#Jeff Medley

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have The Old Way 2023

[undyinglantern]

Top Songs of 2023 [January-June]

[guitarbomb]

Join The Smashing Pumpkins as Their New Guitarist: Here’s Your Chance!

Have you ever dreamed of being part of a legendary rock band? Now’s your chance to turn that dream into reality. The Smashing Pumpkins, an iconic name in the music world, are on the hunt for a new guitarist. This exciting opportunity was announced via their social media platforms, inviting musicians from all walks of life to apply. Join The Smashing Pumpkins This development follows the departure…

[myryathedreamer]

Sooooo... if anyone has a video of the NPMD medley from Starkid Innit... specifically the Jeff singing Max's part... if you were to send it my way, I would probably trade you my firstborn child.

(sorry can't do souls, already gave that one for straight A's in highschool)

[justarandombrit]

Okay well as you may know from looking at my blog for five seconds, I saw the matinee for Starkid Innit. During the interval and after the show I wrote down some notes. I tried to get them in chronological order but my memory is dogshit and I definitely missed some stuff, I hope you appreciate it though.

Outside:

. EVERYONE SUNG GRANGER DANGER

. IT WAS SO GOOD (except for the high note lmao)

. EVERYONE SUNG DAYS OF SUMMER

. EVERYONE A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE SUNG GOIN' BACK TO HOGWARTS

Act 1:

. The Nightmare Time sting punched me in the face

. The shout-out to the confused parents

. BRIAN + MEREDITH IN TGWDLM IS EVERYTHING TO ME

. High School Is Killing Me, Literal Monster and Nerdy Prudes Must Die all got mashed together!

. Corey!Richie is my Roman Empire

. Jaime in NPMD….

. Jaime had a different line to PJ’s original in Literal Monster. I couldn't hear half of it but it was different

. JEFF!MAX

. THE AUDIENCE SINGING RICHIE'S PART!!!!!! I'M NOT A LOSERRRRRRR

. TOGETHER!!!!!

. OUR DOORS ARE OPEN

. Jaime singing Sami/Harry ABOUT HER DOG (Nori)

. The audience whipping out the phone cameras

. CLARK SINGING I WAS GAVE ME SUCH INTENSE CHILLS

. Joey finally giving the white, male side characters attention

. Joey changing “I know I'm not a star” to “I know I'm not Clark”

. He pointed the mic at the audience for the “DEFINITELY NOT!”

. Joey mistimed his jump 😔😔

. Genuinely his best performance of Sidekick yet

. Joey making fun of Brian for not getting a big solo

. Brian kept pretending to beat him up, it was brilliant

. Not Over Yet is definitely Brian's song, shut up

. Brian accidentally singing the same verse twice (How does he always mess this song up?!?!?)

. My mum took a photo during the “EVIL PLAAAAANSSSS” bit and it was right when Brian was choking Joey

. “So look alive and don't forget”

“FORGET WHAT?”

. FEAST OR FAMINE

. Rogues Are We still goes so hard

. Rogues Medley without Kick It Up A Notch is weird, but Kick It Up A Notch without Dylan would definitely be weirder

Intermission:

. Ice cream :D

Act 2:

. Starting with We Got Work To Do is so iconic

. THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IN THE CLIMATE, SOMETHING'S IN THE AIR, WE FEEL THE HEAT, NO NEED TO DEFINE IT, WE DON'T REALLY CARE

. MEREDITH REQUESTED BACK ON TOP!!!!!!!! AND IT WAS SO GOOOOD!!!!!!!

. Joey shouted “Draco, get on the floor!” at Lauren

. ALL THE UNDERRATED SONGS

. I love how it was hyped up like it was going to be Boy Toy, and then just straight up wasn't lmaooo

. Brian finally got the slow, sexy Hideous Creatures (Take that, Nick Lang!)

. Okay I'm trying to remember the order of the underrated songs they did

. Hideous Creatures (Lauren)

. Pays To Be an Animal (Corey) (He didn't sit in the spotlight and someone yelled “TO THE LEFT, COREY”)

. Get In My Mouth (Jeff) (He fully sprawled out on the stage it was hilarious)

. Land of the Dicks (Jaime)

. Hermione Can't Draw (Meredith) (She sung it so well I briefly didn't recognise the song)

. THEY MANAGED TO WORK IN LUPIN / BRIAN CAN'T SING YESSSS

. I genuinely cannot remember what Brian sung

. Gotta Find His Dick (Joey, and eventually everyone)

. The entire “Oh you wanna know where I got my shirt?” bit

. Brian, Jaime and Joey got it from Primark, Meredith got it from “Primed-mrak”, Lauren’s was a family heirloom, Corey got it from Gucci and Jeff got it from America, from Pri-mart (He made the guy on the drums do a baddum tsh)

. COREY SINGING SHOW STOPPIN' NUMBER. OH MY GOD. (The entire crowd joined in, also, Jeff and Jaime as Steve and Stu)

. Everyone cheering so loud when Joey and Lauren came on stage, and them claiming we had no idea what they were going to sing, and it was actually a completely new song (it was Granger Danger obviously)

. And them continuing to claim it was new throughout the song

. As I expected, I almost cried during Not Alone. Also apparently Darren thought it was going to be a big hit??? And just begrudgingly let them use it for A Very Potter Musical

. Super Friends!

