Houston Calling

Stop me before I subreference again

April 14th, 2003 · No Comments

I have been checking out sellthekids.com, a friend’s blog. Go check out his latest post about Dennis Miller.

In it, he talks about The Raw Feed, the Dennis Miller comedy special that aired Saturday night on HBO. I also watched this special and I feel the same way about a lot of the points he mentioned. I was surprised that Miller came off as politically conservative as he did. I think a lot of people in the U.S. feel the same way he does, politically-speaking. While watching it, I could see my parents agreeing with a lot of what he was saying.

As far as the comedy aspect goes, most of it was funny–some of it was tired and rehashed, yes, but overall I got quite a few laughs out if it–but not nearly as funny as his Black & White special in the early 1990s.

One thing that was simple but hilarious to me: Miller was talking about the NRA and gun control. He said they just need to make a law that you cannot have more guns than you have teeth.

I think for someone who uses as many references for the focal points of his jokes as Miller does, he might want to get some pronunciations correct. “Spicooli”? C’mon. Anyone who has seen Fast Times at Ridgmont High knows the character’s name was “Spicoli.” In know it’s a small point, but it was something that bothered me–Miller always comes off as so edu-ma-cated, arrogant, and funnier-than-thou but then screws up something as simple as this?

Anyway, that’s my take. The show will rerun on HBO for a while.

After seeing Dennis Miller, I went to Rudz to see Luxurata play with Strangelight and Flowers to Hide. I was most impressed with the band Flowers to Hide. We got there early in their set and after a few minutes, I leaned over to my wife and said, “This is a really good song.” Sounds simple, huh?

Let me explain. I am so used to seeing opening bands play the same old thing over and over (the same crap over and over) that to hear a band that good was refreshing. Not that they were 100% on or anything like that, but they played music that reminded me of why I like seeing live music so much. It was raw and energetic, without any pretentiousness from the band members–and no preaching from the lead singer (a particular pet peeve of mine). Download their tracks from MP3.com.

Next up was Luxurata. I have been wanting to see this band play for a while now, and my schedule finally allowed it. Truth be told, I almost didn’t make it out due to a horrid cold (I pretty much have no voice right now), but a friend is their rhythm guitarist and his girlfriend was hooking me up with free tickets to tonight’s Zwan show–so, against my better judgment, I went out.

Three hours, four Guinness, and $40 later, I feel much worse, am deaf, and have no Zwan tickets (she forgot to bring them–I remedied that yesterday so no worries).

Anyway, back to Luxurata. I am always objective when I see bands for the first time–basically, this band was not what I expected. My friend is an Oasis-lookalike, style-wise. The rest of the band members looked like aging frat boys (not that there’s anything wrong with that–it happens to the best of ’em), which is probably what they are. Their music seems like it would play best in the college bar scene. I can only imagine how big this band would’ve been 10 years ago when I was in college. It was just standard, middle-of-the-road music. Nothing bad about it–I think I was just expecting more because of my friend.

I will have an interview with Luxurata’s guitarist in an upcoming column.

Tonight is the Zwan show in Houston. I have really enjoyed their CD and am looking forward to seeing them live.

Now Playing in my iPOD: Kinski — Airs Above Your Station

Tags: Music