Northwest Import

Inside Boxes

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:49:31 -0700

Yesterday I was asked how I am so relaxed about things? How are you so chill. Well here it is:

The main reason for me being chill and not letting little things bother me is because I’ve watched so many people drag out drama or grudges with others over the dumbest stuff. Everyone is always talking about how life is to short and we should run with the one we have as long as we can. So why spend so much time sweating about the small stuff. Especially the stuff that you know in 30 minutes, without acknowledgement, will vaporize into thing air. BOOM! Problem solved. If something is not going to make you mad for more than an hour or two … why worry about it?

I’m not saying I believe in bottling up your feelings and air tight packing them inside with space saving bags you bought for 3 easy payments of $19.99, but there is a difference between bottling up and disregarding or not caring.

Another statement I hear a lot is, “I wish I could just pick up and go.”

The obvious response is, “than why don’t you?” Our generation is just starting to settle a little to much these days. With all the technology and transportation you can move anywhere and easily move back at a later date if you choose. I guess I’ve never really thought of it as a gift to have the mentality to just move or go some place different. Perhaps I’ve always known that if I wanted to I could always move closer to my family in the future, but now is not the time. Now is the critical time that I think the majority of people who have regrets when they are older always say, “I wish I would of gone and tried something different for a while.” I suppose after hearing that enough times I was convinced I didn’t want to have that thought when I’m older.

Do you ever think about marriage or being lonely?

Perhaps on the third Wednesday of the month. Actually, yes I do think about it every once in a while, but now is not my time for that. To answer the lonely part, I think now days you have to try to be lonely. I could be completely wrong in saying that, but I generally don’t feel lonely. Maybe I get bored sometimes, but I snap out of it, and being bored is no reason to search for someone else. No one wants to be your entertainer. We should hang out with others because we want to, because we are curious, or to push each others thoughts.

[I don’t know why I wrote all this out … but maybe it’s because I keep thinking about it … or maybe it’s because I feel I should be doing something productive while sitting in this coffee shop surrounded by UPS guys and people to the left and right of me “working from home.”]

Owl on a USPS label stuck to the back of a “Side Walk...

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:43:13 -0700

Owl on a USPS label stuck to the back of a “Side Walk Closed” sign.

"Love your enemies just in case your friends turn out to be bastards."

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:30:40 -0700

“Love your enemies just in case your friends turn out to be bastards.”

- Anonymous

Theory Of Zepp

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:22:47 -0700

Over the past ten years I have always had this “beef” with the band, you may have heard of them, Led Zeppelin. In high school I didn’t like Led Zeppelin because I listened to one of their albums and thought, right off the bat, they were over rated. I couldn’t understand why everyone was going crazy about these guys. It was like everyone was in this trance. From the cool jock kids, to the “hippie” kids skipping the tail-end of lunch to smoke a joint in the parking lot, to the kids that didn’t really fit into a category, to the band kids. Everyone could like Led Zeppelin … if they had listened to them.

It simply didn’t make sense to me. I listened and thought, “this Jimmy Page guy, who is supposedly one of the greatest rock guitarists, is so sloppy on guitar.” Nothing made sense about why I couldn’t walk down a hall of school during class change and not see at least five kids wearing Zeppelin shirts. The whole time I was riding on the 60s and 70s music of The Doors, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers and Pink Floyd. Zeppelin took a seat on the far dusty shelf of my mind for a few years.

Later on, in college I would meet this guy that a few buddies of mine knew from Purdue who played drums. This guy loved Led Zeppelin. I would go home for winter break and I thought, “I’m going to learn some Zeppelin songs to jam with that guy when I get back.” I put on some Zeppelin and decided I wasn’t going to learn Whole Lotta Love, Immigrant Song, or the stick in my eye Stairway To Heaven. I finally came upon, what is still my favorite Zeppelin song to this day, What Is And What Should Never Be. I spent the next 20 minutes learning how to play that song and I can’t lie … I really enjoyed it. The days before I could whip that song out during a jam session couldn’t of gone by fast enough. I was pumped.

For the rest of break I would dabble in the tunes of the mighty Zeppelin and I would begin to understand why they always made top lists of bands and how great they were for their time and place in the world. With all that said, I still had the view that they were one of the most “over rated” bands of all time. For years in conversations I would state that opinion and people thought I was crazy. Partially because I couldn’t explain it right and “over rated” wasn’t the right phrase for what I was thinking.

