact, Raining Jane cellist,…

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Sing To Keep Your Demons At Bay

Good thing Jamie Leonhart told me she taught voice after I roped her into singing a few songs with me for “The Invention Of Everything Else” (due June 18th from Authentic Records!); had I known in advance, I might not have had the nerve to ask. I first came to know of Miss Leonhart as…

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Mixing “The Invention Of Everything Else”

Jon Locker, bless his heart, seems to be remaining calm. The Nadas’ bassist (and bonafide producer) is mixing my new record, “The Invention Of Everything Else” (due June 18th from Authentic Records!) at his Sonic Factory Studios in Des Moines. As you might guess, it’s a not an assignment to be taken lightly, as my…

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“Mister Rogers & Me” Applies To Independent Film Week!

I don’t know much about gambling, or numbers, but I like to think that submitting our Independent Film Week online application at precisely 7:11 is somehow fortuitous; these two seem pretty good together. In addition to two DVD screeners, and a $60 entree fee, the application called for a 25 word logline, 60 word synopsis,…

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A Swift Kick In The, Um, Butt

I tend to wedge my training in between a whole bunch of activities, lately: post-production on a documentary, mixing a new album (due on Des Moines’ own Authentic Records June 18!), a career that’s turned alarmingly demanding, domestic duties, and an iota of a social life. Still, I do pretty well getting everything in on…

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The Miracle Of Suffering

“I think you’re gonna’ have to throw up to feel better,” he said matter-of-factly. The morning began at the iTunes music store. Such is my voracious appetite for substantive public radio podcasts that I’d already burned through “This American Life,” “Studio 360,” and two episodes of “Fresh Air” on my twice-daily, fifteen-minute commute — and…

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“Mister Rogers & Me” In 25 Words Or Less?

I’ve been drafting our Independent Film Week application as Chris fine tunes our submission. We’ve made some elegant revisions tonight, including the addition of a cute piece of footage of Ethan and me, some evocative driving b-roll, and a song by Davy Rothbart’s brother’s band, The Poem Adept, “Bear & Raccoon” (though we haven’t officially…

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