So it 'tis... abandoned blog

I saw a dude running down the street with a "Blogspot" hoodie and a link to my abandoned blog. I figured I better get back into action, maybe give Technorati a reason to exist.

Why Easthampton Matters

Lately I've had some downtime (and it is true that "idle hands are the devil's workshop") and have been spending it in Easthampton. More than a decade ago, this town of roughly 16,000 was in dire straits. Sandwiched between upscale Northampton and whitebread Southampton at the base of Mount Tom, downtown Easthampton wasn't a destination. With the reformation of town government in 1996, Easthampton's first mayor, Mike Tautznik was the catalyst in revitalizing the crumbling downtown. Under his leadership, industry and the arts have flourished in Easthampton.

Here are a few of my favorite things about Easthampton:

1. "Buns-on-Wheels" Street food is important to any downtown economy. This one at the rotary (across from Pulaski Park) is one of my favorite gastro-intestinal stressors. Run by the "Portuguese Lady of Chicopee," cheap dogs and burgers are the order of the day. Occasionally some ethnic flavors are on the menu--and that's a plus in my book.

2. "The Brass Cat" There aren't any shortages of places to drink in this town. What sets this bar apart from the others is the jukebox--loaded with home-made playlists of local artists, hipster indie-pop and classic slacker rock. Chances are you'll find a semi-famous singer-songwriter nursing a whisky in the corner, or your drunk ex-girlfriend hustling at the pool table.

3. "BearFest" Everyone's an artist in this town (some are just edgier), and the bears that line the streets of downtown are a testament to that. Designed to boost the visibility of downtown, the bears have become news themselves.

4. "Flywheel" This arts collective is gearing up to re-launch after a nearly three year hiatus. Famous for booking some of the craftiest music shows in the New England area, the Flywheel outgrew its original spot and now will be located at Easthampton's old Town Hall.

5. "Lloyd Cole" Leader of the 80's Brit-pop band, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, this resident of Easthampton keeps a low profile. On tour in far-flung countries most of the time, Cole likes to hang out at the Brass Cat.

6. "Eastworks" This old Stanley Home products factory houses some of Easthampton's most exciting arts and industries. Folks who lease space include Sonic Youth's "Ecstatic Peace"label, Luke Cavagnac's "Invisible Fountain"gallery and the wonderful Apollo Grill.

7. "Mayor Mike Tautznik" While it's an election cycle this year, and one candidates' platform is "Change?," this hardworking LEADER is in no danger of being ousted.

8. "La Casita Azteca" Please God, don't let this Mexican eatery go out of business--please?!

9. "Nashawannuck Pond" The visual centerpiece of downtown is about to be dredged by the Army Corp of Engineers, restoring the pond's aqautic life back to what it once was.

10. "Big E's" A local grocery store fighting for its life, this throwback to the super stores is a great place to get some kapusta or my favorite beers.

22 News: All New Format--"Man-on-the Street" Reports

WWLP, the Chicopee-based NBC-affiliate affectionately known as "22 Snews," has abandoned all pretensions of being a credible news outlet. For the past few years, 22 News has filled most of their newscasts with filler in the form of "man-on-the-street" reactions to news items posed by their amateurish reporters. That layer of pretension was stripped away recently when they shelved their reporters in favor of full-time "man-on-the-street" reports, ostensibly to shore up their ratings against YouTube competition. 22 News is working for you, or rather you're working for free for it.

Three Hots and a Roof Over His Head

Finally, somebody using their noggin. 59-year-old Bill Fabrocini of the Florence section of Northampton was facing some heavy obstacles in his life. Loss of job, mental illness and newly homeless, he came upon a scheme so sweet and clever--incarceration. Why didn't I think of it? Perhaps because it's so brilliant, but limiting. Last week he tossed a brick through the window of Bruegger's and waited to be arrested. The Gazette reports "Fabrocini could bail himself out for $50. Instead, he's opted to stay behind bars at least until his next court date July 6. A self-described "loner," Fabrocini said he doesn't have anywhere else to go." Explaining what motivated him, Bill says "I'm not going to stand on the sidewalk and bum quarters and sleep in alleyways." According to the Gazette, "After smashing the window and a neon sign behind it, Fabrocini faces charges of malicious and wanton destruction of property over $250. He's due back in court July 6. If the court imposes a fine, Fabrocini said, he'll ask to work it off by serving more time behind bars."