Well, it’s been 10 years now and I have finally figured it out. I was sitting at the neighborhood park reading Chuck Klosterman’s book Sex, Drugs, And Cocoa Puffs and had to stop and think to myself, “THAT’S IT! HE WORDED IT RIGHT AND IT MAKES SENSE!” He explains:

I constantly meet people who love some terrible band (usually the Moody Blues) and proceed to tell me that the reason I fail to understand their greatness is because I only know what I’ve heard on the radio. Most of the time, these people are completely wrong; while the finest Led Zeppelin songs (for example) are all obscure, the most important Zep songs are Whole Lotta Love, Immigrant Song, and Stairway to Heaven. These are the tracks that define what Zeppelin was about, beyond their tangible iconography as a loud four-piece rock band […] saying you like Immigrant Song (or even just saying that you don’t hate Stairway To Heaven) means you like Led Zeppelin - and to say you “like Led Zeppelin” means you like their highly stylized version of cock-rock cool. It means you accept a certain kind of art. Pretty much everybody agrees that Zeppelin is - at the very least - cool to mainstream audiences, so their timelessness and significance is best defined by their best known work. That’s how it works with cool artists (Miles Davis, Iggy Pop, whoever).

It pretty much comes down to the part where he states that “Zeppelin is at the very least cool to mainstream audiences.” They are simply one of the coolest “mainstream” bands to exist. I just couldn’t ever figure it out. Why does the majority choose Led Zeppelin out of all the bands of that time? Well, I think it comes down to the fact that when it’s all said and done they have made music that is not “to weird” or experimental. It’s tangible music for people who want instant gratification and don’t really care what’s going on. However, they are one of the few, because if you’re really into music and dig into their stuff it is brilliant, it is great, it is rock n’ roll! You just don’t have to work to enjoy listening to it I suppose. Feels good to get that out.

Note: The Beatles also fit in this category.

mincasa

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:21:07 -0700

mincasa:

“A minimal blog for minimal houses.”

Pretty snazy blog featuring the only trailer I will ever buy. The Markies designed by Eduard Bohtlingk. You can never be to simple.

One of the coolest building designs I’ve ever seen. Whole...

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:53:34 -0700

One of the coolest building designs I’ve ever seen. Whole units just free floating over the sidewalk. They wanted to build a 100 unit building but only had property for 87. So naturally they built 13 off the side of the structure using steel trusses. Incredible!

Wozoco’s Apartment, Westelijke Tuinsteden Amsterdam, Netherlands

There There Again

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:41:22 -0700

To often do I find myself not going to bed when I should. I really can’t figure out why I don’t hit the hay when I’m tired. Am I afraid of being old? Perhaps I’m nervous of becoming that person that can’t handle being up past 10:30 because I get up so early. Why do I fight that battle against the sheets. Falling asleep on the hot pleather couch does not bring any comfort … it simply displays the opportunity the wake up there at 5 am and peel my skin from the suction of fake leather. Good night.

A Better Brew

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:51:27 -0700

A Better Brew:

A great article from a while back about the craft beer industry and Dogfish Head Brewery’s story in Delaware. Really gives some perspective on how much goes into making a good creative beer.

Linda’s Tavern

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:43:33 -0700

Linda’s Tavern

"A homeless man once told me that dancing to rap music is the cultural equivalent of masturbating..."

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:37:24 -0700

“A homeless man once told me that dancing to rap music is the cultural equivalent of masturbating …”

- Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs - Chuck Klosterman

Beards In Entertainment: Part 1

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:42:26 -0700

The hair growing off of a man’s (or the unfortunate woman’s) chin is one of the great gifts of God. For years people have been growing beards. As stated in the great Wikipedia:

In the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as wisdom and knowledge, sexual virility, or high social status; and, conversely, filthiness, crudeness, or an eccentric disposition, such as in the case of a tramp, hobo or vagrant. In many cultures beards are associated with nature and outdoorsmen.

Beards in many colors shapes and sizes all around the world. For some it becomes a winter thing, for others it’s a three day thing, and for some it is based on laziness. For whatever reason a beard is spawned they all have their fine characteristics.

As a beard lover I thought I would begin an on-going post of Beards In Entertainment. Here are this months beards.