. So sad Jeff’s mic was so quiet for “I WANNA BE A MODERN DANCER”

. THEY SUNG WANNABE BY THE SPICE GIRLS

. The fakeout of everyone leaving stage, then the band coming back on and playing the start of Goin' Back To Hogwarts

. “Darren's not here”

“I'LL DO IT”

. THE AUDIENCE DID THE FIRST PART OF GOIN' BACK TO HOGWARTS ALL BY OURSELVES

. JEFF DID DYLAN'S PART (but he didn't do “All of you to [city name] :( )

. Jeff pointed at various parts of the audience for “Welcome hotties, nerds and tools!” and then whispered “I'm so sorry” immediately after

. Singing (/ shouting) Goin' Back To Hogwarts along with hundreds of other Starkid fans was so exhilarating, I loved it and I almost cried (also I'm gonna be so hoarse tomorrow)

[gotta-get-back-to-hatchetfield]

So thoughts from the intermission of starkid innit - if you're seeing the evening show and want to avoid spoilers might be best not to read!

I am absolutely in love!!!

It is so great seeing so many songs that I've never seen them do live performances of before (especially the nerdy prudes stuff)

Jeff did Max Jaegermans parts in the NPMD melody and it was sooo good. He got the whole 'who will pray for me' bit with Ritchie going with the crowd and it was spectacular.

Jamie did Harry/Sami but about her dog Nori which was super fun

Clark doing 'I was' was everything and makes up for my fomo for having missed seeing it the last time they came to London (in 2013! I was a teenager living not in London back then so wasn't able to go)

They did the rogues medley but swapped out kick it up a notch for feast or famine, which was really cool (altho rip to kick it up a notch) but they melded the beats together so cool that it was such a great fake out when those opening notes didn't become kick it up

Also the most cataclysmic Brian holden forgetting the lyrics to 'not over yet' event I have ever seen. I think he sung verse 4 instead of verse 2 and it was actually really funny when he got towards the end and realised he'd already sung that bit.

I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff but it is sooo good!

[king-of-the-birds]

PAUL'S BALL

a launch party for wings

He produced a handwritten invitation, leaving space to write in the invitee's name, as well as a number, which would be used for a raffle drawing toward the end of the evening. (The prize was a magnum of champagne; the disc jockey Jeff Dexter was the winner.) (..) The recommended dress was "glam."(..)

Some 800 musicians, reporters, friends of the band and music business honchos were invited.(..)

As always at such events, there was ample carping, which a reporter for Rolling Stone duly cataloged. After describing the Empire Ballroom as decidedly unhip, a leftover from the days when the Joe Loss Orchestra would play foxtrots, and young ladies shopped for husbands among the dancers, the writer noted that while the wine and cheese were free, everything at the bar was for sale.

(…)

Eyebrows were raised when, instead of a Wings performance, partygoers were treated to fox-trots, waltzes, quicksteps, and congas, played by McVay's band-along with what McVay remembered as arrangements of sixties and seventies hits, including a Beatles medley and some Beach Boys tunes. They were raised higher still when the heavily sequined and coiffed Frank and Peggy Spence Latin and Ballroom Formation Dancing Teams filed onto the floor to demonstrate their artistry.

"I'm beginning to think that Paul actually digs all this" one guest quipped to the Rolling Stone reporter, "that he actually likes dance bands, ballrooms, and buffet food. That's incredibly camp, you know, incredibly camp. Have you seen his suit? It's like a clown's costume, the jacket is about five sizes too big, and it's not even been finished."

(from the McCartney Legacy Vol. 1)

Paul: A press launch is always a good excuse to have a night out, so we invited friends and journalists, played the album, danced and had a few funny people come on to entertain. I wore an outrageous big check suit that I thought would be good. When I went to collect it from the tailor that morning he told me that it wasn’t finished. I said, ‘Maybe not, but it’s a look!’ So I went to the party with the cotton and the stitching showing, and everyone said, ‘Your suit’s not finished.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I know. Great, huh?’

(from Wingspan, 2002)

Some of the guests that attended were Jimmy Page, Elton John, Sandy Denny, Mary Hopkin, members of the Who, the Faces, Deep Purple, Ginger Baker, Henry McCullough, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Graham Bond, Sandie Shaw, the Greek synthesizer wizard Vangelis, the actors Malcolm McDowell, and Terence Stamp, some of the Monty Python troupe, Sir Joseph Lockwood, the head of EMI, Allan Clarke, of the Hollies, and (Benny) Gallagher and (Graham) Lyle.

After the party a fan encountered Paul:

He went skipping (yes it is true) down the road with Linda and just as he turned the corner to a side street, I took courage and called him back. He stopped and said “yeah” so I ran to catch him up and breathlessly asked him for his autograph. The funny part is my pen was at the bottom of this large bag of mine! He stood patiently watching me with arms folded as I rummaged elbow deep. I asked him if he had a pen as I just couldn’t find mine; he said no (which isn’t surprising as he had this crazy suit on that had no pockets).

