Miles Davis ca. 1971

Making good on my promise to focus on some new topics in my blog, I've decided to share some of my favorite music. In an attempt to stay away from the obvious choice of Dylan or Neil Young or something I present you with a splendid video of Miles Davis performing Honky Tonk.

This is my favorite of Miles electric Cellar Door sessions which was the source for his Live Evil album. These recordings are so far ahead of their time, and very repetitive, yet captivating. You can hear a lot of similarities with Hip-Hop here, but Miles superior playing, and the presence of a real live band set this apart from anything that would come after it. I highly recommend the complete Cellar Door Sessions. It's an expensive set, but fully worth the money. Your best bet at getting it for a reasonable price is probably through www.yourmusic.com. This is an awesome club time music service that makes music affordable and fun.

Wedding and Stuff

The lack of blogs recently can't be blamed on my own personal apathy, but instead on some life changes I've gone through this summer. First of all, I got married on June 9th, and I also bought my first house. Obviously these things take time, so my blogs, music, and normal routine has suffered, but not without reward. This summer has been wonderful, but in an attempt to get my feet back on the ground, I'd like to resume normal functions, so you can expect a little more activity from me. I'd like to add a little more of a musical element to this blog as well as deviate from the current format, by adding some different kinds of content.

I Wanna Soak Up The Sun.....

So, Sheryl Crow has decided that global warming is occurring, we are all to blame for it, and that driving around the country in vegetable oil eating bus is going to help stop it. Apparently, she and Laurie David were actually challenged by an MSNBC anchor. Here is an account of this confrontation from newsbusters.org. What a joke.

When's it Gonna End?

I just listened to some news coverage on the Chief issue on a local radio station. They interviewed an opponent of the Chief, and on the day the University gave up a great tradition, the woman interviewed had the gall to ask for more. Now they want to take away the name Illini. That's the way it works with these kind of people. There is no compromise. They take and they take and they take. Unless you think like them, you just aren't acceptable. It's sick.

Farewell....

I'm a huge college basketball fan, and watch every University of Illinois game with my dad. We've always gotten to the Assembly Hall to see as many games as we could since I was old enough to walk. I always looked forward to half-time and most importantly, The Chief. Because of the Chief, I always had a great respect for Native American history and culture, and sought out any knowledge relating to that history. I always equated the Universities reverence of the Chief as direct reverence of Native American Culture.
Today, the University announced that the Chief will dance for the last time when the Illini take on Michigan in a few weeks. A few liberal activists decided that Native Americans should be offended by the symbol, and as a result, everyone must be affected. I don't want to get into the politics of this, but it really is a shame. I'll always treasure my memories of watching the Chief. The activists can't take that.