(Note: yes this will be a recurring segment that usually will be published on Mondays.  Oops?)

The Song: “The Funeral” by Band of Horses

The Event:  My Grandmother’s death

While it’s very clichéd to relate a song about death to an actual death, at least it’s not a song from The Big Chill.  But more specifically, there was an actual reason to link the song with the event of my grandmother's passing.  When I got the call from my mother that my grandmother had died, I emerged from my bedroom and told my roommate.  As was custom in our tiny New York City apartment, iTunes was playing on random in the background – to cover up the numerous awkward gaps in our conversations.  We were talking about how I’d have to go to New Hampshire for the funeral when this song came on in the background. 

Click to read more ...

“Salvation is for the feeble, that’s what I think. I don’t want salvation, I want life, all of life, the miserable as well as the superb. If the gods would tax ecstasy, then I shall pay; however, I shall protest their taxes at each opportunity, and if Woden or Shiva or Buddha or that Christian fellow--what’s his name?--cannot respect that, then I’ll accept their wrath. At least I will have tasted the banquet that they have spread before me on this rich, round planet, rather than recoiling from it like a toothless bunny. I cannot believe that the most delicious things were placed here merely to test us, to tempt us, to make it the more difficult for us to capture the grand prize: the safety of the void. To fashion of life such a petty game is unworthy of both men and gods."

-- Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins 

Here's another video for the musical I've created with my collaborator, Keith Doughty, based on The Goonies.  We got mentions in /Film, Topless Robot, JoBlo.com, Cinematical, FilmDrunk, The Nerdist, Fandango, HeyUGuys!, IMDB - so that's awesome.  Here's one of the videos, for "Piano Lessons."  Lyrics and a recap of background info on the project after the jump!

Click to read more ...