(Kathy Turner – From Meet the Beatles for Real: Wings Party)

[tohru-oikawa]

some starkid innit thoughts:

i love that they kicked off with tgwdlm! it was also fun to see brian and meredith sing a hatchetfield song!!

jeff performing literal monster slayed. his vocals were so so good live

i predicted that corey would do our doors are open and he did not disappoint

clark’s performance of i was genuinely nearly made me tear up. his vocals are beautiful and the song is also beautiful, my unexpected fave performance of the night

the rogues medley w feast or famine😍😍 one of my fave bf songs

i LOVED the medley of forgotten songs esp because the slower tempo let them show off their vocals. lauren, corey and jeff all gave me chills

meredith forever being an ani stan. so glad we got an ani song

sidekick is a long term fave song of mine, so i was so glad to see it

corey!!! doing show stopping number!!! we love to see it

can die happy now i’ve seen the iconic granger danger live

jaime saying she’s been singing not alone for 15 years and her lil speech was so cute. the song truly is hers now, is starkid’s, and her voice is just beautiful.

my only wish is that we’d have got a twisted song, and a longer version of a tto song

goin back to hogwarts, especially that only the audience were singing the opening, was such a special moment.

jeff as dumbledore!

everyone singing happy birthday to jeff was so cute

i loved it. i’ve never felt such joy at a concert, and i’m so so glad i went even if i was feeling a lil anxious about going on my own. starkid mean so much to me, and were truly there for me at one of my darkest times when i got obsessively into them in my first year of uni after being a casual fan of the potter shows before that. i’ll always be a starkid fan, and i’m so glad i got to scream the lyrics with so many other fans too.

[historicallyaccuratecheese]

I’m happy to say that Starkid Innit…was honestly life changing for me.

It was not only super amazing to be able to see these people who have inspired me so much in person for the first time, but the entire show was spectacularly performed, it felt amazing to be surrounded by so many people who love the same thing as me, all of whom were lovely, and like…I finally get concerts now! I’ve never really thought they’d be for me, but…wow, I haven’t just enjoyed myself freely like that in…god, I don’t even know. It’s really inspired me to be more outgoing and maybe try out some new things (the band did such a good job that they’re inspiring me to do music again after having not done so for four years lmao.)

Also, some notable highlights:

- The insane cheering from the crowd all throughout, along with the fact that it surprisingly didn’t actually bother me because it was just that exciting.

- Being able to meet up with a friend and fellow Starkid fan who I haven’t seen in person for a while (I know you’re reading this so omg hiiiiiii)

- The cosplayers??? The bracelets??? Everyone was so dedicated and I love each and every one of you

- TGWDLM AS THE OPENING YEEEESSSS

- Everyone on stage looked amazing… The whole thing looked amazing….the stage…the lights….the outfits…ouuuggghhh

- On the note or outfits, the “where’d you get your shirt” bit was comedy gold

- The NPMD medley was just…yes…Jeff as Max works so well too…

- THE AUDIENCE PLAYED RICHIE AND SHOUTED I’M NOT A LOSER THAT’S SO COOL

- EVERYONE STARTED SWINGING THEIR PHONE FLASHLIGHTS IN THE WIND DURING JAMIE’S NUMBERS I LOVED IT SO MUCH (also loved the eulogy she gave for her dog)

- I got to see Starkid say trans rights in person this is the best timeline

- Corey doing Show Stopping Number…I screamed…

- Also THE AUDIENCE SINGING ALONG TO SHOW STOPPING NUMBER AND GOING BACK TO HOGWARTS I SCREAMED

- The medley of forgotten songs all performed in a super tragic and melodramatic manner was fucking hysterical. You have not seen true art until you see Meredith Stepien singing an emo reprise of “Hermione Can’t Draw”.

- Lauren acknowledging how Firebringer becoming a viral meme gives them a lot of money was great

- Lauren and Joey doing Granger Danger again…yes…

- Our Doors are Open works REALLY well in a meta sense and I’m disappointed in myself for never realizing it that until now.

- Feast or Famine. Just. Just Feast or Famine.

- ME AND MY DICK JUMPSCARE IN 2024?!

- The whole buildup to taking the picture was hilarious as well

- Surprise Spice Girls? Ok?

- HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!!!

Anyways whole thing was great I’m going to cry now :,). Here’s a picture from my vertigo inducing viewpoint all the way up in…I think…D13? D17? Idk.

[welcometololaland]

NICE ASS(K) WEEK IS UPON US!!!! 🎉

Lola, first thank you for being the Nice Ass(k) originator!!! It is such a fun way to get to know people in the fandom!!!

Now, a very important question for you. You have to do a pole dance routine with three of the following people. Who do you choose and why? What would the routine be like? (Is there such a thing as a group pole routine? I don’t know!! There is now!!!)

TK Strand

June Claremont-Diaz

Owen Strand

Henry Fox

Mateo Chavez

Ellen Claremont

Dani Rojas

Nancy Gillian

Pez Okonjo

Sam Obisanya

Zara Bankston

Bonus points if you give them each costumes for the routine!!!

hello lemon! i'm so sorry this took so long to answer but i come to you humbly with a response that is like... * checks watch * 4 months late sweeeeet ok ok no one look at me.

for context, yes, you can absolutely do a group (including doubles) routine. i actually have the best idea for this but i CAN'T use it because i'm so obsessed with this particular theme idea if someone ever put it on stage before i got the chance to i'd be absolutely shattered so!!!! it must remain a secret.

therefore, i choose my backup option. i had considered some classic ideas here - charlie's angels etc. - but then my partner leaned over and said 'has anyone done a Wiggles themed routine?' and no. they haven't. so that's what we are doing. Big Red Car, Hot Potato, Fruit Salad, Wake Up Jeff (except it's going to be Wake Up Pez), the works. It's gonna be a 4 min medley of Wiggles songs. Obviously, costumes will be coloured bodysuits. People think that pole dancers wear no clothes just to look hot, but actually you need skin grip to do half the tricks, so the standard Wiggles costumes will need to be adapted.

