PCT II: R64, Day 7 Results (with bonus Guillermo story)

Mr. Murphy’s last evening on stage.

As expected, the Day 7 crew somewhat underwhelmed.  None of the matches were particularly close, but the thin spread between the winners suggests that path to the Sweet 16 is still wide open.

Big Pimpin’ (Jay-Z feat. UGK) def. What’s My Name? (Snoop Dogg),  83.8-77.6.  Jay-Z may have opened the Barclays Center last night, but his real win came here in the Peoples Choice Tournament, where he posted a strong 6.98 average in taking out the D-O-double G.

Skinny Love (Bon Iver) def. Invisible Leader (Fucked Up), 75.6-58.5.   Not sure what Invisible Leader was doing in the 2nd round, but it gets bounced with an unceremonious 4.88 average.   Best Bon Iver line is from Cristina, who said Skinny Love “is like a song a dog would sing at the pound.”

Someone Great (LCD Soundsystem) def. Johnny Come Lately (Steve Earle), 81.2-71.2.    The sixth LCD song to appear in a livingthedream.org tournament becomes the first to make it to the 3rd round.

Your Love (Outfield) def. American Skin (41 Shots) (Bruce Springsteen), 85.5-73.5. And just like that, the Boss has left the building.

For those who voted before Guillermo, or didn’t vote, you missed this gem of a Big Pimpin’ anecdote:

Despite having gone to a pretty well-known rigorous public magnet high school in the DC area, there was a very big loophole in my AP/IB Calculus curriculum junior year. Somehow it was ok to structure our 2nd semester final grades to be half dependent on the sum of your coursework, quizzes, and final exam…and half on a creative project about Calculus. Naturally, three of my friends and I rewrote the words to “Big Pimpin’” to be “Big Calcin’,” including lines like “Big Calcin, dx, dt check it out now, big Calcin’ in Room 103 it’s just that Paul, Sean, Will, Gabe, and Miss Y-A-N-G”

Miss Yang was thrilled, my A+ in rapping averaged against my C- in actual understanding of calculus for a high-flying B, and minus a confused foray into Math 8 my Freshman Fall for a week, never took a Calculus class again.

Posted in Music Tournament | Tagged , | 2 Comments

PCT II: R64, Day 6 Results

All eyes on St. Lucia for the next round

Big winner goes to “Little Drugs,” as Tristen racked up 79 points over “You & Me”‘s 70. So long, Penny & The Quarters.

“All Eyes On You” holds off a strong showing from Rolling Stone’s “Hang Fire,” 76.75-74.3.

“Mama’s Eyes” defeats “First Light,” 70.25-67.25.

Last but not least in a barnburner, Stevie Wonder comes back in late votes to defeat upstart Wolf Parade- “Sir Duke” over “Shine A Light” 73.75-72.05.

Posted in Music, Music Tournament | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PCT II: Round of 64, Day 8 (Bonus Saturday!)

David Grey contemplates tactics

Friends, due to the late start this week we have a rare opportunity that you (yes you) can take advantage of- voting open on Saturday! To close out the Round of 64 and keep momentum up on the tourney, these votes will be open until 12:00 AM Saturday/Sunday October 6th/7th. Get a voting party going and get some new friends involved (or significant others, or neighbors, or whoever!) Good set to close out can be found here, and may the best song go forward.


Thinkin’ Bout Something (Hanson) vs. Babylon (David Grey)

Classy Girls (Lumineers) vs. Little Bit Of Everything (Dawes)

Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf) vs. Just Like Heaven (Cure)

Shine Blockas (Big Boi) vs. Foundations (Kate Nash)

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

HCS (III, 8): Seven Stories About The Fall of 2006

80s Prom September 2006. Pretty sure belting out “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” with Dan. Wow, my face does not look like it did when i was 23.

“Trouble, feels like every time I get back on my feet she come around and knock me down again.”
-Ray LaMontagne

Story 1: Niko Leaves

Niko and the Boss were out very, very suddenly, and without fanfare or celebration. I was just as happy. There was value in the good-byes, they came so often. These dinner speeches, short and long, where everyone split faces between “I barely knew him but I think he was important” to “there goes one of the most valuable people here, what the fuck are we going to do now.” Niko wanted none of that and never told anyone what was happening until it happened. Even for those that saw him, he didn’t make anything of it but something like what conspired between the two of us: Continue reading

Posted in Adventures, Hurricane Camp Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PCT Round of 64: Day 5 Results

1901 is officially the last “number” standing. The song is about Paris, and according to the lead singer, “Paris in 1901 was better than it is now.”

Low turnout, folks.  Let’s turn things up a notch as we close out this round and move into the round of 32.

1901 (Phoenix) def. #41 (Dave Matthews Band),  66-59.5.

September (Earth, Wind and Fire) def.  For Reverend Green (Animal Collective), 70-54.3.

I Wanna Be Your Lover (Prince) def. Interstate Love Song (Stone Temple Pilots), 61.8-61.5.   This one flipped on the very last vote of the day.

