We’re back to regular summer in New Orleans. It’s hot but the threat of mass heat stroke has relented. Summer here usually lasts into October. The good news is that the tropics remain relatively tranquil but we’re still experiencing drought conditions. That’s my weather report.
I have a NOLA oriented segment in our second act, so I’m keeping this introduction brief.
This week’s theme song was composed by Joe Zawinul in 1975 for Weather Report’s 1976 record of the same name. It has an irresistible groove and a saxophone break by Wayne Shorter to die for. It’s one of WR’s best numbers.
We have two versions of Black Market for your listening pleasure: the studio original and a percussion heavy live version from 1976.
One more market song before our second act. Let’s go shopping with Harry Belafonte:
We begin our second act in the Bucktown neighborhood next door in Jefferson Parish.
NOLA News Of The Weird: It gets weird in our suburbs as well. Some folks in Bucktown have decorated their house early for Halloween:
Some neighbors are being weenies about the gory display:
“But some Bucktown neighbors were shocked when they saw the display, which depicts a beheaded Jesus flanked by a nun and priest. Jesus’s head is in the hands of Satan.
Rachel Flanagan said her children first alerted her to the display.
“It’s appalling,” Flanagan said.
“In a word, it’s blasphemy,” Peggy Keller said. ”
It’s not my cup of tea but it’s only blasphemy if you’re a believer. The outraged neighbors are mostly Catholic. It could be worse: It could depict the church protecting pedophile priests then declaring bankruptcy to avoid paying the victims. Now, that’s scary.
The last word of the segment goes to Lesley Gore:
That set at the Ed Sullivan Theatre is weird. I wonder if Letterman ever tried to replicate it when he did his show there? There’s still hope that Colbert will do so. Why he’d want to is beyond me.
Tim Flannery: Woke Hillbilly- Former MLB infielder and San Francisco Giants coach Tim Flannery recently stared down death and lived to tell the tale. Flannery is a man of many talents and firm political convictions. He even sang the national anthem with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir before a Giants home game in 2011:
There’s a swell piece by Scott Miller in the NYT about Flannery, click here and prepare to be impressed.
The last word of our second act goes to Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe:
We begin our second act with our favorite stolen feature.
Separated At Birth Casting Edition: I still have artist biopics on my mind. Here’s Jack the Dripper DBA Jackson Pollock side-by-side with Ed Harris who portrayed the artist in 2000’s Pollock.
Here’s a punny song about Pollock that I just heard for the first time:
Not bad. I wonder what Kevin Pollock thinks about that song. You could replace Jackson with Kevin and Bob’s your uncle. I still don’t know what that expression means but I like saying it.
The Movie List: I’m still on about artist biopics. What’s not to love about watching paint dry?
Some of the movies on the list are your basic biopic; others are something of a stretch. What’s a little stretching among friends?
I placed a Van Gogh limit of two on this list. There’s even a classic documentary listed.
My Top Ten Favorite Movies About Artists
- Lust For Life
- Frida
- Crumb
- Pollock
- Camille Claudel
- Vincent & Theo
- Mr. Turner
- Goya’s Ghost
- Big Eyes
- Girl With A Pearl Earring
Before we Van Gogh, Gogh, the best known song about Vincent:
Your Weekly Oscar: Here’s a market song from my main man, OP.
Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?
Saturday GIF Horse: Jackson Pollock at work. He’s painting, not dripping. What can ya do?
It’s time for a new feature.
The Best Of SNL: I haven’t watched Saturday Night Live regularly since the Will Farrell-Tina Fey era. Now that I’ve dated myself, here’s a 2007 sketch which features some inspired Sopranos related humor. OHHH:
There’s a new Jersey style deli near Adrastos World HQ. Here’s its slogan:
OHHH. The food is terrific and the lines are long. OHHH.
Tweet (never X) Of The Week: It comes from Jamie O’s senator who has come under attack for being allowed to dress casually whilst doing his senatorial duties:
If those jagoffs in the House stop trying to shut our government down, and fully support Ukraine, then I will save democracy by wearing a suit on the Senate floor next week.
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 20, 2023
The malakatude, it burns.
The Junk Drawer: I don’t recall how I stumbled on this picture from Ronnie and Jo Wood’s 1984 wedding party.
I see Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Rod Stewart, Peter Frampton, and Jeff Beck. Where the hell is Mick Jagger? Did he attend? Did someone slip him a mickey? Beats the hell outta me.
Let’s close down this virtual honky tonk with some more music.
Saturday Closer: Speaking of mickeys, I dig this Mickey Dolenz cover of the REM tune. The video is a tour through the life and times of a Monkee. Hey, hey.
That’s all for this week. The last word goes to Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn in Lust For Life:
Looks like Peter Cook peaking out between Jo & Rod.
I believe you’re right. He must be slouching or sitting. He was tall dude? Where’s Dudley?