NOW. as to the people.

Obviously, Pez. I don't actually think Pez would be the best pole dancer, but he is very enthusiastic and fun and would bring great energy. I'd probably allocate him to the task of rolling around on the floor and just slaying the stage generally. Also, he has a name that will work with the Wake Up Jeff song. So, he is the Purple Wiggle.

I think Zahra would actually have a concerning level of flexibility and obviously the raw competitive energy. We need her. She's gonna be that bitch that does a back handspring on the stage or something. Plus, she's bossy as hell. So she can be the Yellow Wiggle aka. The Main Wiggle.

Lastly, I would pick June. Idk why. She's giving dancer energy. She's giving team player. She's giving hotness. She would be that person who would actually do the doubles tricks with you and you know she wouldn't let you go. She's probably not the most excited about being on stage, but neither am I, so we can hold each other and cry. Everyone knows the Blue Wiggle is the hot wiggle, so she would be that one.

I would be the Red Wiggle which like... doesn't suit my brand but whatever. Sacrifices have to be made for this routine.

Honourable mentions - I considered Dani Rojas but he is just way too chaotic and uncoordinated, plus, he can't wear dress shoes, imagine him in 8 inch pleasers. absolutely not. I also considered Nancy because she's hot. But she also seems kinda uncoordinated. sometimes having very long limbs can be a limiting factor. Henry was probably my fourth choice, but he missed out because he seems even more hesitant of the stage than I am.

Absolute no go - Owen and Ellen, because no one needs a limelight hog when you're trying to do a group routine. TK unfortunately does not have the rhythm we need. Mateo - I just couldn't imagine it. If the theme was Avengers, maybe I could have included him. I really WANTED Sam to be in this, but he also just didn't fit the vision and I also think he'd just be way too embarrassed to do something this stupid. You actually can't have too much self respect if you want to do a Wiggles routine.

I HOPE THIS WAS INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL. THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY FUN ASK. IF YOU HAVE OPINIONS, PLEASE SHARE!!!!

[pixelated-glitter]

If anyone has a video of Jeff doing max’ part in the npmd medley, specifically the part where he makes the crowd repeat after him and then at the end the crowd like screams “IIIM NOT A LOOOSERRR” I would absolutely love you for decades if you could reblog with the video or some sort of of sharing it

[airgiodslv]

Call Me By Fire, ep. 1 & extras rewatch

A mostly-hinged recap of things that still delight me:

Up’s solo stage is the same song Jeff, Danko, & Co. sing in the finale medley

Jeff on the floor crying over how beautiful Ma Xiaolong and Jawn Ha’s dancing is

Newsies extras Boyuan and Jeff perched together on their theme song scaffolding

Boyuan and Victor attempting to greet Jeff in Thai and being incomprehensible  😂

Jeff visibly regretting his life choices after finding out he has 2 days to learn a dance number

Victor being such an extroverted social butterfly that Boyuan ends up translating

‘What if we counted?’ Boyuan ILU ❤️

Day 1 of rehearsal and Jeff’s hand is already in his hair, this will be a marathon of suffering

Victor claiming Jeff as his first Thai friend, only for Boyuan to immediately start listing Victor’s other Thai friends

Welcome to the first week of the CMBF costume department attempting to drown Jeff in fabric

PHIN! (Phin Appreciation Squad)

Jeff and Hu Bing deep in conversation on the bus, hopefully about fashion

The apple apple pineapple game and Boyuan’s inability to say Jeff’s name

Danson and Jeff fanboying over each other's hair

Jeff and Boyuan getting competitive over the acupuncture mats, and Victor yelling ‘Jeff!’ in a familiar tone of outrage before immediately tapping out

Boyuan and Jeff lording it over Victor that he's the baby of the group

The formation of the Jeff Tribe OT3 here we goooo!

[oros-ash3s]

｡ ˚₊ ˚ ‧ ✶ ⋆.﹒ ★ “Hollow” ★﹒₊‧ 𖥔･˚₊ ⋆ ｡

Characters: Wren (they/them), Atlas (he/him)

My heart feels so still, as I try to find the will to forget her somehow / Oh, I think I’ve forgotten her now || Forget Her — Jeff Buckley

TW: References to drugs and alcohol, references to sex and hypersexuality

“So what was it this time?” 

Wren tilted their head lazily towards Atlas, the statement more an accusation than anything else, the real question they wanted to ask going unspoken, hanging in the air between the two, both of them in an understanding. 

Atlas felt nauseous. And for once it didn’t have to do with the drugs coursing through his veins, blurring his surroundings and leaving him soft around the edges — more tolerable. No, the way Wren was staring at him, the conversation they were trying to force him into, that was more sickening than any hangover he’d ever experienced. 

“What was what,” he mumbled thickly, letting his head fall with a thunk down on his mattress. The world felt distinctly wavy, bending around him in gentle ripples. His limbs were heavy, head hollow, all his unruly emotions dulled. 

He wished he could stay like this forever. 