Eric Suher's Magic Memory Eraser

So in typical Eric Suher fashion, a soft news release went out from his IHEG headquarters this week announcing the first act to play Mountain Park would be the Decemberists. Bravo. I would've thought NRBQ, but I guess I'm relying upon my false memory that Eric was their merch guy. "No comment," is the comment du jour when Suher is asked about his development plans. "No comment," is the answer to everything when baiting the media to do his bidding. And we love it. Isn't that Eric Suher something? Man, he's got chutzpa! Why, he has no permits and hasn't satisfied any of the environmental and zoning issues, but the show will go on! In an article in the Gazette this week, Suher was quoted quipping to Holyoke's Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, "Don't worry about it--I'll get those permits." Wink, wink. In other words, "what permits?" Forget about it.

Abandoned Blog

No postings since December could mean I've died, been incarcerated or worse. Neither of these events have occurred, but I've died emotionally and spiritually. I'm back and promise not to go away. Forgive me?

Tropicana's 2008 Music List

2008 was a pretty good year for fans of indie rock, folk, weirdo shit and “world” music alike. Diversity seemed to be everywhere, and a wind of change was certainly in the air (and on the airwaves) as we elected the first African-American President. But it was better year for veteran artists like Nick Cave, Elvis Costello and the Cure, as they released some of their best material in nearly two decades. My list of what I would consider the best music of 2008 doesn’t conform to the rock critics’ genre of a “Top Ten.” In fact, I’m hard pressed to even whittle it down to something manageable or rank them in some kind of order.

Jesus Pagan y su Orquesta “Salsa de la Mata”
Before I heard Pagan’s “from the roots” salsa music, I caught him playing live at the launch of his latest cd in Holyoke, Mass. It was possibly the best live show I’ve witnessed in years. This cd is my constant companion.



The Felice Brothers
“Bang, bang, bang, goes Frankie’s gun.” These upstate New York “brothers” are storytellers of tales I like: murder-for-hire, con-men, spies, whores and fucked up relations.



Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip “Angles”
“Thou Shalt Always Kill” is hands down the best single of the year.



Unkle “End Titles…Music for Films”
Having launched their career as the thinking man’s Chemical Brothers, Unkle have moved away from groove-oriented music, to well-sculpted imaginary movie scores blending, rock and old-school trip-hop seamlessly.



Grupo Fantasma “Sonidos Gold”
One the best live shows I’ve seen all year, it’s Latino soul music redux.



Ryan Adams and the Cardinals “Cardinology”
Despite his factoryesque approach to churning out music, Adams never writes clunkers.



My Morning Jacket “Evil Urges”
Fans were disappointed that MMJ continued to be wildly unpredictable—I rejoiced. Not a dull moment.



The Cure “4:13 Dream”
I had stopped giving a shit about Robert Smith, and along came this return to their glory days. Completely uncontrived and accidental, Smith scores big here.




Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!”
Like the Cure, Cave had become irrelevant and a bore, but after the release of his side project, Grinderman, Cave had enough juice left over to produce this masterpiece. Lyrically wicked, with melodies that are straightforward and oddly textured, this cd is a must.



Elvis Costello and the Impostors “Momofuko”
Ditto.



Why? “Alopecia”
Smart, clever, whimisical; adjectives do no justice to describe these Californians.



T.V. On the Radio “Dear Science”
Better than their last release, “Return to Cookie Mountain,” this band’s lyrics are literate and sometimes oblique.



James Hunter “The Hard Way”
Old-fashioned soul that never goes out of style.



Eli “Paperboy” Reed “Roll With You”
The new kid on the block doing old-school soul gets it right.



Tim Gearan “No Remedy”
Anchored in Somerville, Mass, Tim can only be caught in the Cambridge area plying his rootsy Americana sound.



Winterpills “Central Chambers”
Northampton, Mass based band explores new levels of atmosphere and texture to create a perfect storm.



Fleet Foxes
Sure, everybody has them on their list. Tight harmonies and hybrid Appalachian music are an irresistible combo.



Sonya Kitchell “This Storm”
This little girl from Ashfield, Mass is all grown up and a serious contender for Feist's throne.



Ron Sexsmith “Exit Strategy of the Soul”
Nobody does humility like Ron. Always consistent and engaging, Sexsmith should be a god.



Conor Oberst
Enough said. Oberst is a genius.




She and Him “Volume One”
Oh Zooey D.! How I love thee. M. Ward and the actress team up to make some of the best music of their careers.



Underworld “Oblivion the Bells”
Still the pioneers in electronica...still relevant. Inscrutable lyrics + minimal grooves=oxygen bar.