No.1 Devendra Banhart - This guy is always growing different beards but tends to keep it in the “I could be an actor in the modern film 300.” Keeping the sides trimmed up to give the appearance of more length.

No.2 Ryan Adams - This was picture is from Ryan Adams short lived “I’m into the Grateful Dead” phase. He sported this beard while constructing the album Cold Roses (which came out wonderfully). He grows a fine beard that is very full and signifies he grows a thick scruff. Well done sir.

No.3 Joaquin Phoenix - Recently decided to grow out his facial hair and join the rap game. Kind of an odd match-up there but I’m down for that. He is currently sporting what best resembles Grizzly Adams if he were still alive. I’m actually surprised people still recognize him.

There you have three fine beards to chew on for the month of April. Get inspired, grow out all the facial hair you possibly can, take a few pictures, tag them on Facebook and share the links.

Designed By Summer Makovkin

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:00:17 -0700

Don’t Look Away - The Helio Sequence

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:59:15 -0700

Don’t Look Away - The Helio Sequence

The Vera Sequence

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:53:17 -0700

Thursday night I went down to South Downtown with Ian to meet up with some friends at Seattle Soundbite 2009. Seattle Soundbite is a fundraiser to raise money for The Vera Project. The Vera project in a brief description gives young kids the chance to help and be a part of professional music whether it’s helping at shows or screen printing shirts for bands to sell at their shows (the money from the shirt sales then goes back to the organization). They are trying to create a music community that envolves a younger crowd and keep kids off the streets at the same time. Check out that link for more about them.

Seattle Soundbite included 6 bands and 13 restaurants serving a single dish from their menu. It was held at the Showbox SODO which is a large warehouse venue with plenty of space for all kinds of events. It has the old wooden rafters and brick walls, nothing really innovative about the actual building which is what made it so great. I would love to see that place packed out for a show.

Earlier in the week some friends said I should go because The Helio Sequence was the headliner for the benifit. I had heard of the band but never given them a listen until Monday afternoon. The first 5 bands were nothing to write home about and I was hoping they were nothing like The Helio Sequence. Then they came on stage. They consist of a drummer with some loops on a computer and a guitar player. After the first two songs I was not convinced they were that great, but then they kept playing. They are incredible. The amount of full sound that comes from 2 guys is insane. I was never left wondering, “man they need some bass or something to fill out their sound.” They are a sound monster duo.

Definitely a band worth writing home about and a concert I soon won’t forget. I will say that if they played in a smaller venue with great acoustics it would only be that much more amazing. A lot of their loops were lost in the booming warehouse and the treble range needed a boost but that didn’t hide how awesome they were. I am already looking forward to my next chance to see them. That is two guys from Portland that know what they’re doing.

The Chicken Or Egg

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:56:15 -0800

The Chicken Or Egg:

A collaboration of some kids spread far and wide across the country on stuff they enjoy … or don’t.

Designed By Paul Haupt III I would guess this guy likes Ralph...

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:29:47 -0800

I would guess this guy likes Ralph Steadman.

Daily Routine - Animal Collective

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:27:36 -0800

Daily Routine - Animal Collective

"Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons that you cannot see..."

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:21:31 -0800

“Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking.”

- Dave Barry

Resolutions Of Reverbocity

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:13:57 -0800

I have to get back in the swing of this blog. If I don’t keep doing this it will defeat my whole purpose of even starting it and that would just be a waste. For those of you who come for the videos I hope to have more creations soon.

As for these days I have been on a quest. The quest to understand the hype behind the band Animal Collective. After listening to their two most recent albums I have realized that I don’t think they’re bad it just all comes down to the question of “Why are they such a big thing?” My friend Collin Trent sent me a great article, strangely enough from ESPN, that intrigued me to push on and keep listening to their albums. In the article Paul Shirley talks about how he decided to listen to the album over and over to see if the reason we enjoy some albums more than others is because of familiarity. By the seventh listen he enjoys the album. I won’t lie about the subject, I think I’m on my fifth listen through the whole new album and it’s slowly but surely sounding better each time. He was right in the article when he says that when you buy an album that you know songs previously you have anchor points to keep you going. You just have to find those songs and then push through the tracks to get to them.

On the other hand I’m dreading the day where I’ll have to admit to liking Animal Collective for fear of being part of all the hype. Damn it.

Designed By Matt Pfahlert

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:49:59 -0800