“Oh, you fucking know what I’m talking about.” Wren huffed, sitting up straight, their words coming out a bit sharper than they had intended. But then again, maybe it was what he needed. “Your girlfriend. Whatsherface, or whatever. What was her name again?” 

Atlas knew fully well they remembered her name. They had complained about her enough times during the short two weeks of their relationship that it would’ve been impossible for them to forget now. 

No, they were fucking with him. Their little way of telling him what they thought without actually saying it out loud, without causing a fight. Telling him that he’d had too many girlfriends to count, telling him that he slept around too much to keep track of who he was seeing, much less their names. That’s what they were really doing. 

They were calling him a slut. 

He was sure that was what everyone thought of him now. He could see their gazes, could see the little whispers behind cupped hands. Knew who they were talking about. Knew after the tenth time someone had found him passed out in the bathroom, or the couch, or the kitchen, that word would get around. He was a fuck-up. A disappointment. A waste of space. 

Nothing more than ruined potential. 

Whatever, it wasn’t like they mattered — wasn’t like anyone mattered. They could think whatever they wanted about him, could call him a fuck-up behind his back as many times as they wanted, could judge him and sneer at him and spread rumours. Who gave a shit? He sure didn’t. 

He didn’t care. 

“You know her name.” He said after a beat of silence, allowing his eyes to fall half-closed. Anything to avoid Wren’s gaze on him, accusatory and demanding, trying to force him to acknowledge the feelings that he’d rather run from for the rest of his life. 

“Just answer the question, dummy.” 

Atlas hummed. This time the girl hadn’t been so bad. A little older, not that he ever cared about that, but not too old that he’d get those pitying looks from the others, eyes flashing with that stupid, unspoken word that made his skin crawl: Victim. 

But this girl had been good enough that he didn’t get those looks. Good enough he didn’t feel the embarrassment when she grabbed at his waist and pulled him in close, giggling sweet nothings into his ear. He wasn’t sure why she liked him so much anyway, they weren’t even friends. They’d hooked up a few times in the past. Nights that were blurry and hard to place, the bad parts easy to ignore with the medley of pills and powders running through his bloodstream. He’d seen her around one of the bars he liked to frequent more than he liked to admit, and one night she’d bought him a couple drinks. 

Then one thing led to another, and then their one-night stands weren’t just one-night stands. And then she was in his room almost every night. And then during the day. And then she was sleeping over. 

By then everyone else had already decided that they were dating. 

Atlas hated every part of it. 

It wasn’t like they were proper boyfriend-and-girlfriend anyway. Not like the movies, with romantic, luxurious dates and gentle kisses under the moonlight, whispered jokes told between just the two. No, Atlas was sure a love like that didn’t exist. And if it did, it definitely wasn’t meant for someone like him. 

They’d mostly just hooked up in his room. Gone out to a club once or twice. All dumb, meaningless shit. They weren’t even really official — he’d seen her out with other people. She didn’t actually mean anything, in the grand scheme of things. Just another girl that would blend into the faces of all those that came before her. And he was sure he didn’t mean anything to her, either. How could he? 

He’d been the one to break things off, this time. He had been sober, for once; the drugs that muddled his thoughts, that made living a bit more bearable, finally having worn off. Her touch against his skin had suddenly felt like poison, the fingers tracing the curvature of his torso leaving him burning in shame, and no longer could he force himself to go along with it — not when he felt so nauseous he was sure he was going to puke. He just pushed her off of himself, sitting on the edge of the bed and telling her to get out. Please. 

She’d left without so much of a complaint. He’d been right, afterall. She didn’t care. Not when she saw the look on his face, saw all of the damage that hung underneath his pretty looks. Saw what he really, truly was. 

Just a dirty, broken mutt. 

But he couldn’t admit that to Wren. He could already feel the judgement oozing off of them, the disgust. How could he possibly tell them the real reason they broke up? The real reason he couldn’t stand to sleep next to her anymore? The real reason he couldn’t keep a relationship for more than a couple weeks? Who, in their right mind, said that? Thought that? 

So no. He would never admit that. He would drown out all of his guilt with alcohol, and avoid his friends — the only people who actually cared about him at this point, and sleep with any person that would take him, even if he ended up hurt in the end. But he would never, ever, admit his true feelings. 

So instead, he went with the best excuse he could muster up in his foggy, drug-addled brain: “She was boring.” 

“Oh really.” Wren said, voice dripping with sarcasm. He could still feel their gaze, piercing into him like the pointed tip of a blade. “Hmm, where have I heard that before?” 

Atlas bristled at the reminder, turning his head away. “Shut up.”

“Don’t try and think I don’t know what really happened.” 

He was silent. 

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really doing. What you’re running from.” 

“I’m not running from anything.” He muttered, tensing up. 

“Sure. That’s why you haven’t spoken to him in weeks. That’s why I have to drag you home every night because you’re so fucking wasted you can’t see straight. That’s why you haven’t been sober for months.” Wren snapped, their voice cutting through the tense atmosphere sharper than a knife. “But not running from anything, right?” 

“This isn’t about him.” 

Wren snorted. “And I’m the Queen of fucking England!” They jeered, throwing their arms up in the air. “Jesus, you really think I’m gonna believe that bullshit? You know as well as I do that this is all about him.” 