Australia (Shins) def. Summer Home (Typhoon), 64-54.5.   The Shins saw their average drop, but still cruised to the win.

Posted in Music Tournament | Tagged | Leave a comment

PCT II: Round of 64, Day 7

A tense time to be in New York, for sure…

Hip-hop titans and a medley of folk, rock and 80s will lead us towards the weekend.  Is it the end of the line for Bruce Springsteen?  How will heart-throb Bon Iver fare? In the first round all of these songs did well, but none stood out as potential threats to go all the way.  We’ll see if that changes here.   Listen here and vote by commenting below before 8pm (EST) Friday.

What’s My Name? (Snoop Dogg) vs. Big Pimpin’ (Jay-Z feat. UGK)

Invisible Leader (Fucked Up) vs. Skinny Love (Bon Iver)

Johnny Come Lately (Steve Earle) vs. Someone Great (LCD Soundsystem)

American Skin (41 Shots) (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Your Love (Outfield)

Posted in Music Tournament | Tagged | 12 Comments

Awesome Links to Get Through Wednesday: Colbert’s origins, old school SNL and the Pixies

Have had trouble sleeping recently, and you know what that means- great surfing.   Came across these fellas, and thought I might share.

I’ve never really understood Oprah, but in this truly incredible interview with Stephen Colbert she gets him to open up about everything- his tragic youth, early career, his wife (who we meet, and who is awesome) and the future of the Colbert Report.   I can’t remember seeing this much of the real Stephen Colbert before.

The first presidential debate is tonight.  SNL is notoriously lock-boxy about its old videos.  Yet somehow National Journal got its hands on every SNL presidential debate.   The best is Gore (Darrell Hammond) vs. Bush (Will Ferrell), but they are all good.  My 2nd favorite is probably Bush Sr. (Dana Carvey) vs. Dukakis (Jon Lovitz).

Are you a Pixies fan?  Of course you are?  Then you’ll enjoy David Bowie waxing eloquently on how awesome and revolutionary they were.    Haven’t had your Pixies fill?  Come on over and listen to Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood describe the profound impact of the Pixies on their musical careers, including the story of how Yorke become outraged at a promoter trying to have the Pixies open for Radiohead (“like having the Beatles open for you”).

The Assembly of Mexico City has proposed creating “starter” marriage licenses that would last two years, after which the couple could part ways or extend their marriage license.  Hat tip to Jane M. on this one.

Posted in Daily Nos | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

PCT II: Round of 64, Day 6

I am nothing short of shocked that this place is still standing. 2832 Humboldt Street.

Friends, the getting off schedule on this week is 100% my fault- apologies. I was on the conference circuit last weekend in Denver, spent Sunday barbecuing with old Biloxi transplant friends, and the LTD schedule got away from me. However, setting this up I think it was fortunate that Nos and I switched batting order for this week. This playlist is really hitting home for me on the heels of a nostalgic Sunday. Hope you enjoy it as well, and may the best songs advance. Playlist is here, and votes are due by Thursday, October 4th at 9:00 PM EST.

Baby Drugs (Tristen) vs. You And Me (Penny & The Quarters)

All Eyes On You (St. Lucia) vs. Hang Fire (The Rolling Stones)

First Light (My Morning Jacket) vs. Mama’s Eyes (Justin Townes Earle)

Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder) vs. Shine A Light (Wolf Parade)

Posted in Music, Music Tournament | 11 Comments

PCT II: Round of 64, Day 5

This week will feature the second half of the Round of 64.  Sorry we’re starting a day later than usual.   We’ve got a great lineup for Day 5.  Listen here and vote by commenting below by 8pm (EST) Wednesday.

#41 (Dave Matthews Band) vs. 1901 (Phoenix)

September (Earth, Wind and Fire) vs.  For Reverend Green (Animal Collective)

Interstate Love Song (Stone Temple Pilots) vs. I Wanna Be Your Lover (Prince)

Summer Home (Typhoon) vs.  Australia (Shins)

Posted in Music Tournament | Tagged , | 10 Comments

PCT II: Round of 64, Day 4 Results

It was Prine time, by a whisker.

We’re halfway there…

I was very close to corralling a 12-person pregaming crowd into tournament voting last night, but there was just too much chatter and booze in the air.  Wasn’t going to happen for the Round of 64.   We ended up watching “Somebody to Love (live in Montreal)” instead.

Half of the Round of 32 bracket is filled.   Let’s meet it’s newest arrivals.

Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) def. Go Tell the Congregation (Black Crowes), 79.5-64.5.

Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn)  def. Harvest Moon (Neil Young), 65.2-59.9.    Funny enough, our entire group was kicked out of a bar last night due to our friend’s extremely loud, off-kilter sing-along to “Harvest Moon.”

Long Monday (John Prine) def. What You Know (Two Door Cinema Club),  61.55-61.4 .  In what has to be the closest contest of the tournament, Prine eeks it out by .15.

Heaven (Walkmen) def. Champagne Supernova (Oasis),  65.3-64.

Posted in Music Tournament | Tagged | 3 Comments