Atlas grunted, narrowing his eyes but refusing to turn and face them head-on. It was easier that way. Then he wouldn’t have to see the look in their eyes. Then, maybe, he could cling on to the little sliver of dignity that he had left. 

This was not about Al….

Him. 

He didn’t care what he thought. If he didn’t want to be around him anymore, if he thought he was suddenly too good for Atlas’ company, then so be it. He was completely and absolutely fine with that. But he wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life chasing a boy who wanted nothing to do with him. Who he knew was disgusted by him. 

He wasn’t going to waste anymore time on someone who flinched back whenever he got more than two feet near him. Who couldn’t even meet his eyes. No, he wasn’t going to try at all. 

“I see the way you look at him.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Atlas mumbled, his ears flushing pink. He’d been sure it hadn’t been noticeable, the staring, but he should’ve known better. The little glances, when he thought nobody was watching, the spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, those beautiful multi-coloured eyes would turn to him, if only for a moment. That the words “stay with me” would fall from his lips.

They never did. 

“I know you’re in love with him.” Wren continued, unwavering. “Just admit it. Admit that you’re in love with—”

“I am not in love with anyone.” He snapped, voice rising. He didn’t move, didn’t think he could, but what he couldn’t stand was hearing that name spoken out loud. He wasn’t sure he would survive if Wren finished their sentence. 

He wasn’t in love. Not when the one person he really wished to have at his side would never be able to look at him like that. Who would turn him away in an instant. Who would hate him for even asking. 

Maybe he couldn’t stand his partners sober. Maybe he was purposely doing this, a small part of him waiting for him to notice. Maybe he was drinking more than he should. Maybe it hurt more than he liked to admit, maybe he had bruises he wasn’t sure how he’d received. Maybe he couldn’t stand to look at himself in the mirror anymore, after what he had become. What he had turned himself into. But was all that really so bad?  

He was not in love. And he never would be.

“Why do you have to be so impossible? Why can’t you stop being so stubborn for one goddamned second and just admit to yourself what this all is really about? Why can’t you get over yourself for one minute and just tell the truth?” 

“Oh, so sorry we’re not all as perfect as you are, Wren. Sorry I’m trying to move on with my life, instead of live in the past like you do.” He spat, pressing his face down into the side of the mattress. He couldn’t recognize his voice anymore, laced with a sort of venom that he would never previously have directed towards Wren, but in this moment, he couldn’t force himself to care. “Go find someone else to bother. Someone who actually wants to hear it.”

Wren just huffed. “Whatever Atlas,” they said with a frustrated grunt, lips pulled taut. They pushed themself up to their feet, giving him one more sideways look, eyes flashing with some unrecognizable emotion, one Atlas couldn’t exactly place. Not anger, but not pity either — something harsher. Almost… resignation. “Be my guest. Keep fucking yourself up. You’re the one that’s going to get hurt.”

They turned sharply on their heels, only stopping to pause at the door. “But don’t expect me to keep picking up all of your messes.” 

The door slammed shut behind them. 

The silence was suffocating. As soon as they were gone, he regretted it, regretted turning his back to them. Regretted pushing them away. Like most things, these days. He couldn’t remember a time where he hadn’t been drowning in regrets. When he hadn’t wished he’d done something different — been someone different. 

Slowly, he pulled the small silver flask out of the pocket of his jacket, letting his head tip back as he brought the drink up to his lips. The pale liquid burned his throat as it went down, slowly spreading warmth though his core, filling the gaping emptiness of his being. 

He relished in it. The familiar, soothing feeling as the alcohol entered his system, burning away all thoughts of him, all his stupid, insignificant ideas of what could’ve been. Dulling the pitiful shame coursing through his veins, for only a moment. 

All thoughts of Wren, of his fuck-ups, of his secret, desperate longing, faded into the background. He let out a contented sigh, allowing his eyes to fall shut. 

Silence. 

Wren is co-owned with @ohagi505 ᰈ ﾟ���.˚

Taglist: @seastarblue @vesanal @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @bioniclechronicles @lancedoncrimsonwings @blackboxwarrior-mkultra @whump-till-ya-jump @sharkblizzardblogs @scoundrelwithboba

[balu8]

Bone Trilogy Tour II

Jeff Smith

Contributions by Charles Vess (Rose), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother), Linda Medley (Castle Waiting) and Mark Crilley (Akiko)

Source comicartfans

Bone Trilogy II Tour Limited Edition Cover (Jeff Smith), in Comicart Boston's Bone (Jeff Smith, Charles Vess, Aaron Conley) Comic Art Gallery Room (comicartfans.com)

[diceriadelluntore]

Storia Di Musica #309 - Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin, 1969

Come iniziare un nuovo anno di storie musicali? Si inizia con la scelta di 4 dischi che portano lo stesso nome dei loro autori, 4 band molto differenti tra loro, alcune famosissime, altre molto di meno (la scoperta di grandi dischi da artisti sconosciuti vorrei fosse una sorta di cardine di tutte le scelte del 2024). La Storia di Musica della prima domenica di gennaio 2024 parte con un modo di dire inglese: Go over like a lead ballon, che significa “è fallito del tutto” perché un lead ballon è un palloncino di piombo che ovviamente non può volare. Leggenda vuole che fu questo detto ad ispirare Keith Moon e John Entwistle, che suggerirono a Jimmy Page il nome per quella che diventerà una delle più formidabili formazioni di sempre: i Led Zeppelin. La storia è piuttosto nota: Page entra nel 1966 negli Yardbirds (già di Eric Clapton) come seconda chitarra di Jeff Beck. La band era già allo sfascio, e Page aveva intenzione di formare una nuova band con Moon ed Entewinstle. I tre con Jeff Beck registrano la storica Beck’s Bolero, registrata nel Maggio del 1966 ma pubblicata come singolo solo mesi più tardi, nel Marzo del 1967, brano fenomenale ma dalla storia travagliatissima, tra cui una intricata questione di diritti d’autore. Page, titolare del nome Yardbirds, prende accordi come leader degli Yardbirds per un mini tour in Scandinavia, ma nessuno dei suoi compagni accetta. Ne trova di altri: convince un session man mago delle tastiere, John Paul Jones, nel progetto, e tramite l’ex cantante degli Yardbirds Chris Dreja (che nel frattempo si è dato alla fotografia) assolda un biondo cantante, Robert Plant, che si porta con sé un batterista un po’ pazzo, John Bonham. È il 1968. Nascono così i Led Zeppelin (scritto così per non confondere il lead “piombo” con il lead “guidare”).

Senza nemmeno un po’ di gavetta registrano in 36 ore, sotto la guida del grande ingegnere del suono e produttore Glys Johns per poco più di 1700 sterline il loro primo, omonimo album per la Atlantic Records (fa più impressione il dato temporale che quello economico, 1700 sterline del 1968 sono 35 mila di adesso). E bastano: Led Zeppelin esce il 12 gennaio 1969 e diviene uno dei 10 album di debutto più belli ed importanti della musica rock. Venderà decine di milioni di dischi e manda in orbita, forse quasi troppo velocemente, il dirigibile più famoso del rock. In copertina mettono l’incidente del dirigibile Zeppelin LZ 129 Hindenburg avvenuto il 6 maggio 1937 nel New Jersey (vicenda leggendaria, su cui aleggia un complotto internazionale e non l’ufficiale incidente aereo). I 4 partono dal furente suono del british blues, ma arrivano dove nessuno si era mai spinto: rifanno due classici del blues, I Can’t Quit You Baby (eccezionale, caldissima e stupenda) e You Shook Me di Willie Dixon, e prendono da Jack Holmes Dazed And Confused (che nei live diverrà infinita con medley di altri classici della Musica del Delta). Per capire il suono Zeppelin e la sua travolgente natura, basta capire come strutturano il suono di una canzone tutto sommato banale come Good Times Bad Times. Your Time Is Gonna Come è quasi corale, come la veloce How Many More Times. Black Mountain Side è uno strumentale acustico in cui Page rincorre la maestria del fingerpicking di Bert Jansch, allora in auge con i superbi Pentagle. Communication Breakdown diviene un altro classico, con il suo stile particolare: parte blues, poi sale con l’intensità della voce di Plant e diviene furiosa ed accesa, e per molti è la nascita dell’hard rock. Gemma dell’album è però Babe I’m Gonna Leave You: presa da Joan Baez, in realtà la canzone, accreditata come traditional, è dalla folksinger inglese Anne Bredon (che fu ricompensata con un cospicuo assegno dalla band una volta risolto il mistero). Plant canta babe come mai nessuno più farà, la canzone ha un intro acustico ma poi esplode nel nuovo suono elettrico e potente, diviene struggente, torbida, assolutamente memorabile.

Questo fu il primo episodio di un modo di “gestire” le ispirazioni da altre canzoni che fece scuola, e si potrebbe aprire un dibattito infinito sulla loro musica. Per alcuni (pochini, va sottolineato) il loro rock blues portato all'estremo, con la chitarra rivoluzionaria di Page (che influenzerà 3 generazioni di chitarristi), il bombardamento ritmico di Bohnam (davvero feroce), l’elegante e mai invasivo tessuto sonoro di Jones (che suona basso e tastiere) e la voce, straordinaria e incantatrice di Plant, non è niente di così innovativo. Per altri (la stragrande maggioranza degli appassionati) il loro suono, le idee, la maestria tecnica dei musicisti e l’alone leggendario che la band riesce a costruire su di sé, li pongono ai vertici assoluti della storia del rock, ne fanno i padri putativi dell’Hard Rock (con i coevi Deep Purple), e la loro genialità è dimostrata dalle future evoluzioni stilistiche e musicali. È innegabile però che per farlo saccheggiarono un po’ dovunque, dal blues del Delta a quello urbano di Chicago, spesso non accreditandolo sui dischi, con picchi assoluti di sorrisetti ironici (tipo il caso di Stairway To Heaven per l’intro uguale ad una canzone degli Spirit, Taurus, caso che finirà addirittura in tribunale con la vittoria di Page e Plant, sebbene lo stesso tribunale ne riconosce le somiglianze). All’epoca era prassi comune raccogliere i semi del blues e riadattarli nel suono, un po’ per convenienze e un po’ perché non esistevano le normative precise e puntuali che esistono oggi sui diritti d’autore (molti altri, tra cui i Rolling Stones, furono protagonisti di episodi analoghi). Il successo dei Led Zeppelin amplificò la questione: il problema fu molte volte la paternità delle musiche, spesso passate come traditional (vedi il caso della canzone della Bredon) e quindi non riconducibili ad un artista detentore dei diritti. In tutti i casi di presunta usurpazione di diritti altrui, hanno sempre pagato i richiedenti ufficiali. Quelli che li accusano di scarsa inventiva, sinceramente non li hanno mai ascoltati: nessuno prima di loro suonava così, probabilmente sono tra le band più imitate in assoluto, saranno centinaia quelli che dopo vorranno suonare come loro. E rivoluzionarono anche altri aspetti del mondo del rock: l'andare in tour, i rapporti con le case discografiche, con i promoter, persino con le radio: ruolo centrale lo ebbe in ciò il loro manager Peter Grant, un gigante di stazza e di potere, passato alla storia anche per i modi tutt'altro che amichevoli con cui convinceva i gestori dei locali o chiunque potesse danneggiare il gruppo a farla finita. Un’ultima curiosità: con il crescente successo, una discendente dei Von Zeppelin citò la band per uso improprio del nome, e per un unico, storico concerto a Copenaghen la band si presentò come The Nobs. Poi però tornarono ad essere quel dirigibile di piombo che volava altissimo.

[crystalstunes]

crystal's tunes #2: WORRY. by Jeff Rosenstock (2016)

i was going to wait a while before talking about this album, but i mean come on, it's literally got a track called June 21st. if i was gonna do it any day it'd be today.

WORRY. is an album that's very special to me. i originally discovered it via James Acaster's book Perfect Sound Whatever (named after the closing track of the album), and in the years since it's become one of my most listened to albums of all time. i'm not going to link any specific songs here, because i feel like the album is meant to be listened to in its entirety.

this was the second studio album Jeff released after the end of his previous project, ska-punk collective Bomb the Music Industry!, which in itself was born out of the end of his previous-previous project The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. this album really feels like a culmination of all of his work leading up to this, refined to a T and bursting with energy.

"We're not stupid people but this financial oppression has got everyone believing all that we can do is nothing/'Cause we organise through avenues they lace with advertisements so the ones we rage against are still lining their pockets" - Festival Song (Track 3)

thematically, the album discusses a variety of issues with modern-day America, such as landlords/gentrification, the coroprate sponsors of festivals and culture, social media mining your data, police brutality, and how the world just keeps getting worse due to capitalism in general. this is especially evident on tracks such as Festival Song, Staring Out The Window at Your Old Apartment, Blast Damage Days, HELLLLHOOOOLE, and The Fuzz, but is present throughout the album. he also touches on some more personal issues, such as alcoholism and the struggles of being a DIY musician.

the production here is absolutely top-notch, every single element is balanced perfectly, guitars are clear and crushing when they need to be, drums are punchy, vocals cut through well and instruments such as saxophones, glockenspiels and synths are used in certain songs to offer various different sonic textures. its not just the instruments that are varied here though, he also travels across a number of styles such as his classic ska-punk on the 91 second track Rainbow, to more hardcore punk on 30 second track Planet Luxury.

the A-side of this album is fantastic, with tracks like We Begged 2 Explode, Pash Rash and Festival Song becoming fan favourites and staples of his live sets, but i think this album really comes into its own during it's B-side. every track from Blast Damage Days through to the final track Perfect Sound Whatever perfectly transition into each other, creating a medley of different punk subgenres that is absolutely incredible. it's cathartic and danceable all in one, and its one of my favourite things he's done on an album.

"Whenever we feel ashamed, being alive and awake in such an era of hate and military police/These are the mass murder days, we are the blast damage age, where we can't love anything, because they keep us afraid/Oh, I will be there, kicking, fighting, beating, screaming 'There's no fucking way I'm ever letting go of you!'" - Blast Damage Days (Track 9)

the album builds up in energy until its final anthemic, gang vocal repetitions of "Perfect always takes so long, because it don't exist/It doesn't exist!", which is one of Jeff's main mission statements creatively. the first Bomb the Music Industry! album Album Minus Band has anti-piracy hiss throughout from various plugins he used the demo versions of instead of buying, and a track that's project files corrupted so he couldnt mix it properly, but all of that just adds to the artistry of it all. nothing can ever truly be perfect, so just be honest and authentic and do what you want, because in both art and people, our imperfections are what make us whole. i'm not a perfect person, and that's alright. i may have my own anti-piracy demo plugin hiss in my brain, but that's just part of what makes me myself - i wouldn't truly be me without it, and that's beautiful.

i think this album is truly great because despite the overwhelmingly negative topics being discussed, in the end its hopeful, even if the world or your life seem like theyre fucked, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. the penultimate track ...While You're Alive, ends with the verse "And it's not like the love that they show us on TV/It's a home that can burn, it's a limb to freeze/It's worry/Love is worry". this can just be taken at face value as the fact that when you love someone you worry about them, but i interpret it a different way, especially with the context of the rest of the album.

when the government and systems are against you, you're fighting your own brain, and you're overwhelmed with worry, that worry is coming from a place of love, because you wouldnt worry about something you dont care about. you love yourself, you love the world, and in a way, your anxieties are really just a form of expressing your care and love even if it feels like fear, and anger, and sadness. and, for me at least, that's one of the most reassuring messages i've ever been given from an album. thanks, jeff.

"Because it's June 21st, and this winter was the worst we've ever seen, but we made it through the freeze/And now it's June 21st, and this winter was the worst we've ever seen, now it's 84 degrees forever." - June 21st (Track 14)